《Game in Marvel》


 1

    January, 2008


    New York


    Knock on the door


    Olivia quickened her footsteps as she went to answer the bell. Her husband was here. It was 6 p.m. in the evening, and it had been snowing since morning. She hurriedly opened the door, let her husband in, took off his overcoat, placed it on the coat stand, and kept the umbrella to the side.


    "How was the day, honey?"


    "It was perfect, my love. Well, almost perfect if not for the snow. The number of idiots I come across during the snowy season blows my mind," Mason, Olivia''s husband, said.


    "Hahaha... Hasn''t that been the story for the last decade or so?"


    "Don''t remind me... Ugh..."


    Olivia and Mason were a happy, typical white couple living in New York, and both of their parents were from New York as well. Mason was the owner of two garages, which he had built himself, and he was now managing both. The garages were doing well, as the Google reviews for both were above 4 stars, keeping his business on the right track.


    Meanwhile, Olivia was a housewife. The economy wasn''t bad, so she could pursue her hobby of painting and drawing. She often sold her paintings online. Even though it was 2007, the internet was quite advanced, and online shopping was slowly gaining popularity.


    It was her son, Liam, who had encouraged her to showcase her paintings online on social media and even post small time-lapse videos of her work. Though she wasn''t a gorgeous beauty, her mature and kind appearance garnered attention. Her social media fame even led to an invitation to display one of her paintings at an art gallery.


    It wasn''t a grand hit or anything, but the exposure certainly helped. Mason and Olivia spent a bit more time talking about his workplace while Olivia shared some uplifting comments she''d come across online. It was just everyday stuff from their ordinary lives.


    "Liam, come down for dinner."


    The family lived in a duplex, a gift Mason''s father had given him when he married Olivia. Having a home in Queens instead of a dingy apartment was already a huge achievement.@@@@


    "Coming..."


    Soon, the three sat at the table. Liam was their only child.


    "Liam, thank you for your advice on retrofitting the exhaust with a high-flow catalytic converter. You were right; it did reduce the back pressure. The customer even came back today and thanked me. Of course, he didn''t return out of courtesy¡ªhe''d rear-ended a car while driving in the snow early this morning," Mason said with a mix of complaint and humor. Liam could tell his father was pleased, knowing it was these "idiots" who kept his business thriving.


    "Uh... Thanks, Dad. I''ll join you tomorrow after school," Liam replied sheepishly. He didn''t say more and focused on his food.


    "Yes."


    [Good luck.]


    Liam found himself in an futuristic room built with metal plates and various holographic around with only a pistol in his hand. He held a shiny, round, hockey puck-like instrument, which resembled Tony Stark''s arc reactor. Liam didn''t waste a second and made a run for it. As he was running, a call came in from CDR. Sarah Briggs.


    [Cooper, your Titan is standing by. Call when you are ready. Stand by for Titanfall.]


    There was a loud thud from the upper atmosphere, and after a second, a huge mecha fell to the ground, causing a small earthquake-like wave around it. Liam didn''t seem amazed or scared that a huge mecha had just fallen in front of him. He seemed to be expecting it as he proceeded to place the shiny arc reactor instrument into the small circular hole in the face of the mecha.


    If it wasn''t clear before, let me make it clear now. The Goldfinger was a half-intelligent system. It allowed Liam to cross into the game worlds of his previous life. Yup, games that one could play in his previous life. It wasn''t something like world-hopping, where Liam would become a random NPC and just travel between worlds.


    Nothing like that. What it allowed was for Liam to take on the role of the protagonist in the game and play as the main character. Now, this might sound very easy since most games were, well, easy. But it wasn''t for Liam.


    Titanfall 2 was his first world, and he had been playing its four-hour single-player campaign for the last year, struggling to finish it. Why? Because the game was set to extreme hard difficulty, and the NPCs, who were easy to kill in the original, were now intelligent and could think for themselves. Not only was the game extremely hard, but the intelligence of the NPCs made his life a living hell for the past year.


    Every 24 hours, he was allowed to enter the game world once. He could stay there non-stop because time in the MCU froze for him. There were two ways to return to the MCU: either finish the whole campaign or just die.


    Yup. For the past year, that''s what he had been doing every day. Dying. Every. Single. Day. For most people, it would have been mentally wrecking and would''ve landed them in a hospital. But the Goldfinger came with a clinch. It erased the mental stress, PTSD and other problems he might face due to constantly being in war and also sometimes his disorientation of time.


    Thus, for the past year, after dinner¡ªwhich had become almost a ritual for him¡ªhe would travel to the world of Titanfall 2, accompanying the mecha named BT-7742, or BT for short. Since time froze for Liam in the MCU, he had been in perpetual training.


    Training that made death his greatest teacher. Because of this, he had progressed far when it came to using guns, maneuvering through battlefields filled with flying bullets, mastering stealth, and all kinds of military tactics.


    A one-man army. Of course, this was all possible thanks to BT, which provided him with the most optimal ways to deal with situations, courtesy of its built-in AI. But AI, at the end of the day, was just a tool. Liam had to learn everything from scratch. At first, he died repeatedly because he couldn''t aim straight, and his body was always sore.


    So, he began learning how to use guns and properly handle his gear, and also strengthen his weak body. It took him a long time to get the hang of it and actually have the strength to be in a battlefield, but eventually, he became capable of launching attacks. He practiced during the moments he was given to recharge while being transferred from one mission to another. Thankfully, there were no time restrictions.


    Liam had played the single-player campaign before, so he vaguely remembered the missions and knew his way around. Naturally, this also meant he got to experience piloting BT and using the mecha.


    He had never been a huge fan of mechas, which was odd considering he was a nerd. But after piloting a Titan, he finally understood the appeal. Driving and fighting with a Titan was exhilarating, and when he achieved his first victory, he couldn''t help but beam with joy.


    Thus, even though the past year had been grueling, with death as his constant companion, he progressed like a madman. He even managed to learn how to repair cars from BT. Since BT''s AI stored vast amounts of information, and many vehicles were damaged in the game world, Liam learned a lot about car mechanics as he completed missions day by day. Eventually, he was able to apply that knowledge in the real world.


    He was in 2008 already and this year would be a test if this world followed Murphy''s Law or just a bad case of butterfly effect. Actually, Liam also feared that one day Ancient One will show up after he got himself the Goldfinger. But thankfully he didn''t get any visit from the bald headed old woman.


    Thus he wanted to finish the game as the system had said that depending upon his completion and success rate, he would be awarded. Now Liam didn''t know what he would be awarded but he was looking forward to it.

 2

    "This is it, BT," Liam muttered, his voice tight with anticipation. Anticipation that this last mission would be the end, and maybe he would be able to finish it in one go. Well, he could always dream as he remembered that the last mission with BT was filled with constant fights against Titans and also a sacrifice at the end.


    The mission was clear¡ªreach the Fold Weapon and destroy it before the IMC could harness its devastating power. The stakes couldn''t have been higher. The Fold Weapon was akin to the Death Star, which used gravity as a weapon and could destroy planets. The mission this time was taking care of the Fold Weapon, or in other words, being the Anakin Skywalker and destroying it.


    And thus, Liam started his journey. But of course, how could it be that easy? He soon had to face a number of soldiers from the IMC and also other Titans. Thankfully, this new version of BT was much better than the previous version. He took his machine and just poured all the bullets into one of the Titans until it was time to reload. Thankfully, with the downfall of every Titan, there would be a power cell that would recharge the shield and repair the damages done.


    Though the game was still extremely difficult, Liam was faring quite well in this chaos-filled battlefield.


    "BT, how is the new hull? Better?" Liam couldn''t help but ask while firing his huge-ass machine gun.


    [Jack (Cooper), I have never felt better.]


    "Then let''s raise hell, BT."


    [Affirmative, Jack.]


    The battle raged on. Liam had to face multiple soldiers, mounted turrets, and many Titans, but finally, he reached the control system of the Fold Weapon, only to face Slone and Blisk, the last two enemies and their Legion-class Titans. This was going to be a tough fight, as Slone''s weapon was a huge laser gun that could vaporize anything.


    If fire could be spewed from eyes, then these three individuals sitting across from the Principal would have lasered Liam into oblivion by now. Thankfully, Superman wasn''t a thing here. At least not yet.


    Liam knew what it was for.


    "Mr. Liam Woodworth, do you have any idea the whirlwind you have caused in the school?" the Principal spoke up first, in anger.


    "Uh, I don''t see any debris or anything destroyed with my name on it in the school premises yet. If you want, I can check the whole compound." Liam answered.


    "You think this is a joke? You hurt my son and his friends, and now you are joking! If it wasn''t for the Principal here, I would have sued you by now." The woman, who looked angrier than the other two men, didn''t even allow the Principal to answer.


    "Mrs. Gallaghar, I beseech you to restrain your anger," the Principal said to the woman. Liam could only think of one thing here: Who uses the word ''beseech'' nowadays in everyday conversation? This Principal is definitely weird. No wonder he got replaced, as Liam remembered who took the position of Principal when Peter was here.


    "Mr. Woodworth, I expect some kind of answer for your behavior and, umm... roughing them up? There is video evidence and multiple witnesses, so I hope you won''t lie." The Principal knew he would have to step in fast, or else these three guardians would make more of a scene than it already was.


    "They tried to bully my friend, so I went and taught them a lesson," Liam replied, side-eyeing the three fellow colleagues that he had a "talk" with a few days ago.


    "You see? Your own student has admitted it. Now I want him expelled. My poor boy has been traumatized by this incident and refuses to go out of his room. I won''t leave until my demands are met," Mrs. Gallaghar jumped on the admission and almost screamed at the Principal.

 3

    Liam remained calm while Mrs. Gallaghar continued her tirade. Her voice was sharp and piercing, but Liam knew better than to react. He waited for a pause, and when it finally came, he spoke up.


    "Mrs. Gallaghar, before we proceed with this, I think it''s only fair to shed some light on the entire situation," Liam said, his voice steady. "I happen to have something that might be of interest to everyone in this room."


    The Principal raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, Mr. Woodworth?"@@@@


    Liam reached into his backpack and pulled out his phone. Tapping a few times, he brought up a video and turned the screen to face the Principal.


    "This," Liam said, "is video evidence of your son, Mrs. Gallaghar, selling drugs on school premises."


    The room went silent. The color drained from Mrs. Gallaghar''s face, and the two men sitting next to her looked equally stunned. Even the three students standing behind them glanced at each other nervously.


    "What... what is this nonsense?" Mrs. Gallaghar stammered, her voice trembling. "You''re making baseless accusations!"


    "I assure you, it''s not baseless," Liam said, tapping play on the video.


    The footage clearly showed Mrs. Gallaghar''s son exchanging small baggies with another student behind the gym. The transaction was quick, but the faces were unmistakable. The video also captured the other two boys standing nearby, acting as lookouts. While they weren''t directly involved in the deal, their complicity was evident.


    The Principal watched in silence, his expression growing grimmer by the second. When the video ended, he leaned back in his chair, letting out a heavy sigh. His time in this school might end much earlier than he had expected.


    "This doesn''t prove anything. The packets might not even be drugs, just random things he might have given or sold to them," Mrs. Gallaghar said.


    "I knew this topic might come up if the evidence reached court, so here are some of the images where your son was taking the same items from some random guy on the streets. I am not sure who he is, but I am certain if the New York police were sent this package, they would love to have a talk with the gentleman in the picture¡ªand your son," Liam said, showing them various pictures.


    "I can see you have resentment toward our school. The school administration will do its best to teach our students to avoid such behavior. We also promise to sever ties with drug peddlers and provide care and attention to those who have suffered. The school thanks you for your valuable input," the Principal said.


    "Yeah. Can I go now?"


    Liam didn''t want to deal with this old politician, who was clearly hinting for him to stop fanning the flames so he could retire in peace without his name being tainted. So much for honor.


    These kinds of people disgusted him. Maybe he was also a Hydra agent.


    Liam promptly left and went straight to his class. Some of his friends, hearing he was called to the office, were curious, thinking he might have gotten detention. But seeing Liam''s happy face, the notion was dismissed.


    By the end of classes that afternoon, it was announced that the three students had been suspended, pending investigation, and some students from various classes were called to the office. Liam knew that since the ordeal was now public, the administration would take action.


    These three students had been bothering his small circle of nerdy friends. At first, he wanted to teach them a lesson, but he knew that doing so would prompt a negative response from the school, as public schools were known for such reactions. Thus, he followed them and gathered evidence, as it was rumored these hooligans dealt with drugs and had ties to dangerous gang members.


    After proper investigation¡ªwhich was an easy job for Liam, thanks to his stealth skills from the Titanfall 2 world¡ªhe discovered some of the rumors were true, while others were exaggerated. For example, their "dangerous connections" turned out to be just a dealer selling them drugs, while Mrs. Gallaghar''s son sold them at school to earn a bit of money.


    He roughed them up because he expected the school to respond, and he wasn''t disappointed. It took less than four days for them to act. Liam didn''t return home from school but went straight to the garage.


    When he entered the place he was stunned because the coincidence of a situation happening in front of him wasn''t something he had expected. Not even in his wildest dreams.


    "Hey man, you okay? You seem like you have seen a ghost."


    One of the customers who was of about 5 feet 11 in height, quite chubby with blonde hair with a pattern that could only be seen among college students, looking like a typical young New Yorker came forward and asked. Aside him was a man of around the same age wearing dark shades and carrying a white stick, signifying that the man was blind.

 4

    "Uhh... I am alright," Liam reacted after a second of being dumbfounded.


    "Oh, you haven''t met my confidante here before. Mathew Murdoch..." Yup, the chubby man was Foggy, and the blind man was Matt¡ªor as we know him, Daredevil. The blind, hypersensitive superhero. Well, he wasn''t a superhero yet, as he was still in university, and maybe he was still dating Elektra. Thus, both of them looked quite ordinary.


    "That was an exaggeration. Hello... You can call me Matt," Matt replied as he extended his hand to shake with Liam. Liam hesitated for a second before shaking hands with him. As Liam and the two future lawyers were talking, Liam heard a man speaking from behind.


    "Liam, I heard that you have been selected by the school to represent us in the Science Expo in LA." The man was wearing a good suit, with a receding hairline but looked quite fit for his age¡ªor maybe it was the good black suit that made him look classy. Liam knew him. In fact, many of the people who had followed the MCU would know him.


    Phil Coulson. He was here for his Lola.


    "Yes, it is a small device I made that could send back a 3D sonar picture to the person controlling it. I have already applied for the patent," Liam said. The reason Liam was dumbfounded was not because he met Matt or Phil. It was just that both of them were at the same place at the same time. That was what caught Liam off guard.


    "3D sonar, huh... Maybe our department will be interested," Phil said.@@@@


    "You mean your department of the FBI? Why would the FBI need it?" Liam knew the actual situation and thus teased Phil.


    He had shown its usefulness to the school and even asked his father to apply for a patent with the help of his lawyer. Both the school and the lawyer were thrilled with what Liam had built, and thus this year''s Science Expo for teenagers was going to be held in LA.


    This was also one of the reasons why the principal of his school didn''t call his parents after the bullying incident. He was too good for the school to be let go¡ªor at least that was what the principal thought.


    After a brief introduction and encouragement from Phil, he left, followed by Foggy, as his car needed maintenance, while Phil was taking his Lola out. Liam then started to work and helped his dad and his employees.


    Liam was back again at the control station of the Fold Weapon. He had thought deeply about how he would tackle the laser weapon, and that was by dodging long before she could fire the gun. Those guns were heavy, but they also had a drawback: each fire required a recharge after a few seconds. That could only be done if BT counted down the time and dodged by itself, not waiting for Liam''s response.


    "BT, count down the second she needs to recharge."


    [Affirmative, Jack.]


    Of course, in order to count the second, he and BT would have to die for the first time. And that was what happened in the end. They died. Not before seeing the countdown on the side.


    Nine seconds.


    It was rare for Liam to smile after coming from that godforsaken world. He was close to the end goal now and he couldn''t wait to see the first rewards. Even though the mental torture was horrible, he did gain physical flexibility, strength and being aware of the surroundings from the game world.

 5

    Liam thought that knowing it was 9 seconds would allow him to finish the campaign. But he was so wrong. It took him a month to finish the last campaign. Yes Liam had finally finished the campaign. The ending was bitter sweet for Liam.


    Fighting in the Titan didn''t help Liam learn some new skills physically but it did allow him to learn time management in the mission. It was a horrible run for Liam with constant titans coming after him and also deal with Slone and Blisk. At the end BT sacrificed itself and Liam had to make a run to save himself.


    It was a long process. But at the end Liam was finally able to complete the whole game.


    [Congratulations on finishing your first game.]


    "Yeah .. Yeah.. By death more a hundred times." Liam said as he mumbled under his breath on his bed. He had just finished the whole campaign and he felt sad. He had lost BT, his one and true helper.


    But it was not the time for grief as he had known this would happen by the end. He wiped the non existent tears in his eyes and then asked the system for rewards.


    [After completion of each game. You would be given three rewards. The quality of rewards range from D- to SSS level which is depending upon how you fared in the whole campaign]


    "So what evaluation did I get this time?" Liam was excited as he was waiting for the reward.


    [The evaluation is C-]


    "You gotta be kidding me." Liam almost cursed instantly hearing that evaluation. He had died for a year everyday only to hear that he was C-. It was almost D. This was terrible.


    [But since the host has entered the game world for the first time and didn''t know any better. His rewards will be equivalent to A category.]


    The 9x9 space was also quite useful for his everyday life. Since it was night he sneaked out of his window at night and went to a secluded place. He summoned his pilot suit and then started used all of the abilities given by the Pilot suit and was amazed to see that every gear worked and though he wasn''t invincible in this suit, it at least allowed him to move side ways among humans.


    That was a start. After playing around and getting a handle of his suit, he returned after an hour. Of course he had made sure that none of the cameras were able to capture him. He was an anomaly in this world and would need to hide his presence as much as possible.


    At least till the SHIELD and SWORD is clean enough.


    But he also knew that he wouldn''t be able to use two of the rewards at the moment. In a few months he would leave for LA and there would be space enough to try out his rewards. Though he could do the same with the outskirts of the city but he would have to be away for a lot of time.


    Plus, it was not like he was dying to use them. He had used and played with them in the game world. Thus he wasn''t exactly dying to be united with long lost friend.


    "System, when will the next game start?"


    [Tomorrow]


    "System do you have a name?"


    [No]


    "Why don''t I give you one."


    [Not required]


    Liam was very happy and thus engaged in an one sided conversation with the system for no reason.

 6

    May 25th, 2008


    Los Angeles


    "The security check was so wild. Sheesh," Chris said as he boarded the plane.


    "I don''t care. I am finally in LA. This is a dream come true. Thank you, Liam," Bonnie said as she slightly touched Liam''s arm, which he ignored.


    The project was a group project, and thus Liam had to include at least two people. The first was Chris, who was kind of Liam''s favorite buddy in school. He was a single-parent child, and the situation around him had forced him to be mature and aware of his surroundings, which made Liam closer to Chris.


    The other was Bonnie. Bonnie was a Chinese-American, and her family had been living in America for the last two generations. Liam could clearly tell that Bonnie was into him and probably had a crush on him. Liam might not be the most handsome man in the school, or maybe even the class, but he always carried an air of charm and mystery.


    The way he walked felt like he was always on his tiptoes¡ªsilent and deadly. Even though Liam wore baggy clothes, one could see the outline of his well-armed body. Liam was a nerd, but a hot nerd. Many of the women in school had a crush on him, especially when the school announced that he had been selected to represent them at a nationwide Science Expo. He had even applied for a patent.


    Liam didn''t have any delusions of having romantic relationships at the moment, at least not now. But among the girls he had come across and been forced to interact with, he found Bonnie likable. She was intelligent, mature, and on the good-looking side of the spectrum. Having died at the age of 30 in his previous life, a part of him found it criminal to like any girl under 20 years of age.


    "It is because Tony Stark has been missing," Liam replied as they were checked more thoroughly at the airport. Though he didn''t understand the connection, he could tell that Tony''s kidnapping had thrown many agencies into a dustbin of headaches.


    "I read on the Internet that most countries around the world don''t like him," Chris said as he pushed the trolley through the exit.


    "Yes," Liam said. Elon''s words made Bonnie and Chris very happy because Liam had promised them 1 percent of the shares in the company if they ever got an investment. Elon wasn''t the only one interested, though.


    Justin Hammer also showed up and promised to invest to supply for the industry. Liam was busy talking to other rich venture capitalists, and Chris was more than happy to handle Hammer and explain.


    "Dude, I talked to Justin Hammer... The Justin Hammer... Can you imagine?" Chris was over the moon. Justin still had a name for himself in the world. He might not be as big as Tony, but he was still up there.


    "He was so cool," Bonnie said, also very happy.


    "Eh... He''s alright," Liam said, not that impressed. Knowing the future, he couldn''t ally with someone who would go to any lengths to get ahead. That kind of greed wasn''t what he was looking for.


    "Of course, you''ll say that since you got to talk with Elon Musk," Chris complained. Liam just rolled his eyes.


    "I bet you wouldn''t say the same if Tony Stark were here," Bonnie teased.


    "He wouldn''t have been here even if he weren''t kidnapped," Liam said. Tony was notorious for throwing parties and was rumored to mock others during visits to such expos or MITs, claiming he could do better. One had to be really good to earn his approval.


    This made the two sad. Nobody from Stark Industries came to the Expo, and it was more of a hot topic among the attendees than the Expo itself. What really surprised Liam was that people from SHIELD showed up, and the one who came was none other than Brock Rumlow.


    "Hello, you must be Liam. Coulson spoke quite positively about you."@@@@

 7

    "Uh... FBI?" Liam feigned ignorance and asked.


    "Yes. He spoke highly of you, so we had to come and see what this is all about. We''ve already looked through your patent. The government would like to invest in you," Rumlow said.


    "You mean Hydra," Liam thought to himself but didn''t say aloud. It was fine if SHIELD invested in his company, but he would need to ensure the contracts wouldn''t come back to bite him once Hydra was taken down.


    Even though Liam wasn''t thrilled about SHIELD showing interest in his tech, there was nothing he could do. Remaining professional, he gave Rumlow a rundown of his invention.


    "So your code is what''s important for the whole device. Did I get that right?" Rumlow asked. Liam wasn''t surprised that Rumlow knew what was truly essential. One could easily make a sonar device, but processing the information and projecting it was the challenging part.


    "Yes," Liam admitted.


    "The authorities will get in touch with you soon. Get yourself a lawyer," Rumlow said after inspecting the setup.


    "Dude, he was jacked," Chris commented, noting Rumlow''s visible biceps and abdominal muscles through his tight-fitting shirt. Liam only smiled, knowing he was almost as fit¡ªthough not as bulky. Liam was more on the leaner side now, thanks to the new game.


    The Science Expo lasted over four hours. By the time they returned to their hotel, it was evening. Though exhausted, they were overjoyed. Numerous people had promised investments and taken their contact details.


    They would soon be establishing a company and couldn''t wait to be rich. Chris and Bonnie later convinced Liam to celebrate with a small party at a local pizza shop. By the time they returned to their rooms, both of them crashed onto their beds, leaving Liam awake.


    "Take me to Ernest Debs Park."


    "Eh, so late? You won''t find a taxi back at this hour," the taxi driver said.


    "You don''t have to worry. I have a friend waiting for me there," Liam replied. He had ventured out late at night to catch a taxi.


    "Okay," the driver said, deciding not to pry. It was LA, after all, and asking too many questions could be unwise. In about half an hour, the taxi reached the destination. The park, located on the outskirts of LA, was a popular tourist attraction.


    "Hello, BT."


    [Hello, Liam. It''s nice to meet you.]


    "Nice to meet you too. Do you have any previous memories of me?" Liam asked. This was the first time he had summoned BT, so he needed to understand its programming.


    [Negative, Liam.]


    "Hmm. What is your mission?"


    [My first mission is your safety and support in times of need. My second objective is to safeguard humanity.]


    "What if I want to end humanity?"


    [Then I will prioritize your safety and security. The first objective will always take precedence.]


    "Good. Stay here. I''m going to infiltrate the town. By the way, can you speak all human languages?"


    [Yes, I am well-versed in all human languages.]


    "Perfect. Stay put. I''ll be back soon."


    The first rays of dawn peeked over the rugged hills, casting long shadows across the dilapidated town of Gulmira. The place was a shell of its former self, with crumbled buildings and burnt-out vehicles scattered throughout. It was a town that had fallen to a band of militants¡ª The Ten Rings.


    From his concealed position on a ridge outside the town, Liam watched through the enhanced optics of his Pilot suit. The HUD highlighted movement patterns: armed men patrolling in sporadic shifts, some half-asleep and others carelessly chatting. These weren''t trained soldiers but opportunistic thugs who had taken advantage of chaos.


    Liam''s target was the leader of this group¡ªa man holed up in what remained of the town''s administrative building.

 8

    Gulmira''s defenses were sloppy at best. The barriers were little more than stacked sandbags, and the patrols were irregular and lazy. Liam smirked as he activated his Phase Shift, phasing into an alternate dimension for a brief moment. The familiar tingling sensation rippled through him as the real world faded, replaced by a muted void where time felt suspended. This technology was something Liam was able to wrap his head around, but it did allow him to be invisible and move for a few seconds. This allowed him to pass some terrorists easily without any problems.


    Reemerging behind a crumbled wall, Liam crouched low and observed the main street. A pair of guards leaned against a rusty pickup truck, their weapons slung haphazardly over their shoulders. They were laughing at some crude joke, entirely unaware of his presence.


    Liam moved with the precision of a ghost. He activated Cloak, blending seamlessly into his surroundings as he advanced. Crossing the main street, he used his Grapple to silently scale the side of a partially collapsed building adjacent to his target.


    Soon Liam reached the rooftop from the blind spot where the leader was barking orders at his men. The terrorists in the room were distracted, shuffling weapons and maps. Liam knew he had seconds to act.


    He threw a smoke grenade inside. The device instantly filled the room with smoke, but it was no ordinary smoke. The name of the smoke grenade was an electric smoke grenade, and once someone passed through it, they would receive a shock. This grenade was taken from BT, as it was an exclusive thing of Titans.


    The militants screamed in pain, and all of them lost consciousness. Liam leaped through the window silently, his Pilot suit dampening the sound of his impact. The leader had already passed out. The screams were loud enough, and men started running toward the main building.


    Liam hoisted the unconscious leader over his shoulder and phased into Phase Shift. Of course, the man couldn''t enter the alternate dimension, but it did null the sound of his running. His HUD was fully functional, as the escape route for him was planned by BT.


    Before entering the town, his HUD had already been analyzing, and BT from afar had been keeping an eye on the militants.


    [


    Duck under the rubble and wait for 3 seconds.


    ...


    Go towards northwest for a distance before I tell you to stop


    But after some time, tears started to roll down his eyes, and he began constantly mumbling, holding his hands in a prayer stance, and looking at Liam.


    "What is he saying?"


    [He is praying to us. He thinks we are Djinns.]


    Liam just rolled his eyes.


    [Ask him where Tony Stark is. Ask him for the exact location.]


    BT spoke in the same language as theirs. And surprisingly, the man spoke out everything. BT specifically asked him for coordinates as he showed him a holographic map, and the man pointed it out.


    "BT, isn''t he speaking too enthusiastically?"


    [Liam, he is in deep fear and thinks we are the evils of the world. He also has a deep fear of death.]


    "Ugh... Just take him with us. We will dispose him once we confirm whether what he says is true or false."


    [Will follow your command.]


    The man didn''t try to wiggle his way out and accepted his fate while praying to whatever god he believed in. Liam didn''t care, and after an hour of running in sand and rugged terrain, Liam was sitting inside BT and asking about all the functions that could be done and what couldn''t.


    Soon they reached the place, and Liam could see a small circular mound, and from afar, one could tell that the surrounding territory was very well guarded. Unlike the previous town, this small place was filled with guards and even had small towers.


    The only reason they weren''t able to see Liam and the huge BT was because the wind was blowing at high speed, carrying sand with it. But this problem wasn''t an issue for Liam, as they were using high-resolution cameras and lenses to look further.

 9

    Liam got out of the pilot seat, and when the man who was being held saw this, he opened his eyes. He had been silent, but just as he was about to scream, Liam threw a Pulse Blade right at his throat.


    Liam was fast and decisive.


    Blood poured out of the man''s throat like a fountain had just been opened, and his helmet now had droplets of blood on it. This was his first official kill. He didn''t even get the chance to speak to his first kill.


    [Is this your first kill?]


    "How do you know?"


    [Your heart rate is elevated, and your pupils are dilated.]


    Liam was silent and didn''t answer. He just looked at the man''s life pouring away. After mourning for a minute, he steeled his heart. This was his first kill, but it wouldn''t be his last, for sure. This world would force him to kill many¡ªbe they human beings, aliens, or maybe even gods.


    "BT, stealthily keep the perimeter clear. I will go inside alone."


    [But Liam, there are many people inside.]


    Liam proceeded to kill the two sentries with machine guns using the Pulse Blade. The blade not only struck their necks but also ensured they couldn''t utter a noise as the blood rushed out.


    "Time for some fun," Liam said as he took out a small disk and threw it on the ground. The disk proceeded to open a semicircular light shield¡ªthe A-Wall. It deployed an invincible particle wall, destructible only at its small circular base, that blocked incoming shots and amplified outgoing ones.


    As soon as the A-Wall came up, he started firing at the men. Liam was in Cloak mode, so it was already hard for them to spot him, even though they were on alert after Liam came out of Phase Shift. The small bunch of men who were on alert were instantly downed, and the other bunch retaliated when they noticed Liam.


    But the A-Wall made sure that none of the bullets could even come close to Liam. As Liam was killing these men, BT sent him a message.


    [The radar has picked up a small explosion inside the cave.]


    "What?"


    This made Liam, who had just killed these men, move in a bit of a hurry. A small explosion could mean anything inside. And thus, after dealing with them, he used Cloak mode again and made a run inside.


    There were men guarding the tunnels, and Liam had to use his gun or his Pulse Blade. The Pulse Blade came in very handy as it allowed him to target enemies that couldn''t be positioned through his eyes. BT helped navigate by analyzing the terrain and ensuring he was on the right path to the location.


    As he came close, he suddenly heard more gunshots further inside the tunnel. This made him sweat, and he broke into a faster and more frantic run. Liam burst into the final chamber of the cave, heart pounding and blood roaring in his ears. His HUD painted a grim picture: six hostiles, all armed, their weapons trained on a frail, bearded man¡ªYinsen. The man was on his knees, with his borrowed gun pointing at them.


    He wasn''t ready to give up just yet.

 10

    One of the militants cocked his rifle, stepping forward to finish the job.


    Liam didn''t hesitate. He darted beside Yinsen, his hand shooting to his belt. With a flick of his wrist, the A-Wall disk flew across the room, skittering to a halt between Yinsen and the gunmen.


    A burst of blue light erupted as the A-Wall activated, the shimmering particle shield splitting the room. The militants shouted in confusion, their bullets ricocheting harmlessly off the barrier. Liam, now fully visible, stepped into the room, his weapon raised.


    "Get down!" Liam barked at Yinsen.


    Yinsen didn''t need to be told twice. He hit the ground as Liam opened fire, each shot amplified by the A-Wall''s energy field. The militants had no chance¡ªtheir return fire was futile, their bodies falling one by one under Liam''s precise aim.


    The last man standing dropped his weapon and turned to run, but Liam was faster. He Phase Shifted, his body disappearing into another dimension for a split second, only to reappear directly in front of the fleeing militant. A quick strike with the Pulse Blade ended the threat.


    Breathing heavily, Liam turned to Yinsen, who was staring at him in a mix of shock and awe.


    But Liam''s small respite was short-lived as he felt a wave of heat strike his face, forcing him to dodge and sidestep. Liam spun around, furious, only to see a huge armored man standing to the side, pointing a metal-covered hand at him. Under the arm was a nozzle that had just tried to incinerate him.


    "Tony, no! This person saved my life. Don''t attack him!"


    Yes, it was the famous Tony Stark¡ªthe Tony Stark who had just built a suit while in a cave.


    "Eh... I''m sorry. I noticed colors and thought it was some Mario Party, so I took action. Hope you''re not hurt," Tony said, his voice laced with a bit of guilt and hoarseness.


    "Use better visors next time, Stark," Liam snapped, annoyed that he had almost been scorched. Thanks to his training, his senses were honed; otherwise, it would''ve been a different story altogether.


    "You know me?" Yinsen asked, confused.


    Before Liam could answer, Tony returned, his strides loud and confident.


    "I''ve sent them their New Year''s gift. We can leave this hellhole now," Tony announced.


    As they emerged, the aftermath was clear. Tony had torched the entire place with his flamethrower. Guns and missile heads burned under rubble.


    There were supposed to be more people, but Liam had killed many in the tunnels. Bodies lay charred beyond recognition, and the fire still raged, but the three of them made it out alive.


    "After this, I need to find a cold place to rest my body," Yinsen muttered, trying to break the silence. Though these militants deserved death, they were still people. Living beings. It was the first time for both Tony and Liam.


    Yinsen''s words brought them back to reality. They found a shaded area and sat down to rest.


    "Can we know who you are? If it conflicts with military protocol, forget I asked. But thank you for saving me, regardless," Tony asked, his curiosity evident.


    "I never said I''m with the military, Stark," Liam replied, removing his suit. Yinsen and even Tony stared in awe as Liam''s suit disengaged in a second, revealing a teenager clad in a sleek bodysuit that accentuated his well-built figure.


    "And I never said I came here to save you. My name is Liam Woodworth, from NY. You can look up my credentials once you''re back, but I''d like to keep my identity secret. I hope you both will honor that."


    "Didn''t come to save me? Then why are you here? And are you a teenager? Did I get saved by a teenager?" Stark asked.


    "Yes I am a teenager but that didn''t stop you from passing MIT, did it? So stop being on the high horse. The military will be here soon as we have just blasted their hideout." Liam said. This shut Tony up.

 11

    "Then if you aren''t here to save me, why are you here?" Tony asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "To save your friend," Liam replied, his gaze shifting to Yinsen.


    "Me? Why? I''m nobody. I don''t even know you," Yinsen stammered, confused.


    "You''re somebody when you''re willing to risk your life to save another¡ªsomeone you only met a month ago. That makes you a hero in my book. I hope that answers your question," Liam said firmly.@@@@


    "Wait, hold on," Tony interjected, his eyes narrowing. "That means you knew about us beforehand and didn''t act sooner?!"


    "First of all, I didn''t know your exact location¡ªit took me time to find you. Secondly, do you think sneaking in here all the way from NY while avoiding satellite detection was easy? I''m not as rich as you, Stark. I have responsibilities. And lastly, let''s be real¡ªdespite being a little starved and dehydrated, you''ve come out of this fit and fine. More importantly, you''ve gotten to witness firsthand what your weapons have done to this beautiful Earth of ours."


    Tony fell silent, the words striking a nerve. Though he felt justified in his irritation, Liam''s blunt explanation left him introspective. Before anyone could speak further, a loud, thunderous sound echoed through the area.


    The three of them turned back to see a massive bipedal machine stepping into view. Its glowing circular "face" scanned them with mechanical precision.


    "BT, were there any hostiles?" Liam asked.


    [Yes, Liam,] the machine replied, its voice deep and metallic.


    Tony gawked, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, can somebody tell me what''s going on here? And who is this... thing?"


    [Hello, I am BT-7765, a Vanguard Titan. Liam is my pilot, and I am here on his orders,] the machine stated matter-of-factly.


    "Wait¡ªyou''re fully autonomous? And functional? Interesting..." Tony approached, his scientific mind kicking into overdrive as he observed the Titan. By now, he had removed his own suit, the weight too cumbersome to carry further. "Let me guess¡ªa neural link interface paired with top-tier AI? Pilot hops in, you do the heavy lifting, and you share a single brain cell? Cute. But you''re... bulky. Have you considered streamlining? Just saying, there''s a lot of room for improvement."


    Tony, overhearing this, felt a pang of guilt. He had never known Yinsen''s family was gone¡ªYinsen had lied to him before. Without saying a word, Tony delivered another kick to Raza''s ribs, eliciting a pained groan.


    Liam watched quietly, noting the sound of cracking bones. Raza was on the verge of death, and without immediate medical attention, he wouldn''t survive.


    "Yinsen," Tony said, turning to him. "Let me kill him. I''m agnostic, so I''ll happily carry that burden for you." He took Liam''s gun, cocked the safety, and pointed it at Raza''s head. "You have anything to say, Liam, before I send him to hell?"


    "No. I don''t know him," Liam replied flatly.


    That was all Tony needed to hear. He emptied a few rounds into Raza, ending his life. Yinsen turned away, murmuring a quiet prayer under his breath. Justice had been served, but the weight of it lingered.


    Yinsen began to pray in silence, seeking solace. Meanwhile, Tony and Liam stepped aside, giving him the space he needed.


    "You said you''re from NY," Tony said, breaking the silence. "I hope you''ll come to my place when we''re back. I''d like to thank you properly, no matter the reason you came."


    "I just told you, I came for him. I had faith that you will come out just fine." Liam said. This just gave Tony an ego boost. He just smirked. Of course, Liam could see that. "And don''t say a word about me to anyone. Until I reveal myself."


    "I will keep that in mind." Tony replied.


    [Liam, Colonel Rhodes is half an hour out]


    "Rhodes is here. I guess some friendship do go deep. I miss the man in black." Tony was very happy that his friend was on his way to rescue him.


    "That''s our cue to leave." Liam said and he summoned back BT. Again Tony was amazed how Liam was able to make such a thing vanish. Before it was suit, and now a robot that was bigger than him. What was this?


    "You need to teach me how you do this." Tony got over his ego and asked.


    "Someday, maybe." Liam said as he wasn''t sure if he could ever get that kind of technology from any game. It was matter of luck.

 12

    Tony was baffled by what Liam had done, but then again, he had heard of a green monster before, created by the government, so he was more accepting of the facts around him. He then summoned the Hornet, which again surprised Tony, as he had never seen such a design before.


    "I thought you came from NY. This is not big at all," Tony said with sarcasm.


    "I live in NY, but right now, I am in LA," Liam replied as he switched on his Pilot suit again. He soon hopped into the cockpit. "By the way, the one who ordered the hit was Obadiah. Make of it what you will."


    With those words, he switched on the engine, and within a minute, he was cruising past Afghanistan, far away from the military helicopters coming for Tony. Meanwhile, Tony stiffened when he heard that, but then he remembered how his supposed uncle had called him and the attack happened right after that.


    It might be a coincidence, and he was skeptical of this random person who had just come and saved him, but this small doubt was enough for Tony to dig deeper.


    -----


    "Liam... Liam... Wake up... Wake up... They found Tony Stark... Wake up." Chris, to be frank, manhandled Liam to wake him up. It was 11 a.m., and Liam was still sleeping in his bed, thanks to the run yesterday. In the game, it was different settings. In the game world, he wouldn''t have to care about food and rest. He could just exist there for ages and not feel a thing in his body.


    Though the other emotions were very raw, not having the drawbacks of endurance loss was a major advantage, which Liam understood after his first mission. He was tired and had just hit the bed after he returned.


    The school itself had allowed them a small vacation after learning that these young children would establish a company. Basically, money speaks.


    The next day


    Early in the morning, they had a meeting with the lawyers and came to some verbal agreements with some of the investors. Liam wanted some clauses that were very odd. For example, when the FBI came in this time, they finally revealed that they belonged to SHIELD, an agency responsible for world security.


    When they came into the picture, Liam had specifically asked for a clause where, in any event of their organization falling apart, all the shares would revert back to Liam and his friends, divided in terms of equity in the company. This clause stumped the lawyer representing SHIELD, as it was an organization that worked globally, and there was no chance of it breaking apart¡ªever.


    But Liam had asked for it. So, in the end, SHIELD obliged. Chris and Bonnie had no idea what was going on, so they didn''t bother to ask what SHIELD was. But Liam knew. And he was sure that this small trickery wouldn''t alarm Hydra because, to them, he was a nobody. For a nobody, they would never spend their resources to spy on or try to kill him.


    After the meeting, the three went back home to watch Tony''s interview.


    "I thought you weren''t interested in him," Chris teased, as he always seemed quite skeptical of this inventor.


    "I''m not. I''m just curious about what he''ll say since he asked for a press conference immediately after landing," Liam said.


    Nonetheless, they watched the press conference together in their hotel room, where they saw Tony announcing the closure of the weapons department. Liam even spotted Yinsen standing further away.

 13

    Phone playing regular ringtone


    Liam didn''t recognize the number, but he had been receiving calls from different lawyers, so he picked it up without thinking.


    "Hello..."


    "Kid, you should come by my house. We both need to properly thank you." It was Tony. He had searched for Liam''s number, and it was not that difficult to find.


    "..."


    "My address is..." Tony continued but was then stopped by Liam himself.


    "I know where you live. I will be there," Liam replied, and he disconnected the call.


    Same night, 11:30 PM


    The Stark Mansion


    Out of nowhere, the proximity alarm of the Stark Mansion went off. Tony was in his living room, talking with Yinsen about their lives, when it sounded.


    "Who has the guts to invade this place late at night? JARVIS..." Tony was irritated and ready to call security.


    "Sir, there is someone at the door of your home. He bypassed the main gate without my knowledge. Should I show you the person? He isn''t armed or wearing any kind of mask to hide his identity."


    Of course, the latter part wasn''t known to Liam, as the lawyers hadn''t contacted him yet. They were still drafting the deal. In the desert, Liam had mentioned that Tony could work on his Titan when given the time. But Liam also knew that once Tony got a close look at BT, he would be surprised.


    Liam summoned BT in the huge garage, but due to BT''s size, it had to bend its knees and sit on its buttocks to fit in the space.


    "BT, let Tony here work on you. You can show him all the secrets," Liam said.


    [Affirmative, Liam]


    "JARVIS scan this Optimus Prime part 2."


    "..."


    "Sir, I''ve scanned the unit. This machine''s internal systems are highly advanced for its era. It appears to be powered by a fusion core, utilizes neural linking technology, and is outfitted with a versatile weapon system."


    "Oh, don''t undersell it, JARVIS. This thing is the lovechild of a Gundam. Did I say it right?"


    "A comprehensive analysis of BT-7274''s systems, I must conclude that this machine represents a pinnacle of engineering. Its architecture, combat adaptability, and maybe even the AI sophistication, which I am yet to break, leave very little room for meaningful improvement."


    "Wait, wait, hold on. Are you telling me there''s nothing I can add to this guy? No weak points to exploit, no inefficiencies to fix? JARVIS, you''re starting to hurt my ego here."


    "Apologies, sir, but BT-7274''s fusion core operates at 98.7% efficiency, far surpassing any known modern energy source. Maybe the reactor at your heart could make a comparison at best. Its neural link interface allows seamless integration with a pilot, utilizing advanced safeguards to prevent cognitive overload. Additionally, its combat systems feature adaptive. It has thrusters that had never been seen before, camera clarity that had not been invented yet, even by you, holographic reinforcements that had been incorporated anywhere before. The neural link itself, by my computation, will take a bit more time for humanity to reach. Even I am finding it hard to actually make a thorough comprehension of what I am scanning."


    Both Tony and Yinsen were flabbergasted after what JARVIS had said, this made Liam put up a victory sign. Tony felt a bit ashamed now as he didn''t expect that.

 14

    Tony was checking the holographic layout of the Titan, and with every turn, he was amazed as JARVIS pointed out technical capabilities he had never seen before. BT also spoke in detail about its own build and provided a more thorough diagnosis.


    "Where did you get this thing? Don''t tell me you made it yourself," Tony said, now curious, as he was sure the current technology he had seen around couldn''t hold a candle to it.


    "I never said I made it myself. I''m just riding the shoulders of someone else," Liam commented, unwilling to elaborate further. Tony went into deep thought for some time before speaking again.


    "I want to conduct deep research on your Titan and then make some of the tech inside public¡ªof course, excluding the weapons system. This Titan has so many advancements that it will help us a lot. That is, of course, if you agree."


    "Do what you want. But clean your house first," Liam replied.


    "Uh... I''ll take care of it," Tony promised, though he felt a bit sad. He had already seen how Obadiah reacted when he spoke about shutting down the weapons manufacturing. He feared the worst but decided to give this man the benefit of the doubt.


    Liam didn''t stay much longer and left late at night, leaving BT behind for more in-depth research.


    A few days later


    The Stark Mansion


    "I can''t believe Tony Stark himself invited us to his home. Oh my god, I must be dreaming... Pinch me, Liam!" Chris exclaimed as they stopped at the gate of the huge mansion. Bonnie, too, was thrilled.


    "Better start believing it," Liam said, remaining nonchalant.


    Though the party was cheerful, Tony wasn''t in the spotlight as usual. He kept to himself, occasionally talking to Pepper, Yinsen, and Liam.


    Even Obadiah felt unwelcome at the party. He represented Stark Industries, so he could only smile and endure it, but inside, he was fuming. He could see Tony was beginning to suspect something, and he hated how things were progressing.


    The party lasted until sometime after midnight, but these were wealthy people with their own lifestyles. Tony invited Liam, his friends, and their parents to stay the night, and they happily agreed.


    Later that night, the three of them went down to the garage.


    "So how many days does he have to live?" Liam whispered to Yinsen.


    "You know about this?" Yinsen was surprised Liam was aware of the palladium poisoning. As the doctor who had performed the original surgery, Yinsen knew the situation well.


    "It''s not that difficult to figure out. What is he doing about it?" Liam asked.


    "He''s looking for alternative sources. Tony is now researching your Titan deeply while also working on his own armor," Yinsen replied.


    "Hmm..." Liam didn''t comment further. He could help Tony by pointing him in the right direction, but he felt there was no need. SHIELD would help him eventually, and Liam had already achieved the goodwill he wanted from Tony Stark.


    He knew he had disrupted the timeline by now, and the TVA wasn''t coming¡ªat least not yet, or maybe never. Thus, he would have to safeguard some key points of the story. Liam just hung out with Tony for sometime before he went to bed, while Tony continued working.


    This was expected of him since he was running in devil time and had to find his way out of the problem. But before he went to bed, Liam needed to do his everyday routine. Go to his game world.

 15

    Liam was back in the game he had been playing for the past two months. Calling it "playing" might be a stretch. It was more of a training¡ªtraining for the last 60 years. Yes, for one and a half months, Liam had been in training instead of progressing in his game.


    And there was a perfect mentor for him, who had been guiding him all this time. The mentor''s name was Celebrimbor. Many of you might not have heard of this name, and those who know it only recognize it from games.@@@@


    Celebrimbor was a N?oldorin prince and the last in the line of the House of Fe?anor, who lived in Middle-earth. Yes, the game was Shadow of Mordor. He was the dead elf bound to the protagonist, a ranger by the name of Talion. Both of them had already died, but for some reason, they were bound together and trapped in Middle-earth. Both wanted to be free from this curse and finally rest in death. They soon realized the infamous Sauron was behind it all.


    Thus, they started their quest for the Black Hand, so they could kill him and free themselves. There were some differences in the plot compared to the books, but it was still a great story. Since Talion was bound to Celebrimbor, who was not only an elven smith who forged the Rings of Power but also a great warrior, Liam begged him to teach him how to use a bow and fight with a sword over the past one and a half months.


    It was then that Liam realized Celebrimbor was a perfectionist. To become an ace in the game, Liam spent 60 years fighting and learning from him. It''s worth noting that, in the beginning, Liam didn''t have the wraith-like abilities and had to rely solely on melee combat. Titanfall 2 had taught him gun mastery, but melee combat was what he lacked.


    He remembered how tough the game was, even on normal mode, so Talion had a hard time in the beginning, killing orcs and monsters. But he got the hang of it quickly since Liam had already trained. What he was lacking was proficiency in the wraith abilities.


    So, for the past half a month, he had been grinding. He was a one-man army and had to be incredibly nimble, relying mostly on sneak attacks. But once in a while, he faced his enemies head-on. Unlike his time in Titanfall 2, his success rate in direct combat wasn''t as bad.


    He came out victorious 50% of the time. So, it was a win-win situation for him. In his previous life, he loved the game and knew how to play it. And since Liam was a completionist when it came to games, he explored every nook and cranny of the open world and did what he felt was right.


    He soon raised an army using his wraith abilities and now aimed for the final target: the Hand of Sauron. Today, he was at the end of the game''s story. He had struggled to get here, ensuring everything was perfect, but he was glad he''d finally arrived.


    "Return to me, Ring maker."


    At that moment, Liam saw Sauron, almost in flesh and blood. This was where the fight would begin¡ªthe fight he had been training for. Of course, Celebrimbor helped him in the battle. When Sauron came to finish him, Celebrimbor held him back. And that was enough for Talion to not only take Celebrimbor back but also kill Sauron.


    When Liam played this game the first time, he had complained about how boring the final boss fight was. But now, he thanked the gods for making it short. He was tired of smelling sulfur, feeling oppression, and walking on dead earth.


    As soon as he finished the whole story, he found himself back in bed at the Stark Mansion.


    [Congratulations to the host for completing the game. Final evaluation: A-]


    "Well, at least it''s not a B. I did better than I expected. Now, give me the rewards."


    [Before the host claims the rewards, there is one matter that need to be spoken.]


    "What is it?" Liam asked.


    [Since you have completed the game Shadow of Mordor and it is the prequel of Shadow of War, if the host is willing, he can play Shadow of War and have a chance to fair better in the eventual evaluation. But there is a catch. If the host in the game Shadow of War, fails to get at least A-, he wouldn''t recieve any rewards and only if he does better than the previous game would he get any rewards]

 16

    "And why the sudden generosity?" Liam asked.


    [Since the host has crossed the A-class evaluation, any game with a sequel can now be accessed in the future.]


    "That''s good to know. Wait, are there other privileges once I finish a game with an S-class or higher rating?" Liam was now more curious.


    [It will be revealed once the host achieves that result.]


    "Hmph. One day I will," Liam vowed, though he himself didn''t believe it. These NPCs were a nightmare, and their high intelligence didn''t help him at all. He had died more than 40 times just to the orcs, who were mere brutes. If it had been human NPCs, he would undoubtedly have faced traps in an open-world game.


    "I will continue to Shadow of War."


    [Accepted. Good luck in your journey.]


    Though Liam was a bit disappointed about the lack of rewards for now, he looked forward to the next day so he could start Shadow of War. The wraith abilities were far cooler than what he could use currently, and this game would only hone his skills further.


    The Next Day


    Liam and his friends returned to New York. Stark had allowed them to take the private jet home as a farewell gift. Phil also expressed his sadness at not being able to accompany them to New York, as he loved the city¡ªand it was where his beloved car, Lola, was kept.


    One day, they stormed Obadiah''s office, and he was arrested. Surprisingly, he managed to get bail, but the trial had begun, and he wasn''t allowed to leave the country. He also had to report to the police department daily.


    Tony was particularly angry that Obadiah had been granted bail, so he vented his frustration by visiting terrorist camps himself. Unlike the original story, his new armor was far superior. He unleashed hell on several terrorist groups, including in Gulmira, where he destroyed everything in his path.


    Thanks to advanced armor and material technology provided by BT, the Air Force didn''t even detect him on radar. However, SHIELD managed to obtain some pictures of his exploits.


    "Man, this guy Phil has been such a nuisance. He shows up and starts asking questions. I''m tired of people now," Tony complained after enthusiastically calling Liam to talk about his recent adventures.


    "Are you mad that he''s bothering you, or that he''s trying to get cozy with Pepper?" Liam asked. Tony immediately turned to look at Yinsen, who subtly moved his head, pretending to know nothing.


    "Yinsen, you''re banned from entering the garage for a week. No, make it four days," Tony said. Liam laughed, feeling sorry for Yinsen, who had snitched on Tony despite knowing better.


    Yinsen could only nod in acceptance.


    "Did you find an alternate power source?" Liam asked, referring to Tony''s arc reactor. Tony dodged the question with some nonsense, which was indication enough that he hadn''t. According to Yinsen, though, there was still time, and Tony had been working hard to find a solution.


    Meanwhile, Obadiah received a call from Russia. Someone had reached out to him, promising to provide everything he needed to take revenge on Tony¡ªif he was willing to accept the offer.


    Of course Obadiah jumped on the offer and made routes for this new person to land in America. He might have been in bail but that didn''t mean he had lost access to all of his money even though many of his accounts were frozen. The person who had offered to help Obadiah was, as expected, Ivan Vanko. The other traitor.


    Since his father was banned from America, by extension he too was. Thus he needed a channel to come to America, in the exchange that he would help him to take revenge on Tony.

 17

    1.5 months later


    These three months had been hectic for Liam to say the least. Even though the Stark Industries had helped Liam to build the Marvel company, at the end of the day he still had the most shares in the company, so many things would still have to go through his approval. Though he wasn''t of legal age yet, it didn''t mean all of the responsibilities wouldn''t fall on his shoulders.


    Liam was annoyed by this attention and running around, but he couldn''t complain as he was getting money out of it and so was the family and his friends. Though his friends were nowhere near what he was getting, they tried to share his burden as much as possible. Olivia, Liam''s mother, also took an active role.


    She chose the office and the other logistics, while Stark Industries were handling the matters. Meanwhile, the products had been announced by his company as Stark Industries retrofitted themselves to make the new products. At least some of them, while Marvel started building some factories in USA and in other parts of the world.


    Cheap labour was always the demand. @@@@


    But while he was doing so, he hadn''t forgotten his main goal. Completing Shadow of War and his time in Shadow of Mordor. He was able to progress the fastest in this game. The first one took a year. The last one took a few months.


    Even the name of Sauron never scared him. But those names did. He was ever curious, and even asked him about it, but never got a proper answer. Training for around 60 years did have it''s price and it was one of them. Loss of a bit of sanity when you live in a same place with the same person for such a long time.


    After a long and lengthy fight with Liam dodging and sneaking around he was finally able to best Isuldur in battle. He used the supposed power of wraith to control him, but at the end Talion decided to just kill him.


    "Find peace in death."


    Celebrimbor was angry that he had taken that step and as expected and then after a small disagreement where Celebrimbor said he wanted to control the army of Sauron, Elatriel and Celebrimbor betrayed him and the Ring was taken away. Elatriel was the new one with the wraith power, while Talion laid dead on the ground.


    But of course, how could the story end here. He was raised from half death again with the help of Ring left by Isuldur and thus now he had a new army. While this was happening, Celebrimbor and Elatriel went to face Sauron.


    Celebrimbor finally had to face Sauron, of course this time Liam had taken over his body unbeknownst to him and had to fight this monster for several hours and thankfully though it was the longest fight he ever faced, he lost less health if he ever misplaced a single strike.


    It was only once that had happened but unlike other times, he didn''t die immediately.

 18

    [Congratulations to the host for finishing the game]


    Liam was back, back to his own place. He had been in the game for a long time this time since he was in a bit of a hurry to complete it. Now that Liam had finished it, he just stared at the wall. This was the longest he had been. The previous one took time for sure, but not this long.


    Even though Liam knew that Celebrimbor would betray him at the end, he had grown to like that old and dead elf. That elf had taught him the art of swordsmanship and archery. But the ring¡ªunchecked power would corrupt anyone.


    "Ah. I will miss the physical enhancement of Talion," Liam thought. And this was true. There was no difference between him and Cooper in the first game. But Talion was different. Even without the enhancements of wraith abilities, his physical form was beyond what normal humans were capable of.


    But then again, it was the world of Middle-earth. Here, the blood of Nu?menor flowed in the veins of some men, and the normal humans were blessed with enhanced strength.


    "What are the rewards this time?" Liam asked, as his time for contemplation and mourning was over.


    [Congratulations. You have done an excellent job and thus have been given the evaluation of an S rating.]


    This made Liam take a deep breath. He couldn''t believe his eyes or his ears as he saw the panel in front of his retina. This wasn''t what he had expected. He had been expecting an A+ kind of rating, but this was more than he had wished for. Living in such a dangerous world made him skeptical and expect less from things and people around him. Be it people or circumstances, odds were stacked against him.


    But this¡ªthis was a surprise. A welcome one at that.


    [The S rating will provide you with four rewards.]


    This made Liam smile wide. This was the happiest Liam had ever felt¡ªeven more than when he got his first car a few days ago.


    [1. 10 tonnes of mithril


    This put a smile on Liam''s face. This was more than he wished for. He would have an arsenal of abilities soon.


    "Can''t wait for the abilities."


    The next moment, Liam felt a wave of pain¡ªa pain in the heart, like a stab of a million pins inside, and the same proceeded towards the rest of his body. Liam felt as if his skin was crawling with ants biting him. But there was a small thing that Liam had learned over time: tolerating pain.


    Liam didn''t utter a single word when the process started. His body was changing in ways no original human ever had. Liam would be the first of his kind in this whole world and probably the whole universe.


    The pain was a bit unbearable, and thus his brain actually shut down by the end when the pain reached his bones. Even then, Liam didn''t utter a single word or scream. He was someone who had fought the orcs with an open gut and still killed one at the end. Of course, his health regenerated when he used his drain ability on another orc later, but he was still able to fight through the pain before. So pain had been his ally for as long as he could remember.


    Longer than the people around him and even his own parents.


    The next day


    Liam woke up gasping, his body drenched in sweat and trembling uncontrollably. He sat up slowly, every fiber of his being aching with a dull, lingering throb. The transformation was complete, and though the pain had been excruciating, the rewards had already begun to manifest.


    Liam flexed his fingers experimentally, marveling at the strength surging through his veins. His hands, once ordinary, now felt like they could crush steel. He stood up, his movements unnaturally smooth and precise, as though his body had been fine-tuned to perfection. he air around him seemed clearer, every detail of the room sharper, every sound crisper.


    "This is more amazing than I thought it would be." Liam inherently knew now that his own lifespan had just reached 300 years at least. This was the headline for that bloodline. Longer lifespan.


    His features hadn''t changed drastically, but there was a new intensity in his eyes, eyes with blue in them. He had brown eyes before but now it had turned blue. And that wasn''t the only thing the system had administered into him during his night sleep. Celebrimbor''s knowledge and mastery.


    His brain was now filled with knowledge and mastery that didn''t belong to him. But he knew that this knowledge was enough to safeguard himself. And the wraith abilities were the main highlights of this.

 19

    The wealth of knowledge and mastery Liam had inherited from Celebrimbor was staggering. Liam felt like he could see the delicate balance of metals, the secrets of enchanting them with power beyond mortal comprehension, and the artistry required to forge magic weapons.


    He found himself instinctively understanding the movements of a sword, the fluidity of archery, and the nuances of combat honed through countless battles. He had played as Talion and had the wraith abilities, but even then, he felt like he lacked the whole array of knowledge that had now been opened to him.


    But it wasn''t just physical skills. Celebrimbor''s knowledge ran deeper. Liam now understood the ancient histories of Middle-earth as if he had lived through them¡ªthe rise and fall of empires, the forging of the Rings of Power, and the tragic corruption of Celebrimbor''s own creations. Basically, a handbook of what to do and what not to do.


    Liam couldn''t wait to bring forth some of the magic that he had learned from Celebrimbor, but before that, he would need to make his own cold weapons.


    "Liam, wake up..." As Liam was thinking all that, he heard his mother. He didn''t have much time before she would knock on his door, so it was time to see what his other reward brought him.


    When Liam activated his wraith ability, the world around him dimmed slightly, as though reality itself had taken a step back to make room for something more ethereal. The room was bathed in a ghostly blue light, emanating from his own body, which now shimmered with the translucent glow of a spectral form.


    He stood in front of the mirror to see himself. His reflection was no longer fully his own. His physical body, though still recognizable, was overlaid with the spectral form of a wraith¡ªa luminous, ghostly version of himself that seemed to pulse with raw energy. His reflection was no longer fully his own. His physical body, though still recognizable, was overlaid with the spectral form of a wraith¡ªa luminous, ghostly version of himself in elf form that seemed to pulse with raw energy.


    And that was not the only thing. He could feel that he could slow down time itself. In hindsight, it wasn''t actually slowing time. It was just that his senses made everything feel slow around him, and the amazing part was, he could feel that his physical body could keep up with those senses for some time.


    As he contemplated that, a knock finally came to the door, and Liam knew he would have to leave for class, or else his mother wouldn''t be too happy. She had become stricter with his school duties as she felt that her son should soon be a learned person and didn''t want him to get the tagline of a school dropout millionaire.


    "You think he likes boys?" Olivia whispered as she heard the car roaring in the garage.


    "I can''t say. Not that it matters. I will be accepting of Chris too," Mason replied as he slowly finished breakfast. For them, it was just teasing. They didn''t really care as long as their son was happy and safe.


    As he was in school, he thought of the things that he needed to do, and thus he contacted his manager. Yes, the CEO of Marvel had insisted that Liam should get himself a manager and, also as an extension, his mother.


    "Hello, Mr. Woodworth. How can I help you?" Rachel said. She was chosen as the manager for Liam and his family. And, of course, Marvel was paying. She was managing all the things that Liam and his family would require.


    "Rachel, rent a garage or a huge warehouse for R&D purposes. Make sure that the place is built in such a way that someone could do blacksmithing inside without being raided by the police or anything. And also make a room there so that one could sleep, eat, and shower there," Liam said.


    "So, Sir, you want this kind of place near your home? And in whose name do you want to register it? Yours or Marvel''s?" Rachel asked. She was a veteran in this industry and was actually transferred by Pepper herself to be the manager of Liam. So Liam had faith in her too. Another reason was because Rachel had family of her own here, so she was also eager to take a job, which had a raise and also meant she wouldn''t have to cater to Tony anymore.


    Though Tony had changed for the better, she did remember what a nightmare Tony was for the company.


    "Mine. Keep it secret. Make it a considerable distance away from home. Oh, yes... Make sure that it''s soundproof. Don''t want neighbors to raise noise complaints," Liam said.


    "You don''t have to worry, Mr. Woodworth. I will handle the logistics. I will inform you as soon as we have a place," Rachel said.

 20

    A few days had gone by since Liam had asked for a place to carry out his plans for the future. Until then, he had tried his abilities a bit, and suffice it to say, it was beyond what he had expected.


    In the darkness of the night, he had tried to climb walls, and suffice it to say, he was now better at climbing walls than maybe Spider-Man himself. Of course, he didn''t have the ability to stick to a single vertical wall, but traversing it was a piece of cake as he felt that his fingers were powerful enough to crush stones.


    He then went to a 24/7 Planet Fitness late at night to check his strength with his normal body. He could exert immense force. With his original body now, he could lift 500 kgs quite easily, but with wraith enhancement, he could not calculate it because he didn''t have the weights to counter his arm strength at all.


    Soon, he realized that Planet Fitness couldn''t measure his strength and impact strength either. Though he had a general idea of it since he had played the game long enough.


    "Mr. Woodworth, we have found a place for you. The address is 84-20 51st Avenue."


    "Okay. I will be there in an hour."


    Liam was excited to see his workplace for the foreseeable future.


    "Mr. Woodworth, I hope you had a wonderful morning today," Rachel said with a smile as Liam got out of his Audi A8.


    "Rachel, I told you not to be formal. Call me Liam. Mr. Woodworth sounds jarring," Liam said.


    "Hahaha... I will try to remember that next time," Rachel said as she led him to the place she thought would be appropriate for Liam. And Liam wasn''t actually expecting the surprise that Rachel gave him.


    "Yo, my man, what''s up?" Tony asked.


    "Tony, you are not a Gen Z kid, so stop trying to be like us, and I don''t talk that way," Liam replied.


    "And here I thought I would get close to you," Tony replied.


    "I am not a beautiful female that you want to get close to me. How are the new product launches going?"


    "That''s not my circus to know. Pepper is handling it. But we did get a military contract from SHIELD and the USA for the use of Neuralink, as it would allow a pilot to maneuver a plane with just a helmet and get better control. And Marvel & Stark Industries are actively trying to look for a commercial use of the technology. I gotta say, the more I look into BT, the more surprised I become. By the way, I have made another version of the railgun for BT and have made a smaller version and gave it to BT, which he can mount on his other hand."


    "Did you mount a railgun into that armor of yours too?"


    "You bet."


    "Did you find another source of energy for your arc reactor?" Liam asked, as that was more important now.


    "Can you not parade on my wound right now? My heart can''t take it... By the way, I called you because I saw that you gifted yourself quite the place. What are you going to make? Does the organization behind you want to learn blacksmithing?" Tony asked. Tony changed the topic, which meant he wasn''t able to find a solution for his poisoning, and since the account was provided by Stark himself, he knew what transactions were taking place.


    Tony was still thinking that BT and his suit were technology provided by a secret organization behind Liam because there couldn''t be another explanation for the technology.

 21

    "No. This is something I need to do myself." Liam replied.


    "Yourself? When did you start using hammers?" Tony asked.


    "Quite recently actually. Maybe you should come down and look at my hobby." Liam said.


    "Then you should mention before that it is an hobby. And here I thought I will be welcome with hands full of calluses." Tony said. Knowing that Liam had just got himself a hobby, he talked of other matters. He also spoke of how he was trying to figure out the shielding technology of BT and that he would patent it soon as this would be the game changer in the industry.


    For the next few days it was absolutely a busy schedule for Liam. He had taken a brake from coming to the garage and was no focusing on his new love. The sound metal and the scorching fire was his primary attraction.


    He bought steel and other alloys, and also some jewels. Of course Tony teased him when Liam bought jewels in the group chat of his, Yinsen and Tony. And Liam had to tell him off. Liam''s only response was


    "You will see the fruits of my labour some day."


    "I need the Vibranium. I think it will be soon time to visit Andy Serkis." Liam thought as he could already envision his new armor that he would make once he could get his hands on Vibranium. Or maybe someday off the body of Tiamat.


    Liam really did have big dreams. During this month he had also received a news that made him a bit irritated. Obadiah had escaped. The case was in fast track and after proper evidence, Obadiah was found guilty on 47 counts and was given life imprisonment. In the most dangerous facility.


    But during the whole transfer of Obadiah, a bunch of terrorists attacked the transport vehicle and made freed him. Tony was so angry that he personally went scorched earth and threatened the government with holding back funding and technology if they couldn''t find the criminal and the organization within 3 months. It sent the whole country into awry as every department went into action, trying find the culprit.


    But was it that easy to find a criminal of that size? Especially when secret organizations might have use for him. Liam had warned Tony about Obadiah and told him to keep a mobile suit with himself.


    Tony took the advice seriously. And had made that famous suitcase armor which he carried now everywhere with Happy holding it.


    Few days later


    The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the school courtyard as Liam walked out with Chris and Bonnie. The trio was laughing about something Chris had said. It was a normal day for everyone present, but it was destined to be a eventful night.


    "You! You ruined my family!" a shrill voice rang out from across the street.

 22

    Liam turned, startled, as a middle-aged woman stormed toward him, her face twisted in fury. Mrs. Gallaghar. He barely had time to process her presence before he saw an egg flying at him. Liam easily dodged it with a backstep. The egg hit the gravel, splattering in an instant.


    "Mrs. Gallaghar?" Bonnie recognized her, and so did the others.


    "You think you''re some kind of hero, don''t you?" Mrs. Gallaghar screeched as she hurled another egg, this time toward his forehead, which Liam again avoided quite easily with a slight move of his head.@@@@


    These didn''t even make Liam use wraith abilities; his Numenorean bloodline was enough.


    "Mrs. Gallaghar, what are you doing?" Liam asked. He was confused too because the last he heard was that her son had gotten admission to a private school.


    "What''s going on?!" she shrieked. "You started all of this! You ruined my son''s life! If it weren''t for you, he''d still be safe!"


    "Ma''am, please calm down. What are you talking about?" Chris stepped in.


    "Don''t you ''calm down'' me! This boy¡ªhe got my son suspended! He made my son confess! And because of that confession, people went to jail! You think they wouldn''t retaliate? Do you have any idea what you''ve done?" Mrs. Gallaghar said, her voice trembling now.


    "I didn''t make your son do anything. He was selling drugs on school grounds. He made that choice, Mrs. Gallaghar," Liam said, but his brows were furrowed now.


    Liam scaled the sides and rooftops of the building effortlessly. The wraith abilities granted him practical invisibility under the soft moonlight, the arrays of streetlights, and the occasional cars. He reached a particular roof and, for a moment, scanned the quiet streets below.


    This was the route he had taken months ago, stalking the drug peddler. He took out his Pulse Blade and threw it on the wall of the apartment. And as expected, there was nobody in the apartment. Before coming here, he had already taken cognizance of what was going on.


    The drug peddler was in jail, so his place should be empty. And from the looks of it, the police were yet to know of this place. Liam opened the half-opened window and sneaked inside quite easily. His eyes adjusted instantly to the dim interior as he scanned for anything out of place.


    Liam took out the Pulse Blade once more and threw it on the ground to get better sonar detection. He himself started to search for any clues that would help him get to the bottom of it.


    It didn''t take long for Liam to see a small compartment on the side of the room. It was on the floor, and Liam found a small latch on the side. He pulled out the lid, which then opened an empty compartment, as he had seen it on the sonar. He looked deeply into the small empty shelf and couldn''t find anything that could lead to the person responsible.


    No papers, no laptop, no mobiles. Watching criminal shows made him think that criminals were dumb. Turned out not so much. Though Liam could smell a foul odor from the small compartment, this was not a clue. It just reinforced that whoever lived here was peddling drugs.


    He did so probably to safeguard himself if there was a warrant to check his place. But then it struck Liam. If the drug peddler wanted to hide, he would hide drugs in such a place where the police would find it difficult to trace. A dog could easily smell the drugs, so why would he keep drugs in such a place where it would be easy for even the police to find them?


    He looked at the side of the compartment, which was attached to the sidewall, and found some rough marks on it. It was then that wisdom dawned upon Liam. He didn''t need his Pulse Blade to realize that the wall on the side wasn''t the same wall as the rest of the apartment. It was a false wall.


    Or rather, the sidewall could be taken out, and from there, one could access the other condo.

 23

    Liam stared at the small compartment, its inner side clearly shared with the adjacent condo. It wasn''t a hidden passage¡ªit was simply an opening into a larger storage cavity between the walls. Whoever lived next door was using it to stash their secrets.


    Liam closed the lid of the compartment quietly, stepped back out through the window, and scaled the building''s side like a phantom. The faint glow of light seeped through a curtain that hung crookedly over the glass.


    He peered in carefully. The room was quite clean, everything seemed to be in place and a man sat on a couch, idly scrolling through his phone while a small TV played static in the background. He was not wearing any shirt so he could see some tattoos. Liam could also hear some Russian rap.


    Liam pushed the window open which was behind the back of the man, and the loud music dampened the sound of the window opening, muting the faint creak. With precise and silent steps he approached the man and before the man could retaliate he placed his hand on the top of the man.


    The man screamed a bit in pain as his eyes and the inside of his mouth started to shine in white light but it soon dimmed and so did his small scream. It was the ability in the game known as dominate Captain, which allowed Talion to control an orc and make use of him as a follower and also drain it''s health when he himself needed health regeneration.


    Liam wasn''t sure that his ability would work on humans, but he was surprised that it did as the man turned around and went down on his knee.


    "At your service, Sir."


    "Your name," Liam demanded.


    "Viktor."


    "What do you do?"


    "I am one of the primary distributors of drugs in this part of the city." Viktor said, his accent was quite think for a resident of New York.


    "Russian?" Liam asked as he now slowly sat on the sofa while Viktor was still on his knees with his head down.


    "Just have some work." Liam replied.


    "Are you going for a date? Liam Woodsworth, you will not be going on a date wearing a hoodie and track pants." Olivia screamed when Liam was almost at the door.


    "I am not going on a date." Liam said.


    "You can fool everyone. But not me. Go and wear something decent. I won''t have a man going to impress a girl while wearing a cheap washed out hoodie." Olivia said. This made Liam sigh. He was going out to be a Batman, but here he was being berated here.


    But Liam didn''t fight back as the excuse of date was better than what he was going to do now.


    Liam went to the garage and then drove the car to quite a distance away from his home. The Hell''s kitchen. He drove his car to the West 45th street. He came out of the car and then soon entered the alley way. Veles Taxi garage was on 55th so there was still quite a distance.


    Liam approached the Veles Taxi Garage with silence, from high above. The garage buzzed with activity if one looked from outside. Men moved in and out of the large space, some loading crates into unmarked cars, some repaired the cars while others patrolled with concealed pistols tucked inside their pockets. Of course those were very few in numbers and it was happening deep inside the garage.


    While the front of garage was still working and showing that nothing illegal was going on. Liam could see all of it from the Pulse Blade.


    Liam dropped silently into the shadows near a stack of tires. His approach went unnoticed until one of the patrolling men stopped, his eyes narrowing at the silhouette of him. Before the guard could raise an alarm, he blinked (Spectral dash, allows Liam to cover short distance instantly) and instantly found himself face to face with the guard.


    He grabbed by his neck and slamming him into a wall.


    The man struggled, but Liam''s grip was unyielding. He placed his hand over the man''s forehead, activating his wraith domination ability. The man''s eyes glowed momentarily, his will bending to Liam''s command.


    "Stay quiet. Secure the area," Liam ordered. The guard nodded and moved away obediently, leaving Liam free to advance further.

 24

    From the corner of his eye, he saw two other guys coming toward him. He had already observed all their movements on the HUD. Even though BT was miles away, it was helping him through the HUD and analyzing everything for him in real time. He made a spectral dash toward the two men and reached them in an instant.


    "What the hell..."


    One man called out, only to see an armored figure knock his companion unconscious. To his horror, he then spotted another figure¡ªthis one resembling a spectral copy of the same armored man¡ªmoving toward him. He processed all of this in a matter of seconds, but before he could react, his world turned dark, and he lost consciousness instantly.


    This was the Wraith Chain ability, which allowed Liam to chain sneak attacks¡ªor, in this case, open attacks as well¡ªsince he had full control over his wraith abilities, unlike in the game. This ability enabled Liam''s spectral form to attack single or multiple individuals simultaneously.


    Another key difference was that, unlike in the gaming world, he didn''t need to worry about a focus meter. His wraith abilities could be used without limit, thanks to his S-category evaluation.


    The man''s brief exclamation had attracted attention.


    "Simon, are you there? Simon... What happened?"


    Three more men emerged from the side gate of Veles Taxi in the alleyway. When they saw the two unconscious men on the ground, they froze in shock. A moment later, they began shouting and pulled out their guns and knives.


    A spectral form of Liam materialized behind them, striking one of the men. This sudden attack caused the other two to whirl around. When they saw the dimly glowing spectral figure of Liam, their legs trembled.


    "My Lord, what is this..."


    "God... What ghost is this?.."


    Both men began chanting nervously, which gave Liam an opening. He attacked without hesitation. This time, he used his physical form, striking one man in the side of the head while simultaneously rotating in mid-air to deliver a sharp kick to the other man''s groin.


    The move he used was Deadly Specter, a wraith ability that conjured a brief entity of himself to trap or attack his targets.@@@@


    Liam knew the commotion would have alerted the people inside, so he quickly entered the garage using Spectral Dash.


    "Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov... We need to talk," Liam said, his voice distorted by a voice changer in his headgear to ensure his identity remained hidden.


    The two brothers were horrified. They had seen Liam vanish before their eyes, only to hear his voice behind them. They spun around, guns raised.


    "Who gave you the courage to¡ª" Anatoly began, but his words were cut off as Liam placed a hand on each of their heads, activating his Domination ability.


    It took just five seconds to bend their wills. Domination worked best on the weak-minded, and while these gang members had some determination, they were no match for someone who had been fighting and killing for over sixty years.


    Both brothers dropped to their knees. By that time, the first Russian Liam had dominated returned.


    "Is the perimeter secure?" Liam asked.


    "Yes, sir," the man replied.


    "Tie everyone up and lock them in a room together. Make sure they don''t cause a scene before I leave," Liam ordered.


    The noise from earlier had already drawn too much attention, and Liam needed to act quickly.


    He entered the office, followed closely by the two brothers. Inside the office, the air was thick with the stench of cheap vodka and stale cigarette smoke. Papers and ledgers cluttered the desk, alongside weapons and a small pile of cash.


    "What are your orders, Sir." Anatoly asked.


    "What happened to the child Thomas Gallaghar? What did you do to him?" Liam asked as he sat down at main chair while the other two kept standing.


    "We have give him away to the Steel Serpent. He is now at Pier 97 on a medium sized cargo ship." Vladmir replied.


    "Steel Serpent ? What is that?"


    "Steel Serpent is essentially like us but they make the products and are more deadly and powerful than us."

 25

    Anatoly went on to explain what kind of organization Steel Serpent was, only for Liam to realize at the end that it was something run by Madame Gao. The Russian gang was very new, but Steel Serpent had been in New York for almost a decade now.


    "So, if I go there now, I can rescue Thomas?" Liam asked.


    "Yes, and along with him, I have seen other young men and women. That Pier 97 is essentially the grounds of Steel Serpent, where they send young men and women all over the globe. They import them from other countries too, and they go to the highest bidder," Anatoly explained. Liam then asked a bunch more questions before he got the general idea.


    Since Thomas had made them lose business, they thought of taking him away to calm their own anger. They also had no idea where these kidnapped children would go, nor did they care.


    "When is the ship leaving?" Liam asked.


    "Tomorrow... at night," Vladimir said.


    "I guess I should give them a visit before they leave," Liam said as he got up. "After I free them, gather a meeting with all the heads of whatever great plan you are making. Tell them you have a clue about what is going to happen. Then send me the location and time."


    Another guard turned the corner, his eyes widening in horror as Liam activated his wraith chain ability. In a flash, Liam teleported behind him, driving his sword through the man''s back and into his heart. The body slumped forward, but Liam didn''t stop. His wraith bow shimmered into existence, and three arrows shot forth in quick succession, using Eagle Sight, which made anyone feel that he had stopped time while shooting. In fact, it was his wraith ability in its full beauty, each arrow finding its mark in the skulls of three guards patrolling the far side of the deck.


