Returning to the Avengers base, Marcus had just deactivated his armor when someone knocked on his door.
"Something's happened, Marcus."
It was Bucky's voice, filled with anxiety that indicated a serious problem.
"What's wrong?" Marcus opened the door, studying Bucky's worried expression. "What could make you look like this?"
"It's complicated to explain. Come with me!"
Bucky didn't elaborate much. They'd discovered something recently, and these developments were the source of his concern.
Upon learning of Marcus's return, he'd rushed back anxiously, hoping to discuss potential solutions with him.
The two hurried to the medical wing, where Wanda had suddenly fallen into a coma. Crimson energy continuously emanated from her body, creating a barrier that prevented anyone from approaching.
"Wanda?" Marcus raised an eyebrow after discovering the problem.
He had sensed the power Wanda was releasing when he'd returned to the base but hadn't been particularly concerned then. Now it appeared she was unconscious, with the released energy serving as her unconscious defensive instinct.
"Yes, it's Wanda. Not long ago, her body showed abnormalities. After Tony examined her, he said there was no medical problem."
"But he detected some unusual energy fluctuations around her, and Strange also came to examine the situation. He said the energy signatures were from other universes."
After this explanation, Marcus finally understood—this was fallout from He Who Remains' death.
However, timeline chaos severe enough to affect Wanda like this represented a significant problem.
Suddenly, golden light flashed in his eyes, and the next moment all timelines related to Wanda appeared in his vision.
"Hmm... This doesn't seem caused by problems in other universes. Instead, it appears all Wandas are unconsciously connecting their powers."
Time reversed in Marcus's perception, allowing him to witness Wanda's collapse clearly.
She had experienced tremendous pain before losing consciousness, unable to bear the combined power of multiple Wandas. The passively connected energy had caused such agony that her self-protection mechanisms activated, inducing unconsciousness.
"Before becoming the Scarlet Witch, she's already connected with each version of herself. Should I call her lucky or unlucky?"
There were enormous differences between Wanda variants, just like with Loki.
This Wanda remained a young woman, while another version might be the complete Scarlet Witch. The power each Wanda possessed across different realities varied dramatically.
Now they were all connected to this world's Wanda. The impact of such tremendous force was overwhelming, and she couldn't easily accept it.
Looking at Wanda on the bed, Marcus raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
SNAP!
"Mmm..." Wanda, still unconscious moments before, awakened with a stretch and slowly opened her eyes.
Upon opening them, the young woman was startled. Why were so many people surrounding her, and why did this place resemble a medical facility?
"Hey, you're awake!" Seeing Wanda's recovery, Marcus smiled slightly. "How do you feel?"
"I feel... very good. But why do I sense that my power has become stronger?"
Wanda was acutely aware of her abilities. She hadn't possessed such strength previously.
"Of course—because you've connected with others' power!" Marcus didn't elaborate extensively.
The magical connection between Scarlet Witches would rapidly increase their abilities, though this enhancement wasn't limitless.
After reaching certain levels, Wanda's strength growth would decelerate—the same applied to her other selves.
Wanda's connection in this regard was simply closer, resulting in such dramatic reactions.
Marcus had now established barriers around Wanda's connection. These barriers would gradually fade over time, allowing her to slowly adapt to this ever-increasing power.
"Others?" Wanda regarded Marcus with puzzlement, wanting to know who she'd contacted that caused her unconsciousness.
"Don't worry about it—you'll understand soon enough."
Marcus provided no explanation. It was premature to discuss multiverse timelines with everyone.
Among the group, only Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, possessed meaningful understanding of such concepts.
However, when Marcus finished speaking, Strange looked over intently.
"You know the specific situation, don't you?" he asked about the chaotic multiverse.
He'd discovered that numerous universes that shouldn't interfere with each other were actually connected.
This wasn't positive development—it meant Earth would face greater threats than previously encountered. He needed to remain cautious.
"Yes, the entity who organized time was killed. After his death, all temporal flow became chaotic. Though I've reassembled the timeline, I lack experience properly organizing every temporal branch."
Hearing Marcus's answer, Strange fell silent.
He knew Marcus had no reason to deceive him. When the former Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, was still alive, Marcus already possessed terrifying power.
This could be verified by people worldwide—after all, that day Marcus had nearly set the sky ablaze.
But timeline chaos would create numerous problems. People who should have died would be reborn and appear in alternate worlds.
"I understand," Strange nodded, opening a portal to leave the base.
As Sorcerer Supreme protecting Earth, he needed preparation before problems manifested to prevent planetary changes.
Soon after Strange's departure, Peter and Pietro squeezed into the room.
"Mr. Marcus, I... we encountered some strange things!" Peter announced.
"Strange things? Tell me about them," Marcus replied with curiosity about what these two had experienced.
"I met a lizard man," Peter began. "I'd never seen him before, but he knew my name. He was saying strange things and chasing me."
"Me too!" Pietro continued the conversation. "Recently, every time I sleep, I dream of a bald old man in a wheelchair."
Their words made Marcus raise his eyebrows slightly—he knew exactly who they were describing.
"So they've already appeared..." Marcus muttered while checking temporal flow.
