Russell, The Ancient One: Divvying Up the Spoils

Tony briefly explained how Pym Particles could be used to enter and exit the Quantum Realm, then combined with the Portal Spell and Black Technology to create a Location Bracelet before leaving.

On one hand, exposure to Pym Particles placed immense psychological and physiological pressure on a person.

On the other hand, the matter of supporting Russell had come to a close. But other matters were only just beginning.

Tony had not forgotten the person who killed his parents.

Natasha also needed to bring Hope's soul back to S.H.I.E.L.D. and work with Nick Fury to root out the forces hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D.

They had come in a hurry and left in a hurry.

White-Bearded Ancient One took the opportunity to bid them farewell as well.

In the card game just now, Mephisto had thrown the match, while he had simply been terrible. He did not want to stay any longer.

Russell and Bald Ancient One remained behind to detain Mephisto until the energy transfer was complete.

Another hour passed. The transfer was complete, and Mephisto left without saying a word, his face dark and gloomy.

All that remained was the crimson Energy Pool, vast as an ocean, and Russell and The Ancient One standing before it in a daze.

There were different expressions in their eyes, but both revealed delight.

With the Panel Upgrade, Russell's Perception of Energy Flow had become increasingly acute, and his body and mind's craving for energy had grown ever stronger.

As for The Ancient One—

Russell was the first to ask, "Master, did we strike it rich? How are we splitting this?"

White-Bearded Ancient One apparently had little need for Hell Energy, so he did not take part in dividing the spoils.

The Ancient One smiled, drew out a mass of roughly one hundred thousand units of Hell Energy, opened a Portal, and placed it inside.

On the other side of the Portal were several hundred energy masses of roughly the same size.

Was this another one of Master Ancient One's Secret Stashes?

Or a collection room?!

"The rest is all yours."

"All of it for me?" Russell cried out.

"Yes." The Ancient One nodded.

"The energy I've drawn from the Multiverse—scammed from it—has already been enough for my use. More energy would not improve me.

"But you are different, Russell. You have not yet reached your limit."

The Ancient Ones had already reached their limits. To them, energy was fuel, material for casting spells.

As long as they had enough, it did not affect the strength they could display.

But for Russell, energy was food. Every bit he consumed increased his strength.

Russell had only used three million units of energy to reach his current level of strength, not counting his talent. To The Ancient One, that was incomprehensible.

Only Bald Ancient One knew just how efficient Russell was at absorbing and digesting energy.

Even the other White Beard did not know.

"Then thank you, Master."

After hearing The Ancient One's explanation, Russell did not put on airs and refuse.

They were both Sorcerer Supremes—family.

Besides, these two billion units of energy would indeed be enormously useful to Russell. They could send him soaring again in a few months, once the Panel Upgrade was complete.

"But, Master, can I leave the energy with you for now and retrieve it later?"

Most Magical Energy affected a person's mind, even twisting their heart.

During the Panel Upgrade, he could not purify the energy and eliminate those effects. Russell would have to withstand them himself.

With Russell's current mental attributes, enduring tens of millions would not be a problem. But two billion?

He might return to the depressed state he had been in a few months ago.

The Ancient One pondered for a moment, seemingly recalling something, then nodded. "All right. But if we do that, we'll have to stay here a while longer."

"Then we'll stay a while longer."

Russell did not mind. Time in this part of the Quantum Realm differed little from the real world.

Staying a little longer would only mean a few days.

No one should need him over the next few days, right?

As he spoke, The Ancient One and Russell each opened and maintained a Portal, channeling the energy into The Ancient One's Secret Stash at Kamar-Taj.

When they emerged from the Quantum Realm, New York had grown even hotter—June had arrived.

Of course, that had nothing to do with Russell.

By his second stage, he could absorb Light Energy and Thermal Energy, turning himself into a walking human air conditioner.

When he returned to the bookstore and saw a figure quietly reading at the front desk, Russell remembered something.

New York becoming hotter had nothing to do with him, but June arriving did.

—Schools in the United States began their summer break in June.

He walked over, sat beside Gwen, and asked softly, "Gwen, why are you here? Is summer break starting?"

Gwen gave Russell a strange look.

"Russell, did you mix up the timelines of two Earths? I still have more than a month before summer break.

"It's the weekend today. I asked Master White Beard to send me over."

Russell slapped his forehead. "Right. Strange. How did I mix that up?"

"Russell, are you done with your business?"

"Done."

"Tell me about it. Does Hell really exist?"

Sitting shoulder to shoulder, Russell quietly told Gwen about what had happened.

Before the operation began, Russell had not told Gwen Mephisto's specific plans.

A few days ago, White Beard had returned to Earth-65 and told Gwen that the matter had reached a conclusion.

So Gwen wanted to learn the full story from Russell, as well as about Hell.

She had family in Hell too—her mother, Helen Stacy.

After polishing the details slightly, Russell told Gwen the entire sequence of events as a story.

For example, the part where he had set Tony up and made him fall into the Quantum Realm—

He changed it to Tony making a mistake and being taken down by Doctor Pym.

It was Russell who had arrived in time and rescued Tony from the powerful, evil Mephisto.

As for Mephisto chasing him around because he had to throw the match, that never happened.

I, Russell, never throw matches!

From beginning to end, he had done nothing but beat Mephisto senseless.

Before he knew it, the story was nearing its end.

At some point, an extra listener had appeared beside them, but Russell did not mind.

"Long time no see, Russell."

"Long time no see, Coulson."

It really had been a long time.

Since the Blood God Descent incident, S.H.I.E.L.D. had not come to bother Russell again. That had greatly exceeded his expectations.

But that was fine. Less trouble was better.

S.H.I.E.L.D. knew how to behave, and Russell was happy to enjoy the peace.

In his usual gentle tone, Coulson said:

"Russell, you don't mind if I report that story just now back to S.H.I.E.L.D., do you?"

"Of course not." If I did, you wouldn't have heard it.

Coulson smiled at Russell, expressing goodwill.

"What is your opinion of the role S.H.I.E.L.D. plays in these kinds of supernatural incidents?"

Russell remained silent.

No matter how he answered, whether his evaluation was good or bad, S.H.I.E.L.D. would seize the opening and invite him to join the Avengers.

Coulson was puzzled too, puzzled by Russell's distant but respectful attitude toward S.H.I.E.L.D.

If Russell was prejudiced against S.H.I.E.L.D., he still cooperated with their operations.

If Russell had a favorable impression of S.H.I.E.L.D., he always decisively refused recruitment.

"Russell, do you have some misunderstanding about S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Russell pondered for a long time.

Considering that S.H.I.E.L.D. had also contributed people and effort during the "rescue Russell" incident—

He said in Chinese, "A dragon does not dwell with snakes."