Chapter 105: The Ghost (Part 1)
"The existing Titans won't disappear, it seems," Daniel Davis observed, standing atop his flying board. Before him, within the breached Wall Maria at Shiganshina District, stood a colossal Titan bathed in sunlight, unchanged by his recent actions.
The world of Titans was undergoing a seismic shift following the vanishing of the Earth Devils. Paradis Island, Marley, and the Allied Forces of the Middle East were all experiencing transformations.
Previously, Erwin, Eren, and Zeke had met and formed an alliance. Their goal was to relocate the Eldians from Marley to Paradis Island amidst the chaos of Marley's civil war. Rescued by Eren and his team, Zeke had escaped the turmoil in Marley. Despite the technological backwardness of Paradis Island compared to the outside world, their innovative 3D Maneuver Gear gave them a unique edge in combat. Fortunately, unlike in the original storyline, Eren did not harbor a vengeful mindset, and with Erwin still alive, they refrained from launching a surprise attack on Marley. Instead, they leveraged their strengths to secure the right to evacuate the Eldians.
In terms of strategic vision, Erwin far outclassed Armin and others, not because Armin lacked intelligence, but due to his limited experience.
With the influx of Eldians, many of whom were skilled in various technological fields, Paradis Island anticipated a period of rapid technological advancement. These talents were exactly what the island lacked.
As the Titans faded, many residents of Paradis began to move out from the second inner wall and return to Wall Maria, eager to rebuild their homes.
"It's time to head back. Maybe I should set up a satellite company this time, so I don't have to buy satellites," Daniel pondered. With the Titan world returning to normalcy, there were no immediate benefits for his personal cultivation. However, his company and influence stood to gain significantly.
By calculating the planetary data accurately, he could launch a few satellites into orbit, allowing Red Queen, his AI, to operate effectively. Considering the vast, sparsely populated lands of this world, it was an ideal opportunity for expansion, perhaps even colonizing other worlds.
Moreover, Daniel had discreetly moved to control Marley from the shadows, much like the Tybur family before him. The current situation presented a golden opportunity for him.
It's no wonder capitalists invest heavily in presidential campaigns. It's a business that yields exponential returns, easily recouping the initial investment with the right leadership in place.
Daniel's strategy was to collect resources from this world. Regardless of the company's size, as it grows, it inevitably must engage with societal and governmental institutions to avoid future complications.
Minerals and pharmaceuticals in this world were underutilized. Most of these resources remained unrecognized for their potential.
"Hey, someone's breaking in. That's bold," Daniel mused as he returned from the Titan world to the Marvel universe. Before he could even rest, Red Queen's alert caught his attention. This unexpected intrusion surprised Daniel, given the rigorous security measures he had in place, many designed by Stark himself.
Daniel's current residence had defense levels comparable to Stark's seaside mansion, including a three-tier alarm system. The lowest level dealt with petty intruders, triggering alarms connected directly to the local police. So far, several attempts had been thwarted, including some from skilled hackers and even a few underage delinquents.
Education differences aside, many young hackers in the USA showcase remarkable talent early on, much like Peter Parker's friend, Ned.
The US justice system tends to be lenient towards minors, regardless of their crimes. However, Daniel had no tolerance for such intrusions. With his resources, he ensured these young offenders faced legal consequences, regardless of their age. His wealth allowed him to engage top legal firms to relentlessly pursue these cases, sending a clear message to future intruders.
Until now, most intrusions had been minor, handled by the initial alarm level. Bypassing Red Queen's surveillance wasn't easy; it required someone of Bruce Banner's, Black Widow's, or Nick Fury's caliber.
Artificial intelligence isn't omnipotent.
The current breach triggered a level three alarm, indicating someone had penetrated his basement. This was a first for Daniel.
"Looks like we have a skilled intruder. Who could it be?" Daniel wondered. Only top scientists or agents could achieve this level of infiltration in the Marvel world.
Daniel believed his mansion was nearly impregnable without a full-frontal assault. Stark's mansion had been attacked by helicopters in Iron Man 3—a scenario unlikely in China but not surprising in the US.
Yet, in a world like Marvel, one where genius scientists emerged frequently, Daniel wouldn't be surprised by sudden challenges. Many scientists' capabilities remained unknown outside their specific circles.
Like Daniel, a biochemical expert, who knows several other leading experts in the field.
"What are you looking for? Maybe I can help," Daniel called out, leaning against the entrance to his basement. He commanded Red Queen to illuminate the space, revealing the intruder rummaging through his lab materials. Dressed in a white, almost spacesuit-like outfit with a matching helmet, the figure paused.
