The aroma of tea in the quiet room slowly dissipated, and Lynn bowed to the Ancient One to take his leave.
After passing through the ancient stone corridors, leaving behind the tranquil meditation room, we returned to the open central square.
The square, which was just moments ago bustling with people practicing their respective paths, has long since lost its noise. All the monks and disciples who came and went to cultivate have dispersed, leaving only a clean and empty space.
Wanda and Pietro were already dressed and waiting quietly in the center of the square, having been waiting for quite some time.
The two women shed their uniform, plain-colored robes and donned light, comfortable everyday clothes. Their attire was simple, clean, and crisp, completely shedding the aloofness of their secluded cultivation and giving them a more worldly air. Each carried only a small bag containing a few personal items and simple magical artifacts acquired through cultivation, with no other burdens, their demeanor relaxed and at ease.
The siblings stood side by side, their temperaments still displaying a striking contrast, and the transformation they had undergone over the years was immediately apparent.
Lynn walked slowly forward, his gaze sweeping over the two of them as they underwent a complete transformation, a faint, gentle smile appearing in his eyes.
"Are you sure everything is packed?"
His tone was relaxed and gentle, "Once we've made sure we haven't forgotten anything, we're ready to head back."
"It's ready a long time ago!"
Pietro's tone was light and cheerful. He picked up his bag and shook it gently, his eyes shining brightly and purely. "I checked it several times, I'm sure I didn't forget anything!"
Wanda nodded gently, her voice warm and soft. "We can set off at any time."
Lynn nodded, said no more, raised his hand and waved it lightly. Pale blue spatial ripples instantly spread out in front of the three of them, with stable and delicate patterns. A portal leading directly to Stark Tower in New York suddenly took shape.
"Then let's go."
As the three stepped into the light and shadow, the snowy mountain breeze of Kamar-Taj vanished, replaced by the noisy and oppressive air of New York City and the lingering gloom of the Stark Tower's top floor.
The portal slowly closed behind them and vanished silently.
The top-floor lounge remained in a mess, with broken pieces of mechs scattered silently on the floor, unattended, and the atmosphere within the team was extremely low.
Steve, Tony, Banner, Ivan, and James Rhodes stood around the central holographic control panel, their expressions grave, their eyes filled with weariness and melancholy. The crisis that had just erupted, the completely out-of-control situation, and the unknown threats lurking across the entire network weighed heavily on their hearts.
A holographic projection floated in mid-air, clearly displaying Hill's cool and capable face as he remotely joined the team meeting, his expression serious and unwavering.
Lynn didn't immediately step forward to join the discussion. Instead, she turned to the siblings beside her and whispered, "You two come downstairs with me first."
He led Wanda and Pietro through the corridor to Lynn's residence. The space was spacious and elegant, with a warm and comfortable layout. Away from the tense battlefield atmosphere of the top floor, it was a private area that Stark had specially reserved for him, clean, quiet, and undisturbed.
"This is my home, and it will be your new home from now on." Lynn pushed open the door, stepped aside to gesture for the two to enter, and said gently, "There are many rooms. The two rooms at the end of the corridor are occupied. You can choose the rooms you like from the rest. Settle your luggage first, and then take your time to unpack and rest. There's no rush."
The siblings looked around the neat and cozy room, a hint of warmth and novelty flashing in their eyes. They obediently nodded in agreement, then turned around to choose their own rooms and tidy up their belongings.
After settling the two in, Lynn turned and went back to the top floor, returning to the somber and oppressive discussion area.
As soon as I approached the holographic control panel, Hill's calm and steady voice clearly reached my ears, carrying the precision and helplessness of an official intelligence agency. "We've repeatedly sifted through data across the entire network and investigated global armed movements, but we still haven't found any trace of Ultron. Until we accurately pinpoint its location and figure out its movements, our defensive measures are extremely limited. We can only stand by and passively counterattack."
