[SYSTEM OFFLINE.]
Kai stared at the little girl.
She couldn't have been older than eight.
Maybe nine.
Small.
Dust-covered.
Holding a broken toy rabbit against her chest.
And smiling at him.
That smile was the problem.
It wasn't innocent.
It wasn't sinister either.
It was familiar.
Far too familiar.
Kai swallowed.
"...Who are you?"
The girl tilted her head.
"You really don't remember me?"
Kai's heartbeat accelerated.
"No."
The girl looked disappointed.
Then she glanced past him.
At the stranger.
The stranger had gone completely still.
The girl smiled.
"You remember him."
Kai turned.
The stranger's expression was unreadable.
Kai pointed at him.
"You know her."
"No."
The girl's smile widened.
"He's lying."
The stranger's eyes narrowed.
"Don't."
The girl giggled.
Kai stared between them.
"Okay."
He took a step backward.
"I'm officially tired of everyone knowing things except me."
Tony landed beside him.
"Join the club."
Kai glanced at him.
Tony's helmet retracted.
"Who is the kid?"
The girl looked at Tony.
Her glowing red eyes narrowed.
"You're loud."
Tony paused.
"Excuse me?"
"Your armor is loud."
Tony looked down at himself.
Then back at her.
"Okay. That's a first."
Thor approached.
"Child."
The girl looked at him.
Thor frowned.
"Your eyes."
The girl blinked.
The red glow disappeared.
For a second, they looked completely normal.
Brown.
Human.
Then they glowed red again.
Thor immediately raised Mjolnir.
Kai stepped between them.
"Wait!"
Thor looked at him.
"She is not human."
Kai looked at the girl.
The girl smiled.
"I am."
Kai frowned.
"Are you?"
She nodded.
"Mostly."
Tony's helmet immediately closed.
"That's not a reassuring answer."
Superman landed.
His eyes focused on the girl.
Then his expression changed.
Kai noticed.
"What?"
Superman didn't answer.
He stared at her as if trying to see through something.
Finally, he spoke.
"She's not attacking."
Thor frowned.
"Yet."
Superman looked at Kai.
"She's afraid."
Kai looked at the girl.
She was.
Now that he looked closely, he could see it.
Her fingers were trembling around the broken rabbit.
Kai crouched down.
Tony immediately said:
"Kai."
Kai ignored him.
He kept his distance from the girl.
"Are you hurt?"
The girl shook her head.
"Are you hungry?"
Another shake.
"Do you know where your parents are?"
The girl looked down.
Kai regretted asking.
Her expression changed.
"They're gone."
Kai's voice softened.
"I'm sorry."
The girl looked at him.
"Don't be."
Kai frowned.
"Why?"
"You're going to bring them back."
Kai froze.
"What?"
The girl smiled.
"Big brother said you could."
Kai's stomach tightened.
"Your big brother."
She nodded.
"What's his name?"
The girl's eyes glowed.
Kai felt the temperature around him drop.
"You know his name."
Kai stared.
"No."
The girl pointed toward his chest.
"He's inside you."
Kai's blood went cold.
"What?"
The stranger suddenly moved.
He reached for the girl.
Kai reacted without thinking.
He grabbed the stranger's arm.
"Don't touch her."
The stranger looked at Kai.
"Move."
"No."
"Kai."
"Tell me what's going on."
"I can't."
Kai's grip tightened.
"You're really starting to annoy me."
The stranger's expression hardened.
"You don't understand what she is."
"Then explain."
"She's a key."
Kai stared.
"A key to what?"
The stranger looked at the girl.
"To you."
Silence.
Kai slowly released his arm.
The girl hugged her broken rabbit.
Then she whispered:
"Not just him."
Kai looked at her.
"What?"
She pointed upward.
"Everything."
The sky rumbled.
The refugees screamed.
Everyone looked up.
The cracks had returned.
Except this time, there weren't hundreds.
There were thousands.
The entire sky looked like glass about to shatter.
