Traveling through the multiverse is not new to Hawk.
But entering a multiverse that has just undergone a cosmic reset, for Hawk, this is a first.
How to describe this traversal?
One word.
Strange.
Two words.
Extremely strange.
The moment Hawk, with Wanda following, dove into this multiverse, which is lower-grade than their own universe, following the ray of light that caused the cosmic reset—he realized his power was fading rapidly.
Indeed.
Last time, while traversing with Ant-Man Scott to the 616 Cosmos, he experienced a similar power dissipation.
But how to describe it?
If entering the 616 Cosmos was like a bathtub slowly draining, then this time, the power vanished in an instant.
So...
This seems less like a disappearance and more like a suppression?
While Hawk's mind was racing, Wanda, clutching Hawk's hand tightly, also sensed something was wrong.
She suddenly noticed the seemingly boundless energy of Hawk beside her had vanished in the blink of an eye.
Yet Wanda was sure her energy hadn't increased.
There was only one possibility.
Hawk's energy had disappeared.
As Wanda's thoughts raced, she planned to wrest control from Hawk's hand, braking hard in the traversal tunnel, then dash back the way they came: "We have to go back, quickly."
Hawk forcefully squeezed Wanda's hand, which attempted to return.
"No need."
"But your power..."
"It's okay."
With his mind racing, Hawk immediately calmed down: "We're already here, and Saint Warriors never retreat!"
Although Hawk often says being reckless isn't wise, stability and growth are key, and a wise man doesn't stand under a dangerous wall.
But this is based on foreseeing potential danger in advance.
As the saying goes.
"Knowing there's a tiger in the mountain, one still walks towards the tiger" has never been a compliment.
When paths cross, the brave win.
If he had sensed danger before entering the traversal tunnel, there'd be no question—he'd run as far as possible, until he could burst cosmic bubbles with a punch before entering this multiverse.
But now that he's here, it's a different story.
Hawk remembers a classic comment on the internet from his past life.
When Grand Eunuch Cao retreated, martial arts regressed by twenty years.
By the same token!
If he retreated now, it wouldn't just be a simple step back, it would be denying his life's definition.
Unique!
This is his definition for the Eighth Sense of Life, and likewise, the definition he pre-set for the Ninth Sense.
The Seventh Sense governs time.
The Eighth Sense governs life.
Then the Ninth Sense governs the cosmos.
What is the cosmos!
What is unique.
My will is the celestial will.
My intent is the celestial intent.
The Eastern Country People are often strategic planners; Hawk is no exception.
His definition for life's uniqueness, the next step is defining the heavenly way.
I!
Am the heavenly way!
In short, he cannot retreat, nor can he afford to.
Even if this multiverse is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, he's determined to venture inside.
So—
"Let's go!"
"…Alright!"
Wanda's eyes quickly met Hawk's gaze, nodded: "I'll go with you; I promised Gwen to take care of you."
Hawk smiled slightly, exchanged a glance with Wanda in the traversal tunnel, and as the light ahead drilled through, they surged forward during the last second before the tunnel closed.
In the next moment.
Boom!
After emerging, Hawk's back slammed heavily against the wall behind, and at the moment of impact, the wall groaned, cracking inch by inch.
Compared to the seemingly battered Hawk.
Wanda, upon appearing, transformed immediately—the Crimson Chaos Power behind her unfurled like a crimson curtain, causing a quick change of outfit.
Red hair fell freely.
A form-fitting dark red bodysuit paired with black trousers and black boots, looking both vintage and magical.
In the next moment.
Suspended in some alley in Manhattan, Wanda realized and looked down at Hawk, whose back made intimate contact with the wall, as her boots touched down.
Amidst the sound of falling debris, Hawk waved his arms, extracting himself from about a third embedded in the wall, then rose from the ground.
Wanda stepped forward.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Hawk gesture dismissively, then closed his eyes.
In the next moment.
He reopened his eyes, standing in this nameless alley, gazing up at the sky.
Before his eyes.
Only blue skies and white clouds, no stars to be seen, nor the Phoenix Star System.
"My powers are suppressed."
"..."
Hearing this, Wanda's pupils contracted, looked towards Hawk, ready to speak, but suddenly thought of something, her voice didn't traverse the air, instead, it appeared directly in Hawk's mind.
"Celestial God Team?"
"Not sure."