    The remaining guards on the ship were now fully alert, their shouts ringing out as they drew their weapons. Liam smiled coldly. He hadn''t forgotten how he used to brutalize and kill the Uruks in the game and have mounts under him. Though there were no mounts with him anymore and no base to seize, he was free to do whatever he wanted here.


    He leaped into the fray, his sword cutting through flesh and bone with precision. They tried using guns, only to be shot by an arrow, followed by a chain of shadows. This allowed Liam to kill the first one with an arrow and then proceed to chain-kill the other guards at breakneck speed. Each kill was more brutal than the last¡ªa guard''s head severed cleanly from his shoulders, another guard cleaved in half, while another had his head split.


    One guard tried to run, but Liam wasn''t about to let anyone escape. He extended his hand, and the guard froze mid-step, his body convulsing as Liam''s wraith domination ability took hold. The man turned on his comrades, firing wildly before succumbing to Liam''s will and plunging his own knife into his throat. He could use the domination ability from afar too, but he noticed it was only possible when the enemy was in extreme fear and on the run.


    Liam moved below deck, where the heart of the operation was. But there were still guards here¡ªmore heavily armed than those above. When he used his spectral glaive, he cut through each of them like he was slicing through tofu. None of them had a chance. But since it was a cramped space, he had to use daggers too at times, throwing them like shurikens at some of the guards, impaling and stabbing them.


    At the door of the room that held the children, there was only one guard standing. He had heard the commotion but didn''t dare to go out, as these were his instructions. Liam came down and instantly shot an arrow at the gun, making the guard lose it. This made the man fear more than ever before.


    "You should''ve run," Liam said, his voice low and filled with menace. His left hand lit up with a spectral glow, and he punched the man right in the face.

 26

    This attack made the man freeze immediately, and then Liam proceeded to send a flurry of sword strikes at the guard. Of course, the attacks came in chain spectral forms, and when the attacks ended, the guard blew up into small pieces, frozen in ice.


    There were no blood spills anywhere, and one could sense the cold atmosphere. An eerie silence hung in the air. Liam proceeded to break the lock on the huge metal door that led inside. After the loud thud, the door opened, and there he saw multiple young men and women, all of whom looked at him with fear in their eyes.


    Liam took a good look at them and even found the guy he had been looking for: Thomas Gallaghar. But he also knew that he couldn''t take these children out, at least not at that moment. The horrific scenes outside would be very bad and would traumatize them more than they were already.


    "Stay here. Someone will come to take you away soon," Liam said in a hoarse tone and then proceeded to shut the door again. He wasn''t doing this to gain recognition, anyway, so he didn''t need their approval. The younglings were confused and, thus, didn''t react at all.


    Liam then proceeded to call Tony.


    "Hello."


    "You have the nerve to call me? You call Pepper multiple times a day, and then you call me once a week?" Tony shouted over the phone.


    "It''s because Pepper is now the CEO," Liam defended himself. "And we can have this tantrum later. I just uncovered a bunch of trafficked younglings. Use your connections in the police department and free them. I''ll send you some pictures to get the search warrant."


    Tony wanted to continue with his drama but stopped when he started seeing the pictures and videos Liam sent. His mood had already been sour for the past few days, and seeing this angered him.


    "JARVIS, contact the Stark Foundation and tell them to use all means necessary to deal with whoever''s responsible for this."


    But the detectives couldn''t say a word since it was the Stark Foundation, a foundation built by Tony himself and known for using its money to fund the police, hospitals, and other institutions. Thus, they couldn''t just object when everything had already taken place.


    Dexter surveyed all the victims, and it took almost an hour to get a rough overview. The more he saw, the less sense it made to him. He had always prided himself on being able to discern the mind of a perpetrator, but this time he couldn''t discern the body of the perp.


    "Lay it on me, Dexter."


    "We have a Captain America on the run, and he''s carrying a sword and a bow," Dexter replied.


    "A what now?" one of the detectives asked, trying to process what he had just heard.


    "You see the dismembered bodies here? It takes an immense amount of force to separate limbs from a body. Maybe a person with considerable strength could do it once or twice, but this guy¡ªassuming he is a man¡ªwas able to do this to multiple targets. Not only that, but his bow must be very well-built, too, since each arrow was able to penetrate the skull, which is standard for any good bow. However, these arrows went beyond and struck 4 inches deep, which shows how powerful this person''s bow was. And someone to even wield one would need massive amounts of strength. I haven''t yet calculated the strength necessary, but you''ll have the metrics soon."


    "Great, now you have a super individual on the run," one of the detectives said.


    "Are you seriously believing this? I know you''re a fan of Captain America, but do you seriously think he ever existed? There must be another explanation for this. Dexter, get on the case. I want a thorough analysis of the victims," the other detective said, clearly furious with the detectives of Hell''s Kitchen.


    He had always found them fishy, and there was no way he could believe such an operation was going on here without their knowledge. But thankfully, the Director of the NY Police Department had taken an interest in this case and had sent their best detectives.


    When he saw the young children being taken out by emergency services, blindfolded with cloth, he felt nothing but blood boiling.

 27

    "Get me the CCTV camera footage. For a trafficking ship, this place surely has lots of cameras," one of the detectives said. Soon, they found themselves in the ship''s guard office. The guard wasn''t there because he was already dead, as he was one of those who had tried to confront Liam. It was unfortunate he hadn''t seen Liam''s abilities before leaving his post. Otherwise, he might have stayed holed up in his office¡ªnot that it would have mattered, as Liam had hunted down everyone on the ship and killed them.


    It didn''t take long for the detectives to access footage from a few hours prior. What they saw made it hard for them to believe their own eyes. They were about to investigate further when a group of men in suits walked in, acting like they owned the place.


    "I''m sorry, gentlemen. The NY Police Department has been relieved of this case, and we''re taking over from here," a man in a suit with a receding hairline but a sweet voice said.


    "Who are you?" one of the detectives asked.


    "We''re the FBI. The case is too big for the Police Department to handle, as it involves international security," the man in the black suit replied. Normally, this would have angered the detectives, but this time, neither they nor Dexter protested.


    What they''d seen on the footage was far beyond their pay grade. This was not their area of expertise at all. In fact, they silently thanked their lucky stars and cleared the scene as quickly as possible.


    "Still think Captain America was just a myth?" one of the detectives asked, trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.


    "I don''t know if what I''ve read about him is true or not anymore, but that man was definitely not human," the other detective replied.


    "Why do you say that?" the first detective asked.


    "His ghostly doppelganger had distinct long ears and a wreath on his head. If I didn''t know better, I''d say he was an elf¡ªbut then again, they don''t exist," the detective said.


    "Hahaha... Moments ago, you didn''t believe in Captain America, and now you''re saying he might be an elf? I love this."


    Maybe that''s why he integrated into this society and family so quickly. He was more loved in this life than in his last.


    "Liam, you avoided your birthday last year, but this year, we won''t allow it," Olivia said.


    "I don''t care, Mom. Birthdays are just noise pollution to me," Liam replied. Olivia wanted to argue further but was interrupted by the ringtone of Liam''s phone. From the corner of his eye, he saw the caller''s name and answered.


    "What kind of havoc have you caused?" Tony asked without even greeting him.


    "I''m sitting at my breakfast table, eating cereal on a warm Sunday morning. What have you been up to?" Liam replied.


    "Don''t play Tom and Jerry with me. I''ve seen what you did on that ship! That evil pirate almost got me thrown into some deep-state prison because I knew about the case before the police even reached the pier. You''ve landed me in hot water, kid," Tony said.


    "You''re Tony Stark. You''re one of the greatest scientists in the world. I''m sure you handled it well," Liam replied. By this point, he''d returned to his room. His calls with Tony were always encrypted and secure, so he didn''t hesitate to speak freely.


    "Don''t change the topic. This an adult conversation. What did you do?" Tony asked.


    "I became a serial killer for the night." Liam asked. "Am I being judged for that?"


    "Of course not, we both have killed way too much blood on our hands to care about serial killers. I am just trying to wrap my head around the fact that there could be ghostly powers with you. Wait was it really you?" Tony asked.


    "Does it matter who did it. They did some horrific things and they were take care of." Liam replied. He didn''t accept nor did he deny. There was no point anyways.


    "Next time give me an heads up. I would love to share some firepower with you." Tony said. This made Liam smile and then talked about what SHIELD had grilled him for. And as usual Tony made fun of Fury. @@@@

 28

    Two days later.@@@@


    A message popped up on Liam''s mobile. The message was from a burner number, and there was only a single sentence:


    "Allied Constructions, 52nd Street, 11 pm, 10th floor."


    Liam knew where the message came from, and a devilish smile appeared on his face. He had also noticed that Tony had been a bit too chatty with him since the incident, often texting him. Liam wasn''t bothered or disturbed by it but found it odd, as Tony wasn''t known for such behavior. Tony had only become a family man after starting his own family, and Peter, who got the lion''s share of the legacy, rarely met Tony. Peter even had to prove himself to get close to Tony.


    Maybe it was Tony''s attitude because of his impending death. It didn''t matter to Liam anyway, as now he would finish the job once and for all. But after what he had done on the pier, he started thinking about how he had lost any sort of emotional backlash from killing so many people. He saw the people he killed as Uruks that needed to be taken down, or monsters that needed to be cleansed from the Earth.


    Though the System had said there was no PTSD or any other kind of problem with his brain, he felt as though he didn''t have any emotions. Maybe it was a side effect of his previous life, as that life, too, didn''t seem to have any solid purpose¡ªhe just existed for the sake of existence.


    "Mom, I have some work to do tonight. Don''t disturb me," Liam said as he went to his room. Olivia and Mason merely acknowledged him, thinking he might be having a video call with his girlfriend. Little did they know their son was about to commit another crime.


    Madame Gao, the oldest among them, on her crutches, sensed something was off. The two brothers were far more talkative than usual, and she could see they were nervous. Was this an ambush? But how could it be possible? There were ninjas in the neighborhood, and this place had been swept clean of any traps six hours ago. None of them had brought their mobiles for safety and privacy, so an ambush seemed unlikely.


    She didn''t care much about the man who had killed her men on the ship. In her mind, she could have killed those men herself¡ªperhaps even faster. She looked around and then suddenly looked up.


    "It''s an ambush," Madame Gao said in fluent English. Before she could speak another word, a man landed right in front of them with a superhero landing, one famously seen in Marvel movies.


    But the landing wasn''t the highlight. The moment he hit the ground, a shockwave spread outward, with him as the epicenter.


    Since he had landed in the center, all the individuals were affected, their backs and faces slammed onto the floor. Even Madame Gao, who had seen him land, didn''t expect to fall or become so disoriented.


    Anatoly, Vladmir, and Wesley lost consciousness. Only Nobu and Madame Gao stood up a few seconds later, ears ringing, feeling as though the world was spinning. They were essentially seeing more stars than they should in New York''s light-polluted skies.


    Of course, it was Liam who had landed after jumping from high above the building, using the Elven Light ability. Normally, this power would blind the enemy, and with magic, he could freeze or burn them to death. In this case, however, he had used its might to disorient his enemies.


    Nobu and Madame Gao both looked darkly at him, especially Madame Gao as they stood up. She realized this man wasn''t the rookie she had assumed. Though she had seen the footage, she hadn''t thought much of it. Now, however, she thought differently.

 29

    "You are the Bereginya," Nobu spoke, while one could hear teeth gritting against each other.


    "I never gave that name to myself, nor do I like it. It was these two who came up with it," Liam replied through his helmet. He didn''t need a voice changer here. None of them would escape anyway.


    "It was you who caused us such a nuisance at the pier?" Madame Gao asked as she held her crutch more tightly than ever. She was ready to pounce on this guy at any given time.


    "Why ask when you already know the answer?" Liam replied. There was an eerie silence that followed, and one could feel the chill slowly creeping in this late autumn weather. The wind was quite high today, making everything extra creepy.


    "Why did you attack us? Who are you?" Madame Gao asked.


    "It''s funny that you ask. I mean, I have always known of your existence¡ªWilson Fisk, the mobs, the Russians, and you, the Hand, the traitors... Oh, why are you looking at me like that? You think I don''t know what you two are really after in Hell''s Kitchen? I never bothered with you because you didn''t cross my path¡ªuntil one of your people kidnapped one of my bullies. And then I had to take action," Liam said.


    His words felt like a bomb to both Nobu and Madame Gao. It was fine when he used the name Wilson Fisk¡ªeven though his name had slowly become taboo in the neighborhood, it wasn''t to the extent of invoking fear among people yet¡ªbut the name Hand, and the fact that he proclaimed the real reason for their presence here, sent them off the edge.@@@@


    Nobu didn''t hesitate as he took out a knife and lunged at Liam, only to see a sword suddenly coming out of his chest, spraying blood all over the place. He didn''t even realize that a man was standing behind him, and then, in front of him, Liam appeared and thrust a sword through his chest, a few inches away from the previous sword.


    Liam didn''t utter more words of high morality¡ªhe simply used his sword to separate her head from her body. She was unwilling as she felt all her long years of work had gone down the drain, and an expression of utter regret was written all over her face.


    Blood spilled all over the place, but Liam''s armor looked immaculate, just like before. The armor had runes¡ªof course, Liam had used magic to ensure it remained clean always. Seeing that two of the criminals were finished, he moved forward to dominate Wesley.


    It was time to take an empire down.


    "Are my instructions clear?" Liam looked at the two brothers and Wesley, who was now his new subordinate.


    "Yes, sir."


    "Make the process slow, and also expose the Steel Serpent. If the Hand comes after you, inform me," Liam said.


    "We will follow your orders, sir," the three men spoke in sync. Liam also needed to take care of the ninjas if he wanted his assets to come out fair and square. And that''s what he did.


    There were a dozen ninjas hidden in the shadows as guards of Nobu and Madame Gao, and he hunted each of them down, killing them by separating their heads from their bodies. Normally, he would have called the police to take care of the bodies, but SHIELD wasn''t clean yet, so he directed the Russians to take the bodies and burn them.

 30

    Liam thought he could wrap it up and be done with it quite early, but he thought wrong. Finding and killing those ninjas took some time as they had been hiding and Liam on the behest of Anatoly raided the base of Steel Serpent.


    There were more guards to fight against and thus by the time it had ended, it was late 3 am. Thankfully by the time he returned everyone was asleep and his parents didn''t bother him all night. Liam knew that in the next few days, the news in New York would explode, exposing major players.


    Especially Wesley, who be an ace to this whole situation. He had been given strict orders to not lose sight of Fisk. The next few days as expected, the new blew out.


    The Police uncovered drug and human trafficking network all over the city, which started at Hell''s Kitchen and spread like a cancer on the streets. People came out in droves one time in Times Square, asking for intervention from the President himself and make Hell''s Kitchen better and more livable.


    It was all the rage and chaos fermenting, and SHIELD had to get involved since it was related to the deaths on the Pier, but they couldn''t find any other clues to the man. The SHIELD now had an official name to the butcher in the Pier.


    No, they didn''t name him the Bay Harbor Butcher. @@@@


    They named him, the Wraithborn.


    If Liam ever heard that name, he would have been surprised since SHIELD wasn''t exactly wrong in calling him Wraithborn and he would like that name too.


    A week later.


    As Liam came back from school, he saw two very luxurious cars waiting on the side of the road. Liam thought some investors might have shown up to his home, and just walked inside only to see Tony and Pepper having a chat with his parents.


    While Happy, Yinsen and a new woman was sitting on the side.


    "Liam, look, who is here." Olivia had a huge smile on her face. She had never expected that Tony Stark himself would show up at their home.


    "There is nothing dreamy about it. The track has too many sharp turns and very narrow, the drivers can''t show their real speed in this track at all. It would have been much better if they used rough terrain vehicles instead of using high speed vehicles in this kind of race tracks." Liam said.


    "You can''t deny that driving fast cars in those kinds of lanes, needs precision and control." Chris argued back, while loading the luggage and going straight to the hangar instead of making a queue.


    The power of elite.


    Soon Liam found himself on a window seat and took it, which also had an extra seat on the aisle. The plane was quite big, more than enough space for everyone to take window seats, and he loved sitting alone, but alas. His anti-social behavior didn''t get unnoticed as Tony came and sat beside him.


    "I thought you love sitting alone." Liam said.


    "Normally I would sit with Pepper, or with the new Secretary Pepper hired. But this is a special circumstance." Tony said.


    "You can always text me with your emojis about that." Liam just rolled his eyes and said.


    "Those emojis are sent by JARVIS. Not by me. By the way, I have to thank you for JARVIS. I have been able to make JARVIS, a fully functional work buddy, which can now control the Stark Industries too." Tony said.


    "Tony, I will warn this once and for all, if you make a terrible AI and I see an inkling of developing an AI which would allow itself to grow, I will come and personally slay you." Liam said.


    "Wait. Wow.. What''s up with that hostility.. I will never make such an AI..."


    "I don''t want to hear excuses Tony.. I know somewhere deep in your mind you have that small thought. I am saying this again to bury such thoughts." Liam reiterated again.


    "Fine.. I promise that if I want to build one, I will give you a headsup." Tony said. He didn''t promise to never make it, but a headsup would be fine in the books of Liam.

 31

    "You have BT as your AI buddy, and it''s all sunshine and rainbows. But the moment I do it, suddenly it''s a felony? Where''s the justice?" Tony complained.


    "It''s not a felony and they won''t care if you make. It is me who will come for you, on my own. Have you seen BT helping you with other work or hacking any server for you? No. BT is constrained, and that is also the reason I was allowed to use BT. A normal surveillance AI is fine, but never make an AI that could outgrow." Liam said.


    "You need to introduce me to your secret organization. I''ve got some Stark-grade hardware that might just change their lives." Tony grudgingly said.


    "Even I haven''t seen their faces, and you expect them to show up for you?" Liam asked. Of course, this organization never existed, and it was just a cover.


    "Yeah, yeah, secrets and shadows, I get it. But hey, are you good?" Tony asked.


    "Is something wrong with me? I think this question should be asked to you." Liam said as he looked at his arc reactor. Tony reacted like he didn''t see it and continued.


    "Your mom gave me the whole ''concerned parent'' speech. Apparently, you''ve been brooding like a discount Batman for the past year. And after what I saw in that footage, I gotta ask¡ªhow are you even functioning after all that blood and carnage? I''m betting your ''secret club'' signed you up a year ago, didn''t they?"


    "Tony, it''s not like you haven''t seen me killing people in Afghanistan." Liam said.


    "There''s a difference between shooting a guy from a distance and going full horror movie on people. Look, I''d say you need therapy, but let''s be honest¡ªwhat shrink is even qualified for this?" Tony said.


    "Says the guy who believes the least in therapists." Liam said.


    "I believe in therapists. I just happen to be the perfect specimen of mental health. No flaws here." Tony replied. Liam could only roll his eyes at the words of this person.


    "I don''t need counseling, and yes, killing those people didn''t affect me. Didn''t I leave so many drug peddlers to be handled by the police? Everyone has their own story. Some were coerced, and some had to take the bad route to earn money. But not everyone deserves a second chance. The individuals on the pier definitely didn''t, so I took care of it. You don''t have to worry about my mental health. I am fine, and if you think I am being controlled by the organization behind me, then you can''t be more wrong. They don''t even care about me." Liam said.


    "You have already thanked me multiple times. You don''t need to." Liam said, and Yinsen only smiled in return.


    "Has he made any progress in finding a cure?" Liam asked.


    "That''s a no. And recently, he is making a new armor, a brand-new one, with more capabilities." Yinsen said.


    "Really now?"


    "Yeah, he is even asking BT to send over more information and data so that the new armor is perfect." Yinsen said. "I fear he is making this new armor as his last legacy."


    "Didn''t I tell you? He will not die." Liam said.


    "How are you so sure he won''t when he himself has given up hope?" Yinsen said.


    "Because that''s not his destiny." Liam said. Yinsen was dumbfounded by his words because the word destiny was absurd to a scientist like himself. Especially from someone like Liam. But then again, he had also seen the footage, and like Tony, he was also a bit worried for Liam. He was just a teenager, and committing such gory attacks wasn''t what a teenager should do.


    He was sure Tony had spoken about it to him before.


    All of their movements were also seen by the red-haired woman who was the new secretary of Pepper. As expected, it was Natasha, who was introduced as Natalie here. She was there to surveil Tony for SHIELD.


    Fury had also spoken about how Tony might have connections with the so-called Wraithborn, though there wasn''t any evidence. It was just a hunch. Natasha knew that Tony was close to Liam, but she didn''t know that Yinsen too was close to Liam from what she had seen.


    She wanted to hear the conversation between Tony and Liam, but she couldn''t as she wasn''t able to slip a listening device onto Tony. Yinsen wasn''t in her calculations at all. But she could easily see that Liam was highly regarded by both Tony and Yinsen.


    She had read the reports on Marvel and thought Tony was just raising a genius, but seeing how both of them interacted, it might not be as simple as she thought. This vacation was godsent for her, as it would allow her to get close to Liam and get to know him better.@@@@

 32

    They arrived in the evening, and everyone wanted to go out and have fun¡ªespecially Tony, who was adamant about it. Liam wanted to refuse, but then he remembered how his parents had confided in Tony about their concerns regarding his behavior. How could he tell them that their son had died and that he wasn''t the same person anymore?


    He felt guilty about it and decided to spend more time with his family¡ªto alleviate that guilt. They went into full shopping mode, with Pepper leading them through all the luxurious stores. As the CEO now, she decided to splurge on herself and everyone present.


    Of course, the four women were thrilled, while the men suffered in silence. Even Tony couldn''t protest and simply carried shopping bags for a while before handing them off to Happy.


    The only sensible one was Natasha, who showed no interest in buying anything for herself. Yet, even without an expensive dress, she looked stunning¡ªso much so that even the fathers stole a few glances at her.


    A beautiful woman with brains¡ªwho wouldn''t be intrigued? Even Chris, despite being underage, couldn''t help but stare a little. Liam, however, remained completely unfazed.


    Natasha, being one of the best agents in the world, noticed immediately. She even attempted to strike up conversations with Liam, only to be met with indifference or short, uninterested replies.


    The Grand Prix started the next day, and Liam had specifically asked Yinsen to carry the portable armor¡ªjust in case. He wouldn''t interfere unless absolutely necessary, but he would keep an eye on things.


    The surprising part? Even though Tony went off-script and entered the race himself, the infamous Ivan Vanko never showed up. That made Liam frown. Something else was brewing.


    This wasn''t what he expected. But it was a welcome change.


    Unsurprisingly, Tony actually won the Grand Prix¡ªmuch to the disgust of the racer whose car he had commandeered. Pepper wasn''t pleased and gave him an earful upon his return.


    "He''s becoming more erratic," Yinsen observed.@@@@


    "Death isn''t scary. Waiting for death is. I''ll fix it," Liam replied.


    "You know how?" Yinsen asked, hopeful that Liam''s mysterious organization might help. Tony had told him that the technology behind BT was at least fifty years ahead of its time. If they could create something like that¡ªand if they could give Liam superpowers¡ªthey might be capable of anything.


    "Hello, Liam Woodworth. My name is E.D.I.T.H. How may I assist you?"


    "You made an AI for me?" Liam asked, genuinely surprised.


    "Calling it an AI would be a bit of a stretch," Tony admitted. "At best, it''s a highly functional natural language UI. But that''s not the surprise. Why don''t you take a look for yourself?"


    Liam was already impressed, but as he scrolled through the watch''s functions, he quickly realized what this truly was. He had arrived at the same place Peter Parker did in Far From Home.


    Tony had given him access to everything¡ªhis entire legacy. The satellites. The databases. Even a brand-new suit designed specifically for him.


    For the first time in a long while, Liam felt truly moved.


    "I... You shouldn''t have done this," Liam murmured, his voice tight with emotion. "Why are you giving me all this?"


    Tony smirked. "Why? Oh, come on, you know why. You deserve this¡ªevery bit of it. Look at me, standing here, still breathing, still cracking jokes, all because you gave me a shot at something I had no business surviving. That cave? Yeah, that was supposed to be my curtain call. But you and Yinsen? You rewrote the script. You sent me back out into the world with a second chance, and I don''t take that lightly.


    "You''ve got a mind that could change the world and a heart big enough to make it worth saving. So do me a favor¡ªdon''t lose sight of that. Keep moving forward. No detours, no self-doubt. And hey, let''s dial down the waterworks, alright? I''m trying to have a moment here, not star in a soap opera."


    Liam wanted to protest, to return the gift. It felt too much, too final¡ªlike Tony was leaving behind his last legacy. But refusing would have been disrespectful.


    So, in the end, he accepted it.


    The rest of the party, Liam was in higher spirits. He even toasted Tony with a glass of Coke while the others indulged in expensive wine and champagne.


    ---


    They had arrived home after spending 2 more days in Monaco after sight seeing. The reason why they were back a bit early was because Tony was craving Pizza from New York, so everyone had to pack and leave in order for their sponsor to satiate his hormonal cravings.

 33

    After landing, Tony took Liam to his favorite pizza place. Pepper was too tired and said she would go to the penthouse. Happy took her there, leaving Liam and Tony alone, while his parents also left for their home along with the others.


    Soon, Tony and Liam found themselves in a nice pizza place. Since Tony was wearing a hat, nobody noticed him, preventing any commotion. Liam wasn''t famous anyway.


    As they sat and ordered pizza, they started discussing future projects. After a few minutes, Liam noticed new customers coming in, gradually replacing the previous ones, while their order remained on hold. Liam had always been aware of his surroundings, and when he observed these new arrivals, he sensed something was off.


    "Tony, we have company," Liam whispered.


    "What?" Tony looked around, confused, but saw no one familiar.


    "You''ll know soon enough," Liam said, and as predicted, Fury walked in.


    "You guys are like flies on a swamp. Just won''t leave me alone," Tony muttered. "I told you, I''m not joining your little boy band."


    "Nah," Fury said, taking a seat across from Tony while eyeing Liam. Instead of focusing on Tony, he seemed more intrigued by Liam''s presence. The fact that Liam didn''t react with surprise to his arrival suggested he had expected it. "You told me you work alone. How''s that working out for ya?"


    "By the way, when I talk to you, should I look at the patch or the eye?" Tony quipped.


    "Hello, I''m Director Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. You must be Liam Woodworth."


    "Nice to meet you. Since you''re from S.H.I.E.L.D., I assume you already know everything about me. No need for introductions," Liam said, shaking his hand. His words shut down any further inquiries from Fury, given that he was expected to have all the intel already.


    As they spoke, Natasha appeared from behind, now clad in her agent uniform. Tony did a double take, clearly not expecting it.


    "You''re... fired," Tony said, irritated that someone from S.H.I.E.L.D. had gotten so close to him.


    "That''s not up to you," Natasha replied smoothly.


    "How can you be so sure?" Fury asked.


    "No reaction. No surprise. Not even a flicker when he saw me in my S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform. I''m not the best at reading people, but I can tell¡ªhe knew from the start."


    "I checked the traffic footage. During the pier assault, his car left the garage and returned after the attack," Fury said.


    "Want me to ask him directly?" Natasha offered.


    "No. He''s dangerous. I saw what he did. That level of brutality doesn''t match someone his age. Physically, he might be stronger than Cap."


    "Boss, you think he''s a psychopath?" Natasha asked.


    "Maybe. But for now, he''s on the right side. Let''s keep it that way. Assuming Liam is Wraithborn, Phil''s close to him. According to Phil, Liam''s just antisocial but well-liked, helps everyone, and is a star in his community. So, for now, we keep our distance. No files, just quiet surveillance."


    "That''s not like you, Boss," Natasha said with a small smirk.


    "My hands are tied. The kid''s not even legal yet," Fury admitted.


    "I guess I''ll have to head out soon and wait for this so-called legacy to arrive at my place," Tony said.


    "Yeah, you should go. Too much lore drop for one day," Liam teased.


    "Ha. I''ll be expecting you at the Stark Expo. We can finally show off the full capabilities of the shield," Tony said.


    "I''ll be there," Liam promised.


    The next few days turned into regular days for Liam. But there were also some slight changes. Phil would come often to their garage and though Liam wouldn''t go to the garage as much as before as he now had his own place to work upon, he would see his face more often.


    And Liam also realized that he was now tailed by someone. Though the person always remained far, but he was there. Of course, a same person wouldn''t tail him, as they seemed to change daily. But it was there like a shadow that one couldn''t get rid of.

 34

    It was October, and the cold had finally started seeping in slowly. Though cold would be a long stretch, the autumn was definitely in its end phase now. Liam had just returned from the second game of the day. It had been tough for Liam in the second game because it involved completely new gaming tactics and combat.


    It didn''t help that he couldn''t bring his abilities or the fact that the blood of Nu?menor was flowing through his veins. Each game meant he had to start from ground zero. It was awful, and in the second game, he even had to play as a woman. Thankfully, his mind didn''t degrade, and he could use the old tactics from his mind to find his way out of tough situations. And he was close to finishing the first game.


    It was 11 p.m. when Liam was almost asleep in his bed, and his phone rang.


    "Tony, it''s 11 p.m. I have school tomorrow," Liam said after he picked up the call.


    "I will pretend I didn''t hear that. And right now, the city needs your help," Tony said.


    "I am not Green Arrow, that the city will need my help at every turn," Liam said, a bit pissed that his sleep was broken by Tony''s call.


    "Listen to me. There is a monster on the loose, and the military is having a very hard time taking care of it. SHIELD has asked for my help, but it will take an hour for me to reach New York, even if I use my fastest speed. So until then, please help contain it," Tony said, and in the next moment, he sent a video of Central Park at night.


    It was the Abomination.


    At the moment, he was wreaking havoc, and it had started from Harlem. The military had been trying to control and contain the damage and had managed to bring Abomination to Central Park, but they weren''t able to kill or cage him. Destruction and damage were everywhere.


    At the end of the day, the body of Abomination was based on a human being, so the nerves were still there. His limbs stiffened, muscles locking up as the venom took hold, forcing him to the ground for the first time that night.


    "Hold your fire... Hold your fire... Don''t shoot! He is a friendly!"


    It was Phil Coulson. He sighed in relief when he saw the Wraithborn appear. He hadn''t been briefed by Fury about his suspicions regarding Liam being the Wraithborn, but Phil had also seen the footage at the pier. And though he wasn''t on board with his killings, one couldn''t deny that what he did was justice for the children there.


    So when he saw Wraithborn appearing with the same mask and armor, he knew that this person would help them, and until then, they would try not to antagonize him. Thankfully, his shout about Liam being friendly had its effect, and the shooting stopped.


    Soon, Abomination''s regeneration kicked in, his wounds sealing at a slow but steady pace. He let out a deafening roar while Liam stood a few yards away from him.


    "You have made me lose sleep, Blonsky... Wait... You are Blonsky, right?" Liam asked.


    All he got in return was another shout, with saliva almost hitting his armor. Thankfully, he dodged at the last moment. Abomination charged at Liam, but before he could reach him, an arrow whistled through the night and embedded itself in his foot. Ice spread rapidly, freezing the beast''s limb to the ground.


    Liam wasted no time. Twin swords materialized in his hands. He dashed forward, moving faster than the human eye could track, his blades carving into Abomination''s thick flesh. Each strike was precise, targeting joints and weak points. He also added Elvish fury to his attack. In addition to Liam''s strikes, spectral versions of himself also attacked Abomination.


    The military and SHIELD agents were dumbfounded as they saw various versions of him, with long ears and a crown on his head, appearing from Liam''s body and attacking. The spectral glow on the figures could be seen easily. At first, they thought Liam was just another super soldier, but now they didn''t even believe that this person was a human being.

 35

    But to his surprise, Abomination flexed his massive leg muscles, shattering the ice encasing his foot and retaliating with a sweeping backhand. Liam barely managed to dodge, using his spectral dash at the last second. He reappeared several feet away, eyes narrowing as he assessed his opponent.


    "You surprise me again, Blonsky..." Liam muttered.


    The battle raged on, Liam weaving in and out of the shadows, his wraith abilities allowing him to strike and vanish before Abomination could react. His movements were so swift that neither the beast nor the humans¡ªdespite their powerful floodlights¡ªcould track him. But even with his superior speed and precision, the monster''s resilience was formidable.


    Liam darted in close once more, dodging a massive fist before leaping onto Abomination''s back. For a fleeting moment, he considered dominating the creature with his wraith abilities¡ªcontrolling him completely. It was likely possible. But he quickly dismissed the thought. Too many eyes were watching. If people realized their so-called ''Ghost'' could manipulate not just monsters but potentially humans as well, panic would ensue. Some abilities were best kept as trump cards.


    Instead, with a swift motion, he drove both swords into the sides of Abomination''s thick neck. The enchanted blades cut deep through muscle and sinew. Abomination let out a strangled roar, his massive body convulsing before finally collapsing to the ground, unconscious. @@@@


    A collective sigh of relief rippled through the battlefield. Liam glanced up and spotted several drones hovering high in the air¡ªpublic drones, most likely streaming the entire fight. The battle had drawn quite an audience.


    Liam pulled his swords free, stashed them into his separate space, and jumped down from the monster''s back. As he reached for his phone to inform Tony that his help was no longer needed, a squad of military personnel closed in, rifles aimed directly at him.


    "Hands behind your back! You are under arrest for creating this monster and causing casualties and damage in New York City!" a soldier barked, fingers tightening around his trigger.


    SHIELD agents, caught off guard by the military''s sudden aggression, rushed forward¡ªonly to be met with more pointed weapons.


    SHIELD too drew their guns in response. The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.


    "What the hell are you doing? I told you he''s a friendly!" Phil Coulson shouted.


    "You motherfu¡ª!" Erik roared, raising his gun.


    Liam vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared just feet away. Erik, a skilled soldier with lightning reflexes, fired again¡ªonly for Liam to dodge effortlessly.


    Before Erik could react further, a powerful hand clamped over his face, lifting him clean off his feet. The pressure was immense, suffocating. Pain shot through his skull as Liam''s grip tightened.


    Erik struggled, his hands clawing at Liam''s wrist. With his free hand, he reached for his sidearm, but Liam effortlessly kicked it away with his knee. The gun skidded across the pavement.


    "Don''t mistake your position here," Liam said, his voice a guttural whisper that slithered into Erik''s very bones. "You are nothing but an insect before me."


    Erik''s struggling slowed. His breaths grew shallow. The world around him darkened. Then, in an instant, his body went limp. Liam released him, letting him fall unceremoniously to the ground.


    A heavy silence followed. No one moved. The military personnel stood frozen, uncertain whether to attack or stand down. SHIELD agents, guns still drawn, exchanged wary glances.


    "Wraithborn..." Phil stepped forward, lowering his weapon slightly. "We are agents of SHIELD. You might not have heard of us, but we represent the World Council."


    "Wraithborn?" Liam was confused when he was first called that.


    "Yes, since we don''t know your name, we have designated that name for you. If you want you give us your name and we will call you by that." Phil said. He sighed in relief, because for a moment he thought he would attack him too. He needed to be given a raise for the courage he just pulled.


    "No. I like that name. Now connect me to General Ross. I need to talk to him." Liam said.


    "Please give us a moment." Phil said as he soon connected to his private phone.

 36

    Phil handed Liam the phone after introducing himself. He was certain that General Ross had been watching everything, given the multiple drones hovering above. Liam took the phone.


    "Ross speaking," Ross answered over the phone.


    "Your worst nightmare here. You have some guts pinning the blame for what you''ve done on me," Liam replied.@@@@


    "Son, you have some nerve speaking to a high-ranking official..."


    "I don''t care even if you''re the US President. Listen here, you piece of garbage¡ªif you don''t back off now, I will find Banner and your daughter to testify about what you''ve done. I''m sure SHIELD will be able to track down the scientists involved in the super soldier serum research. From what I know, it''s banned. And I kid you not, I will drag every bit of your honor and dignity through the mud if I decide to bring you down. Your Erik Stevens has done a lot of dirty work outside the US. I will hunt down every one of your black ops soldiers and feed them to your enemies. Then we''ll see how much support you have left in your position."


    "You dare threaten a US General while standing on US soil..." General Ross was incensed.


    "General Ross, I''d advise you to stop saying those words. He will definitely come for your head. Why don''t you do some research on this person before you threaten him?" It was Tony, who had somehow hijacked the call and added himself in.


    "..."


    "Tony Stark, you''re running out of favors to ask for. Your company has already shut down the weapons department, and you''ve been running solo in the Middle East. Oh yes, I know what you''ve been busy with..."


    "Listen here, General. I''m saying this for your own good¡ªdon''t cross the line when you haven''t seen the entire picture. Now, do as Wraithborn says. Or before the ghostly gentleman here takes another dig at you, I will personally sue you for human experimentation," Tony said. This shut Ross up.


    After a moment of silence, he hung up. Promptly, the US soldiers backed off. Of course, they took Erik too. They were thankful he was alive, just passed out. Meanwhile, SHIELD took the unconscious body of Abomination.


    Liam promised, which made the principal very happy. The dark cloud of drug issues in the school would now be overshadowed by Liam and his two friends. He was glad he had chosen to listen to Liam that day instead of just suspending him.


    "Welcome to LA." Happy was waiting for them on the runway with his car as Liam and his friends landed. "Tony has booked a villa for you near his home."


    "Thanks, Happy." Liam thanked him by bringing him New York pizza, which he loved. Happy had been handling more responsibilities lately. He then spoke about the upcoming itinerary.


    The Expo would last for three days, with their exhibition scheduled for the final day on the main stage. So they had plenty of time to look around and have fun. After dropping off his luggage, Liam went to Tony''s home.


    Chris and Bonnie opted to rest instead. By now, they had realized that Liam was very close to Tony, and joining in on their reunion would feel like an invasion of privacy. Besides, they wouldn''t understand their technical mumbo jumbo anyway.


    "Welcome back, Sir."


    "Hello, JARVIS. Where is he?"


    "At his lab, Sir. He has been informed. You can go directly."


    "Thanks."


    "My pleasure."


    Liam walked in to see Tony working on a brand-new suit. This one was different from any he had seen before. Unlike Tony''s traditional suits, the helmet seemed to be made of a transparent material. It resembled the helmets worn by Kryptonians in Man of Steel from his previous life.


    "Like my new suit? The helmet is made from the same technology as the shield of BT. Though my helmet can''t redirect bullets, but it has the same ability as the rest of the suit. I would have liked if the whole suit could be made of the same tech, but too much energy is being consumed."

 37

    "You surprise me again and again, Tony Stark," Liam said after examining the new suit Tony had made.


    "You saying the last ones were trash?" Tony quipped, raising an eyebrow.


    "No, I mean the suits are expected of you. But the helmet? That was out of my calculations. BT, did you test the strength of the shield helmet?"


    [Yes, it can stop any kind of firepower made by current humans. Big bombs are not counted here.]


    "Boom. Told you." Tony grinned, flashing a victory sign.@@@@


    Liam and Tony were still discussing when JARVIS chimed in.


    "Sir, the Director of SHIELD is requesting an audience with you and Mr. Woodsworth."


    "Oh, great. Patch is back." Tony groaned, rubbing his temples. "That guy just can''t take a hint. I swear, if he starts another speech about ''the bigger picture''¡ª"


    Liam wasn''t surprised that Fury knew where he was, but it was unexpected that he''d show up now. What did he want?


    Liam and Tony waited as Fury walked in like he owned the place.


    "Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence. Mi casa es su casa¡ªoh wait, no it isn''t," Tony said, arms crossed.


    "Relax, Stark. I''m not here for you. I''m here for the kid," Fury replied, his tone flat.


    "Liam? What''s he got to do with anything? He''s underage. He can barely rent a car, let alone be recruited into your super-spy club," Tony shot back.


    "That depends on his answers. Ain''t that right, Wraithborn?" Fury said, his one eye locked on Liam. Tony''s expression hardened, but Liam remained unfazed.


    "You really know how to make my life difficult, kid. Now I gotta lie to the damn World Security Council," Fury muttered.


    "Oh no," Liam said, deadpan. "Nick Fury has to lie. What a tragedy."


    "Alright, alright, let''s cut the soap opera." Tony leaned forward, irritated. "Why are you here, Fury? Spill it."


    "Erik Stevens is missing," Fury stated. "The US military''s running a secret manhunt, but they''ve got nothing. No traces. It''s like he vanished off the face of the planet." He slid a file across the table for them to see.


    Liam didn''t bother looking. He already knew the general outline of Erik''s life.


    "Tell them to stop wasting their time. They won''t find him," Liam said.


    "I give it a day, maybe two," Tony countered, cracking his knuckles.


    "With your tech? Not a chance." Liam shook his head. "And Fury, tell SHIELD to stay out of this."


    Fury''s eye narrowed. "You know where he is."


    "I have a rough idea. And even if you had me and Tony at full power, we still couldn''t retrieve him."


    "''Retrieve''?" Fury repeated. "You''re saying he was taken? Thought the guy was a spy."


    "It''s complicated," Liam said. "Look, Fury, don''t push this. I mean it. You do not want to go down this road. I know you think SHIELD is untouchable, but the people involved in this? They''d chew you up and spit you out, and they wouldn''t even leave the bones. So do yourself a favor¡ªwalk away. Because if you keep digging, I''m out. He''s not worth my time."


    "Fine. I will take you up on that." Fury replied but of course he would still secretly try to find about him, albeit not give his full force in this manhunt. It was something even Liam wasn''t comfortable speaking which meant the other party was dangerous.


    The more dangerous the other party was, the more he needed to know, but it was not the correct time to press Liam on. He had already pressed many buttons today.

 38

    "My last question. What is up with the elf thing?" Fury asked. This was another way of asking how his power worked.


    "My abilities evolve over time, so it''s useless to explain since they won''t remain the same for long," Liam replied. It was the truth. The more games he played, the better his evaluations would be, and soon his abilities would rise. But Fury thought this was Liam''s excuse for not explaining his powers.


    "Uh-huh. So what I''m hearing is, ''I''m not gonna tell you squat." Fury was a bit frustrated. He wanted to force Liam to at least give one proper answer, but he couldn''t. It also didn''t help that Liam was a minor.


    He was a child in Fury''s eyes, even though he had caused quite the scene at the pier.


    "Fine, I will give you one piece of information that might be useful to SHIELD. The Red Room is still active," Liam said. This made Fury''s face change from frustration to full-alert mode.


    "How do you know about the Red Room? Do you belong to them?"


    "Don''t make me think that you belong to the lower IQ category, Fury. The Widow name should indicate that the agents must be women. In the bombing in Budapest, Dreykov and his daughter came out of it alive," Liam said. This made Fury''s fingers twitch a bit.@@@@


    The Budapest bombing involved one of his most prized agents, someone he considered a future Avenger. And this guy knew about it. He was a baby when the bombing happened, which meant Liam was involved with an organization that collected intelligence¡ªintelligence so deep that SHIELD didn''t even have an inkling that Liam was associated with it.


    Under normal circumstances, he would step forward and arrest him on the charge of espionage, but he knew if he did, it might turn them antagonistic toward SHIELD, and he didn''t want that. He needed Liam''s cooperation.


    "Talk," Fury said.


    "I don''t know much. I only know that Shostakov might lead you to Dreykov in the end. He holds quite a bit of information," Liam said. By now, Fury was sure that Liam had a deeply rooted organization behind him. Maybe Erik''s disappearance had something to do with Liam''s secret organization.


    "Thought SHIELD should know." Liam gave a slight smirk.


    "Yeah, see, that''s the kind of thing that makes me wonder why SHIELD doesn''t already know. And more importantly, why you do." Tony squinted at him.


    Liam didn''t answer.


    "Okay, let''s break this down. You could''ve joined SHIELD. Instead, you signed up with... whatever your mystery club is. I''m guessing they''ve got some real juicy secrets?" Tony leaned forward, lacing his fingers together.


    "You assume too much," Liam said evenly. "My organization has tech and some vague intelligence. That''s it. We''re all starting from the same place."


    Tony pointed at him. "Yeah, see, that''s exactly the kind of answer that doesn''t make me feel better. It makes me feel like I should be very, very concerned."


    Liam chuckled.


    Since the woman was related to SHIELD, it wasn''t his concern. They talked about the Expo too, and all seemed smooth, but Liam had a feeling that the Expo wouldn''t be as peaceful as it should be. Surprisingly, Hammer Industries also had some robotics to show, and those robotics didn''t seem too high-tech at all, as Liam saw in the product description.


    "Dude, have you seen the chess competition? It''s so wild," Chris said as they walked by on the last day of the Expo. The first two days had been boring for the trio since they didn''t find anything useful. Actually, Liam wanted to skip them too, but Bonnie and Chris pulled him into it.


    Their argument was: what if they found something useful in the other two days for Marvel? Liam thought these two teenagers had too much hope and maybe had watched too many TV series to start acting like adults. Any major decision needed to be thought through. But to calm their enthusiasm, he accompanied them.


    The Expo not only showcased products but also held competitions like chess and others that required brainpower. Chris and Bonnie were disappointed during the first two days, but on the third day, their enthusiasm returned because there were many wonderful things to see and watch.

 39

    As they looked around, they came across a young kid who seemed to be all alone and appeared lost. Bonnie felt bad and stepped forward. She bent her knees to keep her forehead at the same height as the kid''s and asked,


    "What''s your name, kid? Where are your parents?"


    "I... I''ve been told that I shouldn''t talk to strangers," the kid replied.


    "That''s correct. But are you lost?" Bonnie asked, impressed by the kid''s awareness.


    "I... I came here by flying with my aunt. Can you find my aunt for me?" the kid asked.


    "Sure, what''s your aunt''s name? I can have them announce her name so she can come and get you," Bonnie said.


    "I... I don''t remember her name. I call her Aunt May," the kid replied.


    The moment the kid spoke those words, Liam looked deeply at him. Yup, he was the child version of Peter Parker. The last he remembered, this kid was saved by Iron Man at the Expo when the robots came for him while he was wearing the Iron Man mask, being a big fan of his.


    Now, in this new timeline, Iron Man hadn''t yet declared to the world that he was Iron Man, which meant that this kid had come all the way from New York just to see the Expo. Yeah, he was a born nerd. Meanwhile, Bonnie told Peter to wait while she directed their bodyguard to find Aunt May and announce her name to the people around.


    In around ten minutes, a quite beautiful middle-aged woman came running in and hugged Peter. She was relieved to see her nephew safe and well, as she had feared that she had lost him. She also thanked the trio for helping them. Liam proceeded to give her his business card.


    May didn''t think much at first, but when she read through the card, she was dumbfounded.


    "Oh my... I-I''m so sorry! I had no idea you were the founder of Marvel and a sponsor of this event. I didn''t even recognize you!" May said, flustered.


    "Sponsor might be a bit of an exaggeration," Liam replied with a small smile. "Stark Industries just did us a favor by adding our name to the event. Our product''s showcase is at the end of the day¡ªhope you''ll stick around. And if your nephew ever decides to look for a job in the future, I''d love for him to consider our company."


    "And," the show host continued, holding up a finger, "I''m not the only one bringing something revolutionary tonight. Because, folks, let''s be real¡ªevery great mind needs another to challenge it. To push boundaries."


    "Please welcome, Liam Woodworth!"


    As Liam stepped onto the stage, a wave of murmurs swept through the audience. He was relatively unknown to the public, but the ones who had followed Stark Industries closely knew him as a prodigy, a rising force in advanced technology.


    "Now, I know what you''re thinking. ''Tony, what kind of mind-blowing tech are you about to show us this time? Is it a flying car? ''A toaster that also makes coffee?''" The narrator laughed. "No, my friends. This is something far more important. Something that can change the landscape of defense as we know it."


    "For decades, shields have been used as a means of protection. But what if defense... wasn''t just about stopping an attack?"


    The giant screen behind them lit up, showing a sleek, transparent orange colored shield prototype mounted on a testing rig.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the latest in next-generation defensive technology. A shield that doesn''t just block bullets and missiles..." He paused, grinning. "It sends them back." Tony added.


    Gasps rippled through the audience.


    With a nod, Liam gestured to the screen, initiating the live demonstration. The footage cut to a controlled test site. A mechanical turret locked onto the shield and fired a barrage of bullets. The moment they struck the surface, an intricate energy layer flickered alive, absorbing the force¡ªonly for the bullets to reverse trajectory and be flung straight back to their origin with deadly precision.


    The camera then panned to a second test: a missile launch. The projectile soared toward the shield, only for its energy field to curve the missile''s path mid-air, launching it back toward a dummy target and detonating on impact.


    "As you can see," Liam continued, "this technology is more than just defense. It''s a deterrent. A means to ensure that any attack launched is an attack returned."


    "And before you ask¡ªno, this isn''t some sci-fi gimmick. This is real. This is happening. And soon, we''ll be working to implement it where it matters most. I have said and I have kept my word to stop the Stark Industries from making any weapons, but that doesn''t mean that the Stark Industries wouldn''t add to it''s defense."


    The crowd roared in approval as the two men stood before the world.

 40

    The roaring applause still echoed through the Stark Expo when the first explosion rocked the stage.


    Liam felt the ground tremble beneath him, the sound of metal shrieking against metal as a section of the stage erupted in fire. Smoke billowed into the air, and screams filled among the whole audience. The bright lights shattered plunging everything around into chaos.


    "Oh, come on. Can''t we have one Expo without something blowing up?" Tony''s smile had vanished.


    Then came the voice, with artificial distortion.


    The massive screen behind them glitched before cutting to static, then flickered to life with a live feed¡ªrevealing a hulking, armored figure stepping through the wreckage of the main entrance. The moment Liam saw the broad, steel-plated frame and the glowing red optics, he knew what it was. @@@@


    Iron Monger.


    "Did you really think I wouldn''t have contingency plans?" the deep voice mocked, amplified through speakers embedded in the suit. The metal behemoth stomped forward, each step leaving deep imprints in the ground. "You stole my company. You took my future. And now, I take yours!"


    Before Liam could process that, another presence entered the fray. The air filled with the electrified hum of whips slicing through the night.


    "Stark!"


    "You like to play with power, da?" Vanko sneered, his thick Russian accent cutting through the chaos. "Let''s see if you can handle real power."


    "Okay who are you. That old piece of garbage I do take responsibility, but who is this guy." Tony was still in his usual self, but one could tell that he was a bit surprised. He had already eyed Pepper to pass on his metal suitcase.


    Then, the sky above darkened¡ªnot from clouds, but from a swarm of flying machines descending like mechanical vultures. These were flying robots enhanced and modified, hovered in formation, their glowing optics locking onto the Stark Expo stage. Their weapons primed. Ready.


    "Great," Tony muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Because one homicidal maniac in a mech suit wasn''t enough¡ªwe needed a whole tag team."


    "Today, Stark," Stane continued, "we introduce the world to a new kind of power. Not your empty promises. Not your flashy tech. Real, undeniable force."


    Liam acted first, he threw serrated knives at Vanko''s helmet. These were spectral knives which Liam could conjure using wraith abilities and were quite hidden, so the risk of exposure was minimum. He also used rocks to cover the fact that he threw knives.


    Vanko snarled as the knives struck his visor, his grip loosening just enough for Tony to tear free.


    "Not a bad throw," Tony muttered before jetting toward the backstage entrance.


    Liam was already ahead, slipping through the heavy metal doors into the dimly lit corridors of the Expo''s backstage area. The moment Tony got through, he turned and fired a repulsor blast at the ceiling supports. The metal framework groaned before collapsing, sealing off the entrance just as Iron Monger''s heavy steps thundered toward them.


    "You do realize they''re just going to find another way in, right?" Liam said as he sighed in relief. Thankfully, those robots weren''t in huge number like in the actual storyline, and they concentrated their firepower on Tony thus the general public hadn''t been harmed.


    Yet, at least.


    "Now you can go out and save people." Tony said since he could understand why Liam didn''t show his abilities outside as his other identity a secret. He also checked if Pepper was fine. Thankfully Pepper was taken away by Happy.


    "What about you? When is your armor reaching here?" Liam asked.


    "My armor isn''t autonomous. It can''t fly solo, yet. I had been writing the codes but I haven''t finished it yet." Tony replied with a bit of embarrassment.


    "You got to be kidding me." Liam looked at Tony with daggers in his eyes.


    "Hey, I just fought against them. Cut me some slack." Tony replied.


    "Then how will you fight?" Liam asked.


    "There is no we here. You will fight and I will cheer for you from here." Tony said, as he looked at his own armor. It was busted and only one of his repulsors worked now. This was a shame for him. Liam was right, he should have finished those codes instead of getting himself a new fancy helmet.


    Liam sighed. He knew he would have to help this hopeless guy here. And thankfully he had completed one of the 2 games that he had been given to play in a day.

 41

    9 hours prior


    "We are really back," Liam sighed as he looked at the huge chasm that had appeared near him. The place looked like it was under a constant storm, with everything eroding with every passing second. It looked like a very bad Mad Max movie, with the mountains and weather destroying everything.


    "You got this. Head for the city ruins up the hill," Haluk spoke over his comms. He was wearing a breathtaking exoskeleton suit. The armor suit was at least seven feet tall. The suit''s silvery-white metallic plating was accented with glowing energy lines, pulsating with a soft luminescence that changed color depending on its elemental charge¡ªcrackling blue for lightning, deep red for fire, and icy white for frost.


    The helmet''s smooth visor emitted a faint glow, hiding Liam''s face as his energy-threaded mantle rippled in the wind. His gauntlets pulsed with power, the embedded crystals flickering with shifting elemental energy. Thrusters on his boots and back hummed softly, keeping him aloft, while arcs of electricity crackled across his armor. The suit felt less like metal and more like a living storm, barely contained within its sleek, mystical frame.


    And that was why the name of the suit was Storm. Yes, Liam had landed himself in the game Anthem. One of the most anticipated games, but it disappointed people so much that most had forgotten it ever existed. But one thing no one could deny was that the game had technology mixed with magic.


    Liam was disappointed when he got into the game world, but once he started wearing the suit and playing, he was more than overjoyed to fight and kill some mechanical and organic monsters.


    Today was his last mission. A mission to face Monitor, the final boss. Haluk and Faye were his companions on the comms. Faye was the cipher, while Haluk was the mechanic. At the start, they were together, but later, Haluk and Faye had to remain back while Liam faced the Monitor alone. He had never played the game before, so he was always very cautious and took every step after proper calculations.


    Each game needed different tactics, and this one was no different, especially when he might have to fight while flying in the air. Liam passed through crevices and had to face the minions of Monitor.


    It was a constant onslaught of enemies coming at him. Thankfully, after killing a monster, he would get a repair for his suit and then continue forward. The first major hurdle he faced was the Elite Ancient Ash Titan. It was hell for Liam, as his attacks seemed to only take a small bit of health. Thankfully, this thing was slow, so with every attack, he would dodge using short-distance teleportation.


    It felt like he was living in a world of fireworks because each of his own and the enemy''s attacks were so colorful. At times, he wondered if the world he was in had the color saturation set a bit too high. After fighting for almost half an hour, he took down the Titan and moved forward.


    The rewards for this world are:


    1. A self-repairing Storm javelin.


    2. A self-repairing Interceptor javelin.


    3. A forge to build any kind of javelins or machines depending on the knowledge. (P.S.: One had to be an engineer and an Arcanist to do so.)


    4. All the books related to mechanics and Arcanist knowledge will be provided to the host in the form of a library, which the host can access and learn from.


    ]


    After getting the rewards, Liam didn''t know if he should be happy or sad. The first two javelins were fantastic, and he was beyond happy, but the last two rewards gave him a headache. He just went through the Arcanist books, and it was still a different language¡ªmuch different from English¡ªand he would have to learn a brand-new language just to start the basics of being an Arcanist.


    [


    There is another reward along with the S class evaluation.


    ]

 42

    "Yeah, I know, I will get 2 games per day." Liam said.


    [


    No, if the host holds off until the completion of the second game and achieves S class evaluation in the second game, then the compounding reward would be something better than the current extra reward of S class.


    ]


    Liam went into a deep contemplation. The other game which he was playing had been hard for him, because it was a totally different mechanics and only involved magic. And he was still some time away from completion as he was actively trying to control his magic abilities.


    In game, the mechanics might seem very easy but it was hard for him in reality game. Every magic move he had to learn from scratch, and though he hadn''t passed the 10 plus death in the game, he was struggling with the progression.


    He was now in 75% completion and there was still one element left for him to learn in magic. There was a very low chance to make it S class but there was still. So he had to bet on it and after much contemplation he decided to wait for the other reward.


    Even if he failed in the S class, a game per day would still persist, so he wouldn''t lose much.


    Current time


    "You should get out of here and I will sneak away. Will meet up with Pepper, Happy and Yinsen and bail out of here." Tony said.


    "Naa... You will be helping me." Liam said.


    "Help you? I am just a rag doll to be thrown around by them. I am courageous, not stupid." Tony said.


    "I will help you."


    Liam said and then proceeded to summon two javelins. One Storm and One Interceptor. Tony, whose shoulders had slumped due to the failure and the feeling of helplessness, had his eyes wide opened as he saw two armor appear in front of him.


    "Yes, sir. I am detecting an entirely new system architecture. One moment while I interface..."


    "...."


    "Sir, this suit appears to utilize an advanced form of energy manipulation, allowing control over various elemental forces, primarily ice, electricity, and fire. Additionally, it features a reinforced barrier system for defensive applications, and also allow you to teleport shot distances in order to dodge."


    "You''re telling me this thing can throw lightning?" Tony was beyond amazed now.


    "That is correct, sir. Additionally, it can hover for extended periods and unleash area-wide elemental storms. But Sir, I will warn you that the suit can''t fly as fast as your Mark 6 or hover indefinitely. There needs to be a cooling time required for the thrusters."


    "Okay, I''m officially in love with this thing." Tony grinned.


    "You good over there, or do you need another tutorial?" Liam asked as he got inside. He felt like he had never left the Interceptor at all, since he had been primarily using Interceptor and Storm for his missions.


    "JARVIS gave me the quick-start guide. Let''s see how she flies." Tony rolled his shoulders, feeling the smooth movement of the javelin.


    "Then let''s make an entrance."


    Without another word, Liam dashed forward, the Interceptor''s speed kicking in instantly. He launched himself at the steel doors and slashed through them in a blink, the reinforced metal shearing apart under his energy-infused blades.


    "Show-off." With a pulse of energy, Tony shot forward, bursting through the opening Liam had made. Both javelins soared into the open Expo, where Iron Monger, Whiplash, and a swarm of flying robots were waiting.


    "Alright, boys¡ªwho wants to get struck by lightning first?" Tony said as he slowly hovered high along with Liam whose Interceptor stood side by side.


    Iron Monger who had been trying to get inside the building from the side, heard what Tony said and looked up. He and Whiplash didn''t recognize the exosuits but they did recognize the voice of Tony and suffice to say they weren''t expecting this at all.


    It was night but the surrounding lights were still flickering as men and women were still running around.

 43

    Liam''s gaze flicked across the Expo, assessing the chaos. The robots were wreaking havoc everywhere and the people were running and screaming, but thankfully the Expo was quite big and most of the people had left the venue. But there were few still in mess and they needed to take care of these robots.


    "Alright, let''s make sure these people don''t end up as roadkill." Tony said.


    "Agreed. I''ll take point. You hit from above." Liam said and he didn''t wait for confirmation. He was already moving.


    Liam shot forward, his Interceptor suit blurring as he zipped across the ground. A cluster of robots hovered ahead, targeting a group trying to flee toward a parking lot. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a Searching Glaive¡ªthe energized blade detached, homing in on the nearest drone before ricocheting into the next two. All three exploded in rapid succession.


    "Let''s see how this thing handles a proper storm." Tony hovered over a different section, locking onto five incoming robots. He raised both hands, calling on the Storm javelin''s power.


    A Lightning Strike erupted from the sky, hitting one drone dead-on and sending arcs of electricity surging through the others. Their circuits fried instantly, and they crashed in fiery spirals.


    "Okay, that was cool," Tony admitted as he veered toward another target.


    Meanwhile, Liam leaped onto a robot mid-flight, using his Tempest Strike to shatter its core before flipping off and landing in a roll. He barely missed a volley of repulsor blasts from another robot. Tony saw it and reacted fast.@@@@


    "Ice to meet you!" He extended his arm, launching an Ice Blast. A massive chunk of freezing energy shot forward, encasing the robot in ice before it crashed into the pavement, shattering on impact.


    "Terrible one-liner," Liam muttered through comms, even as he activated Spark Dash, cutting a bright electric path through three more robots before appearing on the other side.


    "You love it."


    "Not the point."


    Another wave of robots descended, this time targeting a mother and child stuck behind an overturned Expo booth.


    Iron Monger''s shoulder-mounted weapons flared to life. A missile launched toward Tony while two heavy-caliber miniguns spun up, firing directly at Liam. Tony barely had time to react. His HUD blared warnings as the missile locked onto him. "Oh, hell no." He thrust both hands forward, summoning an Ice Storm. A field of swirling frost erupted in front of him, slowing the missile mid-air before it detonated harmlessly in the frozen vortex.


    Meanwhile, Liam was already moving. His Interceptor''s speed let him weave between the hailstorm of bullets, each one barely missing as he zipped left and right in a blur. He leaped forward, activating Wraith Strike¡ªa projection of himself dashed ahead, phasing through Iron Monger before striking at his joints. Sparks erupted as the projection''s energy blades slashed through armor plating.


    "That tickled," Iron Monger growled, swiping at Liam with a massive metal arm. Liam barely dodged, flipping backward as the concrete beneath him shattered.


    "Hey, Tin Can! Ever get struck by lightning?" Tony called out.


    Before Iron Monger could react, Tony raised his arms and unleashed a Lightning Strike directly onto the behemoth. A bolt of raw electricity tore through the sky, slamming into Iron Monger''s suit, sending him into violent convulsions. His entire frame sparked, joints seizing up momentarily.


    Liam took advantage. He dashed in with Tempest Strike, landing a devastating melee blow right at the weak joint between Iron Monger''s chest plate and shoulder. The impact left a deep dent, sending the massive mech staggering.


    "You die now!" Whiplash roared in frustration, lunging at Tony with both whips.


    Tony barely dodged the first strike, but the second caught his arm, sending electric shocks surging through the Storm javelin. His HUD flickered, momentarily disrupting his systems.


    "Not on my watch." Liam shouted.


    He flung a Cryo Glaive at Whiplash, the freezing projectile locking onto its target. It struck Whiplash''s left arm, instantly encasing it in ice, forcing him to retract his whip.


    "You dare?" Whiplash hissed.


    "You come into my place and ask if we dare. What kind of stupid are you." Tony said, regaining control.


    He raised both arms and unleashed a Flame Burst, sending a concentrated explosion of fire straight at Whiplash. The blast hit him head-on, igniting his armor as he screamed, stumbling back.


    "ENOUGH!" Iron Monger, recovering from the earlier attacks, let out a growl. His suit''s back panels opened, revealing hidden thrusters. He launched himself forward at full speed, aiming straight for Tony.

 44

    Liam reacted in an instant. He activated Plasma Star, throwing a glowing projectile at Iron Monger''s faceplate. It pierced through the left side of his visor, partially blinding him.


    Tony didn''t waste the opportunity. He soared up, summoning Living Flame, a burning sphere of fire that homed in on Iron Monger''s exposed wound. The fireball slammed into his helmet, melting through.


    Iron Monger''s screams turned to static. His thrusters sputtered, and his massive frame crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater.


    "Time to finish this." Liam landed next to Tony.


    Tony nodded. He raised a hand, summoning Ice Blast, encasing Iron Monger''s entire lower half in a thick layer of ice.


    Liam dashed forward at blinding speed, leaping onto Iron Monger''s chest. His Wraith Strike activated, and a projection of himself delivered the final blow¡ªhis energy blades sliced through the reactor core in Monger''s chest, ripping it apart.


    A final, garbled scream echoed before Iron Monger''s body slumped lifelessly.


    "I will kill you¡ª" Whiplash, still recovering, growled, his one free hand clutching a remaining whip.


    Liam didn''t let him finish. He threw a Venom Bomb directly at Whiplash''s face. The acidic explosion coated his suit, eating away at the metal.


    "How about a little shock therapy?" Tony smirked.


    He raised his hand one last time, summoning a Lightning Strike. The bolt struck Whiplash square in the chest, sending thousands of volts coursing through him. His body convulsed violently before he collapsed, smoke rising from his burned-out circuits.


    "All down." Liam said as Tony slowly hovered in front of him. The Expo was damaged, his supposed legacy was now in tatters. But thankfully it was clear of civilians and there had only been wounds among the civilians. No deaths.


    This was not what Liam expected as he remembered that Whiplash wanted to blow everything up at the end. But then he remembered that they had come here to showcase their power and with the assumption that Tony wouldn''t be able to put up a fight. They came here to do future business, and killing people around would be very bad for their portfolio. @@@@


    The next day


    Tony was sitting sipping coffee. He looked particularly annoyed as he was brought to the HQ of Stark Industries and was forced to give a press conference. Pepper, Liam, Rhodey and Phil Colson were also present.


    "Okay, Tony, let''s go over this one more time," Rhodey said. "You do not say anything about the armor. Don''t mention a peep about it and do not go off-script."


    "We''d appreciate it if you''d cooperate. Your statement should be simple: ''The incident at the Expo was a result of an unauthorized attack by rogue military forces. You were present but uninvolved in the combat. And have no idea of what was going on since many people had seen you and Liam get indoors."


    "Sigh. And you called me here to speak those rehearsed lines. I have better things to do, you know."


    "Funny you should mention that." Rhodey sighed and tossed a newspaper onto the table.


    Tony picked up the paper and scanned the front page.


    "IRON MAGE SAVES STARK EXPO ¨C NEW HERO OR JUST ANOTHER STARK STUNT?"


    "Iron Mage? Iron Mage! Oh, I love that." Tony said.


    "No you don''t." Pepper rebutted in, while Liam just looked at the newspaper. So his involvement was so huge that even the name of Iron Man was in the dumpster and out came Iron Mage.


    "But you got to admit. The name does make me some kind of Gandalf in armor."


    "You are not Iron Mage." Pepper spoke again and this time with more conviction.


    "Tony, focus." Rhodey said.


    "Oh, I''m focused. Laser-focused. But let''s be real¡ªnobody''s buying this ''rogue technology'' excuse. You think they''re just gonna ignore the fact that someone was throwing actual lightning?"

 45

    Tony asked more about Ivan Vanko and was surprised that there had been a traitor before who had been exiled. The little guilt he had vanished, and he didn''t care anymore. Soon, he was led into the press conference hall, just like last time when he was here after landing from Afghanistan.


    The room was packed. Reporters crowded together, cameras flashing as Tony walked up to the podium.


    "Alright, let''s get this over with. I know you all have questions. Yes, the Stark Expo was supposed to be a fun-filled night of innovation and progress. No, we did not plan for homicidal maniacs in oversized tin cans to show up. But hey, at least it was exciting, right?"


    A few chuckles rippled through the crowd.


    "Mr. Stark, reports indicate that two armored figures were seen fighting against the attackers. Can you confirm if this was another one of your projects?"


    "That''s an interesting question." He pretended to think. "Let me see if I can answer that while also not answering that."@@@@


    "The public is already calling this duo ''Iron Mages.'' Do you have any comment on that? Some have even termed them heroes."


    "Heroes would be a bit far-fetched since civilians were involved. I am not some hero," Tony replied.


    "I never said you are a hero," the reporter said.


    "The truth is... I am... Iron Mage." The press room exploded with questions and flashing lights.


    Liam could only sigh, as he had expected this to happen and saw it coming from miles away. Though there were changes, they weren''t significant enough. Pepper just shook her head.


    "I''ll let Fury know," Coulson said and excused himself. The reporters had many questions, but Tony avoided all of that and escaped. Rhodes, too, had left to deal with the military inquisition that was going to come for him. Pepper went to the office, while Liam and Tony returned to Tony''s home.


    "Tony, these are for you. One section is for mechanics, and the other... let''s just say it''s related to magic. I have tried reading the books, but I couldn''t make heads or tails of it, as the language was too hard for me to decipher. Maybe you can. And the Forge is the place where you can make new suits, as that has been the tradition. Of course, you can try to build it without the Forge. Doesn''t matter to me. But I might call dibs on some of your suits later since that will be my payment for sharing this knowledge with you," Liam said.


    Tony had already stepped in and was busy reading the books.


    "You were right. This is totally a new language. I have never seen anything like this before. Yinsen is a linguist¡ªmight need his brain on this if that''s cool with you," Tony said.


    "Yeah, I trust Yinsen, but don''t share the knowledge with others. This Forge can''t be moved or replicated and is very hard to damage," Liam said.


    "I officially owe you one. Not a small one either. Like, top-tier, ''you get first pick on the apocalypse bunker'' kind of favor," Tony said.


    "Don''t start throwing a party yet. Making the materials for Storm or Interceptor is going to be a nightmare for you," Liam said.


    "Uh, do you know who you''re talking to? I''m Tony Freaking Stark. I once built a reactor in a cave with a box of scraps. I''ll figure it out," Tony replied.


    "Yeah, try to make a suit that could just fit without using an assembly station. I can''t save you every time," Liam said.


    "Wow. Harsh. You mess up one time, and suddenly nobody lets you live it down," Tony growled.


    "Soon, you''re going to have to answer to the Senate hearing, so get your act together and come up with some solid answers," Liam said.


    Though the sequence of his life story had been very irregular, he wouldn''t ignore the fact that Hydra would try to get their hands on Tony''s armors.


    They were way too good for anyone to be left free.

 47

    Colson was going to walk away when Liam stopped him. He went to his room in the mansion and came out with quite a big leatherback book.


    The title of the book was A Guide to Norse Mythology.


    "Was that the book you ordered yesterday?" Tony asked, remembering Liam ordering a book on Amazon with same-day delivery. He recalled it vividly because Liam did so after watching the news about a hammer lodged in the ground in New Mexico. Liam nodded.


    Colson wanted to refuse.


    "Don''t reject the book too fast. You might need it in this mission of yours. And a piece of advice: keep your mind open to all possibilities and prepare for the worst."@@@@


    Colson was taken aback by Liam''s words. If it were anyone else, he would have laughed it off, but this teenager was Wraithborn and had access to technology that SHIELD couldn''t yet understand.


    SHIELD had gone through the videos of the armor he and Tony had equipped at the Expo, and none of their scientists could come up with a proper explanation for them. They had scrutinized the Mark suits before, and those could be explained by science, but the new versions could not.


    When Fury went through the debriefing, he knew that this technology was definitely something Liam had come up with, not Tony, so he didn''t even ask Tony about it. And Phil was one of the three who were updated on what was going on with Liam.


    Thus, he was advised to take Liam''s words seriously, as his advice didn''t just come from him but from the organization he represented. At times, Phil felt like Liam wasn''t even human, but he never expressed his doubts outright.


    "I will welcome all possibilities with open arms."


    Phil left after that, and the next day, Liam also decided to leave. It was becoming boring since both Yinsen and Tony were too deep into learning and understanding the new baby they had gotten their hands on.


    "Oh? How did you come to that conclusion?" Liam asked.


    "Because someone actually barged into our facility, made a mockery of our agents, but in the end, failed to lift the hammer. Later, he confessed that he was Thor. So I want to know what''s going on," Colson pressed again.


    "See, Colson, I''ll keep this straight. I gave you that book to make sure you know what you''re dealing with, not because I know what''s going on. I''m not omniscient. If you need help, ask Fury," Liam said. He would never reveal too much¡ªthat would be too dangerous and too annoying.


    "I understand. I''ll consult with the Director," Colson said.


    "That would be better," Liam replied and disconnected the call.


    Liam wasn''t bothered at all. Odin was still alive and well, and if he wasn''t, the Ancient One was still around. If anything went haywire because of his interference, they would be there to stop it. So, until then, he could just sip coffee and enjoy the show.


    But Colson wasn''t the only one who had called him from a burner phone that day. Wesley called too.


    "Hello, sir. Wilson Fisk is on the run. I''m sorry for having failed you. You can punish me as you see fit." Those were the first words Wesley spoke after Liam picked up the call.


    "How did he escape?" Liam wasn''t too surprised that Fisk had done so. He was too cunning and knew he had been backed into a corner. The correct course of action would be to run.


    "Sir, this morning, he was supposed to come to the office to sign some documents. Some of the goons under the Russian brothers had always kept an eye on him. But after an hour of waiting, he still hadn''t come out of his home. We searched his entire place, and there''s no trace of how he escaped."


    At times like this, he missed having a very efficient AI. An efficient AI would be able to find his traces and also catch him. But he didn''t have one. So he would have to go through the old ways.

 48

    Liam leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as he processed Wesley''s words.


    "Keep your men watching Fisk''s other known associates. I''ll handle this," Liam said. He disconnected the call before Wesley could respond. Liam didn''t immediately act and waited for the night to settle in. After midnight, he moved with eerie silence, slipping between the cracks of the city like a shadow. Fisk had been smart, but he wasn''t untouchable. If he had gone to ground, there was only one place he would retreat to first¡ªthe last person on Earth he truly trusted.


    His mother.


    Liam arrived at the nursing home in the Bronx, standing just outside the entrance. The flickering streetlamp above cast long shadows across the pavement. His wraith sight activated once more, tracing ghostly echoes inside.


    Liam entered through an open window, moving unnoticed past the night nurse at the reception desk. He followed the echoes up the stairs, stopping just outside a dimly lit room. Through the wall, he could see her¡ªa frail, elderly woman seated in a rocking chair, staring at a black-and-white television.


    Liam didn''t hesitate and went straight to dominate the frail woman. He felt no guilt; she wasn''t a saint. She may have suffered from domestic violence, but she had also created a monster. She had always known what her son had become, yet she had protected him, allowing countless others to suffer because of her blind motherly instincts.


    Fisk had been careful¡ªso careful that even Wesley hadn''t known about his mother. Finding her had taken time, effort, and Tony''s help. But now, here she was, and she would give him exactly what he needed.


    "Where is Fisk?" Liam asked, his voice laced with supernatural command.


    "There are different properties my son owns. One of them has a bunker..." She gave away the location without resistance, her voice eerily monotone under Liam''s influence. He memorized it¡ªit wasn''t far.


    Liam stepped back into the shadows, vanishing as silently as he had arrived. The hunt was over. The execution was about to begin.


    Navigating through the streets of New York, Liam moved unseen. He arrived at the location¡ªan abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Hidden within was a bunker, Fisk''s last resort.


    "Normally, I wouldn''t bother with a lowlife like you. Actually, I still don''t. You''re just a side quest I picked up because I got bored," Liam said.


    "I... What..." Fisk snarled.


    "Let''s get this over with. I have exams," Liam said. Then a spectral form of himself appeared in front of Fisk. Before he could fire his gun at the ghostly figure, a sword pierced through his heart.


    The crime lord staggered, dropping to one knee as the blade remained embedded in his chest.


    "I... have not... achieved what I wanted..."


    Fisk had many questions. He didn''t even know the identity of the man who had come for him. He didn''t know if his mother was safe. He didn''t know why he had lost everything. And worst of all, he knew he would never see his dream come true.


    He had regrets. But the world had given him no chance to fulfill his goals.


    The Kingpin of Crime was no more.


    Liam glanced around at the well-stocked bunker, filled with rations that could have lasted a long time. But none of it mattered now. He had made a mess of this place.


    "SHIELD''s gonna have a hard time explaining this one," Liam muttered as he walked away.


    Minutes after he left, multiple black cars arrived. Liam had already tipped Fury off about Fisk''s downfall. Now it was their turn to clean up.

 49

    "Goddammit. You can''t be judge, jury, and executioner every damn time. You and your god complex," Fury screamed over the phone after Liam had returned from finishing the finals.


    "Yeah, well, the mountain of evidence sent to you would result in either a hundred years of imprisonment or death in any court. I just fast-tracked the process," Liam replied. "And I don''t have a god complex; I just do what needs to be done."


    "But that is not our right to decide," Fury said.


    "Fury, at the end of the day, the laws are made by men themselves. There is no god that sits on the throne," Liam said. Fury had no words to counter. Though he yelled at Liam, at the bottom of his heart, he was glad that this piece of shit was dead.


    The more he learned about this man, the more appalled he was. The manipulations, the murders, the extortion, drugs, and blackmail. The sheer amount of crime was too much, and at the end of the day, Liam had just saved a lot of taxpayers'' money by getting rid of him. He was just scared that Liam would become a killing machine if he went down that path.


    The finals had ended, so Liam had a lot of free time for himself and had been focusing his energy on the current game he was trying to complete. He was making sure that he didn''t die, and though it was taking some time, it was rewarding for Liam too, as he was learning new tricks in the game.


    It had been more than a month since the incident at the Expo, and the cold had finally started to settle in.


    "EDITH, how is the progress on the javelins for Tony?" Liam asked as he was busy blacksmithing. EDITH had been with Liam since his birthday, but EDITH wasn''t some high-functioning AI like Ultron and was only capable of answering and handling orders. It was not as self-aware as BT, but it did the job for Liam when he wanted it to.


    "Mr. Stark and Mr. Yinsen have made considerable progress in the knowledge of the arcanist, and it is assumed that they have made new armors, but that information is something I don''t have access to," EDITH replied.


    "Oh! Did JARVIS boot you out?" Liam teased.


    "Yes, Sir."


    "And Mom, don''t tell anyone that I left for LA. It''s a super secret project," Liam said.


    "It has something to do with Iron Mage armor? Liam, I don''t want you to mess with Iron Mage armor. You are already dragged into the senate hearing," Olivia said.


    "Mom, no. The project is on clean energy. Marvel and Stark Industries will enter the energy business," Liam said. Olivia contemplated for a bit and looked at the innocent blue eyes of Liam.


