2B's Strange Behavior and the Appearance of Ancient One

"No wonder this is Los Angeles. You can see celebrities everywhere." Chen Tian walked along Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, with 2B following behind him in casual clothes, still wearing her blindfold.

"By the way, 2B, don't you need to stay with Tony? He doesn't need my help with his new armor, but he still needs you to assist with its construction, right?"

"Master, my highest-priority task is to remain by your side at all times and fulfill any need you have as quickly as possible."

2B lowered her head slightly and answered softly.

"Uh, no need. You're free. This isn't YoRHa. From the moment I summoned you, you became free."

2B's body suddenly stiffened. Her core processor ran frantically as countless streams of data washed through it like a waterfall.

"Free...?" she softly repeated the word, her voice carrying a trace of confusion she had never felt before.

Chen Tian stopped and turned to look at the silver-haired girl. Sunlight filtered through the palm trees lining Rodeo Drive, casting mottled shadows across her delicate face.

"Yes, free," Chen Tian said gently. "You can choose what you want to do and go wherever you want to go."

2B's core temperature suddenly rose by 0.3 degrees. The tiny change felt unfamiliar to her. Her logic modules were working at full capacity to analyze the concept—no orders, no missions, no mandatory programs to execute.

"But... Master, if there are no instructions..." Her voice grew quieter and quieter, while her slender fingers unconsciously twisted together. "How am I supposed to... function?"

Chen Tian could not help laughing. He gently patted 2B's shoulder. "Like me—wandering around without a purpose, enjoying life, enjoying the sunshine. Or..." He looked around and pointed at an ice cream shop by the street. "What do you want to do most right now?"

2B followed his finger, her gaze landing on the little pink-and-blue shop. Her visual sensors captured the colorful scoops of ice cream in the display window. Data analysis showed that it was a human-favored dessert containing large amounts of dopamine stimulants.

"I... want to try that?" She hesitantly pointed at a pink scoop. "According to the database, that should be strawberry flavored."

Chen Tian's eyes lit up. "Fantastic! This is the first step toward freedom—choosing a flavor you like!"

He took 2B's hand and led her toward the ice cream shop. The girl's processor was still running at high speed. Being pulled along felt strange—not driven by programming, but guided by a vague, warm impulse.

"Two strawberry ice creams, please," Chen Tian said to the clerk.

When 2B accepted the pink cone, her fingers trembled slightly. Her sensors faithfully recorded its cold temperature and sweet fragrance, but something deeper was beginning to sprout within her core.

"Try it," Chen Tian encouraged.

2B cautiously took a lick. In an instant, her pupils widened slightly.

"Is... is this what freedom tastes like?" she asked softly, her voice filled with innocent confusion.

Chen Tian burst out laughing. "No, that's just what strawberry ice cream tastes like. Freedom... well, you'll have to discover its taste for yourself."

2B nodded thoughtfully and licked the ice cream again. Sunlight shone on her silver hair, reflecting a dazzling gleam. At that moment, this mechanical lifeform who had once existed only to fight experienced the simple joy of being a "person" for the first time.

Her core was still calculating the complex concept of "freedom," yet a brand-new feeling beyond the measure of data was quietly growing—like the first tender sprout breaking through the soil in spring, tiny but brimming with life.

2B gave Chen Tian a radiant smile. Under 2B's smile, even California's sunlight seemed to lose its brilliance.

For a moment, Chen Tian was bewitched by 2B's smile, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

He awkwardly turned away and coughed a few times. "Ahem, all right! 2B, you've already taken the first step. Now let's think of our next plan to help you experience freedom. Do you have any ideas?"

2B tilted her head and looked at Chen Tian's broad palm. She tried to take his hand, and the instant she did, she felt the warmth of his hand pass through the precision machinery inside her and sink deep into the core processor in her mind.

Chen Tian was a little surprised. Why had 2B started spacing out after taking his hand?

"2B, what's wrong? Can't think of anything? It's fine. How about I lead you through a new plan today: 'Sunshine Girl Steps Out the Door'?"

The instant Chen Tian finished speaking, 2B suddenly raised her head. The sensors beneath her blindfold flickered with an unusual light. She tightly gripped Chen Tian's hand, hard enough that he nearly felt pain.

"Master..." Her voice was no longer as calm as usual, but carried a slight tremble. "According to my database analysis... the most direct way humans express intimate relationships..."

Sunlight spilled over her exquisite face, and her silver hair fluttered gently in the breeze. Her lips parted slightly, as if searching for the right words.

"I want to..." 2B suddenly stepped forward, nearly pressing herself against Chen Tian. "Engage in reproductive behavior with Master."

The words struck Chen Tian like lightning. His eyes widened as all the blood in his body seemed to rush toward two extremes—his mind went blank, while the roots of his ears burned frighteningly hot.