"No, the lizard man Peter encountered isn't from the Spider-Man world I visited. He seems to come from another timeline."
"However, the world I'd been to apparently established connection with this reality because of timeline disturbance."
"And the Charles that Pietro dreamed of isn't right either. Although the mutant world, like the Spider-Man reality, connected to this world, it was also Charles from another universe."
Timeline disturbance had revealed new discoveries to Marcus.
These timelines were like ropes in the void, connecting all different parallel worlds floating in nothingness.
"Alright, I understand. You two should be careful during this period."
After saying this, Marcus also left the medical wing.
Wanda's condition was no longer problematic—her strength would increase rapidly over time. She was currently stable.
On the way back to his room, Tony approached. He was extremely interested in the communication between Marcus and Strange.
Recently, he'd been studying Kamar-Taj magic, hoping to create an Iron suit capable of releasing magical energy.
He wanted to know what Marcus and Strange had discussed, potentially gaining inspiration.
"What were you talking about earlier?"
"Nothing major—just parallel worlds," Marcus replied casually.
The moment Marcus spoke, Tony's body froze. He hadn't expected Marcus to be discussing parallel worlds.
"You mean there are other parallel worlds besides ours?"
"Yes, most are similar, though some differ dramatically. Perhaps in one parallel world, you're an Iron Woman," Marcus said with amusement, continuing toward his room.
Parallel worlds posed no threat to him personally.
"I advise you to prepare recently for welcoming a new era."
Parallel world interconnection would cause numerous abnormal situations. Earth would face fierce impact waves, and various people from other realities might appear in this world quietly.
"Welcome the new era?" Tony regarded Marcus with suspicion.
It seemed Marcus wouldn't provide explanations. He could only think independently and prepare for possible future situations.
After returning to his room, Marcus's eyes flashed with golden light as time reappeared before him.
While checking temporal flow earlier, Marcus had discovered a lifeless parallel world. Such realities should have been erased, but he'd detected scarlet power connected to Wanda's abilities.
"Why does a world heading toward destruction still contain Wanda's power? Could this world have been destroyed by its own Wanda?"
Marcus felt confused about this situation. Being able to connect with Wanda's power meant this world possessed a Wanda, yet he sensed minimal vitality from that reality.
"Let's investigate."
Upon speaking, Marcus instantly vanished from his room, arriving beside the lifeless world.
"Indeed, this world is definitely approaching destruction!"
After getting closer to this reality, Marcus's feelings intensified. Except for a few living beings, no other life existed here.
Upon entering the world, Marcus finally saw clearly.
Wandering zombies were everywhere, many possessing superpowers.
"Am I in the Zombie Universe?" Seeing such scenes, Marcus was surprised.
He possessed some understanding of the Marvel Zombies universe but hadn't expected such coincidental encounter.
"So the one connected to Wanda should be Zombie Wanda."
After speaking, Marcus seemed to recall something as countless flesh-and-blood tentacles wrapped around his body.
In moments, he completed transformation into the Nidus armor.
"I must say, this is truly paradise for this armor."
Zombies were everywhere, with virus contamination in virtually every corner.
This represented the most suitable breeding ground for Nidus. Here, this armor's power would improve dramatically.
"I wonder whether the armor's virus is stronger, or if the zombie plague is more powerful."
As he spoke, Marcus stepped forward slowly. With this movement, countless tentacles rose from the ground, instantly piercing numerous zombies rushing toward him.
Unlike previous armors, the entire Nidus configuration was a living virus powerful enough to cause both biological and mechanical mutations.
Moreover, this virus's infectivity far exceeded zombie plague. Simply passing through areas containing such contamination would result in rapid infection.
Without proper viral suppression equipment, no one could resist such pathogens.
That's why Marcus employed this armor. There was also the most critical factor—this configuration's promotion method differed from other armors. It required integrating additional viruses to improve pathogenicity and mutation capabilities.
With this world having become a zombie paradise, Marcus didn't need to search for other similar materials. In such an environment, even if the armor couldn't achieve promotion, it could dramatically enhance the configuration's power.
Marcus was naturally pleased with this situation, especially since he was currently seeking upgrade materials for his armors.
However, except for power generated by entire dimensions or converging timelines, Marcus hadn't discovered anything capable of armor promotion.
Now encountering such a zombie universe, he was delighted that his armor could become stronger and potentially evolve.
Four Aya Essences surrounded his form while tentacles beneath his feet spread continuously, releasing numerous spores around the area.
The moment many zombies contacted these spores, their flesh began changing as tumors appeared on their bodies.
These growths developed extremely rapidly, absorbing the zombies' minimal nutrients at visible rates. Soon, the undead collapsed as their bodies withered, becoming tumor appendages.
Over time, tumors and shriveled zombies gradually merged as the undead became deformed monsters.
"Oh... mutated into hounds?" Marcus observed the zombies' transformation with amusement.
More tentacles appeared on the ground, beginning outward expansion.
"I wonder how many superheroes remain alive in this zombie world."
As he spoke, Marcus's eyes flashed with golden light again, and everything that had occurred in this world appeared in his vision.
Everything had begun several years ago, when this world wasn't much different from other timelines, featuring superheroes and supervillains.
But all of this was destroyed by one person's actions.