    "Fine. I believe you. But you better not get involved with the Iron Mage armor. I don''t want you to be a hero," Olivia said.


    "Mom, that is the work of Colonel Rhodes and Tony. I am just a teenager," Liam replied.


    "You sure don''t act like one," Olivia said. Liam smiled as he took his luggage and went to his car. His car didn''t go to the airport, but rather to a secluded place away from the city where the skies were clear. He then summoned the Storm javelin and flew high. While he was among the clouds, he proceeded to summon the Hornet.


    Mid-air, he entered the cockpit and then flew his way toward New Mexico. After about half an hour, he found himself near the coordinates that Fury had sent him. While still in the air, he summoned his Hornet back and then started free-falling. A few seconds later, he landed on the ground.


    Liam looked around the dusty terrain of New Mexico, his boots sinking slightly into the soft earth as he stepped away from the impact crater. Liam was wearing his Wraithborn armor and slowly started approaching the temporary SHIELD camp. He could already see a few figures there, who seemed to be waiting for him.


    These were SHIELD agents. Their weapons weren''t raised, but their tense postures showed they were on high alert. As he closed in, he saw Fury come out of the camp and look at him.


    "Welcome to SHIELD, Wraithborn," Fury said.


    The SHIELD agents were surprised that Fury seemed to know the Wraithborn. All of them had read about Wraithborn before, but none of them had seen the butcher in real life. Now that he was here, wearing the same medieval-era armor with a mask that could send shivers down the spine of anyone.


    Even when he walked closer, one could feel the coldness seeping in, even in this hot, desert-like weather. Fury looked at the SHIELD agents and had a smirk on his face. It was always nice to surprise your own people rather than surprising some strangers off the street.

 50

    "Walk with me," Fury said, not wasting time as his trench coat billowed in the wind.


    Liam fell in step beside Fury as they moved toward a nearby SHIELD tent set up as a command center. Inside, a large holo-display projected satellite footage, surveillance feeds, and various reports. Agents bustled around, gathering intel and coordinating operations. Fury provided him images of the hammer and also images of Thor and Warrior Three.


    "I assume you know what the hammer is," Fury said.


    "I know what it represents," Liam said.


    "Then you''re up to speed," Fury said. "We have located Thor, but from what we have gathered, he''s not at full strength. He was stripped of his powers and banished here. SHIELD secured the hammer he came with, which is embedded in a crater about twenty miles from here. No one''s been able to lift the damn thing."@@@@


    "Is Thor detained or something?" Liam asked.


    "No. After he barged in that place, he was let go. But we are keeping an eye on him from afar. It was also from the surveillance that we came to know the origins of the hammer, his exile, and his loss of divinity¡ªor whatever they call it."


    "I''m not seeing a problem. He is an exiled prince, so what?" Liam asked, unsure why he had been called.


    "After Thor was allowed a normal life, three more unusual men showed up. We are calling them the Warriors Three. They came and seemed to have delivered him some bad news," Fury said.


    "Hmm... Seems manageable. What''s the real problem?" Liam asked.


    "Loki. Thor''s brother. He came down not long after the Warriors Three got here. His arrival wasn''t exactly diplomatic," Fury said.


    "Warrior of Ancient Humans... Welcome to our humble abode. If this were Asgard, I would have welcomed you with fine wine from the cellars of the Golden Palace. But alas, I don''t have that privilege anymore," Thor said, stepping forward. From the corner, one could see they had been busy with lunch, and the Warriors Three were causing quite the ruckus.


    Food and wine were what they lived for all their lives, so they couldn''t curb their enthusiasm here either. But Liam was taken aback too when Thor addressed him as "Ancient Humans." Then he realized that Thor actually had respect in his eyes when he looked at him.


    Mind you, Liam hadn''t shown his face to Thor yet and was still masked.


    "You know me?" Liam asked.


    "No," Thor shook his head. "But I can feel the power of a warrior emanating from you," Thor replied.


    Liam promptly walked in while Fury was stopped by Jane. She had met him before, and he was also the reason why she lost all her equipment, which hadn''t been returned yet.


    "Fury, give her back the equipment," Liam said, while Fury''s shoulders slumped. He wanted to protest, but there was nobody who would listen to him now. He could only nod and stay in his car.


    He needed to give back the equipment SHIELD took. It wasn''t useful to them anymore.


    "Join us, warrior... Let''s feast!" Volstagg said.


    "Uh... Hello. For safety purposes, I am not able to lift my mask. People call me Wraithborn, so you can call me that. I thank you for the invite, but I am here for business. I want to understand what Loki means by starting a war against Earth," Liam said. This made the happy atmosphere die down instantly.


    "See, now you''ve killed the vibe," Darcy Lewis said, as snarky as expected.


    "My brother..." Thor lamented. "He has a deep hatred toward me. He hatched a conspiracy, killed Laufey in the Golden Palace, and pinned the blame on me. And now he has teamed up with the Frost Giants, having provided them with false proof that I killed Laufey. Asgard can''t attack Midgard since my father is still alive, but if the Frost Giants attack, Midgard will have a hard time defending itself."

 51

    Liam was soon brought up to speed on what was going on. After Thor was exiled, Loki wanted to be the hero, and since their father Odin went to sleep, he hatched a more vicious plan than Thor ever could.


    He decided to kill Laufey, imprison Thor, and also kill the Frost Giants using the help of people from Earth. He was trying to kill two birds with one stone. If he succeeded in doing that, he would be regarded as a hero. He was already hailed as a great king since he had killed Laufey in the Golden Palace, and now he just needed to get rid of the Frost Giants.


    Unlike the original story, where he just wanted to destroy Jotunheim, he wanted to kill the people living there instead. Liam didn''t expect that changing the future of Earth would not only affect Earth but also the whole universe. This wasn''t looking good for Liam at all.


    As Liam absorbed the weight of the situation, he was about to voice his thoughts when a sudden hum of energy filled the air. Liam made his way to the lawn, where he saw a sleek figure descending from above.


    The armored newcomer stood tall, clad in a suit that was neither entirely Stark-tech nor fully mystical¡ªa fusion of the Storm javelin''s elemental prowess and the sleek, cutting-edge design of Iron Man''s Mark armor. The plating gleamed in the light, its form lined with pulsating arcane sigils, while a faint crackle of static energy lingered around him.


    The newcomer straightened, his helmet folding back just enough to reveal Tony Stark''s unmistakable smirk.


    "Well, well, looks like I walked into the middle of a mythology lecture. Hope I didn''t miss the part where we blame everything on the trickster god." His tone was casual, but his eyes flicked to Liam for the briefest second¡ªjust enough for Liam to catch the silent message. Tony couldn''t acknowledge him as a friend. Not here. Not now.


    "Who are you?" Thor asked.


    "Iron Mage. Thought I''d drop in and see what all the godly fuss is about," Tony replied. While the Norse men were impressed by the new mechanical warrior that had just presented himself, the Earthlings were stunned.


    "What¡ªwho¡ªwhat am I even looking at?" Jane was the first to react. "That''s Iron Mage, right?"


    "Who is the spy?" Liam asked.


    "Heimdall. He too is in prison for going against King Loki," Volstagg said.


    "I feel like this brother of yours has more ulterior motives by attacking us with a borrowed hand," Tony said while sitting down at the table and sipping coffee, which Darcy had happily brewed for him in exchange for a selfie. Nobody paid attention to her at all, though.


    "How big is his army?" Liam asked.


    "It wouldn''t be too many. When we attacked Jotunheim, there weren''t many, and our rough estimate is around 600 to 700 normal-sized Giants, with maybe 100 ultra-big Frost Giants. If it were a normal time, Thor would be enough to take them down, but sadly, he hasn''t received approval from Mjolnir yet," Fandral spoke up for the first time, as he seemed to have been busy chugging down beer since the start.


    "There are ultra-big giants too?" Tony muttered. JARVIS had given him a briefing while he was on the way here, and the more he learned, the more he was surprised. Not surprised by the mythology, but by the fact that he would have to now accept that mythology was real.


    He was still having a hard time accepting the fact that he was conversing with aliens, and now there was another alien species. This world was turning way too fast.


    "Wraithborn... As an ancient human, can you call upon a legion of warriors and help us save Midgard?" Thor asked.


    "Thor, you think too highly of me. I am probably the last of my bloodline, and I don''t have authority. But the man with the patch outside has quite a bit of power over humans. You can convince him to help you fight the Frost Giants. But he can''t be trusted 100%. There is a chance he will push you toward your brother if the situation goes south," Liam said. Tony''s eyes squinted when Liam said he was the last of the bloodline.


    As far as he knew, his family tree was exceptionally normal. So what was Liam talking about? He would have to ask him later.

 52

    Tony called up Fury to come in, and this time, Jane didn''t stop him, as Fury explicitly stated that he would return all the equipment to Jane again. Though she was annoyed, right now, she would have to set aside personal differences.


    Fury spoke with Thor and formally introduced himself as the Director of SHIELD, finally understanding what they were facing. Though he had a general idea of how bad the situation was, getting to know it firsthand sent a chill down his spine.


    The last time he faced an alien threat, he had help, and though this time too he had help, he didn''t know if they could face an army. One was a robotic killing machine with persecution delusions, another was an egotistical super-intelligent man, and an exiled prince. This wasn''t looking good, but they would have to make do with it.


    "I will go and arrange for the welcome of your brother," Tony said, and then he proceeded to fly off, while Fury went to talk with the World Council. They had never approved the Avengers Initiative. This was his chance.


    While they left, Thor and Liam conversed. Liam was particularly intrigued by how Thor was very accepting of him even though he wore the mask. The reasoning Thor gave was that esteemed warriors of Asgard, including the Valkyries, sometimes wore masks, so it wasn''t very surprising that Liam wore one too.


    Over the next two days, Liam found himself in the company of Jane, Darcy, and Dr. Selvig, doing his best to blend into their world while keeping an ear open for any developments on Loki''s impending arrival. It was sometimes difficult because he had to wear a mask at all times.


    Jane, caught up in her research, had little time to dwell on it, though she did give him an occasional curious glance. With SHIELD returning her equipment, she dove into her work. Thor had opened a new world for her, and thus, she didn''t want to lose the inspiration.


    Darcy, on the other hand, was relentless.


    "So, mystery guy, what''s with the whole ''never-showing-your-face'' thing? Are you secretly, like, super handsome? Or is this a Batman situation where the mask is the brand?"


    "Let''s just say it''s complicated," Liam answered.


    "It''s always complicated," Darcy quipped, "but you''re rolling with the Norse God of Thunder. That''s peak complicated."


    "Not as complicated as you working as one of the 2 Broke Girls in a restaurant," Liam muttered.


    "I... What?" Darcy could only make out some words from Liam''s mouth.@@@@


    This question stumped Thor a bit. He wanted to reply that he was the God of Lightning, but if he was, how come he couldn''t use lightning?


    The Day of the War


    The weather was gloomy right from the morning. Black clouds hovered above, blocking the sun and depriving the men on the ground of its warmth. Since SHIELD knew that a war might take place, the whole town had been evacuated. Jane and the others, too, were advised to leave, but she refused, giving the excuse that she wanted to see the Rainbow Bridge for her research.


    SHIELD agents formed a perimeter and made sure no civilians were allowed to witness what was about to happen. They were also equipped with guns, and even tanks were brought in. They couldn''t let Loki''s army get past the temporary barrier they had set up.


    "You must be Wraithborn. Natasha spoke about you. Thank you for dealing with those scums at the pier."


    It was Barton who came forward and introduced himself. Liam didn''t understand the enthusiasm.


    "I am Clint Barton, but people call me Hawkeye."


    "He is a big fan of yours," Natasha added, coming from behind.


    "Huh?" Liam was still confused as to why Barton was so eager.


    "He watched you on the tape. Barton is an archer, so finding someone better than him has lit a fire under his ass," Natasha said.


    Now it clicked for Liam. Barton was a great archer, but when he saw the video of how Liam used a bow and arrow in slow motion, he was impressed and wanted to meet the man himself.


    Now that he was here, he had to introduce himself.


    "Hello... I just did what any parent or adult would have done," Liam said.


    Barton nodded. He would have done the same thing. His wife had just given birth, and he couldn''t even imagine his sweet child being taken away by someone. He would go to war against the world if that ever happened.

 53

    Liam studied Barton for a moment, and then, without a word, he reached behind him, producing a bow unlike anything Barton had ever seen.


    Sleek and elegant, the bow was crafted from mithril and a mixture of alloys along with the toughest wood he could find. Delicate yet unbreakable, the limbs of the bow curved with an artistry no human craftsman could replicate. Strange runes, etched in a language unknown to Barton, pulsed faintly along its surface.


    Barton''s breath hitched. He didn''t need to be told¡ªthis was no ordinary weapon. He knew this because he had seen the same kind of bow on Liam''s hand before.


    "This is an Elvish bow," Liam stated. "I crafted it myself. It is superior to any bow made by human hands."


    "The runes on its limbs," Liam continued, pointing at two distinct markings near the grip. "One activates freezing arrows, the other¡ª" He tapped the second rune. "¡ªturns them into explosive arrows. Focus your will on the rune you want to activate before releasing your shot."


    "You''re serious?" Barton''s grip tightened.


    "I''m lending it to you for this battle. But when the war is over, I expect it back."


    "Uh.." Barton looked around. He could see many eyes were now focused on him, even Fury was looking at him in one from the command center.


    "You don''t have to look at them. They will never be able to uncover the secrets the bow holds in their lifetime. Those who can, will never work of SHIELD." Liam said. This made Natasha smile. It seemed Liam didn''t have a good view of their SHIELD, but here he was. Helping them. What a hypocrite.


    Barton let out a low chuckle before pulling the string back experimentally. He barely had to apply force¡ªthe bow responded as if it were an extension of his own body. Smooth. Precise. Deadly.


    "This is insane," he muttered. "I don''t even know what to say."


    "What are you called around here? Tin-man."


    "Actually I have a more fancy name, but we can wait for the introductions." Tony replied as he eyed the frost giants and also the ultra large ones. He wasn''t thrilled at all. "And you brought guests. How thoughtful, too bad I hate uninvited company. Alright, big guy. You''re up."


    A deep mechanical rumble filled the air as something massive fell from very high up. The ground trembled beneath its weight it landed.


    BT 7274


    The Titan''s towering form loomed over them all, its armored plating gleaming under the cold light. The massive machine halted beside Tony, its glowing visor scanning the area. Liam had already known that his good old friend would be here, and he had underwent some upgrades to his tech. Thanks to the new technology of Arcanist and the Forge.


    Loki didn''t have a good look on his face as he looked at Wraithborn who hadn''t spoken a single word but just like Thor, he could tell that he was a great warrior. There were also Natasha and Barton along with the Warrior Three. And aside that he also sensed soldiers with weapons on the far side ready to mow them down.


    "So brother, you have opted for war. War you shall recieve." Then, with a mere flick of his fingers, the Frost Giants lunged forward like a tidal wave of ice and fury


    Tony was the first to strike. He shot skyward, and unleashed a devastating Lightning Strike. Arcs of electricity split the battlefield, momentarily halting the advance of the Frost Giants as their bodies convulsed under the high-voltage onslaught."That get your attention, popsicles?" Tony quipped, dodging a spear of ice hurled his way.Barton wasted no time, channeling his will into Liam''s Elvish bow. The runes flared as his arrow ignited in a blaze of fire. The arrow found its mark, striking a Frost Giant in the chest, detonating on impact with a fiery explosion that sent shards of ice and charred flesh flying."Yeah, okay, I''m in love with this thing," Barton muttered before nocking another arrow.


    The Warriors Three charged forward, engaging the Frost Giants in brutal close combat. Volstagg''s axe cleaved through icy flesh, Fandral danced through the battlefield with swordplay, and Hogun''s mace shattered their frozen enemies with every devastating swing.


    Then Liam moved.


    A wraith-like blur, he vanished into Spectral Dash, appearing above a Frost Giant before plunging his spectral blade into its skull. He Shadow Pulled another toward him, driving his dagger through its chest before tossing the lifeless body aside.@@@@

 54

    It had been a day since Liam had completed the last game. And surprisingly for Liam he was able to complete the game with S class rating. Though it took much longer time to finish, he was able to get the S class rating. And when the combined reward came, he didn''t know how he would feel.


    The other game which Liam had been playing was called Forspoken. A game just like Anthem. Too much money spent on it and at the end received mixed to bad reviews. But the game had magic. Magic that was powerful, though it might not be like the magic of WOW or Path of Exile.


    But it had elemental power in the magic. Liam had to face the last enemy Susurrus, the same monster/demon which made the protagonist to travel to the world of Athia. Liam had never played that game before and thus was very cautious and finally able to win against the enemy after dying just once and for the 9th time in total.


    [Congratulations to the host for completing the game in S class. The rewards from this game are.


    1. Frey''s Magic (Purple Magic): This type of magic is earth-based.


    2. Sila''s Magic (Red Magic): This type of magic is fire-based.


    3. Prav''s Magic (Blue Magic): This type of magic is water-based.@@@@


    4. The Veriment Cloak : A cloak that has boosting effect on damage done and recharges mana and surge faster


    ]


    The battlefield was chaos. BT-7274''s heavy artillery fired in coordinated bursts, vaporizing Frost Giants as they attempted to flank the human defenders. Liam too helped BT in this regard. He had summoned fire into his sword using the Arc Slice move and then he delivered wide sword slashes and each attack blasted the Frost giants into charred corpses.


    Liam also summoned two fiery soldiers to attack the enemies. If Fury thought that Liam was doing elemental manipulation, he didn''t think so anymore. Manipulation couldn''t self thinking soldiers.


    Liam was moving in an out of the battlefield like he was some ghost. Not only his wraith abilities provided him speed but now with the help of support spells from the three types of magic allowed him to almost fly in hyper speed near the ground. It was as if Liam didn''t need to touch the ground.


    Loki''s expression darkened. The battle was not going as he had planned.


    Liam wasn''t finished. Calling on his ultimate ability, he raised both hands. "Charge!" A massive wall of fire erupted, incinerating dozens of Frost Giants in a raging inferno. At the same time, his wraith abilities synchronized with his magic¡ªElven Rage activating in tandem. His body flickered between reality and shadow, a relentless force of destruction as he carved through enemy ranks with inhuman speed and precision.


    The battlefield was now an inferno of elemental fury. Fire, ice, and lightning clashed violently as the defenders pressed forward, forcing Loki to finally step in himself.


    Meanwhile, some Frost Giants managed to slip past the main battlefield, descending upon the SHIELD agents stationed further out. Cries of pain and alarm rang out as the agents were cut down, frost spreading across their bodies as the Giants tore through them.


    Liam was mid-battle when a Frost Giant lunged at him from behind, ice spear poised to skewer him. Before he could react, an arrow whizzed through the air and struck the Giant in the head, exploding on impact. Liam turned sharply, spotting Barton in the distance atop a ruined building, already nocking another arrow.


    "Nice shot! You can keep the bow."


    "Damn right I will." Barton blinked in surprise before a wide grin spread across his face.

 55

    The battle raged on, but in the chaos, Loki had slipped away unnoticed. When Thor finally realized it, it was too late.


    A scream pierced the frigid air. Thor turned just in time to see Loki standing over Jane, his dagger pressed against her throat.


    "Surrender, dear brother, and I will spare her," Loki taunted.


    By this time Liam and his co-ops had taken down almost all of the Frost Giants. Even the Ultra frost giants had been down, thanks to BT and Tony, while Liam took down most using his fire magic and wraith abilities. His sword was super effective as it seemed to be burning on fire all the time while Liam himself moved way too fast for the frost giants to keep up. The most ineffective was probably Natasha. She did her best but was injured at the end, and Fandral had to carry her out of the battlefield.


    She was angry with herself but then again, open battlefield wasn''t her forte and this time she was facing against Frost Giants, who couldn''t be easily killed by one electric shock. Fury had been watching all of this and he was more than happy with what he saw. The World Council had allowed the Avengers to showcase their power and they did with frightful efficiency.


    Liam and Tony had been their start performers. He had dreamt of having his dream team since the Skrull and Kree incident and now that it had come to fruition, he almost had happy tears. Though he was unsure of why Liam had elemental magic that seemed to be coming out of fiction, he was glad that he had. His abilities over fire and earth helped them to win against the Frost Giants.


    But now everything was on hinge once he saw Loki taking away Jane. He cursed himself for not taking away Jane from this place altogether. He didn''t expect that Loki would know so much of what was going on.


    Thor, who was battered and bruised from fighting with nothing but his fists, hesitated. He looked on to Jane, as blood and freeze could be seen in his many parts of his own body. The moment when Loki held Jane, his fingers had a spark. Nobody noticed it but Liam did as he stood on one side, with Tony floating nearby.


    His repulsors were ready to take down Loki and so was the bow of Barton and Liam. Thor looked beaten and tired as he looked at the crying face of Jane. He had already decided.


    "THOR.." Jane shouted but the only thing that remained was the pattern of Rainbow Bridge on the ground. Liam didn''t expect to see such an abrupt ending but it was for the best. Best to have this kind of fight at their own home. The Warrior Three were also taken aback by this sudden change but they were also happy to see their old friend back in full glory.


    "Let''s get rid of the remaining ones" Liam said as he looked at the remaining Frost Giants who now seemed to be trembling.


    "The one with the most kills will treat the other to a unlimited tacos." Tony said.


    "I took down enemies in larger numbers."


    "And I took down the bigger ones." Tony retorted back as both of them lunged into the hopeless Frost Giants.


    Liam surged forward, his movements a blur as molten fire licked at his fingertips. With a flick of his wrist, a blazing arc of flames carved through the battlefield¡ª Bombardier. Liam kicked at one of the Frost Giants who was gearing for a fight against Liam. He was instantly knocked back and then burst into flames. This made the other Frost Giants to get knocked back too, but Liam wasn''t done.


    As they scrambled to rise, he leaped into the air, conjuring Fusillade, sending multiple burning projectiles raining down on the cowering giants.


    "You know, for someone who throws rocks and fire, you sure do like making things explode!" Tony said as he also summoned a ball of fire and killing the other Frost Giants.


    Liam grinned inside his mask, landing with a Rage Slice, his flaming sword slashing through ice-blue flesh like butter.


    One of the remaining Frost Giants roared, slamming a massive ice-covered fist into the ground, sending a surge of frozen spikes toward Liam. He responded by stomping his foot, channeling Up and Away, launching himself high into the air while earthen spikes erupted beneath the enemy, impaling it. Up and away was one of the few water based magic that he could use here. Using water based magic would have been useless against these frost giants.@@@@

 56

    As the last Frost Giant stood, he unleashed Arc Slice, a crescent-shaped blade of flame that sliced through it, reducing it to smoldering husks.


    "Guess that means I owe you tacos, huh?" Tony hovered beside him, taking in the battlefield littered with steaming ice corpses. Liam didn''t answer and rather looked at the distant SHIELD agents that seemed to be closing in, which was led by Fury himself. Barton had also appeared in front of them.


    "We had been too wasteful. We didn''t have any tactics and went charging in. Thankfully it was a half open battlefield with no civilians, or else tomorrow newspaper would have looked entirely different." Barton said while he still held the bow, like some prized treasure.


    "I think for the first team up, we did a good job." Liam said.


    "Yeah, yeah. You did great. The rest of us? Jury''s still out on that." Barton said.


    "I''d say you all did better than expected." It was Fury who barged in and replied. Behind him, a squad of SHIELD agents secured the area, checking for any remaining threats. He surveyed the carnage¡ªfrost-covered corpses, burnt-out craters, and the unmistakable signature of both magic and advanced weaponry.


    "I''ve seen a lot of battles in my time," Fury continued. "But this? This was one hell of a statement."@@@@


    "Stark, I expected the theatrics from you. But you," he turned to Liam, "I don''t know what kind of Saturday morning cartoon you crawled out of, but whatever that was¡ªfire and stone magic? Damn effective."


    "He''s full of surprises. And apparently, a taco thief." Liam rolled his eyes.


    "Barton, good positioning as always. Thor¡ªwherever he is¡ªdidn''t do half bad for a guy running on fumes. Natasha..." He paused. "Not your kind of fight, but you held your own."


    Natasha gave a tired nod, though frustration was still evident in her eyes.


    "And I thank you three for standing with us in this trying times."


    Liam was back in LA, at Tony''s place.


    "So, let me get this straight¡ªyou''re interning at Stark Industries now?" Tony asked.


    "Yeah. Something wrong with that?" Liam answered as he was chewing on the spicy tacos Tony had ordered.


    "Nah, just feels like your high school days are on the endangered species list. Normally, I''d give you the ''stay in school, kid'' speech, but your grades are doing all the talking." Tony said.


    "Yeah, well, it is what it is." Liam replied. "Enemies don''t exactly check ID before they try to kill us."


    "Hard to argue with that." Tony said.


    "Tony, did you finish what I asked you?" Liam asked.


    "Halfway there. You really love the dramatic touch, don''t you?" Tony said.


    "You''ll get it when the time comes." Liam replied.


    "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, Pepper and I are moving to New York for a bit. Stark Tower''s almost done, and we''re finally kicking off that clean energy initiative we talked about."


    "That''s your department, not mine. I''m just surprised you went with the javelin tech instead of your usual setup during the fight." Liam said.


    "The new toy needed a proper test drive. And what better way than a live-action stress test?" Tony smirked.

 57

    Liam had returned to New York along with Tony and his team which basically was Pepper, Happy and Yinsen. The Stark Tower was finally built and ready to provide clean energy to the city. And the great thing about this new technology was they didn''t need to replace the old distribution and just needed to have a different source of energy.


    Though Marvel didn''t have any hands in this new project, because of Marvel''s shares on Stark Industries, Marvel just got richer. Also Marvel had also received many orders on the shield technology and had started the production. Pepper was mostly responsible for this and had been spear heading.


    Since Liam was back at home, his mother was very happy since he was in New York and could still do his internship or whatever it was. His parents were very proud of him, not knowing that their son had literally fought aliens a few days ago. SHIELD was able to keep it under wraps since they had evacuated the town before on the false news of gas leak.


    So it was a win win situation for everyone.


    Few days later.


    "The things you ordered are ready." Tony messaged Liam who was in his blacksmith warehouse hammering away.


    "I will be there." Liam replied. It was early morning so Liam just drove towards the Stark Tower. As Liam pulled up near Stark Tower, the sleek, newly constructed skyscraper gleamed under the morning sun.


    Liam parked his car and made his way inside, where Happy gave him a nod before letting him through.


    Taking the elevator up, Liam stepped into the familiar workshop where Tony was already tinkering with something on his workbench. Yinsen stood nearby, reading data off a tablet, while Pepper was on a call, most likely handling business for both Stark Industries and Marvel.


    "Ah, the man of mystery arrives. I was starting to think you''d gone all medieval on me, making swords and armor instead of showing up for your tech." Tony said.


    "Hey, sometimes old-school craftsmanship beats your fancy gadgets."


    "These are your little toys," Tony said, gesturing at them.@@@@


    "Did you go through the blueprint?" Liam asked.


    "Yeah. I have made specific items to block any kind of signal both wired and wireless."


    "Then call Natasha." Liam said. "Off the grid. Not even SHIELD can know."


    "Duly noted," Liam replied dryly. Liam didn''t come alone though. Tony had also arrived though he took a different route, thanks to the paranoia of Liam.


    "Not gonna lie, sneaking around in secret meetings makes me feel like I should be wearing a trench coat." Tony said as he emerged from the side of Liam.


    "Please don''t," Barton deadpanned.


    A moment later, another vehicle approached - a very old Chevrolet. The doors opened, and out stepped someone no one expected.


    Steve Rogers.


    After the war against the Frost Giants, Fury had declared that Steve Rogers had been found and he was alive and well, and supposedly joining their team. This didn''t exactly surprise Liam as he was supposed to be found, but it did shake the other team members as they never expected and old man to come back to life.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me." Barton blinked.


    "Well, this is a plot twist." Tony said.


    "Fury, this little sneak move of yours might backfire." Liam said as he already guessed why Fury called Steve. Fury was also a paranoid man, and so he brought Steve Rogers as an extra security against an ambush. Though Liam hadn''t said anything, Fury took precautions.


    "You got a problem with Rogers being here?" Fury raised a brow.


    "Not a problem. Just saying you might have just tipped your hand a little too soon."


    Fury frowned at that, clearly not liking the idea that he might have miscalculated something. But before he could push the issue further, Tony stepped up, eyeing Steve with curiosity.


    "So, you''re the famous Capsicle," Tony said, smirking. "How''s it feel waking up in the 21st century?"


    "A bit overwhelming. Especially when I am back at the same place where I was trained." Steve said as he looked at the abandoned military base, which had nothing but thick bushes and uncountable insects.


    By this time Tony had already done his magic and had isolated the place from the outside world. They looked at Liam for further instructions and though Rogers had read the reports on Liam after he was awake and found it unbelievable, only believing after he had seen the footage, he was not happy with the fact that a young kid, who was supposed to enjoy his childhood was carrying so much of a burden.

 58

    Liam wasn''t that angry that his identity was now known to Steve since Fury had taken the permission from Liam himself when he spoke about the fact that Steve had woken up. If there was anyone he was most comfortable about his identity being known, it was Steve.


    With their perimeter secured, the group moved toward one of the old bunkers, led by Liam. In order to have a proper light, two fire swords appeared behind Liam hanging in air but seem to be attached to Liam. The Fusillade spell was in full force.


    Everyone present had seen Liam using magic but this was the first time Rogers had seen Liam using magic. It was very novel for Rogers. They were silent but very curious about the fiery sword hanging in the air. They for sure knew that this was fire because they could feel the heat and not some illusion.


    Soon they reached an old elevator and switched it on.


    "I am surprised it still has juices after all these years." Barton said.


    "Are you sure it''s not an ambush Liam," Tony joked. Liam just side eyed Tony and didn''t say anything.


    "This place used to be a training camp before the war," Steve muttered.


    "And now it''s something else entirely." Liam said as the elevator stopped and opened to a new door. They reached a heavy steel door embedded in the far wall. Tony brought out his toy and opened the locks. With a loud clunk, the locks disengaged, and the door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with old computers and archaic machinery.


    "Well, this is charming. Didn''t know you were keeping a museum, Fury." Tony said as he went to the nearest data entry point and inserted a small pen drive. Meanwhile everyone was confused. Especially Fury, because even he didn''t know that this place even existed in an old site.


    "Whatever it is, it''s still powered." Natasha moved toward one of the machines, brushing dust off a control panel.


    Then, suddenly the screens flickered. A high-pitched whine echoed through the bunker as the ancient computers whirred to life. Static crackled across multiple monitors before coalescing into a distorted face¡ªcold, hollow eyes and a grotesque, pixelated visage.


    "No way..."


    The digital face twisted before stabilizing into something recognizable.


    "Ah... Captain Rogers," the computerized voice spoke. "What an... expected pleasure."


    "Zola." Fury recognized.


    Zola''s screen shifted, and suddenly, images flooded the monitors¡ªclassified SHIELD operations, dossiers of compromised agents, files marked with the Hydra insignia. Nick Fury''s face appeared on one screen. Natasha''s on another. Barton''s on a third. Even Tony Stark''s name flashed in encrypted files, linked to hidden dealings within SHIELD''s upper ranks.


    They had all been touched by Hydra''s influence in some way.


    "This... this can''t be real," Natasha said.


    "I assure you, Agent Romanoff, it is very real," Zola sneered. "Hydra has controlled SHIELD for decades. Every war, every crisis... we were always there, guiding history toward its inevitable order."


    "SHIELD is SHIELD. It can''t ever be Hydra." Fury said.


    "Oh, Director Fury." Zola''s voice dripped with amusement. "You never had SHIELD. You had Hydra... wearing its face."


    The impact of the revelation hit them like a freight train.


    "But you.." The screen glitched as he tried to process something. "...you are different. You are not supposed to be here. My calculations never included you. I wondered why I was cut off from the outside world. It was meant to isolate me. It was to make sure I never run away, though I don''t think I can, but I could have warned the others. But you delivered a blow that I didn''t expect."


    "You stepped out of your reach when one of your senators wanted to call me for a senate hearing." Liam replied.


    "Wait.. That means you have always known about Hydra?" Fury asked.


    "Yes." Liam admitted.


    "Then why didn''t you tell me?" Fury asked.


    "Would you have believed me? Hell, I am pretty sure you are thinking that this is all a ploy and an act. And you will return to ask questions. Zola show him what happened to people who asked questions?" Liam said.


    Zola didn''t hide at all and showed how over the years Hydra had eliminated men and women who went too close to the sun. Using Winter Soldiers. Zola knew by this point that his gig was over so it was no point in hiding and he could also feel that the data he had been carrying with him was being copied away. Tony''s toy was working wonders.


    Liam had come full prepared.

 59

    "Wait, Hydra even has men among senate?" Barton blurted.


    "Hydra has members serving at the World Council too. Gideon Mallick." Liam replied. This made everyone shiver. While Rogers was getting angry on every turn. He hadn''t brought his shield or else he would have laid waste to this place.


    Natasha and Tony were rather looking at the obscure videos where both of them had some kind of encounters with Winter Soldier. One was in Baghdad, where Natasha was shot once. While the other video showed the parents of Tony where they were being assassinated. @@@@


    He was beyond furious. He didn''t think Hydra would be related to him too. He started typing in commands on the keyboard furiously. He wanted to know more about Winter Soldier but sadly there were not many documents on them. Only that they were being brainwashed by Hydra since a long time and were now held in Russia. Hydra believed in compartmentalization so not all secrets would be in a single place. But Zola did have one important thing.


    Names of all Hydra affiliated members. Starting from the lowest to the highest. All around the globe. It was done so for the Hellicarrier cleansing mission. This was also the reason why Liam had asked Tony to bring his toy which could copy all the data from Zola, because with it they could target Hydra and they wouldn''t even know what hit them.


    Liam wanted the names and he took specific measures for this.


    "Told you, shouldn''t have brought Rogers." Liam commented. Fury clenched his fists. He was shaking in anger. He had never expected that even his own mentor Alexander Pierce was from Hydra as he had seen his name too. He felt his life work was in shambles and all the work he did was for nothing.


    "I want SHIELD to be destroyed." Tony declared.


    A heavy silence fell over the room. Tony''s declaration wasn''t just a statement¡ªit was a demand, one that resonated with almost everyone present. Rogers nodded sharply, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might crack. Barton exhaled through his nose, arms crossed, already running through scenarios in his mind. Even Natasha, who had spent her career playing every side to survive, looked as though she was considering it.


    "I don''t expect you to trust me," Fury admitted. "But I expect you to understand that this fight isn''t won by throwing a punch. It''s won by making sure the other guy never gets back up."


    Everyone was still unconvinced but Fury''s words were right. If they went out with all guns blazing it would be just be innocents in the crossfire. Liam didn''t bother to engage himself in this. He wasn''t interested, he just wanted to retaliate back once he was called to the hearing and he did so in the most brutal way possible. Hydra was just a small ant trying to move a tree. A tree so big that the ant didn''t have any idea about.


    Fury spoke about how the Avengers, yes Fury had decided to call them that could help in this regard and just kill Hydra little by little. By not alerting. It was here where Liam spoke about his ability to dominate. This made everyone gulp down their throat.


    "I can''t dominate everyone. Only the ones who are weak minded. Like it would be incredibly difficult to control Rogers here as his will is very strong and I think it goes for Tony and Fury too. Natasha too I hope. So I will only control low level people and let them work for us instead. If we just start plucking Hydra agents they will be alerted. Why not let them take each other out." Liam said.


    "Remind me not to be ever on your bad side." Barton replied, while Liam just shrugged his shoulders. Fury gave them a rough idea. And their first experiment with the Senate member who would be on the hearing.


    Fury gave them a rough plan of what needed to be done and slowly kill Hydra. Everyone chipped their own ideas and while they did so they saw Zola dying. Tony had killed him by destroying all the codes after copying everything. Though the original Zola was finally dead, Tony would emulate a fake Zola to keep up the facade. It wouldn''t take him much time to emulate a fake one since he already had the data to start with.


    He just needed to tweak.


    "Winter Soldier is mine." Tony declared by the end and everyone agreed. Except Liam. He didn''t react at all.


    "Yawn.. Can we go back." Liam said as it was night and he was a bit sleepy.

 60

    New Year had passed in quite a joyous fashion. He would turn 18 this year and finally get away from some of stigma around. Especially with Roger. Liam had an one on one battle against Roger. It was actually Liam who had proposed that.


    At first Roger denied as he felt he wouldn''t be able to win against a wizard, that was what Roger considered Liam as. But Liam assured that he would only use his body and no other gimmicks. Roger felt it would be hilarious but Liam forced him to accept.


    It was there that Roger was humbled by Liam. When the brawl was over, Roger said.


    "You are a monster in human skin. Strength wise I might be more powerful but techniques and swift speed makes you better than me in actual combat. And I feel like you have a healing factor."


    Liam only smiled at that. Roger spoke about this to Fury and he wasn''t that surprised because he remembered that Thor once called him an Ancient Human warrior. Fury wanted to delve deep into this mystery of Liam but he never got the time. Now more so than ever.


    Few days later @@@@


    The Senate chamber was packed, the air thick with tension as cameras flashed and murmurs rippled through the audience. Tony Stark sat at the center of it all, flanked by James Rhodes and Liam, his usual smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Across from them, Senator Stern leaned forward, his face a mask of self-righteous indignation.


    "Mr. Stark, let''s not waste time here. The Iron Mage suit is a highly dangerous piece of technology, and we are demanding you turn it over to the United States government for national security reasons."


    "Look, the real threat here isn''t Tony''s suit. It''s the corruption that let this happen inside our institutions. Maybe instead of trying to take away the one thing protecting people, you should focus on cleaning up your own mess." Rhodes interjected, trying to play the middle guy for both parties.


    "Enough! This is a national security hearing, not a conspiracy forum! We are not here to discuss baseless accusations!"


    "Oh, these aren''t baseless. But I get it, you don''t like the truth, especially when it bites. So here''s the deal¡ªno, I''m not handing over my suit. But I am handing over everything we just showed the world. By now, this data is already being analyzed by the right people. So you might want to think carefully about your next move, Senator."


    "Mr. Woodworth, you were seen escaping the Stark Expo crisis with Stark before he returned in the Iron Mage suit. Can you confirm whether or not you piloted it?" Stern wanted to shift the focus now, since it was already getting out of hand. If he could prove that Liam piloted it or even pressure him to spill anything out of line, he could say that Tony was using minors to wage wars.


    "No, Senator. That was Colonel Rhodes. Have you seen how fast that suit of Tony moves? Do you think anyone would believe that one can use that armor without getting a whiplash and barf out whatever they had eaten for lunch with that high speed movement." Liam said.


    "That''s right. I took responsibility for handling the suit at the time. Only a military trained personnel can use it. Even Tony Stark himself avoids using that armor and he considers it a failure. Liam had nothing to do with it." Rhodes.


    "Dude, don''t air my dirty laundry like that." Tony answered. This sent a wave a laughter among the reporters. But it only made Stern more angry. He knew that this hearing had become baseless especially after Tony hijacked it with specific data, and it wouldn''t be possible again to get Tony Stark back for hearing or charge against him with any laws since he had significant government and military contracts.


    Lobbying was still a huge thing in US and thus he wouldn''t be given another chance. After they came out, the trio were met with many reporters and journalists but they avoided all of that and went into the car where they saw Fury waiting.


    Since the Senate hearing was over it was time to start their ''Hydra cleansing'' mission.

 61

    Few days ago, Liam for the first time showed how his dominant ability worked by bringing Sitwell into their circle. He was the first Hydra to turn to their side and Liam preemptively handed him over to Fury for interrogation.


    Fury was skeptical of how deep the control was and he made Sitwell spit out all of the secrets, starting from how he was converted into Hydra''s agents to how deep the network was. He then collaborated what he said to the data Tony had handed him over and he was telling the truth.


    This made him realize how dangerous Liam''s ability was. He was a wizard to be feared. Now that Sitwell had connections with Senator Stern, they would now go for him. And from there till Alexander Pierce.


    The plan to take Senator Stern under their control had to be executed carefully. Unlike Sitwell, who operated in the shadows, Stern was a public figure¡ªshielded not just by his political allies but also by layers of bureaucracy and security.


    Senator Stern prided himself on being untouchable. He had power, connections, and most importantly, plausible deniability. His public persona as a hard-nosed patriot kept people from questioning the darker dealings that funded his campaigns and secured his influence.


    Fury looked at Tony and Liam and said.


    "This is how we will execute the plan."


    In the evening, Jasper Sitwell requested a private meeting at his residence. Sitwell had always been useful¡ªan insider who handled the dirty work. If he was coming with new information, it was worth his time.


    The senator''s mansion was as secure as any high-profile official''s home¡ªarmed guards patrolled the perimeter, surveillance cameras monitored every angle, and a private security team screened all visitors. Stern himself sat in his study, a glass of whiskey in hand, waiting as his guards escorted Sitwell inside.@@@@


    Sitwell entered, stiff as always, adjusting his glasses as he stood before the senator''s desk.


    "Senator, we have a problem."


    "That''s why I keep you around, Sitwell. To make problems disappear." Stern replied.


    "This one''s different. Stark went public with the Hammer Industries files. It''s stirred up too many questions." Sitwell said.


    "Damn fool doesn''t know when to quit. How bad is it?" Stern frowned, rubbing his temple.


    Stern''s breath hitched.


    Liam held up a hand, fingers curling slightly¡ªand Stern felt it. The unseen force wrapping around his mind like a steel vise, pressing down with an unnatural weight. His thoughts blurred, his resistance crumbling. Fury emerged from behind him.


    "You''ve been running the game a long time, Stern. Thought you were untouchable. But see, we''ve got a new player on the board. And he doesn''t play by the old rules."


    Stern''s mouth moved, but no sound came out. His mind was slipping, bending under the force of Liam''s will.


    "You''re going to tell us everything," Liam murmured. "Who you report to. What you know. Where the bodies are buried."


    Stern''s resistance shattered like glass.


    And just like that, the mighty senator¡ªone of the most powerful men in Washington¡ªwas no longer his own. After Stern, it would be the World Council. Fury didn''t want to go for Pierce yet, he might be old, but he had a will. Anyone who could be the Director of SHIELD, shouldn''t be take lightly.


    Thus Fury was going for men who didn''t have strong will but had a vast presence. It was a slow process but they were getting somewhere. Meanwhile Tony was actively making better armors and also trying to find out the location of the Winter Soldiers.


    At night Liam was back and not to his home but to his blacksmith''s home. This time he wasn''t alone.


    "Welcome back, Liam." A walking robot came to open the door for him. It was BT. Since BT''s work with Tony was done, he was returned, but in a much smaller package. The bigger package was in Tony''s garage and it could be used next time when there would be a crisis. They just needed to transfer the AI to the bigger husk.


    BT was getting bored in the garage anyways.


    "Thanks, is the food ready?" Liam asked. "I am hungry."


    "Of course. I made your fav pasta." BT said.


    "Thanks mom." Liam teased.

 62

    Liam didn''t go to sleep after having dinner. Since he had completed the two games and was given the extra reward, he had been avoiding the gaming world and the system like the plague. Not because he wanted to, but because the situation had changed now.


    Unlike last time, the new game didn''t have the time stoppage effect anymore. In other words, it meant that if he spent 80 years in the game, it would amount to 80 years in the real world too. That was the most significant change for the new game. But there was an upside to it too.


    The new game would allow him to bring any non-living thing or things that belonged to him from that world to the real world at any time. That would include weapons and resources. Of course, if a weapon didn''t belong to him, he couldn''t bring it from the game world to the real world.


    But he could bring things from his own world to the game world too. That meant he could bring his javelin or BT into the game world and then complete missions, but the system had already said that if he did that, his evaluation would drop. Thus, for now, he didn''t have any thoughts like that.


    Plus, he wasn''t sure if his toys would even be helpful. Because the game he had been given to play was God of War. No, not the old one, but the one that started in the Nine Realms. And as expected, this game world was set in "Give Me God of War" difficulty.


    The highest difficulty. Liam wouldn''t admit it, but the difficulty gave him chills because he knew for sure that this difficulty would stump him. He had played as a human being, he had played as a wizard, but never as a god.


    And he knew that new skills would often come with challenges, thus he was also mentally steadying himself for an arduous journey. Tonight, he had decided to take the first step.


    [Welcome back, host.]


    "Get to the boat, BOY," Liam said, as that was the only dialogue prompt. Atreus didn''t question him further and went to the boat, while Liam looked at the log of wood.


    "Time to test the truth," Liam thought as he decided to pull up the log. Just like last time, his muscles refused to coordinate.


    "This is going to be a tough journey," Liam thought, as he couldn''t imagine playing this game every day in Give Me God of War difficulty. Liam didn''t immediately go to the boat but went into the forest to get a basic test of his strength.


    He didn''t stay in the God of War world for long and was back in his place. He went there to feel the world and also give himself a mental image of what he was going to face. It was night, so he was sleepy anyway. He had already advised Fury not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary.


    And that too, with proper appointments.


    And that was how his days went for the next few weeks.


    Wake up. Have a healthy breakfast. Get to God of War. Train to the bone. Come back. Have lunch. Train again. Come back. Have dinner. Sleep. While he did all this, he had to visit Fury twice and help him control the new agents and low-lives who worked for SHIELD. Hydra had no inkling that their time was now very limited.


    "Mom, I will drop out of school."


    Liam dropped the bomb after he returned from the ''internship.'' It was like a nuclear explosion going off at home. Though Mason wasn''t bothered, Olivia wasn''t happy at all. Liam did so after spending a few weeks in the God of War game. Unlike last time, the system wasn''t helping him with his mental fatigue and was only concerned with his physical one.

 63

    Though there were no mental scars from it, after fighting for a full day, he didn''t have the time nor the energy to deal with school life. Money wasn''t a problem for him anyway, so he wasn''t that interested in learning about real-life skills anymore.


    Olivia didn''t like this at all. She was okay with her son not attending a university, but not even finishing high school wasn''t in her plans. It was Mason who came to the rescue, saying that even if Liam lost the business, his knowledge of cars would hold him up pretty well.@@@@


    He had seen him work in his garage, and he could easily say that his son knew more about cars than he himself did, and that was a huge compliment.


    "If anything goes wrong, I will not come to save you," Olivia declared before she stomped away to the master bedroom.


    "Leave your mother alone. She just thinks you will grow up dumb," Mason said to his son.


    "Do I look dumb?" Liam asked.


    "Of course not. You''re the most intelligent son a father could ever ask for. Before 18, you''re already a millionaire, and you don''t have the impulses of a teenager going to parties or raves. I know that you have some secret and have some dealings with Tony Stark. I won''t stop you, but I need you to promise me that you won''t get into any trouble," Mason said. Liam wasn''t that surprised that his father might have suspected something.


    He, out of nowhere, was all buddy-buddy with Iron Mage, going for an internship at his place, and even disappearing on them many times. If it were any other moment, Mason would say that his son was dealing drugs. But he knew that his son wasn''t and was caught up in something important. Maybe his son was in some top project of the military, especially after the new technology that Marvel had been pouring out.


    This was also the reason that Mason was allowing his son more freedom.


    "I am safe, Dad. You don''t need to worry about me. Just convince Mom," Liam said.


    "A warrior does not reveal all his weapons at once."


    "Right, well, ya want me to work on these, huh? Fine. I''ll see what I can do. These are already fine weapons, but I can reinforce ''em, enhance their magic flow, maybe even give ''em a bit more bite. But I gotta know¡ªwhat exactly do you want from ''em? More power? More speed? Or do ya want ''em ta do somethin'' special?"


    "I want them to be better. Stronger. Able to cut through gods if necessary. If you need any kind of resources, you can ask me, and I will get it."


    "Heh. Now that''s a tall order. But if anyone can do it, it''s me." He grinned, rolling up his sleeves. "Alright, big guy, leave ''em with me. Give me some time, and I''ll make these beauties even deadlier."


    Liam also gave him his other armor to let Brok work on that; in return, he would pay him with resources or whatever Brok and his brother Sindri would need. And after an hour of waiting, Brok didn''t disappoint.


    After the upgrades were done, he was immediately thrust into battle, and instead of using the Leviathan Axe, he used his twin swords. Though he didn''t have the wraith abilities with him, he did have the power of a godly body.


    So, using the swords, he was able to kill those small-time monsters. And the blades served him well. He was happy with the extra power. And along with the power also came the power of elements. Vigilance had the power of fire, and Dominion had the power of lightning. Though it wasn''t at the level of the Leviathan Axe or Mjolnir, it was still quite the extra power Liam was able to wield.


    This would help him a lot in the real world.


    After Liam was done with Brok and running around for a few more days, he finally met with Sindri, who again made his weapons better than before. The story thus further progressed with Liam having better weapons at his disposal, though he mostly used his axe in his mission to complete, as that was faster.


    After this Liam also met Freya, and she helped Liam a lot in this journey. But Liam knew how this journey would end.

 64

    6 months later.


    The night air was thick with humidity, the dense jungle of West Africa swallowing the sounds of distant wildlife. The mission was supposed to be routine. Brock Rumlow and his Hydra agents had arrived under the guise of a SHIELD operation, their objective simple: secure an asset, extract vital intelligence, and eliminate any local resistance. Everything had gone smoothly¡ªuntil now.


    "Comms are dead," one of the agents whispered. "We lost contact with base."


    "That ain''t right," Rumlow muttered. This has never happened before. "SHIELD''s got satellites on this op. There''s no way we should be blacked out." He had a bad feeling about it, and his instincts were right.


    Suddenly one of the agents dropped dead. Followed by an arrow lodged deep into the ground while the head of the agent burst open like a blown up pumpkin, throwing blood everywhere. He could see that with the help of torch light.


    The man beside Rumlow gave a strangled gasp before being yanked into the shadows. No gunfire. No struggle. Just gone. "Form up!" Rumlow barked, raising his rifle and scanning the darkness.


    "We need more lights! Now!"


    One of the agents reached for a flare, but before he could strike it, tendrils shot out from the darkness, wrapping around his limbs. He let out a strangled cry before being pulled violently into the abyss. The faint sound of a blade slicing through flesh followed, and then¡ªsilence.


    A shadow darted through the clearing. Liam appeared behind another Hydra agent, his form flickering like a phantom. He plunged an ethereal dagger into the man''s back, the blade phasing through armor as if it weren''t even there.


    The men fired wildly, muzzle flashes illuminating the jungle for split seconds. "Eagre" Liam created a dome shaped huge barrier around himself that not only stopped the bullets but also pushed all of the agents backward making them fall.


    Liam made his next move as he reappeared behind another agent, grabbed him by the head, and unleashed a Wraith Drain, siphoning away his life.


    Thanks to the tech given by Tony, they would first isolate the place and then burn them to the ground. Hydra bases were getting attacked left and right, and all the heads felt like they were living in pins and needles. They knew someone was targeting them but didn''t know who.


    Fury played the perfect director. At times he would send only the Hydra agents in the mission and leave the good ones which resulted in the death of all of them. Alexander Pierce had even asked Fury to help him in investigation and Fury of course obliged only to show no results by the end.


    It was a weekend so Liam went back to his home and spent time with his family. Liam had progressed a lot in the game in the last 6 months. He finally got used to the new God body and also control the Rage factor that came with it. Though he quadruple times against Baldur, he was able to take him down the first part.


    And now he was in the endgame. He would have to face Baldur again and kill him, and doing so would be hard since that guy was immortal. And only mistletoe could actually kill him. Liam was getting ready to face Baldur again and for the last time.


    Over time he started liking Freya but he knew what was going to come.


    "You seem a bit dejected. Did your experiments go wrong?" Mason asked as he saw his son being a bit silent.


    "No.. It''s going alright. I was thinking of moving to my own place permanently in a few days." Liam replied.


    "What? You are not even 18 yet." Olivia said.


    "I will be in a few months and I have been living outside anyways the past few months." Liam said.


    "You sure you want to do this?" Mason asked.


    "I am. Though I will drop by. But I want to move my things out." Liam said.

 65

    Liam found himself in between snow capped mountains with Freya close by and Atreus. Liam had come a long away since he had started the game. Fighting with axe was fine, but then came the Blades of Chaos.


    Oh that was a doozy. At first he wasn''t even able to even use it. The Blades were the most impractical weapon he could even think of because it took him almost a month to learn from the ground up. Throwing the blades and them bringing them back to his hands were tough. But at the end he finally got the taste of it and he didn''t look back. Now he was here. Ready to fight the last battle.


    And as expected it was a very tough one. He died again in the first few times since he wasn''t able to time his attacks and got railed by Baldur. But he didn''t give up. The next day he was back to fight and this time with more concentration and determination.


    Thankfully he was able to defeat Baldur. At the climax of their battle, Liam and Atreus stood over Baldur, the unyielding Aesir god whose immortality had been stripped away. Baldur was quite the nuisance. It reminded Liam of how Kratos was during his time with the Greek gods.


    The brutal fight had left the land scarred, the air thick with frost and fire, remnants of Freya''s desperate attempts to protect her son. Baldur, no longer invincible after Freya''s spell had been broken by Atreus'' mistletoe arrow, staggered forward, bloodied yet still laughing¡ªa twisted grin stretching across his face.


    "More," Baldur muttered, his body trembling. "I feel everything... finally."


    But his newfound mortality did not bring him peace. Baldur lunged at Freya, intent on choking the life from her, his hands tightening around her throat as she did nothing to resist.


    Liam stepped forward, grabbing Baldur and wrenching him away, throwing him to the ground with a force that cracked the ice beneath them. Breathing heavily, he looked down at his fallen foe. He understood the pain of a son consumed by vengeance. He understood the cycle of hate and bloodshed. And yet, there was no choice.


    "This cycle ends here," Liam said.


    "So, Liam," Tony suddenly spoke up. "What''s the first thing you''re gonna do when we land? Hit up a a licensed alcohol place? Tour the royal palace? Or maybe, just maybe, get yourself a ridiculously overpriced suit so you can stand next to me at this grand inauguration without looking like an intern?"


    "I''ll take my chances looking like an intern." Liam scoffed and decided to ignore him. He turned back to the window as the pilot''s voice crackled over the intercom, announcing their imminent arrival in London.


    The ceremony took place in a modern, high-rise building in the heart of London. The Marvel branch office stood tall, its sleek glass facade reflecting the city''s skyline. A crowd had gathered outside, including journalists, company executives, and tech enthusiasts eager to see what Stark Industries had planned for its European expansion.


    Tony, ever the showman, stepped up to the podium with a grin, flanked by Pepper and several key Marvel executives. Liam stood on Tony''s side too, but he knew that people were more interested in Iron Mage, than a budding new pupil of Tony.


    "Ladies and gentlemen," Tony began. "I know you all came here expecting a long, drawn-out corporate speech, but let''s be honest¡ªyou don''t really care about that, and neither do I. So, let''s cut to the chase."


    There was a chuckle from the crowd.


    "Marvel is expanding, and this new office is gonna help us bring cutting-edge tech, top-tier innovation, and, of course, just the right amount of chaos to Europe. So, with that, let''s make this official."


    With a dramatic flourish, Tony pressed a button on a nearby console, and behind him, the Marvel logo lit up in bright, golden letters. The crowd erupted into applause, cameras flashing as the grand opening was officially sealed.


    As soon as the ceremony was over Liam was dragged by Tony to different luxurious places that he loved here. He already had the itinerary ready for the next day. Tony was determined to have a good vacation time here.

 66

    "So, I pulled some strings and got us a private tour at the National History Museum," Tony said.


    "I thought nostalgia wasn''t your thing," Liam asked.


    "It''s not. But your mom once told me you were a walking history textbook," Tony said.


    "That was then. I''m not the same person anymore," Liam said.


    "So, what you''re saying is... I just wasted a perfectly good opportunity to distract you from your latest brooding session by booking us a guide who happens to be easy on the eyes?" Tony sighed dramatically.


    "What do you mean?" Liam asked.


    "Look, I don''t want to be that guy, but I''m gonna be that guy. You''ve been off lately. More broody than usual. Feels like you''re carrying something heavy, and it''s grinding you down," Tony said.


    Liam stiffened. Over the last few months, he had kept his distance from Tony¡ªand from most people, really. Moving into his warehouse only made it clearer. To an outsider, it probably looked like he was going through something rough. The exhaustion on his face, the weight on his shoulders¡ªit was all too visible.


    After a pause, he finally spoke.


    "I''ve been in a trial."


    "Trial? As in, court trial? Why the hell didn''t you call your lawyers? You''ve got the best in New York. Scratch that, if they suck, I''ll get you better ones," Tony said.


    "Not that kind of trial. This one''s about fighting. Surviving. Coming out on top," Liam said.


    Tony''s eyes widened as realization hit him.


    "You''re telling me those secret society nutjobs have you running their death matches?" Tony''s voice sharpened with anger.


    "It''s not like that. I chose this. Tony, this world is bigger and deadlier than you think. You can''t even begin to imagine the kind of threats out there," Liam said.


    Tony opened his mouth, then shut it. He wanted to tell Liam to walk away from whatever madness he was caught up in. But could he? Hadn''t he done the same damn thing?


    Since Asgard, since the Frost Giants, since realizing aliens were real and Earth wasn''t ready, Tony had been preparing. Working. Fighting. His paranoia kept him up at night, pushing him to build more, to be ready for the next attack.


    Liam narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew Gilgamesh wasn''t just a legend¡ªhe was another Eternal, just like Sersi. He glanced at her, but her expression remained neutral, as if she were just reciting museum facts.


    "So, basically, he was the world''s first celebrity influencer? Guy does a few heroic things, and next thing you know, people are writing epic poems about him" Tony said.


    "You could put it that way," Sersi chuckled. "History has a way of turning leaders into legends."


    They moved on to another exhibit.


    "This section focuses on the chivalric orders of Europe¡ªthe Templars, the Teutonic Knights, and others who shaped history through war and diplomacy." She gestured toward a set of ornate armor. "This belonged to a knight of the 14th century, meticulously restored to showcase the craftsmanship of the time."


    Liam studied the armor, his mind drifting. Battles fought in shadows. Wars no one remembered. Deaths that never made it into history books. But then, he felt Sersi''s gaze on him.


    "You seem particularly interested in this," she noted.


    "Just wondering how much of history is truth and how much is just... a good story," Liam said.


    "A bit of both, I suppose. History is written by those who survive to tell it." Sersi smiled.


    "You really know your stuff," Tony said.


    "I''ve studied history for years. It''s a passion of mine."


    Liam knew better. She hadn''t just studied it. She had lived it.


    They continued through the museum, past artifacts of ancient Egypt, relics from Rome, and even a section on the Age of Exploration.


    "I hope you both enjoyed the tour."


    "You know what? I actually did. And I don''t say that often." Tony said.


    "Yeah. It was... enlightening."


    "History has a way of repeating itself. But those who understand it... can shape the future." Sersi said at the end.


    "You are right. But one needs to know history in order to not repeat their previous mistakes. Especially if there were no written records." Liam said. He wanted to hint Sersi about Tiamut but he couldn''t do so. It might alert Ikaris and he wasn''t powerful enough to confront that beast. Not yet. @@@@

 67

    Sersi was a bit taken aback by the words of Liam as she felt like Liam was targeting her with the words for some reason but she didn''t understand how. The tour ended with a happy note and later Tony and Liam went to good place to have a teacher-student time.


    "I have seen more beautiful girls than her not able to phase you the slightest. But this girl made you speechless. Do you have a thing for Asian chics?" Tony asked. Liam choked on his chips when Tony asked that. He had cough out to make his throat clear.


    "I have no interest romantically on anyone." Liam said.


    "Then why did you falter when it came to Sersi?" Tony asked.


    "She just was a bit fancy. Nothing major." Liam said. Explaining about Eternals would be too much and Tony would probably have a panic attack right here. So it was better for him to now know and just enjoy his time.


    "Now I can tell that you are hiding something. You think I can''t delve deeper into her history?" Tony asked as by now he was getting curious.


    "I hope you won''t choke on your saliva when you do that." Liam said. Tony was going to say something against it but by that time Pepper and his own family showed up from shopping. His father had returned with quite a number of bags on his hands but he looked happy doing so.


    Liam thanked his stars for Pepper and others showing up. He didn''t want to talk about Sersi or anything related to that topic at all. The rest of the days in London spent by shopping and some sight seeing. But after a week Liam and everyone were back to New York.


    It would all end soon once he completed the game. No matter what, there was no way around it.


    As his birthday approached, Tony decided to throw him a surprise party. Of course, Tony being Tony, it wasn''t just a simple gathering¡ªit was an extravagant event held in the Stark Tower, complete with a high-end catering service, a custom-made cake shaped like the Leviathan Axe, and even a private fireworks display.


    Yeah Tony had seen Liam''s new weapon and even let Tony examine it. Though he couldn''t understand the intricacies of the weapon, he was able to gauge that this weapon was almost indestructible. The axe was the only thing Liam had brought out for now from the game world. There were not many things that were helpful to him. There was gold and other riches but they weren''t helpful to him at all.


    Thus he never bothered that much. And if he engaged in business and got side tracked his evaluation in the game would drop down. Thus he was trying to finish his quest fast and not get distracted in the midst of it.


    "Happy birthday, young man, now you are legal," Tony said, handing Liam a small box.


    Inside was a sleek, high-tech bracelet¡ªone that Tony claimed had "a few surprises" built into it. Liam didn''t even have to ask to know it probably had tracking systems, upgrades to EDITH, and maybe even some form of protection.


    "You''re impossible," Liam said with a chuckle.


    "That''s what makes me lovable," Tony quipped. "Now go on, enjoy your party. Or do you need me to get you a horned helmet and some war paint to fit your new aesthetic?"


    Liam rolled his eyes but couldn''t help but appreciate the gesture. For one night, he allowed himself to relax, surrounded by friends and family.

 68

    5 months later.


    It had been calm in the real world of the MCU, but for Liam, today was the last day he was going to face Odin, and he was determined to end it once and for all. He had already fought him twice, but today, he knew how to maneuver himself and win the final battle.


    In the world of God of War, he was very thankful that before he came to this world, he was well-versed in fighting tactics. Before, he could fight like an elf or a human, but this world had taught him how to fight head-on. If he hadn''t been well-trained before, he was sure he would have suffered greatly in this world, and since there was no stoppage of time here, he was very grateful for his past experiences.


    Now, everything would come together in this last fight.


    "Wish me luck, BT."


    [Best of luck, my friend.]


    Liam vanished from his room. He was back again in the Nine Realms, ready to face Odin. Without hesitation, the battle commenced. Odin wielded his vast knowledge of magic and combat, conjuring powerful spells and illusions to confound his adversaries. Liam, drawing upon his months of preparation and the bond he had forged with Freya and Atreus, countered with a combination of strength and strategy.


    The fight was arduous. Odin''s mastery of the arcane arts created shifting realities, but Liam was finally able to defeat him. Tears welled in Liam''s eyes as he watched Odin''s soul being sucked into the marble of Laufey. He was beyond happy that he had finished the game with far fewer deaths and greater efficiency. He had only died once during his fight against Garm, twice in his battle with Odin, and¡ªoh yes¡ªonce against Thor. That bastard had really electrocuted him to death.


    An actual death, not the fake one in the game.


    In the end, he was finally able to complete the game, becoming the new supposed All-Father of the Nine Realms. After finishing the last stage, Liam returned to his world. It was deep into the night when he arrived home. He felt an incredible burden wash away from his body now that he had completed the game.


    Then, the change began.


    His irises shimmered, their natural hue consumed by a radiant glow, swirling like the Bifro?st itself. For a moment, Liam felt like he could see and hear everything. Everything in the Nine Realms. Yes, the current Nine Realms. He could even see Asgard. He wasn''t just Liam anymore. He was something more. Something beyond mortal comprehension.


    His senses exploded in magnitude. He could hear the heartbeats of people across the street, the rustling of leaves in a distant park, the subtle hum of electricity flowing through the city grid. He could feel the intent of the world around him, as if time itself had slowed, allowing him to perceive the smallest shifts in energy. His reflexes, already honed to near perfection, now reached a divine level. This was Heimdall''s gift¡ªthe power to see, hear, and sense all before it even happened.


    And yes, he could also feel that he could predict the moves of others.


    Then came Atreus'' power. His muscles burned for a second before settling, as if adapting to a more agile and dexterous form. Magic welled up inside him the ancient might of Jo?tunheim and the power of transformation. He felt the blood of the giants within him now. Instinctively, he knew he could shift into an animal, summon spectral creatures, and wield powerful runic magic at will.


    Liam clutched his chest, gasping, as the influx of both Heimdall''s and Atreus'' power reached a crescendo. His mind reeled, trying to balance the two entities within him, yet there was no conflict. As the system had said, the stronger power dominated, seamlessly absorbing the other. But that didn''t mean he lost anything¡ªno, he was the perfect fusion of both.


    Then came the final presence.


    Fenrir.


    An wolf appeared in front of him almost at the height of his chest and the moment he appeared he jumped into his lap. Liam could feel the deep love from Fenrir.


    "Yes, my boy.. Yes... I missed you too.. I will never leave you.." Liam was petting Fenrir and felt joy like never before.

 69

    "BT, EDITH.. We have a new addition to the family.. Fenrir.. This is BT, say Hi." Liam said as he petted this fluffy creature.


    Bark


    In his last life he had a dog as his friend and he took care of it always. But in this life he had avoided getting attached because he felt it would be dangerous and also because after he had the Numeroean bloodline, he felt that having an animal companion would just be pain since his pets could never live as long as he was going to live.


    But it was different now. Having Fenrir meant that it would be with him for lifetime because both of them were immortals. Until someone very powerful or a weapon capable of killing gods came for him, he could live his life for almost eternity.


    He would grow old for sure but it would be very slow.


    [Hello, Fenrir..] BT came forward and also petted. Fenrir allowed BT to pet. Fenrir seemed to understand every word of Liam as he followed all of his instructions to the T and Liam was overjoyed.


    "Fenrir, can you take me to a very remote island, where there is no one?" Liam asked. Fenrir who was cleaning his paws. slanted its head for a minute as if thinking deeply on the words of Liam. In the game, after Fenrir got the ability of Garm it could travel between the 9 realms easily. So Liam hoped that Fenrir could do this now too.


    Fenrir after a moment of contemplation barked and instantly a black irregular portal opened beside it. The portal looked exactly like the portal in the game. A grim dark looking portal that had an ominous feeling but it wasn''t dangerous at all. Liam didn''t need to be told and just entered through the portal.


    Next, the Leviathan Axe appeared in his other hand. Though he had brought it out before he had never used it in battle. It was because once when he used it, Liam felt as if the weapon didn''t heed his call the way it did to Kratos when he played the game. It felt like the weapon was actively avoiding the hands of Liam. It was a very weird feeling but Liam could tell that the Axe didn''t want to be at the hands of Liam. But now that he was here again, he didn''t feel any resistance. Maybe it was because the Axe needed a God to be wield.


    He let it rest in his palm for a moment before launching it into the air, watching it spin end-over-end before summoning it back effortlessly. The moment it returned to his grasp, a satisfied grin spread across his face. He knew that he had full control over his Axe.


    At last, he willed the Blades of Chaos into existence. Chains rattled as they wrapped around his forearms, the twin blades burning with a faint, hellish glow. He flicked his wrists, sending them spiraling outward before pulling them back with ease. They moved as fluidly as they had when he wielded them as Kratos, responding to his very will.


    He bent his knees and leaped into the air, twisting his body mid-air as he swung the Blades of Chaos, the chains stretching out, latching onto a jagged rock formation. With a flick, he propelled himself higher, flipping and landing atop the structure in a smooth motion.


    The agility was still there. The flexibility, the momentum, the movement¡ªit all felt the same as it had when he fought as Kratos. Liam was over the moon seeing that the Blades of Chaos still worked perfectly fine in his hands. This had been a major leap for him in terms of personal strength.


    Though the magic he wielded from the game of Forspoken allowed him to move sideways in this world, but Liam felt his bodily strength lacked. Now that hole had been filled up.


    As Liam was practicing to his heart''s content on the island, his senses suddenly became sharp as the weather which had been sunny all this time, turned gloomy in an instant. Unlike the time when Thor arrived with a changed weather, Liam felt as if the temperature in the surroundings dropped.


    He had a very ominous feeling about it.

 70

    Liam''s instincts flared, a deep sense of unease settling in his gut.


    Fenrir growled beside him. The massive wolf''s fur bristled as its ears twitched, detecting something Liam couldn''t quite place. Then, without warning, the first portal tore open in the sky.


    It was a rift of swirling black and red energy, pulsating with chaotic power. More portals followed, forming an ominous circle around them. From each portal emerged monstrous beings, each more grotesque than the last. Some were engulfed in raging flames, their molten bodies dripping embers onto the ground. Others exuded a bone-chilling cold that made even the Frost Giants seem warm in comparison. Their icy limbs cracked and reformed with every movement, their eyes burning with an eerie blue light.


    Liam wasted no time. With a flick of his wrist, the Blades of Chaos ignited, their hellish glow illuminating the battlefield. He lunged forward, chains whipping through the air as he decapitated the first flaming beast. The creature howled before disintegrating into ash. Another lunged at him from behind, but Liam''s newly heightened senses warned him a fraction of a second before it struck. He sidestepped, twirling mid-air, and hurled Draupnir''s spear straight into its skull. The beast shrieked as golden energy exploded from the impact, sending charred remains flying in every direction.


    He landed smoothly, barely breaking a sweat. But the horde kept coming.


    Summoning the Leviathan Axe, he slammed it into the ground. Ice burst outward in a freezing wave, coating the battlefield in a thick layer of frost. The cold-afflicted monsters slowed, their bodies cracking under the sudden temperature shift.


    Raising his hand, he summoned Sila''s magic. A circle of fire erupted around him, flames spiraling upward. With a single thrust of his palm, he unleashed a "Fusillade," sending a barrage of flaming lances piercing through multiple enemies. They screeched as they were incinerated, their molten cores unable to withstand the searing assault.


    Liam switched to Prav''s magic, raising his hand to summon a swirling sphere of water. He launched "Cluster Bolt," a piercing water lance, striking the beast''s core. The monster stumbled, ice forming over its body. Not missing a beat, Liam dashed forward, igniting the Blades of Chaos and driving them into the creature''s chest, melting the frozen corpse from within.


    Fenrir was in charge of keeping the monsters at bay which were trying to get to him.


    "You fight well," the man admitted, "but you are still so... ignorant."


    The man then summoned a huge scythe, a black dark weapon which seemed to be made of black hole itself.The man surged forward, wreathed in hellfire, and before Liam could move and avoid the attacks since he had predicted it, the scythe seemed to extend beyond his expectation, and then an agony exploded through him.


    He looked down only to see his left hand gone as that was the part the scythe was able to cleave through. Liam''s eyes went wide as he saw blood pouring out. Fenrir turned around to see his beloved master had lost a hand and went berserk.


    He lunged at the man.


    "Fenrir.. No..." Liam screamed but it was already too late. The man stabbed the wolf from under the body with his scythe and lodged it.


    "Now give me the Blades.." The man spoke again. Liam was beyond angry at this point. Hellish fires seemed to be burning on his body. The man who always seemed to have a smirk on his face, got serious as he could see the rage coursing through the skin of Liam.


    This was the Spartan rage that he had inherited from Atreus, same as his father. He got up and lunged at the man only to be stopped mid air with a blow on his neck, making him unconscious instantly and falling face down on the wet ground.


    Fenrir squealed when it saw that.

 71

    The three people that had appeared to intervene were the Ancient One, Odin, and Heimdall (MCU), and it was also the Ancient One herself who sent Liam into unconsciousness. And it was Mephisto who had attacked Liam.


    Fenrir witnessed the person who had just arrived. The person who appeared was a woman clad in an orange trench coat and pants. And she wasn''t the only one. A colorful light fell on the ground, and out came two men wearing shiny armor. One held a spear, while the other held a broadsword.


    "You have stepped on foreign soil. Get back to where you belong," the woman said as she controlled the surrounding environment with a flick of her hands.


    "This is not your realm," the man with the spear shouted as he stabbed the ground with his spear, sending a shockwave at the man who had just inflicted such adversity on Liam.


    "I didn''t come here to start a war. This man has the primordial fire in his blades. That is not supposed to belong in this world," the man said. This made both the woman and the two men look at the two blades lying on the ground. "I am here to take it away, but this man refused to surrender."


    The man was right. Those blades did contain primordial fire. Primordial fire was one of the most ancient flames, able to burn and hurt anything, and it wasn''t supposed to be in the possession of someone from this world. It belonged to the Underworld, beside hellfire.


    "That maybe true. But did you ask permission from me, before trying to snatch it away from my student?" the Ancient One said.


    ".." Mephisto didn''t have an answer to it and nor did he have the knowledge that this unconscious guy here was the student, which meant he was the next Sorcerer Supreme.


    "You have some galls coming here." Ancient One as her hands started to shine, producing Rings of Raggador. "You have broken the sacred balance and you have hurt what is mine."


    A golden sigil flared beneath her feet, expanding outward. Meanwhile Mephisto had let go of his scythe, and sharp claws came out of his hands.


    "You think your tricks frighten me?" Rivers of fire erupted from the ground, forming grotesque, screaming faces as they lunged at her. The Ancient One did not flinch. With a simple motion, she twisted her fingers into a spiral, and the flames were devoured by a void of absolute silence.


    Then, she struck.


    One step forward, and the entire island seemed to shift. Mephisto barely had time to react before reality folded in on itself¡ªhis own limbs distorting. He roared in frustration, summoning a tidal wave of darkness to smother her, but she carved through it with a blade of pure light.


    A second attack followed¡ªa flurry of golden discs slicing through the air, each one honed to cut through magic and flesh alike. Mephisto deflected some, but one carved deep into his shoulder.


    "You arrogant human¡ª"


    His words were cut off as she materialized behind him, striking his chest. The impact sent shockwaves rippling.


    The Ancient One stepped forward, and the magical tendrils wrapped tightly around Fenrir''s limbs, preventing the beast from lunging at her. Despite its wounds having been healed, the wolf still seethed with rage.


    "Enough," she said. "I have no quarrel with you. But your master needs you now more than ever."


    Fenrir thrashed against the bindings, snarling defiantly.


    "He is still alive," the Ancient One continued. "Immortal, yes¡ªbut not invincible. He has lost his hand. He needs care."


    At this, Fenrir hesitated. It turned its head slightly, glancing back at Liam''s unconscious form. Blood still seeped from the stump where his hand had been, staining the ground beneath him.


    "Your master''s fight is not over. If you want to serve him, if you want him to return to full strength, you will take him to the one who can help him."


    Slowly, Fenrir''s posture eased. The tendrils withdrew, slithering back into the earth like vines retreating into the soil. Fenrir remained still for a moment, then huffed, shaking its massive head.


    The Ancient One raised a hand and began to weave a portal in the air. Golden sparks spiraled outward, swirling into a circular gateway. On the other side was the interior of a sleek, modern home.


    Fenrir let out a short, sharp breath before stepping toward Liam. With a careful but firm motion, the wolf bent down, gripping Liam''s unconscious form in its powerful jaws, careful not to cause further harm.


    "Go," the Ancient One instructed. "Take him to his friend."


    Fenrir gave one last glance toward her and Odin before stepping through the portal and disappearing.


    "He has helped my son in the fight against the Frost Giants," Odin said.


    "I know. But he is ignorant. He has abilities that even I can''t understand, but his ignorance almost cost him his life today," the Ancient One said.


    "Then you should teach him. Maybe he will not take such rash steps again before thinking," Odin said.


    The Ancient One didn''t reply but opened a portal and stepped into it. Heimdall didn''t need to be told. He summoned the Bifrost and left the same way they had arrived.


    Leaving behind an island filled with corpses that came from hell. This island, even after centuries, wouldn''t give birth to any living being, nor would any birds land here. This island would be a place ignored by humanity forever.

 72

    JARVIS was not programmed to panic, but if he had been, this situation might have triggered it. His sensors detected an anomaly¡ªan enormous, wolf-like creature standing in the middle of the living room. More importantly, Liam lay unconscious at the beast''s feet, missing a hand.


    Even more baffling was the fact that Liam had appeared inside Tony''s home without setting off a single alarm or alert. Tony had security systems so advanced that even a fly couldn''t sneak in unnoticed¡ªyet here Liam was, gravely injured, without so much as a warning.


    "Sir," JARVIS spoke through the speakers. "I believe you should come to the living room immediately. Liam is in critical condition."


    "Define ''critical condition,'' JARVIS." Tony asked and started walking fast. He had questions of how Liam was able to appear again at his place without the knowledge of anyone. Last time it was the door, but this time it was inside his house. Though he wasn''t angry of how Liam was able to appear, he was curious.


    "He is unconscious, missing a hand, and currently accompanied by an unknown entity resembling an oversized wolf." JARVIS said.


    "What the hell do you mean by missing limb and ''oversized wolf''?" Tony was now running up the stairs.


    "I am unable to determine its exact classification, sir, but it is considerably larger than any known Canis lupus species. It appears to be guarding Liam."


    "Right. Of course, because why wouldn''t Liam bring home some kind of goddamn direwolf?" Tony muttered. "Where''s Yinsen?"


    "Doctor Yinsen is in the kitchen. I have alerted him as well."


    By the time Tony reached the living room, Yinsen was already approaching from the hallway. Neither of them was prepared for the sight before them.


    A massive wolf, dark-furred with piercing golden eyes, stood over Liam. Tony immediately stopped in his tracks, holding up a hand as Yinsen followed suit. Fenrir let out a guttural growl.


    "Whoa, whoa, easy there, Cujo," Tony said. "Nobody''s here to hurt your¡ªuh, owner? Partner? Whatever Liam is to you. We just need to make sure he doesn''t bleed out all over my very expensive floor." Though he complained, he felt like his blood was boiling. He had already know that Liam was going through some kind of trials and Liam had assured him that it was safe.