"What?"
"It's possible this multiverse is ridiculously low-grade."
Hawk's voice also echoed in his mind: "After all, this is a cosmos without even a parallel cosmos, maybe that's why my powers are blocked."
Wanda frowned.
"So what do we do?"
"Let's see, my powers are gone, but my life level is still here."
"Uh..."
"I'm still a divine body!"
Just like Thor back on that Grandmaster's planet.
Even though Thor's divine power was suppressed at that time, his physical strength was still enough to rival the Hulk.
So...
"There's something strange about this cosmos."
"But it's no big deal, even if there is, it's just a little dust and frost."
Hawk thought as much, and then his chest puffed slightly.
Then...
He realized, patted the back of his arms a few times to dust off, and met Wanda's gaze with a smile: "Let's go."
Wanda glanced at Hawk, seeming to confirm he wasn't pretending to be at ease, nodded, and with a flicker of her Crimson Chaos Power, her battle suit reverted back to regular clothing.
The two then walked out of the alley behind them.
Then—
Hawk, stepping out of the alley, stood on the wide street and finally realized where they had arrived.
Still New York City.
Still Manhattan.
Third Avenue.
But a more vintage Third Avenue.
The red brick and limestone façades lined both sides, with shop windows on the ground floor brimming with variety.
Cafés exuding rich aromas.
Boutiques full of 80s fashion, in vogue for the time.
Electronics stores playing MTV.
It was mid-afternoon, white-collar workers hurried by with coffees in hand, and tourists studied maps at street corners, everything looked so ordinary, orderly, and alive with hustle and bustle.
Wanda looked at the street ahead resembling the 80s and the people dressed in 80s attire, opened her mouth.
"The time here is..."
"Yes."
Hawk nodded, already having a rough idea of this Earth's time: "The 80s."
Wanda raised an eyebrow, then looked at Hawk.
"So what about us?"
"Let's find a place to stay first."
"Sure."
Wanda nodded, then the two turned their attention back, followed the footsteps of the passing crowd, and soon disappeared into the crowd.
Ten minutes later.
Hawk suddenly stopped in his tracks, then seemed to think of something, looked at Wanda.
"Did you bring any money?"
"Money?"
Wanda was slightly taken aback, thought for a moment, pulled out two Franklins and six George Washingtons from her pocket, essentially two hundred-dollar bills and six US dollars.
Seeing this, Hawk let out a sigh of relief.
"Not bad, here there's likely no Tony Stark, and no Palm Street No. 521A, two hundred US dollars should be enough for a hotel."
"Maybe not."
Wanda spoke truthfully, showing the serial numbers on the two Franklins: "Though I don't know the exact year here, it's definitely not 2001."
Hawk's brow furrowed slightly, looking at the issue date on the two Franklins.
Alright.
For here, they're counterfeit bills from the future.
"So we only have six US dollars?"
"Not exactly."
Wanda checked the remaining six dollars, then folded them all up and put them back in her pocket under Hawk's watchful eyes, meeting his gaze: "We have no dollars."
Hawk's mouth twitched.
Wanda was somewhat curious.
"Don't you have any money on you?"
"I don't need money."
Still the same phrase.
Since coming back from the Quantico Military Base, Hawk had achieved complete financial freedom.
What he pursued after was only one thing.
Getting stronger!
As for money?
He didn't need it, and besides, all the finances were usually managed by Gwen, every time they'd go shopping at the supermarket, it was Gwen who paid the bills.
While Hawk was lost in thought,
Wanda shrugged.
"But we need money now, right."
"..."
Hawk snapped back, just about to speak when something caught his eye, then he watched a muscle car drive by them, then park behind the 'Pacific Savings Bank' at the Third Avenue intersection.
Soon.
Five people got out of the muscle car one after another, looked around, then entered the 'Pacific Savings Bank' at the intersection, one after another.
Wanda followed Hawk's gaze.
"What's up?"
"Hold on."
Hawk said, then counted down three, two, one.
By the time he reached one.
A scream rang out from within the 'Pacific Savings Bank', reaching Hawk's ears, even without the Power of the Little Cosmos, he was still a divine body.
Wanda, too, heard it and curiously looked at the 'Pacific Savings Bank'.
The next second.
Hawk turned to Wanda, smiling slightly.
"Look."
"Here comes the money."
"..."