NOVEL NEXT Chapter 614: Testing and Information Gathering
After returning home, Edward headed directly to the Time Force headquarters. His trip into the Multiverse was not simply to save the dragon but to test something. One of the consequences of Doctor Strange using Dreamwalking was creating an Incursion, which is similar to the Convergence that Edward was preparing for.
Incursions are random and disorganized and can result in one or both universes being destroyed in the process. Meanwhile, Convergence wishes for the universes to fuse or for one to remain. Any kind of multiverse travel could cause an incursion, and the chances are higher by using Dreamwalking – which was a technique from the Darkhold. Edward needed to know what would happen after his trip.
"What is the situation?"
"Sir, the data is still coming in," Ra responded, and Edward nodded. He took this time to send Albion to the magic tower and set him up with the energy he needed to return to his peak.
"Sir, we have the result."
"I'm guessing by your tone that it's bad news."
"Yes. Our Earth and Earth-125 are starting to converge."
"I guess I now have to limit my travel in the Multiverse," Edward commented.
"Sir, how do you want us to prepare?"
"There is no data to answer such a question."
"I know," Edward nodded before sitting cross-legged in the air and gazing into the future with the Eye of Agamotto. He frowned because he could not see clearly after the destruction. He stopped this pointless action before walking to a secluded room. He used a communication spell, creating three screens before him, which showed the Ancient One, Frigga, and Odin.
"Did something happen?" the Ancient One asked.
"The first world convergence is about to happen?"
"So soon? I thought we still had a few more decades to prepare," Odin asked. Edward explained his trip to them.
"I understand why you did it, but weren't you a little reckless?" Frigga asked.
"Maybe, but we need information and resources, and the multiverse is the best place to gather them," Edward stated.
Odin grunted. "There is no point in focusing on that since it's already done. Is this the only reason you called us?"
"No. I want to know what will happen if the other universe is destroyed before it can fuse with ours." The meeting was quiet for a few seconds before the Ancient One spoke: "What do you want us to do?"
"Odin, can you use the power of the Destroyer?"
"There should be no problem if it's for a short battle."
"Excellent," Edward nodded. "How long do you need to prepare?"
"Give me thirty minutes."
"As you wish, I would also like to introduce everyone to our new ally—Ra. He's the leader of the Time Force," Edward continued by adding a projection of Ra and explaining its function. Everyone looked at Ra, guessing how strong or influential he must be if he were attending this meeting.
After Ra introduced himself, the meeting ended, and Edward teleported to Kamar Taj.
"You need something?"
"I have something for you," Edward stated as he handed her another Eye of Agamotto. The Ancient One slowly took it: "She–"
"She didn't want to negotiate and talk peacefully."
"I figured," she nodded. "But why are you giving this to me?"
"I don't want something to happen to you in this battle. So, you can borrow either the Soul, Space, or Mind Stone."
"I'll take the Space Stone."
Edward waved his hand to summon the space stone inside the Tesseract. "I'll get you a Time Stone on my next trip."
"Alright." The Ancient One placed the stone in the amulet before sending Edward away. She looked at this new Eye of Agomoto. "What's this? A warning?" She shook her head. "It's truly sad living a life full of suspicion and paranoia."
Thirty minutes passed, and Edward took the group — minus Frigga and Odin, who only sent the Destroyer — to the Blank Realm: the space between universes/dimensions/timelines. While floating in the void, the group saw it. Behind them was their Earth surrounded by a shield, and in the distance, another Earth was rapidly moving toward them. In fact, their earth was also moving upon closer observation.
"Give me a moment," Edward said before activating a few spells: Danger Awareness Cancelation Spell, Anti-Divination Spell, Cosmic Awareness Nullification Spell, and Anti Future Sight Spell.
"Now, let's start."
Ra's eyes suddenly turned red before firing a terrifying beam. The Destroyer also fired a beam, but it was golden. The Ancient One's spell was Dimension of Darkness, in which she used the power of the Space Stone to create a vast dimension before filling it with the corruptive power of the Darkness Dimension. Meanwhile, Edward used a Destruction Spell by sending an ever-expanding purple orb of destruction that would annihilate all matter, energy, and concepts in its path.
To the naked and untrained eyes, these attacks entered the shield around the earth before it exploded. However, to these people, inside the shield was an entire universe, and they saw the devastation their attack did.
Ra's beam would incinerate galaxies and everything it touches with its intense beam. The Ancient One's attack enveloped the world in darkness before corrupting and killing them. Edward's orb expands, disintegrating everything in its path. Finally, the Destroyer was the most devastating.
A few dimensions had the strength to survive this attack. However, the sudden attack and the power of the Destroyer did not give them this chance. The golden orb evaporated all its dimensions and some people inside.
However, to no one's surprise, a few people survived this terrible attack. A few of the Demon Gods and Hell Lords, Eternity — who were at the center of the universe — Arishem, the Prime Celestial, and a few other people. They glanced at Edward's group with great intensity, some not hiding their hatred.
"Prepare for —"
Edward did not finish his words when an unknown power descended from the void and annihilated all the survivors of Earth-125. Then, they turned into a mass of golden energy that fused with Edward's earth.
"What's going on?" Odin asked through the Destroyer.
"I don't know."
"Could it be that this is the consequence if our world is destroyed before the convergence? Become nourishment for the victor?" The Ancient One analyzed. "What a cruel game."
"It might be even more cruel if this is our fate as long as any universe is destroyed." The others squinted. Yes, what if one universe is destroyed before the final fusion? Logically speaking, with their strength, they should be able to carve a small place for themselves in the other universe as long as they protect themselves. But if there is a mechanism that will eradicate them as long as their world is destroyed, then the group has lost one escape route in this great catastrophe.
"Your action was too reckless," Odin said. This plan had too many ways it could have gone wrong.
"On the contrary, it was not bold enough," Edward rebutted. "We need more information. Otherwise, could you imagine the consequences if we had to learn of this mechanism after our timelines were destroyed?" Edward sighed, too. "If only Luna were here. I wouldn't have to worry about gathering information in these reckless ways."
"Wait, your tone indicates you want to try again?"
"Yes."
"We were lucky that our sneak attack worked, but what if it failed?"
"I'm going to be more sneaky this time."
"How?"
"Reincarnation," Edward said. "I'll send a piece of my soul to reincarnate on another Earth— thus acquiring the identity of that universe. Then, he'll create a convergence with another universe and gather more data and information."
Odin grunted. "What if your reincarnation spells immediately create a convergence with our world instead?"
"Then, we will know how sensitive the convergence mechanism is."