"In that case, let us temporarily set aside the first question."
At Avengers Tower, the discussion continued. After Tony tossed the issue of the X-Gene to the X-Men, he moved on to the second question: "Where does Nimrod's magic resistance come from?"
"We all know that Nimrod originates from the Super-Adaptoid. However, the Super-Adaptoid has zero magic resistance. One second, it was being pummeled by Spidey, Thor, or that little witch; the next, after evolving into Nimrod, it became almost entirely immune to magic."
Tony articulated the crux of the second problem: "Of course, we know there was an upgrade involved, but what kind of upgrade could produce such an effect?"
"So, the magic-related members of our team took this question to the magic experts."
Tony was naturally referring to Peter and Thor. They had taken Wanda with them to the Sanctum Sanctorum. The roof, which had been smashed open by Knull half a year ago, was finally repaired. However, that didn't stop Strange from placing a rattan chair on the rooftop of the Sanctum to soak up the sun.
"I knew you were coming when you were still a kilometer away."
Strange opened a portal to step from the balcony into the hall, clutching a cup of coffee. He looked at Wanda, observing her closely for several seconds before offering a note of admiration: "Did you know, young lady? For a long time, the magical community believed Chaos Magic didn't exist, that it was merely an error in the Darkhold's records regarding black magic. Your existence proves that Chaos Magic is indeed real."
"Er... thank you?"
"Do you have a mentor, Miss?"
Wanda paused for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, my father knows a witch. Her name is Agatha Agnes..."
Peter saw a look of clear distaste flicker across Strange's face.
"Right, Agatha Agnes. A survivor of the Salem trials... I must remind you, young lady, that witchcraft is not the same as magic. Witches believe magical power stems from their own bloodline; they proudly think their lineage contains endless magical energy, which they can manifest using rituals, gestures, symbols, and incantations."
"But in reality, their bloodlines usually hide the power of some demon or elder god. They don't know the true purpose of magic. In short, you will likely learn how to use the power within you, but you won't know where it truly comes from."
For some reason, Peter felt that Strange's deep aversion wasn't just for Agatha, but for witches in general. He asked tentatively, "Is it like the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer in DND?"
"Reality isn't DND... but you're right. It's roughly like that."
Strange decided to skip that discussion and asked about the purpose of their visit. "If you aren't here to find a magic mentor for this lady, then the Avengers have come because a magical problem has arisen? One that even the heir of Asgard and the emissary of the Web of Destiny cannot handle?"
"Yes, Sorcerer. We've encountered a strange scientific creation with powerful magic resistance. We need your help."
Strange was instantly intrigued. He opened a portal and led the three of them to a place resembling an alchemy laboratory. Thor dropped the bundle he had been carrying onto the alchemy table and unwrapped it. Strange examined the contents carefully, then frowned. He spoke to a novice mage who wasn't physically present: "Magik? Is something wrong with Limbo?"
A second later, Peter saw Illyana teleport into the lab.
"The next time you use that 'mouth' to notify me, Strange..."
"That is exactly how the Magic Mouth spell is intended to be used," Strange interrupted Illyana's complaint. He looked at the lab table, cast a spell, and revitalized the liquid metal, which had turned into a stagnant puddle. "Feel this carefully. Is there Promethium in this stuff?"
Promethium? It sounded familiar, but Peter was only familiar with DC's Promethium; he hadn't known Marvel had it as well.
Illyana muttered with her arms crossed. After staring at the liquid metal for a few seconds, she nodded decisively. "Yes, it's Promethium. How did it end up here?"
Peter reacted immediately. "Wait... so this stuff comes from Limbo?"
"Yes, Promethium belongs only to Limbo. It's usually found deep in certain caves; before it's mined, it looks like the heart of a giant animal." Illyana shrugged. "Anyway, since Belasco was kicked out, no Promethium has gone missing."
"How can you be sure no one has been mining it illegally?"
"Because Promethium leaving Limbo causes a part of Limbo to disappear forever, Spider-Man. Neither the master of Limbo nor the Sorcerer Supreme could fail to notice that." Strange roughly understood what the substance was. "Limbo represents a dark dimension; among the countless dimensions, it's one of those closest to the Living Abyss. Therefore, Promethium exhibits characteristics similar to Symbiotes. Though, of course, they lack life and consciousness."
"In other words, this is a type of magical metal similar to a product of the Living Abyss," Thor gradually pieced it together. "That explains why, after a certain degree of modification, it possesses magic resistance. Furthermore, a structure similar to the Living Abyss grants it extreme plasticity."
"Wait..."
Peter suddenly thought of a problem. He explained the situation regarding the future and Nimrod to Strange, then raised his own doubt: "If that's the case, it means that in the future, Nimrod found a way to travel to Limbo and then mined a vast amount of Promethium to manufacture Nimrod Sentinels. But isn't Limbo an extra-dimensional realm? Why wouldn't Illyana sense it?"
"...While time in Limbo is not rigid—many points of its past and future are connected by naturally occurring time rifts—it is still subject to linear time, and its 'present' depends on its master. In other words, if there exists a possible future where Illyana is the Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo, then two temporal states of the same Limbo can exist."
Peter didn't quite follow. "Does that mean something like a Limbo version of the Multiverse?"
"No." Strange corrected him this time. "It's a... in scientific terms, a quantum superposition. Until it is confirmed whether that 'Days of Future Past' is indeed our future, this future version of Limbo both exists and does not exist."
"But regardless, you have indeed found the point of origin for this fellow called Nimrod. A Limbo existing within a possible future."