Tony scanned the clouds.
His voice became serious.
"I don't like this."
Thor lifted Mjolnir.
"Enemies approach."
Superman looked at the refugees.
"We need to move them."
Kai looked around.
The refugees were everywhere.
Thousands of people.
Some injured.
Some terrified.
Some carrying children.
And beyond them—
Thousands of figures were descending through the cracks.
Kai's stomach dropped.
"How are we supposed to protect all of them?"
Tony looked at him.
"We aren't."
Kai stared.
"What?"
"We get them somewhere safe."
"Where?"
Tony paused.
"That's the fun part."
Kai looked toward the city.
Most buildings were damaged.
The roads were blocked.
The sky was hostile.
There was nowhere safe.
Then he noticed something.
A building.
Tall.
Massive.
Still standing.
A familiar logo glowed near its top.
STARK INDUSTRIES.
Kai pointed.
"That."
Tony followed his finger.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because that's my building."
"Exactly."
Tony stared at him.
Kai stared back.
Tony sighed.
"Fine."
He raised his hand.
"Everyone!"
His voice amplified across the streets.
"Move toward Stark Tower!"
The refugees began moving.
Superman flew overhead.
Thor created a barrier of lightning around the perimeter.
Tony began directing evacuation routes.
Kai stayed near the little girl.
She followed him silently.
Kai glanced down.
"What's your name?"
The girl looked at him.
"You gave it to me."
Kai stopped walking.
"What?"
She smiled.
"You named me."
Kai stared at her.
"What's your name?"
She leaned closer.
"Try remembering."
Kai's vision blurred.
A flash.
A room.
A little girl.
Not this girl.
Someone else.
He was older.
Maybe twelve.
Maybe thirteen.
He was sitting on the floor.
A little girl was crying.
He held out a toy rabbit.
The same rabbit.
He smiled.
Then—
"What's your name?"
The girl looked up.
Young Kai answered:
"You don't need one yet."
The memory shattered.
Kai stumbled.
The girl grabbed his hand.
"Kai?"
He looked at her.
The girl's expression was worried.
Kai stared at their hands.
Her hand was warm.
Real.
His heart pounded.
"You were there."
She nodded.
"When?"
"Before."
"Before what?"
"Before you forgot."
Kai looked around.
Tony was shouting orders.
Superman was carrying several refugees toward the tower.
Thor was holding back something enormous.
Nobody was watching them.
Kai crouched.
"Tell me everything."
The girl shook her head.
"Can't."
"Why?"
"Because he is listening."
Kai's eyes widened.
"Your brother?"
She nodded.
Kai looked toward the sky.
"He's listening right now?"
The girl pointed at Kai.
"No."
She touched his forehead.
"Through you."
Kai froze.
A cold sensation moved through his body.
His vision blurred.
For half a second, everything around him disappeared.
He saw darkness.
Then a room.
Then a man.
Tall.
Black hair.
Same eyes.
Same face.
Older.
Much older.
His brother.
The man was standing behind Kai.
Kai turned.
The man smiled.
"There you are."
Kai tried to move.
Couldn't.
The man reached toward him.
"I told you I'd find you."
Kai shouted.
The vision shattered.
He fell backward.
The little girl caught his hand.
Kai gasped.
"Get out."
The girl frowned.
"What?"
"Get out of my head!"
"I didn't do anything."
Kai stared at her.
Then he realized.
She hadn't entered his mind.
Someone else had.
His brother.
Kai looked at the system.
Still offline.
"System?"
Nothing.
He tried again.
"System!"
Nothing.
The girl whispered:
"He's stronger when you're afraid."
Kai stopped.
"What?"
"That's how he finds you."
Kai slowly stood.
"So if I stop being afraid..."
The girl shook her head.
"No."
Kai frowned.
"Then what?"
She looked at him.
"You have to remember who you are."
Kai stared.
"Who am I?"
The girl smiled.
"That's what he doesn't want you to know."
A massive explosion erupted nearby.