    "Stark. What is it?"


    "Liam''s hurt. And when I say ''hurt,'' I mean ''he''s down a damn hand and bleeding all over my furniture.''"


    There was a pause before Fury spoke again, his voice hard. "What happened?"


    "Not sure. He just dropped in with a giant wolf that looks like it could take down a tank. Also, said wolf nearly took my head off when I tried to help. So I will send you a list of surgical equipment since we won''t be able to explain to a hospital." Tony said.


    "I''ll be there with everything. I''ll bring Romanoff and Barton. Rogers, too."


    "Yeah, great, just what I need¡ªmore people in my house with opinions. Get here fast."


    Yinsen nodded, already working on stopping the bleeding. Tony glanced up at Fenrir again, shaking his head.


    "Liam, buddy, you better wake up soon and explain what the hell is going on and whose heads I need to pop?"


    Liam jolted awake with a sharp intake of breath. He was expecting to be in the battlefield but instead he found himself at a well-lit, pristine room.


    As his vision adjusted, he noticed someone slumped in a chair beside his bed. Happy Hogan, half-asleep, snored lightly with his arms crossed. The slight movement must have triggered something because Happy suddenly snorted awake, rubbing his face before his eyes landed on Liam.


    "Oh, you''re up," Happy became incredibly aware. "You''re up! Hang on, I gotta call everyone."


    Meanwhile, a blur of fur and movement launched itself onto the bed. Fenrir, who had been resting nearby, wasted no time in bounding onto Liam''s lap. Liam was very relieved to see Fenrir fine and he even noticed that there was no wound in his belly.

 73

    He had questions, but that could wait as he heard heavy footsteps approaching the room. The door flung open, and multiple people walked in. What really surprised Liam was the presence of Thor among the ranks. He wasn''t expecting him to be here.


    "Thor? Didn''t expect you to be in the loop," Liam said.


    "I was not supposed to be, but my father deemed it necessary that I deliver a message." Thor stepped forward.


    "So, you mind telling us what the hell happened? You drop in, bleeding all over my place, missing a hand, and bringing a giant wolf with you. That''s not exactly normal, even for you," Tony interjected. He knew how powerful Liam was, and it still wasn''t enough to stop the enemy and come back injured.


    "I passed my trial. Fenrir was one of the gifts I received. Afterward, I was testing out my new abilities on a remote island when I was ambushed by monsters and a man who was... very powerful," Liam said.


    "You don''t know who he was?" Natasha was surprised that Liam didn''t even know the identity, which meant that they themselves had no clue. When everyone came in and saw Liam had to be patched back up, they had a very grave look on their faces and were also angry.


    Though Liam had the least interaction with all of them, they were protective of the youngest member of their new team. Especially after Hydra, Liam was a huge asset as he was able to take on more people. Though Tony, too, was very helpful, Liam was clean in what he did.


    And she had heard that Liam also gave them information about the Red Room. She had made quite the progress in her search for the Red Room. This was one of her regrets, and she came to know that the girl who was supposed to die was still alive. Though Dreykov was still on the run, she was very close to finding him and putting an end to the misery.


    "No. But he was unlike anyone I''ve faced before," Liam replied. This made everyone''s face uglier to look at. Barton clenched his fists in anger. He was already seething in rage since someone had hurt Liam so badly, especially after Liam had gifted him his bow. He practically slept with his bow, and now someone had hurt its maker.


    "You sure it is not the people who had pushed you into your trial?" Rogers asked.


    "By the way, can you explain why your eyes seem to be filled with rainbows?" Rogers asked. Since Liam had arrived here and Yinsen had done a check on his eyeballs, he was appalled to see rainbow-colored eyes, as such instances had never been seen in the medical field.


    "Yeah, about that," Liam said as he opened his bandage. Yinsen, who had been silent, was alarmed to see what Liam was doing and went forward to stop him, but Liam stopped him.


    "I will show you my new abilities."


    Before anyone could respond, Liam suddenly gritted his teeth, feeling an intense burning sensation in his severed arm. Everyone took a step back as a glow emanated from the stump where his hand had been lost.


    A deep, vibrant blue light crackled over his forearm, forming a ghostly outline of fingers. The shape solidified, flesh knitting itself together in the same way Heimdall''s had when he fought Kratos. The skin was unlike his own¡ªit pulsed with an ethereal, icy glow, its veins coursing with a strange magic that was undeniably not of this world.


    "What the hell?" Rogers was the first to react. He had never seen anything like this in his life.


    "That''s new," Tony could only comment.


    "What in Odin''s name is this?" Thor couldn''t help but ask.


    "This is my magic," Liam lied. He didn''t say that it was a conjuration of his Bifrost energy. He would have to explain a lot if he spoke of the Bifrost. Liam moved his hand a bit and felt like it was the same. He could easily tell that his left hand could now be used as a weapon too, as the strength of the Bifrost was stronger than his flesh.


    Tony and the others were dumbfounded. Here Tony was thinking of making a prosthetic that would be helpful to Liam, and now he had to trash that idea into the dustbin.

 74

    "Told you, I have received new abilities," Liam said.


    "You need to introduce me to your organization. I need to meet them." Tony was now incredibly jealous. Liam smiled at him and replied,


    "Actually, all of you are invited next time to see the power of our organization," Liam said. This made everyone do a double take. Until now, Liam had proclaimed that the organization was incredibly secretive, but suddenly, they were open to recruitment.


    "So I can get abilities if I join?" Barton asked.


    "You are thinking too much. It''s not a recruitment. The organization just wants to open a path for you, and it depends on you what you will achieve," Liam said.


    "So this is kind of a trial, like yours?" Rogers asked.


    "You can think of it that way," Liam said.


    "Then we will take the trial. I''ve had enough of secrecy and want to see what kind of two-headed monster this trial would be," Tony said.


    "Be careful what you wish for," Liam could only murmur under his breath. "But I need rest before we can take the trials," Liam said.


    Fury had been silent, watching Liam. He never liked the idea of an organization so secretive that he had no knowledge of it. But he couldn''t complain. Hydra had seeped into his own home, and though he was rooting them out bit by bit, it was taking time. He couldn''t say a word. Still, it was good that Liam had opened a way for communication with them. He could learn more about what this secret organization was.


    Rogers then asked about the fight, and Liam described it. But he was embarrassed while recounting it¡ªhe had been incredibly wasteful in the battle against the man, maybe due to arrogance, or maybe his constant fighting in the game world had made him impervious to the fear of death.


    His brain hadn''t been able to properly judge the enemy. Otherwise, he would have used the power of Realm Shift (time slow) to engage the man and wield Hofue, the weapon of Heimdall, since swords were his bread and butter. His arrogance had made him think he could use the spear of Draupnir and magic to take the other guy down.


    Though when Liam went into Spartan Rage, he was sure he would have won in the end, it had only activated when Fenrir was wounded. He shouldn''t have allowed that to happen in the first place. But now, he was thankful that Fenrir didn''t bear the wound anymore, though he could still feel the scar.


    "I will go and check the place for clues," Fury said.


    "How is so calm after losing a fight and even cheer up quite easily. I would be fuming and throwing things around if I lost a hand."


    "Maybe in his trials he had lost a lot and thus failures came natural to him." Steve said.


    "How are you so sure?" Barton asked.


    "Because I know that look. I was him when I was young. I got bullied left and right, but I used to get back up always and have the same attitude. I can see that he does the same, though I feel it is for different reasons. His trials must have changed his perspective to the world." Steve replied as he contemplated a bit.


    "I am more curious now about these trials." Barton said. Meanwhile, Liam walked on to Natasha and the others who were busy talking.


    "So, how long before your parents figure out what happened?" Natasha asked.


    "Why do you all keep bringing that up?"


    "Because we''re waiting for the explosion," Tony chimed in. "It''s gonna be legendary. Olivia''s gonna rip you a new one."


    "Don''t remind me," Liam muttered.


    "Speaking of reminders," Rogers cut in, "how serious are you about that trial thing? You really think we should do it?"


    "I don''t know much about the trial, but from the hints I''ve been given, it involves monsters, vampires, ghosts, and magic. We will be given a specific task, and we can do it together. It''s only because of my previous results in the trial that I''ve been allowed to bring my friends in," Liam said.


    The word "magic" instantly raised everyone''s hopes. While the others thought about magic, Thor was excited about monsters.


    "Can I join in?" Thor asked.


    "Of course, buddy. I take it your father came to save me too, so this is the least I can do." Liam said.


    "A test of strength! I welcome such a challenge. Perhaps I shall emerge even mightier!" Thor commented.

 75

    With that, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Tony spoke of how he had made new armor that he could carry on the backpack always and was lighter that the previous versions. Rogers spoke of his time in World War while Barton listened eagerly and even Liam paid heed. No matter what Liam was a history nerd and would like to know more from a living legend.


    Pepper too had come down from her workplace and the first thing she did was freak out seeing Liam. She didn''t know what had gone down and thus seeing Liam''s new eyes, his glowing hand and huge wolf sent her on a frenzy.


    Tony had to calm her down and tell her some sob story of how Liam had gained new powers and thus had changed his hand. Pepper was very skeptical of the words of Tony but didn''t argue much back. The wolf also helped as Liam gave him knowing eyes and it went and snuggled to Pepper.


    Pepper didn''t question any more once she got her hands on the fluffy creature. \Later she too joined the barbecue and had fun with the rest.


    Few days later


    Liam stood at the entrance of 177A Bleecker Street, the Sanctum Sanctorum looming before him. The ancient structure radiated an energy that sent a faint hum through his Bifrost enhanced senses. He exhaled, glancing at the two men standing beside him.


    "You both don''t need to be here," Liam said. "In fact, you might not even be welcome."


    "Yeah, well, we''ve got a slight trust issue after you nearly died on us. So forgive me if I''m not letting you waltz off into some magical death trap alone." Tony said. Liam gave them a very rough explanation of a different organization based on magic. Tony was more accepting of magic since he himself had been using arcanist magic on his armors now.


    "We''re staying." Rogers said


    Rogers didn''t really care if it was magic or technology. For him both were the same at this point.


    "Of course you are." Liam sighed. He looked down at Fenrir, who padded beside him, his fur gleaming in the dim streetlight. The wolf gave a low chuff, as if agreeing with Tony and Rogers. A hooded figure came out in the doorway, his hands clasped in front of him.


    Rogers was equally stunned, scanning the vast landscape around them.


    "We just traveled thousands of kilometers in the blink of an eye."


    "Fenrir can do the same thing." At Liam''s words, Fenrir gave a cheerful bark, wagging his tail, clearly proud of his ability.


    Before Tony or Rogers could reply, their attention was drawn to the courtyard itself. Around them, dozens of apprentices were engaged in training. Some were deep in meditation, their hands moving in intricate patterns, shaping golden sparks of magic in the air. Others engaged in friendly duels, hurling glowing discs or weaving illusions that flickered before dissipating into the wind.


    "Are we sure this isn''t some high-end magic school? Because this is looking way too Hogwarts for my liking." Tony said.


    Rogers, still adjusting to the surreal nature of what he was witnessing, watched as an elderly man effortlessly parried an attack from a much younger apprentice, only to laugh and give the student pointers. There was no age restriction here¡ªsome were as young as teenagers, while others looked like they had already lived several lifetimes.


    As they took in their surroundings, a green robed figure approached them, gesturing for them to follow.


    "Come. The Ancient One is expecting you."


    Liam recognized him immediately. Baron Mordo, one the big bads in the later part and in comics Doctor Strange''s arch enemy, hell bent on taking the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Even in a different world he had taken that mantle after Doctor Strange died. Liam had to nudge Rogers to get him out of his trance and then all three of them followed Mordo towards and inner hall.


    The room looked ancient and exactly like the one Liam had seen when Doctor Strange for the first time walked in. Ancient One was sitting cross legged in front of a tea setup.


    "Come.. Sit.. What would you like? Is tea alright?" Ancient One said. "You can leave Mordo."

 76

    "I would like a coffee," Tony said, which made both Liam and Rogers glare daggers at him. But to Tony''s surprise, the small cup of tea suddenly changed into a small mug of hot coffee. He could easily tell that the coffee was authentic, as he was a connoisseur of high-quality coffee.


    Liam didn''t hesitate and accepted the tea, and so did Rogers. The Ancient One''s actions even made Tony silent, and he concentrated on his coffee. Meanwhile, Fenrir seemed to hesitate at first as it remembered the Ancient One. But in the end, it came and sat beside Liam while he petted its head. It promptly closed its eyes, but its ears remained straight, ready to take action if required.


    "Your manipulation of the Bifrost is exemplary," the Ancient One said as she looked at Liam''s hand. Rogers and Tony looked at Liam with surprised expressions because Liam had said this was magic, yet now this bald woman was saying something else. Liam didn''t even look at the duo and just sipped his tea with a smile on his face.


    "Thank you," Liam said.


    "You seem to know me and didn''t even ask who I am? Have we ever met?" Liam was also a bit surprised, as he expected the Ancient One to know about his involvement. She had the Time Stone, so why was she unable to see him? Did the system shield him? Or was it something else?


    "No. But I do have knowledge of your presence. I was informed beforehand." Liam could only lie here. The Ancient One seemed to notice the hesitation in his words, but she didn''t press him further.


    "Hmm... Then that makes things easier for me," the Ancient One said. "You have been wasteful of your talent." Liam could only nod his head at that statement. He had already gone over the battle, and the number of mistakes he had made couldn''t be counted on his hands. He realized that battling a powerful enemy in a game world and battling in the real world with all of his powers required proper balance and focus, which he had lacked at the time. He was still ashamed of the fight.


    But some of the fault wasn''t exactly on him. After he became a Numeroean, and had the wraith with him, he was able to move and work smoothly, it was because he had so many years of experience. But it was not the same with God of War. He had played as Kratos for about 2 years, but he had never played as a hybrid of Heimdall and Atreus. He didn''t even play as Atreus during his time in game world, unlike what was shown in the actual game. Thus he wasn''t very accustomed with the power of the hybrid. Remember that the bloodline of Kratos and bloodline of Heimdall and Atreus were different. Maybe if he was given a bit more time, he would have reigned in his arrogance which also played a part.


    He was still very guilty that Fenrir was hurt and also exceptionally angry with himself, since he had failed horribly. He didn''t show his anger because he didn''t know how to, or rather forgotten how to show anger.


    "And why would someone like that come after Liam?" Rogers was more accepting of this fact, as he was religious to begin with, and since aliens and gods from ancient times were real, so could Hell be.


    "Because of what he wielded," the Ancient One said, looking at Liam.


    "The Blades of Chaos," he muttered.


    "Those blades carried primordial fire, an ancient and forbidden power on Earth. It is a treasure that could ignite wars across dimensions. Mephisto taking them was no coincidence¡ªhe knew their worth. If you do not wish to have a war brewing in your backyard, you must ensure that such power does not fall into the wrong hands again. If you ever get them back, that is. But I would suggest you don''t. Otherwise, Earth will become ground zero for wars that even Kamar-Taj wouldn''t be able to safeguard against. It was already lucky that Mephisto sensed them before all the others could," the Ancient One said.


    "There are others like him?" Both Rogers and Tony were alarmed. One Devil was already a mind-boggling notion for them. Now there were others?


    "Yes, Mr. Stark and Mr. Rogers. There are others. You can learn more about them if you go to the library. The librarian himself is from the U.S. He is also a huge fan of yours, Mr. Rogers. You can converse with him and open your mind," the Ancient One said.


    "You''re saying we can learn magic here?" Tony asked, raising his eyebrows.


    "Yes, if you have the talent. Everyone here is welcome to learn magic and become a sorcerer, but I doubt you will be able to learn the magic of Kamar-Taj. You have already been touched by the magic of other dimensions, and very few people can muster magic from different dimensions at the same time. You would have to be exceptional to do so," the Ancient One said.


    "Yeah... We''ll see about that. What are the directions to the library?" Tony said, not taking the Ancient One''s warning to heart. He was a genius and was gradually learning about arcanist knowledge¡ªsomething he had never even believed in before.


    He refused to believe he couldn''t learn the magic of this place. Tony left, and Rogers followed suit, feeling that the Ancient One was saying this to drive them away so she could talk with Liam alone for some time. Both of them still had questions, but they could ask him later.

 77

    They had only accompanied Liam to make sure it wasn''t a trap of some kind, and seeing that the woman and the people here at large didn''t have hostility toward him, their conscience was at ease now.


    Meanwhile, Liam clenched his fists. He had already lost the Blades to Mephisto, but the thought of them being used for some demonic scheme made his blood boil.


    "Isn''t it dangerous to have something like Primordial Fire with him?" Liam asked after both of them left. He didn''t forget that the Primordial Fire was the reason for the death of many Greek gods and also the fact that it brought Ragnarok.


    "If he doesn''t want a war against other dimensions and gods in the multiverse, he won''t show off his new prized possession. He is evil, but from what I know, not foolish," the Ancient One said.


    "But it is also too dangerous to let him have those weapons. I was ignorant of the power of the Blades, but not anymore," Liam said.


    "That might be true, but it can''t be denied that if you face him now on his turf, you won''t be able to defeat him. Until you destroy his soul, it is impossible to kill him," the Ancient One said.


    "Don''t we have a Ghost Rider? Why don''t we ask him?" Liam said.


    "You know about him too?" Now the Ancient One was really surprised. From what she knew, the knowledge of Mephisto, Ghost Rider, and the other beings was incredibly secretive, and even the open library of Kamar-Taj had very few mentions of them. It was only written in the books of her private stash and explained in detail, each and every one.


    She didn''t expect an outsider to know about it.


    "Okay, everyone, prepare to be amazed," Tony announced, his usual charisma on full display. "Introducing the latest in Stark sorcery¡ªpatent pending¡ªenhanced by the Arcanist knowledge from a certain someone''s bedtime reading collection." He gave a meaningful glance at Liam before flicking his wrist, sending a controlled gust of wind that kicked up a swirl of golden leaves around him.


    "So... you gave Tony magic?" Rogers whispered to Liam. He wasn''t caught up with the Arcanist books that Liam had provided him before, so he was a bit confused here.


    "Not exactly," Liam muttered, though he wasn''t surprised that Tony had progressed so much. He seemed to have remodeled the Storm javelin into a much sleeker and more effective version. He really was a genius. If it were any other time, Liam would have loved to have one of them in his arsenal, but he knew that his powers would never be able to bloom with such thick armor.


    Maybe a nano armor would excite him in the future.


    "Correction, Cap¡ªTony Stark acquired magic. And let me tell you, it''s like engineering, just with way more glitter and less OSHA compliance."


    As Tony continued his display, Rogers adjusted the weight of the books he and Tony had borrowed¡ªvolumes on dimensional rifts, forbidden artifacts, and a detailed history of magical conflicts. He had insisted they take only what they needed, but Tony had enthusiastically grabbed a few extra out of pure curiosity.


    "Kamar-Taj is a place of discipline and enlightenment, not a testing ground for technological experiments. These books are not meant for outsiders to take," Mordo scowled.


    "They are allowed, Mordo. Tony Stark has agreed to share his knowledge of Arcanist principles in return. A fair exchange of wisdom benefits both sides," the Ancient One replied while winking at Tony.


    Tony got the cue and nodded his head in return. Since Liam seemed to have agreed, he wouldn''t mind sharing the Arcanist books. It wasn''t his anyway.

 78

    Mordo didn''t seem happy at all, but since the Ancient One had spoken, he couldn''t argue against it.


    "Tony, we should leave," Liam said.


    "Yeah, yeah. By the way, does this place need a little¡ªlet''s call it ''modernization''? I could send some people in to upgrade the infrastructure. Y''know, throw in some better lighting, maybe a heating system?" Tony suggested.


    "Mr. Stark, these walls were woven with magic, not mere bricks and mortar. They cannot be altered so easily. However, if you truly wish to contribute, I would be intrigued to see a blueprint that blends magic with modern innovation. Kamar-Taj would welcome such a creation," the Ancient One replied smoothly, amusement flickering in her tone.


    Around them, several apprentices stifled chuckles.


    Even Liam smirked. If Tony wanted to flaunt his wealth, might as well put it to good use.


    "Oh, challenge accepted," Tony said, completely unfazed. "Give me a week, and I''ll draft something that''ll make this place look like a five-star magical retreat."


    "Fenrir, take us to his home," Liam said.


    Fenrir barked happily and stepped forward, opening a swirling black portal. The gathered apprentices stared, stunned.


    "Wait, that''s a portal?"


    "That doesn''t look anything like ours."


    "I don''t even know how to use a Sling Ring yet, and this thing just rips open space like it''s nothing? Am I officially worse than a wolf?"


    "If you know you''re worse than a wolf, maybe try training harder," another apprentice shot back.


    Their murmurs carried on for a while before they reluctantly returned to their studies.


    The Ancient One, however, remained unfazed. She had witnessed far stranger things in her lifetime.


    But his happy days were soon over as Fury called him to Stark Tower one day. He didn''t turn it down¡ªhe was getting a bit bored at home anyway.


    "Fenrir, how do you feel about a little fun?" Liam asked.


    Bark


    "Good boy..." Liam said, then asked him to open a portal to Stark Tower. As soon as he walked in, he saw that everyone had already arrived.


    "You held out on me, didn''t you?" Liam asked, eyeing the room.


    "Wasn''t my idea. But you''re the one who gave us the intel, so you needed to be here," Fury said, arms crossed.


    "What intel?"


    "The Red Room," Natasha said, her voice laced with venom. Her anger was unmistakable.


    "Alright, I''m in," Liam replied. That didn''t exactly make Rogers or Tony happy, but they weren''t about to argue.


    "Our guys in SHIELD finally tracked Dreykov to an abandoned gulag in Siberia," Fury said.


    "Siberia? A gulag? Wow. Nothing screams ''Soviet nostalgia'' like that," Tony scoffed.


    "From what we know, he''s trying to build what looks like a flying ship¡ªthanks to a bunch of kidnapped scientists from all over the world. If we go in, this won''t just be a takedown mission¡ªit''s a rescue op too," Fury said. He then opened a satellite image of the place and pulled up a 3D model of the facility.


    " This place is built like a fortress. The main structure is a reinforced Soviet-era gulag, but Dreykov''s made some serious upgrades. High-tech security, automated defenses, and patrols running on a tight schedule. We''re looking at a total lockdown if we trip any alarms."


    He swiped a hand across the interface, highlighting a large underground section.


    "This is where they''re keeping the Widows. Converted prison blocks¡ªcells reinforced with biometric locks and surveillance at all times. From what we gathered, there are at least thirty active Widows being held here, possibly more. We don''t know how Dreykov why he keeps them in prisons, I am guessing they don''t listen to his commands well, possibly instable minds of all of them."

 79

    Fury then pointed to another section, a multi-level laboratory complex attached to the main gulag.


    "The scientists are being held here. They''ve been forced to work round the clock on Dreykov''s flying fortress. Unlike the Widows, they actually get beds¡ªsmall barracks on the east wing. Two to a room, minimal security, because let''s face it¡ªnone of them are trained to fight back. But the real problem is that they''re tagged. Some kind of implant keeps them from trying to escape."


    He zoomed in on a rooftop landing pad.


    "This is our biggest problem. The place has its own fleet of combat drones and a small squad of guards on standby at all times. If we don''t shut that down early, they''ll have air support within minutes. And also the reason why I called Liam here, because he has the best firepower among all of us. Normally I would a whole team of agents, but doing that would be risky as this wouldn''t be sanctioned by SHIELD and also the reason why I called everyone. You can decide how to progress in this mission."


    Everyone looked at Rogers as he had the best brains when it came to missions and covert attacks but Rogers replied.


    "Don''t look at me. Liam here has yet to show all of his capabilities and I feel he will be a better leader here." Rogers said. This made everyone remember that they had yet to see Liam in full force since he had lost his hand. The Avengers had been briefed after Rogers had returned and suffice to say that the others were shaken up.


    Apparently, after knowing the truth, all the people including Phil had been going to church regularly. Liam looked at everyone and they all seemed to agree with Rogers words.


    "Are you sure you want to give the mission to a teenager?" Liam asked.


    The bird of prey wasn''t an ordinary one at all.


    Before the others could notice, Liam surged forward, now changing into a black panther. His lunge carried two paws with brutal strength taking a swipe at the throat of another. One drone turned toward him, its sensors locking on, but Liam had already anticipated it. Mid-air, he shifted back into his human form, landing gracefully on the platform with his bow already materializing in his hands.


    Drawing the string, he loosed an arrow charged with blue runic energy, piercing straight through the drone''s core, causing it to explode in a cascade of sparks. Before the second drone could react, he pulled another arrow from his quiver¡ªthis one imbued with sonic ability magic. The arrow struck, sending a web of sound wave through the drone''s metallic frame, frying its circuits instantly.


    The guards had now realized the attack and raised their weapons, but Liam moved faster. He nocked three arrows at once and fired, the projectiles finding their marks with deadly accuracy. One man fell clutching his throat, another was hit in the knee before Liam swiftly finished him off with a dagger throw, and the last one stumbled back, desperately firing his rifle.


    Liam twisted to the side, his wraith reflexes making him a blur. In one fluid motion, he dismissed his bow and summoned the Draupnir Spear, spinning it in his hands. He dashed forward, dodging a barrage of bullets before lunging. The spear pierced the last guard''s chest, and Liam twisted it violently before yanking it free.


    Before he could take a breath, the final drone activated its emergency defense mode, unleashing a barrage of micro-missiles, but Liam hurled the Draupnir Spear, embedding it in the drone''s hull. With a snap of his fingers, the spear detonated, shattering the machine mid-air.


    Smoke and sparks filled the landing pad, but the area was secure. Liam turned, his eyes scanning the battlefield, ensuring there were no more threats. Satisfied, he activated his comm.


    "Landing pad secured. Tell me Barton you have taken down the sentry guards."

 80

    Liam heard a sharp whistle through the comms before Barton''s voice crackled to life.


    "I gotta say, kid, you really outdid yourself with these arrows. I''m dropping these guys like flies."


    Liam smirked, watching the landing pad remain undisturbed. He knew Barton wouldn''t have any trouble now.


    "I gave you the best tools," Liam replied. "You just had to point and shoot."


    "Yeah, well, I think I''m in love," Barton chuckled. "This bow was already a piece of art, but now? With these runes? Damn thing feels alive. I barely have to pull before the arrows are already nocked, and I don''t even have to reach into the quiver anymore. Just think it, and another arrow''s there."


    Barton let loose another shot, and Liam could hear the faint hum of energy vibrating through the call before a distant explosion followed.


    "And these Bifrost arrows?" Barton continued. "Yeah, I''m gonna have a hard time going back to regular ones. These things don''t just pierce through armor, they¡ª" Another explosion. "¡ªthey send these guys straight to Hell."


    "They''re not unlimited," Liam reminded him. "I''m feeding them into your quiver through my control over the Bifrost. If I stop, the arrows stop."


    "Yeah, yeah, I get it. No pissing you off. Got it."


    Another arrow zipped through the air, and over the comms, Barton let out a satisfied sigh.


    "Gotta say though, I''m not even the biggest killer on the field right now."


    Liam arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    Steve ignored the quip, already shifting his attention to their surroundings. The corridors of the facility were dimly lit, sterile, and cold, with the occasional patrol moving through. But with most forces focused on Fenrir outside, the path forward was mostly clear.


    Natasha split off from the duo, her mission set. She was headed straight for the kidnapped scientists. With her skills, she didn''t need brute force¡ªstealth and precision would do the trick.


    Meanwhile, Tony and Steve pressed forward.


    The first enemy squad came into view, stationed near a security checkpoint. They barely had time to register the threat before Tony raised his hand and unleashed a lightning blast. The blue arc of electricity surged forward, chaining from one soldier to another, dropping them instantly.


    Steve wasted no time, charging ahead and slamming his shield into the last remaining guard. The impact sent the man flying into a console, knocking him out cold.


    "Alright, let''s keep it moving," Steve said, glancing back at Tony.


    "Oh, so now you like the flashy entrance?" Tony quipped.


    "Less talking, more fighting."


    Liam wasn''t sitting ducks either, he turned into a wolf himself and went inside the whole ancient fortress, killing anything that looked like an enemy soldier. Soon he reached the place where the Widows were imprisoned. As Liam came near he saw the prisons had been opened and 27 Widows had come out to help the soldiers. Their eyes seemed to be devoid of emotions and Liam could easily tell that they were controlled.


    He was here for them.


    Liam exhaled, his breath misting in the cold Siberian air. These Widows were fast, trained, and relentless¡ªbut they weren''t his enemy. They were victims. As the first Widow lunged at him, Liam shifted seamlessly from his wolf form back into his human body, his Wraith abilities activating instinctively. He vanished into the wraith form and reappeared behind her, delivering a precise strikes to her pressure points, thanks to his enhanced vision of Bifrost, rendering her unconscious without causing permanent harm.


    Two more on the sides attacked from opposite angles. Liam''s eyes flashed as he sidestepped effortlessly. The Widows struck only air and if he got touched by any of them, it would be a shame in the name of Heimdall''s powers.


    A crackling of power surged through his fingertips as he clenched his fist. He slammed it into the ground, invoking Frey''s magic.

 81

    Bind- thick, thorned roots erupted from beneath, lashing through the Widows and yanking them into the air. Before they could recover, Liam casted Genesis, embedding jagged shards of stone into their limbs, forcing their muscles to lock up. This attack was used for killing large number of enemies but Liam had controlled the output and brought down multiple Widows with it and just secured them to the ground.


    But then a Widow flipped over the jagged stones, aiming a precise dagger strike toward his exposed neck. Liam shifted instantly¡ªhis form melted into a massive wolf, his fur gleaming with streaks of golden light. With a single bound, he dodged the strike, then snapped his jaws around her weapon, shattering it between his teeth. He growled, eyes glowing like a predator''s before shifting back to human mid-air.


    Sila''s power ignited in his hands. With a simple flick of his wrist, he summoned Fusillade¡ªtwo burning swords circled around him, forming a blazing barrier against the next wave of Widows. The moment they hesitated, he raised his hand and unleashed Firetrap, an explosive trap near some of the Widows that were charging at him that sent them sprawling across the icy floor.


    But the rest weren''t done yet. By now Liam was sure that these women were in some kind of pheromone control.


    "Alright, let''s make this interesting." Liam smirked.


    His Draupnir Spear materialized in his grasp. He spectral dashed in a flash of wraith energy, appearing in their midst before unleashing a rapid whirlwind of spear strikes, reinforced with Atreus'' elven agility. The weapon blurred as he struck pressure points with pinpoint accuracy, ensuring each Widow collapsed without fatal injuries. For that reason he used the butt of the spear and also a bit of Bifrost energy.


    Next three widows appeared from behind, their blades seeking his ribs.


    Liam activated Maelstrom. A spiraling surge of water twisted around him, sweeping them off their feet before freezing them solid in a burst of Cluster bolt magic. Before the ice could crack, he pulled back his Draupnir Spear and hurled it through them¡ªthe weapon shattered the frozen statues, leaving them unconscious but unharmed.


    More were approaching. Liam raised his palm, channeling Heimdall''s divine sight. His eyes saw every step they would take, every strike they would attempt. With a thought, he shadow-pulled himself behind the leader of the group, appearing in her blind spot as a wraith-like blur. His spectral hand touched her temple, activating Domination. Of course he didn''t want to control her but put these helpless woman to sleep.


    The man barely reacted to Natasha''s presence. His expression was calm, too calm. And standing beside him was a girl¡ªhis own daughter, her face pale, her eyes vacant. Liam recognized her the moment he laid eyes upon her. The future Taskmaster.


    A knife was pressed against her throat.


    Not by Dreykov''s hand.


    By her own.


    Liam''s gut twisted. The girl''s fingers trembled against the hilt, but the blade remained poised against her flesh. That damned controlling pheromone. Liam wanted to send his spear hurling down at him but he knew that even if was able to do so easily, it might mean the end of this young girl. She wasn''t in her right mind and a small move could mean the end of her life.


    His life wasn''t important. Her''s was. Liam could saw Natasha in her stance, in the way her breath hitched ever so slightly. This wasn''t just another mission for her. This was personal.


    "You''re hesitating, Natasha," Dreykov mused. "Why? Is this not what you wanted?"


    "Let her go." Natasha hissed.


    "Why would I? After all she is my own daughter. My own flesh and blood." Dreykov laughed.

 82

    Natasha was silent as she didn''t know how to reply. During the Budapest incident, she had felt guilty for killing this young girl, named Antonia. Liam looked at Dreykov with those eyes that seemed ready to spit fire. He felt helpless too, as his abilities didn''t allow him to stop time.


    It might slow it, but stopping time wasn''t in his handy book, and sadly, that was what Liam needed the most now. The silence and the deadlock were soon broken when Tony and Rogers arrived.


    "Natasha, what''s taking you so..." Rogers stopped mid-speech as he took in the current scenario, and so did Tony, who was hovering mid-air with a ball of fire in his hand, ready to launch at Dreykov at any moment. Both of them were beyond furious as they got a glimpse of the girl.


    "Dreykov, be a pal and let the kid go. You hurt her, and I swear, I''ll drag you down to hell myself just to make sure you stay there." Tony declared.


    "Well, well. The infamous Iron Mage. Imagine my surprise when I saw you charging in. I thought your heroics were limited to terrorizing some warlords in the Middle East. What brings you here?" Dreykov laughed.


    "What can I say? I like to expand my portfolio. Thought I''d add ''taking down washed-up Soviet psychopaths'' to the list," Tony replied.


    "You''re far beyond your jurisdiction, Stark. The Russian Federation has already dispatched their jets. They''ll wipe this place off the map¡ªwith you in it." Dreykov laughed.


    "Yeah, see, that''s the part that doesn''t add up. I mean, sure, they might not like me, but you? Pretty sure they hate you more," Tony said.


    "The old guard in St. Petersburg never did like me. I wouldn''t put it past them to seize this opportunity¡ªkill two birds with one missile strike. But, of course, if you let us go, well... we walk away just fine." Dreykov negotiated.


    "We don''t negotiate with people like you, Dreykov. Surrender," Rogers interjected.


    Outside, Dreykov led Antonia through a network of corridors before emerging onto a massive open-air launch pad. A sleek black helicopter awaited them, its blades already spinning, because Dreykov had the automated function on it.


    Antonia''s breaths were shaky, but she didn''t resist. The blade still pressed against her throat, and her other hand remained clenched at her side. Dreykov guided her up the ramp, turning briefly to glance at the distant complex.


    "Far enough," he muttered, satisfied that no one was following¡ªyet. He wasn''t sure if his strategy would work, as he had felt only Natasha would be affected, but his plan did work. When Dreykov saw Liam, he knew for sure that his weapons and technology wouldn''t be able to stop this guy, so he needed to manipulate.


    As soon as Antonia stepped inside the helicopter, it happened. A sharp twang echoed. A single arrow struck in an instant¡ªembedding itself into Antonia''s wrist, pinning her hand to the seat, and wrenching the knife from her grip. She screamed, the sudden pain forcing her body to lurch forward. What followed next was the sound of the windshield breaking. Yes, the arrow was so fast that even the sound of the windshield breaking came a bit later for distant people to hear, implying the arrow was faster than the sound.


    The magical arrow was beyond what a human could ever comprehend. Dreykov spun in shock. Far away, perched on the rooftop of an old communications tower at least half a kilometer away, stood Clint Barton. He lowered his bow slightly, watching through his scope.


    "Gotcha," Barton murmured.


    Inside the helicopter, Antonia gasped, her free hand clutching at her wrist as blood dripped onto the seat. Dreykov''s face twisted in rage. Dreykov went to hold his daughter, but before he could do so, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.


    What followed next was him being flung away from the open door of the helicopter and falling onto the launch pad. He saw a spear being shoved into his shoulder before he felt immense pain coursing through his slightly aged body. He screamed in pain and writhed.


    He wanted to remove the spear that had lodged in his shoulder, but it refused to budge. In the next moment, he saw Liam standing in front of him with the same spear in his hand.


    The copy effect of the Spear of Draupnir was in full force.

 83

    "I told you, I will show you hell." Liam stood near the head of Dreykov. Tony and Natasha were already with the young girl, helping her with the pain that Barton had just caused.


    "Barton... you are evil," Natasha spoke over the comms.


    "Hey, it was my way or the highway. You bunch of gods couldn''t do anything, so the human had to step in," Barton replied. Thankfully, the arrow didn''t cut through any major artery, and Tony just froze the wound for the time being. Yinsen could tend to it later after they reached home.


    While the two were tending to the girl, Rogers and Liam stood in front of him.


    "I say we hang him upside down in this cold Siberian weather, naked. That would teach him a lesson," Rogers suggested with a small bit of humor. He had been stressed all this time. He was even feeling guilty that he had given the command to Liam, and if the girl had died, then Liam would have felt guilty for the rest of his life.


    Natasha had already briefed them about Antonia, so he knew what this girl meant to Natasha. It would have been a blow to the team if she had died. Rogers had secretly decided that from next time, he would take command. Nobody should bear such heavy burdens, even when facing normal humans.


    Sometimes, humans were more dangerous than powerful beings. Dreykov was a prime example of the evils of humanity.


    "Nah... let''s burn him. In this weather, it would be fun to watch him burn to a crisp," Liam suggested. Meanwhile, Dreykov tried to get up, only to be hit on the head by Cap''s shield. Rogers still held immense resentment after what this monster had done to his own child just to gain leverage.


    He wasn''t going to let this pass.


    An hour later.


    Everyone had gathered a bit farther away from the half-damaged fortress. The Avengers were back, and they were not the only ones here. The scientists and the Widows were here too. After the Widows found themselves free, they were forced to come back with the Avengers. Of course, some tried to run, but Fenrir stepped in and reminded them who was the boss here.


    This made the girls very scared, and thus they followed the words of Natasha, whom some of them recognized. Though they didn''t think they would be treated any better just because some of them knew Natasha. They had seen hell with Dreykov and just hoped that they wouldn''t be treated as badly as before. Natasha was also saddened not to see her sister among them, but she wouldn''t give up the search.


    Rogers had decided to tag along with her in this search, and this gave her hope.


    "So, freezing and then burning. I like it," Tony said as he stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the huge gate of the place. Tony had tied Dreykov upside down, naked inside the open-aired fortress/gulag, to make him freeze in the cold while Liam would make sure to burn this place to the ground.


    They had already checked¡ªDreykov was lying when he said that the country was sending a bomb to this place. Though it was true that he had requested a bombing, St. Petersburg didn''t think it was worthy enough to send one, as it would be a waste of money.


    Thus, they had time.


    Conflagration. This spell called forth a huge fiery column of fire spanning quite the distance in front of Liam. Magma oozed out from the ground as it assaulted the very foundations of the fortress, its molten waves devouring stone and steel alike. The searing heat distorted the air, turning the once icy wasteland into a hellish inferno.


    Dreykov''s screams, muffled by the howling winds and the roar of the flames, barely registered in the ears of those watching. He had spent a lifetime building this place, fortifying it with his twisted vision of control, and now it crumbled in an eruption of fire and fury. The very walls that once held innocent lives captive now cracked and collapsed, succumbing to the relentless onslaught.


    "Well, that''s one way to handle pest control," Tony quipped.


    The Widows and scientists watched in stunned silence. Some of them, especially those who had suffered under Dreykov''s rule, showed no sorrow for what was happening. For them, this destruction was long overdue.


    As the firestorm raged, the very ground trembled beneath their feet. A final, deafening crack echoed across the land as the main tower, the last standing remnant of Dreykov''s empire, surrendered to the inevitable and crashed into the abyss of flames below.


    Liam lowered his hand, the glow of magic dissipating as he watched the fortress burn.


    Tony tapped the side of his helmet, opening a secure line to Fury.


    "Hey, Patch, take care of these scientists and Widows."


    "How many of them are there?" Fury replied over the comms. Natasha glanced at the group of women. Some were afraid, others cautious, and a few seemed ready to bolt the moment they got the chance. The scientists stood behind them, equally uneasy.


    "Enough to cause a huge headache," Natasha replied.


    "Alright. I''ve got a warehouse in Norway. It''ll serve as a temporary safe house until I get things sorted. No one will bother them there. They will be assessed and processed as fast as possible for the current actual SHIELD," Fury said.


    Liam, still watching the burning remains of the fortress, finally turned to face the others.


    "Fenrir can take care of transport."


    At the sound of his name, the massive wolf stepped forward. It gave a deep growl. The message was clear: step out of line, and there would be consequences.


    Some of the Widows shifted uncomfortably, their instincts screaming at them not to trust any of this. But they also knew they had no real choice. They had seen what Liam and Fenrir were capable of.

 84

    "Yeah, I think they got the message." Tony smirked. Soon a portal tore open in front of them and these people were forced to go through the portal. The scientists were reluctant, but hearing the snarl of Fenrir, they didn''t protest. Natasha took a step forward, addressing the Widows.


    "This is your chance. You walk through that portal, you''re free. You try anything stupid, and I promise, you won''t like how it ends."


    There was hesitation, but one by one, they stepped through, disappearing into the dark glow.


    "Well," Barton said, lowering his bow, "that''s one hell of a relocation program."


    After they had left, it was their time to leave too. Antonia was taken in by Natasha as she felt responsible for the child. Of course she would be medically fit first and also find out what after effects her father had left on her. She didn''t even cry when Dreykov screamed. She seemed to be under huge trauma and was unresponsive.


    But all in all, with the mission wrapped up and the Widows safely transported, there was nothing left but to head home. Barton stretched his arms with a tired sigh, while Rogers adjusted his shield, while Fenrir opened a new portal for them.


    But then, Liam stopped.


    He stood motionless for a moment before turning to see embers of the fortress as they dimmed against the snow. His expression darkened, enough to make everyone else pause.


    "Liam?" Rogers frowned.


    "What is it?" Natasha asked.


    Liam didn''t answer immediately. He wasn''t able to see things clearly yet as his eyes shone in more brilliance then ever. But his questions were answered soon. At first, it seemed like shadows twisting through the wreckage, flickering in and out of sight. Then, something crawled out of the fire-charred remains.


    Its body was long and sinewy, covered in an eerie mix of bone-like plating and shifting tendrils of flesh. It looked like some kind of four limbed monster. Pale blue and green markings pulsed along its grotesque form, glowing faintly in the cold air.


    Then another one emerged. And another.


    More of them slithered and climbed out of the smoldering wreckage¡ªbeasts of unnatural design. Their eyes, hollow and soulless, scanned their surroundings, their hunger palpable in the freezing air.


    "What the hell..." Barton muttered.


    "Does anyone know what those are?" Rogers asked.


    "Not ringing any bells," Tony said. "I can tell you one thing¡ªthose are not from around here."


    Thus at the end they turned to Liam. Since they were monsters, and he was from the magical side, he might know them.


    "Liam?" Natasha asked. "You recognize them?"


    Liam didn''t answer right away. He just stared at the monsters with an unreadable expression. What he saw only confirmed his suspicions. These weren''t just creatures. They were something else entirely. Something ancient. Something that shouldn''t exist here.


    He didn''t expect to see them here. Though he knew that they existed, he had hoped to see them in the future and face them.


    "They are not from Earth, I can at least tell you that." Liam spoke for the first time since these monsters had emerged.


    "It doesn''t need a genius to understand that. What are these?"


    "Abhorrent experiments of some beings. Take them down and kill them. Don''t let their tendrils touch your or stab you, or else they will copy your DNA and gain all your abilities. Yes, Tony including your intellect. These creatures are meant to evolve. They are meant to destroy everything on their path so don''t bother with mercy. Fenrir, don''t engage."


    Fenrir barked in disproval.


    "No. You are too big and if they copy you, they will be able to escape." Liam warned. He was serious. He didn''t want these abhorrent creatures to touch them at all. Since Liam spoke of such warning everyone of them took the matters now seriously. Barton didn''t even bother to get approval.


    It already shot an arrow at one of these monsters. It struck at one of the limbs, blowing it away, but tendrils and bones started to grow albeit very slowly, but it was still there.


    "They regenerate?" Barton was surprised. "Who created them?"


    Liam didn''t respond and had already made a run towards these monsters. They were 6 in total from what he could see.


    "Captain.." Natasha looked at Rogers for their next move.


    "Barton you stay here and cover us. Tony take to the skies and bring down hell. Me and you will keep them away from sneaking on Liam as he will be the vanguard here. Now give them hell."


    Liam surged forward like a shadow, which had been given a form. He stopped upon the nearest monster and it also seemed to have smelled Liam. It lunged at Liam but thanks to foresight, it''s attack carved through empty space, and before it could recover, Liam struck.


    His form blurred as he spectral dashed behind the Deviant, his blade¡ªVigilance¡ªslicing through its tendrils in a flash of silver. The creature screeched, ichor spraying from its wounds, but it was already regenerating.


    But Liam didn''t give it a chance. He used his bare hands alone to punch at the monster flying backward, its chest caving in from the force of the impact. And after the monster was punched, a huge ball of fire struck at the monster making it scream loud and within seconds it got burnt to a crisp in this chilly weather, showing how powerful the attack of Tony was.


    Yes, the others had now joined his fray. And so did the other monsters.


    The other five moved in immediately, their bodies twisting and contorting unnaturally as they swarmed Liam and Tony. Liam used his Shimmy and spectral dash together to dart through the air with impossible agility, his body propelled by magical bursts as he leapt from the wreckage, flipping over one monster while sending three consecutive Draupnir spear at one of the monsters, and simultaneously exploding them.


    Above, Tony soared through the air, unleashing repulsor blast at the one Liam just exploded. The blast went straight through the head of the monster. He took Liam''s warning seriously¡ªno mercy.

 85

    2 down.


    Tony wasn''t done. His arc reactor, part of the suit, opened up and blasted a Unibeam at another monster. The attack went straight toward the bulged head of the monster. What remained later was the huge, headless, charred remains that hit the ground. The limbs twitched before stopping altogether.


    "Yeah, that''s disgusting," Tony muttered, then went toward the last ones.


    Meanwhile, Rogers and Natasha worked together in perfect tandem. The Captain''s shield smashed into the jaw of one monster, sending it staggering back, while Natasha was already behind it, twin batons crackling with electricity as she drove them into its exposed tendrils. The creature convulsed violently before breaking free, snarling.


    Barton loosed another arrow, this time a freeze arrow, straight into the skull of a monster about to pounce on Liam. The ice spread quickly, encasing the creature in a thick shell. Liam then took out his Leviathan Axe and went straight for the next. The monster was already frozen, thus this attack was clean and separated the head from the body, killing it.


    The last monster rushed him from the side, its grotesque tendrils lashing out. Liam ducked under the attack, his instincts heightened by Heimdall''s gifts. His movements flowed seamlessly, and in one swift motion, he summoned the Draupnir Spear, twirling it in his grasp before hurling it straight into the beast''s chest.


    Liam threw multiple spears and then detonated them in a series of explosions, tearing chunks out of the monster''s body. And before the monster could get up, the last spear detonated on its neck, tearing apart the monster and killing it.


    What remained was the last monster, which was held by Rogers and Natasha. The monster managed to lodge one of its tendrils into Natasha''s thigh, alarming her as she felt her strength fading. But before the monster could drain more from her body, Rogers'' shield came flying in, separating the tendril from Natasha''s body.


    "Liam was right," Rogers murmured.


    The monster wasn''t going to give up on the female so easily and pounced on her, but before it could deliver its jaw attack, Liam came almost flying in and punched the monster in the gut.


    It threw the monster off its feet, sending it falling a few yards back.


    "You alright?" Liam asked.


    "Yeah..."


    The monster, which had its underbelly crushed by Liam''s punch, slowly mended itself and saw that by now, all the other monsters were dead, leaving only itself standing as the last one. Barton and everyone slowly gathered in front of the monster, looking at it like meat waiting to be put on the chopping block.


    Surprisingly, the monster didn''t immediately attack. It just looked at them with eyes that had green on the eyelids.


    "Humans... We... No... Enemies..." the monster spoke for the first time, throwing everyone off. They had never expected the monster to even speak, which meant it could think.


    "The hell? It can talk..." Barton was amused. "You just tried to kill all of us, and now you want to put up the white flag? Not a chance."


    "We... Hungry..." the monster spoke again, justifying why it had attacked them.


    "So you think humans are food? You''re worse than monsters." Natasha could still feel the stab on her thigh as blood oozed from it. She was not happy about it at all.


    "No... You... Humans... Don''t... Know... Anything," the monster said.


    "Oh, so now we''re ignorant. Why are we even letting you talk?" Tony''s fingers sparked up with lightning, ready to strike. The only reason they hadn''t put it out of its misery yet was because Liam hadn''t made a move since the monster started talking.


    "So what are you? A monster from hell? From other dimensions?" Rogers asked. He had read some of the books given by the Ancient One, as JARVIS had translated for him. So he knew that other dimensions existed. The monster didn''t reply and just growled at them.


    "My magma attack freed you from the icicle you were all frozen in under the structure, didn''t it? How many years has it been? 4,000... 6,000 years?" Liam spoke up for the first time, making everyone realize what he was pointing out.


    All of them had assumed that these monsters appeared because of some kind of portal, but no. These monsters had been frozen all this time, and Liam''s fire attack had melted the ice and freed them, albeit unknowingly.


    "You... Know... About... Us... Eternal?" the monster spoke.


    Liam didn''t reply and simply used the Genesis spell on the monster, bringing forth jagged rocks from the ground that impaled it from different angles, killing it.


    Everyone was silent, but they had questions.


    "Let''s go home. I miss my warm home," Tony said.


    "Let''s go. Fenrir," Natasha called.


    As if the wolf had been dying to be called by someone, it came running from a far distance. Liam had sent Fenrir a few miles away, so once it heard someone calling its name, it couldn''t wait and came running.


    Liam and everyone gave it a hug, and in the cold weather, the warm fluff of Fenrir gave them both love and warmth at the same time. By now, Fenrir was loved by everyone present, and they would probably go to war against the world for this wolf.


    "Let''s go home," Liam said, and Fenrir promptly opened a portal to Stark Tower.


    Everyone was a bit tired and also needed medical attention, especially Natasha, so Yinsen was already on standby.


    "We can discuss what happened at a later time. The team needs rest and recuperation," Rogers said, and everyone agreed.


    Liam promptly left with Fenrir, while the others just took the old ways and went to their homes.


    Only Natasha and the young girl were left behind for Yinsen to check. Natasha herself needed a check-up and a patch on her thigh. Fury was also there, and though he didn''t ask what had happened in the last few minutes, he was curious nonetheless.

 86

    A few days had gone by since the incident in Siberia. Everyone was back at Stark Tower, which had now been renamed Avengers Tower, though Tony hadn''t put up the name on a huge neon board yet, as the Avengers weren''t accepted by the government as of yet.


    "Nat, how''s the kid holding up? Heard she''s not keen on the whole ''foster family'' gig," Barton asked.


    "She''s stubborn. Knows how to throw a punch too. But yeah, she refuses counseling. I''m barely home myself, and honestly, I don''t think she''d have much of a childhood living with me," Natasha replied.


    "Yeah, kids can be a handful," Barton said. Natasha almost made a remark about how he''d know better, but she remembered that Barton had mentioned his family to the team. "And how''s the leg?" Barton added.


    "It''s fine. That bastard apparently shaved a few years off my lifespan. In medical terms, I lost five years," Natasha muttered, irritated. She wasn''t thrilled about it¡ªspy or not, she was still a woman, and aging wasn''t exactly a topic she liked discussing.


    As they talked, Liam entered the room with his oversized, fluffy wolf, and everyone immediately gravitated toward Fenrir first.


    Fenrir, basking in the attention, even let them feed him treats. Liam could only shake his head.


    "Right. Guess I know my place now," he said. "Clearly, I''m just here to carry Fenrir''s stuff."


    "Oh, you better believe it," Natasha said without hesitation.


    "And just like that, I lose my ''youngest on the team'' privilege," Liam lamented.


    The mood was light, filled with jokes and laughter. It was rare to see Liam loosen up, and the team appreciated it. He usually carried himself like he bore the weight of the world, so seeing him joke around was a welcome change.


    A person under stress would break eventually, so it was good to have Liam open up every now and then.


    "Alright, listen up," Fury''s voice cut through the chatter. "We''ve got a lead. We finally found where the Winter Soldiers are kept. Plural. As in, more than one. Right now, they''re locked up in Siberia." He paused, then added dryly, "Yeah, I know. Siberia. Again. Boohoo. Cry me a river. We''re going anyway."


    When they had infiltrated the gulag, Tony had hacked into their systems and pulled every piece of intel that looked remotely useful¡ªand it paid off.


    They finally had solid leads on the Winter Soldiers.


    "Cap and I are handling this," Tony said. "This one''s personal."


    Fury didn''t argue. He was willing to let them take the lead. Liam debated warning them about Bucky''s presence but decided against it. This was their fight.


    "If you''re going in, you need to lock the place down," Natasha reminded them. "No survivors." Their war against Hydra was still in the shadows.


    "Oh, I''m aware," Rogers said firmly. "A good Nazi is a dead Nazi."


    "Damn, Cap. That was... dark." Barton blinked.


    "I used to think differently," Rogers admitted. "Then the world changed. I barely recognize it anymore. It''s time we tie up loose ends before we''re dragged into court."


    Nobody disagreed. Then, all eyes turned to Liam. They didn''t say anything, but he knew it was his turn to speak.


    "I think everyone''s wondering what exactly we fought out there," Fury said. "Might be time to clear the air. Humanity can''t stay in the dark forever."


    "You want the lie or the truth?" Liam sighed.


    "Let me guess," Tony cut in. "The ''truth'' is something out of a sci-fi horror flick. Some aliens got creative, whipped up some genetic nightmares, and decided Earth was the perfect testing ground."


    "That would be the lie," Liam said.


    "Oh, fantastic. Because that wasn''t terrifying enough." Tony made a face.


    "Okay, so... what? Humans did it? We found some aliens and decided to play mad scientist?" Barton guessed.


    The fact that their guesses were still off was unsettling. Deep down, they all feared the truth was worse.


    "What I''m about to say might blow your mind," Liam warned.


    "Buddy, we just found out Satan is real. You''d be surprised how open-minded we''ve become," Natasha deadpanned.


    "They were experimented on by a god," Liam said.


    "Oh, great. Is this where Jesus enters the chat?" Barton groaned.


    Nobody laughed. Not even Barton himself.


    "It''s not Jesus. When I say ''god,'' I mean an actual god. One that can create and destroy galaxies, one that shapes the universe and decides whether planets live or die," Liam explained. "We call them Celestials."


    Fury narrowed his eye. "We?"


    "There are others on Earth who know about them," Liam said but didn''t elaborate. "These Celestials¡ª"


    "Wait¡ªCelestials, plural? As in, more than one?" Tony cut in.


    Liam nodded. The room tensed.


    "Oh, that''s just peachy," Tony muttered. "Always love learning there''s a whole club of universe-wrecking deities."


    "God help us," Rogers murmured.


    "And these Celestials... experimented on people?" Fury asked, his voice controlled but heavy.


    "No," Liam corrected. "They experimented on something worse. They created these things¡ªmonsters. We call them Deviants. They were thrown into worlds like ours to maintain balance, to keep life from growing unchecked."


    There was silence.


    "Yeah. That tracks. Gods make life, then decide we''re too much of a hassle and hit the kill switch. Real classy." Barton scoffed.


    "I was right on being agnostic. Nothing is good." Tony said.


    "Someone once said. If God is all powerful then he can''t be good, and if he is all good, then he can''t be a God." Liam said.


    "Wise words. I will write it down." Natasha said.


    "So we will face them in the future for saving mankind?" Rogers asked.


    "It depends. There shouldn''t be many because from what I know the Celestials had stopped those experiments as in some planets they grew too powerful for their evolutionary traits and they had to scrap the project." Liam said. Everyone was silent as they took their time to soak what Liam had taken in.


    "And you know all of this because of your organization?" Fury stated.

 87

    "System, tell me all the rewards that I am supposed to get starting from S class? This secret is killing me already," Liam said.


    [Are you sure you want to know the rewards system?]


    "Why wouldn''t I be? This secret that you''re dangling over my head is not even required."


    [...]


    [The rewards system starting from S to SSS are as follows:


    For S class:


    Get access to two games per day, and if you complete the consecutive next two games in S class, then the extra reward will be the next game being a free world where the protagonist playing as the host and is allowed to bring things to and fro from the game world and real world. Time will run parallel to the real world.


    For SS class:


    Get normal rewards for completing SS class and also 3 years'' access to the next game world without playing the protagonist in the game.


    Pros:


    Standard rewards, and from the next game, the host can bring everything and anything to and from the game to the real world, including living beings. Any abilities or items gained in the game, apart from the eventual rewards system, will belong to the host permanently and can carry on to the next games in the future. The time frame given to the host for evaluation is 3 years in real time with a time ratio of 5:1 (five years in the game world will equal 1 year in the real world). (P.S. You will not age while in the game world; this applies to you and any living beings you bring with yourself. However, if the living beings brought by you decide to stay there after the 3-year period, time will flow normally for them.)


    Cons:


    Death is permanent. You can take help from people in the real world, but the evaluation will be lower. Items received from previous games cannot be used either.


    For SSS class rewards:


    Get normal rewards for completing SS class and also permanent access to the next game world without playing the protagonist in the game.


    Pros:


    Standard rewards, and from the next game, the host can bring everything and anything to and from the game to the real world, including living beings. Any abilities or items gained in the game, apart from the eventual rewards system, will belong to the host permanently and can carry on to the next games in the future. The host will gain permanent access to the game, forever. The time frame given to the host for evaluation is 3 years in real time with a time ratio of 5:1 (five years in the game world will equal 1 year in the real world). After the 3-year period, the real-time world and the game-time world will sync.


    Cons:


    Death is permanent. You can take help from people in the real world, but the evaluation will be lower. Items received from previous games cannot be used either.]


    --------


    Back to current time


    "Yes," Liam replied. He sighed as he did so, knowing that a single-word answer would suffice.


    "The reason I know so much, and the fact that they help me while being invisible, is because the organization works in multi-planes¡ªor what we call a multiverse. I think Tony must have read about it in the books of Kamar-Taj," Liam said. Tony froze for a second, and then it suddenly dawned on him.


    Liam was right. If the organization supporting Liam was multiplanar, it would explain why Liam was so powerful and also why they never showed themselves. It would also explain why Liam''s so-called trials were never seen or heard of by anyone. It was because they never took place on Earth to begin with.


    Since Fury and the others were a bit confused, Tony went on to introduce the multiplanar theory that he had read about, and the others were beyond speechless. Fury himself felt his world crumbling as he realized how laughable SHIELD was. But that also made him more determined to bring order and peace to the world¡ªfrom the dangers of the multiverse.


    "No wonder you have so many abilities," Natasha said as she finally understood.


    "So, we are going to a different world for your trial?" Barton asked, a bit excited as he finally caught the hint.


    "Don''t be happy too early. My abilities and my weapons will be stripped away the moment we step in. This is where you guys come in. Including you will lower my evaluation, but if I go in alone, I will definitely die. So, you have 2 more days to prepare," Liam declared.


    "Heh... So our vanguard will be missing. Got it," Tony replied.


    Not having Liam''s abilities meant they would be vulnerable, but the older team members didn''t mind babysitting Liam since he had been doing the same for them for a long time. Barton and Tony had been directly helped by him, so helping Liam would make them feel less guilty.


    "I will make you some sweet armor for this trial," Tony promised.


    "I hope so," Liam replied. Liam discussed what precautions were needed for this trial and gave them a rough idea. The warnings made them shudder but also excited them at the same time. Liam then promptly left for his home.


    He had not been exactly idle in the last few days. He had been working and making things that would help him in the next game. First, he made some cold weapons¡ªspecific weapons that would help him on this journey¡ªand worked on the main craft of Celebrimbor.


    The craft of ring-making.


    Drawing from Celebrimbor''s knowledge, he had crafted the foundation of two rings¡ªone for endurance and strength, the other for healing and restoration.


    The first ring, Anwar Durthol¡ª"Strength of the Tower" in Elvish¡ªwas forged with mithril and bone dust from Nidhogg from the God of War, its band carved with runes of resilience and might. A shard of obsidian rested at its crown, pulsing with latent volcanic energy to enhance stamina and physical power.


    The second ring, Laina Estel¡ª"Light of Hope"¡ªwas more delicate, its mithril alloy infused with celestial quartz and crushed petals of the mythical Everbloom. A tear-shaped sapphire gleamed at its center, radiating a soft, soothing light, the runes on its surface etched to channel vitality and restore energy.

 88

    Kamar-Taj


    A black portal opened in the courtyard, and from inside emerged Liam and Fenrir. The apprentices immediately gathered around Liam again as he carried a bunch of books with him. These were some of the books that Tony and Steve had taken previously and also some books on arcanists.


    The apprentices, by now, knew that Tony and Liam were honorary members of Kamar-Taj, and since they had money, everyone would try to curry a bit of favor with them. Tony hadn''t actually disappointed them. To improve the place''s Wi-Fi speed, he had sent a direct satellite connection, linked to Stark''s own satellite. Thus, Kamar-Taj now had very fast Wi-Fi. This already made the apprentices very happy, and they worshipped Tony more than their own teachers.


    After all, the internet came free of charge.


    "Alright... don''t bother him so much. He''s here for business," Mordo said as he noticed the bustle around. He had not been happy about Tony being allowed to take some books out, but once he read the arcanist books, he understood why the Ancient One had decided to grant Tony this access.


    Though he couldn''t use the magic written in the books, one could, however, learn and imbue magical runes into alloy metals and other materials. This meant they could create magical weapons. Though Mordo wasn''t very talented in this regard, the weapons created through arcanist knowledge had immense potential.


    He referred to it as potential because the magic written in the books was hard to emulate, as their paths differed greatly from the paths described in the arcanist books. Thankfully, this worked both ways: Tony, genius as he was, couldn''t even perform the basic magic of Kamar-Taj. Of course, Tony wasn''t one to give up easily and had been working hard to learn and master the magic.


    "Mordo, is the Ancient One at home?" Liam asked with a smile.


    "Yes, she''s in her chambers," Mordo replied. Liam nodded and went to the library to deliver the books. Mordo followed him. Liam remained silent during this short walk, but he could sense that Mordo had something to say.


    "Is there something you want to say, Mordo?" Liam asked as politely as possible.


    "I... I''m sorry for my behavior that day," Mordo said with a hint of embarrassment.


    "What are you talking about?" Liam asked, genuinely confused.


    "That day... I stopped Tony and you from taking the books," Mordo explained, and Liam remembered that Mordo had indeed done so.


    "Hah... you''re overthinking. You stopped Tony and Steve. I was just a spectator," Liam replied, as he genuinely didn''t care about what Mordo had done. Mordo was portrayed as a villain in the comics to begin with, so Liam always considered anything coming from his mouth to be unworthy of worry.


    Even in this world, Mordo would eventually turn against Strange just because he used the Time Stone. What kind of logic was that? By that reasoning, Loki should be his eternal enemy. Liam would love to see a fight between Loki and Mordo¡ªthat would show Mordo what true time manipulation looked like.


    "Uhh... it was my presumptuous self acting out. I still need to apologize," Mordo said, lowering his head. Liam was slightly impressed and replied,


    "It''s all water under the bridge. Don''t be so rigid, Mordo, because this world wasn''t built on structures¡ªit thrives on chaos." Liam offered his advice as he delivered the books to the librarian, who looked very pleased. The librarian was a sucker for books, and new arrivals always made him happy.


    Liam''s words made Mordo pause. The Ancient One had given him similar advice before, but he hadn''t heeded it. Mordo believed those who didn''t follow the rules should be condemned. Rules, after all, distinguished intelligent beings from savages.


    He said no more on the topic and instead conversed with Liam about his life. Liam, in turn, asked about his magic. Soon, they arrived at the Ancient One''s chambers. Mordo didn''t follow Liam any further and had already started reading a book when Liam entered.


    "Sit," the Ancient One said after closing the book she had been reading and looking at Liam.


    "That day when I came here, I was extremely rude. I didn''t thank you for saving my life and Fenrir''s as well," Liam said. His words brought a smile to the Ancient One''s face.


    "I didn''t save you. I think, in the end, you could have handled him," the Ancient One replied.


    "No, you saved me from myself. I would never have forgiven myself if I had lost Fenrir that day," Liam said. The Ancient One simply smiled in response.


    "This time, you look particularly happy and bright. Did something happen?" the Ancient One asked.


    "Umm... I don''t know. Do I?" Liam asked, genuinely unaware of any change in himself as he looked at his hands and checked his clothes.


    "No. I meant you look like someone who has shed some of the burdens you were carrying," the Ancient One explained. Liam hadn''t expected that answer. "You always seem to carry a sense of responsibility, and since you have some knowledge of how the world works, it makes you worry most of the time. Isn''t that right?" she asked.


    Liam was speechless. Since the day he had arrived here, he had felt an incessant urge to make himself more powerful and to protect everyone. Anyone could handle street gangs, but when the world was at stake, he would have to step up.


    He didn''t want to be one of the 50% who vanished, nor did he want to witness a Celestial being born. He wasn''t ready to face any kind of incursion into his world either. And the reason he felt a bit free of worry was because in the next game he would have friends with him. That would mean he wouldn''t be alone and although he wouldn''t have any kind of power or magical weapons with him, having his friends with him would elevate the loneliness he had been feeling since he had started this whole journey to the game world.

 89

    "But I am happy to see that you are a bit cheerful now," the Ancient One said.


    "Uh... I have some amazing friends that have allowed me to take a breather," Liam replied. After he had decided to rely on his friends for the next journey, he had really let himself go a bit.


    "I am glad to know that," the Ancient One said. Liam didn''t talk anymore as he got up to leave for home. Before he left the chamber, the Ancient One said,


    "I am sorry too for stopping you that day, but I couldn''t let other parties wage war here."


    "I comprehend the reason entirely. If I were not ignorant, I would not have even brought out those Blades," Liam replied. She nodded and waved him goodbye, and Liam did the same.


    "He is probably going to come back more powerful than ever," the Ancient One mumbled. She didn''t have any clue how Liam was able to gain abilities, and it also stumped her that she couldn''t watch his future. But she knew that this person had a good heart, and that was all that mattered to her.


    The team had come to the tower. Tony Stark lounged on the couch while the others talked among themselves. The Avengers, as Fury liked to call them, weren''t the only members present in the room. Pepper was petting Fenrir. Since Liam wasn''t allowed to take items or powers from his game worlds, it included Fenrir too. He actually wanted to give Fenrir to his parents, but Fenrir needed more space, which Pepper would be able to provide as she knew what kind of wolf Fenrir was.


    So in the end, Liam had decided to give Fenrir to Pepper. Of course, it didn''t mean that for the next three years, he would spend 24/7 in the game world, but Liam would spend most of the time there. And so would his friends. Liam then proceeded to summon several large, cloth-wrapped bundles.


    "What''s in the bundles, Santa?" Tony quipped. "Don''t tell me you''ve gone into the gift-giving business."


    "You could say that. I''ve been working on something for all of you."


    "Something useful, I hope?" Natasha said as she arrived, ready with Antonia, who at the moment was downstairs with Happy eating ice cream.


    "Oh, it''s useful," Liam replied. "I know you''ve all got your gear, but I figured you might appreciate something... extra, specifically for the trial."


    He pulled the cloth off the first bundle, revealing a gleaming set of armor. It shimmered faintly in the light, appearing both metallic and ethereal. The silver gleam of mithril was unmistakable, but there were darker streaks of other alloys embedded within the design, giving it a unique, layered look. The runes etched into the plates glowed faintly.


    "This," Liam began, "is armor I''ve crafted from mithril and other alloys. Mithril for its lightweight durability, mixed with alloys I forged to enhance its resistance to damage¡ªwhether it''s swords, arrows, or even magical attacks."


    "Are we going to Middle-earth or something?" Clint couldn''t help but get excited.


    "Much bigger than that," Liam replied.


    "And you just whipped this up in your spare time? No big deal?" Natasha said.


    "It''s been a project of mine. Took some time, but I wanted to make sure it was worth it."


    "This is incredible craftsmanship. And the runes?" Steve investigated the armor.


    "They imbue the armor with defensive properties. They''ll absorb a portion of incoming magical energy, which will give you some protection against spells or enhanced attacks," Liam explained.


    "How effective is it?"


    "It can take a direct sword strike or an arrow without a scratch, and magical attacks will lose a significant portion of their power on impact. I tested it myself. Believe me, it holds up," Liam said.


    "No offense, but can''t we just use guns?" Natasha said.


    "It will be effective against humans, for sure. But for monsters? Only head severing would guarantee that the monsters had died. But of course, on some monsters, silver bullets would be helpful," Liam said.


    "Wait. We''re up against humans too? I thought it was just monsters," Tony asked.


    "Tony, what did you think the trial was? A game world where you will fight monsters day and night? No. For the next period of time, you will have to blend into a medieval society plagued by wars, monsters, and things one can''t even imagine. And as we all know, humans are the worst," Liam said.


    "I thought the trial was some kind of Mario hopping over to save the princess," Tony admitted. Liam could only roll his eyes. He actually didn''t want to include his friends when the game world was first given to him, but then the mission came to influence the world. Since he wasn''t the protagonist anymore, he was given a separate mission.


    Influence the world, and the more influence there was, the better the evaluation by the end. It was as if the system was forcing him to ask for help. Though he would carry much less burden, it would open problems that he wasn''t ready to handle yet.


    It was after much contemplation that he was even allowing his friends to come and help.


    Liam moved on to the second bundle, unveiling sleek silver swords. Each blade gleamed in the light, the edges razor-sharp. Intricate runes ran along the flats of the blades, glowing faintly in colors that shifted from icy blue to fiery red. The hilts were simple yet elegant, designed for a perfect grip.


    "These," Liam said, lifting one of the swords, "are silver swords infused with magic. The runes enhance their sharpness and durability, and they also give the blades elemental properties. You can channel fire, ice, or lightning through the sword with a little focus."


    "I''ve gotta admit, this is a step up from your average hardware store machete. What''s the catch?"


    "The catch is to kill the monsters with these before they can kill you. Silver swords are the only thing that could actually wound them. It is also the reason why I told you to coat both of our armors in silver because it disgusts the monsters."


    "What kind of hellish trial is this, that we need silver?" Steve murmured.

 90

    "So, what''s the deal? Do I just shout ''lightning strike'' and hope for the best?" Clint had already tasted the magic of Liam so he was quite excited to try these.


    "It''s not that dramatic. Just focus on the element you want, and the blade will respond. Give it a try."


    Clint swung his sword in an arc, and a burst of flame erupted from the blade, flickering harmlessly in the air. His grin widened.


    "Okay, this is officially the coolest thing I''ve ever owned."


    "These are beautiful. But are they as durable as they look?" Natasha asked as she checked her sword.


    "They won''t break under normal circumstances," Liam assured her. "You''d have to be fighting something on the level of a Frost Giant to even put a dent in them."


    "You''ve given us a lot, Liam. Thank you." Steve thanked and so did the others. They know that these items would be necessary.


    "You''re welcome, but this isn''t just a gift. It''s preparation." Liam reminded them. Everyone nodded heads and soon wore their armors.. Even Tony wore his magical armor. After everyone was done, he then gifted them some medieval era clothes which he had custom ordered.


    Though they didn''t like the fashion at all, Liam insisted.


    "All preparations done?" Liam asked again. Everyone nodded. Clint had a small bag, sword on his hip, bow on his shoulder strapped with a quiver of arrows that Liam had provided. Natasha had the sword and also two batons on her thighs, while also two guns on her back. Steve was with his iconic shield and this time he had a sword too. If it was any other time, he would have been declared as a knight, and could definitely fight better than a knight.


    And lastly Tony was with his armor bag and sword on the hip. The logistics was carried by Liam as his system space would still work in the game.


    "Fenrir, be a good boy when I am gone." Liam petted Fenrir.


    Bark


    "I will take care of him." Pepper promised, Tony too came forward and kissed her. She knew that Tony was doing this for his friend and though it would be dangerous, Liam had done way too much for all of them. The whole team owed Liam a lot.


    "I will not say much. But I hope you come back with the colors of victory." Fury said.


    "It will be a long trial Fury. Yinsen, I am sorry but you will have to be on standby." Liam said.


    "This is the least I can do." Yinsen replied.


    "Wish us luck." Tony said as he got ready, and so did the others.


    "Have a safe journey." Pepper said.


    "Give them hell." Fury encouraged.


    Liam summoned a portal and everybody stepped in after one look around. They could hear the bark of Fenrir stop as they vanished from their world. To a world different from their own. To another plane altogether.


    As the group stepped through the swirling portal, the blinding light faded, revealing a rugged dirt path surrounded by dense woods. The air was damp and carried the scent of wet earth, while the distant calls of crows echoed ominously through the trees.


    "What is that smell?" Steve commented the moment he stepped in. They wanted to enjoy the dawn that had just cracked in, but couldn''t at all since a very bad smell assaulted their nostrils.


    "It''s the smell of the dead." Natasha said as she became instantly vigilant. "Dead human bodies."


    "You seem to recognize the smell." Tony asked.


    "I have seen my fair share when I was in Red Room." Natasha said as she had flashbacks to the time in Red Room where she was once forced to be in the same room as a morgue. It was done so that she could get accustomed to any kind of bad smell while on future missions.


    Liam looked around as he slowly drew his Vigilance, seeing that the others did it too, except Tony as he clutched his bag ready for any kind of attack. They took their first steps on the road while having eyes scanning the surroundings. The thick canopy overhead dimmed the sunlight, casting long shadows on the forest floor. Natasha took the rear, while Clint had his bow drawn, an arrow nocked and ready.


    "Not exactly the most welcoming place," Tony muttered as the smell still lingered even though they had moved.


    The uneasy quiet was soon broken by a low, guttural growl that made everyone freeze in place. From the underbrush ahead, a pack of ghouls emerged. Their hunched, feral forms moved with unsettling agility, their mottled gray skin stretched over jagged bones. Their glowing yellow eyes locked onto the group, and their snarls sent chills down Clint''s spine.


    "What the hell are those things?" he hissed, raising his bow.


    "Ghouls," Liam said. "Fast. Vicious. They hunt in packs, and they''re always hungry."


    Tony and Liam stayed back while they allowed Steve, Clint and Natasha to take the lead in this fight. They would make sure that there weren''t any sneak attacks.


    The ghouls wasted no time, lunging toward the group with inhuman speed. Steve stepped forward with his shield raised, intercepting the first ghoul with a resounding clang as its claws scraped against the vibranium. With a swift motion, he bashed the creature backward before driving his sword into its chest and then slashing it down from the inside. It let out a guttural wail before collapsing in a heap.


    Natasha was already in motion, she sidestepped a leaping ghoul, slicing through its flank with her sword before spinning to deliver a killing blow to another closing in from her left.


    Clint, positioned slightly behind them, unleashed a volley of arrows with deadly accuracy. Each arrow struck true, finding its mark in the ghouls'' heads or hearts, dropping them instantly. These arrows were normal arrows but once they were used in that super powered bow, it unleashed a magic that could kill most monsters from the inside.


    Meanwhile, Liam kept his gaze sharp, Vigilance gleaming in his hand as he scanned the tree line.

 91

    "Not bad for a warm-up," Tony muttered, his hand hovering over his magical armor bag, ready to deploy his suit if necessary. Liam and Tony were impressed by how the three people were able to systematically take down the pack.


    One ghoul broke through Steve and Natasha''s frontline, charging directly toward Liam and Tony. Liam stepped forward, his sword a blur as he sliced cleanly through the creature, his movements almost effortless. The ghoul fell in two pieces at his feet, and he flicked the blood off his blade with a sharp motion.


    "You really have lost your godhood," Tony murmured. "What kind of heartless people take away the precious gifts of my apprentice?"


    Liam just rolled his eyes. The moment he had stepped in, his eyes returned to normal, and his one hand had vanished. Another reason why Liam wanted his friends'' help was the loss of his hand. Having a single hand in this godforsaken place was a bane for his survival.


    The others had also noticed how Liam lost his hand, but none wanted to put salt on his wound. This only meant that they would need to take care of him, no matter what. But Liam wasn''t helpless either. Years of training with swords allowed him to have command over them and also because of his rings, Anwar Durthol and Laina Estel. This made his body have better stats than normal. The system had allowed him to bring his own items, so he made his rings.


    "That was... unpleasant," Clint said, lowering his bow. What really surprised everyone was that Liam actually bent down and brought out a vial. And then, to the horror and disgust of everyone, he extracted ghoul blood and the eyes of the ghoul.


    While killing them, the team didn''t bother to keep track of where they were hitting and thus were only able to extract the blood and eyes from one of the ghouls.


    "What the hell are you doing?" Clint stepped back when he saw Liam touching these dead and smelly monsters. Even Steve himself stepped back, seeing what Liam was doing.


    "Research purposes," Liam said as he put them in the system space and then proceeded to sanitize his hand. He had brought a lot of handy things that would be required.


    "You want to research their blood? Are you even capable?" Natasha straight-up asked. Though she was disgusted, she wanted to know the reason why Liam was doing that.


    "No, but there are scientists out there who could. I am sure some scientists who majored in biotechnology would love this sample. In fact, I would advise all of you to make a habit of extracting items from the monsters you kill," Liam said.


    "I ain''t touching these filthy monsters," Clint declared.


    "Never in my life," Natasha said. Steve just shrugged his shoulders, signifying he was with them on this. No amount of research or mission purpose would make him want to extract items from them.


    "Don''t look at me. Even in the name of science, I ain''t touching that," Tony lifted his arms in surrender. Liam just sighed. Though it was true that these items might be helpful, Tony was in no way touching them. While Liam was extracting the blood, the sound of hoofbeats approached from the direction they had been heading.


