~Sokovia, Medical Center~
In the underground testing chamber, a silver light flashed as violent wind pressure slammed against the walls like an extremely fierce gale...
The air currents howled and swirled through the vast space, emitting a low moaning sound.
*Boom!*
The air vibrated with visible ripples as the silver light transformed from overlapping afterimages into an elusive phantom-like streak.
In the monitoring hall outside, the values on the screen continued to rise, having just broken through the sound barrier. Wave after wave of turbulent air surged, carrying a thunderous roar as they crashed against the thick, solid walls.
The silver streak pierced through the air as if propelled by an immense force, darting through the boundless void.
"All vital signs normal, physical energy consumption approaching critical levels, speed fluctuations stabilizing..." Sean calmly recorded the data, his eyes fixed on the timer as he said in a low voice, "Pietro, you need to slow down!"
"No... I... feel... fine...." His normal speech sounded like a drawn-out vocalization.
At such high speeds, everything in the outside world seemed distorted.
"Ten minute time limit reached; Vital signs beginning to fluctuate, blood sugar levels dropping, heart rate increasing!"
The silver streak had been running nonstop for ten minutes. Maintaining the human body at extreme speeds for extended periods was a tremendous test of its endurance, consuming vast amounts of energy and placing immense pressure on the skeletal system.
Yet Pietro relished the sensation, as though his entire being had merged with the air currents, becoming one with the wind.
The sheer exhilaration of speed was undeniably addictive... breaking past human physiological limits, moving at high velocity without pause, the explosive bursts of air currents roaring like crashing waves against the thick walls.
The silver streak flickered like a beam of light weaving through the void, elusive and unpredictable. Spatial orientation and gravity seemed to have no effect on Pietro.
Whether running vertically along walls or walking upside down, it was effortless, as natural as breathing. Especially after breaking the sound barrier, his body seemed to enter another wondrous world.
Clad in a specially designed bodysuit, he could feel his entire body in a state of continuous high-frequency vibration, slicing through air resistance as though moving through a vacuum tunnel...
"Will Pietro be okay?" Wanda asked worriedly.
The young lady seemed to have dressed up carefully. Her long brown hair draped over her shoulders, a fiery red coat covering a form-fitting vest that accentuated her curves, paired with a pair of straight toned legs. Her innocent demeanor made her look like a schoolgirl, yet her vibrant red lips and the unintentional allure in her eyes added a bewitching charm.
These two contrasting qualities blended together, weaving a unique magnetism, just like a mysterious medieval sorceress exuding an irresistible allure that made one yearn to uncover her secrets.
"Don't worry, Wanda. Pietro is exceptional. He has outstanding potential, just like you." Sean reassured her with a soft laugh.
He narrowed his eyes, studying the shy and introverted young girl...
What truly captivated him wasn't Wanda's beauty or striking presence, but the unusual energy pulsating beneath her graceful figure. It was a flickering crimson glow, like faint shimmering embers.
Extending his thoughts, he sensed an energy unlike anything he had encountered before. An empty void, as if nothing existed, resembling the primordial chaos before the cosmic explosion, making it impossible to decipher.
The phantom of the Mind Stone trembled. The primordial chaos seemed to respond. It suddenly surged with overwhelming energy. In the boundless realm of the mind, the crimson light blazed brilliantly, intertwining illusion and reality as though capable of distorting existence and rewriting the world itself...
'Perfect chaos, altering the probabilities born from an ever-shifting future.' Sean couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
The power Wanda possessed held unimaginable potential for evolution. It was proof that the past month's relentless efforts had not been in vain.
Under the transformative influence of the Mind Stone, this young girl had gradually revealed her extraordinary gifts... The fusion of spirit and consciousness into primordial chaos faintly displayed the immense potential to warp reality.
Pietro, too, had undergone changes. His body surpassed ordinary human limits, his bones were as strong as steel, which finally unleashed his innate ability for high-speed movement.
The siblings had given Sean a pleasant surprise. A speedster and a witch, two valuable cards now in his hand.
After continuous training, Pietro's speed had grown even faster. In just a month, he had broken the sound barrier.
While this world had no concept of divine power, persistent training and enhancement, aided by technological advancements, could one day push past physical limits. It was no longer an unattainable dream...
"Sean?" Wanda remained oblivious to all this. Feeling the intensity of his gaze, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"Let's end Pietro's test here," the young man said, snapping out of his thoughts with a smile.
Wanda's potential was limitless, but equally unstable. It was fraught with danger.
He hadn't forgotten that in another (now-nonexistent) timeline, the Scarlet Witch's mental breakdown led to the formation of a utopia in the world, directly leading to the near-extinction of mutants.
Before long, Pietro gradually slowed to a stop. The massive energy expenditure left the sturdy silver-haired young man drained, nearly stumbling to the ground.
Wanda hurried over to support her brother. The now motionless Pietro heaved like a rapidly pulled bellows, his breath ragged and heavy.
"Give him some glucose water and energy supplements," Sean instructed before turning to the newly minted Quicksilver, "How do you feel?"
"Incredible! I've never experienced anything like this before! It's like entering another world where everything changes. Reality twists into blurry streaks of light, and I'm weaving through them. It's an indescribable rush!"
Having caught his breath and regained some strength, Pietro wore an expression of exhilaration, eagerly sharing his experience with Sean.
"Don't stop here, Pietro. You should pursue the absolute limits of speed. There's no end to it!" Sean smiled, pleased.
He looked forward to seeing how the siblings would develop. The deeper his understanding of the Mind Stone grew, the more he enjoyed the thrill of altering others' destinies.
Wanda helped her brother back to the rest area. Sustained high-speed movement demanded tremendous physical energy, and the strain on his bones was immense. Truthfully, it was far from comfortable.
The faster he went, the more the wind pressure and shockwaves felt like solid steel plates. Each breakthrough would only grow more difficult.
For now, Pietro had reached his limit. Pushing further would be an almost insurmountable challenge.
"Tony's message..."
Receiving a call from Stark was unexpected.
By all accounts, he should've been on an Arctic expedition, cut off from all external communications.
Why would Iron Man suddenly reach out to him?
<...Sean, it's me. There's no time, so I'll keep it short. I'm in trouble. If you get this, track my location. I don't even know where I am. The armor is acting up, and I can't contact Pepper. Luckily, your number was in JARVIS's contacts...>
"Looks like vacation's over." Sean shook his head.
Over this period, he had finally mastered the power of the Mind Stone. He absorbed and integrated the vast sealed iceberg of memories, and gradually reclaimed the wealth of information.
Since Tony had run into some trouble, he might as well go and join the excitement...