These eight words weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Allowing Ultron to lurk in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike, was a far more despairing threat than a direct confrontation with an enemy.
Tony's fingertips pressed against the edge of the control panel, his knuckles slightly white, his eyes filled with self-blame and anxiety. He broke the silence first, his tone urgent and firm. "We can't continue to be so passive."
" Ultron's ideology is extremely fanatical. Its ultimate goal is to eliminate inequality and reshape the world. Waiting for it to show itself is too risky. Once it is fully prepared, the situation will be completely out of our control."
He spoke rapidly and analyzed the current situation clearly, "Currently, SSC's top-tier combat power is severely insufficient, and it is simply not enough to deal with a global crisis. It only needs to create a few disturbances and release some smokescreens to easily distract our manpower. With just a few people in the team, it is impossible to deploy a comprehensive defense, let alone accurately target and completely stop Ultron's plans."
The expressions on everyone's faces grew increasingly grave, and no one objected. What Tony said was precisely the most critical problem at hand. Insufficient combat power and being passively attacked—this was the team's true predicament at that moment.
Just as the atmosphere became tense again, Lynn spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful, instantly calming everyone present. "The issue of combat strength, I can handle that."
Everyone turned to look at him instantly, a glimmer of hope flashing in their eyes.
Lynn's gaze swept calmly over the crowd as he slowly said, "You should still remember the Maximoff siblings. I just went to Kamar-Taj and brought them back."
Tony paused for a moment, then a glint of light appeared in his eyes as he instantly realized the true value of the superpowered siblings. Having undergone years of training and refinement in Kamar-Taj, the two were bound to grow into top-tier combatants capable of standing on their own.
"Besides, Captain, contact Sam and Bucky; they're quite capable. Natasha, contact Hawkeye. That should provide the necessary strength. We don't lack top-tier combat power right now; what we lack are precise leads and opportunities to take the initiative. Tracking down Ultron is our sole and primary objective."
Lynn's gaze darkened slightly as he stated his assessment. " Ultron's current lack of a physical form is both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness."
"It resides within the network, making it difficult to find, yet it is also subject to numerous limitations. Many plans are simply impossible for a purely network-based consciousness to complete. Therefore, its highest priority at this stage must be to create a perfect body of its own."
"To create the perfect body, a large amount of rare metals is necessary."
Lynn looked at Hill in the holographic projection, his tone resolute, "The intelligence team's next screening direction shouldn't be random. Focus on global rare material trading, underground black market circulation, and unusual activity in special minerals. Tracing through this gap will likely lead us to its trail. I have other plans for Tony and the others; I intend to let them experience despair. If you have any news, please contact us immediately."
Hill paused for a moment, then immediately took note of the key points.
Then, Lynn spoke again, adding the most crucial reminder in a solemn tone, "One more thing, in subsequent investigations, try to abandon electronic devices as much as possible and rely more on traditional offline methods, coordinating with underground merchants and offline intelligence networks in various regions to avoid their advantages."
"Understood." Hill responded solemnly, without asking any further questions, and replied crisply, "The intelligence team will immediately adjust its screening strategy and follow up with full force. We will do our utmost to track down the leads."
As soon as the words were spoken, the holographic communication light and shadow flickered slightly, then slowly dimmed, and the communication was officially disconnected.
The top-floor lounge fell silent again, with only the occasional breathing of the group. The tense atmosphere hadn't dissipated; instead, the temporary calm had added an unspeakable solemnity.
Steve took a step forward, his gaze fixed steadily on Lynn, his expression serious, tinged with a hint of puzzled caution. "You just said... you wanted to let us experience despair. What did you mean by that?"
These words carried a completely different weight when they came from Lynn's mouth. Everyone's hearts sank slightly, and they all looked up at him, waiting for an answer.
Lynn remained silent for a long time, not speaking immediately. He lowered his eyes, pondering the Ancient One's instructions, recalling his actions along the way, his thoughts churning as he weighed the pros and cons. The long silence made the atmosphere around them increasingly stagnant, and the doubts in everyone's eyes gradually deepened, even revealing a hint of impatience.
