HISD Chapter 122: The Changes in the Marvel Universe After Two Years
Marvel Universe Dream Realm.
Mirror Dimension.
"Teacher, the three-year deadline is almost here."
Vision Yi Meng spoke with a faint twitch of his mouth.
Before he became the Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange had been a genius neurosurgeon — an ordinary man with extraordinary skill.
A week ago, that man's car accident had occurred, leaving both his hands crippled and his future in medicine doomed. His path toward sorcery was about to begin.
And this was also the moment the Ancient One had chosen as her own time of death. The mantle of Earth's protector among the sorcerers would soon pass from one to another.
Yi Meng, who knew the original history of the Marvel world, and the Ancient One, who held the Time Stone, both understood what this meant.
Of course, the Ancient One still believed Yi Meng had learned all this through the Mind Stone embedded in his brow.
"Teacher, how do you feel now?" Yi Meng asked curiously, seated cross-legged on the floor. "Relieved? Nervous? Or maybe… unwilling to let go?"
The faint yellow glow of the Mind Stone flickered between his brows as he peered at the Ancient One, who stood calmly at the edge of the spell circle.
The Ancient One turned back and gently brushed the air, forming a mirrored barrier between them, cutting off Yi Meng's mental probe.
"Instead of worrying about me," she said evenly, "perhaps you should worry about yourself."
Her calm eyes met his. "When the three-year term ends, I will face my destined death. What about you?"
"You've lived in this world for three years. Will you continue to follow the flow of history, or will you attempt to break the chains of this fixed timeline?"
"Either choice means abandoning the peace you've had these past three years."
"With the influence of the Mind Stone, your situation may not be better than mine."
In the reflection of her deep gaze, the silver-haired young man seated before her briefly became a decaying machine — his synthetic flesh rotting away, save for the faint golden light glowing at his brow.
"Still, that's your choice," she said, waving a hand. "It will have nothing to do with me once I'm gone."
The mirrored buildings around them began to twist and warp like reflections in shattered glass.
"As for mastering the Infinity Stones, you've already gone further than I ever could. There's nothing more I can teach you. The rest of the path is yours to walk."
As her words faded, both the Ancient One and the surrounding city dissolved into rippling distortion.
When Yi Meng blinked, he was already back in his cozy Paris apartment, seated cross-legged before the television in the living room. Warm sunlight spilled through the balcony, illuminating the small space.
Beyond the glass doors stood the distant Eiffel Tower, and the streets below were alive with traffic and laughter — a scene of human warmth and bustling life.
"So, she turned the tables on me," Yi Meng muttered, chuckling softly. "As expected of her — facing life and death with such calm."
But his smile quickly vanished. His hand rose to his brow, fingers brushing the Mind Stone.
It had been almost two years since the Avengers' split, since he and Wanda had moved here. Two quiet, fleeting years in the Marvel dream world — not long, but not short either.
In all that time, Yi Meng, as Vision, had been striving to completely master the Mind Stone fused within him.
And yet—
Even now, his control over it was only around forty percent.
Two years ago, he'd reached thirty percent. After two more years, just ten percent more. And then—stagnation.
According to the Ancient One, no being could ever truly control an Infinity Stone. Excessive use always came with a price.
Countless beings had tried to wield them — and were all devoured by their own ambition.
The Infinity Stones cannot be tamed.
To have nearly half control was already miraculous.
But even with his synthetic body serving as a vessel, even after pushing it to the brink, Yi Meng knew it wasn't enough.
His goal was perfect, costless control — one hundred percent mastery of the Mind Stone. Yet here he was, trapped before even reaching halfway.
By the Ancient One's words, this alone was a cosmic miracle.
He knew she spoke truth. Even the Infinity Gauntlet itself — the supposed pinnacle of creation — could only act as a temporary container. Every excessive use would permanently scar both the Gauntlet and its wielder's soul.
But Yi Meng refused to accept that.
He had searched endlessly for a way to achieve perfect synchronization with the Mind Stone — but no matter how he tried, he remained at the same impasse.
How could he break through?
In the vast Marvel universe, there existed endless systems — science, magic, old gods, new mutations…
Yi Meng's mind, a supercomputer of infinite processing power, had been analyzing, calculating, simulating nonstop for two years straight.
The accumulated data alone could have overwhelmed every computer system on Earth.
He didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly the sound of a key turning in the lock broke his focus.
His mind halted mid-calculation.
Turning his head, he saw her — a young woman with cascading auburn hair and a soft beige coat stepping into the apartment. She carried the poise of a woman and the innocence of a girl.
"Xiao Meng, the sunlight outside is so harsh," Wanda sighed as she slipped off her shoes. Her black stockings shimmered faintly as she stepped into her slippers and removed her coat, revealing her graceful curves.
In the next moment, she hurried over and pressed her hand to his forehead.
Crimson energy flowed from her fingers, seeping gently into the glowing stone at his brow.
"Xiao Meng," she said softly, her face full of concern, "I was right — you've been anxious lately. What's wrong?"
"I…" Yi Meng began, then hesitated as the Ancient One's final words echoed in his mind.
Yes, the three-year mark was approaching.
Doctor Strange was awakening. The Ancient One was nearing her end.
And Thanos was coming.
Whether he followed the original timeline or shattered it, his peaceful life in this dream was nearing its end.
Taking a slow breath, Yi Meng answered, "It's not time yet. Give me a little longer — I'll explain everything soon."
If he spoke now, the Time Variance Authority might not stay idle.
"Alright," Wanda whispered, squeezing his hand with quiet resolve. "I'll wait. Whatever happens, we'll face it together — side by side."
…
In the quiet living room, Wanda rested her head on his shoulder.
"Oh, that reminds me," she said suddenly, lifting her chin. "I almost forgot to tell you — the Captain called earlier. He's looking for you."
"The Captain?" Yi Meng blinked. "I haven't heard from them since the Avengers split two years ago."
Could it be that Thanos was arriving early?
That shouldn't be possible.
"Captain said Scott Lang wanted your help," Wanda added.
Scott Lang… Ant-Man?
Of course. Around this time, that should be happening.
One word flashed through Yi Meng's mind—
The Quantum Realm.
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