    Out of the morning mist, two riders emerged¡ªan older man with graying hair and a well-maintained sword strapped to his back, and a younger man with striking white hair and piercing yellow eyes. Both were clad in armor that looked worn but sturdy, as though it had seen countless battles.


    Both of them stopped, and the younger man dismounted the horse. He surveyed the scene¡ªthe ghoul corpses, the group''s weapons, and their stances. Their Witcher sense could tell that these monsters were killed by this team.


    "Not bad," he said, his voice carrying a gruff yet respectful tone. "Takes skill to handle a pack like that."


    Liam''s eyes were shining like stars when he saw the man with the gray hair. There were very few things in his life that he was very fond of, or a fan of, if the correct term was used here. And this man was the epitome of what Liam considered his star.


    Geralt of Rivia. The Butcher of Blaviken. Liam had known that he would meet them at the start of the journey; thus, seeing him wasn''t a surprise as both of their starting points would be the same since the game he had got was The Witcher 3.


    Meanwhile, the older man, still on horseback, gave a small nod of approval. Vesemir.


    "Ghouls aren''t exactly easy monsters. You handled yourselves well," Vesemir said as he looked at the swords of the men. Each of them was made of silver. One needed to know that a single silver sword would cost a normal person an entire fortune. Even an empire wouldn''t easily commission a silver sword as they were very difficult to make, and silver wasn''t exactly lying around to be taken away.


    It also needed specific blacksmiths for this. He was surprised to see all of them carrying silver swords, and Vesemir could swear that he saw some runes marked on their swords. These people weren''t normal at all. Both Vesemir and Geralt were instantly vigilant.


    But of course, both of them didn''t show it on their faces. Being a Witcher meant that their emotions had mostly been stripped away. In fact, some of the Witcher schools, like the Cat school, were worse as they had almost all humanity stripped away. The Wolf school was better in this regard, as their basic emotions were still there, though they had been dialed down by a huge degree.


    Thus, acting while being vigilant came as bread and butter to them¡ªsorry, came as porridge to them¡ªas bread and butter was a luxurious item here.


    "We do what we can. I''m Steve Rogers. And you are?" Steve came forward to introduce himself. He did so because he could feel that these two men weren''t normal to begin with.

 92

    The white-haired man hesitated for a moment before introducing himself.


    "Geralt. Of Rivia." He glanced back at his companion. "And this is Vesemir."


    "Clint Barton," Clint said. "Nice horses."


    "Natasha Romanoff," Natasha said curtly, her eyes still scanning the treeline for any remaining threats.


    "Romanoff? What kind of name or title is that?" Vesemir mumbled. He also noticed that these men seemed to have titles, which meant they weren''t low-level mercenaries. If the silver sword wasn''t proof enough, then their names having titles meant they weren''t born poor or, at least, had land in their names.


    Vesemir didn''t know that their names had titles because that was how everyone was named in their world. Poor people in old times didn''t have titles for many reasons¡ªprimarily because it wasn''t required, there was no proper education, and a single name would hardly be common since living beyond the age of 30 was already a huge matter, as death was common.


    "Tony Stark. Engineer, genius, and occasional adventurer."


    "Engineer?" Geralt asked, as he didn''t understand or know that term at all. Tony instantly got glared at by everyone present. ''This guy is going to be the death of us.''


    "Uh... a scientist. I am Liam Woodsworth. The leader of this group," Liam replied with a glee. Geralt could easily sense that this man seemed a bit overzealous. But what really surprised him was when the man introduced himself as the leader. He could easily tell that he was the youngest of the group, and he even missed a hand.


    So how was he their leader? Geralt had too many questions, but as usual, he didn''t ask. He wasn''t here to uncover the mysteries of the world but to focus on his mission: find Yennefer and Ciri.


    Geralt''s expression didn''t betray much, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.


    "You''re not locals."


    "What gave it away? The outfits or the lack of fear when a pack of these filth showed up?"


    "You don''t smell like Temeria," Geralt replied flatly. "Or any place that I have visited before. Doesn''t matter. You''re clearly capable, and this road isn''t safe. Where are you headed?"


    "We''re... still figuring that out," Liam replied. He might be a fan of The Witcher 3, but it didn''t mean he would know all the ins and outs of everything, and definitely not the map.


    "Well, if you''re heading toward any nearby town, stick close. Roads like these attract worse things than ghouls," Geralt said, finding it strange again that these people didn''t have an aim. Then why were these people out of their homes? Didn''t they know the whole place was dangerous?


    Especially during wartime. Who were these people? Initially, Geralt thought these men were witchers or sorcerers since they saw the dead bodies of ghouls, but when he closely looked at them, he could tell they were normal human beings.


    But something was very off about them: their mannerisms, their way of talking, their swords. They didn''t even know the name of the place they wanted to go. But his instincts were also telling him that these people meant no harm. Especially their leader seemed a bit too enthusiastic for his liking. Though Liam didn''t say much, his eyes said it all.


    Another reason Geralt was even talking with them was because none of them showed any hostility as any normal person would toward a cat-eyed bastard like him. So it was already a green flag in his books.


    "Where are you heading?" Natasha asked.


    "We are following a trail of someone," Geralt replied. Since these people weren''t going to reveal many secrets, he wouldn''t either.


    "Oh... We are new here. Can you please lead us to the nearest place? As you can see, we don''t even have horses," Liam said. Geralt hesitated a bit before nodding that they could follow them.


    The other team members were a bit confused, as they didn''t see any reason to follow him, but Liam was their leader here, and they were his glorified guards.


    The group followed Geralt and Vesemir down the winding dirt path. The whole place reeked of blood, and what really took the trophy was several men hanging from the trees by their necks. One could see that it had been some days since these people had been hung, as the smell was far from pleasant.


    "We need to buy horses. Or I''m bringing my toys out," Tony declared.


    "Tony, you don''t want to be a bone in the throat. If you do something very unusual, they''ll probably burn you. And I''m sure the Church will be the first to come for your head," Barton reminded. "Wait, there are churches here, right?"


    "Yeah, and they''re notorious too," Liam answered.


    "The war has been brutal in these lands." Vesemir didn''t understand what Tony meant by toys, but he joined the conversation regardless. His friend wasn''t much of a talker anyway. Steve was curious about the war and asked, and Vesemir replied how this place, Temeria, was invaded by Nilfgaard, and also the reason why there were so many ghouls, as they fed on dead beings.


    But their discussion was cut short once they neared the riverbank. The peaceful sound of flowing water was interrupted by the shrill, panicked cries of a merchant. Ahead, a small wooden cart lay tipped on its side, its single remaining horse struggling desperately to free itself from the harness.


    A massive griffin loomed over the scene, its razor-sharp talons tearing into the lifeless body of the other horse. The merchant cowered behind the cart, clutching a short blade that trembled in his hands.


    "Helping?" Vesemir asked, as unlike himself, Geralt was more empathetic when it came to life.


    "Stay here," Geralt said firmly, drawing his steel sword. His medallion buzzed faintly against his chest. But just as he was about to step into the fray, Liam reached out and gripped his shoulder.


    "Wait."


    Geralt turned his head sharply, his expression one of irritation and mild confusion.


    "What are you doing? That thing won''t wait for an invitation."

 93

    The griffin let out a bone-chilling screech mid-air as it went for the horse again. Its golden eyes locked onto its next meal, and it lunged forward, beak aimed for the trapped animal for the last time before taking it away.


    But before it could strike, Rogers dashed forward, shield raised. The griffin''s powerful beak collided with the vibranium shield in a deafening clang. Steve gritted his teeth, the sheer force of the attack driving him back several feet, his boots carving grooves in the dirt. But he held firm, standing as a wall between the beast and the helpless horse.


    "What the hell!" Geralt hissed under his breath. He had expected the shield to break into pieces before its bearer was ravaged to the ground. He had never seen a shield capable of stopping an attack of that magnitude, and even if one existed, he had never seen a human being take on a griffin and land in a tussle.


    Even for himself, it would be quite difficult. And he was sure that this person wasn''t a Witcher. All of them here might be well-built, but they were definitely not Witchers. So who are these people? New experiments from some distant land sorcerers? But they seemed to have intact emotions.


    What the hell was going on? Even Vesemir''s mutant eyes were wide open in shock as he saw that.


    "Barton, now!" Steve shouted.


    Clint Barton didn''t need to be told twice. He nocked an arrow and let it fly. The projectile struck the griffin square in the wing joint, eliciting an enraged screech as the beast stumbled sideways. Natasha Romanoff seized the opening, sprinting forward with Steve to press the attack.


    Natasha moved like a shadow, her sword flashing as she slashed at the griffin''s side, drawing blood. Steve followed up with a powerful swing of his shield, landing a solid blow to its flank. The griffin roared and retaliated, its talons swiping dangerously close to Natasha. She leapt back just in time, the beast''s claws gouging deep furrows into the ground where she had stood.


    But the side talon of the beast managed to scratch her arm and deliver a wound. Mind you, she was already wearing armor, and even then, the griffin was able to inflict injury. This wasn''t a game where one could eat chicken while fighting and heal himself. This was the real world. One small mistake, and anyone would be dead. Liam gripped his sword when she got hurt.


    Even Geralt was ready to step in, but Liam shook his head again. Her pride would be hurt if he helped her.


    Meanwhile, the griffin''s tail whipped around, catching Steve in the ribs and sending him sprawling. Natasha lunged in again, aiming for the beast''s exposed neck, but the griffin twisted with surprising agility, forcing her to retreat. Though she was wounded, it didn''t mean she couldn''t fight. It flapped its massive wings, kicking up a cloud of dust as it prepared to take to the skies.


    "No, you don''t!" Clint muttered, drawing another arrow. His shot hit true, striking the griffin''s shoulder and forcing it to lose altitude just as it started to lift off. The beast crashed back to the ground, roaring in frustration.


    Before it could recover, Tony Stark stepped forward. Tony had approached the battlefield stealthily, and one could see him wearing red gauntlets that extended to his shoulders. If one closely observed those gauntlets, one could see small lightning sparks emanating from the sides.


    The griffin was writhing in pain, but Tony then appeared at the side.


    "Let''s see how you like a little voltage therapy!" Tony quipped as he unleashed a surge of electricity into the griffin. The beast convulsed, letting out a guttural cry as it fell to the ground, temporarily stunned.


    "Barton, finish it!" Natasha called out.


    Clint grabbed a handful of specialized arrows fitted with ropes. He fired one after another, embedding the arrows deep into the griffin''s flesh. The ropes unraveled and anchored themselves into the ground with secondary arrows, effectively pinning the massive beast in place.


    He did this from both sides of the beast. The griffin thrashed and screeched, trying to break free, but the ropes held firm. Its wings beat against the earth, but it was clear the fight had been taken out of it.


    Geralt and Vesemir stood a few paces back, watching the entire spectacle with wide eyes.


    "That''s... not how I would''ve handled it," Geralt muttered, as he had never seen anyone capture a beast that easily. No doubt being rich helped them in this regard, as he could easily tell that the bow held immense magic, and even the red gauntlets Tony wore had magic that was unknown to him.


    But one couldn''t deny they had made light work of such a huge monster. Geralt would have been able to take it down, but it would have taken time. The power of having a specialized team was also very apparent here.


    "I''ll give them this¡ªthey''re efficient. Loud, reckless, and chaotic... but efficient." Vesemir gave his evaluation.


    "And also mysterious," Geralt added by the end, his gaze lingering on Liam and his team as they regrouped. They fought like they''d done this a hundred times before, but their techniques, their tools, their coordination¡ªit was all unlike anything he''d ever seen.


    "Told you they could handle it." Liam approached Geralt, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    "You''ve got an unusual way of doing things... but it worked." Geralt smirked faintly.


    "Now what? Do we just leave it here?" Natasha wiped her sword clean.


    "We can have a democracy here. We can kill it, or we can take it home for research," Liam suggested. This made Tony and Barton excited, while the faces of Steve and Natasha weren''t so much. All of them could understand what Liam meant, but they weren''t sure if what he suggested would be safe.


    The griffin howled again in pain, only to be electrocuted by Tony to shut it up.

 94

    "Who votes in favor of taking it back?" Liam asked, raising his own hand. Barton and Tony promptly followed suit, their hands shooting up without hesitation. There was no need to formally vote against it¡ªSteve and Natasha''s disapproving expressions said it all. Neither of them wanted to haul a half-dead monster back.


    Seeing no other way forward, Steve decided to let the matter go. Instead, he turned his attention to the merchant with the bowl-cut hair, who was still visibly shaken from the whole ordeal. The man looked startled but grateful as Steve began helping him repair the badly damaged carriage.


    As Steve focused on the shaken merchant, Liam turned back to the griffin, which let out another weak screech. Its golden eyes flickered with fury but lacked the strength to act. Before Liam could move, Vesemir stepped forward.


    "I would like to object, if you allow me," Vesemir said gruffly. "Taking this creature back alive... that''s a reckless idea, even for you lot. But there''s something worth considering here."


    "And what would that be?" Liam asked. He was sure that they didn''t have any idea of what he was capable of, so he allowed their ignorance.


    "A live specimen is rare¡ªunheard of, actually. There could be differences in anatomy or behavior we''ve never seen before. I''d like to study parts of it while it''s still alive. That kind of knowledge could be invaluable in dealing with its kind in the future," Vesemir said.


    "Study it?" Tony interjected. "What are we talking here¡ªblood samples, feathers, talons? uh, no offense, but you sure you''re up for this, Gramps?"


    "We''ve been at this longer than you''ve been alive, boy. Don''t mistake experience for frailty." Vesemir narrowed his eyes


    "Right," Tony said, crossing his arms. "That''s a lot of words for ''yes.''"


    "You don''t recognize us?" Geralt came forward and asked.


    "Should we?" Steve asked in return.


    "They''re witchers," Liam interjected before the situation could escalate. "They hunt monsters for a living. And they''re very good at it."


    "You mean mages, sorcerers?" Natasha asked in curiosity.


    "Not quite," Liam explained. "Witchers do know some magic, but it''s limited. Their main claim to fame is monster hunting. Enhanced strength, speed, and reflexes¡ªthey''re the real deal."


    "Wait, wait, wait." Tony held up a hand. "So, you''re telling me we''ve got monster-slaying knights with magic? And no one thought to give us a heads-up? Seriously, Liam, you couldn''t throw that in the briefing?"


    "Well, what was the surprise if I told you everything." Liam smirked.


    "Sorry if we came off... uninformed. We didn''t mean any offense." Steve came forward and apologized.


    "Sorry?!" Geralt was taken aback. He had never heard such words from a normal human before. All they had received in their life was scorn and expletives. Sorry was never in anyone''s dictionary.


    "Umm... is there a problem?" Steve asked as he noticed Geralt and Vesemir were a bit surprised by Tony''s words.


    "It means people usually call us freaks, monsters, and worse. Never ''sir'' or ''thank you.''" Vesemir replied.


    "Wait¡ªseriously?" Barton looked genuinely surprised. "But you''re saving lives, right? Shouldn''t people be, I don''t know, grateful?"


    "They''re grateful until they''re not," Geralt replied, "Fear''s a powerful thing. Ignorance even more so."


    "Historically, witchers have not been liked by the general public. Witchers have long lives, enhanced senses, and are great swordsmen. But there is a downside too¡ªmainly the loss of emotions and being unable to have children of their own. Once, monsters ran rampant, but through passage of time the witchers and the sorcerers had annihilated many of the monsters. Thus, over time, their population went down, and people, being the ignorant beings that they are, started hating witchers and sorcerers. Of course, witchers themselves don''t have a good reputation, as many of them have involved themselves in politics and committed quite a number of crimes. The story is more complicated, but this is the general gist," Liam said.


    The last words made the merchant hang his head in shame.


    "So, uh... thanks for doing what you do. And sorry for being a little¡ª" Tony said.


    "Annoying?" Natasha suggested with a smirk.


    "I was gonna say ''direct,'' but sure, let''s go with that," Tony shot back.


    "Apology accepted." Geralt''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Steve, Natasha, Barton, and Tony gave Liam more glares than they ever could in their lifetime. They felt embarrassed. No wonder Liam seemed to have puppy dog eyes when he saw Geralt. He knew who they were from the beginning, and it also explained the cat-like eyes of these two men.


    The team thought that these two were some kind of hybrids. Since Liam had said this would be a magical trial, everyone was keeping their minds open.


    "Coming back to the griffin, I want to examine this monster and take whatever is required, if you allow me to. I can offer you orens in exchange for allowing me to harvest what I need. Fair trade, wouldn''t you say?" Vesemir said, bringing back the topic as the beast seemed to be waking up, only to be electrocuted by Tony again. He was a little dumbfounded by the ignorance of these people, but one couldn''t deny their teamwork and strength.


    "Keep your orens, old man. We don''t need your money," Liam said. "But you and Geralt? You''d owe me a favor. Something I can call in when I need it."


    Vesemir frowned, considering the offer. Geralt, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up.


    "A favor, huh? You''re playing the long game, aren''t you? Especially when your group doesn''t even know about monsters."


    "They might not, but I know some of the secrets around. As you know, knowledge is power," Liam smirked.


    After a moment of silence, Vesemir gave a curt nod.


    "Fine. You''ve got yourself a deal. But don''t expect us to agree lightly when you come to collect. We won''t get involved in killing human beings or give you any kind of political powers," Vesemir said.


    "If we want to kill humans, we are probably more efficient than you. No, I am sure that we are more efficient than you or both of you together," Liam spoke with pride. For the simple fact that they carried guns. This made both Vesemir and Geralt do a double take but didn''t refute.


    Actions always spoke louder than words.

 95

    Vesemir wasted no time. With Geralt''s help, he carefully began extracting samples¡ªvenom from the griffin''s talons, a few feathers, and even some blood. The griffin snarled weakly but was too exhausted to put up much of a fight. Tony and Barton watched with interest, though Natasha kept her distance.


    In the end, Vesemir took out his silver sword and cut the underbelly of the monster. This was enough to kill it while blood came out like a fountain. It screamed in pain, but Vesemir wasn''t done as he went for the heart and the liver of the monster. This horrible scene made Barton look away while the other three didn''t have comfortable looks on their faces.


    The griffin didn''t last long after that and died. Vesemir then proceeded cut of the head of the monster and give it to Tony.


    "You should be able to earn some money and get the goodwill of the people if you deliver it to a garrison or just parade around. From the looks of it, you don''t need money but one can''t ever deny the goodwill of the people around." Vesemir said.


    Tony was disgusted but Liam promptly came forward and took the griffin''s head and kept it inside his space. Vesemir had seen Liam with this space magic before, but seeing him making the head disappear made him more surprised. He had never seen someone using space magic to keep things before.


    Wait there was someone. Ciri, with her space and time magic. Does he know about her? Vesemir looked at Geralt and he too was thinking the same thing, but they couldn''t just ask him directly. If they ask him, Liam might feel he was being accused of kidnapping her or take it the wrong way. Both of them still didn''t understand what was up with this group, and didn''t want to antagonize the group.


    Yennefer was more important at the moment. Geralt turned to the merchant.


    "You said you were heading somewhere."


    "Y-Yes, that''s right. I was going to the next town to sell my vegetables but I can''t anymore." The merchant replied.


    "Hmm.. I''m looking for someone," Geralt continued, "A sorceress. Powerful, likely traveling alone. Have you seen or heard of anyone like that passing through? Even a rumor?"


    The merchant rubbed the back of his neck, frowning as he considered the question.


    "Can''t say I have. We don''t get many travelers these days, not with the war and all. But... if anyone knows something, it''d be the innkeeper at the White Orchard Inn. She''s always got her ear to the ground."


    "The innkeeper, then. Thanks." Geralt nodded slightly.


    "What''s this about? You''re looking for someone specific, lover?" Tony teased.


    "It''s personal," Geralt said bluntly, his tone making it clear he wouldn''t elaborate.


    "White Orchard sounds like a good place to regroup. From the sound of it, it''s a proper village. Maybe we can get some horses there and then figure out our next steps." Steve said, trying to change the topic.


    "Not a bad idea. It''s not far from here." Vesemir suggested. Everyone looked at Liam, and gave the green signal. The merchant seemed to want to give some orens to Steve for saving him but he refused. Money wasn''t their problem.


    "Well, I guess it''s settled, then. Road trip to White Orchard. Hopefully, it''s not as bleak as it sounds." Tony said, as he missed just flying around.


    "Don''t get your hopes up," Vesemir muttered. The group set off toward White Orchard. The road to the village was quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant bird calls breaking the silence. The griffin''s absence had left the area eerily calm, though the group welcomed the reprieve.


    The group reached White Orchard town. The cobblestone streets were quiet, and a few villagers moved about, tending to their evening tasks. But as Geralt and Vesemir walked through the heart of the settlement, it became apparent that their presence wasn''t exactly welcomed.


    Villagers stopped in their tracks, openly staring at the two witchers with looks ranging from fear to disdain.


    "Bloody mutants, ain''t they?" someone muttered under their breath.


    "Bringin'' trouble, no doubt," said another.


    A woman hurriedly pulled her child closer as Vesemir passed, and a group of men seated near a small cart exchanged uneasy glances.


    The rest of the group¡ªTony, Steve, Natasha, and Liam¡ªcaught the stares but didn''t comment, though Tony raised an eyebrow at one particularly nasty glare.


    "They always this friendly?" he asked Geralt in a low voice.


    "More or less," Geralt replied flatly.


    Even inside the White Orchard Inn, the reception didn''t improve much. Conversations hushed the moment the witchers stepped through the door, and patrons turned to glance at them with wary eyes. Some even moved a little farther away, as though proximity to the two might bring some kind of curse.


    The innkeeper, however, didn''t seem fazed, though her initial glance at the witchers lingered just a second too long before she turned to greet the group.


    "Welcome," she said simply.


    "Food for all of us," Vesemir said making the innkeeper blink.


    "Aye, generous sorts, ye are. Won''t see me complainin''."


    "Fair payment for the trouble," Vesemir replied with a smirk. "We''ve been taking advantage of our companions here, and they''ve earned a proper meal."


    As she nodded and disappeared into the kitchen, the group moved to an empty table. The other patrons continued to steal furtive glances at the witchers, though no one dared approach or say anything outright.


    Tony leaned over to Steve, his voice low.


    "I get that Geralt and Vesemir are a little... intense, but the stares? Feels like we just walked into the middle of a bad western fantasy."


    "We are in a western fantasy." Barton corrected them. Those two weren''t the only ones who were getting stares. Their group was receiving end of it too. Especially at their gears. One could easily tell that they were rich, and this place which had been ravaged by the recent war and famine, the group was a walking gold.


    Meanwhile, Liam walked up to the innkeeper.

 96

    He waited until she brought out steaming bowls of stew and bread before speaking up.


    "We''re going to need horses. Four of them. And we''re willing to pay well if you can get them quickly."


    The innkeeper raised an eyebrow at the request.


    "Horses, ye say? Aye. Might know someone who can help, but it''ll cost ye."


    "We''ll make it worth your while," Liam replied.


    "Alright. I''ll see what I can do. Might take till mornin'', though," the innkeeper said.


    "I want it by evening," Liam stressed this time. The innkeeper was silent for a second and then nodded her head.


    Despite the food and warmth of the fire, the tension in the room never fully eased. The villagers and patrons continued to cast wary glances at the witchers. Geralt, as usual, seemed completely unfazed, while Vesemir''s expression remained as unreadable as stone.


    "One customer says Yennefer was here. She went to the Nilfgaardian garrison outside the village. That''s where I''ll head next."


    "While you do so, I noticed a blacksmith nearby. I want to go and repair my armor a bit," Vesemir said.


    "We will not receive our horses early, and I need to change my money into local currency," Liam said.


    "How do you want to do that?" Vesemir asked.


    "Convert my gold into orens," Liam replied.


    "You didn''t have orens all this time?" Vesemir asked as he got the hint from Liam. The whole group shook their heads in unison.


    "And then have the guts to refuse my orens. You folks are funny," Geralt said with the most deadpan face possible. The group started to realize what it really meant for someone not having emotions. It was very hard to gauge if Geralt was finding their situation funny or annoying.


    "Let''s get to that blacksmith," Liam said. "I''m curious to see how good his work is."


    "And maybe he can do something about these dents in my armor. Lead the way," Vesemir said. Liam didn''t bother to finish the food as it wasn''t that great, to be honest, and was very unpalatable. Only Natasha and Steve looked fine eating that food.


    Tony actually pushed away the bowl, and Barton, after one try, refused to eat anymore. Geralt and Vesemir had noticed and were by now sure that these people were rich. But it also didn''t make sense. If they were rich, how could they fight against a monster without any fear in their eyes? And also have a strong body.


    The two stepped out of the inn, still under the wary eyes of the villagers. The blacksmith''s forge was modest but well-kept, with a few swords and horseshoes on display. The shop looked half-burnt down, but his workshop looked intact. A stout dwarf with a bushy beard and sharp eyes could be seen wiping his hands on a dirty apron.


    "Who''s there? State yer business!" the dwarf barked.


    "We''re here for some repairs, and to exchange some gold," Vesemir spoke the last words in a very hushed tone. He didn''t want any trouble. The dwarf''s eyes immediately narrowed on Vesemir''s silver sword, then shifted to Liam, his gaze lingering.


    "Huh. That ain''t just any armor you''re wearin'' under there, is it, lad?" the dwarf asked, nodding toward the faint glint of metal visible beneath Liam''s attire. "What''re ye hidin''?"


    "You''ve got a sharp eye." Liam raised an eyebrow.


    He unclasped his cloak and pulled back the edge of his shirt to reveal more of the intricate plating beneath. The craftsmanship was unlike anything the dwarf had seen before¡ªsleek, angular, and adorned with strange, glowing runes.


    "By Mahakam''s anvil... I''ve never seen anything like it. What''re those markings? They ain''t dwarven, that''s for sure. Nor elven. Lad, where did you learn to craft somethin'' like this?"


    Liam took out his sword next, presenting it to the dwarf. The blade shimmered unnaturally, the same runes etched along its length. The dwarf took a cautious step closer, almost reverently, before reaching out to inspect it.


    "Careful," Vesemir warned. "That''s not your run-of-the-mill steel." He could hear the faint vibration of his medallion. It showed how powerful that sword was.


    "Aye, I figured as much. This... This ain''t just smithin''. It''s bloody magic! But not magic I''ve ever seen." The dwarf looked up at Liam. "What''re ye playin'' at, lad? This kind o'' work doesn''t just come from nowhere."


    "It''s... a long story," Liam replied vaguely. "And not one I intend to share."


    "Even I don''t recognize these runes, and I''ve seen my fair share of magical weapons. You''re saying they''re completely foreign to you too?" Vesemir asked.


    "Aye," Willis confirmed.


    "Foreign and powerful. Whoever made this¡ªand I''ll take ye at yer word it''s yer work, lad¡ªthey had knowledge far beyond what anyone around here could hope to match."


    "I appreciate the praise. But I didn''t come here just to show off. I need some orens. I hope you''ve got some," Liam said as he brought hacksilver coins and placed them on the table. Both Vesemir and the dwarf looked at the coins that Liam had just placed.


    "I have never seen that kind of coin in my life," Vesemir said.


    "What are these?" the dwarf asked.


    "This is hacksilver. It contains about 80% silver, so you can make the judgment. I hope Master Vesemir would see that I am compensated. Of course, you can keep 10% of the commission," Liam said. The eyes of the dwarf shone as he started to calculate, and so did Vesemir.


    Gold and silver were very rare in these lands. And silver, for Vesemir, was very important as this fueled their swords, and swords were the lifelines of witchers.


    "I don''t have the required orens to give you back, but can ya give me three hours to gatha'' them?" the dwarf said.


    "Until then, we will be here, so that you don''t cheat us," Vesemir said. The dwarves were known to be straightforward and not cunning like humans, so they could be trusted, and even if this blacksmith tried something funny, Liam wouldn''t mind showing his prowess.

 97

    Meanwhile, Geralt approached the Nilfgaardian garrison just outside the village.


    "State your business," the guard soldier demanded.


    "I''m here for information," Geralt said curtly. "I was told your commander might know something about a woman I''m looking for. A sorceress."


    "Sorceress?" The soldier hesitated, then nodded. "Wait here. I''ll inform the commander."


    Geralt went in but came back with a gloomy look.


    "Roach... I think we will have to owe those mysterious people again," Geralt sighed as he petted his favorite horse.


    Liam and Vesemir were at the workshop of the blacksmith as he repaired the armor when Geralt walked in. His face didn''t look good at all. He spoke of what the garrison commander had said. In order to get the information about Yennefer, he would need to kill the griffin and bring back proof.


    "Can''t they just go and check the dead griffin?" Vesemir asked as he, too, was angry now.


    "They are lazy asses who refuse to move," Geralt said. Though he wasn''t able to show it, Liam was sure that Geralt was very angry at the moment.


    "That''s easy enough. I don''t need it anymore." With a wave of his hand, the griffin''s head materialized from his storage. "Let''s get this over with."


    "But... your group was the one to take it down, and we have already taken advantage of it. We can''t ask for more."


    "Well, you can do that by owing us one more favor," Liam said as he pushed the griffin''s head away. Geralt didn''t know what he should say here but accepted it.


    Vesemir also looked a bit guilty, if at all it was possible for a witcher to show.


    "Thank you," Geralt said, and then rode off.


    "Why are you being good to us?" Vesemir finally asked. It didn''t take a genius to know that Liam had been good to them since they had met. He didn''t show any hostility and rather a sense of adoration that Vesemir didn''t even see in his own students before they became witchers. It was a unique feeling to him, and also the fact that they now owed Liam.


    "I have my reasons. You will know soon. Don''t worry, it has got nothing to do with something dangerous or some kind of assassination plot, as I have said before. For now, all I can say is I am after knowledge, and you two are the best individuals at the moment if I want to acquire some," Liam replied.


    "Knowledge? Hmm," Vesemir didn''t know what he exactly meant by that. It was true that they did hold some knowledge as their school was quite old, but their school had almost been destroyed in the last raid, so very little was left in terms of knowledge.


    By the time evening fell, the group had gathered back at the White Orchard Inn. Geralt returned first, leading Roach. Vesemir and Liam had returned just a short while earlier. Liam now carried a pouch full of coins¡ª6,000 orens, to be exact.


    The blacksmith, Willis, had been thoroughly impressed by Liam''s craftsmanship and the runes on his sword, but he was equally baffled, unable to decipher their origins or purpose. Even Vesemir, with his centuries of experience, had no answers. Nevertheless, Liam had managed to convert his hacksilver (got from God of War


    . He had already cleared with the system as this item was inconsequential or, as the system had put it: "I can''t be too harsh to the host") into orens, ensuring the group wouldn''t have to rely on Geralt and Vesemir''s already thin finances.


    As the group sat around the table, Geralt dropped into the seat beside Vesemir and let out a long sigh.


    "Yennefer''s in Vizima," he announced, cutting straight to the point. "The griffin''s head was all he needed to loosen his tongue. But now we know for certain. She''s in Vizima. We should get moving."


    "Good timing. The innkeeper just informed me the horses have arrived. They''re ready and waiting outside," Liam said.


    Steve, Barton, and Natasha, who had been quietly listening, exchanged glances. Tony, sipping from a mug of ale¡ªthe only thing he liked here¡ªset it down with a smirk.


    "And here I was starting to think this was going to turn into a long-term stay. Let''s saddle up, then."


    "If you''re coming to Vizima, I won''t stop you. But understand that this is personal. Once we''re there, I''ll take care of my business, and you''ll take care of yours," Geralt said, as he kind of guessed that Liam would go with them. This group seemed to be on some aimless adventure for some arbitrary reason, and now that he owed them a lot, he would have refused if not for the fact he knew this group was powerful too.


    "Understood," Liam said, standing as well. "But let''s not forget¡ªyou owe us a bit more now. Consider this favor repayment for one of the many."


    Geralt gave him a sharp look but said nothing, nodding in acknowledgment.


    The group exited the inn, the evening air crisp and cool. Four sturdy horses were tied to a post outside, their coats brushed and their saddles well-fitted. But they weren''t the only ones outside. Five men that they had seen in the inn before were waiting for them.


    The five men blocked the path to the horses, their faces hard and weathered. They looked like locals¡ªlaborers or farmhands. But their expressions were twisted with malice and greed. One of them, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard, stepped forward. He carried a hefty wooden club in one hand, which he tapped against his palm menacingly.


    "Well, well," he sneered, his voice low and gravelly. "A pack o'' freaks an'' their friends, all travelin'' together. Must be our lucky day, boys."


    "Move aside," Geralt said flatly. "We don''t have time for this."


    "Oh, ye''ve time, freak. Plenty o'' time. Look at ye, dressed fine an'' ridin'' high. That bag ye carry looks heavy, eh?" He pointed at Tony. "Hand it over, or mayhap we lighten yer load by takin'' it ourselves."

 98

    "There''s no need for violence. We can talk this out¡ª" Steve came forward to calm the situation.


    Before he could finish, the bearded man swung his club at Steve, aiming for his head. Steve reacted instinctively, raising his shield in a swift motion to block the blow. The impact rang through the air, and the club bounced off with a loud clang.


    Steve pushed forward with his shield, forcing the man to stumble back.


    "You don''t want to do this."


    The other men shifted uneasily but didn''t back down. Another stepped forward, drawing a rusty dagger from his belt.


    "Talk, is it? Nay, we''ll see how ye talk when yer guts spill like hogs at the slaughter."


    "I was hoping for a quiet departure. But I suppose even simpletons need to learn the hard way." Tony sighed. The witchers had already brought out their swords as they realized the situation wouldn''t end well.


    "For all the big talks of calling them freaks and us friends of freaks... You surely are dumb. You know well that these two are known to hunt monsters. Monsters that could give one nightmares, but you insist and dream that you can kill us. And that too, together. I don''t understand where you all get the guts from." Liam said.


    The men exchanged uneasy glances, but the leader spat on the ground and barked,


    "They''re naught but braggarts! Take ''em, lads!"


    "Natasha... Finish them." Liam said. What followed next were five suppressed shots that the witchers heard. The loud thud of bodies hitting the dirt was all that followed Natasha''s swift response. The five men, who had been readying themselves for an attack, crumpled to the ground one by one, blood pooling beneath their heads.


    "They wanted to see guts spill, didn''t they?" Natasha shrugged.


    Geralt and Vesemir stood frozen. Both witchers stared at the fallen men, their eyes darting from the modified pistol in Natasha''s hand to the lifeless bodies on the ground. There were no signs of an obvious attack¡ªno visible cuts or slashes¡ªjust lethal precision. The blood oozing from the heads of the men was the only evidence.


    "What... What in the name of Melitele was that?" Vesemir finally managed.


    "Some kind of magic," Geralt muttered. "But no signs of a spell being cast. No gestures, no incantations..."


    "It''s not magic," Natasha replied. "Just technology. A gun."


    "A gun?" Geralt repeated. "It moves faster than the eye can see. No sword, no bow, no crossbow... How did you kill them so quickly?"


    "It''s a projectile weapon," Liam explained. "It fires small pieces of metal¡ªbullets¡ªat high speeds, propelled by an explosive force. It''s fast, accurate, and deadly."


    Geralt sheathed his sword. He and Vesemir now had a slight unease. If they didn''t take the group very seriously before, they definitely were now.


    "I told you. We are better than anyone when it comes to assassinations." Liam said.


    "Efficient, yes. But it''s... unnatural. No effort. Just death."


    "Unnatural or not, it''s effective. But the way it works... It''s almost too efficient. Almost... monstrous." Vesemir said.


    "Funny," Natasha replied. "That''s the first time I''ve been called a monster by a witcher."


    "We should move. The longer we linger here, the more attention this will attract." Steve said as he saw that the innkeeper had hidden herself. She was now afraid of them. He felt conflicted a bit, as they had to take the lives of these men. These men were stressed from the war, drunk after a day long, and thus they projected their fear onto them.


    He had been in war before and thus had a general idea of what war does to people around. And this place was more dangerous than he had seen during World War 2.


    Suddenly, the sound of hooves echoed in the distance, growing louder as a group of riders approached. Soon, men in black armor led by a woman wearing a fine black dress appeared and stopped near them.


    It was a familiar figure: Yennefer of Vengerberg. Her black-and-white attire was spotless, and Liam''s heart started racing a bit faster. Those who have played The Witcher know how beautiful she was, along with Triss, and seeing her in reality made Liam almost forget about breathing. Just like Geralt, he was a great fan of her. Though she was quite the feisty one, unlike Triss, she was one of a kind.


    "Well, this is quite the spectacle," she said dryly. She looked at the dead bodies on the ground. She gave a deep look and realized that they were not killed by swords but rather some kind of attack on their heads, which didn''t look like magic either. She also noticed the group that seemed to be with Geralt. "Leave it to you, Geralt, to find trouble even in the most mundane of places."


    "Yen? What are you doing here? And why the Nilfgaardian escort? I thought you were in Vizima," Geralt asked as he was a bit surprised by seeing the escort and also a bit annoyed. He knew who the King was, and he wasn''t a big fan of his.


    "It was a day''s ride away from here, so when I got the news that you were here, I brought news. His Imperial Majesty, Emhyr var Emreis, the White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of His Enemies, has requested an audience with you."


    "What does Emhyr want with me?" Geralt''s expression hardened.


    "You know very well why he wants to meet you. And honestly speaking, I am tired of running around alone. He has promised us resources but on the condition that you meet him," Yennefer said, and one could easily see her tired expression. She looked a bit exhausted too from the journey she undertook today.


    "And what if we decline this ''request''?" Geralt said. He didn''t want to exclude his new friends either.


    "Then I imagine things will get very unpleasant very quickly. Nilfgaard doesn''t take kindly to refusals, and neither does Emhyr. You''d do well not to test his patience," Yennefer said.


    "You have one hell of a lover," Barton whispered to him.

 99

    "Tony, I didn''t know you can ride a horse so smoothly," Liam said. Among them, Tony was the only one who was brought up in a greenhouse, while the rest had their fair share of tough jobs. Barton was brought up on a ranch, and even now, he lived on a huge ranch. Natasha and Steve had their horse training too.


    "We had a ranch in one of my father''s summer houses. So, of course, I had my run with them," Tony smirked.


    The group rode in silence for the most part, the clopping of horse hooves echoing against the quiet, darkened road. The night sky was cloudless, stars stretching like scattered diamonds above.


    The Nilfgaardian escort rode in formation, flanking Yennefer, who led the way. Geralt stayed near the front, Vesemir and Steve close behind, while Natasha, Barton, and Liam rode farther back.


    There wasn''t any danger, and though there were some ghouls and alghouls, the group avoided them and just made their horses run faster. But what was supposed to go wrong, did go wrong. The first signs of danger came with the cold. It swept through the forest they were passing by suddenly. Frost began forming along the edges of their path, glittering eerily under the starlight. The riders began shifting uneasily, gripping their reins tighter.


    "Faster! Ride faster, now!" Yennefer yelled at the top of her lungs while looking back.


    "What''s happening?" Steve called, glancing back as a chill ran down his spine.


    "No time to explain!" Yennefer snapped.


    Her eyes glowed faintly as she began murmuring incantations under her breath, a faint magical shield forming over her and her horse.


    Then came the sound¡ªa bone-chilling, echoing howl that sent shivers down everyone''s spine. Barton twisted in his saddle to see what it was and froze. Emerging from the woods behind them were ghostly figures mounted on skeletal steeds, their armor shimmering with frost.


    The Riders of the Wild Hunt.


    Liam recognized them immediately. He was both fearful and happy. He was fearful of their power but happy that they had shown up. His future plans included them.


    "They''re catching up!" Barton shouted, knocking an arrow and readying his bow.


    "I said, ride!" Yennefer screamed. Her hands were glowing with a bright violet hue as she unleashed a warding spell behind them. The barrier erupted, briefly slowing the spectral riders, but they pressed on, their speed unnaturally swift.


    One rider raised a frost-tipped spear and hurled it toward the group. Yennefer spun around, her eyes glowing brightly as she raised her hand. The spear shattered against a magical barrier, sending shards of ice flying harmlessly around them. She turned back, her voice laced with urgency.


    "They''re targeting us! Keep moving¡ªI''ll hold them off as long as I can!"


    But the frost magic was overwhelming. One spectral rider sent a blast of icy energy toward them. Yennefer countered, a dome of protective magic sparking to life around the group, but the force of the attack was enough to disrupt their formation.


    All the horses were now panicking, and everyone was having a tough time controlling them. Tony''s horse reared back, panicked, and he lost his grip. With a shout, he was thrown from the saddle, hitting the frozen ground hard.


    "Tony!" Natasha shouted, pulling her horse up.


    "Go! Get out of here!" he yelled. "I''ll catch up! Just go!"


    The frost from the Wild Hunt began creeping toward him. The riders barely paid him any mind, confident their chilling presence would finish him off. But Tony smirked, tapping his backpack as he spoke to it in a low voice.


    "Alright. Time for the cavalry."


    The pack unfolded, wrapping around his body in a series of interlocking plates. In seconds, Tony was suited up in his custom javelin. The ghostly riders turned back in confusion as they heard some sounds coming from behind.


    Tony extended both arms, and crackling flames began swirling in his palms. With a roar, he thrust his hands forward, unleashing a massive ball of fire that streaked through the air like a meteor. It exploded in the midst of the Wild Hunt riders, scattering them and forcing the spectral mounts to rear back.


    "I''ve got your frost problem right here," Tony muttered, launching another barrage of fiery attacks. This time, he aimed directly at the riders closing in on Yennefer and the group. The flames consumed the frosty air, breaking the icy aura that surrounded them.


    And seeing the opening, Yennefer sent a lightning attack at the Wild Hunt, which disrupted the spectral horses and sent them tumbling down.


    "Tony, come back," Liam shouted. Tony, who was ready to teach these ghostly guys a lesson, finally reined himself in and flew towards them. His horse was already done for.


    "Bye-bye horsey... You were a good horsey," Tony mumbled. [A/N: IYKYK]


    Tony hovered over them as they rode through the night. Except for the group, everyone was dumbfounded seeing Tony inside what looked like a metal armor and flying on them. Everyone had too many questions, but the fear of the Hunt made them ride in the night like prisoners on the run.


    "You never told me that he is a Sorcerer. An armored Sorcerer," Vesemir said.


    "Hehe... Why, you saw how he was able to electrocute the griffin," Liam said.


    "Yes... But I thought it was some kind of enchanted equipment," Vesemir admitted.


    Like Vesemir, Geralt was also surprised. But the person who was the most surprised was Yennefer herself. During the Thanedd Coup, almost all of the Sorcerers from the Brotherhood were killed, and those who remained¡ªwhich she didn''t think were more than a couple¡ªshe had knowledge about them.


    So, who was this man with such an eccentric personality that she had never heard of before? Another thing that surprised her was that she couldn''t sense any kind of mana flowing through his body, and the magic that Tony unleashed seemed too foreign to her.


    And she could also easily tell that the bow Barton had brought out wasn''t locally made either. So, who were these people?

 100

    "This place is much better than I expected," Natasha remarked, glancing around the inn. Her voice was cool, but her appreciation for the comfort was genuine. The warm baths, proper food, and sturdy beds were a welcome change from the harsh ride.


    Tony, who had retracted his javelin into its compact backpack form before entering Emhyr''s fortress, stretched with exaggerated satisfaction.


    "Not bad at all, considering the medieval aesthetic. I mean, I was expecting straw beds and wooden bowls."


    Yennefer and Geralt wasted no time meeting the King, but the rest of the group¡ªexhausted from the journey¡ªopted to enjoy Nilfgaard''s hospitality. Even Vesemir, who rarely indulged, looked content to rest. After warm baths and a hearty meal, the group collapsed into a much-needed sleep.


    One day later


    Since the group rode through the night to reach their destination, they took a whole day off, sleeping and recharging their batteries. Since they were inside solid walls, they could sleep well too and not be haunted by the monsters outside. Though Tony had built precautions for that and had an automated drone to monitor and alert the team if there was any kind of intruder from outside.


    It was evening when everybody had gathered together. Even Yennefer was here, and everyone had gathered in the massive hall provided to Geralt.


    "How come you get the best room in the inn while the rest of us are stuck in peasant accommodations?" Tony asked.


    "Maybe because he is the guest of the King," Barton said while eating his food. "I bet it comes with strings attached."


    "Thick strings," Vesemir muttered. "I''d wager the King''s already made his demands."


    "Yes. But I would''ve done it regardless of his request. And it''s not for him," Geralt declared.


    "Sounds personal," Steve observed.


    "Because it is," Yennefer said as she sat on the side of Geralt, keeping her hand on his lap.


    "I believe you have had your rest. I would like to know what your plans are now going forward. Master Vesemir has told me that you are after knowledge," Geralt said, as he didn''t want to talk about his mission and preferred to focus on these mysterious individuals who seemed to have popped out of nowhere.


    "Yes, we do, and in fact, we have a contract for you too," Liam said.


    "Oh? What would that be?" Geralt asked.


    "The murder of the Crones in the swamps of Velen. There are three of them. They''re powerful and nasty, but we''ll fight alongside you," Liam said.


    "Crones? I have heard of them. They are said to be the daughters of the ''Lady of the Wood'' and possess immense magical power," Yennefer interjected.


    "Exactly," Liam said, his tone firm. "And they need to go."


    "Crones... Hmm. I will need more information than just their possessing magic," Geralt said.


    "I will provide what I can," Liam said.


    "I''m used to working alone. But... I owe you, and I''ll make an exception this time," Geralt said. Liam just smirked and didn''t reply.


    As the group settled into their seats, the warmth of the fire crackling in the hearth filled the room. Geralt pushed his goblet aside and straightened.


    "Before we deal with the Crones," he began, "I need to meet someone¡ªa man named Hendrik. He''s at the Crossroads, not far from here. The King passed on this information to me himself. He''s supposed to have information¡ªimportant information¡ªabout my search."


    "Fine by me. We''ll deal with the Crones after. But let''s make this quick. Hendrik better have something worth the detour," Liam spoke up as he finished the stew in his bowl.


    "Alright, since nobody is talking about it, I will ask. What the hell attacked us the previous night?" Barton asked after drinking a bit of ale. This made Geralt, Yennefer, and Vesemir freeze. These three had been trying to avoid the topic, but it seemed they couldn''t anymore.


    "They are called the Riders of the Wild Hunt," Liam answered, his words making everyone''s jaws drop. They didn''t expect Liam to know about them, especially since it involved both parties.


    "How much have you been hiding from us?" Natasha was getting irritated at this point because of Liam''s negligence in debriefing. If Liam was in SHIELD, he would have been court-martialed by now. But then again, was there any prison in SHIELD that could hold him down?


    "Liam, you knew damn well who they were and didn''t say anything before?" Steve was also disappointed.


    "Captain, there are so many monsters here. Beings that defy explanation. There are elves, dwarves, magical monsters left and right. If I start recounting what I know, it will take days. And even then, I can''t proclaim that I know everything. Why do you think I am going after these Crones? They are a nasty and downright hateful bunch of women, but I have a feeling they hold knowledge that will be important for the group. And besides, none of you asked who attacked us until Barton opened his mouth."


    "You''ve had time to do so before too," Tony said.


    "I did, but speaking of the Wild Hunt will take time. And the team needed rest," Liam said.


    "We appreciate that you are giving us time to rest, but from this point forward, we would like it if you disclosed more information to us. We are in unknown lands, and we can''t afford to be ignorant," Natasha put her foot down.


    "Alright. I admit it was kind of my fault, but you can''t blame me for not knowing about an ambush from those freaky bastards beforehand," Liam said.


    "Point," Barton said.


    "So who the hell are these specter-looking things? Wild Hunt is a wild name for them, though," Tony replied.


    "Before I explain about them, I will have to go back in history a bit," Liam said. "The place where we are now is called the Continent as a whole."

 101

    "Now that you know what this place is called, it doesn''t mean that this place is lonely and isolated. In what we call the First Landing, humans and elves came together due to a phenomenon that affected the multiverse. This led to humans and other species coming here, but also, with that came magic and chaos. Among them came the elves from a certain dimension. But once that phenomenon was over, the elves couldn''t go back, and though some elves had the power to traverse the multiverse, they refused to do so and considered this place their home. Mind you, what I am describing happened thousands of years ago.


    These elves established themselves here, and over time they taught humans how to do magic. But humans, being the wretched beings that we are, betrayed them and are responsible for driving them almost to extinction. And it didn''t help that some elves who resided in their home world looked down upon them and considered them as slaves."


    Liam took a deep breath as he said this. The more Liam spoke, the more surprised the three enhanced beings were. Liam knew the deep story, and it could be said that his knowledge about history rivaled theirs. So how come his customs differed from theirs on such a drastic scale?


    "But here comes the kicker. The elves of the other world are facing a disaster and thus need to relocate to a place where they can survive the disaster or do something to stop the disaster. Those specters you encountered are those same elves. And their name is called the Wild Hunt," Liam said. He didn''t want to bring up the name of Ciri here because Geralt was very protective of his daughter, and so was Yen.


    So it was better to skip the Ciri part.


    "And I am guessing that you two are the most powerful people of the Continent, so they wanted to take you out," Natasha said, looking at Geralt and Yen.


    "Yeah... Something like that," Geralt said.


    "What is that phenomenon that affected this place?" Barton asked.


    "It''s called the Conjunction of Spheres. Yeah, I know what you are thinking... What if our home is affected too by a situation like this, or was it affected before? The answer is yes and no," Liam said.


    "Explain," Tony asked.


    "Our home has its own version of the Conjunction of Spheres. It''s just that instead of affecting the multiverse, which connects our home, it connects the Nine Realms. So we are safe in that regard," Liam said.


    "Phew... And here I thought I would have to fight monsters again," Barton said as he touched his bow. It was very surreal to him when he thought about it. From going undercover and undertaking missions that involved normal human beings to fighting monsters left and right.


    He wasn''t sure if his children would ever believe him if he disclosed what he was fighting all this time. That included his wife too. Liam wasn''t finished, though, as he looked at Geralt and the others and asked:


    "I assume you have uncovered some of our origin from my words here."


    "You don''t belong to the Continent and have arrived from a different world," Yennefer said outright.


    "Bingo," Liam said.


    "What?" Geralt asked as he didn''t understand what "bingo" meant.


    "Ah, sorry... I mean yes, you are right. We came here on our own accord to gain knowledge. By knowledge, I mean magic. All kinds of magic. And for that, I would need to consult the druids, sorcerers, and yes, those bastards of the Wild Hunt too. Though I don''t think they would give us anything willingly, and I would have to search for them," Liam admitted.


    "But from what I see, you have command over magic too," Yennefer said, looking at Tony.


    "More knowledge is never a bad thing. Besides, it''s a trial for us," Liam said.


    "A trial?" Geralt asked.


    "Yes. You can think of it as a way to hone ourselves. We had been sent here to acquire knowledge so that we become more powerful. We have been given 15 years to complete the trial, and we will promptly leave after that," Liam said. This was, of course, part of the truth. "I assume you don''t believe those words of mine, and I won''t blame you for that. Nor will I convince you to believe me," Liam said.


    "And these mentors of yours sent you for this trial with tidbits of information about our Continent?" Vesemir asked. He was a bit unsettled, along with his companions too. They found it hard to believe that some people out there who had never lived here would know so much about them.


    Logic said that it was not possible because it would mean that the humans of another place had been looking at them from afar and refused to help them. But the powers and mannerisms this new group had shown had already defied logic.


    "They don''t know everything, and honestly speaking, before sending me in with my friends, they had spoken a lot, and I chose to forget the most part," Liam said with embarrassment. This was the truth, though. He loved The Witcher for sure and had read a bit about them, but the game had far more information, which he had long forgotten and only had some vague memories. Crones and druids were one of them, and the latter group''s location was already forgotten by him.


    He would need the help of Geralt in this. Of course, in return, their group would help him too, as he had already decided to confront the Wild Hunt and steal their knowledge. This was his main quest, while his friends would help him establish a better order here, to the best of their abilities.


    The evaluation would be based on how much influence Liam was able to exert in this world. The more influence, the better the evaluation. Liam believed that it would mean that if they were able to topple kingdoms and establish a better order, that would mean they had established quite the influence.

 102

    "You are right, it''s very hard to believe your words," Geralt said, though he didn''t elaborate further. One could easily understand his skepticism. This didn''t matter to the team, though.


    "Since you know who the Wild Hunt is, I believe you have an idea of how powerful the Aen Elle are," Yennefer said. Their trust could take a back seat at the moment.


    "Yes, we do. We don''t want to face them right now and build ourselves here, as we have some time," Liam said.


    "Good. I have to leave now, as my own work awaits. I''ll meet you soon, travelers. And Geralt, in this wartime, try not to be a hero and come back to me in one piece," Yennefer said as she got up and kissed Geralt, which earned a whistle from Barton. Geralt just rolled his eyes at that and watched Yennefer as she walked away. One could bet that, while walking away, Yennefer was giving Geralt quite the show of her ass, and that included the others too.


    Steve moved his head away, as did Natasha and Vesemir. While Tony and Barton didn''t shy away at all, Liam just took a peek and decided to stop himself from idolizing her more. He had also seen her naked, though it was in animation. But here, it was reality, so he also felt a bit guilty.


    But Liam could also tell that there was some tension between him and Yen. After all, he had messed up a bit with Triss, though it wasn''t his fault. Liam actually wanted to ask if she could help him with books related to magic, but she seemed quite in a hurry, and he was sure she would have refused.


    The group eventually made their way from Vizima to the Crossroads Inn. Vizima was a huge place and had its luxuries, so leaving this place made Tony and Barton a bit sad, but they soon accepted it. The travel was kind of an arduous journey too, as it took them three days to reach Velen. They slept under the open skies, and for the first time, Geralt and Vesemir were starting to believe that these humans might have come from a different plane altogether.


    The gears, the tents, the utensils, and their way of cooking were much different than theirs. On the way, Geralt caught some birds and even a boar to eat. Natasha, Liam, and Barton helped with cooking, and both of the witchers swore they had never eaten something so delicious in their lives. Not even in the best inns of Novigrad or Oxenfurt.


    "These are the spices we use. If you want, you can take some recipes from us. The food we''re making now is barely palatable since we don''t have everything with us," Barton spoke with pride in his voice as he showed them his spices. Barton even allowed Geralt to use his bow, and Geralt could swear this bow could even take down a tree with a single hit from a normal arrow.


    And then came the whole tent ritual. The bedding they carried too was great, and Geralt could easily say that it rivaled his beloved bed in Kaer Morhen.


    The more they interacted, the more Geralt and Vesemir believed them. Vesemir was actually curious about Tony''s armor, and Tony explained as much as possible. Though Vesemir could hardly understand what his armors or guns were, he could see how advanced these humans were.


    Soon, they reached a modest establishment that bore the marks of a land torn by war. The innkeeper, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, greeted them cautiously.


    "What can I do for you lot?" the innkeeper asked. His accent seemed much better than the rest of the people, and he was certainly a literate person.


    "We''re looking for Hendrik," Geralt said directly. "We were told he might have some useful information."


    "Hendrik, eh? You''ll find him in Heatherton, about half a day''s ride north. Though, I warn you, the place has seen better days."


    "What do you mean?" Steve asked.


    "Strange things happening up there. People say the skies froze over for a time, and the ground... it cracked like a dead man''s skin. And the cold¡ªit ain''t natural. If Hendrik''s alive, I''d be surprised."


    The group immediately knew what the innkeeper meant.


    The Wild Hunt.


    Geralt had also elaborated about the Wild Hunt since Liam had given them a description. Steve and the others felt bad for the elves of the Continent for sure, but for the Aen Elle, they felt disgust and hate.


    "Why is it that I encounter Nazis everywhere? First it was in Europe, then came Hydra, and now with another dimension altogether. Am I cursed to fight them all my life?" Steve asked.


    "Cap, you can always bail out, you know. It''s not our fight," Tony said.


    "That might be true, but if I come across them, I can''t just turn a blind eye. That''s not how I see myself," Steve said. "Besides, if Liam here goes for their knowledge, I doubt we''ll be far away from them."


    "We''ll see when we have to face them, which we might not even have to," Liam said. If it was preferable, he would rather not face the Wild Hunt at all. He could get the knowledge of their magic through other ways too, and he could already think of a couple of ways.


    "Thanks for the information," Geralt said, tossing the innkeeper a few coins.


    When they arrived at Hendrik''s village, it was as though the very life had been drained from the place. The air was unnaturally cold, the houses damaged and covered in frost, and the once-thriving fields were reduced to patches of frozen dirt. Even the trees bore a thin layer of ice, their branches snapping under the weight.


    It didn''t take long before they heard the familiar, guttural sounds of ghouls feasting, which they had been hearing occasionally on the road to Velen.


    Rounding the corner of a dilapidated house, they saw a man pinned against a wagon, fending off three ghouls with nothing but a broken pitchfork.

 103

    "Help me! Please!" the man screamed.


    Without hesitation, Liam dashed forward, drawing his sword. The ghouls had already smelled the presence of intruders and thus rushed towards them, or in this case, Liam, who was leading. One of the ghouls jumped towards Liam, but Liam was quick enough for his blade to slice through the sides of the ghoul. And not only did the ghoul get its guts spilled out, but a hellish fire burned through its insides and outsides.


    Liam was using the actual powers of his sword¡ªthe use of elemental energy that had been infused into it. Liam wasn''t alone, though, as Geralt followed close behind, using Igni to engulf the others in flames. Steve''s shield flew through the air, slamming into a ghoul''s head and shattering it like glass. Barton and Natasha picked off the remaining creatures.


    "Thank you," the man gasped. "They¡ªthey would''ve torn me apart." The man was very much distressed, and Geralt had to use signs to calm him down and ask about Hendrik, who by this point he was pretty sure had died.


    Inside Hendrik''s home, the stench of death was overwhelming. As Geralt was using his witcher senses to find clues, Tony spoke.


    "There is a hidden stairway here," Tony pointed out as he was wearing glasses. He didn''t have JARVIS with him, but it didn''t mean he didn''t have access to high tech. Finding a false floorboard was quite easy, and Geralt, by that time, found the key to it too.


    One had to commend Hendrik. Even under extreme pain and torture, he didn''t give up information to the Wild Hunt.


    Geralt searched the room, which was under the false floorboard, along with the others for better efficiency. Eventually, Liam found a ledger.


    "A record," Geralt replied, flipping through the pages. "Looks like he kept notes on his findings. Here¡ªit mentions a young woman with ashen hair. Says she was seen in Novigrad... and at the Bloody Baron''s estate."


    Geralt spoke out loud.


    "And I presume you are after her?" Steve asked. Geralt was silent for a second before nodding his head and then finally sighed as he thought it was time to come clean.


    "I had not been forthcoming to you. The reason that the Wild Hunt attacked us that night wasn''t because we are some kind of powerful individuals. It is because of my daughter, Ciri. She has abilities. An ability that the Wild Hunt desperately wants," Geralt said.


    "And she has been missing?" Natasha asked. Geralt nodded his head in sadness. He really did miss her a lot.


    "Ciri has the ability to traverse worlds, and the Wild Hunt needs her powers to survive the disaster," Geralt said.


    "Uhh... That must be tough, buddy," Tony said.


    "Didn''t Liam say that the elves also have the ability to traverse worlds?" Steve asked.


    "They did and, in fact, still do, but it is still limited. Unlike Ciri, who not only has the power to traverse worlds but also holds immense power too. She has the Elder blood running through her veins," Vesemir explained.


    "Elder blood?" Natasha and others were confused.


    "Blood of the elves," Geralt stated. This made everyone freeze, except Liam, as he had already known.


    "I wonder what it is like to be with the elves," Tony muttered.


    "Yeah. I haven''t even seen any elves. Wait, Liam, in that context, wouldn''t Ciri be your long-lost relative?"


    "Oh yeah. You do have an elf wife," Tony teased. Liam rolled his eyes at that.


    "I don''t have an elf wife. The elf is a wraith who is tied to me," Liam said.


    "So a dead elf. Got it," Barton replied.


    Geralt and Vesemir were very much confused now. They hesitated to speak about Ciri because of the taboo that surrounded her. Due to her Elder blood, she had been hunted before too. Vilgefortz, the greatest sorcerer of their age, was after her Elder blood to prolong his lifespan and gain her abilities. But it seemed the duo had thought too much because they understood from their response that they were more amused by someone shagging an elf somewhere.


    But what was it with the dead elf? Liam could see the confusion in their eyes and roughly explained. And their jaws were a guest to the floor for the second time this week.


    "So you can''t use your abilities because this is a trial and you have been stripped of your power?" Vesemir was still taking time to gulp down the explanation. It didn''t make sense at all.


    "Doesn''t make sense, right?" Barton asked. They both nodded their heads.


    "Yeah. Me too. I will never let anyone have that much power over me," Natasha said.


    "I have no other options. I am getting my abilities for rather cheap, and so I can''t complain. And besides, these trials that I undertake make me better," Liam said.


    "They''re making you a machine. Which, let''s be real, you kind of are," Natasha said.


    "Barton''s been using my bow, and all of you have benefited from my input. So I''d say the trials have been worth it¡ªfor everyone. If I hadn''t gone through this, none of you would even be here together." Liam stated, as he felt he needed to defend his system. Though his life had been cruel recently, it wasn''t that bad.


    And speaking of emotions, he himself didn''t know why he didn''t have them. He would have to figure it out himself in the long run.


    "Oh, please. We''re here because you were drowning yourself, and we couldn''t stand by and let you do it. That, and you''ve got a missing limb. One day, I''m gonna find the guy who did this to you and rearrange his teeth¡ªor worse," Tony said. He felt immensely guilty that he couldn''t help Liam when he was fighting alone.


    Hell, he didn''t even know that Liam was facing a Devil. Liam might have swept it under the rugs, but none of them had forgotten their real mission.


    Bring Mephisto to his knees. He needed to be taught a lesson. The witchers could see that the missing limb of Liam was a sore point for the team, but they didn''t ask more.

 104

    "If the Wild Hunt is after him, it means they''re looking for her, too. We need to move quickly," Geralt said, bringing them back to reality.


    "So, what is the plan now?" Steve asked.


    "First, we go to the Bloody Baron. If Hendrik''s information is accurate, we''ll find more answers there. It''s in Velen, and then we can visit the crones," Geralt suggested, and everyone agreed, since they were already in Velen.


    The group reached the Bloody Baron''s estate just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the crumbling stronghold. It looked beautiful.


    "If not for the horrors of human beings and monsters, I would love to move here and spend the rest of my life here," Barton said.


    "I would join you, I say," Steve added, as he too loved the nature here.


    After passing the guards who watched them warily, they reached the half-broken fortress. Geralt led the way, his reputation preceding him, while Liam and the others trailed close behind.


    Inside, the Bloody Baron himself greeted them, a stout man with a gruff demeanor and eyes that betrayed years of pain. He leaned back in his chair, tankard in hand, and sized them up.


    "Geralt of Rivia," the Baron began. "And... an entourage? Didn''t take you for the type to keep company."


    "We''re here for answers," Geralt replied curtly. "About Ciri. We know she was here."


    "Aye, she was. But I don''t give out information for free, especially not to strangers," the Baron said. He didn''t know the relationship between Ciri and Geralt, and since Geralt was a mercenary, there was no way he was giving any information for free.


    "We didn''t come here to barter, but we''re willing to help if it gets us what we need. You look like a man with plenty of problems," Liam said. He knew the story of the Baron: an alcoholic and abusive husband, and also a man with a missing family. Thus, Liam didn''t have time to waste here.


    "Problems? Aye, you could say that. My wife, my daughter, my bloody estate¡ªall cursed, one way or another. But if you want to know about the girl... there''s something you could help with," the Baron said with a bitter laugh.


    The Baron led them to a shallow grave just outside the estate. The air was heavy with an unnatural chill, and the ground was disturbed, as if something had crawled its way out.


    "This," the Baron said, "is the source of my nightmares. A botchling¡ªmy wife and I lost a child years ago. It never received a proper burial, and now it haunts us."


    "A botchling is a cursed being, born of improper burial rites. It''s drawn to the bloodline it once belonged to, feeding on the energy of the living," Geralt explained to the rest, sending shivers down their spines.


    "And how do we deal with it?" Steve asked. He seemed a bit shaken as he held on to the sword at his hip.


    "Two ways," Geralt replied. "We can kill it outright, which will end the curse but won''t bring peace to the family. Or we can try to turn it into a lubberkin¡ªa protective spirit¡ªby performing a ritual and giving it a proper burial."


    "Do what you have to, Witcher. I just want this nightmare to end," the Baron said, as by that point he didn''t care.


    The group opted for the ritual. Liam assisted Geralt and the Baron in carrying the botchling¡ªa grotesque, malformed creature¡ªthrough the estate grounds while the others kept watch for any signs of danger. And they were not disappointed. They came face to face with the wraiths. The actual wraiths, for the first time.


    Thankfully, Geralt had expected that kind of attack and made multiple silver bombs, known as moon dust. Money was never a problem, so they asked some men living near the fortress to get the alchemical ingredients from the traders around to make moon dust.


    Moon dust was essential because it made wraiths vulnerable to physical attacks.


    "So, we can now proclaim that we have exorcised ghosts," Barton said after he nailed the last wraith down with his medium-sized silver sword.


    "This is one hell of a story to be told at a party," Tony said.


    "And nobody will believe you," Liam replied.


    Meanwhile, the botchling writhed and screeched, its cries echoing through the night, but eventually, the ritual succeeded. The creature transformed into a glowing, ethereal figure¡ªa lubberkin. It floated briefly before vanishing, leaving behind a sense of peace that hadn''t been felt in the estate for years.


    The Baron, visibly shaken but grateful, kept his end of the bargain. Over drinks in the main hall, he recounted Ciri''s time at the estate.


    "She came here seeking shelter," he said. "Didn''t say much about herself, but she was running from something. Something powerful. She stayed a few days, helped one girl here with some trouble, then disappeared in the night. Left this behind."


    As the Baron was describing her heroics of taking down the basilisk and her presence here, a grotesque, cursed creature with bulging eyes and twisted limbs came from the side of the hall.


    Everyone was a bit taken aback at seeing that figure here. The Baron saw that everyone had questions about this being and explained how Uma, as they had named him, landed near their estate.


    Since it looked pitiful, the Baron and others took him in and gave him proper food and clothing. Liam knew who Uma was.


    "I want to take Uma with me," Liam offered. The Baron didn''t understand why Liam was offering to take Uma with him, but since Liam had helped them, he didn''t refuse. The only thing he asked was that they take proper care of Uma, as he didn''t have anyone else in his life. Liam promised to do so.


    "Okay... spill it out. What is up with you taking Uma with us?" Natasha asked.


    "I am not babysitting this ugly being. No offense," Tony surrendered.


    "This ugly thing is more beautiful than any of us," Liam retorted.


    "You are joking, right?" Steve said. Though he wasn''t a bigot, that didn''t mean he couldn''t see beauty.

 105

    "Because this is an Aen Elle." Liam replied. This came as a bomb to everyone.


    "You have got to joking now for sure." Geralt said.


    "I can feel the power of an elf emanating from it. It is a curse that had made him look the way it is now. But I can wager easily that it is an Aen Elle." Liam insisted. This made everyone silent. Aen Elle meant that it was probably a part of the Wild Hunt, and if it was then Uma should be imprisoned and interrogated.


    "Who cursed him?" Steve asked. Liam just shrugged his shoulders, signifying he didn''t know.


    "I will take him with me and put him under observation. And also try to lift the curse on him in Kaer Mohen." Vesemir suggested. Geralt thought about it and accepted. The trail had almost run cold and Vesemir wasn''t much of a help now.


    As the group prepared to depart, Vesemir carefully took Uma under his care. The deformed creature let out faint, pitiful sounds, but there was a flicker of something in its bulging eyes that unsettled them all. Liam placed a hand on Vesemir''s shoulder, his tone measured but firm.


    "Be cautious with him. If I''m right, lifting the curse might not just reveal his identity but also draw unwanted attention from forces we''re not ready to face yet."


    "Send word if you discover anything. We''ll handle the rest from here." Geralt gave his old mentor an advice.


    With that, the group turned their attention to their next objective. The Crones of Crookback Bog.


    The air in the swamp was thick with moisture and the pungent stench of decay. Every step squelched through and the calls of unseen creatures echoed ominously. The group had landed in Crookback Bog, and their mood grew darker as they made their way deeper.


    After landing on the Bog, they asked around and the more they asked about the witches of the bog, the more the blood boiled. Liam had forgotten how the nefarious the witches were and though the locals didn''t have a general idea of what was going on, the group figured it out themselves.


    Finally they met someone who had their location and gave them to Geralt after Tony threated her with lightning attack as it blew her home away in one strike. She was supposed to be the speaker of the witches so she held information about them. She gave a more detailed description than the rest of the group. She recounted the horrors of the Crones¡ªthe child sacrifices, the blood-drenched rituals, the lives destroyed in service to these monstrous beings.


    "Why stay here, then?" Barton asked, as he pointed his arrow towards her. Everyone could tell that Gran herself was living in horror.


    "It''s not by choice. They bind us to the land with curses. None of us can leave, and even if we tried... they''d find us." Gran burst into tears as she said that.


    "Then it''s time we broke their hold. Where can we find them?" Steve clenched his teeth. Geralt was the only one who didn''t have an expression in his face. He had seen and heard such worst cases all the time, and he had been living this kind of life for years now.


    Nothing new here.


    Gran pointed deeper into the swamp. "You''ll find their lair at the heart of the bog. But beware¡ªthe Crones are powerful, and their magic is dark. You''ll need more than just steel to face them." Gran hoped that this group could take them down as she just saw how Tony was able demolish her home with a wave of his hand. She really hoped to get away from this cursed land.


    When the group finally reached the witches'' dwelling, it was a grotesque sight. There were small huts around made out of tree branches and leaves and even had a fencing made of them. But that was not the only ingredients used to make the huts. There were human bones, parts of bodies rotting and even heads of people on all sides of the dwelling.


    The more they saw, the more they were furious. The swamp was alive with the dark magic of the Crones, pulsing like a malignant heartbeat and Liam was able to sense it, thanks to the rings.


    "This place reeks of death," Barton muttered. His bowstring taut as his sharp eyes scanned the shadows.


    "It''s not just death," Liam said grimly. "It''s centuries of cruelty. They''ve turned this entire bog into a feeding ground for their magic."


    "Then let''s end it." Steve said and Tony stepped forward. He had long put on his armor.


    "Alright, team. No holding back. These ladies aren''t going to go quietly."


    As they closed in on the largest hut, a chanting abruptly stopped, that they had been hearing for quite some time. The swamp fell eerily silent, save for the faint sound of dripping water. Then, from the shadows, three figures emerged.


    The Crones¡ªWhispess, Weavess, and Brewess¡ªwere a terrifying sight to behold. Whispess, tall and gaunt, her face half-hidden beneath a tangle of dark hair and rags. Weavess, hunched and clawed, carried a bundle of what looked like living thread. Brewess, larger and more grotesque, had the sickly sheen of blood dripping from her hands, with bulging eyes.


    "Well, well, what do we have here?" Brewess sneered. "Intruders? Or sacrifices?"


    "Neither," Geralt said coldly. "We are here to take your filthy lives and also your knowledge."


    "Brave," Whispess hissed. "Foolish, but brave."


    "You think you can take us on?" Weavess cackled. "Your steel will rust, your flesh will rot, and your souls will feed the swamp. Many have tried for centuries and all have failed."


    Without warning, Brewess waved her hand, and the blood coating the floor surged to life, forming crimson tendrils that lashed toward the group. Steve leapt forward, raising his shield to block the attack, but the tendrils sizzled as they tried to drain energy from the metal.


    "Get off the ground!" Geralt shouted. "She''s manipulating the blood¡ªdon''t let it touch you!"

 106

    Liam vaulted onto a nearby rock, his enhanced strength allowing him to clear the rising tendrils with ease. He gritted his teeth as he prepared to charge Brewess, but Whispess intercepted him, her claws slicing through the air. Liam blocked her attacks with his Dominion.


    Meanwhile, Weavess unleashed her power, her body disintegrating into a flock of crows that swirled around Tony and Barton, pecking and clawing. Barton fired explosive arrows into the swarm, scattering the crows temporarily, but they quickly reformed.


    "Alright, enough with the Hitchcock routine." Tony''s javelin flared to life as he unleashed a pulse of energy, the blast sending the crows reeling. Tony didn''t stop there and went on a rampage as he sent multiple attacks of fire, ice and lightning.


    Geralt and Steve faced Brewess together. The witch summoned another wave of wooden tendrils, but Steve hurled his shield at her, breaking her focus. Geralt used the opening to lunge forward, his silver sword carving a deep gash across her chest.


    Brewess howled in rage, swinging her massive arm at Geralt, but Steve intercepted with his shield, deflecting the blow. Seizing the moment, Geralt tossed his sword to Steve. The Captain caught it in one hand, driving it into Brewess''s gut, then kicked her back towards Geralt, who caught his sword midair and slashed across her throat in one fluid motion.


    "Why didn''t you use your own sword?" Geralt asked.


    "I am not a swordsman." Steve huffed as he said that.


    Meanwhile, Liam struggled against Whispess, her speed making her a difficult opponent. She danced around him, slashing at his exposed side, forcing him to rely on sheer reflexes. She whispered curses under her breath, causing his vision to blur momentarily. Just as she was about to land a lethal blow, Steve leapt in, bashing her with his shield, sending her skidding across the swamp floor.


    "Don''t mention it," Steve said. Celebrimbor style of rings were meant for longevity and manipulation of emotions, but they weren''t meant for bodily strength and power. In fact the current Liam was less powerful than Steve in terms of strength.


    Liam could get more strength by manipulating his own emotions or feeding from the emotions of others, but he didn''t like this manipulation. Anything related to emotions was a no no for Liam and thus he had handicapped himself in a way.


    He missed having the power. Liam could only nod at Steve at the end.


    On the other side, Weavess''s crows shrieked in fury as Tony and Barton continued their assault. Finally, Barton fired an arrow coated in a specially crafted oil Geralt had given him earlier. The explosion of silver particles disrupted Weavess''s form, forcing her to materialize. The moment she solidified, Tony sent a concentrated energy blast straight at her chest, reducing her to smoldering remains.


    Geralt and Steve executed their final strike against Brewess, driving their weapons deep into her form. She let out a guttural scream before collapsing into the cursed ground.


    Whispess, realizing she was outmatched, let out a piercing wail and dissolved into mist, retreating into the depths of the swamp.


    The group stood in the aftermath, breathing heavily as the oppressive magic of the Crones began to fade.


    "Two down," Geralt muttered, wiping blood from his blade. "But one got away."


    "She won''t get far," Liam said. "We need her alive."


    They didn''t separate and just went to the direction she had run off to. Geralt and Tony handled the tracking as technology and witcher senses of the two took over.


    "You are a good tracker." Geralt complimented.


    "And you have surprised me." Tony admitted. He had looked down upon the people here, but he needed to change his views it seemed. It didn''t take long to track the last Crone. She was hiding among the large branches of a tree deep in the swamp.


    The moment Barton had eyes on her, he fired an arrow into her leg, crippling her next escape. This made her fall from the high branch and by that time everyone had surrounded her. They dragged her back to the place where her two sisters had been murdered.


    "Where are your books?" Liam demanded.


    "You think I will tell you? We should have drunk the blood of the girl with the Elder Blood when we had the chance. Then we wouldn''t have been bound by this cursed place." Whispess screamed as Liam inserted both of his swords on her abdomen.


    This brought a silence among everyone as they looked at Geralt. Something snapped in Geralt at those words. Without hesitation, he drew a dagger and pressed it to her skin.


    "What did you just say?"


    "You heard me... You filthy humans.. Don''t touch me." She screamed in pain but spoke through the gritted teeth.


    "Where is she?"


    "We should have killed the moment we saw her. She was injured. We could have had our freedom."


    "I said where is she? What have you done to her?" Geralt''s voice was raspy now.


    "She tried to attack us. That dumb bitch thought she can kill us. Haa.. She fled with tails behind her legs." Geralt, in anger, cut her fingers. Whispess screamed but she continued on the mumblings of what she could do to Ciri. The more she screamed, the more she cursed, but she refused to speak of the books. The only regret she voiced was not having consumed Ciri''s blood.


    Enraged, Geralt drove his blade deeper, twisting it mercilessly. Whispess choked out one final curse before her body went limp, lifeless. The swamp fell into silence again, but this time the silence didn''t bring about any creepy feeling that they had been sensing all this time.


    It was as if the swamp now was suddenly free of the curse. Liam, though was unable to do any kind of magic, could feel the chaos magic receding away. It was a very weird feeling for Liam but he was glad he could sense it. This meant that he could do magic.


    "I am sorry that I let my emotions get the better of me." Geralt said.

 107

    "I am surprised that you even have emotions." Natasha said as by now everyone got a general idea of how Geralt was.


    "Right, we need to search this place for the books." Steve didn''t want to blame Geralt as he could see how Ciri riled him up. It was the most emotional they had ever seen him. Even Liam didn''t expect Geralt to react that way. He was the most calm minded person Liam had ever come across and even in the game, Geralt never reacted that way.


    Butterfly affect really did have miraculous changes.


    Soon the group spread out, searching through the crumbling huts for anything of value. The remnants of the Crones'' twisted domain were as grotesque inside as they were outside. Rotten wooden shelves, decrepit tables covered in dried blood, and strange symbols etched into the walls.


    Geralt rummaged through one of the larger huts, pulling aside tattered cloth and overturned furniture. He flipped open a few books filled with indecipherable symbols and discarded them. He was doing more hard work than ever, because he felt guilty for killing the last crone.


