Reactions from All Sides (Wishing You a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival and Family Reunion)

Reactions from All Sides (Wishing You a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival and Family Reunion)

While the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. searched Doctor Pym's home, no one noticed.

A camera shrunk by Pym Particles was aimed directly at them.

Have S.H.I.E.L.D. already started suspecting me?

I wonder how long it will take them to discover that system vulnerability.

Once they find it, accessing the S.H.I.E.L.D. Database again will get me tracked down.

I need to speed things up.

And what was up with that Tony Stark?

He actually survived having his brain damaged. I had to widen the attack range to kill him, exposing my identity.

Stark Tower.

"Coulson, how is the investigation going?"

"Doctor Pym has disappeared, along with his suit."

So it really was you, Doctor Pym.

But... why?

Nick Fury did not understand why Doctor Pym had killed Tony.

Though he and Howard had not gotten along, it had only been a minor disagreement.

"Sir."

At that moment, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice rang out.

"It has been detected that a file related to you within S.H.I.E.L.D. was recently accessed illegally.

Along with that file, several files in the same folder, 'Avengers,' were also read.

Tracing the IP led to Doctor Pym's neighborhood."

Nick Fury turned to look at Tony, the corner of his mouth twitching.

So you could just enter and leave the S.H.I.E.L.D. Database whenever you wanted?

"Don't look at me like that. Your S.H.I.E.L.D. Firewall System is just too primitive," Tony explained.

"Mm."

Nick Fury nodded impassively.

"Are all of us on your so-called 'Avengers' list?"

Tony suddenly asked.

"Mm."

Nick Fury nodded. There was no need to hide it from those present.

"Doctor Pym targeted me first because I'm first in your list's sequence, right?"

Stroking his little mustache, Tony made his guess.

That damned competitive streak.

Nick Fury fell silent. That was not an easy question to answer; it would offend people.

But a sharp glint flashed through Nick Fury's eyes.

What if Tony's guess was right?

"Warn Clint and Russell. They may also be on Doctor Pym's assassination list.

Have people keep watch near Dr. Banner as well."

Though they did not know Doctor Pym's motives, knowing his targets made things much easier.

Nick Fury was not worried about Russell being assassinated.

If Doctor Pym really found Russell, then he would be the unlucky one.

Hell Dimension.

After a bout of passion, Mephisto smoked a post-coital cigarette.

It was something He had learned on Earth. He had forgotten which universe's Earth, specifically.

With His temper cooled, Mephisto began making plans.

There was no mistaking the pattern of that magic circle. It was Kamar-Taj of Vishanti.

That made it much harder for Him to obtain the soul of that detestable mage, Russell.

No wonder Russell had provoked Him so fearlessly back then.

Unless something unexpected happened, the souls of Kamar-Taj mages would travel to Vishanti's dimension after death.

Rather than being drawn into one of the various Hells.

As for forcibly intercepting them midway, He might have dared to try in His prime.

Now? Trying would mean dying.

He would take the soul one moment, then a group of mages would come knocking the next.

Even if He defeated those mages, Vishanti might personally step in.

He needed to find a way to avoid Vishanti's gaze.

Mephisto stroked His keratinous chin, his gaze thoughtful.

What a headache~

"What a headache, Master."

Russell wore a miserable expression as he spoke to Master Ancient One.

"I didn't expect it to be Mephisto. He won't be easy to fool."

"Don't rush, Russell."

The Ancient One calmly brewed a pot of tea and gestured for Russell to sit.

During the years he had served as Sorcerer Supreme.

Whether through direct resistance or clever schemes, wringing them dry, skinning them alive, and devouring them clean.

Of all the many kinds of demon gods he had faced.

None were as cunning and cautious as Mephisto.

In the past, the Ancient One would not have easily provoked such an opponent.

But now... his gaze fell on Russell.

Him + Russell + The Ancient One (comics) had already placed them in an invincible position.

It was merely a matter of earning more or less energy.

"Let's wait and see how things develop. An opportunity will appear."

"Mm."

Russell nodded.

Mephisto was a troublesome opponent. There was no rushing this.

"Master, I'll head back first."

Taking a single step, Russell returned to the bookstore.

Under the influence of his Mind Ability, no one found anything strange about Russell suddenly appearing.

The situation had begun to develop. He needed to stay on Earth these next few days and could not run around everywhere anymore.

Otherwise, if something happened, they might not be able to reach him.

Russell had set up several Mind Suggestion Spells around the bookstore.

Calm your mind. No noise. Focus on reading.

Gradually, people noticed that the bookstore had exceptionally good order and atmosphere.

Their reading and study efficiency had both improved greatly.

Compared to before, the bookstore saw considerably more visitors.

Many of them were students of all ages.

Russell was happy to see it.

Meanwhile, Doctor Pym carried out his routine check to see whether Russell was in the bookstore.

Tony had guessed right. He was acting according to the list's sequence.

His purpose in assassinating the Avengers was to sabotage S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plan to form the Avengers Initiative.

And thereby take revenge on S.H.I.E.L.D.

Naturally, he would start with the important targets.

Unfortunately, Russell had spent the past few days at Proxima Centauri grinding his stats.

After waiting fruitlessly for so long, Doctor Pym decided to target Tony first.

"Looks like I'm quite lucky. I just killed Tony, and you came back."

Doctor Pym muttered to himself.

He put on the Ant-Man Suit, shrank himself, and headed toward the bookstore.

Everything went smoothly.

Until he entered the bookstore.

"Ever since Janet disappeared and Hope died, I haven't read a book in a long time."

Memories of the days when his wife and daughter were still alive surfaced in Doctor Pym's mind.

He sat in a chair, reading a book while watching his wife help their daughter with her homework.

What warm, tender days those had been.

"Grandpa, thank you for helping me with my homework.

I'm going home now. Goodbye."

A voice suddenly pulled Doctor Pym back to reality. He replied instinctively:

"Goodbye, Eileen."

Huh? What was I doing just now?

Doctor Pym was horrified. Agitated, he turned his head to examine his surroundings.

Then, his eyes met those of a young man.

The owner of that gaze was the target he had come to assassinate—Russell.

Doctor Pym. Pym Particles.

Perhaps the battlefield against Mephisto could be set in the Quantum Realm.

Doctor Pym could not remember how he had fled the bookstore.

But he knew that he had just danced with death.

Doctor Pym wandered the streets in a daze, even forgetting to avoid the cameras.

Fortunately, his trail was concealed;

Unfortunately, the one helping him was not human.

Dressed like a gentleman, Mephisto looked at Doctor Pym, a smile curling across His lips.

Though it fell somewhat short, it was still quite a fine soul.

Combined with his value as a tool, this would be another hugely profitable deal.

Tony Stark, and that damned mage.

We'll meet in the Quantum Realm.

Wishing all readers a happy Mid-Autumn Festival~