"2B! Th-this wasn't part of our plan." Chen Tian stammered. Damn it, reproductive behavior with a beautiful girl like 2B was the dream of countless shut-ins!

Chen Tian wanted it too, but... out on the street? That was not good, right?

2B looked at Chen Tian's somewhat lecherous smile in confusion. "2B watched recordings of Master engaging in reproductive behavior with three women. In those recordings, Master and the three women all looked very happy. 2B wants to bring Master happiness."

Chen Tian's face instantly flushed crimson. He frantically looked around, terrified that someone might hear 2B's shocking declaration. People came and went along Rodeo Drive. Fortunately, no one paid attention to this "strange" couple.

"2B! You can't say things like that out on the street!" Chen Tian lowered his voice and pulled 2B briskly toward a secluded alley. "And those recordings... that asshole Tony secretly filmed them!"

2B tilted her head, her silver hair glittering under the sunlight. "Master means... reproductive behavior should be done in private places?"

"That's not the issue!" Chen Tian scratched his hair in frustration. "The important question is... why did you suddenly think of that?"

2B's expression turned serious. "According to data analysis, reproductive behavior is the most direct and effective way for humans to express intimacy. And..." She lowered her head, her voice becoming softer. "I want to make Master happy."

Chen Tian's heart suddenly softened. He sighed and gently held 2B's hand. "2B, you don't need to please me that way. Freedom means doing what you want to do, not trying to please someone else."

2B's core processor began running at high speed once more. Feeling the warmth of Chen Tian's palm, an unprecedented confusion rose within her.

"But... Master, what if this is something I want to do?" She raised her head, the sensors beneath her blindfold glimmering faintly. "What if... this is the 'freedom' I choose?"

Chen Tian froze. Sunlight passed through gaps in the palm leaves and through droplets left on them by a sprinkler truck, casting rainbow-colored shadows over 2B's delicate face. He suddenly realized that the mechanical lifeform before him was going through confusion and exploration much like human adolescence.

"2B..." Chen Tian took a deep breath. "This kind of thing needs mutual understanding and an emotional foundation. It isn't something that can be decided through simple data analysis and logical judgment."

2B nodded thoughtfully. "Like... choosing strawberry ice cream? You need to try it first to know whether you like it?"

"Uh... that analogy..." Chen Tian awkwardly coughed twice. "In a sense, you could understand it that way."

Just then, 2B suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and lightly kissed Chen Tian's cheek. The movement was so quick that he had no time to react. He only felt a soft touch vanish in an instant.

"This is a common way humans express fondness," 2B explained seriously, but her core temperature uncontrollably rose by 0.5 degrees. "According to my observations, Master seems to like this kind of contact."

Chen Tian stood there dumbfounded, feeling as if his brain processor had overheated even more than 2B's. He unconsciously touched the cheek she had kissed, where a faintly cool sensation still lingered.

"2B, are you... learning human behavior patterns?"

"No, Master." 2B shook her head, her silver hair swaying with the motion. "I am... experiencing freedom."

Her words made Chen Tian's heart tremble. On this sunny afternoon, a mechanical lifeform from another world was using her own way to understand the meaning of "freedom."

Perhaps it was because 2B was his summon, like Diablo, branded with the command to "obey the summoner."

Chen Tian looked at 2B's eyes, hidden beneath her blindfold yet seeming capable of seeing through people's hearts, and suddenly realized that he might have fallen into a misconception.

Forget it, why think so much? He had already crossed worlds. Tony, that rich bastard, was covering his expenses; he had a beauty like 2B at his side; and Diablo was waiting in the summoning space as his bodyguard. He might as well let go and enjoy himself!

As for big villains like that purple potato freak and Dormammu—huh, once he summoned Saitama or Kakarot, how would they deal with him then?

Chen Tian suddenly threw his head back and laughed. His hearty laughter made passing pedestrians turn to look. He threw an arm around 2B's slender shoulders, and the silver-haired girl widened her eyes slightly at the sudden movement—though it was impossible to tell beneath the blindfold.

"Let's go, 2B!" Chen Tian waved his hand grandly. "Today, I'll show you just how 'free' a person can be when they have more money than they can spend! Hahahaha!"

2B's core processor was still analyzing the sudden change, but the corners of her mouth had already lifted unconsciously. "Master means... we are going shopping?"

"That's right!" Chen Tian pulled out the black card Tony had given him and waved it under the sunlight. "Let's see just how much money that guy Tony actually has!"

Inside the laboratory at Malibu Villa, Tony stared at the rapidly changing numbers on a holographic display, his cheek twitching.

"JARVIS, are you sure there's no mistake?" Tony rubbed his temples. "It's only been an hour, and they've already spent..."