    And his witcher senses actually paid off. He reached a heavy, dust-covered tome bound in leather. He flipped through the pages, his eyes narrowing as he read the faded inscriptions.


    "This might be something," he muttered, showing it to Liam. The younger man took the book, scanning the old elvish writings carefully. The elvish writings made Liam''s eyes shine. Not because it contained vast information, but he could read them. There were very few elvish writings in the world of Norse mythology which didn''t match with his knowledge of elves, but Celebrimbor''s knowledge came into full swing when it came to the magic of this world.


    He was surprised that these elves who shouldn''t have any resemblance with each other, had the same words around. Did that mean somewhere, the world of Lord of the Rings was connected to Aen Elle?


    "Yeah, this isn''t ordinary magic. It''s a mixture of curses and alchemical enchantments," Liam said. He was kind of disgusted by what he was reading. The curses written here was dark in nature. All of them involved killings, parts of body and sometimes full humans as sacrifices, bleeding young children and even servitude.


    Liam proceeded to burn them instantly.


    Meanwhile, Tony and Barton searched another hut, sifting through bones, broken glass, and rusted chains. Natasha found a chest hidden beneath a pile of rags, pried it open, and found a collection of scrolls. She handed them over to Liam, who proceeded to burn them again. The magic written here was how to turn themselves into various birds and each chant had requisites that riled up Liam more.


    Steve found a set of small, metallic objects in a corner¡ªcharms likely used for dark rituals. He glanced at them warily before tossing them aside.


    "No use keeping cursed trinkets." It didn''t need Steve to be well versed with Elvish to know these are just bad.


    "I need to go after the witch mentioned in the spy''s notes. If she had any dealings with the Crones, she might have more information or something even more useful." Liam lied. He knew who the witch was and she didn''t have any deals with the Crones. But she was another lead that could help Liam in his thirst for knowledge.


    "You''re sure about this?" Geralt looked up from the book he had been skimming through, his yellow eyes narrowing slightly.


    "It''s the best course of action. We need to cover more ground, and if this witch has anything useful, we can''t afford to ignore it." Liam nodded.


    "Then I''ll be heading to Novigrad. There are leads on Ciri there, and I need to follow up on them." Geralt said.


    "Steve, Natasha, I want you two to go with Geralt." Liam turned to the two.


    "Why would we do that?"


    "Have you forgotten our mission for the trial?" Liam asked. This made them stiff. While getting engaged with Ciri and Liam''s book hunting, they had forgotten their main mission for a brief moment. Their main mission was influencing this world and bring changes to this realm.


    "Splitting up isn''t still the best idea." Steve frowned.


    "Agreed," Natasha said. "We''re strongest together."


    "I know. But if we all stick together, we''ll waste time traveling back and forth. Our mission isn''t just about Ciri¡ªit''s about understanding the power in this world, the forces at play, and how we can influence them. " Liam folded his hands as he said that.


    "Wouldn''t mind the extra hands." Geralt said. Though he didn''t exactly understand what their mission was, he didn''t have the curiosity to ask. They would reveal themselves if they stayed together anyways.


    "You two should go to Oxenfurt." Liam turned to Tony and Barton.


    "Oxenfurt? A university town? Doesn''t exactly scream ''Avengers'' playground.''" Tony raised his brow.


    "It''s a center of knowledge," Liam explained. "The university has scholars, mages, and researchers. If we can establish influence here, that place is a great start." Liam said.


    "So you want us to go be professors or something?" Barton asked. He had seen the way of living in Vizima. He himself would pass on a professor if he played his cards perfectly.


    "More like benefactors. Get close to the right people, earn their trust, and we''ll have an entire institution under our feet." Liam said. Geralt raised an eyebrow when Liam said that, especially because he had studied himself in Oxenfurt when he was young and they were quite knowledgeable. How do they want to influence an university, he thought.


    "Alright, I''ll admit it''s not the worst idea." Tony crossed his arms.


    "I still don''t like this." Natasha shook her head.


    "Neither do I, but our mission won''t succeed if we stay in one place. We regroup in Novigrad when we''re done." Liam said.


    "Alright. But if anything goes wrong, we regroup early. No exceptions." Steve said.


    "How will you know where to meet?" Geralt asked. It was then Tony brought out black colored long cuboids with a black stick attached to one of the edge. This thing had uneven finishes which seemed to be made deliberately and they didn''t even look metallic.


    All in all, it looked like an work of art. Something which he hadn''t seen before.

 108

    If Tony and the others had ever heard Geralt''s thoughts on their special radio device, they would have laughed at them. Thankfully, Geralt was a man of very few words and didn''t voice his opinion.


    "Before we go our separate ways, let''s make sure we can still talk to each other. This," Tony said, "is a long-distance radio. It''ll let us communicate no matter where we are. Though I feel like magic might hinder it somewhere, from what I can see."


    "A... what? How does it work?" Geralt frowned as he examined the small contraption.


    "Think of it like a magical communication device, but instead of relying on magic, it uses radio waves. We can talk in real-time even if we''re miles apart." Steve was eager to explain because, at the end of the day, he felt he was finally ahead of the current times.


    "So, like how sorceresses communicate over long distances?" Geralt asked.


    "Pretty much. Just a lot less flashy¡ªno need for portals or weird magical headaches," Liam replied, knowing how much Geralt hated portals.


    "Huh. If it works, I won''t complain." Geralt let out a small chuckle.


    "Alright, if we''re doing this, let''s make sure we stick to our plans. If anything goes wrong, we regroup," Steve said.


    "Now, let''s get to work and change the world¡ªone city at a time," Tony said as he tossed the radio to each of them. Everyone soon bade their farewells, each one taking a different route. Being in Vizima, they had bought a map of the world, and thus everyone knew where they were headed.


    Liam was close to the place where Keira lived, and thus, it only took him a day''s journey to reach the small village where Keira had disguised herself as a herbalist.


    The herbalist was someone Geralt had relations with. She could be called a "friend with benefits" in modern times if Liam wanted to explain the relationship between him and Keira. In fact, in the game, they had a romantic scene, and depending on how Geralt chose, he might have to kill her or let her find peace and continue to hide until he had taken care of Radovid V.


    Basically, the war that was going on was between Nilfgaard and the Northern Kingdoms together, and Radovid was the one representing the Northern Kingdoms¡ªor at least, that was the status quo. It was more complicated since there were several Northern Kingdoms, and Nilfgaard wanted nothing more than to bring everyone under their rule. Thus, the Northern Kingdoms were more united than before.


    Radovid V was known for his hatred of witches, and he even had a personal vendetta against the head of the Lodge of Sorceresses, Philippa. And in the end, Keira was someone who had been an advisor to Temeria, one of the Northern Kingdoms, and she was being hunted down. After King Foltest was assassinated, she had run for her life.


    And Velen was the territory of Nilfgaard, and even then, she was in hiding.


    "She has quite the temper. I need to be careful," Liam thought to himself as he approached the cottage after asking for her location. He could feel the lingering traces of magic in the air. It wasn''t overwhelming like the chaotic energy he''d sensed in battle against the Crones, but a controlled, refined aura¡ªone belonging to a skilled sorceress.


    He knocked on the wooden door and waited, keeping his posture non-threatening. Since Keira Metz was in hiding, she''d be wary of strangers. After a moment, the door creaked open slightly, revealing a pair of sharp blue eyes peering through the gap.


    "Herbs or potions?" the woman asked. "I am not giving anything without payment upfront."


    In response, Liam threw her a pouch filled with coins. She caught it easily and checked inside.


    "What can I do for you?" Keira asked with a more welcoming tone this time. Being a sorceress was always a costly job.


    "I have been sent here by Geralt to find out information," Liam replied. He couldn''t just ask for books¡ªhe needed to show that he was her friend first.


    "Geralt? That''s a name I haven''t heard in a long time. How do you know him? And how did you find me?" Keira asked, not hiding the fact that she didn''t trust Liam, who had just appeared out of nowhere and knew her location.


    "There was a spy of Nilfgaard who had been keeping an eye on you," Liam replied.


    "Had?" Keira asked.


    "He was killed by the Wild Hunt," Liam replied casually, but it sent a chill down Keira''s spine.


    "What does the Wild Hunt want from me?" Keira asked.


    "They don''t want anything from you. They want something from the girl Geralt is searching for, and that''s also one of the reasons I came here. The spy had notes about you meeting her, and thus, I came here," Liam stated the truth.


    Keira went silent after that as she started to think about whether she was being spied on.


    "You haven''t answered how you know Geralt," Keira asked after some contemplation.


    "Well, I helped him solve some problems and also in his quest to find the missing girl," Liam replied.


    "Must be quite important to Geralt if he has been searching for her. Let me guess¡ªYennefer of Vengerberg?" Keira asked in a mocking tone, but if one paid close attention, one could sense a bit of jealousy somewhere in her words.


    "No. It''s Ciri," Liam replied in a plain tone.


    This made Keira''s eyes widen. When Liam first showed up, she didn''t trust him at all and was ready to incinerate him into oblivion, but once the name of Ciri came out, she knew that Liam knew Geralt well.


    She might not have been around Geralt a lot, but she knew that Ciri was the daughter of Geralt. And since Geralt had told Liam about Ciri, that meant he could be trusted¡ªor at least, this guy wouldn''t want to kill her.

 109

    "I don''t trust you yet, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I can tell you that I don''t have any recent connections with Ciri," Keira said.


    "You sure about that? No connections with any ashen-haired girl?"


    "No. But I was approached by a proper elven mage to keep a lookout for her, and if she ever showed up, I was to take her to the nearby elven ruins. You know what? He didn''t even keep his promise," Keira said.


    Liam knew what she was talking about¡ªthe same Aen Elle who was now in Kaer Morhen.


    Sometimes, Liam felt he should just transform Uma and be done with the running around. But if he did that, he would have to explain many things, and he needed to gain the trust of the elven mage. He needed a teacher.


    And who would be better than the topmost elven mage?


    "We can visit the said ruins and ask him," Liam said.


    "Don''t you think we should call Geralt for this?" Keira asked.


    "He is in Novigrad, and it will take him time to reach here. Better we look for her, and if we find any clues or Ciri, we can inform him," Liam assured her.


    She contemplated for a moment and then said, "If we find her, I need coins."


    This put a smile on Liam''s face. He gave her another pouch without any second thoughts, and Keira caught it again.


    "I am starting to think that I should kill and bury you and take all your crowns," Keira laughed as she said that.


    "You can try, but did you ever notice where I brought the crowns from? I am sure you didn''t see a pouch hanging around my waist," Liam replied with the same smile that Keira was giving him.


    This made Keira silent and finally a bit more on guard.


    All this time, she had thought Liam was a handicapped man, an errand boy of Geralt, or even a sponsor of Geralt, but now that he pointed it out, she knew that this boy was anything but normal.


    "I never caught your name," Keira said.


    "Liam Woodsworth."


    "Keira Metz, nice to meet you."


    The duo didn''t leave immediately as Keira proceeded to arrange the things in her small hut while Liam just looked at the ingredients, herbs, and other odd things that she had hoarded during her time here. After her work was done, they left for the elven ruins.


    Soon, they found themselves at the entrance. When they said it was ruins, they meant the place was damaged beyond reason. Nothing was left, and whatever structure had once stood here was destroyed beyond recognition. But one could also see how powerful the elves were in the past. Because even now, the humans couldn''t build such beautifully destroyed pillars in the current world.


    Maybe on the native world of the MCU, but definitely not here.


    Keira led the way through the narrow stone corridors of the elven ruins, and in order to illuminate the path, she used a small magical light bulb that attached to her. It was something like Lumos from Harry Potter but was attached to her dress.


    Liam followed closely, vigilant as he knew what was coming next. The air was thick with dampness, and magic still lingered in the walls. As they descended deeper into the ruins, a guttural growl echoed through the chamber ahead. Liam immediately recognized the sound.


    "Drowners."


    From the shadows, three drowners emerged, their slimy blue skin glistening under the light. Keira raised a hand, unleashing a blast of magic that sent one flying backward. Liam, meanwhile, dodged another''s swipe and brought his blade down in a clean arc, severing its head.


    The third drowner lunged at Keira, but she conjured a force field just in time. Liam seized the opportunity and rammed his sword through the creature''s chest, electrocuting it. With a gurgling screech, it collapsed.


    Keira hadn''t expected Liam to be handy too. She could see that Liam had conjured this magical sword out of thin air, which again surprised her and also made her realize that this young man was anything but simple. The sheer strength one needed to cleave the head off a drowner and resist the chaos magic around was not something a normal human being could ever do.


    "Nice sword," Keira said as she saw small sparks on the blade.


    "Thanks. I made it myself, and two young dwarfs helped me upgrade it," Liam replied.


    "You made it?" Keira was surprised.


    "It''s hard to understand, seeing how handicapped I am, but once, I had a hand too," Liam replied.


    "And whom did you donate your pretty hand to?" Keira asked.


    "The lord of a hell dimension," Liam replied through gritted teeth.


    Keira didn''t ask more, as she could feel the anger in Liam. But she also felt that the guy was abnormal¡ªlike a witcher, not having any feelings for the most part.


    Meanwhile, the ruins had gone eerily silent. A deep, guttural croak rumbled through the air. Then, from a crumbling archway, a massive figure crawled out¡ªa water hag.


    Covered in moss and filth, the hag cackled, revealing rows of jagged teeth. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled a glob of corrosive muck toward them. Liam barely managed to dodge, but where it landed, the stone sizzled and melted away.


    "The bitch''s not playing around," Liam growled.


    He didn''t waste a minute and pulled out an armor. The armor stepped forward and opened from behind, and Liam instantly inserted himself. In an instant, the suit responded. Segmented plates of sleek, black-and-green armor locked into place over his body, enhanced servos humming with power.


    This was Tony''s upgraded version of the Interceptor Javelin¡ªdesigned for speed, agility, and resilience beyond anything Liam had used before.


    "What in the name of magic is that?!" Keira blurted out.


    Liam didn''t have time to explain. The moment his visor locked in, he dashed forward in a blur, moving faster than the hag could react. She swung her claws wildly, but he was already behind her. A rapid sequence of precise strikes cut deep into her flesh before she could retaliate.

 110

    The hag let out a wail and slammed her fist into the ground. The floor beneath them cracked, and a wave of filth erupted, forcing Keira to throw up a magical shield. Liam, however, leaped over it with ease, landing gracefully before delivering a spinning kick that sent the hag crashing against the ancient stone wall.


    "That armor¡ªit''s like a suit of enchanted plate, but it moves like nothing I''ve ever seen! And the magic. I haven''t seen such before," Keira grumbled as she watched.


    The hag shrieked again and lunged, her claws slashing wildly. Liam engaged the Interceptor''s built-in energy blades, the twin daggers forming seamlessly along his gauntlets. With precision, he weaved between the strikes before plunging both blades deep into the hag''s chest.


    Then the energy blades proceeded to electrocute the hag with more power than his sword was able to deliver. She let out a screech before collapsing onto the ancient stone floor, lifeless.


    "Well, that was a workout," Liam said from inside the armor. He was also pleased by what Tony had done to this armor. It was much better and had more energy, another plus point being that this Interceptor could fly without its thrusters overheating.


    "That''s... not magic. But it behaves like it. What in the world did you just wear?" Keira was still in disbelief as she watched. This man, in her eyes, went from abnormal to dangerous.


    "Something way ahead of its time," Liam replied.


    "You are full of surprises, aren''t you?" Keira looked as if she wanted to pry further, but she let it go with a sigh.


    "Let''s keep moving. I have a feeling we''re not done yet." Liam chuckled. And Liam was right. Both of them had to face two more problems before they were able to gain access to the place Liam had come all the way here for.


    The first problem they faced was their own selves, and what was funny about the fight was that their reflections, sent to fight them, couldn''t copy the magic of Liam''s armor. They could only replicate his swords, and Liam took care of his doppelga?nger before finishing off the fake Keira as well.


    "Why did they fail to copy you?" Keira asked after they defeated the two fakes.


    "Probably because the magic I use isn''t made by elves," Liam replied after much thought.


    "Wait, what? I thought magic was something that elves had exclusivity on." Keira was flabbergasted.


    "Not everything is made and brought by elves, beautiful lady. Some are made by humans, and some by monsters. Don''t look down upon any species," Liam replied. She couldn''t believe that humans could ever find another way to control chaos and learn magic. But it also made sense, as she couldn''t sense the chaos magic in it.


    "Can I learn this magic?" Keira asked. This made Liam stop and look at her deeply, making Keira feel uneasy, as all she could see was the blue light where his eyes were supposed to be. "Forget that I asked."


    "You can learn. But in return, you will have to teach me your magic," Liam said.


    "What? I thought you knew magic," Keira said.


    "Making weapons and learning magic are entirely different. In fact, my main quest is to learn magic and control it," Liam said.


    "I promise to help you if you teach me too," Keira said.


    "Deal."


    And thus, they went on their search and soon came across the second problem, which was an artificial golem. They had to fight it out, and Liam had to give his all in this fight, using both lightning and ice attacks. Keira was more impressed than anything with this fight, and now she was hell-bent on learning the magic that Liam had come up with.


    After the grueling battles, Liam and Keira finally found themselves standing before an ancient stone doorway with a portal. Liam had to cross through the portal, and for a brief moment, he felt as if he was traveling at the fastest speed possible. This made him feel a bit nauseous and also realize why Geralt hated portals.


    Even with enhanced body strength and senses, he was still disoriented by the end.


    "I hate portals," Liam murmured.


    After that, Keira and Liam found themselves in a dimly lit chamber. Inside, the remnants of an elven scholar''s study lay before them. Stone shelves lined the walls, filled with dust-covered tomes¡ªsome stacked haphazardly, while others remained neatly arranged. A cracked wooden desk sat in the center, its surface littered with scattered parchment and ink bottles long dried up.


    Liam moved forward, carefully skimming the titles on the spines of the books. Most were written in the flowing, intricate script of the Elder Speech, their meanings lost to any who had not studied the language. He reached for a particularly ornate tome. As he brushed the dust away, the golden inscriptions glowed faintly.


    After some digging around, they realized that Ciri might have been here once, but now she was missing, and thus, it proved to be a dead end again. Seeing no other way, both of them came back to the small library that the elf had made for himself in this hideout.


    "This isn''t ancient," she murmured. "You have been eyeing the books since you came. Can you read them?"


    "Yes, I had an elven blacksmith teach me Elvish speech and writings," Liam replied.


    "Oh. You must be really special for him to teach you their culture. They are very conservative and prude," Keira said.


    "He was too, but he didn''t have a choice," Liam said.


    "Oh? Why is that?" Keira asked. Liam shook his head as he didn''t want to reply. He could have told the truth, stating that the blacksmith had been dead long before. But if he replied, she would think that he had used necromancy, and that was a topic most sorcerers didn''t have a good view of and wouldn''t practice unless absolutely necessary.

 111.

    Liam exhaled as he stepped away from the bookshelf. He had no way of reading all these books right now, but he didn''t have to. With a quiet command, he disengaged from the Interceptor and pulled himself out of the interceptor javelin. The armor remained standing, its eye slits glowing faintly as if still alive.


    "It moves on its own?" Keira noticed that the armor was standing and even moving, after Liam got out.


    "More than that," Liam said. "Interceptor, scan the books. Store all text in memory."


    The armor''s eyes flickered and then it proceeded to bring out a book from the bookshelf and open it. From it''s eyes, a soft blue light started the scanning process and then turned the page. This process repeated with each page and thus in this way, it was saving each and every word in it''s memory.


    "You''re joking." Keira watched in stunned silence before letting out a laugh.


    "No joke."


    This thing... it''s not just a suit of armor, is it? It''s thinking. Understanding. That''s impossible."


    "It''s not magic, if that''s what you''re thinking," Liam said. "It''s technology. A kind of intelligence created by humans, not sorcery."


    "It doesn''t make sense. Humans can''t create intelligence. That''s the domain of the gods and magic." Keira refused to believe it.


    "Well, looks like humans proved you wrong," Liam said.


    It took the interceptor about half an hour to complete scanning the whole small makeshift library.


    "Scan complete. All text has been stored. Awaiting further commands."


    "It speaks."


    "Yeah, it does that too." Liam said.


    "And you expect me to just accept that humans built something this advanced without sorcery." Keira said.


    "I don''t expect anything," Liam replied, rolling his shoulders. "You''ll believe what you want. But whether you like it or not, this isn''t magic¡ªit''s science. And science can do things you wouldn''t imagine."


    "I don''t know if I should be impressed or terrified." Keira sighed, but for a brief moment Liam saw greed in her eyes.


    "Probably both."


    Soon they were out of the elven ruins and found themselves back at the hut. Keira was exceptionally silent on their way back. And Liam too didn''t speak a word. By the time they returned to the hut, night had fully settled over the swamp. Inside, the dim light of a candle flickered as Keira settled into a chair, her gaze flickering between Liam and the Interceptor armor, still standing.


    A soft hum filled the room as the Interceptor projected a holographic image of a book in front of them, its pages turning slowly in midair.


    "It can do that too?" Keira''s breath caught.


    "Told you."


    "Aen elle vatt''ghern, luned aep temeria. Fayn aen esseath, han lath aep guin''vail." Liam said as he read the first passage of the book that he had just summoned.


    "That''s¡ª"


    "''The Elder warriors marched upon Temeria. Blood was shed, yet the sun rose again,''" Liam translated smoothly.


    "Anyone who has studied Elder Speech could''ve done that. You could be making things up." Keira wasn''t convinced at all.


    "Fine, let''s test it. Pick any passage, and I''ll translate it for you."


    Keira scrolled through the floating pages, stopping at a random section. She pointed to a line. It was an magical incantation.


    "Caelm laith aep laraen, aen''dhuan aep vaedh. Ess''fael en''caelm guin." Liam read it out loud. "It means, ''The stars guided the lost, illuminating the path of fate. A promise written in the sky.'' This spell is extremely useful if you are lost in a foreign land. It will basically take you to the closest safe person that would help you and though the spell can''t differentiate on a deep level, it can roughly judge if the person is good by heart and thus lead you to him or her."


    "That... sounds correct. But let''s see." Keira said. Though she could roughly speak the words written, she couldn''t explain what the magic spell actually meant and Liam was able to voice it out.


    She raised a hand and murmured the words under her breath, focusing her energy. A soft golden light sparked from her palm, twisting into thin threads of magic before forming the vague shape of a constellation and then pointing it at Liam. This surprised Keira a bit as she didn''t expect the magic to work and also point to Liam.


    She had been running around too much and it was very hard for her to trust anyone and Liam popping out of nowhere, made her more skeptical. All she could do was smile.


    "You really do understand Elder Speech." Keira exhaled.


    "I did say I had a good teacher." Liam replied.


    "You are... unlike anyone I''ve ever met." Keira said. This time she meant her words and Liam could see that she didn''t mean the words in a flirty manner but a genuine appreciation.


    "Good. I like to keep things interesting."


    "That''s an understatement." Keira replied. "Wait here."


    Liam raised an eyebrow as she descended into the basement of the hut. After a moment, she returned, carrying a thick, worn grimoire. The edges of its pages were frayed, and Liam could sense the faint traces of magical energy pulsed from its cover.


    "This belonged to an old sorcerer who studied forbidden spells. I could never fully translate it, but if your command over Elder Speech is as strong as you claim, then maybe you can."


    "You want me to translate spells?" Liam was curious because spells and grimoires were very important to all sorcerers and they wouldn''t share easily.


    "Only some of them. I need to confirm their meanings before I attempt them. Some magic is... unpredictable." Keira replied.


    "Before I do that, I want something in return." Liam said with a deep tone.


    "Of course you do." She folded her arms. "What is it?" She could already guess since Liam had spoken about it before.


    "Teach me magic." Liam said. "I can use enchanted weapons, sure. I understand runes and forging techniques. But real magic¡ªactual spellcasting¡ªis different. I need to learn it, starting from the basics."

 112

    Keira studied him carefully, and then nodded.


    "Alright, I''ll teach you. But don''t think I''ll go easy on you just because you helped me."


    "Wouldn''t expect anything less." Liam grinned.


    With that settled, he opened the grimoire. He stopped at one passage and traced his fingers over the text. She had asked him to translate this particular spell.


    "Glewn aep vaen, carath me vort. Isaen aep gwyn, elaine aep irith." Liam said, in perfect accent and fluency. ""''A spark of light, a tethered will. A flame of white, a binding spell.'' This spell can bind even a much powerful monster and even a sorcerer. But it is also dangerous because this spell has a very high chance of rebound if you misspell. Thus it was forbidden even by the elves."


    "A binding spell? That could be useful." Keira hummed, not bothering with the danger that came with it. Liam could only shake his head. He proceeded to the next.


    "''Vael taern aep ciran, lunedh aep sidh. En''caelm vaen aep gwyn.'' ''The winds carry the path, guided by the stars. A beacon for those who seek.''" Liam continued.


    "That sounds like an advanced navigation spell. This book is full of lost knowledge." Keira said.


    "It is. But it has dangers too as you can probably tell since it is a navigational one unlike the previous one. It can lead you to dangers and also treasures." Liam said. Keira nodded and then Liam proceeded to translate 5 more spells for her, which made her very happy.


    Since it was night, she asked him to stay with her since she would be the teacher and Liam happily obliged to be the student and also be with such a beautiful lady. Having an eye candy always works. They had quite the dinner together where she spoke of magic and Liam spoke of what he had learnt from his teacher.


    It was mostly on the elder speech. And tactfully both of them avoided to speak about their past. Though Liam didn''t need one as he knew the story of hers and even the future of how it ended with her being a couple with Lambert.


    The next day


    "Before we begin, I need to see how much potential you actually have."


    "You''re testing me?" Liam asked.


    "Of course," Keira replied with a smirk. "Not everyone has an affinity for magic. Some people can barely manipulate a spark, while others can shape the elements with ease. You should have a good affinity since you say that you have made that sword of yours, but I still need to check. Come on. Outside."


    Liam followed her into the clearing behind the hut, Keira reached into her satchel and pulled out a small crystal.


    "This is a Chaos Resonance Crystal," she explained. "It reacts to the latent magical energy within a person. If you have an affinity for magic, it will glow. The stronger your affinity, the brighter the glow." She tossed the crystal to Liam. "Hold it in your palm and focus."


    Liam caught the crystal and closed his fingers around it. At first, nothing happened. Then, a pulse of warmth spread through his hand. The glow brightened, from a soft blue to an intense white.


    "What¡ª?" Keira''s eyes widened.


    The crystal didn''t just glow¡ªit shone like a miniature sun. The wind picked up, swirling around them. The crystal vibrated in his grip before cracks appeared along its surface.


    "Enough! Stop!" Keira shouted but it was already late. Liam opened his hand, and the crystal shattered into dust.


    Silence.


    "That... that wasn''t supposed to happen."


    "Is that bad?" Liam asked as he didn''t understand what happened. He also felt guilty since alchemical things were precious here. "I will pay for it."


    "Bad? No. But I''ve never seen a reaction like that before. Not in any records, not in any teachings. You have the highest affinity I''ve ever seen." Keira said with excitement.


    "That just means I can learn faster, right?"


    "You make it sound so simple." She sighed. "Fine. Let''s start with the basics. Magic is drawn from chaos. It''s raw, unpredictable energy that exists in everything. But to wield it, you need balance." She held up her hand, summoning a small orb of blue light. "If you take in too much chaos magic without control, it will consume you. That''s why sorcerers learn to channel it slowly, maintaining balance within themselves."


    "So it''s not just about casting spells¡ªit''s about handling the magic inside you."


    Liam did as instructed.


    "Now," she continued, "focus on the energy around you. Feel the chaos within the air, the ground, even within yourself."


    At first, Liam felt nothing. Just the night breeze and the soft rustling of leaves. Then, slowly, something else stirred¡ªlike a current running through everything, an unseen force pressing against his skin. It wasn''t just external; he could feel it inside him too, flowing like a second pulse.


    "I can feel it," he murmured.


    "Good," Keira said. "Now, control it. Imagine drawing it in, but don''t let it overwhelm you. Just a trickle, like a stream, not a flood." She was astonished that Liam was able to do it so fast, but then again she had never seen such a monstrosity before.


    But that infatuation of his affinity died down soon enough.


    For the next fifteen days, Liam trained under Keira''s strict guidance. Every day, they went through the fundamentals¡ªdrawing in chaos, controlling its flow, and attempting to manifest it outside his body.


    Yet, despite his overwhelming affinity for magic, something was wrong. No matter how much he practiced, the energy refused to take form beyond his skin.


    "I don''t get it," she muttered, watching him struggle. "Your control is excellent. You can feel the chaos, absorb it, manipulate it internally, but the moment you try to push it outward, it just... vanishes."


    Liam clenched his fists. He had mastered swordsmanship, archery and all kinds of combat abilities, even manipulate the Bifrost. But this? This was different.


    "I feel the power moving inside me. But the second I try to actualize it, it''s like it gets pulled back in."

 113

    "It''s like something is keeping it locked inside you. Normally, if a mage has this much affinity, they can at least summon sparks or weak spells instinctively. But you? It''s like there''s a barrier." Keira after repeated observation made that judgement. "Ah! Well.. It''s probably my fault for taking the easiest route after seeing your magical talent. We will start from the basics."


    "Wait wasn''t that the basics?" Liam was confused as he expected learning and understanding the first spells as the basics of magic learning. Keira in response rolled her eyes and walked inside the hut, while calling him back.


    -----


    The putrid stench of decay filled the air as Liam stood at the entrance of the spider nest. The pit ahead was lined with thick webbing. Liam exhaled, shaking off his frustration. If magic wouldn''t bend to his will, then fine¡ªhe''d stick to what he knew best. Fighting.


    Liam was back inside the armor, but this time he had his swords in his hands. His fingers flexed over the hilt of his sword as the first arachas skittered into view.


    The massive arachnid, its chitinous body covered in sickly green pustuled. It lunged, but Liam sidestepped and then using his blades to sever one of it''s front legs. The creature screeched in pain, recoiling, but Liam was already moving. He ducked under a wild strike, rolled to the side, and buried his sword deep into the creature''s underbelly. The arachas convulsed before collapsing in a heap.


    A second one emerged, larger than the first. It spat a glob of acidic venom at him. Liam activated the air shield that simmered once the venom hit it. Then he dashed forward, flipping over the creature''s back and slashing downward, cleaving off two of its legs in one fluid motion.


    One thing good about the armor and modelling was that, Tony had made it so that his other hand wouldn''t be handicapped and whatever motion Liam meant to do with his other hand, the armor would do it. It was very responsive and allowed Liam to play to his strength.


    The arachas shrieked, stumbling. Liam capitalized and thus plunging his blade through its head. It twitched once, then went still. Two down, three more to go and now he was facing three together. Seeing that he would be under quite the problem if he faced each of them together, he summoned a lightning attack that not only hurt the first arachas, but it got transferred to the other two at the same time.


    This made the arachas convulse and without any hindrance Liam proceeded to kill them brutally. Separating limbs and then cleaving their bodies. He breathed a bit after finishing the last one stepping back to assess the carnage. The fight had been quick, brutal¡ªjust what he needed to clear his head.


    The frustration of being unable to use magic had gnawed at him for days. Killing these monsters gave him a sense of relief.


    Wiping his blade clean, Liam crouched beside the corpses and got to work. He extracted the venom sacs with careful precision, ensuring they remained intact. He gathered chunks of hardened chitin, the webbing, and even the eyes¡ªKeira had been very specific about what she needed.


    ----


    Keira''s eyes lit up as he dropped the things that he had brought. There were many items and thus had to put to the floor.


    "You actually did it," she said. "And without getting poisoned. Impressive."


    "I am more efficient than you in killing monsters. So give me a little credit" Liam replied.


    "Fine, fine. Since you''ve proven you''re not completely hopeless, we''ll start your alchemy training properly." Keira said.


    "Properly?" Liam raised an eyebrow.


    "I may have... underestimated the importance of building a foundation. I tried taking shortcuts because of your talent, but that clearly didn''t work. So, we''re starting from the basics." Keira coughed a bit when she said that, trying to hide the embarrassment. Liam didn''t know the alchemy came first when it was the matter of magic.


    He thought magic was simple but it might not be true. Maybe this was the reason that the sorcerers lived a long life. He was trying to cram years of knowledge within a few days. And that was how his grueling days of alchemy learning started.


    ----


    Liam sat at the wooden table, Keira placed several old tomes in front of him. The books were thick, and they smelled of herbs. Some were written in Elder Speech, while others were filled with diagrams of plants, minerals, and intricate potion formulas.


    "Alchemy," Keira began, pacing in front of him, "is the foundation of all advanced magic. Without alchemical knowledge, most sorcerers wouldn''t even be able to maintain their bodies, let alone cast spells at a high level. Potions, elixirs, mutagens¡ªthey all stem from this science." She tapped one of the books. "Your first task is simple. Read these. All of them."


    "All of them? There are at least a dozen books here." Liam wasn''t happy at all. Reading was something that he had left long ago and though he loved reading stories and history, he didn''t have much love for knowledgeable books now. His time being a nurse in his previous life made him hate learning by the end of his course, because he realized that they never ended.


    "If you can fight monsters, you can handle a little light reading." Keira smirked.


    Liam sighed but opened the first tome. He skimmed through the introduction, but before he could get too deep, his armor''s AI-enhanced interface activated. A translucent display formed over his vision, scanning the pages as he read. Data appeared in real-time, highlighting key concepts. Liam instantly became rejuvenated when he saw the armor helping while standing on the side.


    He hadn''t thought of using the armor that way at all and it was probably the previous command that Liam had provided that took affect and prompted the Interceptor to act that way. It just made his work easier.

 114

    "You''re already on the second chapter?" Keira had returned after tending to her garden and noticed that Liam had proceeded to the next chapter.


    "Armor''s helping. It can scan the pages, process formulas, and even measure precise ingredient compositions," Liam said.


    "That''s cheating." Keira didn''t like it at all.


    "It''s efficiency," Liam defended himself. She was silent for more than a couple of seconds. She wanted to stop Liam from taking shortcuts, but could she ever do that? He wasn''t exactly cheating by taking help from others. He was taking help from a piece of metal made of magic and technology.


    It was cheating, but at the same time, not at all.


    "Fine. But you still need to understand the fundamentals. Let''s start with ingredient classification." Keira huffed a bit at the end. She pulled a bundle of dried herbs and several vials from a cabinet, placing them in front of Liam.


    "Every alchemical ingredient falls into a category. Reagents can be broken down into primary and secondary effects. Primary effects are the most potent, while secondary ones may alter or enhance a potion''s properties. This is celandine extract. Primary use? Healing. Secondary effect? A mild detoxifier. That is what''s written in the book, right? Now tell me what else is there."


    Liam picked up the vial, his armor immediately scanning its contents. A list of chemical properties flashed in the holographic projection.


    "It also contains trace amounts of natural ethers, meaning it can be used as a catalyst in mutagenic potions."


    "Yes... that''s right." Keira could only sigh and move on. "Now, onto preparation techniques. Different ingredients require different methods¡ªgrinding, distillation, infusion, or direct synthesis. Some are volatile and need to be stabilized, others need to be fermented for days."


    She handed him a mortar and pestle along with a handful of dried herbs.


    "Start with the simple stuff. Crush these into a fine powder."


    Liam took the herbs and began grinding them down, using controlled pressure and strength. Though the armor had to hold the mortar since his other hand wasn''t there. He felt very uneasy doing this, and Keira noticed his problem with his handicap and felt a bit bad but didn''t speak a word.


    Everyone has a story, even herself, so the struggle always remained. It only differed in the nature of the struggle. As Liam worked, his armor provided precise feedback on how much force he was applying, ensuring he didn''t overdo it.


    "Not bad. Most students struggle with consistency, but you''re maintaining an even texture."


    "The suit''s giving me feedback."


    "Alright, then let''s up the difficulty. Alchemy isn''t just about crushing herbs. You need to understand how ingredients interact. Take these." Keira rolled her eyes as she could already see it on the projection. What she complimented was his control. Even with the feedback, most people failed in their alchemical progress, but Liam seemed just fine. She handed him a few vials¡ªone containing venom extract from the arachas he had killed, another filled with a dark, viscous liquid.


    "Mix them, but carefully. The wrong ratio, and you''ll end up with an unstable compound," Keira said. He carefully poured the right amounts into a mixing flask, stirring with slow movements.


    "You''re making this look way too easy. But remember, these are basic ones. I would like to see what you do further," Keira said.


    "Not my fault I have an advantage. But you are right. I will have to tackle the magic part too in the future," Liam admitted.


    "Good that you know. And there''s one thing your armor won''t help with¡ªintuition. Sometimes, alchemy isn''t about calculations. It''s about feeling the process. The best alchemists can sense when a potion is going wrong before they see it. Still, I have to admit... you''re progressing at a ridiculous pace. It took me months to learn what you''re picking up in hours."


    Liam smirked but said nothing.


    "Fine. Since you''re so efficient, let''s move on to distillation," Keira sighed. "And this will be more delicate than the previous process."


    "Bring it on." Liam was happy with his progress now.


    In order to learn basic alchemy, it took Liam three months. At first, Liam thought it would be easy, but then it turned out that it wasn''t. There were processes that took a lot of time, and Liam would make mistakes even with the help of Interceptor.


    But he also enjoyed his time with Keira. At the beginning, he was in a hurry, but gradually, he just let go of some of the burden and allowed himself to enjoy his progress. Since the hut was small, Liam had asked the locals to help them build a better home and also a better garden for her.


    Keira was very strict about it and definitely had OCD when the new garden was tilled. She supervised it all the time, and Liam actually felt bad for the men doing the job because she shouted at them and cursed them verbally. Liam sneakily gave each of them more crowns so that they didn''t hold grudges.


    Keira noticed it but didn''t say a word. She felt Liam was giving away money way too cheaply, and someday he would suffer for it because greed in people could never be stopped. Especially these worthless people who had nothing better going on in their lives.


    Meanwhile, the locals had seen Liam around and had accepted that either Liam was the son of the woman or was an apprentice. They had seen Liam tend to the garden quite often and also make alchemical mixtures once in a while. Unlike Keira, Liam interacted with them like equals, and thus, they were quite happy to help the local doctor''s apprentice/son.


    Liam had also relayed his findings in Velen to Geralt, and he was sad to know that it was a dead end. But Geralt was also making progress in his search for Ciri, as he was now in Novigrad, going to meet Djikstra.


    Liam remembered the problem Triss would face. Thankfully, there was Steve and Natasha with Geralt, and they could follow his advice here.

 115

    "So, remind me again, genius¡ªwhat''s the plan? Because I doubt they''ll take an interdimensional billionaire superhero at face value." Those were the first words that came out of Clint''s mouth after they disengaged from the saddle of the horse in the luxury stable of one of the best inns in Oxenfurt.


    They had reached here after a long journey, and both of them had even fought some drowners and nekkers along the way, though they made quick work of them. Since they had left the group and were on their own, they had been cautious at the start, but slowly, they realized that they were better than these humans, who had low intellect.


    It was a matter of intelligence and knowledge. But they also saw the horrors of the place they were in. They had heard tales of how bad the medieval period of Earth was and how life expectancy was so low. But now, seeing it in reality made them feel empathetic.


    The city of Oxenfurt was a bustling hub of academia and commerce. The architecture, while medieval in nature, had an elegance to it that even Tony Stark could appreciate. Red-roofed buildings, cobbled streets, and the towering presence of Oxenfurt University made for an impressive sight.


    "You underestimate the power of a well-funded bribe," Tony replied with a smirk.


    Tony had little trouble securing proper documentation. His natural charisma and ability to spin a compelling story helped immensely. People seemed to have forgotten that he was once a playboy and a very successful businessman. Though he hardly used his intellect to conduct business anymore, it didn''t mean he had lost the old charm.


    The dude was even able to convince terrorists to let him stay alive to make weapons for them. Though it was a very odd example, one couldn''t deny that Tony Stark was anything but interesting.


    With forged papers in hand, officially recognizing him as one "Antonius Stark, esteemed scholar and alchemist from a faraway land," Tony set his sights on something grander¡ªestablishing himself within the University of Oxenfurt.


    The University was an imposing structure, alive with scholars engaged in heated debates and students eagerly scribbling notes from their professors'' lectures. If there was any place that could appreciate Tony¡¯s intelligence, it was here.


    Finding his way to the faculty offices, Tony requested an audience with the university¡¯s chancellor. Using his signature charm, he convinced the gatekeepers that he was a scholar of great renown, possessing knowledge in metallurgy and alchemical theory that could revolutionize their understanding of science.


    "And what exactly do you claim to specialize in, Master Stark?" the chancellor asked. He was very skeptical because he had seen way too many frauds in his lifetime, and a person of such high position, who could even ask for an audience with the King of Redania, needed to have at least basic intellect.


    "Metallurgy, practical alchemy, and innovation. Ever heard of mass book production? Your scribes are good, but what if I told you I could help the university print books faster and more efficiently than ever before?" Tony leaned in as he said that.


    "That would indeed be revolutionary, but such claims require proof." The chancellor stroked his beard, still not impressed at all.


    Tony had been waiting for that. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a meticulously drawn blueprint, unfurling it on the large wooden table. The design depicted a revolutionary device¡ªan advanced printing press that could produce books at a fraction of the current time and cost. It utilized metal plates and mechanical pressure to transfer ink onto pages, eliminating the need for painstaking hand-copying.


    It even had ways written to make ink more cheaply.


    "With the right craftsmen and materials, I can make this work. Think of the money Oxenfurt University could make by mass-producing books. Think of the knowledge you could spread. If you want this to happen, let me work here."


    "Very well, Master Stark. We shall see if your knowledge matches your confidence. Welcome to Oxenfurt University." The chancellor also saw a huge pouch of coins placed on the table beside the blueprint. No matter what, he was a man with greed. Barton had asked around about the nature of the chancellor, and it didn''t take much to find out that the chancellor had his vices.


    The chancellor had decided that even if this Stark failed in his invention, he could always kick him out later. As Tony signed his name in the faculty registry, Clint crossed his arms and chuckled.


    "Professor Stark, huh? Never thought I¡¯d see the day."


    "Neither did I, Legolas. But hey, if we¡¯re stuck in this world, I might as well leave my mark."


    This happened a few days after Liam and they separated. It took 15 days for them to make a printing press machine and show it to the chancellor. Tony had even shown new ways to make ink, which surprised each of the faculty members.


    And that wasn''t the only influential thing that Tony was doing around. As a faculty member, he was mandated to give classes, and it only took a week for his class to be filled with students. The ideas he talked about were revolutionary, so much so that even some professors had started taking notes from what the students wrote.


    Of course, not everyone liked this man who had dropped out of nowhere, but little could be done about it since he started the printing press. Tony had given the invention to the university in exchange for 10% of the profits, another 20% to the faculty members, and another 10% to the chancellor.


    Oxenfurt was a progressive city. Though its views on sorcerers could be debated, one couldn''t deny that the city had a way of accepting innovations. And Tony was very smart about the wealth distribution. He allotted merely 10% of the profits to himself and the rest to the faculty and the chancellor, while the remaining 60% went to the city and the university.


    This earned him the goodwill of everyone at the university. And there were talks about giving Tony an honorary medal for his contribution.

 116

    And Tony wasn''t the only one being busy. Barton, with the help of crowns, opened a new dye shop. Dye shop to paint the clothes and though dyes were present in Oxenfurt, it was costly and thus raised the prices of clothes. Tony had advised him to affect one of the basic necessities of human beings.


    Clothes.


    And thus he had opened the first dye shop which was much cheaper. Though the business took time to take off, but it was finally ready to start after 3 months of Barton running around.


    Oxenfurt was their epicenter to bring influence to the world and thus Tony and Barton were progressing very fast in their mission.


    ------


    The wooden tub was filled to the brim, steam rising from the heated water as Keira lounged comfortably within. The dim candlelight flickered across the room. The scent of herbs and oils filled the air, remnants of whatever mixture she had added to the bath for relaxation.


    Outside the tub, Liam sat on a wooden chair, a thick alchemical tome resting in his lap. His eyes were focused on the text, occasionally flipping a page and surprisingly not even bothered with the sight on the tub.


    "I must say, I''m a little offended. A beautiful sorceress, completely naked before you, and not even a flicker of interest? Are you, perhaps, infertile?" Keira didn''t hold back her thoughts at all. It had been almost 4 months since Liam had started living with her.


    At first she was very cautious and though she did allow Liam to live with her, she had put enough protection against him so that she would never be ambushed. Even now she had a bit of fear against him, especially the armor that was sentient.


    She had secretly tried to investigate the armor and understand the magic inside but no matter what spell she tried on it, everything would rebound with nothing. And she was not crazy enough that she would destroy the armor as she knew that Liam might prove to be a tough opponent even without the armor.


    She was a mage that circled around benefits. If something didn''t benefit her, she would avoid getting engaged in that. Years of living among politicians taught her that. Liam sighed at the question of Keira, not bothering to look up from his book.


    "No, I''m not infertile. But you are my teacher, and you deserve my respect. Besides..." He finally met her gaze. "I don''t find it appealing to look at a woman who clearly has her sights set on another man. And I am pretty sure that you have no such interest in me. You might have some about my origins, but that''s just curiosity."


    "How very noble of you. A rare trait in men of any world." Keira blinked in surprise. Though she also thought that Liam was so indifferent that made him resistant to such temptations, that was because he had somehow detached himself from almost all emotions. The only emotion she had seen till now was a bit of frustration and not even proper happiness after mastering some alchemical process. Liam was a very odd ball, and seemed more like a witcher, than an actual witcher. Such kind of person was dangerous, since a man who was ruled by emotions could be manipulated and Liam was not one of them.


    "I just think there should be a boundary, that''s all. Now, you were saying something about the sources of magic?" Liam shrugged.


    "Fine, let''s talk magic then." She stretched her arms above the water, the movement causing ripples across the surface. "Conventional magic in this world draws power from four primary sources¡ªthe elements. Earth, water, air, and fire. Each holds a vast reservoir of chaos magic, which a sorcerer can tap into and shape according to their will."


    "So, it''s less about creating magic and more about borrowing it?" Liam said as it made sense. Since that was same principle in MCU too. But Liam was also confused about his magic from Forspoken. The magic which he was able to do, came as an instinct and not as a knowledge.


    "Exactly," Keira confirmed. "One must harness the chaotic energies within these elements and mold them into structured spells. However, there''s a reason magic is not accessible to everyone¡ªit requires precision, talent and understanding."


    She dipped her fingers into the water, lazily swirling them around.


    "Earth is stable and reliable. It''s the foundation of protective spells, reinforcement magic, and even certain types of healing. Water is adaptable, fluid, and crucial for restoration magic. Air is the fastest, often used for speed-enhancing spells or manipulating objects from a distance."


    "And fire?" Liam glanced up and she could see the perky breasts poking out easily. Even for Liam, who had been stoic all this time, gulped down his throat. No wonder Geralt didn''t stop himself having fun with her in the actual story. Even he was tempted.


    "Fire is the most dangerous. The hardest to control, the most volatile. It is pure destruction given form, and once unleashed, it''s difficult to rein in. Many ambitious mages have tried to master it fully¡ªmost of them are nothing more than ashes now." Keira said with a darkened expression.


    This was true. Because Ciri once tried to use the source of fire to fuel her magic, only to get sacred and sever her relationship with the elements. Though it didn''t matter to her by the end, because she herself was a source of huge magic of space and time. Of course, Liam didn''t have knowledge about this at all as he hadn''t read the books.


    "Then why use it at all?" Liam asked.


    "Because power tempts. Fire is raw strength, immediate devastation. For those who seek dominance, it is often the quickest path. But it always demands a price." Keira leaned back, resting her head against the edge of the tub.


    "Then what about the lightning spells that you tend to dish out. Where do they come from?" Liam asked.

 117

    "A good question. No, they are not separate sources. Rather, they are combinations of the four primary elements. Lightning, for example, is a mixture of fire and air. Wood magic stems from earth and water. Ice magic is water but with a strong influence of air. Magic isn''t rigid; it''s fluid and can blend in various ways." Keira grinned seeing how further Liam thought.


    "You also mentioned that fire isn''t mostly chosen as a source. Does that mean it''s avoided entirely?" Liam asked.


    "Not exactly. Fire is difficult to control, so it''s rarely used as a primary source by beginners. However, for accomplished sorcerers, accessing fire becomes much easier. Those with the skill and knowledge to tame its wild nature can use it more effectively." Keira said.


    "So, the four elements are the main sources, but are they the only ones?" Liam was curious and by that Keira was done with the bathing and slowly got up.


    "Turn around." Liam''s eyes took a quick glimpse of her body till her navel before turning around. "Not at all. The four elements are simply the most conventional sources. There are others. Some individuals themselves can act as a source of magic. Take Ciri, for example. She doesn''t need an external element to draw from because she herself is a source of magic. Though, that kind of magic tends to be different from conventional magic and follows its own set of rules."


    Liam heard the trickling of water and splashes around as he guessed Keira had gotten out of tub. He was having a bit of hard time and turning around just made him a bit more tempted to have a sight of what he was missing, but he stopped himself. Being a man, and having been devoid of human touch for such a long time, had been a bit hard for him.


    He even wondered why he didn''t go and find a girlfriend for himself. As he was sure there were people who could live as long as him. Was his immortality the reason why he didn''t want to get attached to anyone?


    He could think all of these thoughts later.


    "So, magic isn''t just about controlling external forces. Some people generate their own?" Liam asked as he thought of his Forspoken magic. He needed to understand that magic once he returned.


    "Precisely. That''s why mages study for years¡ªto understand not just how to wield magic, but where it comes from and how it manifests. There''s always more to learn." Keira replied and by now she had dressed herself using magic. Making clothes out of thin air.


    "Enough about magic. Let''s make you the most capable alchemy assistant of this century. Come with me." Keira continued and Liam followed her. He was a bit lost in the thoughts of magic.


    The dim glow of alchemical lanterns illuminated the underground chamber as Keira placed a heavy tome on the wooden table before Liam.


    "If you''re serious about learning alchemy, then this will be your first real test," Keira said, tapping the page. "Mahakaman Spirit is a vital component in many potions. It serves as the foundation for Dwarven Spirit, which in turn is used in countless alchemical concoctions. Without it, most potions wouldn''t even be possible." Keira said.


    "And here I thought making liquor was simple." Liam replied.


    "This isn''t just liquor, dear student. It''s an alchemical base, refined to perfection by the dwarves. It''s stronger, purer, and capable of preserving magical properties within potions. If you can make it, you''ll have taken your first step into real alchemy." Keira chuckled.


    Liam nodded and got to work. The first step required fermenting a mixture of barley, grain, and special herbs found only in the Mahakam Mountains. Since they lacked direct access to Mahakaman ingredients, Keira had procured similar substitutes, but they needed precise treatment. And of course, Interceptor helped him in every way.


    His first attempt was an absolute failure. The fermentation process went wrong, producing a foul-smelling sludge instead of the clear, potent liquid he was expecting. Keira had laughed at his sour expression.


    "Patience, Liam. This isn''t just mixing things together and hoping for the best. Precision is key. Temperature, timing, and ingredient quality all matter."


    The days blurred into weeks as Liam refined his method. He studied the chemical reactions in depth, understanding how the fermentation process interacted with magical properties.


    Keira was relentless. She made him document every attempt, and even with the Interceptor helping, she would ask him to write down the attempts and his failures.


    "Alchemy isn''t just about magic, Liam. It''s science, chemistry, and intuition all combined. You can''t brute-force your way through it."


    Liam adapted. Using his armor''s interface, he measured temperatures precisely, recording fermentation times to the second. Yet, the spirit remained imperfect. One evening, as Liam sat by the bubbling cauldron, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.


    "Keira, why is this taking so long? I''ve made so many adjustments, yet it still lacks the purity you demand."


    "Because true mastery isn''t about rushing. If alchemy were easy, everyone would do it. The dwarves have perfected this art over centuries. You''re trying to replicate their craftsmanship in mere weeks." Keira said with a sweet smile.


    Liam sighed but didn''t give up. Over the next few weeks, he experimented with different aging methods, refining his distillation process. He had taken inspiration from the modern process of distillation of alcohol and changed some of the processes. Keira had noticed the changes that Liam was bringing and didn''t stop him. Innovation and ideas should always be welcomed in alchemy. Magic was a different matter since it was dangerous and unless some forbidden alchemical concoction was being made, it was fine to add ideas to alchemy.


    His final breakthrough came when he realized the wood of the barrels played a crucial role in the spirit''s refinement. Thus he searched for a particular wood in the nearby forest and made the spirit. By the end of the month, he stood before Keira, presenting a flask of the clear, strong liquid.


    Keira took a sip after she had seen the whole process in front of her and said.


    "You''ve finally done it."


    "So, does this mean I pass?" Liam grinned.

 118

    "Barely. But at least you won''t embarrass yourself in front of a dwarf. Now, let''s see if you can put that knowledge to even better use." Keira wanted to speak more but then Liam''s radio turned on by itself.


    Bzzt


    "Liam, you there?" Steve''s voice came through.


    "Yeah, I''m here. What''s going on?" Liam replied after grabbing the radio.


    "We need your help. We''re trying to get the remaining sorcerers out of Novigrad and into Kovir, but the witch hunters are making it impossible. They''re watching the roads, the ports, everything. If we don''t act soon, they''ll start rounding people up."


    Liam felt into a deep thought. He knew how the story went in the original. Triss was supposed to leave with the mages and depending upon the choices of Geralt, she would either leave or stay back.


    "What happened to your guns?" Liam asked.


    "We don''t have unlimited bullets." Steve responded.


    "How many people are we talking about?" Liam asked about the sorcerers.


    "Too many to move without drawing attention, we can fight if we have to, but we need to be smart about this. Can you come?" Steve asked again.


    "Novigrad? You''re dealing with the Eternal Fire''s little fanatics?" Keira, who had been listening, leaned forward.


    "I''ll be there. Do you have a plan?" Liam nodded before pressing the radio again.


    "We''ve scouted some routes, but we''ll need to create distractions to split the witch hunters'' focus. The problem is, they''ve been increasing patrols. It''s like they know something''s coming."


    "Alright, I will be there." Liam said before shutting off the radio.


    "Take me with you." Keira said. This made Liam''s eyebrows raise.


    "Aren''t you trying to avoid them all this time?" Liam asked.


    "You knew?" Keira was surprised that Liam knew that she herself was hiding.


    "It''s not that difficult to figure it out. An accomplished sorceress hiding and living in a hut, especially when you are known to live in luxuries." Liam shrugged. Keira became silent for a moment, before saying.


    "I am hiding for sure but I have also seen how you fight. You have a habit of making sure of your escapes before you engage in a fight, just like an accomplished witcher so I believe that since you are helping, you are sure to win. And besides I want to meet the friends of my student, and see what kind of people they are." Keira said.


    "Does that mean you will leave with them to Kovir?" Liam asked.


    "Depends upon how you take care of the witch hunters?" Keira smirked and said.


    "So I guess the days of witch hunters and radicals are coming to an end as I don''t want to lose a capable teacher."


    The next day both of them took two horses and left for Novigrad which was relatively far. After 4 days of travel and following roads that were hidden, they reached near the city. Liam and Keira traveled to Novigrad under the cover of night, taking every precaution to remain unnoticed.


    The city was crawling with witch hunters, and the Eternal Fire''s grip over the city was stronger than ever. If one travelled in the city, they would feel the suffocation under the oppressive presence of armored zealots patrolling at every turn. Especially when these witch hunters would arrest anyone on their whims and torture and rape men and women in every turn.


    Liam had planned their route carefully, avoiding main roads and instead slipping through hidden alleys, sewer tunnels, and abandoned buildings. Keira, despite her usual preference for elegance, adapted quickly as Liam had made him promise that she would follow his commands.


    He might be a student of hers, but in combat and strategy Keira knew not to question Liam. Besides, she was, after all, no stranger to evading dangerous men.


    Soon reached the meeting point¡ªa secluded cellar beneath a ruined warehouse near the port¡ªLiam could already sense that they weren''t alone. A shadow shifted near the entrance


    "Took you long enough."


    Steve stepped into the dim light, his shield strapped to his back and then followed up by Natasha, Geralt and finally Triss.


    "Glad you could make it," Natasha said, "We were starting to think you got lost."


    "Well, well," Keira said, "I didn''t expect to find you tangled up in this mess, Triss."


    "Keira?" Triss was surprised. "I am surprised that you will even come here. I thought you have vanished into the deep woods of Northern Realms." Keira and Triss hugged each other.


    "I should have but then my gorgeous student showed up." Keira said. Keira had eyed Geralt when she saw her, but when she saw Triss she knew that she wouldn''t get Geralt to herself. Both of them briefly talked about their adventure and how they landed up where they were and how they ended up here.


    Keira had also said that she would help and might even escape with Triss. Saying this while winking at Liam. Natasha and Steve saw the small gesture and teased Liam a bit only for Liam to shake his head.


    If he said that he didn''t have any relationship with her, they probably wouldn''t believe with how Keira was acting towards him. So he let it rest and asked Steve of what they needed to do.


    "We don''t have much time. The witch hunters are doubling their patrols, and we need to move the sorcerers soon. We were hoping you could help clear a path and brought weapons." Natasha said.


    "How many hunters are we dealing with?" Liam asked.


    "A lot," Geralt answered. "Enough that a direct fight isn''t an option. We need distractions, misdirection... something that keeps them chasing ghosts while we get the mages out." Geralt replied as he laid down the map of the city while circling out places where sorcerers were huddled.


    Geralt even spoke of Djikstra, who had been helping them. Natasha and Steve didn''t like this guy at all but they didn''t speak anything against taking the help of an over ambitious decommissioned spy.

 119

    The escape didn''t start immediately as Liam had thought, and they had to secure routes before the escape actually started. While they did so Steve gave his own recommendations which Geralt liked.


    "Have you been in situations like this?" Geralt had asked.


    "Multiple times." Steve replied casually. Of course he had. He even went and saved Bucky once. Soon the day of escape was on the horizon.


    The escape plan was in motion. Under the cover of darkness, Geralt and Triss began guiding small groups of sorcerers to the port while Steve, Natasha, Liam, and Keira provided cover. Their plan was working¡ªat first. The witch hunters were scattered and they had used enough misdirection and distractions. Explosions in one district, fires in another, strange illusions conjured by Keira and Triss¡ªit was chaos.


    But of course there were too many witch hunters in the whole city and it was very difficult to put blind on the eyes of everyone. Some of them would be able to find out some routes and charge at them.


    It didn''t take long for some of the witch hunters to regroup and try to stop them. The escape was no longer silent; it had turned into a hunt.


    At one point they came face to face with a group of witch hunters. The witch hunters charged. Swords and torches in hand, they rushed toward the group, shouting curses about magic and heresy. Liam raised his weapon¡ªa sleek, futuristic rifle compared to the crude crossbows of this world. He took aim and fired.


    Bang!


    The lead witch hunter''s head snapped back as a bullet tore through his skull. He collapsed instantly, blood pooling beneath him. The others froze.


    "What in the name of the Eternal Fire¡ª?" one of them gasped.


    Steve and Natasha didn''t wait. They opened fire, their automatic weapons spraying precise bursts into the charging fanatics. Bodies dropped, some screaming as they clutched wounds they couldn''t comprehend.


    "They''re using magic!" one of the surviving hunters screamed. "Dark magic!"


    "Then let''s give them more of it," Liam muttered, as he opened more fire on them.


    The hunters hesitated as they witnessed from afar some of their comrades fall faster than they could react. Their armor¡ªdesigned to withstand swords and arrows¡ªmeant nothing against bullets.


    But there were really some who were just fanatics. But it didn''t matter, those who tried were laid waste on the filthy ground before they could even get close to the sorcerers and Liam, Steve and Natasha.


    Every single one that charged was gunned down.


    The few survivors turned and ran, screaming warnings about unholy weapons and monsters disguised as humans. The port was within reach now, the path clear.


    Geralt, Triss, and Keira, who had been guiding another group also came back victorious and had managed to get the last group of mages aboard the ship. There were two ships which were meant to leave for Kovir. One of them had already left. Of course, there were huge fire catapults on the port to be used by the witch hunters and destroy their ship. This was where Liam came in.


    He wore his armor and flew away, and then just launch lightning and frost attack to the three catapults rendering them useless for a long time and making this free city defenseless. One had to remember that the city of Novigrad was free. And Radovid actually didn''t have a control over this city which he so desperately wanted.


    The Church was his way to get inside the city and control them and though Whoreson Jr. was also one of the agents of Radovid, he had failed to gain full control of the city. The witch hunting was his desperate attempt to appeal to the masses of the city filled with businessmen.


    Now that the defenses of the city was down it might seem like Radovid could take the city by force much more easily, but for businessmen, they could easily move to a new place and make another city. It might cost them but these people, would rather chose freedom than choose Radovid or any other King for that matter.


    The Nilfgaardians had even offered a place and let them operate on their own. Besides, the Church itself wasn''t exactly a puppet of Radovid and it had its problems too.


    The ship was ready to set sail. The last of the sorcerers hurried aboard, some crying in relief, others shaking in fear, unwilling to believe that they had truly escaped. The Eternal Fire''s madness had turned Novigrad into a prison for them, and now, for the first time in months¡ªmaybe even years¡ªthere was hope.


    Triss stood near the gangplank, watching as the sailors prepared to shove off. She had fought so hard to get these people out¡ªto lead them to freedom. This was supposed to be her escape too. This was supposed to be her new beginning.


    Keira stood a few steps behind her. She wasn''t as sure. Life in Kovir would be luxurious, yes, but was it truly safe? Or would she simply be trading one prison for another, one built of golden chains instead of iron bars?


    And here was Geralt, who probably still had feelings for Triss. Afterall, she did help him recover.


    "You should stay," he said to Triss, "Kaer Morhen could use someone like you. You''re good at magic, at alchemy. You could make a difference there."


    "Kaer Morhen? The ruined keep of a dying order? You expect us to stay in a place like that?" It was Keira who replied.


    "It''s not what it was, but it''s still safe," Geralt replied. "You don''t have to keep running."


    Triss, however, didn''t respond immediately. Then, with a deep breath, she turned away from the ship.


    "I''m not going," she finally said.


    "Wait, what?" It was Keira who was most surprised by the decision of Triss as it was her plan, from the start, to go to Kovir.


    "Geralt''s right. Kaer Morhen isn''t much, but it''s something. And if I leave now... I don''t know if I can ever come back. This fight isn''t over. And I can''t abandon those who still need help." Triss said.

 120

    "Damn it all. Fine. I''ll stay too. But if I hate it, I''m blaming you, Triss." Keira said with a frustrated sigh, and also looking at Liam who had opened his visor mask from the javelin.


    Geralt gave a small nod, and looked like he was trying his best not to show his joy in Triss''s decision.


    "Well, that''s all well and good, but Kaer Morhen is a temporary solution at best, from what Geralt had told us about that place. You need a real sanctuary¡ªsomewhere safe, somewhere secure. A place where witch hunters, kings, and armies won''t be breathing down your necks." Natasha said as she looked at Liam who was just checking the drones that had been out.


    These drones would warn him about incoming witch hunters, thus allowing Liam to have a better control of the battlefield. He didn''t pay attention to the words of Geralt or others at the moment.


    "And you can make that happen, can''t you?" It was Steve who spoke while keeping his hand on Liam''s shoulder.


    "I am sorry, what are you talking about?" Liam asked as he was genuinely confused.


    "I was saying that you can provide these two powerless women sanctuary." Natasha reiterated again.


    "They are anything but helpless. All they need to do is kill the King or the Grand Order of the Church and they will shut up." Liam said.


    "Heh. Been there. Done that. Only made those fanatics more crazy." Keira said. As they were talking one witch hunter was actually able to sneak in, only to be thrown the shield at him and return like a boomerang, knocking the man out cold.


    "Than what do you want me to do?" Liam just gave his opinion which he thought was good, but then he remembered that many sorcerers were responsible for so many assassinations.


    Vilgefortz, one of the greatest sorcerers of their time, had committed so much bloodshed in the name of experiments and his own free will, that by the end he had become a menace. But thankfully, Yen and Geralt took him down in a very hard fought battle. He too wanted to curb the hatred humans had for sorcerers or witchers, but it only fueled their anger and fanned the flames.


    "We want you to help."


    Liam was surprised that these people wanted his help and that included providing them a safe haven.


    "My dear student, do you have a safe haven for us two hopeless women for us to take shelter and live our lives in peace?" Keira asked as she finally got the gist that Liam was the head of their group and his home might be the safest haven for them. Geralt understood it better though, as Yen had figured out their origins back in Vizima.


    "Stop pretending." Liam croaked.


    "Now let''s move away from here. You don''t want to the center of attention now." Steve said as he saw some windows opening on the far side of the port of some of the houses.


    The group moved swiftly through the shadowed streets of Novigrad, careful to avoid drawing more attention. The city was still reeling from the chaos of their escape, and while the witch hunters had been left in disarray, it was only a matter of time before they regrouped and started searching for any remaining sorcerers.


    They finally arrived at Triss''s temporary hideout¡ªa small, abandoned house tucked away in a lesser-traveled district. It was nothing remarkable, just another worn-down building amidst the countless others in Novigrad. But it had served its purpose well enough, keeping Triss hidden until now.


    The place wasn''t much, but it was the best she could manage while on the run.


    As soon as the door was shut behind them, Triss let out a breath and turned to Liam.


    "Alright. Now that we''re safe¡ªat least for now¡ªexplain what you meant earlier. You talk about a ''safe haven'' like it''s something you can just... make happen. What did you mean?"


    Liam exhaled, weighing his words carefully. When the system had allowed him to bring living beings from the game worlds to reality, he didn''t put much attention to it, nor he cared. His first thought was searching for druids in Kovir and then learn from there, while also going after the Aen Elle.


    That was his plan. Learning from Keira or any other person wasn''t in his plans. Definitely not Keira since she was a selfish woman to begin with who would do anything to reach her goal and also take her revenge. At first when Keira showed up, Liam thought of using her for his goals.


    But once he got to know her, he realized that though she was selfish and was trying to learn the arcanist knowledge of armor, she never forced and Keira seemed to share everything she knew about alchemy to Liam.


    This made him reevaluate Keira''s personality. He knew that that she wasn''t as good a person as Triss, but everyone was flawed to begin with. He could give them safe haven but he would also warn them of potential dangers.


    Their world was anything normal. More abnormal then their current world.


    "We aren''t from this world," Liam said simply.


    "What?"


    "You mean... you''re from a different land? Like Zerrikania? Or one of those far-off places beyond Nilfgaard''s reach?" Keira said as she was always curious and thought Liam belonged to a far off land in the Continent.


    "No. I mean another world. Another dimension entirely."


    Triss narrowed her eyes, studying him for any sign of deception. She found none.


    "Oh, come now. You can''t be serious."


    But Steve and Natasha weren''t laughing. Neither was Geralt.


    "Yeneffer figured out their origin soon after they had landed here." Geralt said.


    "Yen knew? You knew? And you didn''t think of mentioning it to me?" Triss was a bit fuming seeing her best friend, once lover, hide it from her. But it was not the time for lashing out.


    Liam then went on to explain a brief of their arrival here and why Liam was hell bent on learning as their time was limited here. Now Keira could sense that Liam wasn''t lying.

 121

    "I know it sounds insane. But think about it. The weapons we use, the technology we have, the way we fight¡ªit''s nothing like what you have in this world. You''ve seen me do things that shouldn''t be possible, even with magic. Do you really think all of that just came from some hidden corner of this world?" Liam said.


    "Even if we entertain this ridiculous idea, you''re saying that you¡ªwhat? Want to take us to this other world of yours? That''s your ''safe haven''?" Keira asked.


    "I am not asking you to live there. I am saying that you can have your freedom and nobody will bother you. In fact, if you show your powers, people will even cheer for you. And besides, if you do live in our world, there will be some laws which you will have to follow." Liam said. "Our world isn''t perfect, but it has order, law, and protection. No witch hunters, no kings waging wars over magic. You wouldn''t have to hide or run anymore."


    "We can take the final decision after we reach Kaer Morhen." Triss finally proposed the idea.


    "Fine by me. I''m not jumping into another world without knowing what I''m getting into." Keira said.


    "That''s fair. Kaer Morhen it is." Liam nodded.


    "I''ll be heading there too. Need to restock some of my potions and supplies before continuing to Skellige." Geralt, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up.


    "To meet Yennefer, I assume?" Natasha asked, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.


    "Then it''s settled. We move at first light." Steve clapped his hands together.


    "No. We need to leave before first light. The witch hunters are going to be more radical than ever after tonight. We just humiliated them in their own city. They''re going to be out for blood." Liam said.


    "Lovely. That means we''ll have to take the long way out, doesn''t it?" Keira said.


    "Yes. There''s a hidden path out of the city¡ªan old smuggler''s route. It''ll take us to the open lands without attracting too much attention." Triss knew the ins and outs of the city quite well.


    Liam checked his drones, ensuring there were no unexpected movements near their hideout. For now, they were safe.


    "Then get some rest," he said. "We leave before dawn."


    The next morning, long before the sun peeked over the horizon, the group slipped out of the hideout. Triss led the way through the back alleys of Novigrad, avoiding the main roads where patrols were bound to be heavier. Every now and then, Liam''s drones scouted ahead, ensuring the path remained clear.


    They reached an old warehouse near the city''s outer wall. Beneath it, hidden under wooden planks and crates, was a tunnel entrance¡ªone of the many smuggling routes used by merchants and criminals alike. The passage was dark, damp, and smelled of stale water, but it was their safest option.


    Soon, they reached the end of the tunnel. A heavy wooden door led outside to the open lands. Liam went first, scanning the area with his helmet''s sensors.


    "Clear," he muttered,


    The journey to Kaer Morhen was long and grueling. They traveled across rolling plains and abandoned villages too. It was summer so there was no snow as of yet and that itself was a boon, since it winter it was very different scenario around. Along the way, they kept a low profile, avoiding any unnecessary encounters.


    Despite the challenges, the group moved swiftly, their pace set by Geralt and Liam, who scouted ahead with drones and witcher senses. After days of travel, they finally reached the base of the Blue Mountains, where the winding, treacherous path to Kaer Morhen began.


    But then both Liam and Geralt stopped, Gerlt smelled the air while red dots popped up on the drones that had been flying ahead. Soon rows upon rows of soldiers clad in the colors of Redania poured down the hills. They came in numbers that dwarfed anything the group had faced before¡ªat least two thousand men. A massive war banner bearing Radovid''s sigil fluttered in the wind.


    At the center of it all, flanked by mounted knights, was the King of Redania himself¡ªRadovid V, the Stern. Beside him, sitting atop his own horse, was a man that made Geralt''s expression harden with quiet rage¡ªSigismund Dijkstra.


    "Shit," Geralt muttered under his breath.


    The betrayal was clear. Dijkstra had led them into a trap. The man who had once conspired with Geralt for Temeria''s restoration had sold them out to Radovid, likely in exchange for power and his old position.


    "You are one big asshole, Djikstra." Triss gritted her teeth as she said that. Djikstra had always been a questionable man due to his ambitions, but they didn''t expect that he would be the one to betray them.


    He must have figured it out that they were leaving for Kaer Morhen once Triss didn''t get on the ship. Liam was also a bit take aback by the army. Djikstra''s story by the end was different, depending upon the choices.


    Now it seemed Liam''s interfernce had finally led to changes. Which wasn''t that surprising, and besides he never liked this fat man to begin with.


    "What can I say? I am a charmer." Djikstra smirked as he said that, while folding his hands.


    "Well.. Well.. I didn''t expect the infamous Keira Metz to be here. Temeria would be very happy to know that their lost sorcerer is back at their kingdom." It was Radovid, flanked by knights that came forward and spoke.


    Keira was ready to give this man a verbal lashing but was stopped by Liam who stepped forward, and stepped down from his horse. Radovid knew three of the people here and was also informed by Djikstra that Geralt had made new friends who possessed very unique magical weapons.


    At first he didn''t believe the words of Djikstra, of the magical weapons that seemed to come out of nowhere. But then the reports came about the witch hunters and then he started to believe the person who he had just imprisoned since this guy had betrayed him once.

 122

    "Who the fuck are you?" Radovid asked in disgust and anger. He had been holding on to the anger he had harbored for so many years now. Starting from Phillipa and now to all the sorcerers in the whole world. He remembered how she had psychologically tortured him, making him feel less of a man and more as a pussy.


    Someone to be used like a puppet. He would never forget it till his death. He wanted to kill each and every one of them, until none remained and now there was greed too, in the mixture. The Nilfgaardians had been breathing down their neck and soon they would charge into Redenia.


    Thus having weapons could change many things.


    "Liam Woodsworth, from New York," Liam replied. Radovid went into thinking mode, trying to recall any place of the name New York in it, but couldn''t remember any such name.


    "If you know what is good for you, then you will step aside and let Redenia redeem itself from the witchcraft and bring an end to the chaos all around." Radovid spoke big words, not only to intimidate but also take the high ground among the soldiers. Their kingdom had been plagued by politics of sorcerers.


    "Radovid.." Liam spoke in a slow tone and then a knight pointed his long spear at Liam and roared from beneath the steel helmet.


    "It''s King Radovid for you."


    "It''s alright David, we can look over the disrespect of the peasants." Radovid said, while still holding a smirk. The soldiers behind him gave him confidence like no other. Liam''s eyebrow raised a bit but didn''t refute his words and said.


    "You must be really desperate to get rid of some sorcerers since you came from such a long way and with that huge of an army to kill us. Aren''t you afraid that the Nilfgaard will attack your precious homes and loot you." Liam mocked.


    "Hah. Once I get my hands on the magic weapons, those Nilfgaardians can go suck some teats of hags." Radovid said. Liam tilted his head and just summoned his armor and promptly went inside. Radovid didn''t think much of the armor that had appeared. And though these huge armor might look intimidating but it also meant they would be too difficult to maneuver.


    In fact when the javelin armor was summoned they got scared as they thought Liam was a great sorcerer and even expected the armor to walk in by itself or something, but once Liam got inside, many of the soldiers just laughed out loud. Metal wasn''t always a great conductor of magic and Liam using it meant, he was more handicapped than ever before.


    Steve and others who had been ready stood beside Liam only to be told by Liam.


    "This isn''t your battle. It''s mine." His voice was low. "You''ve fought your wars. This... this is a trial for me. A test."


    "Can you take them on?" Geralt asked as he had seen what this armor could do as shown by Tony once.


    "Trust me." Liam said. Liam turned to Triss and Keira. "Shield. Now."


    "Liam¡ª" Triss began.


    "Do it!"


    Without another word, the two raised their hands. A shimmering dome of magic engulfed the group, a translucent orange barrier crackling with energy. The moment it snapped into place, Liam shot forward.


    And then, the horror began.


    Liam moved like a blur. The enhanced Interceptor Javelin made him nothing less than a specter of death. He was faster than the eye could follow¡ªone second, he was near the group and the other second he was inside the ranks of Radovid''s army.


    He landed in a crouch, his sleek rifle already raised.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Redanian soldiers dropped like flies, their bodies jerking violently as bullets tore through armor, muscle, and bone. The men barely had time to react before Liam switched to full auto¡ªhis rifle screaming death as he cut down entire rows of soldiers in seconds.


    "What the¡ª?!"


    "Dark magic!"


    The soldiers panicked, their discipline cracking instantly. They had never seen anything like this. Not magic, not sorcery¡ªthis was something else.


    A sergeant''s face exploded in a mist of red. The soldier beside him collapsed as a bullet tore through his throat, gurgling as he clutched his ruined windpipe. Another was blown off his feet, his breastplate crumpling inward as Liam''s shot ripped through steel and flesh like paper.


    "What in the¡ª"


    The soldiers turned, but Liam was already gone.


    He vaulted over a stunned pikeman, spun mid-air, and emptied the rest of his magazine straight down. The Redanian''s helmet cracked like an egg, his skull pulped before he even hit the ground.


    Liam landed lightly, holstering the rifle in a single fluid motion. Now the real work begins.


    Blades slid free from his armor ash dashed forward. A Redanian captain, dressed in finer armor, roared as he swung his longsword. Liam tilted his head, sidestepped, and slashed¡ªhis blade carving through steel, bone, and flesh in a single seamless cut.


    The captain froze, eyes wide with confusion¡ªthen his upper body slid off his waist, sizzling as his insides spilled onto the snow. Liam didn''t stop. He twisted, parrying another soldier''s wild slash before driving his second sword through the man''s gut. The soldier gasped, eyes bulging as the blade burned through him.


    Liam kicked the corpse off his weapon and spun into another group. His blades sang¡ªone slash, two slashes, three¡ª


    Limbs flew. Bodies dropped. Blood sprayed in wide arcs, steaming as it hit the cold ground.


    The screams started.


    Some fought. Some ran. Some simply froze, paralyzed by the horror unfolding before them. The thrusters in his Javelin flared, sending him streaking across the battlefield


    A group of archers tried to draw their bows¡ª


    Too slow.


    Liam''s wrist-mounted turret shot icicles. A torrent of compressed and hard ice eviscerated them. More soldiers surged forward, trying to overwhelm him.


    Liam smirked.


    His shock pulse detonated. A wave of raw energy erupted from his Javelin, hurling dozens of men into the air. Their armor crackled, their bodies twitching as the energy coursed through them. Some hit the ground as corpses, smoke curling from their mouths. Others lay twitching, eyes staring at nothing.

 123

    Even as Liam unleashed hell upon the Redanian forces, some of the more desperate and reckless soldiers realized that if they couldn''t kill that monster in the armored suit, they could at least strike at his companions.


    A group of nearly fifty men broke off, charging at Steve, Natasha, and Geralt, believing them to be weaker targets. They were wrong.