Just as everyone was about to break the silence, Lynn slowly raised his eyes, his voice deep and clear, and revealed his deepest considerations and decision.
Most people present have probably heard of the Ancient One.
"When I went to Kamar-Taj to pick up Wanda and her brother, I had a deep conversation with the Ancient One. Her teachings gave me a complete awakening and helped me understand many issues that had been troubling me."
His gaze slowly swept over everyone present, his words clear, frank, and solemn. "You all know that because of my intervention, many crises that should have occurred, hardships that should have been experienced, and detours that should have been taken were all intentionally or unintentionally prevented by me beforehand."
"I always thought that avoiding disasters in advance and protecting everyone was the best outcome. But after talking with the Ancient One, I realized that hardships and experiences are an indispensable part of growth."
"The trajectory of fate has the instinct to self-correct. By forcibly rewriting the suffering and despair you were supposed to experience in the original timeline, I may seem to be preserving your current stability, but in reality, I am depriving you of the opportunity to grow."
"In this world, there is cause and effect; for every gain, there is a loss. Those missed experiences will eventually be made up for in another way."
Lynn's tone grew increasingly resolute, tinged with a sense of detached clarity. "So I intend to let you experience what despair truly is."
"Only by experiencing extreme helplessness and despair, and forging a resilient spirit, can one avoid being at a loss when facing sudden disasters in the future. This will prevent my excessive intervention from causing the crisis, which I instinctively tried to prevent, to spiral out of control."
His words were spoken frankly, and every word was the result of careful consideration.
Dr. Banner had been leaning against the edge of the lab bench, arms crossed and listening silently, slowly straightened up. He raised his hand to take off his glasses, gently pinched his sore nose, and a rare, relieved smile slowly appeared on his usually serious and solemn face.
"May I interject?"
Banner's voice was gentle and not loud, but it carried a calm and steady power that instantly calmed the noisy thoughts in the room, and everyone subconsciously turned to look at him.
"Of all the people present, I'm probably the one who can best empathize with and understand Lynn's words."
He slowly walked to the central holographic table and began to recount his struggles over the years. "You all know about my long-standing entanglement with Hulk. In the beginning, I tried my best to suppress him and reject him, treating Hulk as a persistent curse, an inescapable ailment, and using every means to escape and block him."
"Later, with Lynn's guidance, I finally understood that the struggle between people's hearts and power is never a simple matter of suppression and confrontation. The more you deliberately avoid something, the more you dare not face it, the more it will completely backfire and take control of everything when you are most vulnerable and helpless."
He turned to Tony, his gaze sincere and earnest. " Tony, you know best. The night Ultron was suddenly born and completely spiraled out of control, we all boasted of our meticulous planning and thorough preparation, but in the end, not one of us was truly prepared to face it."
"We've become accustomed to being in control and to things going smoothly, and we've never experienced true powerlessness. So when it appeared, everyone panicked and didn't even think carefully about how to deal with it."
Banner's voice was low but incredibly firm, each word piercing to the heart. "I completely agree with Lynn's statement that 'experience is growth.'"
"I once locked myself in the rational shell of the laboratory, trying to control everything with data and formulas, and escape all possibilities of losing control. But the final result was that Hulk completely lost control, shattering all my arrogance and wishful thinking. I stood in the devastated ruins, feeling powerless even to collapse."
He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Steve, Tony, and every Avengers present, and solemnly said, "So when Lynn said he wanted us to experience despair, I knew he wasn't joking; he was giving us a crash course."
"Some things, you can never truly grow from without experiencing them firsthand. When disaster strikes in the future, you will only be helpless and utterly defeated again."
Finally, Banner turned to Lynn and nodded solemnly, stating, "I have no objections; I'm ready."
"As long as this experience helps us make fewer mistakes when facing unknown crises in the future, I accept this despair."