"Five million three hundred and seventy thousand dollars, Sir," JARVIS calmly added. "And the spending is still continuing."

Tony took a deep breath. "Pepper is going to kill me..."

"Actually, Miss Pepper just sent a message." JARVIS paused. "She said, 'Finally, someone can cure your reckless spending habit.'"

Tony: "..."

Chen Tian stood in the middle of a luxury sports car showroom, staring fixedly at a limited-edition 2009 Lamborghini Reventón.

"Cool. So damn cool," Chen Tian muttered.

2B stood in the center of the showroom, her silver hair glowing softly beneath the carefully designed lighting.

She looked down at the new Chanel outfit she wore—"essential gear for a human girl going shopping," which Chen Tian had insisted she try on—then looked up at Master, who was practically drooling over the sports car. Her core processor silently calculated the rationality index of this behavior.

"Master..." 2B gently tugged on Chen Tian's sleeve. "According to my observations, the way humans experience 'freedom' does not appear to have an inevitable connection with material consumption."

Only then did Chen Tian snap out of his fascination with the car. Turning around, he saw 2B's slightly troubled expression. She stood there like a work of art forcibly placed inside a luxurious frame—out of place, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

"Ah... you're right." Chen Tian scratched his head, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. "I think I headed in the wrong direction."

At that moment, the showroom manager walked over with a broad smile. "Sir, would you like to test-drive this Reventón? As long as you..."

"No need." Chen Tian waved his hand, then suddenly took 2B's hand and headed outside. "We have something more important to do."

2B was confused by the abrupt shift, but when she saw the light flashing in Chen Tian's eyes, her core temperature unconsciously rose by 0.2 degrees.

"Master?"

"Actually, my earlier indulgent behavior was just me trying to experience the kind of life I'd always wanted to experience before crossing worlds." Chen Tian stood on the street and took a deep breath of Los Angeles air carrying the sea breeze. "That sort of thing is really addictive. Good thing you reminded me, 2B."

"2B, let's go back to Tony's place. Next time, I'll properly show you what a human being should do."

Chen Tian smiled, took 2B's hand, and prepared to bring her back to Malibu Villa.

"Oh? You actually didn't become addicted?" a gentle voice sounded.

Chen Tian and 2B followed the voice and saw a bald figure in orange robes standing in the shadow at the corner of the street. The sunlight seemed to deliberately avoid her, forming a strange halo around her.

2B's pupils abruptly contracted, and her combat program activated instantly. At a speed too fast for human eyes to follow, she stood in front of Chen Tian. The Virtuous Contract combat sword appeared in her hand from thin air, and her silver hair moved without wind.

"Warning: extremely high energy response detected." 2B's voice was cold as ice. "Master, retreat immediately. Target danger level: SSS."

Chen Tian gently pressed a hand to 2B's shoulder. "Wait, 2B." He recognized one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Marvel Universe: Ancient One.

Chen Tian took a deep breath and gently pulled 2B behind him. He could feel the girl's mechanical body drawn taut like a bowstring, the Virtuous Contract combat sword glinting with chilling light beneath the sun.

"Supreme Sorcerer." Chen Tian gave a slight nod, his tone carrying a hint of teasing. "I thought you would have appeared in Afghanistan the first time I summoned Diablo."

A mysterious smile appeared on Ancient One's lips. With her hands tucked into her wide sleeves, she slowly stepped out of the shadows. It was as if sunlight had suddenly remembered her existence, gently falling across her smooth scalp.

"And here I am now, am I not?"

Chen Tian scratched his head. "Yeah, you're here. But why?"

Ancient One's smile bloomed. Chen Tian looked at the powerful bald woman—male in the comics, played by a woman in the movies, with an unclear gender—and somehow felt that her smile was beautiful.

"I had wanted to find you before this. You must know that I have always protected this world and this dimension. Your appearance has caused subtle ripples throughout the entire universe's timeline."

Ancient One extended a hand and stirred the air, causing a golden stream of light to appear.

"Timelines are fascinating." As she spoke, she lightly flicked the stream with her finger, sending rings of radiance rippling across it.

"Your arrival will cause Thor to die in New Mexico."

Chen Tian's pupils abruptly shrank. He instinctively took half a step back, and 2B hurriedly supported him.

"2009... Thor?" Chen Tian muttered, his mind racing. "That's not right... according to the timeline..."

Ancient One watched his reaction with great interest, her fingers lightly moving the golden stream. "It seems you know more than I expected."

Beneath 2B's mechanical blindfold, her sensors continuously flashed warning signals. She could sense the terrifying energy contained within the bald woman before her—an existence entirely beyond her database's understanding.

"Master," 2B said in a low voice, "immediate retreat is advised. The target's energy readings have exceeded the measurable range."