    Geralt was the first person they faced. The first soldier to reach him swung a heavy axe¡ªtoo slow. Geralt sidestepped, letting the weapon slam into the dirt, then stabbed forward, his blade sliding between the man''s ribs. The soldier gasped, blood foaming at his lips before he crumpled.


    Another swung a longsword. Geralt raised his Quen shield, deflecting the blow before twisting and decapitating the man in one seamless motion. A third soldier rushed in, stabbing wildly with a spear. Geralt ducked, rolled beneath the thrust, and came up behind him¡ªslitting his throat open with a single flick of his wrist. Blood sprayed onto the frozen ground.


    Geralt wasn''t the only one facing these men. Steve was there too. Steve Rogers saw a group of men charging straight at him, swords and maces raised.


    "You picked the wrong guy."


    He threw his shield¡ªhard.


    WHAM!


    It slammed into the leading soldier''s chest, sending him flying back into his comrades. The impact caved in his breastplate, the force knocking over the men behind. Before they could recover, Steve rushed forward, catching his returning shield and bashing it into a soldier''s face. There was a sickening CRACK as the man''s nose was flattened against his skull.


    One soldier managed to swing at him from the side. Steve raised his shield, angled it just right, and let the sword glance off harmlessly. Then he spun, planting a powerful kick into the man''s gut, sending him sprawling.


    Another lunged with a spear. Steve caught the shaft, yanked it forward, and headbutted the soldier so hard that he collapsed unconscious.


    "Try harder," Steve said coldly. He had been angry since he got to know of the witch hunters. In his words:


    "Wherever I go, I find Nazis. My time with World War II, then came Hydra, and now with witch hunters. When can humanity take a break from not committing genocide?"


    As Steve wasn''t the only one on the line, Natasha was there too. A soldier swung a broadsword at her. She ducked, letting it pass inches above her head, then stepped inside his guard and delivered a precise, brutal strike to his throat. He choked, staggering back¡ªjust as Natasha smoothly drew her pistols and shot him in the head.


    BANG. BANG. BANG.


    Three more soldiers dropped, each with a bullet hole between their eyes.


    One of the braver ones lunged from behind, thinking she was distracted.


    Big mistake.


    Natasha whipped around, sidestepped his charge, and in one fluid motion, wrapped her legs around his neck¡ªtwisting hard.


    SNAP.


    The soldier''s body went limp before he even hit the ground.


    More soldiers surrounded her, but she didn''t even blink. With a smirk, she activated her batons, and the nearest fool received a 50,000-volt shock to the chest, convulsing violently before falling dead in the snow.


    "Nice try."


    Geralt, Steve, and Natasha stood among the corpses, blood dripping from their weapons. The remaining soldiers hesitated, their fear overpowering their orders. Then they did something they were not supposed to do. They looked behind them.


    And they saw Liam.


    Standing alone in a field of butchered Redanians, his Interceptor armor gleaming under the warm sunlight. The blood of the fallen was dripping from his armor and blades. He looked like a demon that had crawled out of hell.


    The Redanians snapped.


    "RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"


    Soldiers dropped their weapons and fled in every direction, some tripping over the bodies of their fallen comrades, others scrambling over one another in sheer desperation. Radovid watched all of this in silent horror as his own men had slowly dwindled down to around one hundred. Liam didn''t actually run after them¡ªhe just looked at Radovid.


    The king was still flanked by his die-hard legion of knights. This legion stood there, but one could easily see that the spears, swords, and maces were shaking out of pure fear.


    "Why didn''t you run?" Liam asked as he opened his visor and looked at Radovid, his face devoid of emotion.


    "You... You... You are a d-d-demon... Y-you shouldn''t have been born in this world," Radovid''s voice was shaking. He was trying his best to run away, but the horse refused to move.


    Thanks to Triss.


    She held more anger for him than Keira and in no way was she allowing this sick excuse for a man to escape.


    "Who gets to decide if someone is allowed to be born or not? You?" Liam asked. "You''re just a man of flesh who thinks his childhood trauma will go away once you get rid of a whole demographic."


    Liam had spoken so many big and bombastic words that his speech went over the head of this dumb king.


    "Wha-a-t do you want? I can give you everything. From riches to women. Join me, and we can rule the world together."


    The king seemed to have finally gathered some courage, seeing Liam not walking through the blood and corpses but instead stopping to talk. There was hope for him.


    Or at least the king thought so.


    "Rule the world? You mean this continent filled with nothing but monsters and a bunch of individuals who only think of inflicting misery on people instead of improving their quality of life¡ªwhile also harboring delusions of genocide? Yeah... No.


    You know, Radovid, a part of me sympathizes with you after what Philippa did to you. You could have just gone after her, but no¡ªyou decided to bring down all sorcerers just because one of them had wronged you.


    You are nothing but a man who is still a child, living in a nightmare and making sure the world suffers the same nightmare you once did.

 124

    As Radovid sat frozen on his horse, Triss and Keira stepped forward. Their eyes burned with the fury of all the mages who had suffered under his purges. The Redanian knights, though trembling, still had their duty. They rushed in, shields raised, swords drawn, determined to protect their king.


    With a flick of her hand, a massive firestorm erupted between her and the knights, engulfing half of them instantly. Their screams filled the battlefield as their armor turned into searing hot prisons of molten metal. The ones who managed to avoid the worst of the flames found themselves caught in Keira''s spell¡ªsharp, glowing sigils formed in the air before unleashing a flurry of magic-fueled daggers made of raw stones, slicing through flesh and armor alike.


    A knight charged Keira and she simply waved her hand, and the ground beneath him turned to mud, swallowing his legs. Before he could even process what had happened, Keira stepped forward and drove a dagger straight through the slit in his helmet.


    Radovid could only watch in horror as his most loyal guards were slaughtered. He had been so certain of his invincibility, so sure that he was the predator and not the prey. That illusion shattered when Triss snapped her fingers, sending a fiery explosion at the last group of knights.


    Now, there was no one left to protect him. And Liam watched all of this happen without interfering.


    His horse still refused to move, bound by Triss''s magic. He tried to dismount, but Keira was already there, yanking him down with a forceful telekinetic pull. He hit the ground with a grunt, his crown rolling away in the dirt.


    "P-please!" he begged, "Mercy!"


    "Mercy? Did you show mercy to our brothers and sisters? Did you show mercy to the women you burned at the stake? To the children who lost their parents because of your paranoia?" Triss said.


    "You slaughtered us like animals, and now, here you are, groveling like a worm." Keira stepped beside her.


    "I-I was just¡ªjust cleansing the world of monsters!"


    "Then let''s see what it''s like to be treated like one."


    They didn''t make it quick. Keira used her magic to keep him from passing out, ensuring he felt every single wound, every ounce of pain. They flayed the skin from his arms, scorched his legs with controlled flames, and made him feel what it was like to be powerless. The same way he had made so many others feel before their deaths.


    By the time they were finished, Radovid was barely recognizable.


    "This is for all the mages you murdered."


    With that, she conjured a final burst of flame, consuming his body entirely. His screams were lost in the roar of the fire, and soon, there was nothing left but ashes. Liam from the corner of his eyes saw Djikstra trying to run away only for Liam''s shoulder brace to open and send a small missile which killed him from far.


    The battlefield fell silent. Liam, Geralt, Steve, and Natasha stood waiting. No one spoke about what had just happened, and no one needed to. With Radovid dead and the battle over, they resumed their journey to Kaer Morhen.


    "He killed... so many people alone today." Natasha glanced at Steve, then at Liam, who was walking ahead with Geralt.


    "Yeah. And have you noticed? He looks calmer now. Like he let something out back there." Steve replied.


    "He poured all his frustration into that fight. All that anger, all that restraint¡ªit all came out at once." Keira said as he had seen her student in frustration and for the first time she saw the horror of her students. They might be very powerful mages/sorcerers, but it would be near impossible battle for them to face so many of them. They would need someone to protect them always if they wished to utter their spells and have the maximum impact.


    But Liam needed none of that and his magic replenished itself. His movement was so fast, that he didn''t even need magic to bring his wrath down and for the first time everyone had seen how cruel Liam could be. And the terrifying part was he didn''t seem to feel a bit of pain or disgust at what he did.


    "I just hope it helped. No one should have to carry that much weight alone." Triss said, and though she didn''t know the story of Liam, she could also feel the burden Liam always seemed to carry. This battle probably had helped him.


    "You''re awfully calm for someone who just butchered an army." Geralt said as Liam and him were on their horses treading the mountainous path.


    "It''s not the first time I''ve done something like this." Liam smirked.


    "That so?"


    "Yeah. This isn''t new for me. I''ve wiped out enemies like that before¡ªenemies who wouldn''t stop unless they were all dead. At some point, you stop seeing them as people and start seeing them as obstacles." Liam said.


    Geralt was quiet for a moment. And then he said.


    "And that doesn''t bother you?"


    "It used to. But during trials, you can''t be merciful. It would only lead to failure. And this is a trial for me. Though it doesn''t mean that I would kill innocents in trials and thus I am very mindful of whom I kill in my world." Liam said. "The trials doesn''t care. You either do what needs to be done, or you die."


    Geralt didn''t know how he should reply to Liam''s words. For him, their world was a trial which Liam had to pass and thus he did what he did. It was a very unique topic which Geralt wasn''t knowledgeable enough to discuss about. He was a monster hunter not a psychologist.


    "I won''t pretend it''s a good thing. You remind me of myself in ways I don''t entirely like."


    "Is that so?" Liam asked.


    "Yeah. You''ve learned to shut your emotions away, just like I did. Probably for good reasons. But let me tell you something. You don''t have to be like me."


    Liam frowned slightly, not expecting that.


    "You have the luxury to be more than a killer," Geralt continued. "You can still let yourself feel. Let yourself grieve, laugh, get angry. Let yourself care. I don''t have that anymore¡ªnot like I used to."

 125

    "They stripped a lot of it from me when I was young. Forced the emotions out, dulled them down. I can still feel, but it''s... distant. Muted." Geralt continued. "I don''t regret being a Witcher. It''s what I am. But... there are times I miss the part of me that could really feel. Maybe I would''ve been a better man if I had emotions like you do."


    "You seem to care enough." Liam muttered as he remembered when he first played the game and took bad decisions, and Ciri died at the end, Geralt ended up crying after killing the last Crone. It was also one of the reasons why he went for Crones.


    In the first playthrough, they had traumatized Liam a bit and thus he needed to take that revenge. Liam was a man who would always go for the revenge. Mephisto had taken his Blades away and he hadn''t forgotten that.


    He will get back at him but he would need to find a replacement first.


    "Maybe. I suppose I have my moments." Geralt looked ahead toward the distant mountains. "Just don''t be so quick to throw away the parts of yourself that make you human. You might not realize how much you need them until they''re gone."


    Liam didn''t answer right away. But something about Geralt''s words lingered with him. It was strange¡ªhe had always assumed he was doing what was necessary. He just didn''t realize that he had slowly losing all emotions while being in his path to save what he could or can.


    As they rounded the final bend in the mountain path, the team finally laid eyes on Kaer Morhen¡ªthe ruined keep of the Wolf School. A winding path of broken cobblestone led up to the castle, flanked by jagged cliffs and the remnants of what had once been a sturdy bridge, now crumbled away with time.


    Liam had seen all of this before in The Witcher 3, but this was different. The sheer scale


    of it all made him feel small. The keep stood taller than he had ever imagined, its walls weathered by centuries of wind and snow. The massive wooden gates were still intact but bore the scars of past battles, claw marks and gashes telling their own story.


    The moment they stepped through the entrance, the vast courtyard opened before them. The pillars where Ciri and the others had once practiced blindfolded stood resolute. To the left, the remains of a wooden platform jutted out from the keep''s wall, where the Witchers had likely observed training sessions.


    "Damn... this place is huge." Steve couldn''t help but mutter.


    Geralt and Triss, the only ones truly familiar with this place, walked ahead without hesitation. Geralt had lived here for decades, and for Triss, this place held bittersweet memories.


    Despite the ruin, there was a strange beauty to Kaer Morhen. The view from the platform to the outside of Kaer Morhen was nothing short of extraordinary. The scenic beauty this place held would put any place in Europe or USA to shame.


    This could be a good tourist destination.


    "Ah, finally, you''re here," Vesemir said, stepping forward to greet them. He was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed. His nose twitched, and his brow furrowed as he inhaled sharply.


    The thick, unmistakable scent of blood hung in the air. And it was coming from Liam. Vesemir''s hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, though he did not unsheathe it.


    "It''s a long story, but let''s just say Redania won''t be the same anymore." Geralt noticed the reaction and spoke first.


    Vesemir''s eyes flicked to Geralt, then back to Liam. He studied the young man''s face, noting how calm he appeared despite the unmistakable stench of slaughter clinging to him. A Witcher might have needed decades to be so composed after such bloodshed.


    "I don''t need to hear the details," Vesemir muttered. "I can already imagine."


    Liam remained silent, not bothering to explain himself. There was no point.


    "Well, whatever you''ve done... it''s would change things. Radovid was a mad tyrant, but now you''ve left Nilfgaard in charge of the North." His voice carried both relief and regret. "One tyrant for another, some would say."


    "Nilfgaard isn''t perfect, but it''s a damn sight better than Radovid''s reign of terror." Triss spoke up in defense of Nilfgaard. Nilfgaard didn''t have a witch hunt policy and though they didn''t welcome sorcerers into their political circle, it was still better than Redenia.


    "Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell." Vesemir shook his as he looked at Liam again. "Still... I''m glad you had the strength to do what you did. Even if it''s not something that comes without its weight." A moment of silence followed before Vesemir motioned toward the stairs.


    "Come on, you all look like you''ve been running for days. You can take the apprentice quarters. They''re not much, but it''ll give you a place to rest." As he turned, another figure shuffled forward from behind him¡ªUma.


    "Aye aye aye..." Uma mumbled, squinting up at the newcomers.


    "That," Vesemir said with a tired sigh, "is Uma." He looked at Liam and wanted to curse this man a bit, if not for the favors he might not have accepted this ugly duckling at all. Though Vesemir had grown to like and sympathize with this being, it didn''t mean he would by any form would ever equate this Uma with an elf.


    There was no way.


    "Let''s just get some rest first. We can deal with the other topics later." Natasha said.


    "Good idea. Follow me." Vesemir nodded.


    Liam and others didn''t take much time to hit the beds, after making it to their own style. While they did so, Vesemir came back with some food for the whole group. And everyone was beyond thankful for the food as they were starving and even Liam, who always carried food couldn''t help but gulp down the delicious stew that Vesemir had made for them


    Read 90 chapters ahead on patreon

 126

    The next morning, the sun''s early light seeped through the cracks in the ruined castle walls, casting long shadows over Kaer Morhen. In the women quarters, made specifically for women, thanks to Yennefer, Triss stretched, feeling the soreness of travel still clinging to her limbs.


    She was about to start her usual morning routine when she caught sight of Keira sitting at the small wooden table near the window, brushing her teeth¡ªwith a brush and some kind of froth from her mouth.


    "Keira... what are you doing?" Triss asked. Keira turned toward her, her mouth still full of foam. She quickly spit into a small bowl before smirking.


    "What does it look like? I''m cleaning my teeth."


    "With a brush? And what is that paste?" Triss was confused. Keira chuckled, tapping the wooden handle of her brush against the table.


    "It''s called a toothbrush, and this¡ª" she held up a small glass jar of thick white paste¡ª "is toothpaste. Both were given to me by my student."


    "Liam gave you these?" Triss stared at her in disbelief.


    "Yes. He said these are common where he''s from. A part of everyday hygiene." Keira nodded, clearly pleased with herself.


    Triss frowned. She''d never heard of such a thing. Sure, she had ways of keeping her teeth clean with herbs and rinses, but this seemed far more efficient. Before she could say anything else, Keira reached into her satchel and pulled out a small bottle, popping the cork open and pouring a bit onto her hand. A sweet, floral scent filled the air, making Triss inhale deeply.


    "That smells wonderful. What is that?"


    "Shampoo. Another thing Liam gave me." Keira said. The Continent did have shampoo but they didn''t anything like this small lotion with such a good scent.


    "Liam gave you shampoo?" Triss was clearly jealous by now.


    "Of course. He gave me several things, actually. It''s part of our deal. He''s my student, and I help him understand magic¡ªthough, truth be told, he''s been struggling. So now, he''s learning alchemy instead. In return, he gives me some rather marvelous things from his world."


    "And would I get some of these marvelous things if I helped him with magic?" Triss said, her jealousy clearly showing his jealousy now.


    "You could try. Though, I doubt it would change much. He has the potential, but he struggles to channel it outward. Even after months, he still can''t cast a single spell properly." Keira laughed softly.


    "Still, I wouldn''t mind trying. If it means I get some of that sweet-smelling shampoo..."


    "You know, we''ve been so focused on Liam''s magical talent that we never really stopped to wonder about where he came from. If these are just normal things in his world, then what kind of place does he live in?" Keira said after she rinsed her mouth properly.


    "A world far more advanced than ours, it seems." Triss said as she looked at the bottle and labels written on it. One could see that the ink was definitely cheap since one wrote in such small letters and that too on a bottle. There were ingredients written on it and almost all of the names of the ingredients, she had never heard or read before.


    This was definitely not magic, since such labels were written for everyone to see.


    "And a world I''d very much like to see." Keira spoke the mind of Triss.


    While this was happening in Kaer Morhen, something else was transpiring in Redenia. What Liam did had a lasting impact on the kingdom of Radovid.


    The news spread like wildfire.


    From the fields outside Novigrad to the noble halls of Tretogor, whispers carried the same tale¡ªa monster had descended upon the Redanian forces, slaughtering knights and soldiers alike in a merciless display of power. Those who had fled the battlefield, the lucky few who had escaped with their lives, brought stories of a warrior who had cut through men as if they were wheat before the scythe.


    At first, many refused to believe it. Radovid, the Stern, was a man feared by both friend and foe alike. He had outmaneuvered assassins, plotted against the Lodge of Sorceresses, and played the game of power better than any king of his time.


    And yet, he was dead.


    Not by poison. Not by treachery in the night. No, he had been hunted down and butchered. Publicly. His body, desecrated and broken, had been displayed for all to see.


    The people of Redania had no choice but to believe.


    And so, a name was born. A title that would haunt their nightmares.


    The Crimson Reaper.


    A figure clad in dark armor, his sword dripping with the blood of thousands. Some said he was not a man but a demon summoned from the abyss, a punishment for Radovid''s sins. Others claimed he was an avenging specter, the wrath of every mage and non-human who had suffered under Redania''s rule. The most superstitious whispered that he was the Wild Hunt''s newest rider, come to deliver death upon the world.


    The impact of his actions was immediate and absolute.


    With their king dead, the Redanian nobility fell into disarray. There was no clear successor¡ªRadovid had no heirs, no family to claim the throne. His most loyal generals scrambled to consolidate power, while opportunistic lords plotted to take the crown for themselves.


    The Church of the Eternal Fire, which had stood strong under Radovid''s rule, now found itself fractured. Without the king''s iron will to hold them together, factions within the faith began to emerge. Some priests, terrified by the slaughter, called for peace, believing the Reaper was divine punishment for their sins. Others, more fanatical, declared him the ultimate enemy of the Eternal Fire and demanded a holy crusade to wipe him from existence.


    The common folk were divided.


    Some rejoiced. Radovid''s rule had been cruel, his hatred for mages and non-humans unmatched. To the oppressed, the Crimson Reaper was a liberator, a bringer of justice.


    But others, others outside the kingdom, feared him. His power was beyond human. A single man had killed an entire army and toppled a kingdom in one night. What would stop him from doing it again? What if he wasn''t a savior, but a harbinger of something worse?

 127

    Beyond Redania''s borders, the rest of the world watched with wonder.


    Emperor Emhyr saw the chaos as an opportunity to claim the North with little resistance. His spies moved swiftly, making deals with desperate Redanian nobles while his armies prepared for invasion.


    The other Northern Kingdoms, already struggling to hold against Nilfgaard, were thrown into panic. If a single man could wipe out a kingdom''s leadership in one night, then no one was safe. Every ruler, every noble, every general feared that they could be next.


    This chaos only instigated a whole change in the political scenery of the land.


    But the Crimson Reaper wasn''t impervious to this. Now, he had a huge bounty on his head, along with Triss and others. But the question was: who would take the bounty? And even if someone did, would they be able to complete it? Besides, Emhyr had already announced a huge reward for Geralt publicly and even offered him a noble title in the lands of his own kingdom. He had also promised more rewards once he conquered Redania.


    Of course, Liam didn''t know any of this, nor did he care.


    Geralt had already left for Skellige, and thus Liam was now free to deal with alchemy while Triss and the others just enjoyed some downtime in Kaer Morhen. Natasha wanted to leave with Geralt, but in the end, she changed her mind.


    The beauty of this place was too much to be seen just once a day. She needed the full course. While Natasha roamed around Kaer Morhen, Steve was tending to Uma, as he found the creature quite amusing, and helped Vesemir.


    Both of them were superhumans, so they shared that trait, and he loved interacting with the old man, who was knowledgeable. They had decided to take a short rest before leaving for Oxenfurt to meet with Tony and, after that, see where they should go to help Liam in his trial.


    A few days had gone by since Geralt had left, and Liam was now being taught alchemy by Triss and Keira alike. But today was quite an amusing day for Liam, if one said so¡ªin fact, amusing for everyone except Triss.


    Morning had barely broken over Kaer Morhen when Triss Merigold found herself facing an enemy she could not fight. Her stomach churned violently, sending sharp cramps through her body. No, lads, it wasn''t periods¡ªmages and sorceresses couldn''t have children, so there was no question of a monthly outburst.


    Except for Yen. She could have a bad mood for no reason.


    "Not used to Kaer Morhen''s fine cuisine?" Keira teased as she noticed Triss''s discomfort.


    "It''s not the food," Triss hissed.


    But Keira wasn''t wrong. The previous night, Vesemir had cooked a hearty stew for them¡ªsomething that had seemed fine at the time, but now, Triss deeply regretted eating it. The worst part? This wasn''t some minor stomachache. No, she had been running to relieve herself far too often, and she knew the others would start noticing.


    And, of course, Liam did.


    "You don''t look so good," Liam said. "Dysentery?"


    "Something like that," Triss groaned.


    "I''ll make you a potion. Should settle your stomach in no time," Liam said. He had made potions for this when he was in Velen. The people in the villages had far too many cases of it, so Liam had learned to make the potion quite early, alleviating the need for Keira to toil over such a simple remedy.


    "No!" Triss didn''t take even a second to refuse.


    "No?" Liam was confused now.


    "I... I''m allergic to all potions," Triss hesitated before blurting out. That made Liam pause.


    "That makes no sense. You''re a sorceress. You literally make potions."


    "It''s complicated." She clearly didn''t want to explain further and left it at that.


    "Alright, no potions."


    Liam pulled out a small container from his inventory¡ªa small container of pills.


    "What''s that?" Triss asked. She already knew that Liam carried a separate space with him, which further proved his conjecture that he was from a different dimension.


    "Modern medicine," Liam replied casually. "Unlike potions, it won''t mess with your body''s natural magic. Just take one and drink some water."


    "Modern medicine?" Triss was confused.


    "There is no magic in this pill. You can take it," Liam said.


    "Medicine? Is that what it''s called?" Triss was skeptical and looked at the container. She had never seen potions in pill form because that was very difficult to make, and from her magical senses, she could also tell that the container and whatever was inside didn''t contain even a small pinch of magic.


    "Yes. It''s from my lands," Liam said.


    "If this makes it worse, I''ll hex you," Triss said.


    Moments later, Triss swallowed the pill with some water. Within half an hour, the intense stomach pain dulled, and she no longer felt the urgent need to run to the woods every few minutes. She let out a relieved sigh, resting back against the wall.


    "So, you''re allergic to potions but fine with his mysterious medicine? I swear, Triss, you''re full of surprises," Keira said. It was not the first time Keira had seen those kinds of pills before. He had given them to some of the villagers before, seeing their symptoms, and surprisingly, they worked.


    Those pills now made sense to Keira. They were not from the Continent to begin with. In the last few days, Natasha had told them about their world, while Keira and Triss had listened to her tales.


    The more they listened, the more they thought Natasha was speaking of some kind of fairy tale. There were machines that could fly and roll on land? Glass so cheap that there were walls made of it? Weapons made entirely out of science that could destroy kingdoms forever?


    What was this world?


    But seeing the medicine today made both Keira and Triss realize that their world might really be what Natasha had been saying.

 128

    Despite his initial reluctance, Liam found himself forced into alchemy under the relentless guidance of Triss and Keira. Keira was hard enough, and now Triss. Liam shuddered to think how Yennefer as a teacher would be.


    There was no room for negotiation¡ªevery morning, they dragged him into lessons, making sure he memorized ingredients, formulas, and processes. If he so much as tried to slack off, Keira would scold him, while Triss would give him that disappointed look that somehow worked even better.


    To their credit, both sorceresses were excellent teachers. Keira focused on efficiency, drilling the fundamentals into him with a sharp, almost academic precision, while Triss approached it with more patience, making sure he understood the deeper connections between alchemy and magic.


    Liam was more surprised by the fact that both of them seemed to get a zeal of teaching him alchemy and in extension magic, once they got to know about his talent. He had asked about it and the reply he got was.


    "We are a dying breed and very few of us are left. We might have long life but it doesn''t mean we are abundant. A talent like you comes once in a millennia, and it is more rare to even detect such talent. Most of them remain uncovered, so you are very special and in no way we will not teach you whatever we know."


    "What if I go rogue? Like Vilgefortz?" Liam asked. Vilegfortz''s name was kind of a taboo, especially after Liam came to know of his story after living with Keira.


    "And that is why we are making sure you don''t turn out to be one like him. And from the looks of it, you are a kind person." Triss had said.


    "He just massacred Redenia''s soldiers." Vesemir reminded.


    "They deserved it." Keira didn''t hold back at all. Unlike Triss, Keira''s moral boundary was not as strict as Triss.


    Thus he studied diligently, committing everything to memory, perfecting every potion, and learning every reaction. The knowledge was fascinating in its own way¡ªespecially with the scanner in his armor helping him break down compounds at a molecular level¡ªbut that didn''t change the fact that he hadn''t signed up for this.


    Meanwhile, Steve and Natasha eventually left for Oxenfurt, deciding they had spent enough time in Kaer Morhen. They had things to do, people to meet¡ªespecially Tony. Liam, however, remained, locked in his studies, now fully immersed in the world of alchemy.


    Yet, as the days went by, the real problem became painfully obvious.


    Liam was still struggling with learning magic.


    No matter how well he understood the theories, no matter how flawlessly he executed the exercises, he simply couldn''t conjure a single spell. Magic, it seemed, refused to answer his call.


    Triss and Keira, at first patient, gradually grew frustrated. They both knew how powerful Liam could be¡ªhis raw potential was evident, the chaos magic within him undeniable¡ªyet nothing changed.


    Keira sighed in frustration after yet another failed attempt.


    "You should be able to do this, Liam! You have the affinity, the talent! You should be able to shape magic by now!"


    "This makes no sense. We''ve seen your power in action. You should be tearing through spells with ease." Triss said.


    "It''s not like I''m not trying." Liam said, and now clearly a bit frustrated.


    It had been 2 months since Liam was here in Kaer Morhen, making it 5 months since he had been here.


    One evening, the old Witcher sat on the edge of the training grounds, watching Liam attempt another incantation, only for it to fizzle out into nothing. He remained silent for a while, before finally speaking.


    "Maybe it''s because you don''t feel anything."


    "Come again?" Liam turned to Vesemir. This old man better be spitting some words or he wouldn''t mind having a go with swords against him.


    "Magic requires flow. Energy moving through you, reacting to your will. But you... you lack something essential." Vesemir said.


    "What do you mean?" Triss asked.


    "Witchers can do magic. Simple signs, nothing too complicated. But you know why most of us struggle with it?"


    "Because Witchers have mutations." Keira replied.


    "Aye. But also because of our proper lack of emotions. We''re trained to suppress them, or make them one dimensional. Our magic is simple¡ªsingle-minded. Direct. It doesn''t need passion, just intent. But the magic you''re trying to use? The kind that bends chaos itself? That requires something more." He looked at Liam with sharp, knowing eyes. "And you... You feel nothing."


    "That doesn''t make sense though. He''s not a Witcher." Triss said.


    "No," Vesemir admitted. "But from what I''ve seen except for showing lesser frustration than you two, he might as well be."


    For the first time, Liam had to wonder: was Vesemir right?


    Had he lost something essential? Did he lose it all while playing games for years? For some reason he didn''t ask the system about it.


    "Then I guess we need to find someone who will invoke some emotions onto you." Triss said.


    "Hmph.. Good luck with that. I tried to seduce him and he didn''t even react." Keira said.


    "You did what?" Both Triss and Vesemir were horrified.


    "Oh please Triss, don''t say you didn''t think about sleeping with Liam after Geralt left, or maybe sleep with him while Geralt was around to make him jealous." Keira rolled her eyes at Triss.


    "No. What in God''s green pasture would I ever think about that?" Triss now clearly angry with the words of Keira and offended as she raised her voice.


    "Well, I don''t know. To spite at Geralt." Keira said. Liam was dumbfounded that Keira would even say those words to Triss because Liam never felt anything bad or seducing from Triss. She was beautiful but Liam had some ground rules for himself.


    Geralt was a friend of his. Whoever Geralt smashed, or any friend of his in that order, he would never look at the woman. This was his bro code. Nobody had to tell him that. He knew that at later period Lambert would get with Keira. Liam could never do that, even if Keira was just like a one night stand.

 129

    "Excuse me?" Triss was getting offended on live now. Her voice was way too sharp.


    "Oh, don''t act so high and mighty, Triss. I''m just stating the obvious. You witches aren''t exactly known for morality, and we both know you and Geralt were ¡ª" Keira said.


    "That''s enough." Triss''s voice dropped an octave, but the anger bubbling beneath was impossible to miss. A faint crackle of energy pulsed around her fingertips. "How dare you accuse me of something so disgraceful?"


    She meant the fact that Keira had implied that she tried to seduce Liam, even when Geralt was around. This was a very vile accusation. Liam, sensing the impending explosion, took a cautious step back. He glanced at Vesemir, who had already started moving away, nudging Uma along with him. The old Witcher had seen enough sorceress spats in his lifetime to know when to retreat.


    "Oh, please. If I truly hit a nerve, it must mean I''m right. Otherwise, why are you so upset?" Keira said.


    "You think this is funny?" Triss took a step forward. "I would never stoop so low for someone who had lost memory and even think of such revolting thoughts, and certainly not in the way you''re implying! Just because you treat relationships like disposable playthings doesn''t mean everyone else does."


    "You self-righteous¡ª" Keira faltered, not expecting a verbal lashing in return.


    And then, with no further warning, the first spell was cast.


    A surge of fiery energy erupted from Keira''s palm, streaking toward Triss, who barely managed to throw up a magical shield in time. The force sent her skidding backward. The impact sent a gust of hot wind sweeping through Kaer Morhen, rattling the training dummies and scattering loose snow.


    "Oh, it''s like that, is it?" Keira sneered before flicking her wrist.


    A blast of raw magical force shot toward Keira, and this time, it was the ashen-haired sorceress who had to throw up a shield. Sparks flew as their spells collided, sending waves of magic rippling through the courtyard.


    "Holy hell," Liam muttered, watching as magic illuminated the courtyard like a battlefield. "They''re actually going at it."


    Uma whimpered beside him, clearly unsettled. Vesemir, crouched behind a stack of barrels, exhaled heavily.


    "Women."


    Keira spun on her heel, gathering energy in her palm before launching a barrage of arcane bolts. Triss responded instantly, weaving a barrier that absorbed the strikes before countering with a wave of flames.


    "You are completely insufferable!" Triss snapped. "You think you can just say whatever you want and get away with it?"


    "And you think you''re better than me? Get off your high horse!"


    A fireball shot past Liam''s head, close enough that he could feel the heat. He pressed himself flatter against the stone.


    "I really should''ve left for Oxenfurt with Steve and Natasha." Vesemir, to his credit, remained remarkably calm, though he did shift slightly to avoid a chunk of debris that came flying past.


    "I give them five more minutes before they destroy half the courtyard." Vesemir said.


    Keira raised both hands, summoning a surge of energy that coalesced into jagged tendrils. Triss countered with a storm of embers that swirled around her like a protective whirlwind.


    "Should we, uh... stop them?" Liam looked at Vesemir.


    "You want to be turned into a frog? Be my guest." Vesemir replied.


    "Great. Stuck in a fortress with two pissed-off sorceresses trying to vaporize each other. This is my life now." Liam lamented. He hoped that this two wouldn''t destroy the castle. They might not know it, this was where they would have to fact the first wave of Wild Hunt and they needed a better structure, instead of delipidated fortress that it was now.


    "Ae?en esseadh aen''feain!" Keira chanted.


    Glowing glyphs swirled around her hands as a jagged arc of lightning crackled to life. She thrust her palm forward, and the bolt streaked toward Triss, cutting through the air.


    "Gleanna aep morc''h,"


    A wall of enchanted ice rose from the ground, absorbing the brunt of the lightning strike before shattering into shards. As the frozen mist settled, Triss stepped through. With a swift motion, she traced an arc in the air, igniting the ground beneath Keira''s feet in a roaring blaze. Keira yelped and leapt back, conjuring a protective ward just in time.


    "Oh, so that''s how we''re playing? Fine. Brioc''h aen''val!"


    A surge of telekinetic force lashed out, sending Triss skidding backward. The red-haired sorceress gritted her teeth. Not one to be outdone, Triss retaliated. The ground trembled as jagged roots erupted from beneath Keira, twisting and writhing.


    "Va en tedd aen''venn!"


    Keira sliced through the incoming roots with a wave of water blades. Meanwhile, Liam and Vesemir weren''t having a good time, seeing the destruction around. The water blade of Keira just sliced through the training dummies and both of them weren''t happy about it.


    Uma was shaking in fear and Vesemir had to shield him from the magical wave that was running around wild here, casting a quen sign on Uma.


    "This is getting ridiculous."


    "This is why I never involved myself in sorceress drama." Vesemir replied.


    "I didn''t have options." Liam said.


    "Why are you so hell bent on learning magic."


    "Because I want to have something which is entirely mine and not provided by the system." Liam wanted to say that but could only shake his head a bit and reply. "Because the world is in chaos. And if I don''t strengthen myself, I will be a burden to myself."


    A sudden explosion sent a shockwave across the courtyard, forcing Liam to duck as chunks of rock and snow blasted past them. He could feel the heat from the spells, the sheer force shaking the very foundations of the ancient keep.


    Finally, as the battle raged on, their spells began to falter. They were running out of magic.


    "Had enough?" Keira panted.


    "Have you?" Triss was a but exhausted too and though she fared better in magical reserves, she couldn''t stop Keira completely.

 130

    Both women stood, glaring at each other, their reserves nearly spent.


    "Are we done? Or should I start digging graves?" Liam finally came out of his hiding spot and said.


    "Tch. If I had just a little more power, I would''ve wiped that smug look off her face," Keira scoffed.


    "And yet, you didn''t," Triss shook her head.


    "Well, that was entertaining. But unless you two plan on collapsing in the snow, I suggest you rest before you both fall over." Vesemir, too, had followed Liam.


    Triss and Keira exchanged one last glare before finally relenting.


    Liam ran a hand down his face, exasperated.


    "Next time, let''s just settle things with words. Or better yet¡ªignore each other."


    "No promises," Keira said.


    "Hmph."


    Liam would have to instill some sense of following the laws if he were to take them to his world. Fighting in the open like this would be fatal in any city, endangering normal citizens. Triss could be trusted, but not Keira. She was unstable at times.


    As both of them staggered away from the battlefield that was once Kaer Morhen''s courtyard, neither admitted defeat.


    And so, the silent war began.


    The tension in Kaer Morhen was suffocating. Days passed, and not a single word was exchanged between the two sorceresses. They avoided each other with an almost childish stubbornness, ensuring they were never in the same room for long. If one entered, the other left. If they happened to meet by accident, an icy glare was the only form of acknowledgment.


    Liam''s alchemy or magical learning stopped, and he was sure that if the outside world wasn''t in turmoil, thanks to Liam, both of these women would have left. Both witches were well-known, unlike Natasha and Steve. Besides, both of them had decided to change their looks.


    One decided to don a beard, while the other dyed her hair white.


    Even at meals, the division was obvious. Triss sat at one end of the hall, Keira at the other. Liam, Vesemir, and Uma were caught in the crossfire, stuck choosing sides at every meal. Liam, unwilling to get involved in their cold war, rotated between the two tables, while Vesemir simply muttered about "foolish women" and ate wherever he pleased.


    Liam had initially found it amusing. But by the fourth day, the novelty had long since worn off.


    Vesemir, however, was the first to reach his breaking point.


    On the fifth night of this ridiculous standoff, he slammed his mug down onto the table so hard that even Uma let out a startled yelp.


    "Enough," Vesemir growled. "This is a damned fortress, not a royal court. Whatever nonsense the two of you started, end it now." Both Triss and Keira, sitting at their respective corners, refused to acknowledge him.


    "Fine. If you won''t settle this yourselves, I''ll settle it for you." He turned to Liam. "You. Take them to your world."


    "Excuse me?"


    "You heard me." Vesemir crossed his arms. "Neither of them will put their pride aside, so throw them into an entirely new world where they can''t afford to ignore each other. Let them deal with something bigger than their own stubbornness."


    "You can''t be serious." Both Keira and Triss spoke at the same time.


    "Oh, I am," Vesemir said.


    "I think you all are misjudging something. My world has different rules, strict laws, and the way these two women are, people might get hurt," Liam said.


    "You think I will harm civilians?" Triss seemed offended that Liam would think that.


    "No, but people might get caught up in the crossfire," Liam reminded her. This made both of them silent. Keira wasn''t a person who thought much about morals, and for her ambition, she would kill anyone.


    To kill Radovid, she had even considered unleashing a plague. But it was not required, and in the original story, Geralt had been able to talk her out of it and send her to Kaer Morhen. So even if her morals were a bit skewed, she could be redeemed.


    "Liam, do you think I will harm people just because of my anger?" Keira asked.


    "I hope not," Liam replied.


    "You think so lowly of me?" Keira seemed a bit hurt by Liam''s bluntness, and now she really grasped why Vesemir had said Liam was kind of like a witcher.


    "No. But you are ambitious. Way too ambitious," Liam said, laying out his cards.


    "I only look out for my survival. I don''t have any grand ambitions. Whatever I had, I have achieved," Keira said.


    "What if there was a situation where any wish of yours could be granted¡ªeven making you a god? Would you not go for it?" Liam asked.


    "That kind of thing doesn''t exist. There are Djinns, for sure, but they can''t make you a god," Keira said.


    "And what if there was a Djinn who could do that?" Liam asked. There were too many things in Marvel. It might not be in the MCU, but in the multiverse, with such a long history, there was no limit.


    "That is impossible." It was Triss who replied to that.


    "If you think our world is all sunshine and rainbows, then you both are gravely mistaken. I know that Natasha and Steve assured you that our world was a safe haven for you, which is true. You will be worshipped as gods there if you save everyone, but as you know, not all humans are the same. Many of them will despise you¡ªfor your powers, your looks, your charms, everything. Those voices can be muted, but that doesn''t mean they don''t exist. And there will be some who will even try to steal your power..."


    "Steal our power? Hahaha... As if magic can be stolen," Keira laughed.


    "You know that, I know that, Master Vesemir knows that¡ªbut the general folks? They are ignorant. You have no idea how far common men will go to acquire power," Liam said.

 131

    "Hmph if they come for me, I will teach them a lesson." Keira said.


    "Yes, but what will you do when innocents are in the crossfire? For example, coerce you to spill your secrets while holding a hostage?" Liam asked. This made both of the women silent, and even Vesemir didn''t expect such question from Liam. From what he was understanding, this world had its won quirks. Just as theirs.


    "If they try to harm innocents, we will stop them, even if it meant giving ourselves up," Triss said. Keira nodded at Triss''s words¡ªfor the first time, she had acknowledged what Triss said, though she had her reservations too . Both of them seemed a bit eager now that Liam had spoken of his fears. At first, they had thought these people were trying to morally kidnap them and take them to their world.


    But now it seemed that Liam had his own reservations, and they realized he wasn''t trying to take them away. If it wasn''t necessary, he wouldn''t even invite them. After all, Liam was right¡ªthey were all anomalies.


    "We will never harm folks who don''t deserve it," Keira said, now curious after hearing Liam speak about the dangers of his world.


    "What did you mean when you spoke of the temptation of becoming a god?" Vesemir asked.


    "Natasha and Steve are new to the knowledge of our world, and even I have limited knowledge, but what I can tell you is that our world is more dangerous than yours could ever be. So think again if you truly want to settle in our place," Liam said, "so there will be temptation of bigger power too."


    "There is nothing free in this world." Triss said as she knew what she had lost learning magic. Infertility was one of them.


    "Glad that you know." Liam said, and without another word, he opened a black-colored portal


    Triss and Keira''s eyes widened when they saw Liam perform magic. Until now, Liam had never shown this ability.


    "Wait¡ªyou can do magic?" Triss asked.


    "This isn''t magic. This is our portal to my world. I can open and close it as I wish. This is one of my, uh... inherent abilities," Liam said.


    "But a portal is magic," Keira said.


    "No. You can make portals with technology too," Liam corrected them. The two women still had their doubts.


    "Master Vesemir, are you coming?"


    "No. Uma will be alone, and besides, the other two witchers might return while you three are gone. Someone has to take care of the castle and repair the damage," Vesemir said.


    Keira and Triss hesitated.


    "You both should go. Maybe it will calm you down," Vesemir insisted. He had been dealing with a headache trying to keep these two fiery women from tearing Kaer Morhen apart, which was why he suggested they go visit Liam''s world in the first place.


    "Hmph..." Triss and Keira both looked away from each other.


    Liam could only sigh and signal them to step in. He was also growing irritated. His learning process had stopped, and if this continued, he would have to replace Uma with Avallac''h.


    He needed to confirm if Vesemir''s previous words were true and find a way to channel his dead or suppressed emotions. Plus, he missed home a bit too, and Tony had already contacted him once Steve and Natasha arrived.


    He needed some items from their world, so Liam would have to go home anyway.


    As Liam stepped through the portal, Triss and Keira hesitated for only a moment before following him. They felt the same feeling they had when they would cross through portals.


    The moment they emerged, the portal behind them flickered and collapsed, vanishing into thin air.


    Triss and Keira found themselves standing in an immense hall, one unlike anything they had ever seen before. The room was vast, with towering glass walls that stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a breathtaking view of a sprawling cityscape. It was night thus lights blinked from the many buildings outside, illuminating the streets below in a sea of color. Strange, metal contraptions moved swiftly through the roads, and the sky was lined with glowing billboards that displayed images and texts in a language unfamiliar to them.


    The interior of the hall was just as astonishing. The floor beneath them was smooth and polished, reflecting the ambient glow of hidden lighting along the walls and ceiling. The architecture was sleek and modern, with a mixture of dark metal, glass, and some material that appeared almost magical in its perfection.


    "This place is enormous." Keira turned in a slow circle, taking in the impossible sight.


    "So this is your world?" Triss sighed as she said that.


    "Welcome to Stark Tower." Liam said.


    "Stark.." Triss was about to ask when a smooth, almost human-like voice echoed throughout the room.


    "Welcome back sir."


    Keira stiffened at the disembodied voice, her hand twitching toward her magic reserves, while Triss simply frowned in confusion.


    "Relax. That''s just J.A.R.V.I.S. He''s not a spirit¡ªhe''s... well, let''s just say he''s a very advanced golem that talks." Liam chuckled. Keira and Triss exchanged skeptical glances, clearly not convinced.


    "Fascinating," Triss murmured, tilting her head as if trying to detect any magical essence in the voice.


    "JARVIS where is Pepper? Call her and say that we are here." Liam said.


    "I have already informed her. She is on her way."


    As Liam, Triss, and Keira stood in the grand hall of Stark Tower, the smooth metal doors at the far end slid open. From the corridor beyond, a familiar woman stepped in¡ªPepper Potts. She was dressed in a sleek white blazer and navy trousers, her red hair neatly tied back in a ponytail.


    "Well, look who''s finally back," Pepper said, her lips curving into a small smile as she approached Liam. Before Liam could respond, from the side of Pepper, a massive figure leaped forward¡ªa wolf, its fur a mix of silver and deep gray. With a gleam in its eyes, the beast charged toward Liam with shocking speed.

 132

    Triss and Keira gasped, both preparing their magic to defend him.


    "Liam, watch out!" Triss shouted.


    But instead of attacking, the wolf crashed into Liam, nearly knocking him over as it nuzzled against his chest. A deep, rumbling growl filled the room¡ªnot one of hostility, but of sheer affection.


    "Easy, Fenrir. I missed you too, bud." Liam let out a small chuckle. Keira and Triss were frozen in shock. They watched as the fearsome creature whimpered softly and pressed its massive head against Liam like an overgrown pup.


    "What... what in Melitele''s name?" Keira breathed.


    Triss, meanwhile, had turned her gaze toward Liam¡ªmore specifically, toward his eyes. The familiar blue irises were gone, replaced with something entirely different. Swirling colors moved within them¡ªblues, purples, golds, and greens, shifting like living light. It was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.


    "Liam... your eyes," Triss whispered, unable to look away.


    "Yeah... forgot to mention that part."


    Liam said as he took out his handicapped hand out of the veiled cloth and then to the surprise of Triss and Keira, a new rainbow colored hand grew.


    "You can do magic." It wasn''t a question¡ªit was a statement, filled with confusion and a touch of disbelief, by both Triss and Keira.


    "It''s a long story, and I doubt you''d believe half of it if I told you now." Liam sighed.


    "Try me." Keira scoffed.


    "It''ll take too much time. We can have this discussion later." Liam didn''t want to spend time explaining, and he he doubted if these two knowledgeable women would believe him.


    "Liam, who are they?" Pepper felt she was out of place and couldn''t help but ask.


    "Triss.. Keira.. This is Pepper Potts," Liam replied. "She runs the things around here and keeps Tony Stark in check."


    "That arrogant guy over your so called communicator?" Keira asked. She had seen Liam communicating multiple times with the man named Tony and suffice to say, she found him annoying, while just listening to his voice.


    "Tony? Is Tony alright?" Pepper seeing Liam was back was hoping to see Tony but was disappointed.


    "He is alright. In fact he is the having the time of his life. He is a Professor now, changing the world as we know it." Liam replied. Pepper had a bright smile in her face when she learnt that.


    "That is a smile I recognize." Triss said.


    "Pepper. These two gorgeous women are powerful sorcereress are my current teachers of magic and they are here to see our world." Liam said. Pepper was happy that Liam had made friends and thus offered a handshake.


    Triss hesitated before taking it, still absorbing the overwhelming change in scenery and also the new change of Liam. Keira, however, took Pepper''s hand confidently.


    "So, this is your world," Triss murmured. "I never imagined something like this."


    "And you''ve only seen one room," Pepper said with a small smile. "But I think a proper introduction to this world is in order." Liam had talked to them about the world they had gone to. The medieval age and even the clothes of Triss and Keira were telling enough to prove the words of Liam.


    "What do you mean?" Keira raised a brow.


    "Shopping," Pepper said simply.


    "Shopping?" Keira blinked.


    "Yes," Pepper continued. "You''re in New York City¡ªone of the fashion capitals of the world. And while I have no doubt that your robes and dresses are stunning where you''re from, they stand out a little too much here."


    Keira glanced down at her ornate, high-collared dress, then at Triss''s deep red sorceress outfit.


    "We''re not exactly in the habit of changing our style." Triss frowned.


    "Well, consider this an opportunity to blend in¡ªand to explore," Pepper said. "I''ll take you around the city, show you what this world has to offer, and get you a proper New York look."


    "Explore? As in, see more of this world?"


    "Exactly," Pepper confirmed.


    "You''re just lucky she''s offering. Trust me, you''ll need some modern clothes." Liam said.


    "Fine. But only because I want to see more of this place." Triss still felt a bit uncomfortable.


    "And because you like dresses." Keira was more accepting and the thought of shopping excited her. She had seen the various dress of Natasha and thus couldn''t wait to get her hands on them.


    "Great. Let''s go." Triss shot her a glare, but Pepper just chuckled. But before she left with these while leaving Liam with Fenrir, she said to Liam.


    "Liam you should visit your parents. They are worried that you haven''t visited them for more than a month." This made Liam stiffen as he didn''t expect his parents would be that much worried about him.


    A few hours later


    Liam stood in front of a familiar door, Fenrir sitting patiently beside him. The massive wolf let out a small huff, sensing Liam''s hesitation. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to see his parents¡ªhe did. But after everything that had happened, the idea of facing them after a month without contact left him feeling oddly... nervous.


    Before he could talk himself out of it, the door swung open.


    "Liam!"


    A woman with short, dark brown hair and warm hazel eyes immediately pulled him into a tight embrace. Olivia, his mother.


    "You finally decided to show up," a deeper voice came from inside the house. Mason, his father, stood in the hallway with his arms crossed, but there was a smile on his face.


    Liam barely had time to respond before Olivia pulled back and gave him a look.


    "You were in the same city, Liam. The same city. And yet, did you think to visit us even once?" She placed her hands on her hips.


    "I was busy," Liam started, but his father scoffed.


    "Too busy for your own parents? You didn''t even answer most of our calls!" Mason shook his head.


    Before Liam could defend himself, Olivia''s eyes suddenly landed on the massive husky sitting obediently beside him. Her expression froze.


    Mason, noticing her reaction, followed her gaze¡ªand immediately took a step back.

 133

    "Oh my God¡ªLiam, is that a dog?" Olivia gasped.


    Fenrir let out a small huff, tilting his head as if deeply offended by the label.


    "More like a very big wolf-dog." Liam smirked.


    "Oh, Liam! He''s beautiful!" Olivia was beyond happy seeing her son had adopted such a beautiful furry creature.


    "Come here, sweetheart! Oh, just look at you!" Before he could say anything else, Olivia was already kneeling down, reaching out to Fenrir.


    Fenrir, perhaps sensing the overwhelming motherly energy, let out a low, amused growl and stepped forward, allowing Olivia to run her fingers through his thick fur. Mason, though slightly more cautious, let out an approving nod.


    "Now this is a proper companion. Big, strong, looks like he can handle himself." He reached out as well, scratching behind Fenrir''s ears. "Good boy."


    Fenrir let out a pleased rumble.


    "He''s so soft," Olivia gushed. "Where did you find him?"


    "It''s... a long story." Liam said.


    "We have time. Come inside already. You''ve got a lot of explaining to do¡ªand I''m not just talking about your new dog." Mason said. He had already noticed that Liam was wearing gloves. He had never seen his son do that, especially not in the autumn of October.


    Liam sighed, but he couldn''t help but smile. As he stepped inside with Fenrir close behind, he knew he was in for a long conversation¡ªbut for now, he was just glad to be home.


    Liam barely had time to take off his shoes before Olivia grabbed his arm and pulled him into the living room. Mason followed behind at a slower pace, while Fenrir padded in, sniffing curiously at the furniture.


    "Alright, mister," Olivia said, sitting him down on the couch with a firm but affectionate look. "You have some serious explaining to do." Mason settled into his usual chair.


    "For starters¡ªwhere have you been? You''re in the same city, yet you don''t visit for over a month?"


    "I''ve been... busy." Liam rubbed the back of his neck.


    "Busy with what? You disappeared, barely answering texts, and now you show up with a giant wolf-dog?" Olivia raised an eyebrow.


    "Work. Stark Industries keeps me occupied, and I''ve been... studying a lot." Liam said.


    "Studying? Since when do you¡ª?"


    "He''s always been a bright kid," Olivia cut in. "But something tells me there''s more to it."


    "I applied for early graduation." Liam said. Liam''s words made Olivia beyond happy. She had thought Liam had dropped out, but knowing that Liam had the certification, made her happy.


    "Oh my God¡ªLiam! Why didn''t you tell us?!" She immediately pulled him into a hug.


    "Damn. And here I thought you were dropping out." Mason murmured.


    "I am so proud of you, sweetheart. But you should have told us!" Olivia said.


    "I meant to," Liam admitted. "Things just... got hectic."


    "You''re working at Stark Industries and finishing school early? That''s incredible," Olivia said, beaming. "Tony must think highly of you."


    "Kid''s got ambition. I respect that." Mason nodded.


    Just as Liam was about to relax, Olivia''s sharp gaze dropped to his hands. She frowned. "Speaking of which... why are you wearing gloves indoors?"


    "It''s just¡ª" Liam tensed.


    "And what''s with your eyes?" Mason interrupted. "You''re wearing contacts, aren''t you? Do you have bad eyesight?"


    Liam stiffened further. He hadn''t expected them to notice the lenses so quickly. He had hoped they''d buy the excuse, but clearly, his parents could still see through him¡ªliterally and figuratively. His contacts were the color of his original blue eyes, but it seemed he still got noticed.


    "Liam," Olivia said. "Take off the gloves."


    Liam hesitated. He had always known this conversation would come, but he wasn''t sure if he was ready to have it yet.


    Fenrir, sensing his unease, let out a soft whine and nudged Liam''s side with his snout, as if reassuring him that everything would be okay.


    Liam hesitated for a moment before slowly pulling off his gloves. As the fabric slipped away, revealing his left hand, Olivia and Mason''s expressions shifted from curiosity to absolute shock.


    His left hand was no longer flesh and blood. Instead, it shimmered with an ethereal glow, the surface shifting like liquid crystal, reflecting every color of the spectrum. Olivia gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. Mason''s jaw tightened as he leaned forward, eyes widening in disbelief.


    "Liam... what the hell happened to your hand?" Mason finally asked.


    "Liam..." Olivia whispered. "What... what is this?" Liam exhaled. He had prepared for this moment, but their horrified faces still made his chest tighten.


    "It''s... complicated," he started. "But the short version? It was an experiment¡ªmy own experiment."


    "An experiment? At Stark Industries?"


    "No. My own lab." Liam replied.


    "Your own lab? Since when do you have a lab? And why were you doing something dangerous enough to¡ª", she gestured at his hand


    "It wasn''t supposed to happen like this," Liam admitted. "I was working on something¡ªpushing the boundaries of what''s possible. And then... well, let''s just say things took an unexpected turn."


    "Jesus, Liam. Do you have any idea how reckless that sounds? What exactly were you trying to do?" Mason wasn''t happy about it at all.


    Liam hesitated. He couldn''t tell them the full truth. Magic, other worlds¡ªit would sound insane. So, he stuck to something they could understand.


    "Advancing energy manipulation, for Marvel," he said, carefully choosing his words. "Trying to find new ways to harness and control energy efficiently. But there was an accident, and..." He lifted his hand slightly. The swirling colors pulsed brighter for a moment before settling back into a steady glow. "This happened."


    "Liam, this isn''t... this isn''t normal. This isn''t just an injury¡ªyour hand is glowing." Olivia wasn''t convinced at all as she felt her son was in some kind of pain.


    "I know," Liam said quietly.


    "Are you okay? I mean, really okay?" Mason asked while Olivia too wanted to know the same thing.


    "Are you okay? I mean, really okay?" Liam said.


    "And Tony¡ªwas he involved in this?"

 134

    "No. This was all me. Tony didn''t even know about it." Liam said.


    "Kid, you''re smart¡ªprobably too smart for your own damn good. But this?" Mason pointed at the glowing hand. "This isn''t normal science. You''re telling me you made a mistake, and suddenly your hand turned into a walking rainbow?" Mason already knew that his son was a genius. As the days went by, his company, wealth and connections made him very unique and hailed as one of the greatest young genius of the century along with Tony.


    But this was different.


    "I wouldn''t call it a mistake. More of an... unexpected evolution." Liam said. Mason and Olivia exchanged a look¡ªone that told Liam they weren''t buying his explanation completely. But for now, they wouldn''t push.


    "You''re absolutely sure you''re okay?"


    "Liam... please don''t shut us out like this. Whatever you''re doing, just... be careful."


    "I promise," Liam said softly.


    "Yeah. And next time? Maybe tell us when you''re about to rewrite the laws of physics." Mason said.


    "I''ll try." Liam said. For now, that was the best he could offer. Liam wasn''t allowed to leave their home until he lived with them for a couple of days. Liam gave the excuse of experiment and science, but Olivia was hearing none of it and forced him to be with them.


    He could only relent and Fenrir too seemed comfortable. At the end he suggested that they should go and visit the world since Marvel was an established company now and he was rich. Mason wasn''t going to let go of the offer as he himself thought that he needed rest.


    His garage was on full swing and he even hired a manager. People of the community had come to know that he was the son of Liam and they often visited him with their cars. This made the business in his garage consistent and thus helped his business a lot.


    Thus it was his time to have fun.


    "You should also come with us." Mason said.


    "No. I have work. Sorry." Liam replied.


    ------


    Two days had passed since Liam visited his parents, and he was now back at Stark Tower. The moment he stepped out of the elevator into the main lounge, he was greeted by an unexpected sight¡ªone that made him pause mid-step.


    Triss and Keira stood in the center of the room, completely transformed.


    Gone were their ornate sorceress robes, the rich velvets and layered corsets of the Continent. Instead, they now looked like they had stepped straight out of a high-end New York fashion magazine.


    Triss wore a sleek, form-fitting red dress that stopped just above her knees, paired with a stylish black leather jacket. Her usual high boots had been replaced with elegant black heels. Her fiery hair was styled in loose waves, and subtle makeup enhanced her already striking features.


    Keira, on the other hand, had fully embraced the modern aesthetic. She wore a designer beige trench coat over a white blouse, tucked into a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans. A pair of fashionable sunglasses rested on top of her head, and her heeled ankle boots clicked slightly. Her blonde hair had been styled into a loose ponytail, giving her an effortlessly chic look.


    "What the hell..." Liam blinked.


    "Well? What do you think?" Before he could say anything, Pepper walked up beside them with a triumphant smile.


    "I think... I was gone for two days, and you turned them into supermodels." Liam glanced at her.


    "It was quite the experience." Triss had never felt such happiness in a very long time.


    "Experience?" Liam asked.


    "More like an adventure." Keira twirled slightly, showing off her new outfit. "Pepper took us all over the city. We explored, we dined in these marvelous places, and¡ªoh, the shopping!"


    She gestured toward a corner of the room, where an obscene number of shopping bags, from every luxury brand Liam could think of, were piled up.


    "That... that''s a lot." Liam whistled.


    "You have no


    idea," Pepper said, shaking her head. "I underestimated them. Once they got the hang of shopping, they practically bought everything."


    "Well, it''s not every day we get introduced to an entirely new world of fashion. And I must say, your tailors know their craft well."


    "And your fabrics¡ªso soft, so light! None of that heavy nonsense. I don''t know if I''ll ever go back to wearing those stiff robes." Keira smirked. Liam was glad to see that shopping had brought the two women closer and resolved the differences. He knew that Keira had crossed the line when she said those words to Triss and hopefully she had apologized or at least come to the common ground.


    These women had way too high of an ego. Even Triss herself carried a weight that was hard to put down.


    "You two are adapting way too fast." Liam said.


    "We''re intelligent women, Liam. Of course, we adapt quickly." Keira shrugged.


    "But what about you? Still dressing the same?" Triss nodded, then glanced at Liam''s casual hoodie and jeans.


    "I like my hoodie, thank you very much." Liam said.


    "Ugh, typical man. No sense of adventure in clothing." Triss said. Didn''t they adapt way too fast. These women were scary.


    "You should''ve seen them, Liam. By the second day, they were already arguing over which outfits suited them best." Pepper said.


    "Sounds about right." Liam said.


    "Don''t act like you wouldn''t have enjoyed it. You should have seen Triss try to figure out how high heels work." Keira said.


    "They''re unnatural torture devices." Triss said.


    "You still bought three pairs," Keira pointed out.


    "Well, I guess you both had fun, huh?" Triss said.


    "Oh, absolutely. I could get used to this world." Keira said. This made Liam''s eye brow flare up. Both of them had now been hinting that they would love to settle here. But of course Liam didn''t call them out and before he could say another word, JARVIS lit up.


    "Sir, Director Fury is asking for an audience."


    "Oh! Took him long enough." Liam was surprised that Fury would show up so late. He had noticed the guard of Pepper. She was a widow and thus Liam was sure that Fury would show up sometime soon but he seemed to have given them time to settle in and maybe have a surveillance on them. "Send him up."

 135

    Dressed in his signature long black coat, Fury walked in with his usual no-nonsense stride. His single eye scanned the room, pausing briefly on Triss and Keira before landing on Liam.


    "Liam. I assume there is something to report since none of your colleagues have returned." Fury said.


    "Nice to see you too, Fury." Liam replied.


    Fury didn''t take the bait. He merely raised an eyebrow, waiting.


    "Fine. The short version? Tony''s having the time of his life playing professor at the University of Oxenfurt. We got separated due to various reasons and also because of the political plot of the place we are in is kind of messed up... And me? I''ve been learning a few things from their world before coming back." Liam gave a very brief run down of what was going on and Fury listened and the more he listened, the more he felt that the place Liam was living in was filled with filth and the times of medieval ages.


    Fury could only sigh at the end and turned his gaze to Triss and Keira.


    "And them?" His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge of scrutiny.


    "Triss Merigold, Keira Metz. Powerful sorceresses. They''re here to see how our world works." Fury''s sharp eye flickered over them.


    "And you trust them?" he asked flatly, not hiding and straight spoke up on their faces.


    "If I didn''t, they wouldn''t be here," Liam replied without hesitation.


    Triss and Keira exchanged glances. They had dealt with skepticism before.


    "A pleasure," Triss said. "I take it you''re some kind of authority figure here?"


    "More than just some kind." Liam smirked before gesturing to Fury. "This is Nick Fury¡ªdirector of S.H.I.E.L.D., a high-level security and intelligence organization. Think of them as the people who handle world-threatening situations."


    "And by ''handle,'' I assume you mean manipulate, control, and generally stick your nose where it doesn''t belong?" Keria said.


    "You''re quick." Fury replied. Liam exhaled through his nose. He had expected Fury to be wary of Triss and Keira, but he was surprised by how blunt he was being. Fury was known for playing things close to the chest, not for putting his suspicions on full display like this.


    "Director Fury, is it?" Triss spoke this time. "We are not here to cause trouble. We are here to learn about this world and to ensure that our own safety isn''t compromised. I understand your skepticism, but we have no ill intentions."


    Fury studied her for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Liam. "What do you mean by sorceresses when you introduced them?"


    "They know magic." Liam replied.


    "So, you went to another world and brought back two witches. And somehow, this is supposed to be fine?" Fury asked.


    "Don''t look at me. It was Steve and Natasha who planted that seed. Don''t shoot the messenger." Liam replied, washing his hands off the topic.


    "Noted," Fury could only sigh. Liam had spoken of the problems these women had faced and he could also understand why Steve would lay down the cards. He didn''t mind the extra manpower, but anything related to multiverse was a dangerous territory and thus he would need to be extra careful. "Alright. For now, I''ll let you all settle in. But don''t think for a second that I''m not watching."


    With those words Fury left. He had heard about their arrival the time they had stepped in and he wanted to step in much earlier. But seeing how these women only focused on shopping and Liam was having a family time, he wasn''t going to be a party pooper. He needed to show that their world had their eyes on them, and that was enough.


    Since Liam was back at the Stark Tower, he had finally decided to show up and also see who these travelers Liam had brought it without any heads up. Though Liam had said that they would be back to the other world soon, he had a feeling that the presence of these two exceptionally beautiful women wouldn''t be missed by Earth in the future.


    He would need to make proper arrangements for them if they come back again. He could only sigh and look at the traffic as he was driving. The world was changing fast and their organization needed to keep up with the times.


    "He''s charming," Keira muttered sarcastically, after Fury left.


    "At least he''s straightforward." Triss mentioned. "What happened to his eye?"


    "Yeah, that was... more direct than usual," Liam admitted. "That is a long story."


    As Liam processed Fury''s departure, sparks of golden energy whirled in the air, forming a circular portal near the center of the lounge.


    Before Liam could react, Triss and Keira''s expressions twisted into shock and immediate hostility. Their instincts flared as they sensed the presence stepping through¡ªthe sheer weight of its power was suffocating, but what made their blood run cold was the taint within it.


    Dark. Corrupt. Foul.


    Before the figure had fully stepped through, both sorceresses moved on instinct. Triss'' hands burned with flames while Keira flicked her wrist, conjuring crackling magical energy ready to strike. They didn''t hesitate¡ªthey attacked.


    A fiery bolt and a concentrated burst of arcane magic shot forward.


    "STOP!" Liam shouted, as he had foreseen the attack and raised his hands and threw a shot of Bifrost laden shot at the attack of Triss and Keira''s assault.


    The figure that had stepped through remained unscathed.


    "What the hell are you doing?" Liam hissed.


    "You don''t sense that?" Triss shot back. "That power¡ªit''s wrong. Corrupted."


    "It''s evil," Keira reinforced. Liam turned back to the newcomer, who looked entirely unbothered by the sudden hostility.


    "I see I''ve made quite the impression," the Ancient One said smoothly.


    "Yeah." Liam muttered. "Stand down. She''s not the enemy."


    The sorceresses hesitated, their instincts screaming otherwise. But they trusted Liam enough to at least wait. Their magic dimmed, but their bodies remained tense.


    "She reeks of dark magic," Keira whispered.


    "Fascinating. I wonder, do your people always strike before understanding?" the Ancient One said.


    "We understand enough," Triss shot back. "No good magic feels like that."

 136

    "Okay, let''s take a breather. Everyone, meet the Ancient One. She''s the Sorcerer Supreme of our world." Liam introduced her.


    "Sorcerer Supreme?" Triss and Keira looked at him like he''d lost his mind.


    "A guardian," the Ancient One clarified. "I and my colleagues protect the fabric of reality in this world."


    "Then why does your magic feel like¡ªlike decay? Like something rotting underneath a mask of light?"


    "Because, unlike you, I do not reject the dark. I understand it. I wield both light and shadow in balance." the Ancient One said. Liam could only roll his eyes on that. He knew exactly why the Ancient One gave them this feeling. Dormammu. Though he didn''t burst the bubble.


    "Hmph. As if we believe that." Triss said.


    "Believe what you will. I came here because Liam here had brought some guests." Ancient One said. "Since you both don''t seem hostile, I take everything is in order." This was mostly pointed at Liam.


    "You don''t have to worry. They aren''t a problem." Liam assured.


    "Yes, I noticed." the Ancient One said, speaking of the fact of how Liam was easily able to stop their attacks. Liam could see the tension wasn''t fading anytime soon.


    "Look, I get it. But trust me when I say she''s one of the good ones."


    Triss and Keira exchanged glances, still unconvinced, but they didn''t argue further.


    "Fine, but that doesn''t explain what kind of magic she used to arrive here. That... that wasn''t a normal portal. And what was your magic? You still haven''t explained that."


    "It''s called Bifrost manipulation. A highly advanced form of magic." Liam replied, but didn''t answer for the Ancient One.


    "What other kind of magic can you do?" Triss asked, now curious and Liam then proceeded to show something that would shock the two women. His form would rapidly change and within a couple of seconds he changed into a falcon that flew around the lounge and then reverting back to what he was.


    Both of the women were beyond amazed.


    "And you said you couldn''t do magic?" Keira asked.


    "I told you this is kind of an ability for me. I wasn''t taught about it, you can say I was born with it. Thus even if I can manipulate magical energies, I don''t know how it actually works." Liam said.


    "If you know such powerful magic, why would you want to learn magic?" Triss asked.


    "Two reasons. One is I want to learn it myself and get stronger. Secondly, I can''t do the same magic in your world. It is blocked. The people who are responsible for my trials which this time is in your place has take my abilities away until I pass the trial." Liam said.


    "What?" Both Triss and Keira were horrified and even the Ancient One was intrigued by the words of Liam. Liam then gave a false rundown of what was going on, of course filled with lies and also many holes in the story.


    Especially the Ancient One was sure that Liam was lying about multiverse entity or organization. She would have known if that was the case. But she didn''t call Liam out. Though she couldn''t see the future of Liam for some reason, it didn''t mean she couldn''t see the world with the help of time stone.


    Liam was powerful and he would help in safeguarding the world and that was what important to her. What kind of lies he spun for the others to hear, wasn''t her concern. Besides, it''s not like Liam was a part of Kamar Taj.


    She was sure that Liam wasn''t interested in them, thus she left Liam alone. It did unsettle her for quite sometime when she couldn''t see the future of Liam, but later decided it might be because Liam had vague control over time.


    "Magic like that feels dangerous. What if you go rogue?" Triss asked. She wasn''t exactly happy to know the whole story of Liam either. Humans were known to control magic well but there were cases where folks went wild by the influence of magic.


    "They''d have to be strong enough to even wield it in the first place," Liam pointed out. "Trust me, it''s not something just anyone can pick up and play with."


    "I want to see it." Keira said while licking her lips. This gave goosebumps to Liam, seeing how this woman was upto some tricks again.


    "Alright, but if you want to learn, I suggest we take this to a more... open location." Liam sighed.


    "You''re suggesting a duel, aren''t you?" Triss said.


    "I like the sound of that." Keira said while giving a wide grin.


    "If nothing else, I suppose it''ll be a learning experience." Triss sighed as she could see the bad habits of Keira showing up again. Now she believed that this woman had tried to seduce Liam before.


    "Interesting. Very well, I shall not interfere. But do try not to destroy anything important." Ancient One said.


    After the discussion, Liam, Keira, and Triss left Stark Tower, heading to a secluded area where they could fight without interruptions. This was a remote island and Ancient One took them here. Fenrir was back with his parents as Liam felt it would be better now since his parents would decide to go to Europe. They would visit by a private plane and thus didn''t have problems with carrying Fenrir with them.


    "I''ll admit, I''m curious to see what you''re truly capable of." Keira said.


    "Let''s find out then." Liam said.


    With a flick of her wrist, Keira conjured an array of glowing sigils in the air, each forming into orbs of concentrated magical energy. Without hesitation, she launched them forward in a staggered barrage.


    Liam''s eyes shimmered with more vivid colors of Rainbow light¡ª foresight activated. With minimal movement, he sidestepped each attack effortlessly, the orbs passing harmlessly by.


    "Fast," she admitted. But she wasn''t done.


    Liam exhaled, his body flickering with an eerie blue glow¡ªWraith form. His form became incorporeal as he slipped momentarily into the shadow realm, traversing much distance taking less than a second, allowing the lightning to pass harmlessly around him, making it seem that the lightning attacks were slower. He reappeared in an instant, already moving.

 137

    Keira barely had time to register his speed before Liam was in front of her. Reacting on instinct, she conjured a protective barrier, a translucent dome of ashen light.


    Bombardier


    Liam jumped up in the air and with his legs hit at the barrier Keira had built and then spin back at his position, only for the place that Liam had hit, burst out in flames, making the whole barrier shatter and within seconds fall down. The sheer pressure forced Keira back a few steps.


    Her breath hitched.


    "What the.."


    Liam didn''t answer. He simply raised his hand, conjuring a blades of fiery arrows¡ªFusillade. A dozen golden arrows materialized in the air and shot toward Keira at breakneck speed.


    Keira teleported at the last second, reappearing a few feet away. But before she could catch her breath, the temperature around her plummeted a bit. Liam had summoned a small ball of water and threw it at Keira and before she knew it she found herself a huge ball of water that floated up, taking her along.


    She was in water domain, and it was revolving and moving in such a fast speed that she couldn''t just extricate herself at all. Keira barely had time to conjure a counterspell, forming a barrier of space to not let her drown.


    She was drenched in water when she was out of the water domain. Her magic came from her chants in Elder speech, but Liam didn''t need any of that. Now she believed when Liam said that magic came to him as abilities and not as learned magic. No wonder Liam had such a high talent for magic.


    He was given. His blood had mana written in it. It all made sense now.


    Keira was pissed a bit but as she tried to chant once again, she saw Liam close to her with a bow in his hand and arrow made of Bifrost pointing at her face. A small chant and the arrow would leave the bow. This was Liam''s way of telling.


    "Move and you will perish."


    "Checkmate," Liam murmured. Keira exhaled sharply, then raised her hands in surrender.


    "Alright, you win."


    "That was fun." Liam said as he stepped back and took back the bow.


    "That wasn''t a duel. That was one-sided domination." Triss mentioned from the sidelines. She had questions about the magic Liam had displayed. Unlike Keira, who was busy with defending herself, she sense different kinds of magic from Liam. Especially the wraith form of Liam.


    It gave her a very familiar feeling, but she couldn''t point out where.


    "Tell me again of how you lost that hand? There is no way one could have done that easily." Keira said. Liam had always evaded about his missing hand and she felt that Liam was very much ashamed to talk about it. But with what she had seen today, she was pretty sure that Liam wasn''t even trying to overwhelm her and even then she lost horribly. It was more of an exhibition and a being like Liam actually lost a hand.


    "He was ignorant." the Ancient One said.


    "No wonder." Triss nodded as only that explanation could explain why Liam lost a hand. When Vilgefortz lost his life, it was also because he was ignorant and thought himself to be unbeatable. But at the end lost to a witcher.


    Though she was curious, just like Keira, of who was the person who delivered that shock to Liam. But didn''t ask as she could Liam had a gloomy face once Ancient One said those words.


    Back at Stark Tower, the group gathered in the lounge, the atmosphere calmer than before. Keira was still wringing out the water from her hair with mild irritation, while Triss sat thoughtfully, still pondering the abilities Liam had displayed.


    "You fight like a damn monster," Keira muttered. "No spells, no chants, yet you can summon elements, distort space, and move like a ghost."


    "You''re just mad I won." Liam said.


    "Tch," she huffed.


    "You are quite the anomaly, Liam. Even for a world filled with the things that I have witnessed."


    "I get that a lot." Liam glanced at Triss and Keira. "Anyway, we''ve spent enough time here. We need to head back to Kaer Morhen."


    "Back to the cold and monster-infested lands. Can''t say I''m excited." Triss said. A part of her really didn''t want to go. Natasha was right. She loved it here. Keira, who was the first person to say no to moving here, had her eyes showed that she was reluctant too to leave.


    Pepper had returned from her office and was also sad to know that they would be leaving.


    "I promise to bring Tony next time I return. Tell Fury if he calls that we have left. He doesn''t need to put extra security here." Liam said as he had noticed that after he had arrived the Stark Tower had more security, which he could understand.


    Pepper nodded and Liam soon opened a portal but before Liam stepped in along with the two women, he looked at Pepper and said.


    "Tell Fury that we need Banner. Not for the monster, but for his brain."


    "Huh?" Pepper was confused about what Liam meant.


    "Relay Fury my words. He will understand." Liam said. Pepper nodded out of habit and remembered his words.


    The cold, crisp air of Kaer Morhen greeted them instantly. Snow crunched beneath their boots as they emerged onto the fortress''s worn stone steps. The sky above was painted with streaks of grey and white, the morning sun barely breaking through the thick clouds.


    "Great. Back to freezing my ass off." Keira said.


    "At least we know we can go back now." Triss said while looking at Liam who just shrugged his shoulders. His gaze had already landed on Vesemir, who was standing in the courtyard, tending to Uma.


    "Where in the devil''s name have you three been?" Vesemir demanded. "You left for a simple scouting trip, and it''s been over two weeks!"


    Liam''s expression remained neutral, but Triss and Keira both stiffened.


    "Two weeks?" Triss repeated. "Vesemir, we were only gone for three days."

 138

    "I don''t know what tricks you''re playing at, but you''ve been gone for fifteen days. Whatever magic or technology as you mention you were messing with, it''s clear you lost track of time." The old witcher scoffed.


    "So... that thing you said before. About time moving differently between worlds. You were serious?" Keira slowly turned her head to Liam, who remained unsurprised.


    "I wouldn''t lie about something like that and that too for some prank."


    "Gods... This means if we stay in your world too long, we''ll return to find everything here changed. That''s¡ª" Triss said.


    "¡ªboth an advantage and a problem," Liam finished for her. "We can spend weeks over there learning or planning, and only a few days will pass here. But if we''re careless, we might come back to find the world unrecognizable. But it''s not permanent as this will go on for 15 years after that the portal between two different worlds will stop as it will stop my trial."


    "I already have a headache." Keira said thinking of Liam''s abilities, the time difference and the fact that the secretive organization behind Liam could even pull something like that. But the two women didn''t pay more thought to the time delay surprise.


    They were not powerful enough from what they understood from Liam. No wonder, Liam didn''t care if Keira or Triss could wreck havoc in his world. He was too powerful for them to cause any long lasting trouble.


    Keira and Triss wasted no time before launching into an enthusiastic retelling of their experiences in Liam''s world. Vesemi''s weathered face set in a doubtful expression as the two sorceresses excitedly described everything they had seen.


    "You wouldn''t believe it, Vesemir," Triss began. "The people there live in towers taller than the highest mountains. Some of them are entirely made of glass! And these... these metal carriages called cars¡ªthey move on their own without horses!"


    "Towers of glass? Carriages without horses? Sounds like something a drunk bard would come up with."


    "Oh, come on, old man. Do we look like a bard to you?" Keira scoffed. She pulled out the small rectangular object Pepper had given her¡ªa sleek black Stark Industries mobile phone¡ªand tapped its glass surface. The screen lit up, causing Vesemir to take an involuntary step back.


    "Relax, it''s just a device. Think of it as a magical mirror that captures images and stores them." Triss said.


    "Look. This is what New York looks like." Keira said as she scrolled through her photos.


    The old witcher leaned in cautiously, his mutant eyes narrowing at the glowing image on the screen. The cityscape of New York, with its massive skyscrapers and dazzling lights, filled the display. The sheer scale of it left him momentarily speechless.


