CHAPTER 13: ECHOES OF THE PAST, SHADOWS OF THE FUTURE
The tension from Fury's desperate broadcast lingered in the air of the Auction House, a subtle hum beneath the serene calm. Peter Quill, blissfully unaware of the diplomatic drama, was currently attempting to teach Wanda the nuances of classic Earth rock anthems in one of the House's common areas, much to Pietro's visible annoyance. Natasha was, as always, observing, cataloging Quill's behaviors for potential future strategic use, and wondering if her life had become a particularly bizarre cosmic sitcom.
Adam, however, was in the simulated anomaly chamber, his attention solely focused on the contained "Wandering Eye". After the simulation with his staff, he'd used the "Reality Anchor" functionality granted by the System. It allowed him a deeper, more profound interaction with the simulated environment, and by extension, with the anomaly itself. He could now subtly manipulate the simulated reality to a finer degree, attempting to decipher the entity's true nature without risking the actual world.
Okay, Wandering Eye. Time for some answers. You're supposedly from another dimension, tied to 'tragic destruction'. And Wanda called you 'sad'. Let's see what kind of cosmic misery you're peddling.
Adam extended his hand, not physically, but through a newly revealed System interface, into the shimmering, unstable containment field. He focused, allowing the "Reality Anchor" to flow. The chaotic energies of the anomaly, usually swirling erratically, began to coalesce, the distortions momentarily stabilizing. He pushed deeper, a subtle strain on his internal consciousness.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: REALITY ANCHOR ENGAGED. ANALYZING ANOMALY ENERGY SIGNATURE. DETECTING SUB-DIMENSIONAL RESONANCE – "THE DARK DIMENSION." INITIATING CORRELATION PROTOCOL. CONFLICT DETECTED WITH: DOCTOR STEPHEN STRANGE (FUTURE ITERATION) AND HIS PRIMARY ADVERSARY (DORMAMMU). ANOMALY IS A PRECURSOR/ECHO OF DORMAMMU'S ATTEMPTED INCURSIONS. CONTAINMENT CRITICAL.]
Adam felt a jolt of recognition, a cold wave washing over him. Dormammu. Of course. It always comes back to the purple guys, doesn't it? Except this one wants to consume entire dimensions, not just snap his fingers. And this is a precursor? Meaning it's here now? Way before Strange even becomes a sorcerer? Oh, this is so much worse than I thought.
The strain on Adam was immense. Maintaining the "Reality Anchor" was like holding back a cosmic tide with sheer force of will. He felt beads of sweat form on his brow, a rare physical manifestation of his effort. Internally, his Stiles-like sarcasm was momentarily silenced by the sheer, terrifying scale of what he was facing. This wasn't just a threat; it was a fundamental force of nature, a hunger from another reality.
He focused deeper, using the anchor to pull specific informational echoes from the swirling entity. Images flashed in his mind: glimpses of a cosmic landscape consumed by dark energy, echoes of desperate magical battles, a pervasive sense of an ancient, overwhelming hunger. And then, a faint, fleeting vision of a man with glowing green eyes, holding a powerful, time-bending artifact. Stephen Strange, indeed. But still years away from his heroic transformation.
Adam knew he couldn't handle this alone. He needed the right person.
He sent a subtle mental summons to Wanda. He needed her unique connection to magic, her empathy. He needed her to corroborate what he was seeing, to perhaps intuit a weakness that his raw data couldn't provide.
Wanda, sensing the urgency in the Master's summons, arrived quickly, Pietro a watchful shadow beside her. Natasha, ever curious, discreetly followed, her senses already tingling with the strange energy emanating from the anomaly chamber.
As they entered, they saw Adam, standing before the contained "Wandering Eye," his body perfectly still, but a subtle tremor running through the air around him. His usually unreadable face was etched with a faint line of strain, his gaze fixed on the anomaly.
"Master?" Wanda whispered, her voice tinged with concern. She immediately felt the oppressive weight of the anomaly, but also, surprisingly, a counter-force emanating from Adam, a powerful, steadying presence. She saw the lines of effort on his face, a rare glimpse beneath his impenetrable mask.