Banner's analysis completely revealed Lynn's intentions and plunged everyone present into deep thought.
A few seconds of silence followed before Tony broke it, raising an eyebrow at Lynn, his tone tentative and cautious. "Let me confirm. What kind of despair are you referring to?"
His tone was half-serious, half-joking, but it concealed genuine concern. "You're not planning to take on all of us by yourself, are you? We all know how terrifying your abilities are. It's not a guaranteed death sentence, but it will definitely cause endless trouble. If this is the kind of desperate sparring match I'm starting to despair for you."
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred, and they all looked at Lynn with a hint of trepidation in their eyes. The terrifying power that crushed the Chitauri Army in the Battle of New York was still the most profound and shocking memory in everyone's hearts.
Seeing this, Lynn chuckled helplessly and shook his head, "That's a sharp question. You managed to pinpoint the most tricky blind spot at a time like this."
He raised his hand and gently tapped his chest, his tone calm and resolute. "Have you forgotten what's on my chest? The despair experienced by the Chitauri soldiers—I don't think any of you would want to experience it firsthand."
"Don't worry. I won't let you suffer any real harm. The despair I'm referring to is only psychological."
"My goal is not to boost your combat power, but to fill the gaps in your experience, so that you will be calm and resilient enough to face the storms of the future."
Upon hearing this explanation, everyone present felt their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settle back down.
As long as they weren't directly confronted with Lynn's overwhelming power, everything was fine. The psychological trauma left by the Battle of New York was too deep; everyone subconsciously associated it with brutal sparring. Now that they knew it was just a mental trial, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the relaxed expressions on everyone's faces, Lynn asked softly, "Are you relieved now?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, their apprehension completely vanishing, replaced by composure and anticipation.
"Since there are no problems, everyone can go back and pack their belongings."
Lynn spoke up at the opportune moment, "We need to find a sufficiently spacious and undisturbed location. The city is densely built with a large flow of people, and if things get out of control, it could easily cause friendly fire; it's too dangerous. We must move to a wide-open, deserted area in the wild."
No one objected; they all turned and left the top-floor lounge to pack their belongings and prepare.
The top floor quickly became empty and quiet. Lynn then turned around, took the elevator downstairs, and returned to her residence.
The living room was softly lit, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Wanda and Pietro had already finished getting ready. The two were sitting side by side on the sofa, quietly watching a program on TV. The young man and woman looked relaxed and at ease, all the strife and hostility gone, making them exceptionally soothing.
Hearing footsteps, the two turned around at the same time, their eyes filled with gentle smiles.
Lynn walked over slowly and sat down beside Wanda, looking at her gently as he softly asked, "You've mastered the basic magic of Kamar-Taj. How's your Chaos Magic? How's your control over it now?"
Upon hearing this, Wanda lowered her eyes slightly, and a wisp of crimson light quietly lit up at her fingertips, gently wrapping around them as if it were alive, radiating a chaotic aura that was both heart-stopping and incredibly pure, which she could control at will.
She answered softly, her tone calm and resolute. "The growth rate of Chaos Magic far surpasses all the arcane arts I learned in Kamar-Taj. Since its full awakening, it's become like instinct to me."
After speaking, she looked up at Lynn, a sharp and discerning look in her eyes. "You suddenly asked this, is there something you need me to do?"
Lynn nodded slightly, making no attempt to hide anything, and frankly stated her plan. "I do need your help with something."
"I need you to use Chaos Magic to create an immersive mental illusion for those guys upstairs."
"There's no need to create a battle; just awaken their deepest fears and traumas, let them experience despair firsthand."
He earnestly instructed, "The pressure must be gentle and precise. You can do it several times, but you absolutely must not affect their physical condition or fighting ability."
He paused, looking at her gently, "I believe in your control over power. What we need is to temper your character; we'll stop here."
Wanda listened quietly, and without the slightest hesitation, gently nodded in response. "I understand. I will control the intensity of my movements."