Even without feeling pain, Arthur immediately realized something had happened the moment the Cosmic Storm passed through his body. The energy did not tear him apart or burn him—it filled him with a presence so vast and unfathomable that it seemed beyond human comprehension.
It was only when he lowered his gaze to his own hand that he understood the extent of the change. His fingers, once solid, now shimmered like fragments of the night sky itself. A pulsating void, filled with miniature stars, shifting constellations, and vibrant nebulae, danced across his skin. It was as if the cosmos had chosen him as its vessel. Surrounding him was a deep blue, almost black aura, flickering with hypnotic intensity, cloaking him in a mantle of power.
Instinctively, Arthur raised his arm and realized it wasn't just his hand—his entire body had taken on that form. Every muscle, every trace of skin had vanished, replaced by a living image of an expanding universe. He was now a walking reflection of infinity.
Despite the shock, a certainty settled into his mind.
He was stronger than he had ever imagined. More than that—he knew in this form he could defeat nearly anyone in the universe.
'Ohh~... This is a thousand times more incredible than I could've ever imagined...' he thought, both awed and unsettled.
That was when something else caught his attention. The Space Stone, which until then had remained silent and dormant within him, now pulsed with a vivid blue light, as if responding to his transformation. He could clearly feel its energy coursing through his body, ready to be used. At last, he had complete control over its power.
Or rather—perhaps only in this form could he access the Stone's full might.
But that realization brought a new concern.
'...How do I turn back...?' Arthur wondered, staring at his distorted reflection in a metallic panel of the station.
As impressive as it looked, he knew it wouldn't be practical—or healthy—to remain like this forever.
Arthur closed his eyes, focusing. He felt every particle of cosmic energy surging through his veins, felt space itself vibrating within him. It was like trying to contain an explosion with his bare hands, but slowly, with effort, his form began to stabilize. The stars and galaxies dancing across his skin faded, retracting as though being pulled back into some invisible core within him. The dark aura around him scattered into blue sparks, until finally, his human skin returned.
Yet, he understood something with absolute certainty: only in his cosmic form could he wield the Space Stone's full power.
Even though he still felt its energy flowing within him, it was not even one-tenth of what it had been when he was in that form.
Taking a deep breath, Arthur opened his eyes. His arms were no longer the cosmos—they were once again those of a man. A weary man, but whole.
He looked down.
Susan was still unconscious in his arms.
Arthur smiled faintly and adjusted her position more comfortably against him. Without a word, he bent his knees and stood, carrying her like a bride—steady, protective, yet gentle.
The corridors of the space station echoed with his footsteps as he walked toward the living quarters.
Arthur entered one of the available rooms, nudged the door open with his shoulder, and carefully laid Susan onto the bed, setting her down softly upon the sheets.
Afterward, he went to fetch the others. Of course, he didn't carry them the same way.
He placed each of them in their rooms, but when it came to Victor, he smiled.
Extending his hand, his stone tablet appeared, landing lightly in his palm.
He knelt, touching Victor's forehead with the tip of his finger as golden letters swirled above the stone tablet.
From the very first moment he had seen Doom, he knew this man practiced magic—not from what remained of his knowledge of Marvel, but because he could feel traces of magic emanating from Victor.
And what better way to deal with one of Marvel's greatest villains, who relied primarily on sorcery and technology?
Arthur began manipulating Doom's memories, erasing every trace of magical knowledge he had ever acquired.
Then, he stripped away all the magic within Victor himself and placed a seal that would forever prevent him from learning or using any kind of sorcery.
Even if he made a pact with Mephisto himself—or any other entity—he would still be unable to wield magic.
Smiling, Arthur then crippled Doom's legs completely.
'With this, you're nothing more than an intelligent, excessively arrogant man who needs a wheelchair to move around.'
Not long after, Arthur placed everyone aboard a reserve ship at the station and took them back to Earth.
Of course, he could have simply used the Space Stone to teleport them directly home—but that would've drawn far too much attention.
Once they awoke, they were taken to a hospital, along with Victor, who now seemed to have lost all sense of purpose.
---
"Can you all stop touching me already?" Arthur spoke calmly, though impatience weighed in his tone. His gaze remained expressionless as he looked at the nurses crowding around him. They were running their hands across his chest and arms in the name of an "examination," but to Arthur it felt more like an annoyance than anything else. He knew they meant no harm, but still—it was too much.
"Mr. Morgan, we need to check your physical condition after exposure to the cosmic storm. It's nec—" one of them tried to explain, but Arthur sighed deeply, cutting her off.
"I already told you I'm fine. If you don't stop now, I'll walk out of here on my own."