"Observe, Wanda," Adam commanded, his voice strained but firm. "Focus your senses on the anomaly. Tell me what you perceive now. What new whispers does it reveal?"
Wanda stepped forward cautiously, extending her hands. Her crimson energy flared, connecting with the corrupted essence of the anomaly. Her eyes widened, focusing intensely. "It's… it's not just sadness anymore," she reported, her voice hushed. "It's… hunger. A vast, consuming hunger. And it's connected. To another place. A dark place, without light, without life. And I see… something trying to break through. Something pulling." She recoiled slightly, a shiver running through her. "It wants to… it wants to take."
Yes. The Dark Dimension. Dormammu. She's seeing it. Good. This confirms it.
Pietro, seeing Wanda's distress, immediately moved to her side, his arm instinctively going around her shoulders. His eyes darted between the anomaly and Adam. "Master, what is this thing? What's she sensing?" His suspicion was momentarily replaced by a deep concern for his sister.
Natasha, her face grim, observed it all. She saw the genuine strain on Adam, the raw, unfiltered fear in Wanda's eyes. This wasn't a drill anymore. This was a real threat, and it was deeply unsettling. "It's attempting a dimensional incursion," she deduced, connecting the dots. "It's tearing at the fabric of reality."
Adam slowly disengaged the Reality Anchor from the anomaly, a visible wave of exhaustion washing over him. He took a deep, steadying breath. "Precisely, Miss Romanoff. An incursion. This entity is merely a tendril, a scout, from a far greater, hungering force. It seeks to consume this reality."
He turned to Wanda, his gaze softening, even as his internal thoughts raced. "Your perception is invaluable, Wanda. You sensed its source. Its true nature. You are uniquely attuned to these energies. This… this is why you are here. To help us understand what mere science cannot."
He then looked at Pietro. "And your speed, Pietro, will be critical in a real scenario. If this 'tendril' attempts to manifest, you would be the first line of defense, keeping it contained, keeping it away from others."
I need them to feel empowered, not terrified. They need to understand their purpose. And I need them to believe I have a handle on this, even when I'm internally screaming at the cosmic horror that just invited itself to the party.
Natasha stepped forward, her voice low. "Master, if this is a precursor… if this is from a 'greater, hungering force,' what is our long-term strategy? This isn't something S.H.I.E.L.D. can fight with quinjets and bullets."
Adam met her gaze. "Our long-term strategy, Miss Romanoff, is to prevent such incursions. To strengthen this reality's defenses. To ensure those with the potential to counter such threats are… prepared." He subtly glanced at Wanda, then back at Natasha. "The House will be the sanctuary. And it will be the training ground."
He paused, a profound sense of loneliness washing over him. He was asking them to fight unseen, unimaginable horrors, based solely on his cryptic words and their burgeoning trust. He knew the path ahead was long, fraught with danger, and that he would bear the heaviest burden of knowledge alone. But seeing their faces, their determination, even their fear, solidified his resolve. He wasn't just surviving anymore; he was building a future, one piece at a time, anchoring reality against the encroaching shadows. The weight was immense, but for the first time, he felt a faint flicker of hope that he wouldn't break under it.
A Special Message to My Amazing Readers!
To keep In Marvel With Auction System growing and deliver more chapters faster, I've launched a Patreon! Join today for 5$ unlock 20+ additional chapters and become a vital part of this story's journey. Your support means the world!
you can read also 20+ chapters of " IN MARVEL WITH MISCHIEF SYSTEM" "MCU/ARROWVERSE : With Trading System" "Marvel : Please Kill Me" "Sitcomverse: TBBT, HIMYM, B99, & Modern family" "The Boys: I'm the New Hue, I Need More Power" and "legends of tomorrow : Im a Legend Now"+"Arrowverse: I'm a Hero"+"The Flash : Please Kill Me"
Click here to dive deeper: [patreon.com/TheFinex5]