    "And here¡ªthis is me and Triss at a place called Central Park." She swiped again, showing a photo of them standing in front of a green landscape nestled within the city''s structures.


    "Hmph. So it''s real, then. Still doesn''t explain how people survive in a place like that without magic." Vesemir said.


    "Oh, but they do!" Triss said, excitedly swiping through more photos. "They''ve replaced magic with machines. They have devices that let them talk to each other instantly across vast distances. They have massive flying metal birds that carry people across the sky¡ª" Keira said.


    "And their fashion, Vesemir! You should see what they wear! No heavy cloaks, no armor, just these comfortable fabrics that somehow keep them warm even in the cold." Triss added to Keira''s words. "Pepper even gave us some clothes from her world. I''ll admit, I actually like them. They''re... more practical than I expected."


    "And these little devices you''re carrying¡ª" Vesmeir then pointed at the mobile phone in Keira''s hands. "¡ªwhat else do they do?"


    "Oh, plenty. We can take moving pictures, listen to music, read books... And, thanks to Pepper, we even have these¡ª" She pulled out a small, flat object with a tiny cord attached to it. "Solar rechargeable chargers. They absorb sunlight and keep our devices working indefinitely."


    "Hah. You two sound like a pair of wide-eyed apprentices who just discovered their first spell." Vesemir at the end could only shake his head seeing the enthusiasm of the two women.


    "Well, at least now you believe me when I said my world was different." Liam finally said.


    "Aye. Different is one way to put it." Vesemir eyed the phone once more before shaking his head. "Still don''t trust those strange little mirrors of yours. But I''ll admit¡ªyour world sounds... fascinating."


    "Oh, Vesemir, if you saw it yourself, you wouldn''t want to come back." Triss said.


    "Hah! I think I''ll stick to the world I know. Magic, monsters, and all." Vesemir wasn''t as keen as these two women. He had witnessed too many things of the whole world to get excited about different worlds. The new world of Liam looked exciting for sure, but for now, he was more concerned about finding Ciri and bringing her back in one piece.


    After a days rest, Liam was back on track on learning magic. He had already asked and got the confirmation that the sources of magic still worked fine in their world and thus Liam was now more eager to learn magic.


    After settling back into Kaer Morhen, the biting cold of the keep welcomed them once again. Few days had gone by since they had arrived at Kaer Morhen and Liam had sent the information that the things Tony had wanted was here. Tony was in a pickle. He wanted those things but the distance between Kaer Morhen and Oxenfurt was too much and thus it would take days for his things to reach.


    He needed to find a proper and secure route between Kaer Morhen and Oxenfurt and he was contemplating of sending Barton to deliver the goods. Liam didn''t care of what Tony wanted. He wasn''t going to move from this castle as he had finally had some head start to his magic learning.

 139

    Liam had stepped away from the warmth of the fire, drawn to the open training grounds outside. The wind howled through the mountains, cold and merciless. His frustration with magic had been eating away at him for months. He could summon abilities naturally, but true spellcasting, the way Triss and Keira wielded magic, remained elusive.


    Today was just one of the days where he would come and try to conjure a spell. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, letting the wind whip around him. He then spoke the elder speech he had committed to the memory long ago.


    "Gynvael aep morvudd."


    The wind stirred.


    "Aen a''geadh."


    A faint shift, a ripple in the air around him.


    "Naeg feainnewedd!"


    The wind roared to life.


    A sharp current circled around his arms, wrapping him in a vortex of air. His heart pounded in his chest as he felt the magic truly respond to him for the first time¡ªnot as an ability he was given, but as something he commanded.


    He lifted his hand and with a final push of will, the wind shot outward in a concentrated burst, sending snow scattering across the courtyard. It wasn''t powerful, not yet, but it was real.


    He had done it.


    "Liam?"


    He turned to see Triss and Keira standing at the entrance, both watching him with surprise. Triss and Keira who had been on the sidelines going through some romantic novels on the mobile looked up to see what Liam just done.


    "You.. You are finally able to do it?" Keira was in disbelief. Liam had been struggling so much and after seeing him in his world, she even felt that Liam was faking it. But now that Liam had finally been able to call forth some magic, she was sure that Liam had really been struggling.


    The tell tale signs were all there.


    "Looks like you''re finally learning." Triss, meanwhile, had a smile on her face.


    "And let me guess, you weren''t even thinking about magic when it finally worked, were you?" Keira said while keeping her mobile away.


    "Not really. I just... stopped forcing it." Liam admitted. He had let go of his efforts and just chanted the elder speech out of habit at this point.


    "Maybe that''s the key. You''ve been treating magic like a skill to be mastered through effort, but it''s not just about logic and willpower." Triss said as her conjecture about emotions might be true. "Every sorcerer, every mage, we all channel magic through our emotions. That''s probably why you''ve struggled so much¡ªyou''ve been blocking yourself off."


    "And yet, just a few hours ago, you finally let loose. You fought without restraint, got frustrated, got excited, which is very rare for you. Maybe that''s what unlocked it." Keira said.


    "You need to understand your emotions, connect with them instead of ignoring them. And that''s why..." Triss hesitated for a moment before saying. "It''s time you went to Kovir."


    "There are druids there¡ªdifferent from mages, but deeply attuned to nature and emotions. They could teach you how to align yourself with the world''s flow instead of forcing your way through it." Keira said.


    "Druids?" Liam said. He had thought about druids before and learning from them but decided he should visit them once he got the basics right since these druids were known to be very powerful and he held almost no knowledge about them. Druids were old men who lived in forests, held immense magic, act like hermits and considered nature as their God.


    "Yes," Keira confirmed. "And if anyone can teach you about finding balance in magic, it''s them."


    "We''ll go with you. Kovir is one of the safest places for mages, and honestly, after what we saw in your world, I''d like to get away from all this cold for a while." Triss said.


    "Actually, I think I''ll stay here." Keria said.


    Both Liam and Triss turned to her in surprise.


    "You''re not coming?" Triss asked.


    "Don''t get me wrong, Kovir sounds tempting, but someone has to stay behind and help keep Kaer Morhen in one piece. The place is falling apart, and I''ve already started working on a few repairs. Besides, Vesemir could use the extra hands, especially with Uma here."


    "You always did have a knack for getting comfortable wherever you go." Liam said. By now he had understood the mind of his mentor. She really didn''t like getting out of the comfort zone.


    "Unlike some of us, I don''t need to be constantly moving to feel like I''m making progress." Keira didn''t seem to like the jab and said.


    "Fair enough. But don''t think we won''t drag you there eventually." Triss chuckled.


    "I''ll consider it. For now, you two can deal with the druids and their nature-loving nonsense while I enjoy the comforts of a castle." Keira mocked.


    With their plans set, Triss and Liam packed for the journey ahead. They would travel first to Rivia, where they could secure passage on a riverboat to Cintra. From there, they''d find a ship heading north to Kovir.


    A day later, the two found themselves on horseback, riding through the mountain paths that led away from Kaer Morhen. They rode through the forests, making their way south toward Rivia. Rivia the place where Geralt hailed from and if any place had an understanding of not to mess with witchers or sorcerers, then this was the place.


    Liam would have loved to be in Rivia as this place seemed prosperous and since it was beyond mountains, though the Nilfgaard had conquered the place, they paid very less attention to it since it was always difficult to reach this place.


    From Rivia, it didn''t take much time to hire a medium sized river boat. Soon the duo along with the owner of the boat started their journey East towards Cinta, which was also a port. Cintra was the place where Ciri was born and though after Nilfgaard took over the capital had changed from this place but it didn''t take away the fact that Cintra was still a major port here.

 140

    While Liam and Triss were traversing foreign lands, something else was happening in Oxenfurt. At the autumn night, flames raged in the distance. Tony Stark and Clint Barton stood atop the university, watching the dye factories collapse in on themselves, spewing smoke and embers into the night sky.


    "Everyone get out safe?" Barton asked while continuing his look at the burning flames.


    "Yeah. No injuries. No deaths. Just a lot of people out of work now." Tony''s jaw tightened.


    "Good. Then we can move forward." Barton said.


    "Move forward? You mean after burning down two industries and putting half the damn district out of work?" Tony turned to him, incredulous.


    "We both knew this was going to happen. Those bastards weren''t going to stop. They would''ve come after us sooner or later." Barton not being fazed at all said.


    "And instead of outmaneuvering them, you torched their livelihoods." Tony said.


    "You are the one to talk Tony since you have done worse. Besides, it''s not all of them." He turned back toward the fire. "Before this, I talked to some of the workers. The ones who weren''t completely loyal or scared out of their minds. Told them if things went south, I''d have a place for them. My new shop is hiring, and I''ll take as many of them as I can."


    "And the rest?"


    "Some of them were too afraid to leave. Others? Too loyal. You know the type¡ªmen who''d rather sink with the ship than abandon their ''betters.'' Couldn''t do anything about them." Barton said.


    "I should''ve known you wouldn''t just light the match without thinking ahead. Still, you left a lot of people stranded." Tony ran a hand through his hair.


    "I did what I could," Barton said. "And you?"


    "I''ve got some connections. Some of them can be placed elsewhere. Maybe in the university''s workshops, maybe in private businesses that could use skilled hands." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "But damn it, Clint. You didn''t need to take it this far." Tony sighed.


    "I did. Otherwise, we''d be the ones burning next." Clint said.


    Tony looked back at the fire, the collapsing structures hissing as they caved inward. He wasn''t happy, but he also knew Barton wasn''t wrong. This world didn''t play fair. And besides it was a trial. A trial for them and also Liam, the better their performance, the better the results.


    But still Tony wasn''t happy at all. Living with them only cemented his love with the locals and the people around. All humans weren''t bad. It was just some bad apples manipulating the ignorant ones. Tony could also sense that as the days went by, the professors of the university weren''t exactly fond of him.


    The only reason they had been silent was because Radovid was dead and thus they just lost their political backing and funding. Though the houses remained, it didn''t mean all the houses went along with each other. It was chaos inside and the only reason Tony was left was because he was neutral to begin with and had loads of money.


    But Tony knew, once some of them were pushed to a worse situation they would turn on him since for most people Tony was a walking gold with ideas that could make an industry bloom. Tony wasn''t immune. Not yet.


    The fires in Oxenfurt had long since died down, leaving behind the blackened skeletons of what were once the largest dye factories in the region. The merchants who had ruled that trade¡ªVespasian Leovold and Dorian Massengill¡ªhad lost everything overnight.


    At first, they refused to believe it. They still had gold, still had connections, but those meant little when the heart of their business had been turned to ash. The merchants had spent years consolidating their power, ensuring their businesses were too vital to fail. Yet, in a single night, their dominion had crumbled.


    And they knew exactly who was responsible.


    Clint Barton.


    The name burned in their minds like a brand. The foreigner had not only defied them¡ªhe had humiliated them, taken what was theirs, and worse, he had gotten away with it.


    Leovold and Massengill had no choice but to leave. The University''s council, ever pragmatic, had not lifted a finger to aid them. With Radovid dead and no clear successor holding power, the old alliances meant little.


    They left in secret, taking with them a handful of loyal men¡ªguards, accountants, and enforcers who had no future in Oxenfurt now that their employers were ruined. They traveled by carriage under the cover of night, heading northwest toward Novigrad, where wealth still ruled and where desperate men could find new footing.


    The merchants had connections, but after their fall from power, trust was hard to come by. Even former allies saw them as liabilities, afraid of the chaos that followed in their wake.


    By the time they reached Novigrad, their men were restless, and their reputation was all but shattered.


    But they still had one advantage.


    They knew the name of a monster that could tip the scales back in their favor.


    Many days had passed since the two merchants and their associates had settled in. But that didn''t mean, the two merchants, had forgotten of what had gone down in Oxenfurt. This man named Barton decided to sweep in one day and turn the whole dye industry of the kingdom upside down within a few months.


    The dye which was costly and could be called as luxury, suddenly became cheaper than theirs. It started slowly as the prices didn''t take a nose dive. The two merchants didn''t even pay attention to it at the beginning but as the days went by, and the prices started dropping faster than they could ever retaliate.


    And to top it off, Barton sold all the colors in a singular price. Even the color blue was cheap. This was the nail in the coffin and thus the two merchants started coercing Barton to give up the formula or the business so that they could get a share of their profits. They did every means possible to subvert Barton.

 141

    Novigrad was a city of excess and blood. Gold and crime went hand in hand, and in its darkest corners, secrets thrived. The merchants had no intention of seeking out common assassins or mercenaries. They needed something more.


    Something lethal.


    Something with no weaknesses.


    For weeks, they whispered in the right ears, let gold pass into the hands of men who dealt in hushed voices and fear. They made careful inquiries, using coded language to avoid drawing the attention of the coroner in Novigrad.


    Hubert Rejk.


    This man was an enigma to everyone who knew about him. He was a Higher vampire. A katakan. The reason he was an enigma was not because he was a higher vampire or the fact that he had a thirst for torture and making a spectacle of his victims. No, it was because he was a supporter of the Eternal Fire cult.


    The same cult which opposed anything magical. It was strange because Hubert himself was a magical creature and the human form wasn''t even his real form. This was a mystery to everyone who knew anything about him.


    And the two merchants wanted to exact revenge through him. At first, the merchants were wary. Vampires did not take contracts. They did not kill for coin.


    But they knew men like Hubert could be guided


    .


    They found him in the basement of a butcher''s shop, deep in the slums of Novigrad. It was an unassuming place, but the air reeked of something primal. Hubert sat at a plain wooden table, sharpening a dagger that was far too ceremonial for a mere butcher''s tool.


    The merchants did not approach alone. They had brought two of their best remaining enforcers, but even then, they felt a chill as Hubert''s gaze lifted toward them.


    "I don''t take contracts," he said before they even spoke. He knew that these two merchants knew about his identity and it could be leaked, but he also knew that these men were scared of death more than their greed.


    "We aren''t here for contracts," Leovold replied smoothly. "We are here for justice."


    "Justice?"


    "Yes," Massengill interjected. "There is a man¡ªan outsider. A foreigner who has no place in our world. He is immoral, reckless. A man who destroys livelihoods without care. A man who burns businesses to the ground simply because they stand in his way."


    Hubert said nothing, but the merchants could tell they had his attention.


    "He acts without consequence," Leovold continued. "People like that... deserve to be judged, don''t they?"


    "This man," Massengill pressed on, "this Clint Barton¡ªhe torched our factories. Not because we wronged him, but because we stood in his way. Hundreds of men are now out of work because of his greed."


    "And now?" Hubert asked.


    "Now," Leovold said, "he prospers. While honest men suffer." Hubert exhaled slowly, the candlelight flickering as if the air. He waved his hands showing that these two men should leave, but this was an indication enough that he would contemplate later.


    -------


    The journey to Kovir had been long and arduous, but Liam and Triss had finally arrived in the kingdom known for its wealth, frigid climate, and, most importantly, its tolerance toward mages. Yet, finding the druids here was proving to be an entirely different challenge.


    For days, they had combed through the libraries of Pont Vanis, speaking with scholars and old herbalists who might have known anything about the Circle of Druids. They searched the outskirts of towns, following rumors about reclusive mystics, only to find ordinary hedge witches and alchemists peddling common remedies. Even among the magical circles, information about the druids was scarce. Unlike sorcerers who sought influence, druids lived in secrecy, avoiding civilization as much as possible.


    "This is getting us nowhere," Liam muttered as he and Triss sat in the corner of a dimly lit tavern. A fire crackled in the hearth, providing little warmth against the chill that seeped through the wooden walls. "We''ve asked herbalists, scholars, and even a few smugglers. Nobody seems to know where these druids are."


    "That''s because they don''t want to be found. Druids aren''t like us, Liam. They don''t seek power or students. They follow the flow of nature and shun human conflicts." Triss said while drinking a bit of the local wine. She was actually enjoying herself here. Here, she was free and none of the folks here would look at her the wrong way.


    There weren''t any wanted posters of hers and thus even if people here came to know her, they wouldn''t treat her any different. Kovir would have been the best place for her to pass her time, if she hadn''t gone to the city of New York.


    "Then why did we even come here? If they don''t want to be found, how are we supposed to convince them to teach me?" Liam meanwhile wasn''t liking the wild goose chase at all.


    "Because there''s always a way. We just have to look deeper." Triss smiled.


    It wasn''t until their fifth day in Kovir that they finally found their first real lead. An old fisherman by the docks, after some convincing (and a hefty exchange of crowns), told them of a strange group of men who had passed through the region months ago.


    "They don''t come to the cities, no. But the woods¡ªaye, they visit the deep forests," the old man said. "You wanna find ''em, you best head north, past the Frosted Highlands. They say there''s a grove there, old as time itself."


    Liam and Triss wasted no time preparing for the next leg of their journey. The Frosted Highlands were treacherous, covered in thick snow and inhabited by beasts that had never seen human civilization. Traveling there would not be easy.


    "You sure they''ll even listen to us?" As they rode out of Pont Vanis, Liam couldn''t help but glance at Triss.


    "That''s what we''re going to find out." Triss said. But she was very sure that Liam would be accepted among them as druids were known to nurture talents. The druids might be reclusive but once in a while they would come in contact with civilization. Not because of necessity, but because they loved to kidnap young children who had huge talents of magic and thus make them the next druids.

 142

    The deeper Liam and Triss ventured into the Frosted Highlands, the more the land seemed to reject them. Snow piled high on ancient, gnarled roots, making each step a careful tread. As they went deep into the place, through the ancient path that had almost gotten covered by the foliage, the trees grew taller, their branches intertwining. Even the air felt heavier, charged with something old¡ªsomething watchful.


    "This place feels... unnatural," Liam murmured.


    "Not unnatural," Triss corrected. "Ancient. This is sacred ground for the druids. It belongs to something older than Kovir itself." Triss walked beside him, her own discomfort evident in the way she kept glancing at the shadows between the trees.


    "Yeah, well, whoever it belongs to, they''re not making visitors feel welcome."


    Their horses had refused to go further an hour ago. Forced to continue on foot, they moved cautiously, with the eerie silence. The only sounds were their boots crunching against frozen leaves and the distant cawing of ravens.


    Then, without warning, the ravens fell silent. Liam stopped.


    "Triss," he said quietly.


    "I feel it too." She turned, her breath forming mist in the cold air.


    A guttural, inhuman growl resonated through the trees. The ground trembled slightly, as if something massive had stirred beneath the surface. Then, out of the shadows, a leshen emerged.


    It stood at least twelve feet tall, a monstrous entity of bark and shadow. Its elongated skull bore twisted antlers, adorned with the remains of past victims¡ªbones, bits of fur, remnants of armor rusted by time. Vines slithered across its wooden frame like living veins.


    Its empty eye sockets locked onto them.


    Then, it raised a clawed hand.


    The forest erupted to life.


    Roots burst from the snow-covered ground, lunging at them like serpents. Liam barely managed to jump back in time, unsheathing Vigilance in a fluid motion. The sword''s runes flickered to life as it sliced through a writhing vine. Triss wasn''t idle either. Flames erupted from her hands, searing the encroaching roots


    "Liam! We need to move!"


    Liam didn''t need to be told twice. He twisted to avoid another strike and proceeded to summon the Interceptor. The Javelin armor surged forth from the separate dimension he had stored it in, assembling around him in seconds.


    But then the leshen''s clawed hand came crashing down at that exact moment.


    Liam raised his armored gauntlet to intercept the attack, and the impact sent a shockwave outward. Snow and dirt exploded into the air as Liam stood his ground, his enhanced armor absorbing the force.


    "Alright, you big bastard," Liam muttered. "Let''s see how well you burn."


    Liam darted forward, Dominion now in his left hand, and slashed at the leshen''s leg. Sparks of lightning flew as the enchanted steel bit into the wooden flesh, leaving a deep, smoldering gash. The monster screeched a reverberating sound that sent shivers down he two''s spine.


    But it wasn''t done.


    The leshen thrust its clawed hand forward, and suddenly, blackened crows burst from its body, a swirling mass of wings and talons. They rushed toward Liam.


    Liam activated his Javelin armor''s shield, the energy air barrier flaring to life just in time to deflect the first wave of birds. Still, some managed to claw at him. He swung Vigilance to disperse the swarm. This sent fiery explosions and thus killing most of them.


    "Triss!" he shouted.


    "Already on it!"


    A fiery explosion detonated mid-air, incinerating a portion of the monstrous flock. The leshen recoiled. Taking advantage of the moment, Liam activated his armor''s ultra high speed movement, instantly behind the creature. He slashed at its spine with Dominion. This sent a huge surge of lightning attack on the body of leshen.


    The leshen let out an enraged shriek.


    In retaliation, the monster vanished into a cloud of black mist.


    Liam barely had time to react before the leshen reappeared right in front of him, slamming its massive arm into his torso. The impact sent him flying into a tree, the force knocking the air from his lungs.


    "Liam!" Triss called, but she had her own problems. The leshen''s roots erupted beneath her feet, forcing her to leap back and hurl a blast of fire to keep them at bay.


    Liam groaned, pushing himself up. His Javelin armor had absorbed most of the impact, but his ribs still ached.


    "Fucking trial." In normal times Liam would have just given up and come the next day. But here he couldn''t give up. "Alright, you ugly bastard. No more playing nice."


    He activated Predator Mode, a combat enhancement in his armor that increased his reaction speed and attack precision. With a flick of his wrist, he sent his grappling line forward, wrapping it around the leshen''s antlers and yanking himself forward at incredible speed.


    Mid-air, he flipped over the leshen, twisting his body to land a powerful downward slash with Vigilance straight onto its skull. The blade cracked through the wood, sending fiery doom crackling through the air.


    The leshen reeled, and at that moment, Triss unleashed her most powerful spell yet. A pillar of fire erupted from the ground, engulfing the leshen in blinding flames. The creature thrashed, its wooden body blackening almost instantly.


    Liam didn''t hesitate. He activated his thrusters both on the feet and his back, propelling himself forward one final time in extreme high speed, amost like teleportation. With both hands gripping Dominion, he drove the sword deep into the leshen''s chest, piercing straight through its heartwood, sending another wave of lightning attack through the inside of the wood. One had to understand how potent Dominon was, since it was able to send lightning attack on a wooden man.


    The monster let out a final, ear-splitting wail before its body shuddered and collapsed. The forest then fell into silence. Liam pulled Dominion free, breathing heavily. His armor was fine since it was made of silver and every attack of the leshen was an attack of Liam itself, but his body ached from the sheer effort of the battle.


    Mind you, this was after his body was enhanced by the rings. No wonder leshen was such a high level contract in the game. This thing was terrifying.

 143

    "That... was harder than expected." Triss said. "No wonder Geralt always said never to fight a leshen in a forest."


    "Yeah. But what the hell was a leshen doing out here anyway? I thought they only guarded sacred places."


    "Exactly. Which means we just trespassed somewhere very important." Triss said. As if in answer, a dozen hooded figures stepped from the trees, their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. They bore staffs of ancient wood, their robes adorned with intricate symbols of nature.


    The druids had found them.


    And they did not look pleased.


    The druids stood in absolute silence, and their robes, woven with the colors of the forest, barely moved in the wind. Liam barely had time to straighten before one of them, a broad-shouldered man with a gnarled staff, stepped forward. His face was aged like old bark, with deep lines carved into his skin.


    "You dare trespass upon sacred ground and slay our guardian?"


    "Look, that thing attacked first. We didn''t exactly have time to ask for directions." Liam was still catching his breath as he checked his ribs. The interceptor had told him that his ribs were fine but Liam didn''t feel fine at all.


    "You wield fire and silver against the spirits of the land and expect us to believe your ignorance?" another druid snapped. "Your very presence is a violation."


    "We just need to talk," Liam said carefully. "No more fighting."


    "There will be no words for those who slaughter our guardians. Only judgment!" The lead druid slammed his staff into the ground.


    The first wave came instantly¡ªroots and vines bursting from the ground, lashing out toward Liam like whips. He tried to dodge, but the sheer number overwhelmed even his speed. Thick roots coiled around his limbs, yanking him off his feet.


    "Liam!" Triss shouted, summoning a protective shield of flames to keep the roots at bay.


    Liam gritted his teeth and activated his thrusters, blasting free of the entanglement, but before he could counter, a surge of raw force slammed into him like an invisible wall. He was sent flying back, crashing into a snow-covered tree. His HUD flickered from the impact.


    "Why are they so violent? Aren''t they supposed to be nature loving. Leshen itself is a very filthy monster."


    The druids were already preparing their next attack. One of them raised his hands, and a howling gust of wind swept through the clearing, laced with shards of ice. Liam activated his shield just in time to block the brunt of it, but the cold seeped through his armor, slowing him down.


    Another druid slammed his staff into the ground, and suddenly, the entire terrain shifted. The snow, the dirt, the trees¡ªeverything warped. Liam found himself sinking, the ground pulling him in as though the earth had become liquid.


    "Enough!" Triss unleashed a wave of fire, forcing the druids back for a moment. But then one of the druids unleashed a spell that made a transparent spherical dome around her and she felt like she lost connection to all the sources.


    "You wield chaos in a place that denies it," he said. "Your fire means nothing here."


    Liam cursed under his breath. This wasn''t a fight. This was an execution.


    He tried activating his Predator Mode again, using his speed to maneuver, but another blast of magic struck him in the chest, sending him skidding across the frozen ground. His armor¡ªnormally his greatest advantage¡ªfelt useless against the sheer raw magic these druids controlled.


    He lunged forward, swinging Dominion at the nearest druid, but the man merely raised a single hand. The blade stopped mid-air, frozen in place as if time itself had halted around it.


    "Pathetic," the druid muttered, before flicking his fingers. An invisible force struck Liam, sending him tumbling like a ragdoll.


    As Liam struggled to rise, his body aching from the relentless barrage, one of the druids finally stepped forward, distinct from the rest. He was taller, his robes woven with patterns that seemed to shift like living roots.


    "You rely too much on your armor," the druid said. "It is not strength. It is a cage. Even if it''s made of unknown magic."


    With a simple gesture, he raised his staff, and Liam felt a sudden pressure around his entire body. The Interceptor''s HUD flickered wildly, warning of multiple breaches and magical anomalies. Before he could react, his limbs seized up, locked in place by an unseen force.


    Then came the first strike.


    A burst of green energy slammed into his chest, not merely sending him flying, but cutting through his armor like a blade through parchment. Sparks and shattered metal scattered into the air as the Interceptor''s outer plating split apart. Liam gasped as a searing pain lanced through his ribs.


    The druid didn''t stop.


    A second strike followed, this time directed at his right arm. The gauntlet exploded in a shower of fragmented steel, revealing his bare, trembling fingers beneath. The pain was immediate, raw, and unforgiving. Liam gritted his teeth, but the onslaught continued.


    Another wave of magic crashed into him like an avalanche, sending him sprawling to the ground. His HUD screamed warnings¡ªcritical damage, integrity failure¡ªbut he barely had time to register them before the druid advanced, his staff glowing brighter.


    "And now, you will learn what it means to stand powerless before true magic."


    The final blow came without warning. The druid clenched his fist, and Liam''s entire body convulsed as an unseen force crushed his remaining armor inward. His left arm snapped under the pressure, bones shattering with a sickening crunch. Blood spewed from his mouth as he hit the frozen earth.


    Triss''s scream tore through the clearing. She pounded against the dome, desperation written across her face as she watched Liam crumble.


    "Stop!" she howled. "You''re killing him!"


    The druids did not waver. The lead druid, the one who had shattered Liam''s defenses so effortlessly, raised his staff for the final strike.


    Then, a voice echoed through the clearing.

 144

    "Enough."


    The ancient druid emerged from the shadows of the trees. His robes were woven with living vines, and his beard, long and gray, seemed to move like roots in the wind. The attacking druids lowered their staffs immediately, stepping aside to allow the elder to approach. He walked slowly.


    "Have we fallen so far," the elder murmured, "that we butcher intruders without understanding their intent?" The lead druid scowled but did not argue. He stepped back.


    Triss was already at Liam''s side, her hands trembling as she reached for her potions. Blood stained the snow beneath him, his breath shallow and ragged. His armor was barely recognizable¡ªcrushed, torn, and flickering with dying sparks.


    "You do not belong here, outsider," he said at last. "Nor does she. Take him and leave."


    "You nearly killed him! And now you expect us to just walk away?" Triss''s hands curled into fists.


    "Yes. Because if you stay, the next time you cross our paths, there will be no mercy."


    Triss trembled with fury, but one look at Liam¡ªhis face pale, his body barely clinging to consciousness. They had no choice.


    "Stay with me," she begged. "Just a little longer."


    "Not... dead yet." Liam''s lips barely moved, but she heard it after a minute of infusing healing magic and potions.


    The elder druid rose and turned away, already disappearing into the woods.


    "This is your only warning," he said.


    Triss gritted her teeth, her arms trembling as she held Liam''s nearly limp body over her shoulder. Her boots sank into the damp forest floor.


    "Liam... just stay with me," she whispered. Triss stumbled, the weight of Liam''s broken body and her own exhaustion to an abandoned hut that they have noticed before they entered the forest.


    Behind them, deep within the woods, the elder druid led his brethren away. The eldest druid suddenly stopped on his tracks and looked back at the direction the duo disappeared to.


    "I felt it... The presence of Aen Elle... within the boy." He murmured.


    Two days had passed since Triss dragged Liam into the abandoned hut. The place was crumbling and the roof barely holding together, letting cold drafts slip through the cracks. Yet, it was shelter¡ªenough to keep Liam alive while she tended to his wounds.


    Triss worked tirelessly, barely allowing herself rest. Every few hours, she checked Liam''s temperature, administered alchemical potions, and channeled healing magic into his broken body. Despite her efforts, he remained unconscious for most of the time, occasionally mumbling in his fevered sleep. His breathing had stabilized, but his body bore the aftermath of his brutal defeat¡ªdeep bruises, shattered bones, and flesh torn by magical strikes.


    She exhaled sharply and clenched her fists. She had never felt such helplessness before¡ªnot even during the worst battles in Novigrad or the war between mages and the Eternal Fire. Watching Liam be reduced to this state had filled her with rage. The druids had shown no mercy, and now all she could do was nurse him back from the brink of death.


    By the end of the second day, Liam stirred slightly, his fingers twitching.


    "Liam?"


    His eyes fluttered open for a second, but the glow that usually lingered in them was dim. He muttered something incoherent before slipping back into unconsciousness.


    Triss exhaled, a mix of relief and frustration bubbling inside her. He was still too weak. She needed more time.


    The third day.


    The sun had barely risen when the disturbance came. Birds fell silent, and the very air in the forest thickened with magic. Triss, who had been crushing herbs near the fireplace, immediately sensed the shift. She turned her head sharply toward the doorway.


    The eldest druid stood there. His eyes studied the hut, then settled on her.


    "You," Triss growled. Her hands instinctively crackled with magic, fingers curling into fiery whips of energy.


    The druid did not move, nor did he raise his hands in defense. He simply stood there, as though waiting.


    Triss had spent two days stewing in anger. Seeing the old druid standing in front of her, so calm and detached, sent a surge of fury through her veins. She hurled a blast of raw fire toward him.


    The flame shot forward¡ªbut just before it reached him, it dissipated into harmless embers. The druid hadn''t even lifted a finger.


    "Do you think I''ll just let you waltz in here after what you did to him?"


    She raised both hands this time, summoning a stronger spell¡ªa wave of fire hot enough to turn the entire hut into an inferno. The fire surged forward, but before it could reach its target, the air around the druid shimmered.


    With a flick of his wrist, the eldest druid dissipated the flames into harmless flickers of light. It was as if her magic simply ceased to exist the moment it reached him.


    "You are strong, sorceress," the druid said. "But your emotions make you reckless. If you wish to strike me, at least have the wisdom to use more than fire."


    A groggy voice interrupted them.


    "Triss...?"


    Both turned toward the source.


    Liam, still weak, had dragged himself to the doorway. He leaned against the wooden frame. His skin was pale, his lips slightly parted as he tried to catch his breath.


    "You shouldn''t be up!" Triss immediately abandoned her fight and rushed to his side.


    "Not dead yet." Liam managed a small smile. Triss sighed, forcing him to sit on a nearby stool.


    "You," Liam muttered. He was fuming in anger inside. He was ready to go back home with Triss so that he could get a proper treatment, now that he was conscious but he had stopped himself. He was curious. "Why are you here?"


    When Liam first faced the druids, he didn''t expect them to be so ruthless just because he killed their monster. The game was a bad indicator of how people were in real life. These druids weren''t peace loving at all. What nature? What balance? They almost killed him. He didn''t care anymore to learn magic. But this fight also made him understand of his shortcomings. His armor, now in pieces, wasn''t all powerful. He didn''t even have time to launch all the powerful attack of the interceptor.

 145

    "You probably would have died. The chaos magic is poisonous to any person who isn''t well versed with it." The druid said with a deadpan expression.


    "No, thanks to you." Liam begrudgingly said that.


    "The magic that sustains you is... unnatural. And now I know why." The druid said while looking deep into his eyes. Liam smirked at the words of the druid. This man, no matter how knowledgeable he was, would never in million years would be able to predict the abilities he possesses.


    "You know nothing about me. So don''t act like you do. And if that is all you want to say, then you are done and now get the hell out of here, because last I checked, it was you who threw us out of the forest for hurting your precious doll." Liam said. The druid didn''t seem fazed by the harsh words at all.


    "Child, do you know what you possess?" The druid asked, circumventing the fact that Liam just told him to step out of his space.


    "You mean the scent of an elf that you get from me? Yeah, I know that. You didn''t think I was that dumb. Did you?" Liam said. For sometime he had come to know, with the help of Triss and Keira, especially after taking a small vacation in the world of MCU, that the affects of the wraith was always present.


    In fact, there were other lingering specters in his body since he possessed magic from different dimensions. The only reason the power of elves was very apparent and in forefront was because of the fact that the magic they knew was very closely related to the Aen Elle. Hearing the answer of Liam, the druid, for the first time was a bit surprised but then he saw Triss and vaguely guess what might have happened.


    He breathed out a sigh before saying.


    "I am sorry for the actions of my fellow friends."


    "Hmph.. You aren''t really sorry. You are just annoyed that Liam here knows what he is doing." Triss came behind Liam and took him back to the bed. She was more annoyed than Liam here.


    "Liam.. So that is your name. My name is Cathbad." The druid didn''t take the harsh words again to his heart. This man really had a thick skin. "Their power lingers in you. It is no mere trick of magic or armor. It is in your blood, in your very essence."


    Liam scoffed at it, as he knew what it was. But he refused to explain further. The old druid had seen many things in his lifetime, but never had he encountered a human who carried such a deep connection to the Aen Elle. Maybe that descendant of Lara Dorren.


    Liam, on the other hand, didn''t care for the scrutiny. He leaned back against the makeshift bedding Triss had prepared for him. Though his body still ached from the brutal fight two days prior, his mind now was as sharp as ever.


    "You seem to think you know a great deal about me," Liam said. "But you''re mistaken if you think I care about your opinions."


    "Perhaps. But the energy within you¡ªit''s not something that can be ignored. Tell me, how did you know about its presence?" Cathbad said. Liam exhaled slowly, debating how much to say.


    "I was once taught by an elvish smith," Liam said. "He had a way with magic, weaving it into steel. I picked up a few things along the way."


    "But your armor doesn''t follow the magic of the Aen Elle." The druid said.


    "He doesn''t need to explain himself to you." Triss chimed in.


    "Perhaps not. But I sense that you both came looking for druids for a reason. What is it you seek?" Cathbad turned to Triss.


    "I want to learn how to control the chaos magic." Liam replied.


    "You already possess magic." The druid said.


    "Yes, but I want to master it. The kind of magic this world offers. My abilities don''t exactly come with a manual, and there''s no one I can turn to for guidance." Liam said.


    Cathbad regarded him in silence for a moment, then turned toward the crackling fire at the center of the hut.


    "And you thought the druids of Kovir would teach you?"


    "Something like that." Liam replied.


    "It is true that we are among the few who still understand the deeper mysteries of magic. But after what happened in the forest, do you truly believe they would accept you?" Cathbad said.


    "I don''t care anymore. After what your friends have done. I don''t give a flying fuck." Liam said. The words of Liam came as a bit of out of place for Cathbad and even for Triss as the words chosen by Liam wasn''t common tongue at all. But Triss knew why it was that.


    "You are brash, reckless, and carrying power you barely understand. Under normal circumstances, no druid would take you as a pupil." Cathbad said. "But these are not normal circumstances."


    "The presence of the Aen Elle within you... it is troubling." Ccathbad said.


    "What do you mean?" Liam asked.


    "Have you heard of the Wild Hunt?" Cathbad asked.


    "What about them?" Liam wasn''t scared at all. The words Wild Hunt would normally invoke fear or disbelief. But Liam didn''t seem bothered by the those specters at all and even seemed to know them.


    "Seems like you have some knowledge about them. The descendant of Lara Dorren.." The druid said.


    "You mean Ciri." Triss interrupted.


    "Yes, that cursed girl, is already being hunted for her abilities. It won''t take much time for the Wild Hunt to get a scent of you and come after you." Cathbad said. This just put a smile of Liam''s face. Wasn''t this what he wanted. He was trying to use Ciri to get to the Wild Hunt, and now he was hearing that there was a chance the Wild Hunt would come for him.


    That was what he was waiting for.


    "I would like to see them try." Liam replied.

 146

    "The Aen Elle are not merely elves of another world. They are conquerors, masters of ancient magics that even we druids struggle to comprehend. Their influence stretches across worlds, and if a fragment of that power lingers within you... it may call to them. And if you feel that the all the tales of Wild Hunt are just some tales than you are sorely mistaken." The druid said.


    "I know what they are. I know the power they posses." Liam cut him off.


    "A single Aen Elle wouldn''t be much of a headache. But an army of them with the support of the kingdom? Then it''s a different situation." The druid said.


    "What does it matter to you? It''s not like they are coming after you." Liam said.


    "It doesn''t but the White Frost is coming. And your presence brings new factors." Cathbad said.


    "Doesn''t matter to me. You should leave. Our welcome has overstretched by a lot." Liam said. He didn''t want to reply anymore as every words would tickle his ribs and only because of his strong pain tolerance that he had been silent without any groan. Liam then closes his eyes, refusing to engage with this old man.


    Cathbad sighed and slowly walked out of the hut, followed by Triss. Cathbad and Triss walked in silence for sometime before Cathbad saying.


    "I will teach what I know to the child."


    This made Triss falter as she didn''t expect Cathbad saying that, especially after their hospitality.


    "I don''t think Liam would like to learn anymore from you. Especially after what had transpired." Triss said. Cathbad shook his head and replied.


    "It was my friends who did that. They wouldn''t care what I do." Cathbad said.


    Cathbad stopped walking and turned toward the trees, raising a hand. He whispered in elvish, his voice merging with the sounds of the forest. A few moments later, the underbrush rustled, and from the shadows emerged a small, white rabbit. Its fur was pristine, and its bright, intelligent eyes shimmered in the dim light.


    Triss watched with a mixture of confusion and suspicion as Cathbad knelt, gently lifting the creature in his hands. He turned to her, extending the rabbit toward her.


    "Take it," he said. "Give it to the boy."


    "A rabbit? What is this supposed to mean?"


    "This creature is bound to the land. Its essence carries the strength of the forests, the vitality of life itself. Its presence will aid his recovery far more than any potion you brew."


    Triss hesitated but, seeing the solemnity in Cathbad''s expression, she eventually took the rabbit in her arms. The small creature didn''t resist; instead, it nestled against her.


    "I will return in two weeks. By then, the boy will have healed." Cathbad said.


    "We''ll see."


    With that, Cathbad turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving Triss standing there, staring down at the tiny creature in her arms. She glanced toward the hut, where Liam lay resting, and shook her head.


    "Well, let''s see if you''re really as special as he says," she muttered before walking inside.


    The first few days were difficult. Liam was in and out of consciousness, his body still fighting against the damage inflicted by the druids. Triss did everything she could¡ªhealing magic, potions, herbs¡ªbut the rabbit never left his side.


    It nestled against his chest at night, its small body warm against him. When he stirred in pain, its tiny paws would pat his skin as if soothing him. By the fourth day, Liam was awake enough to notice.


    "...What is this?" he muttered.


    "A gift. From the druid you hate."


    Liam stared at the rabbit, which looked up at him with unblinking eyes. He blinked back.


    "You''re telling me that tree-loving old man gave me a rabbit?"


    "Yes."


    "You didn''t think to refuse?"


    "He said it would help you heal. And judging by the fact that you''re actually sitting up now, I''d say he wasn''t wrong." Triss shrugged.


    Liam scowled, but when he looked at the rabbit, his expression softened just a fraction. He reached out, brushing his fingers over its soft fur. The rabbit nuzzled into his palm, and despite himself, Liam let out a small chuckle.


    "Alright, fine. But I''m not naming it."


    "Sure, sure. You''ll say that now." Liam scoffed but kept his hand on the rabbit, stroking its fur absentmindedly. For now Liam had abandoned the plan of going to his own world and allowing the godly abilities to heal him faster. Pain was a friend of his and thus never minded the pain.


    Over the next two weeks, Liam''s recovery was faster than either of them anticipated. His wounds closed at an unnatural rate, and his strength returned quicker than any healing magic should have allowed.


    And throughout it all, the rabbit stayed by his side.


    It followed him when he finally stood and took his first steps outside. It sat on his lap when he sharpened his swords. At night, it curled up next to him, a small, warm presence against his chest.


    Triss found it both amusing and fascinating. Liam, despite all his stubbornness, had grown attached. He hadn''t admitted it out loud, but she saw the way he absentmindedly scratched the rabbit''s ears, the way he made sure it had food, the way he let it climb onto his shoulder as if it belonged there.


    "You''re a weird little thing, aren''t you?" The rabbit wiggled its nose at him. "Yeah, yeah. I guess you can stay."


    "Told you you''d name it."


    "I didn''t." Liam scowled.


    "You call it ''weird little thing'' all the time. That''s a name."


    "Whatever." Liam groaned. But as he scratched the rabbit''s ears and it purred in contentment, Triss knew¡ªhe''d already accepted it as his own. But his resting days were soon over as Cathbad showed up as he had promised. Seeing Liam all healed up, he nodded his head, as if he had expected the results long ago. Liam didn''t react badly this time as at the end of the day, this old man did help him heal. Though he hardly needed it.


    "Child, are you ready to learn magic?" Cathbad said.


    "Why did you change your mind?" Liam asked.

 147

    Cathbad exhaled deeply, his gaze drifting toward the distant treetops before returning to Liam.


    "It would be a great shame if talent such as yours were to go to waste," Cathbad finally said. "You are unlike any I have encountered before. Your essence... it is neither wholly human nor elven, yet both at once. The power within you is a confluence of forces that should not coexist, yet they do."


    Liam remained silent, his fingers idly stroking the rabbit in his arms. He wasn''t interested in flattery, nor did he trust this druid, not after what had happened. Cathbad sighed, sensing Liam''s skepticism.


    "I had a dream," he admitted. "The night after we parted, I saw a vision of what is to come. A war unlike any before, stretching across the lands like a storm. And in that war... you stood among those who would face the horrors that approach."


    "Is that so?" he said dryly. "And what do you expect me to do with this information?"


    "I expect you to prepare." Cathbad met his gaze. "Fate has a way of drawing people into its grasp, whether they wish it or not. If my vision is true, then you will be at the heart of what is to come. And if you are unprepared, you will be consumed by it."


    Liam let out a slow breath, weighing his options. He didn''t believe in fate. He never had. The world that he lived in had fate too. He even played as Kratos in the game so he knew that fate was always a bad power to poke.


    "And what do you gain from this?" Liam asked. "Why bother teaching me?"


    "Perhaps I am merely an old man who does not wish to see the world burn," Cathbad chucked. "Or perhaps I am selfish, wanting to see how far one such as yourself can go."


    "Honesty. Now that''s rare." Liam smirked.


    "Then introduce yourself, child. Formally, this time." Cathbad said.


    "Liam Woodsworth, from New York."


    "New York? Where is that?" Cathbad asked.


    "A very distant land. Beyond the Continent." Liam replied. Cathbad''s eyebrows rose as he heard that but he didn''t ask further as he knew that Liam wouldn''t reply more to this. And thus after this his lessons began.


    Cathbad asked of what he knew about magic and Liam gave a rundown and sufficed to say Cathbad was impressed. It was at later that Cathbad came to know about Liam''s problems in spells and also his emotional vacancy. Cathbad contemplated for a minute and then gave Liam a piercing gaze.


    "To harness Chaos Magic properly, you must first understand the language that governs it," Cathbad said. "And that means learning Quenya."


    "I know elvish." Liam replied and showed his extensive knowledge.


    "What you know is Sindarin. It is normally used by the Aen Seidhe and though the language holds its power in its speech, it is nothing in comparison with Quenya. That language of the High elves." Cathbad said.


    "Wait, does that mean the spells the mages of this era knows comes from a simpler version of Quenya?" Liam asked.


    "Yes. And we, the druids, holds the knowledge to Quenya. But it is a very difficult language and only someone with immense talent have any chance of understanding it." Cathbad said. This made Liam smile.


    He was a humble person for most of the times, but he always knew his strength. And magic was definitely one of them.


    "So you''re saying if I learn Quenya, I''ll be able to cast spells?"


    "That, and more. The way words are spoken affects the flow of magic. Sindarin, though effective, is reactive. It commands. Quenya, however, is creation itself." Cathbad said.


    Liam exhaled. He had spent enough time learning different magics to know that language mattered. Words carried weight, shaping the very essence of the spell. If Quenya was the foundation, then mastering it could open new doors for him.


    "I will show you." Cathbad raised a hand, and a flicker of energy coiled around his fingers.


    He whispered a spell in Sindarin, and a small flame ignited in his palm. The magic obeyed, shaping itself into a controlled orb of fire. Then, in a softer but somehow heavier voice, he spoke again¡ªthis time in Quenya. The flame didn''t just grow; it shifted, turning into a vibrant, twisting strand of light and fire, dancing in the air as if alive.


    Liam''s eyes narrowed. He could feel the difference. The Sindarin spell had summoned fire. The Quenya spell had created it.


    "Alright," he muttered. "Teach me."


    Cathbad smirked. "Then let us begin."


    For the next several hours, Liam found himself in what felt like a linguistics nightmare.


    Quenya wasn''t just difficult¡ªit was precise, structured in a way that demanded clarity. While Sindarin flowed more naturally in speech, Quenya required intention behind every syllable. The smallest mistake in pronunciation could shift the meaning of a spell entirely.


    Cathbad drilled him on pronunciation first.


    "No, you are still saying it like a command," the druid corrected. "You must speak as if shaping, not ordering."


    "How the hell do I ''shape'' a word?"


    "With patience." Cathbad chuckled.


    By the time the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, Liam had barely managed to grasp the correct way to pronounce a handful of words. But even those few were enough to prove their effectiveness.


    Liam was finally able to make some progress in a spell as he was able to use a spell that was most basic, and that was to conjure light. At the end, Liam was successful. Liam almost had tears in his eyes seeing that he could do magic. He had struggled so much, just to invoke some basic spells that he had almost given up.


    Now knowing that he was not impotent gave him relief and also joy. He could finally have a power that belonged to him and him alone. He was beyond thrilled and knew that he would have to give his every ounce of concentration in learning Quenya.

 148

    The next few months were unlike anything Liam had experienced before. He had always been a fast learner¡ªhis mind sharp, his ability to adapt nearly unparalleled. But learning Quenya, and through it, magic itself, was an entirely different challenge.


    At first, it was frustrating. The ancient elven tongue demanded not only precise pronunciation but also a level of emotional and mental discipline Liam wasn''t used to. Sindarin had always felt more natural¡ªcloser to the languages he already knew. Quenya, however, was something else entirely.


    Cathbad was relentless. Every morning, before sunrise, the druid would wake him with new words and phrases to memorize, correcting his speech over and over again until the words flowed as smoothly as breath. Liam often found himself muttering under his breath throughout the day, practicing even while doing mundane tasks.


    Triss stayed for a few days longer, watching his training with curiosity, but ultimately, she knew she had to return to Kaer Morhen. She had made sure Liam was safe, that he was healing and had a path forward. But she had her own obligations.


    "You''re in good hands," she told him the morning she left.


    "Yeah. Sure. Tell the others I''m still alive." Liam said and also thanked her again for saving his life back then. He hadn''t forgotten the pain he felt from the druids and was sure to teach those guys a lesson.


    "I will. Don''t burn the forest down." She smirked.


    As his grasp of Quenya improved, so did his control over chaos. And Liam showed his talent. His first source of power which he was close to was fire. Even though fire was kind of a taboo, it was still loved by Liam.


    One evening, under Cathbad''s watchful gaze, Liam whispered a word in Quenya¡ª"Nar"¡ªand a small flame flickered to life in his palm. Unlike before, when he had tried to use fire magic through Sindarin, this felt natural. The warmth didn''t scorch his skin; it was like an extension of himself.


    "Good. Fire listens to passion, but it is also the most dangerous of the elements. If you let your emotions waver too much, it will consume you." Cathbad was impressed.


    The next challenge was water.


    At the edge of a stream, Cathbad instructed Liam to focus not on bending the water to his will but on feeling its rhythm, its natural state. It took him days of practice, but eventually, he managed to summon a small stream of water into his hands, shaping it into a floating sphere before letting it splash back into the river.


    "Water does not force itself," Cathbad explained. "It adapts, flows, finds the path of least resistance. It can be gentle or relentless, but never reckless."


    Wind and earth came next, both presenting unique challenges.


    Wind was elusive, difficult to grasp. It wasn''t about summoning gusts of air but rather becoming part of the motion itself. When Liam finally managed to stir the breeze with a soft "Sul", he could feel the way the air wrapped around him, responding to his breath.


    Earth, on the other hand, was stubborn. It required absolute control, complete focus. There was no commanding the ground¡ªonly earning its cooperation. It took him weeks to finally shift a handful of stones without brute force.


    By the end of the second month, Liam had accomplished something remarkable: he had access to all four elemental sources.


    Even Cathbad, who had trained many apprentices in his long life, was astonished. "This is unheard of," he admitted. "Most mages struggle to attune themselves to even two elements, let alone all four. Whatever power resides in you, child... is impressive." Even Cathbad, who had trained many apprentices in his long life, was astonished. He was even more surprised that Liam would go for all the elements. This wasn''t conventional at all.


    Liam didn''t reply. He simply clenched his fist, feeling the hum of magic beneath his skin.


    With every success, however, came hardship.


    Magic was not simply about reciting words¡ªit was about intent, about channeling one''s own energy into the world. Some days, Liam collapsed from sheer exhaustion, his body wracked with pain from overuse.


    There were moments where he felt magic slip beyond his control¡ªfire that burned too hot, wind that howled too fiercely, water that refused to settle. Each mistake was a lesson, but every lesson had consequences.


    "Power without balance will destroy you. You must understand that magic is not about strength alone. It is about harmony." Cathbad had said.


    By the time winter began to set in, Liam had reached a level of magic control that would have taken most mages years. He could summon fire at will, call the wind to his aid, manipulate water, and shift the earth beneath his feet. His understanding of Quenya was far from perfect, but he could weave spells far more effectively than ever before.


    But he also knew he had only scratched the surface.


    Cathbad observed him one evening, as Liam practiced drawing symbols into the dirt¡ªancient glyphs that enhanced spellcasting.


    "You have come far," the druid said. "But you still have much to learn."


    "I know." Liam exhaled.


    "Good. Then you are ready for the next step." Cathbad smiled.


    Liam turned to him, curious.


    "The power you have awakened is rare. But it is still unrefined. If you wish to master it, you must understand not just the elements¡ªbut the very nature of Chaos itself."


    Thus Liam had finally started his transition from the basics to moderate level


    Oxenfurt''s streets were quiet at this hour, save for the occasional drunken student stumbling home or a watchman making his rounds. The city was a scholar''s haven by day, but by night, the shadows stretched long, concealing things far worse than mere thieves.


    Clint Barton moved through an alleyway, hiding the bow slung across his back. This wasn''t the first time someone had put a price on his head, but usually, he knew who was after him. This time, there were no whispers in the streets, no mercenaries lurking near the docks. Just a feeling¡ªan unnatural chill in the air, a weight pressing against his instincts.

 149

    Barton''s grip tightened on his bow as his eyes darted to the rooftops. Nothing. No movement, no signs of life. But that didn''t fool him.


    "You''re a difficult one to track, I''ll admit."


    The voice was smooth. It drifted through the alley like smoke, making it impossible to pinpoint the source. Barton didn''t reply. Instead, he moved, rolling into the shadows of a nearby crate, drawing an arrow from his quiver.


    "Ah, silent type. I enjoy that. No pathetic begging, no empty bravado. But make no mistake, little archer¡ªyou''re already dead."


    The instant the words left the stranger''s lips, Barton felt a rush of movement behind him. He turned, releasing his arrow in the same motion. The projectile shot through the air with impossible speed¡ªonly to hit nothing but mist.


    His opponent was fast. Too fast.


    Barton cursed under his breath, rolling away as something struck the ground where he had stood. The cobblestone cracked under the impact. A tall, pale figure stood there now, shrouded in a long coat, and had crimson eyes.


    Clint didn''t need an introduction. He''d seen monsters before. This one was just more refined.


    "What are you?" Barton muttered.


    "You don''t have the foothold to know my name." The shadow replied.


    Barton didn''t wait. He fired.


    The arrow streaked forward. The shadow moved to dodge but the moment he did, the arrow changed course mid-flight, twisting toward his chest.


    For the first time, surprise flickered across the man''s face. Being a Higher Vampire for thousands of years, this was the first time he had seen something like that. It was Hubert who had taken up the coins to bring down Barton. He barely managed to shift, the arrow grazing his side before embedding itself in a wooden beam behind him. Steam hissed from the wound¡ªa wound that should have healed instantly but did not.


    "Interesting."


    Barton was already moving, drawing three arrows at once and loosing them in rapid succession. Hubert blurred, vanishing and reappearing behind him in the blink of an eye. Clawed fingers lashed out, aiming for Barton''s neck.


    But Clint ducked. In one smooth motion, he twisted his bow, using it as a staff to deflect the incoming strike. The moment Hubert''s claws met the bow, a flash of frost erupted between them, sending the vampire skidding back.


    "Now this is a surprise. You''re not just any archer, are you?" Hubert looked at the weapon with growing intrigue.


    "Took you long enough to figure that out." Barton exhaled.


    "Good. That means this will be fun." Hubert grinned. With that, the vampire vanished again. But this time, Barton was ready. he had never fought such a monster before, but he had once fought against Liam. It was very bad fight. But he learnt one thing. The trick wasn''t to follow their movement¡ªit was to predict where they had to be.


    He turned sharply, loosing an arrow infused with a faint blue glow. It struck the air itself, and for a fraction of a second, Hubert''s form became visible, his body caught mid-motion as if trapped between worlds.


    This was the arrow filled with small dust of silver. Barton had figured out that the monster was most probably a vampire. Since the monster had the speed and also high intelligence, and came for hunting him, higher vampire would only fit it''s description.


    He wasn''t some witcher, but for sure he had dabbled into the knowledge of monsters. Hubert moved again.


    This time, Barton wasn''t fast enough.


    A clawed hand grabbed his arm and wrenched it back, twisting his wrist at an unnatural angle. Pain flared up his forearm as his bow nearly slipped from his grasp. Hubert pulled him close, grinning.


    "You fight well," he whispered. "But you''re still just prey."


    Then Barton did something unexpected. He smirked.


    Hubert''s eyes flickered with confusion for just a moment¡ªlong enough for Barton to activate the hidden mechanism in his bracer. A tiny blade, coated in a shimmering substance, shot out and plunged into the vampire''s side.


    "I have assassin''s creed too. Bitch."


    Hubert recoiled, releasing him instantly. The wound sizzled.


    "Yeah, see, that''s where you''re wrong," Barton rolled backward. "Yeah, see, that''s where you''re wrong, I don''t do prey."


    "Oh, I like you." Hubert clutched his side, chuckling. "I haven''t had this much fun in centuries." Then, in a blur, he was gone again. Barton barely had time to react. Hubert moved like a shadow.


    The moment Barton rolled to his feet, pain exploded in his side. He barely saw the strike before he was sent crashing into a stack of barrels. Splinters bit into his arms. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself up. Blood dripped from his side. Hubert stood a few paces away, rolling his shoulders, his coat barely disturbed, though one could see some of the blood patches on the rather worn out coat and the thin cloth inside.


    "You really are impressive," the vampire mused. "Most humans don''t last this long. But you''re still bleeding. And that means you''re slowing down."


    "Yeah, well... you''re still talking. That means you''re stalling." Barton said.


    He drew another arrow, but his arm shook. Damn. He was losing too much blood. The wound in his side was deep, and his fingers felt colder by the second. Hubert noticed.


    "You''ll collapse before you ever hit me again," the vampire said, stepping forward. "So I''ll do you a favor. I''ll make it quick."


    Barton fired. Hubert caught the arrow mid-air and snapped it in half.


    Then, in a blur, he was in front of him.


    Barton barely registered the pain before he was airborne, hurled across the alley like a ragdoll. He hit the stone pavement hard, his bow clattering from his grip.


    Hubert loomed over him.


    "You were fun," the vampire admitted, crouching beside him. "But I think it''s time I¡ª"


    A sudden roar of wind cut him off.


    The alley flashed with blinding blue light. A pulse of energy slammed into Hubert, sending him skidding back. He hissed, shielding his eyes.

 150

    Barton coughed, barely able to lift his head. Through the haze, he saw a figure descending from above¡ªmetallic, sleek, crackling with electric energy.


    "Sorry I''m late. Got held up by some morons."


    Tony Stark stood there in his Storm Javelin armor. The helmet''s visor flickered as he looked down at Barton.


    "You look like crap, Legolas."


    "Yeah... working on it." Barton replied.


    Tony turned his attention to Hubert, who had regained his footing. The vampire''s crimson eyes narrowed.


    "And who the hell are you supposed to be?" Hubert asked.


    Tony flexed his gauntlets. The armor whirred in response, the silver plating pulsing with power.


    The alley flashed with another burst of lightning as Tony fired again. A concentrated arc of energy streaked toward Hubert, illuminating the night in a crackling blaze of blue. But the vampire was already gone. Tony''s sensors screamed warnings as something moved impossibly fast¡ªtoo fast for even his enhanced targeting systems to track.


    Then, impact.


    Hubert''s claws struck the Storm Javelin armor at the chest plate, sending Tony hurtling backward. He smashed through a wooden cart, barrels exploding into splinters around him. The force of the strike rattled the armor''s gyros, but the plating held.


    "Alright," Tony muttered, shaking his head as he stood. "So, you hit like a truck. Good to know." Hubert landed lightly a few feet away, brushing dust off his coat.


    "And you''re more than human. I should''ve expected that, considering your friend." He tilted his head toward Barton, who groaned in pain against the cobblestone. "But unlike him, you wear your strength on the outside."


    Tony rolled his shoulders, the servos in his suit adjusting.


    "Yeah, I do. And guess what? This armor isn''t just for show, Dracula."


    "Dracula? My name is Hubert. But Dracula.. Hmm.. I like that name. Maybe I will use it as my stage name."


    But without warning, Tony fired up his thrusters and surged forward, fist glowing with a concentrated pulse of kinetic energy.


    Hubert dodged, but this time, Tony was ready.


    The moment the vampire blurred sideways, the Javelin armor''s predictive AI adjusted. Tony twisted his gauntlet mid-swing, redirecting his momentum into a spinning backhand¡ªenhanced with a surge of lightning.


    The hit connected.


    For the first time, Hubert grunted in pain. The silver-coated gauntlet sent arcs of energy rippling through his body, burning into his skin like searing acid.


    Tony didn''t give him time to recover.


    A repulsor blast struck Hubert square in the chest, launching him backward. He tumbled through the air before flipping mid-flight and landing on the alley''s edge, claws digging into the stone to halt his momentum.


    "That actually hurt," Hubert admitted. "I haven''t felt pain in centuries." Tony extended his arms, energy humming through his gauntlets.


    "Well, buddy, you''re about to get reacquainted real quick."


    He fired.


    A barrage of micro-missiles launched from his shoulder plates, streaking toward the vampire with pinpoint precision. The explosions roared through the alley, blasting apart brick and stone. Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring Tony''s view.


    His sensors scanned rapidly. No sign of movement. No heat signatures. Of course, no heat signatures. This monster is cold blooded. I would need to adjust my armor next time.


    "Come on," Tony muttered. "I know you''re not dead. Not that lucky."


    Then, without warning, a shadow emerged from the smoke.


    Hubert moved like a phantom. One moment he was across the alley, the next¡ªhe was right in front of Tony. Claws raked across the silver plating, sending up sparks and also Hubert sense the pain on his claws. Tony staggered back, but before he could counter, Hubert was already behind him. A devastating kick to the back sent Tony crashing into the ground.


    The vampire disappeared again.


    Tony''s AI screamed proximity alerts, but it was too late. Hubert struck from above, slamming into Tony''s shoulder with enough force to send him skidding across the cobblestones. And for the first time Hubert had changed himself from the guise of a human being to a huge 8 feet tall monster.


    Minor structural damage. Energy reserves: 87%.


    Tony cursed. He was doing damage, sure but now when he saw Hubert, he was shaken. At times like these he wished Liam was here. He had now disappeared, using his invisibility. The air in the alley grew thick with tension. Tony''s sensors flickered between warning signs and recalibrations, trying to keep up with Hubert''s erratic movements.


    Then¡ªsilence.


    The dust cloud hadn''t fully settled, but he knew better than to think Hubert was gone.


    He was hunting.


    "Alright, big guy, what''s the plan?" Tony muttered. "Because I gotta tell you, the whole disappearing act? Not as cool as you think."


    No response. Then, just as Tony''s thrusters flared for another charge, a strangled gasp filled the air.


    Barton.


    Tony spun around just in time to see him¡ªsuspended off the ground, feet barely scraping against the cobblestone. Hubert stood behind him, one massive claw wrapped tightly around Barton''s throat. His other hand was pressed against the archer''s ribs, claws just barely breaking the skin.


    Barton was struggling, but Tony could see the fatigue in his movements. Too much blood loss. Too much damage. He wouldn''t last long. Tony''s hands curled into fists.


    "You don''t want to do this," he warned. Hubert smirked, his monstrous features contorting into something that resembled amusement.


    "Oh, I think I do. You see, I don''t fear death, metal man. But drawing unnecessary attention? That''s a different matter."


    Hubert was calculating the cost of this fight. Turning into his true form in Oxenfurt was already a massive risk. If the battle dragged on any longer, the guards and the witch hunters would take notice. And once that happened, his comfortable existence here would come to an abrupt end.


    Hubert wasn''t trying to win.


    He was trying to escape.


    "You want out?" Tony said, voice steady. "Fine. Let the bird go, and I won''t chase you."


    "Do you take me for a fool?" His grip tightened around Barton''s neck. "You''re stalling. Hoping for an opening."

 151

    "Tell you what," Hubert continued. "Why don''t we make a trade? His life... for your retreat." His monster form could easily speak and the voice was chilling to say the least. Tony''s repulsors hummed to life, and Hubert growled lowly, pressing his claws deeper against Barton''s ribs. Blood seeped from the wound.


    "Ah-ah. Move an inch, and I spill him open." Tony''s jaw clenched.


    "Why do you care about him, anyway?" Hubert asked. "I''ve seen your kind. Cold. Detached. Calculating. Or is this weakness? Sentimentality?"


    "You wouldn''t get it," Tony said, voice flat.


    "You''re right. I don''t." His grip tightened once more, and Barton''s struggles grew weaker. "So, what will it be, metal man? Back down... or watch him die?"


    Tony took a slow breath. He knew that he couldn''t do anything here and he also cursed himself for not taking Barton out of the equation faster. He was so much drowned on revenge that he had forgotten the main picture for the moment.


    Suddenly, before Tony could respond, Hubert struck.


    With a monstrous snarl, the vampire lunged, sinking his fangs deep into Barton''s neck.


    Barton''s body jerked violently, his muffled scream cutting through the thick tension in the alley. Tony''s eyes widened in horror as he saw blood spurt from the wound, staining the vampire''s grotesque maw.


    "Barton!" Tony shouted. Repulsors flared.


    But before he could fire, Hubert abruptly pulled back. He licked the blood from his lips, then¡ªwith a blur of motion¡ªhe was gone.


    Vanished into the darkness.


    Barton collapsed onto the cold cobblestones, clutching his neck as blood poured between his fingers. His breaths were ragged, shallow. His skin already looked pale.


    Tony wasted no time.


    "Shit, shit, shit¡ªhold on, Barton!" He sprinted forward, kneeling beside his friend. His gauntlet scanned the wound, trying to assess the damage, but he didn''t need an AI to tell him the situation was bad. The bite was deep. Too deep. If he didn''t act fast, Barton was going to bleed out right here. And bleeding wasn''t the only thing he was worried about. He had read his tales when he was small and in this world some of the tales were real.


    He had a very bad feeling about this.


    And to make matters worse, the sounds of shouting and hurried footsteps echoed from the streets beyond the alley. The fight had drawn too much attention. If the city guards or witch hunters arrived, things would get even messier.


    Tony had no choice.


    "Alright, Barton, we''re getting out of here." He scooped Barton up. With a burst of power, the Storm Javelin''s thrusters roared to life. They shot into the sky, leaving the alley¡ªand the chaos below¡ªbehind.


    -------


    The night was still, save for the distant howl of the wind through the dense forest that surrounded the sacred grove. Cathbad stood beside Liam, his weathered hands tracing symbols in the air. Ancient standing stones hummed with a quiet energy.


    "You understand, boy," Cathbad began, "a staff is not just a tool¡ªit is an extension of yourself. The power it holds is the power you wield. The strength of your will, your magic, your essence¡ªall must be woven into its core."


    Liam nodded. If he was going to be a true sorcerer, he needed something of his own. Something that amplified his magic and stood as a symbol of his abilities.


    Before them lay the components: Mithril, steel tempered by dwarven smiths and heartwood from eldar tree. Cathbad ran a hand over the wood, whispering in Quenya. The bark peeled away on its own, revealing a smooth, polished core.


    "This wood has seen centuries. It holds the memory of the land. It will become the conduit of your magic."


    "How do we merge them?" Liam asked. He needed to be a part of this making as every sorcerer would have to go through this process himself if he needed a staff for himself.


    "With fire, with power, and with will."


    The two set to work. First, the heartwood was shaped into the perfect form¡ªtall but balanced, with a slight curve at the top where the core of its magic would rest. It was neither too thick nor too thin, feeling like an extension of Liam''s hand.


    Next, the mithril was heated within an enchanted forge. Cathbad was very much surprised when he saw mithril as apparently mithril had once been welcomed into the continent once when the Conjunction of Spheres took place, but it came in very low quantity and the Aen Elle and Seidhe had hidden them, never to be seen or used by humanity. He had read about it but when he witnessed mithril for the first time, he was amazed and also excited. His new student was definitely an unique one.


    Liam, seeing the face of Cathbad smiled and petted Elie. This was the name Liam had given to the rabbit. Elie had never left his side since Liam had started his training and was beyond happy to bond with Elie. Liam had decided to take Elie to Fenrir and extend its life using magic as life restoration came easy for the current Liam. Especially with the knowledge and godlike powers in his world.


    The flames turning a deep blue as runes flared along the forge''s rim. The metal shimmered like liquid light, resisting the heat yet bending to the combined will of Liam and Cathbad.


    As Liam channeled his power into the mithril, he could feel it responding, drinking in his magic. Sparks of energy flared around his hands as he shaped the metal into fine filigree, tracing along the length of the heartwood. The steel was then melted down and carefully wrapped around the base of the staff, reinforcing its structure while allowing the magic to flow unimpeded.


    Cathbad then carved intricate runes into the staff, his fingers moving with practiced precision. Each rune was an invocation, a seal of power that would bind the elements together.


    "This is where your power comes in, Liam," Cathbad said. "Imbue the staff with your essence. Let it know you."

 152.

    Liam placed his hands on the nearly finished staff. He closed his eyes and reached deep within himself, calling upon the elements he had come to understand in the language of Quenya.


    Fire. Air. Water. Earth. But there was space for elements to be added later. As Liam knew that those elements weren''t the only one he would have access to. He let them flow through him, each element touching a different part of the staff.


    Finally, he spoke a name¡ªhis own.


    Magic surged through the staff, causing it to glow with a radiant energy. The runes Cathbad had etched ignited, threading lines of light across the surface. Liam opened his eyes. The staff rested in his hands, perfectly balanced, humming with a quiet power. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before¡ªan extension of himself, a conduit of his magic.


    "It is done." Cathbad said.


    Liam gripped the staff and felt its energy resonate with his own. He gave it a small test, channeling a spark of magic through it. A pulse of energy shot from the tip, splitting a nearby rock clean in half. He felt himself like Fern or Frieren here. The chaos looked more streamlined in front of his eyes as he felt immense power in the staff and also the fact that the staff could also be upgraded.


    Liam had decided to learn this craft of staff making and he would try to input more metal or wood into it. Maybe the Yggdrasil or Adamantium.


    "A fitting weapon for a sorcerer of your potential." Cathbad said as he looked at the staff. Elie too hopped on to Liam''s lap and smelled the staff. She seemed to approving of it too.


    "And the strongest staff ever crafted by human hands." Liam said as he was sure that no staff would come close. Cathbad had already said that he would make a staff that even Vilgefortz didn''t have in his prime days.


    But Liam wasn''t the strongest yet. He had much to learn still and that''s what he did.


    "Now I will give you a mission. A very important quest to gain more power for yourself and also your staff." Cathbad said.


    Liam trudged through the biting winds of the chilly mountains of Kovir, his newly forged staff clutched tightly in hand. The jagged peaks loomed like ancient sentinels against a slate-gray sky. Rumors of a lightning-attuned Djinn had led him here.


    It had been couple more months since Liam had made this staff and Cathbad had gone back to his friends to get more ingredients to etch more runes around the place they had been practicing magic.


    According to Cathbad, Liam''s magical attunement was getting close to the Aen Elle and thus he needed protection. At least until he became powerful enough. According to Cathbad, Liam would graduate from his studies when he would be able to conjure magic without speaking the Elder speech at all.


    He wasn''t there yet and Cathbad also gave Liam the feeling that he was hiding something from Liam. Though he wasn''t sure, but after years in the game, his instincts were telling him that Cathbad was definitely upto something.


    Liam didn''t trust Cathbad yet so he had kept his contingencies too. In this journey Liam had to bring Elie too.


    Liam paused at the plateau''s edge. In that silence, a deep, resonant hum emerged, almost as if the mountain itself were speaking. Suddenly, the air shimmered, and from a swirling vortex of storm and shadow, the Djinn appeared. Liam didn''t actually expect to see the Djinn after such a long time of searching and scouring.


    Thankfully Liam had his things inside his inventory. Thus he only needed to carry Elie and once Liam had sensed the chaos magic around, he had kept Elie a little further away, making sure Elie was safe and sound.


    Towering and formidable, the lightning Djinn was a spectral figure of roiling energy, appeared before Liam. Sparks of raw electricity danced along its contours, and its eyes burned with the fury of a thousand storms.


    "Morta cennas, se elenath u?ve? ¨C You dare trespass in my domain, sorcerer?" The Djinn spoke in grey Elvish.


    "Aiya, Eru, nai elenion anim," Liam intoned in Quenya¡ªa greeting used by the Aen Elle. He knew that negotiating with such a being would require not only strength, but also the wisdom of ancient lore.


    "Your tongue wavers with old magic, but your resolve is weak without proof of your mastery!"


    Without further warning, the Djinn surged forward. Lightning flashed from its form, streaking toward Liam like jagged spears of pure storm. In an instant, Liam raised his staff.


    "Que?n elenion, na? tyele?a cirien; ananta lo?melinde?a, u?va no?re?a!" ("Children of the stars, be my shield; in the twilight of sorrow, grant me victory!")


    The staff responded with a brilliant pulse, a luminous aura enveloping Liam as arcs of energy. The collision of magic was cataclysmic¡ªan explosion of light and sound that reverberated through the mountains. The Djinn''s lightning bolts clashed with the magical barrier, each impact sending shockwaves through the frozen air.


    The Djinn wasn''t to be trifled with. For minutes, the two forces battled in a display of raw power and arcane might. Djinn''s each bolt of lightning were filled with ferocity and might. It was fast and relentless and Liam couldn''t conjure a proper counter attack with just his knowledge alone. Though he wasn''t to counter attack, he was able to defend well against this ever powerful Djinn.


    "Eca, fe?a ru?mava! Karna axo!"("Begone, storm spirit! Forge fire!")


    He slammed the base of his staff down, and from the ground, a massive pillar of blue flame erupted. The fire roared upward, engulfing the Djinn in a swirling inferno.


    It emerged unscathed, its form absorbing the fire, turning its already luminous body into a walking storm. Liam barely had time to react as the Djinn''s hand formed a spear of lightning.


    It hurled the weapon forward¡ª


    Liam vanished.


    Not teleported¡ªmoved at impossible speed.


    "Tyele?a lintu ¨C unquenta!"("Swift step ¨C untouchable!")

 153

    "Jesus Christ! this thing is fast and dangerous. Dear Lord, I miss you Heimdall." Liam muttered in annoyance. Not having his basic powers and just a stronger body and healing factor wasn''t helping him at all here.


    The spear detonated against the mountain behind him, splintering stone like glass. The Djinn was already in motion again. It expanded, its form swelling into a massive swirling vortex of lightning. Liam knew he couldn''t just defeat the Djinn with raw power. He had to contain it.


    The runes carved into his staff weren''t just for show. They were binding sigils. Liam raised his staff high and roared, his voice slicing through the howling winds:


    "Nai ea?nar, rina i tyelma! Na? caimasse? arwa!"("By the will of the sky, be bound! Let this prison hold!")


    Runes ignited in sequence, forming a cage of glowing symbols around the Djinn.


    The entity screeched, its form thrashing as it resisted the spell. Bolts of lightning erupted from its body in all directions, scorching the mountain''s cliffs and blasting chunks of ice into the void. Liam gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of his will into the incantation.


    But the Djinn was too strong. The binding started to crack, the runes flickering and distorting. Liam staggered, the force of the resistance nearly knocking him down. Liam and the Djinn soon started what to be stated as a game of cat and mouse.


    Both of the parties weren''t able to hurt each other and whatever hurt each other caused they were able to heal pretty fast. Liam had even used a combination spell of three elements and threw huge chunks of rocks at the Djinn but it was only to be side-stepped.


    The battle went on for 3 hours with no conclusion in sight.


    But at the end he was able to put on a prison like runes over the Djinn. Not enough to hold him, but enough to keep the Djinn down for a minute or two.


    "Listen to me!" Liam''s voice boomed. "You are a being of the storm, of power untamed. But power without purpose is wasted! Instead of being trapped here, forgotten¡ªjoin me. Reside within my staff, not as a prisoner, but as a force of destruction and creation alike."


    "YOU WOULD MAKE ME PART OF YOU?"


    "Together, we could shape the very forces of nature. You would be free within the staff, your power growing with mine." Liam said in Quenya. Djinns inherently were childish in nature and since they were very isolated, they tend to very irritated most of the times.


    Djinns were also known to fulfil wishes if they are caught. Not a earth shattering wish, but a wish that could at least be on par with the magic ability of its own. Geralt had wished once to be with Yennefer for the rest of his life.


    Though at the end, the curse was lifted but till then both of them had been together, even though Geralt once lost his memories and went with Triss. Eventually they still came together. It showed how powerful the curses of Djinns were. Thus Liam wanted to exploit this factor of Djinn and see if this Djinn could be his companion since he had already proven that he was powerful enough to battle on toe to toe. They might be childish but not dumb.


    The storm rumbled, the winds slowing. Then, slowly, the Djinn''s form contracted, swirling into a spiraling vortex of lightning and mist.


    "Human, what makes you think you can hold me?" The Djinn asked.


    "This staff of mine is the most powerful staff ever to be made by humanity. I have arrived here from a very distant land and wish to be more powerful. You are the only being that could battle against me and I am not old like those old bones who will wither away in any storm or adversity. Be with me and I will show you a much wider world than the peaks of this godforsaken lands." Liam said.


    Djinn contemplated for a minute. It could feel that Liam was special. He was young, powerful and could feel the breath of Aen Elle within him. It had been in these mountains for thousands of years and essentially it was bored out of its mind. Most of its lifetime had been spent sleeping. It wanted to go out but something told it that if it did so it would be enslaved as weapons.


    It didn''t mind to be used as a weapon unlike most of the Djinns, who had their pride come in between their ambitions. It wanted to roam around and see the world, but none came to it. A very old man came once to it, trying to enslave it. The Djinn blasted that old man off the edge of the mountain, never to be seen again.


    When Liam showed up, it thought that this human was weak too but reality proved otherwise. And once Liam proposed the mutual help, it was excited. It drifted toward the staff, its energy wrapping around the carved runes like a living force. The sigils glowed fiercely.


    A final pulse of energy erupted from the staff, shaking the mountain itself.


    Then¡ªsilence.


    Liam exhaled, sweat beading his brow despite the freezing air. The staff now pulsed faintly, arcs of blue lightning occasionally flickering along its length. Liam smiled. Cathbad didn''t deceive him here. He had said that this Djinn was much younger and would be more welcoming than most of the Djinns out there.


    "Now I have the source of lightning too." Liam smiled. The staff rumbled. "Yes.. Yes... We have the source of lightning."


    Soon Liam descended the frozen slopes of the Kovirian mountains. The wind howled around him, but it no longer felt hostile¡ªit was as if the very air recognized him now, attuned to his


    As he approached the secluded hut nestled between the snow-laden trees, a flicker of warmth brushed against his senses. Magic¡ªnot his own.