At that moment, the door opened and Johnny walked in, as radiant as ever—but froze midway upon seeing the scene: Arthur sitting on the hospital bed, practically smothered by the nurses' overzealous attention.
"Hey, Arthur…" he began, intending to greet him, but couldn't resist the chance to tease. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he took in the sight. "My sister wanted to see you, but it looks like you're a little too busy. Honestly, looks like you're enjoying yourself here."
Johnny let out a laugh, making Arthur roll his eyes.
"Stop talking nonsense." He finally broke free from the insistent hands, stood up, and straightened the hospital gown as if erasing any trace of the scene. "What about your sister?"
Johnny raised an eyebrow, still smirking at his own joke. "She's in the next room. Waiting for you."
Arthur didn't waste a second. He walked past Johnny and headed to the indicated room.
---
When he opened the door, he found Susan sitting on the bed, staring out the window with a distant, contemplative look. The gentle morning light spilled into the room, wrapping her in a way that made her seem like a carefully painted portrait.
Arthur paused for a moment. Without even realizing it, he let a small smile slip. Then he pulled up a stool and sat beside her.
"You look much better than I expected." He settled in next to her.
Susan turned her head and, upon seeing Arthur, gave a soft smile. "Yes… I'm fine now. I heard you're the one who brought us back to Earth. Thank you so much for that."
"You don't need to thank me for something I'd have done anyway." Arthur chuckled lightly, picking up an apple from the fruit basket by her bed. "Actually, I should be the one thanking you. Out there, you were my hero."
Her smile widened, a little shy, but sincere. As they spoke about what had happened since the storm, Arthur calmly peeled the apple. His hands moved with practiced ease, as if the gesture came naturally.
When he finished, he sliced the fruit into thin wedges, skewered them neatly with toothpicks, and offered them to Susan.
"For you."
Susan thanked him, reaching out to take one. But the instant her fingers brushed his, something unexpected happened.
"Ah!"
She pulled back sharply, as if shocked by electricity. Her eyes widened, her heartbeat racing wildly. A wave of heat rushed to her face, leaving it flushed like fire.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What was that? Are you okay?"
"N-no… it's nothing." Susan quickly shook her head, trying to hide the blush and control her erratic breathing. But it was impossible to deny the strange sensation that had surged through her body—like something had awakened, like she was suddenly attuned to a different energy.
Arthur, confused, stared at his own hands, turning them over. "Could something be wrong with me...?"
Before he could continue, the door opened again. A doctor stepped in, but froze instantly, eyes wide.
"Mr. Morgan… why is there a hospital gown… floating in front of you?"
Arthur blinked, baffled. He looked at the doctor, then at Susan, and finally connected the dots.
"Susan, look at yourself."
Her heart was still pounding, but when she heard his words, she lowered her gaze. What she saw left her frozen: she couldn't see her own hands, or her arms—only her clothes, suspended in the air as if worn by a ghost.
"But… what's happening to me?!" Her voice trembled.
Arthur stayed calm despite the absurdity. He asked the doctor, "Can you give us a moment?"
The man hesitated, then quickly nodded and stepped out, closing the door.
"Susan, look at me. Breathe. Calm down."
She nodded, closing her eyes. She inhaled and exhaled deeply several times, forcing herself to steady her nerves. Slowly, her body became visible again, returning to normal.
Arthur, however, had noticed something curious: to him, Susan had never really disappeared.
"There… I think I did it." Susan opened her eyes, still trembling. "Arthur, what's happening to me?"
"The cosmic storm." His voice was serious. "It must have altered your DNA. That's what's happening."
Her eyes widened in shock. "So… I…"
"You've developed new abilities. And now you need to learn to control them."
She took a deep breath, trying to process the revelation. Then, concern filled her voice as she asked, "And you? Are you okay? Nothing happened to you?"
Arthur shrugged. "I'm perfectly fine. In fact, I think I'm the only one who wasn't affected by the storm."
Susan frowned. "What do you mean?"
Crossing his arms, he explained: "Well… Reed can stretch like rubber now. Johnny bursts into flames—literally. Ben turned into a walking boulder. And Victor…" Arthur paused, his tone carrying both pity and irony. "…Victor lost the ability to walk. And maybe even the will to live."
Susan brought her hand to her mouth, shocked. "My God…"
Her eyes widened even further as she fully grasped the gravity of Victor's fate.
---
(End of chapter)
A/N: I don't know about you, but him gaining a cosmic form after being hit by the storm makes sense to me. And it also makes sense that only in that form could he fully harness the Space Stone's power.
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."