Chen Tian took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He gently pressed down 2B's hand gripping the sword. "Relax, 2B. If the Supreme Sorcerer wanted to harm us, we would have been thrown into the Mirror Dimension long ago."

Ancient One nodded approvingly. "A wise judgment." She suddenly turned around, her robes drawing a graceful arc through the air. "Come with me. I believe we need to have a proper talk."

As her words fell, the scenery around the three of them began to twist and warp. The luxury stores on Rodeo Drive collapsed like melting wax figures, replaced by a tea room brimming with Eastern charm. The scent of sandalwood filled the air, while endless snow-capped mountains stretched beyond the window.

"Whoa!" Chen Tian staggered and nearly fell. "This is Kamar-Taj?"

2B's reaction was even more intense. Her combat system was in complete chaos, and all kinds of sensors were sounding frenzied alarms. Every joint in the girl's mechanical body was pulled tight, while her silver hair moved without wind.

"2B, relax." Chen Tian hurriedly supported her. "It's just spatial teleportation."

Ancient One was already elegantly kneeling beside the tea table, brewing a pot of steaming tea. She glanced at 2B. "Your creation is very special. A mechanical lifeform from another dimension?"

"Uh, sort of." Chen Tian pulled 2B down to sit. "Her name is 2B. She comes from... a rather terrible future."

Ancient One pushed teacups toward them. "Try it. This is snow tea unique to the Himalayas."

Chen Tian raised his cup and took a sip, immediately widening his eyes. "This taste... it's like stars are dancing on my tongue!"

2B hesitated before imitating Chen Tian and taking a sip. Her taste sensors immediately captured thousands of complex chemical reactions.

"Analysis: contains thirty-seven unknown components," 2B said softly. "But... it is warm."

Ancient One nodded with satisfaction. "Now, let us discuss business." Her expression suddenly turned serious. "Chen Tian, do you know what you have done?"

Chen Tian swallowed. "Do you mean... summoning Diablo? Or 2B?"

Ancient One's fingers lightly traced the rim of her teacup. In the reflection of the tea, a distorted hellscape suddenly emerged. Chen Tian saw Diablo's savage figure roaring amid flames, while dark-red infernal energy spread through the dimensions like ripples.

"Your Diablo..." Ancient One's voice became low. "The power he possesses belongs neither to this world nor to any parallel universe. That pure evil energy is like a lighthouse in the darkness."

2B's mechanical fingers unconsciously tightened, and the teacup made a faint cracking sound in her hand.

"The moment he appeared in Afghanistan," Ancient One continued, "Mephisto sensed that power—the ultimate Power of Fear, a force capable of allowing Mephisto to take another step forward."

The reflection in the tea changed, revealing a red-skinned demon in an impeccably tailored suit elegantly clinking glasses with a black-haired young god in green robes.

"Loki?" Chen Tian sharply inhaled. "How could they..."

"The god of lies and trickery, and the most cunning demon in Hell." Ancient One gave a cold laugh. "They are a match made in heaven."

"So Loki joined forces with Mephisto, deceived Odin, and triggered Thor's exile trial ahead of schedule?" Chen Tian found it hard to believe. Although Odin was already weakened, the exile trial was simply a game Odin had arranged for Thor.

The Allfather's might still remained. Would that coward Mephisto leave the Hell Dimension?

"To be precise, it was Loki. You know why Thor was exiled. Loki deceived Thor into attempting to destroy Jotunheim using the Bifrost. Odin believed Thor was too arrogant and self-important, so he stripped him of his power and exiled him."

Ancient One took a sip of tea. "That moment could be in 2011, or it could be now. All it needs is someone to push it forward."

"So, under Mephisto's urging, Loki brought that point in time forward." Chen Tian understood that part, but not the rest. "Why? You are still on Earth. Mephisto has no way to evade your eyes and enter Earth at all."

Ancient One smiled lightly. "How do you know I will be there at that time?"

Chen Tian's eyes widened. "You won't be there? Where would you go? Could it be that Mephisto contacted more than just Loki?"

Ancient One looked at Chen Tian with appreciation. "You are very clever. You guessed that from just one sentence of mine. Yes, he also contacted Dormammu."

When Chen Tian heard the name Dormammu, his whole body went limp. Forget it, let it all be destroyed. He had just been bragging that once he summoned whoever, he would blast Dormammu into scraps.

"Then, Sorcerer Ancient One, what was your purpose in bringing me here?"

"Of course, to remedy your mistake."

"How do we fix it? With my terrible luck, I was planning to lie low until I got lucky."

"How do you know that today's summon will not help you?" Ancient One mysteriously raised her tea cup, concealing her face.

Chen Tian abruptly sat upright. "You mean I'll get something good today?"

"I said nothing."