Kai turned.
Something had landed in the street.
A figure emerged from the smoke.
Armor.
Black.
Huge.
Red energy pulsing through its chest.
Tony immediately flew toward it.
"Everyone back!"
The figure raised one hand.
Tony was blasted out of the sky.
BOOM!
Kai's eyes widened.
"Tony!"
Superman flew toward the figure.
A red beam struck him.
He crashed through a building.
Thor attacked.
Lightning exploded across the street.
The figure walked through it.
Kai's face went pale.
"Who the hell is that?"
The little girl answered.
"One of them."
"One of who?"
She pointed toward the sky.
"His soldiers."
More figures began descending.
One.
Ten.
Hundred.
Thousands.
Kai stared.
Tony crawled from the rubble.
His armor was damaged.
Superman emerged from the building.
Thor stood amid broken pavement.
The stranger appeared beside Kai.
"We need to leave."
Kai looked at him.
"Where?"
"Anywhere."
Kai pointed toward the refugees.
"What about them?"
The stranger's expression hardened.
"They aren't your responsibility."
Kai stared.
"Then whose are they?"
"Someone else's."
Kai looked at the frightened crowd.
A mother holding her child.
An old man being helped by another refugee.
A teenager carrying someone who couldn't walk.
Kai's jaw tightened.
"That's convenient."
The stranger looked at him.
"Kai."
"You keep telling me what I can't do."
Kai turned toward him.
"But you never tell me what I can do."
The stranger went silent.
Kai looked at the approaching army.
Then at the three heroes.
Then at the girl.
Something clicked.
Not a memory.
An idea.
He looked at the girl.
"What's inside Stark Tower?"
She smiled.
"Everything."
Kai frowned.
"That's not helpful."
"It's not supposed to be."
Kai looked toward Tony.
"Tony!"
Tony turned.
"What?!"
"Does Stark Tower have an underground facility?"
Tony paused.
"Several."
"How deep?"
"Deep enough."
"Can you seal it?"
Tony stared.
"Probably."
Kai pointed toward the refugees.
"Get them underground."
Tony looked at the approaching army.
Then Kai.
His helmet closed.
"Everyone!"
His voice amplified.
"Change of plans!"
Superman landed beside him.
"What are you thinking?"
Kai looked at him.
"I'm thinking we're not winning this fight."
Thor approached.
"Then we shall fight until victory comes."
Kai shook his head.
"No."
Thor frowned.
"We run."
Thor's expression darkened.
"Run?"
"Yes."
Kai pointed at the army.
"Look at them."
Thor looked.
"They aren't here to conquer the city."
Superman understood.
"They're searching."
Kai nodded.
"For me."
The stranger's face changed.
Kai saw it.
"Exactly."
Tony landed.
"So what's the plan?"
Kai looked toward Stark Tower.
"We hide."
Tony stared.
"That's it?"
"No."
Kai looked at the little girl.
"We make them think I'm somewhere else."
The girl smiled.
The stranger suddenly grabbed Kai's shoulder.
"Absolutely not."
Kai looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because if they detect your presence—"
"They'll come for me."
"Yes."
"That's the point."
The stranger's eyes widened.
Kai smiled.
"They're searching for me."
He pointed toward the tower.
"So let's give them something to find."
Tony slowly understood.
"You want to use yourself as bait."
Kai nodded.
Superman immediately shook his head.
"No."
Kai looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because it's too dangerous."
Kai laughed.
"You've got to be joking."
Superman frowned.
"I'm serious."
Kai looked toward the army.
"You're Superman."
"That doesn't make me invincible."
"Exactly."
Kai pointed toward Tony.
"He's Iron Man."
Then Thor.
"He's a god."
He pointed at himself.
"And I'm nobody."
The three stared at him.
Kai's expression hardened.
"That's why it might work."
The stranger shook his head.
"No."
Kai looked at him.
"You know what I was."
The stranger froze.
"You know what I can become."
The stranger's face changed.
