Chapter 224: Allen Attends the Avengers' Gathering
During a rare moment of downtime…
All available Avengers members made their way to Stark Tower.
They casually chatted, catching up on recent events.
After all, they each frequently went on missions to maintain global peace.
"Hi, Hawkeye."
Allen walked over to the brooding Clint Barton and asked, "Between you and the Green Hero, who's stronger?"
"Green Hero?"
Barton furrowed his brow, trying to recall who Allen was referring to.
"Green Arrow. Oliver."
Allen leaned in and whispered mischievously, "Oliver once said he's beaten you a few times."
"He's full of it. I can read his attack patterns like a book. Those times we clashed? I was holding back," Barton shot back defensively.
"I'll expose him next time," Allen said with a sly squint, clearly amused by the drama.
"Don't…"
Barton quickly stopped him. "We're all superheroes here. Gotta give each other a little face."
The truth was, in their head-to-head matchups, it was essentially a draw—too many variables at play.
Green Arrow emphasized archery tactics, while Hawkeye excelled at predictive combat.
So, it was hard to determine a clear winner.
"I think they should settle it using a more advanced method. Everyone knows my tribe back home used bows for hunting,"
A Black man lounging nearby chimed in with a casual jab.
"War Machine—an honor to meet you."
Allen raised his glass of juice in a toast to the newcomer.
Marvel's king of sarcasm, Colonel James Rhodes, was certainly memorable.
"Dark Knight Allen, I read your mission reports—how you handled Ravager and Red Death? Absolutely classic," Rhodes replied with mutual flattery.
"I've always considered myself a brainy kind of hero."
Allen suddenly changed tone and asked, "What's your take on Steve crashing the bomber into the ocean without bailing out first?"
"You can't expect an old man to be that quick on the uptake," Rhodes replied helplessly.
"Fair enough."
The two exchanged knowing smiles, then downed their drinks.
Everyone was enjoying the gathering.
Tony even invited several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and Rhodes, ever the showman, stood out with his cringeworthy jokes in front of the female agents.
In contrast, Steve and Natasha seemed out of place.
Allen plopped down beside them, casually resting his legs over Natasha's, and asked, "Old Cap, are you thinking about Peggy again?"
Steve sighed. "Sadly… the world's changed, and people with it."
Ever since he woke up in this unfamiliar world, he always felt like he didn't quite belong.
"Do you trust me?" Allen asked seriously.
"I do," Steve answered without hesitation.
He had no reason not to—before the crash, Allen had revealed things about the future that had all come true.
"Good boy."
Allen nodded in approval and said, "You could ask Reed Richards to help you return to the past."
"Mister Fantastic?"
"That's right."
The Fantastic Four were another renowned superhero team. They had the reputation, the resources—even the Avengers wouldn't want to mess with them lightly.
Plus, Mister Fantastic was said to be the smartest man on Earth. Maybe, just maybe, he really could help, as Allen suggested.
Steve fell silent for a long moment, then said, "Thanks."
"No need to be polite."
Allen added with a cryptic smile, "If you don't go back to the past, things won't be nearly as fun."
"…"
Steve immediately realized Allen was hiding something. Since he wasn't willing to say more, Steve didn't push.
Just then, sparks swirled midair, forming a portal.
Doctor Strange and Wong stepped through, scanning the room before their eyes locked on Allen.
Their serious expressions instantly cooled the festive atmosphere.
They walked straight toward Allen.
Seeing this, Steve stood up, worried that they were there with hostile intentions.
"Guys, he's not an enemy. Take it easy,"
Tony quickly stepped in, thinking Allen had done something terrible and that Strange had come to arrest him on the spot.
"The Fourth Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange, greets the Second Sorcerer Supreme."
"Wong the Magic Crown Mage, greets the Second Sorcerer Supreme."
Instead, the two bowed with utmost respect.
The room fell dead silent—people were completely stunned.
"Him? Allen? A Sorcerer Supreme!?"
Tony stared in disbelief. "Stephen, since when do you joke around?"
"I'm not joking."
Stephen explained solemnly, "Five hundred years ago, the First Sorcerer Supreme, Agamotto, was searching for a successor. He chose Allen, whose magical talent was unparalleled. He even fought in the war against multidimensional invasions. But later, he vanished without a trace."
Gasp…
Five hundred years ago?
That was the Age of Discovery in Europe—the colonization of the New Continent.
Yet Allen looked barely twenty. No signs of age at all.
Hack—hack…
Allen deliberately coughed, crossed his legs with flair, and draped his arms over the sofa, saying coolly, "Just accidentally slipped through the timeline. Did a few insignificant things five hundred years ago."
Insignificant!?
You're really laying it on thick.
Becoming the next Sorcerer Supreme and fighting in a multidimensional war?
That's world-ending level stuff.
"Has Yao-mei retired?" Allen asked casually.
"Yao-mei?"
Stephen looked momentarily confused.
"Yao-mei is the Ancient One."
Apparently, only Allen and Agatha ever called her that—everyone else used "Ancient One."
Stephen replied, "My teacher is meditating at Kamar-Taj. She usually doesn't interfere in worldly affairs."
As long as she's alive.
If she's alive, there's still a chance to meet again.
With the misunderstanding cleared, the group returned to drinking and socializing.
Allen, Stephen, and Wong began catching up, their familiarity soon dissolving any remaining awkwardness about Allen's status.
"I wrote The Book of Allen. Have you two read it?" Allen asked eagerly.
"No,"
Wong shook his head. As the librarian, he strictly followed the rules—no peeking at restricted books.
"I have. Very practical," Stephen replied awkwardly.
He couldn't exactly say, That book was so evil even demons cringed and Satan said "damn."
"Refined taste."
Allen asked, "Is Agatha still at Kamar-Taj?"
"Never heard of her."
Agatha had been a contemporary of the Ancient One, but it was unlikely she stayed in Kamar-Taj. She had a coven to lead, and may have left shortly after Allen disappeared.
Though whether she eventually turned villain remained unknown.
Just as Allen was getting sentimental…
A brilliant, multicolored beam of light descended onto the balcony.
A towering figure stepped out from the light.
"Guys! I snuck out again!"
Thor, seeing the crowd gathered, waved his hammer excitedly and shouted, "Tonight, I'm drinking till I drop!"
"Cult Leader, it's been too long! I've missed you dearly!"
Allen waved both hands like he was reuniting with an old friend after years apart.
"Oh, hell no. You again?"
Thor's excitement vanished instantly, instinctively hiding his hammer behind his back.