When Locke stepped through the portal and returned a moment later, he had used teleportation to come back instead of retracing his steps through the gateway.
That alone proved something important.
Even across separate universes, his teleportation ability still functioned normally.
The problem was that he couldn't activate teleportation while carrying another living person. If the portal collapsed while Tony was stranded on the other side, Locke could eventually return home himself, but Tony would be trapped permanently.
"Relax," Tony said confidently. "I already considered that possibility."
He walked around the glowing portal with his hands behind his back like a professor giving a lecture.
"This is a semi-permanent portal. I tested the stability multiple times before calling you here. At minimum, it should remain active for three months."
Locke studied him for a few seconds before sighing internally.
He knew Tony too well.
Once Tony Stark became interested in something, stopping him was nearly impossible. The man would willingly walk into another universe just because it sounded scientifically interesting.
"Fine," Locke finally said. "We'll go. But listen carefully first."
His tone became serious enough that Tony stopped smiling.
"If the other side really is Wade's universe, then the danger level is beyond ridiculous. Don't treat this like some science experiment."
Tony shrugged casually. "You're coming with me. That already makes me feel safer."
Locke looked at him speechlessly.
Safer?
Tony clearly had no idea what kind of monsters existed in some Marvel universes.
Professor X alone could wipe minds across continents. Jean Grey with the Phoenix Force was practically a cosmic disaster pretending to be human. Then there were people like the Sentry, whose power rivaled exploding stars.
Compared to those monsters, Locke honestly wasn't that impressive yet.
Sure, he could dominate most enemies on Earth, but Marvel's higher-tier entities were completely absurd.
After taking a slow breath, Locke spoke again.
"I'm serious, Tony. Once we cross over, you listen to me. No improvising. No reckless experiments. No provoking random people because you're curious."
Tony blinked.
It was the first time he had ever seen Locke look this solemn.
Even during the Battle of New York, Locke had never worn an expression this serious.
Tony finally nodded. "Alright. In another universe, I'll follow your lead."
Only then did Locke step toward the portal.
Orange sparks danced around them as he crossed the dimensional boundary. Tony followed immediately behind in full armor.
The sensation of moving between universes was strange. For a brief instant, it felt like reality itself stretched around them before snapping back into place.
Then they arrived.
The forest on the opposite side was quiet and humid. Massive trees blocked most of the sunlight while insects buzzed faintly in the distance.
Locke immediately turned and cast a concealment spell over the portal.
Orange magical runes spread across the air before fading into invisibility.
"What was that for?" Tony asked.
"A precaution," Locke answered. "No reason to let random people discover an interdimensional gateway."
After sealing the portal, Locke stood still and waited.
Tony glanced around impatiently. "What exactly are we waiting for?"
"The Sorcerer Supreme."
Locke crossed his arms while scanning the surroundings carefully.
Earth was protected by the three sanctums of Kamar-Taj. Any dimensional intrusion should immediately alert the Sorcerer Supreme.
Since Tony was technically a student of the Ancient One back in their universe, Locke assumed the Ancient One of this reality would at least tolerate their temporary presence.
But after several minutes passed, nobody appeared.
No portals.
No magic.
No Ancient One.
Locke frowned slightly.
That was... unexpected.
Tony finally grew impatient. "How long are we supposed to stand here?"
Then his eyes lit up.
"Actually, forget that. I'll have J.A.R.V.I.S. connect to this world's internet."
Locke nodded. "Do it."
"J.A.R.V.I.S., access all major networks and display relevant world information."
"Understood, sir."
Two seconds later, multiple blue holographic screens appeared in front of them.
Headlines rapidly scrolled across the displays.
Battle of New York.
Harlem Abomination Incident.
Ultron Crisis.
Sokovia Accords.
Avengers Civil War.
Infinity War.
Tony stared at the information in shock.
"Oh my God," he muttered. "Locke... I believe you now."
He pointed at one article in disbelief.
"This guy wiped out half the life in the universe with a snap of his fingers? Compared to that purple psychopath, you really don't seem that intimidating anymore."
Locke ignored the comment completely.
Without the Infinity Stones, he could beat Thanos into the ground in ten different ways now.
What actually bothered him was something else entirely.
This wasn't Earth-616.
It wasn't Deadpool's universe.
It was another MCU universe.
More specifically, it was the original MCU timeline Locke remembered before his transmigration changed everything.
The moment Locke entered the MCU years ago, the timeline had already split into a new parallel reality. Their home universe had become fundamentally different from the original continuity.
This world, however, still followed the old timeline.
A timeline where Locke had never existed.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.," Locke said suddenly. "Current year?"
"2022, sir."
Everything instantly made sense.
No wonder the Ancient One never appeared.
At this point in the timeline, the Ancient One had already passed the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to Doctor Strange before becoming one with eternity itself.
The problem was that Strange had been erased during the Snap.
At this exact moment, Earth literally had no active Sorcerer Supreme.
Locke relaxed slightly after realizing that.
Since this wasn't the 616 universe, the overall danger level dropped dramatically.
He turned toward Tony with a grin.
"Good news. You can relax now."
Tony looked suspicious. "That's very different from what you were saying five minutes ago."
"Because this isn't Wade's universe," Locke explained. "It's just another MCU timeline."
Tony visibly relaxed inside the armor.
"Well, that definitely sounds better." Then he paused before adding, "Although apparently you don't exist here."
"That's normal," Locke replied casually. "Parallel universes always differ somehow. There are universes where you're a woman. There's probably another one where you're literally a mouse."
Tony froze.
"A mouse?"
Locke shrugged.
In Marvel's animal universe, Iron Man actually was a mouse. Spider-Man was some kind of rodent too. Deadpool was a dog.
The multiverse was deeply cursed.
Tony looked horrified. "If we ever find that universe, I'm destroying every record of it. Tony Stark is absolutely not a mouse."
Locke laughed.
A moment later, Tony's expression slowly turned serious again.
"Locke."
"Hm?"
Tony gestured toward the floating headlines about the Infinity War.
"If this universe really lost half its population..." He hesitated briefly. "Can you bring them back?"
The question hung heavily in the air between them.
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 2 chapters free.
Join Right Now