Kai noticed.
And understood.
"You're afraid."
The stranger didn't answer.
Kai stepped closer.
"Not that I'll die."
Silence.
"You're afraid I'll remember."
The stranger's expression became cold.
"Kai."
"What happens if I remember?"
"Stop."
"What happens?"
"Stop!"
The stranger's voice echoed.
Everyone turned.
Kai stared.
The stranger breathed heavily.
Then—
The stranger whispered:
"If you remember everything..."
He looked toward the little girl.
"...you'll become him."
Kai froze.
The girl lowered her head.
Tony's armor stopped moving.
Superman stared at the stranger.
Thor tightened his grip.
Kai's voice became barely audible.
"Become my brother?"
The stranger nodded.
"No."
He looked directly at Kai.
"Become something worse."
Silence.
Kai looked at the little girl.
She wasn't smiling anymore.
He crouched.
"Is that true?"
The girl stared at him.
Then shook her head.
"No."
Kai looked at her.
She stepped closer.
"You're not him."
The stranger interrupted.
"Not yet."
The girl turned toward him.
Her red eyes ignited.
"You're afraid of him."
The stranger froze.
"Because you know what happens when he remembers."
The stranger's face went pale.
The girl looked at Kai.
"That's why he erased you."
Kai's eyes widened.
"Who?"
The girl smiled.
"Your brother."
Kai stood.
The stranger took a step backward.
Kai stared at him.
"You didn't erase my memories."
The stranger didn't answer.
"My brother did."
Still nothing.
Kai's voice hardened.
"And you helped him."
The stranger finally spoke.
"I had no choice."
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
A distant explosion shook the city.
The army was getting closer.
Kai looked at the little girl.
Then the refugees.
Then the three heroes.
Then the stranger.
Something inside him settled.
Not confidence.
Not courage.
Something simpler.
A decision.
"Fine."
The stranger frowned.
"Fine?"
Kai nodded.
"I'll be bait."
Superman immediately said:
"No."
Kai raised a hand.
"But I'm not going to fight them."
Tony looked at him.
"Then what?"
Kai looked toward the little girl.
"I'm going to make them follow me."
The girl smiled.
"And I'll show them where to go."
Kai frowned.
"Where?"
She pointed toward the center of Stark Tower.
"Down."
Kai stared.
"What's down there?"
The girl's eyes glowed.
"The place where you were born."
Kai froze.
The system suddenly returned.
Not blue.
Not red.
Gold.
«[SYSTEM RESTORED.]»
«[Hidden location detected.]»
«[NEXUS ACCESS POINT FOUND.]»
Kai stared at the words.
"The Nexus..."
The girl nodded.
"Your first door."
Kai's heart began racing.
The system continued.
«[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED]»
«THE FIRST DOOR»
«Objective: Enter the hidden Nexus chamber beneath Stark Tower.»
«Requirement: Fourth Anchor must be present.»
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Who's the Fourth Anchor?"
The system flickered.
«[IDENTITY REVEAL AVAILABLE.]»
Kai stopped.
Finally.
The answer.
After all the lies.
All the missing memories.
All the questions.
He stared at the screen.
"Show me."
The system paused.
«[Warning: Identity revelation may permanently alter your personality, abilities, and relationship with the Multiversal Nexus.]»
Kai swallowed.
"Show me."
The system began loading.
«[Fourth Anchor Identity...]»
The entire world seemed to slow.
«[Processing...]»
Kai's heart pounded.
«[Identity confirmed.]»
The screen flickered.
Then—
«[FOURTH ANCHOR: KAI.]»
Kai stared.
"...Me?"
Tony looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
Kai didn't answer.
Because a second line appeared.
«[Correction.]»
Kai's blood went cold.
«[FOURTH ANCHOR: NOT KAI.]»
«[FOURTH ANCHOR: THE PERSON KAI USED TO BE.]»
The screen went black.
Kai stared at his reflection in it.
And for the first time...
His reflection smiled before he did.