To avoid exposing Red Queen, Daniel instructed the AI to stay hidden unless given explicit permission. Unlike Stark, Daniel preferred to keep his AI discreet, as revealing it could lead to complications.
"Who sent you?" Daniel asked the still figure, though he had already narrowed down the possibilities. Penetrating his mansion to this extent suggested either S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra.
Before Daniel could get a response, the intruder dropped the documents and lunged at him, attempting to subdue him.
"A woman," Daniel noted as he grabbed the attacker's wrist. The texture and size confirmed the intruder's gender.
"Could it be Black Widow?" he speculated. Despite his cordial relationship with Fury, Daniel knew Fury's suspicion extended to everyone. As a magician, he was a likely suspect in Fury's eyes.
But Daniel quickly realized his mistake as the woman's wrist phased through his grasp, her punch landing squarely on his face.
Stunned by the unexpected blow, Daniel noted that while the force exceeded that of a normal person, it wasn't overwhelming. Still, it was a shock he hadn't anticipated.
"Damn," he muttered as the intruder aimed another punch at him. Daniel's hand moved to intercept, but her fist phased through his palm again, connecting with his face. This time, he was ready, countering with his other hand, only for it to pass through his body. The intruder appeared behind him, delivering a swift kick aimed at his groin.
"Whoa, that's vicious. And is this some kind of teleportation?" Daniel dodged the kick and quickly engaged his Devil Fruit ability, summoning a scalpel. "ROOM: Slaughterhouse!" he commanded, slicing at the intruder.
"Useless? No way," Daniel gasped as the attack left the intruder unscathed. This marked the first time his Devil Fruit power had failed in the Marvel world.
Even against Kamar-Taj's magic, his power had always been effective. Without it, Daniel's progress would have been much slower, likely taking him years to master basic spells like other Kamar-Taj disciples.
Not everyone could be a prodigy like Doctor Strange. Many who came to Kamar-Taj for healing left because they couldn't advance in their studies.
"It's quantum state... unbelievable," Daniel realized, understanding why his power had failed. Through the ROOM domain, he saw the intruder's body shifting in and out of the quantum realm. Her ability was not teleportation but quantum state transition.
In a quantum state, she was untouchable. Although similar to the phasing ability of Kamui, the principle was entirely different. Quantum state manipulation was theoretically more advanced. Even Thanos' snap couldn't affect someone in a quantum state.
No wonder she reached the basement unnoticed; quantum state could evade all electronic surveillance.
"This ability is truly broken. Good thing her physical strength isn't exceptional," Daniel mused, recognizing the intruder. "It's Ghost," he realized, identifying her as a hidden asset of S.H.I.E.L.D. Despite her formidable ability, she was still an ordinary person in terms of physical prowess.
"They really think highly of me," Daniel thought, acknowledging that deploying such a secret asset meant S.H.I.E.L.D. viewed him as a significant threat.
Knowing her identity and powers made it easier for Daniel to handle the situation. Like dealing with Kamui, he just needed to strike when she returned to her physical form.
After a moment of thought and parrying a few more of her attacks, Daniel began forming hand seals and opened the Mirror Dimension. Ghost was essentially in a perpetual quantum state, making it difficult to defeat her directly. However, trapping her in the Mirror Dimension would prevent her from escaping, as she couldn't phase out of that realm.
Ghost quickly realized the shift and tried to flee, but it was too late. As a regular human, she couldn't outrun the spatial transformation. The Mirror Dimension captured her easily.
No one had ever escaped the Mirror Dimension without the Infinity Gauntlet.
"Where is this place?" Ghost muttered, trying unsuccessfully to find an exit.
This version of Ghost, unlike her unstable state in *Ant-Man and the Wasp*, could control her abilities thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology.
"You came here without knowing who you were up against? This is a magician's realm. Escape is impossible for you," Daniel taunted.
In the Marvel universe, Ghost's ability was among the most formidable. If he could acquire it, he would become nearly invincible in combat, transcending dimensional barriers.
Yet, gaining such a power was uncertain. Only two individuals had ever derived powers from the quantum realm: Janet Van Dyne, the original Wasp, and Ghost.
"You're one of the lucky few with powers from the quantum realm. Impressive
," Daniel remarked, considering the vast potential of quantum abilities. The quantum realm spanned the infinite universe, offering boundless possibilities.
"Let's see how we can use this," Daniel mused. Even if he couldn't directly harness her power, understanding it could provide significant advantages.
___________________
Read Ahead
P@treon.com/Mutter