386-390

"Wow, is it really a ghost? Even the place they live in is so remote."

Mark is now standing in front of the mansion where the ghost Ava Starr and her foster father Bill Foster live. The location of this estate is extremely remote and secretive, with no other residents around. Bill Foster, the foster father, has done a great job in protecting his foster daughter Ava.

As for why Mark is here alone, it's because he promised Dr. Pym that he would safely recover his mobile laboratory and refused the desire of Dr. Pym and his two companions to participate.

Recovering the mobile laboratory is just a part of Mark's plan. The main reason he doesn't want anyone else to be involved is that he wants to obtain data on Ava's Phasing abilities.

Bill Foster's research direction on Ava's superpowers is correct. The over 30 years of quantum energy accumulated in Janet Van Dyne's body in the quantum realm is indeed one way to save Ava.

But with the quantum tunnel still incomplete, this method obviously cannot help Mark peacefully recover the mobile laboratory from Ava.

Of course, Mark can resort to force to achieve his goal. While Ava can evade all attacks by changing her phase, there are still means to restrain her.

On one hand, if Mark launches an attack faster than Ava's reaction speed and incapacitates her before she can phase, he can subdue her. On the other hand, let's not forget that Mark is a powerful sorcerer, and even if Ava were truly a reincarnation of Uchiha, she wouldn't be able to escape the power of the Mirror Dimension.

However, Mark doesn't like to use such unreasonable methods to get what he wants. As a scientist and a superhero, he adheres to his principles and limits, unlike some mad scientists who would do anything to achieve their goals.

Before coming to the mansion where Ava lives, Mark had already figured out how to complete this mission while staying true to his principles and limits.

Outside the mansion gate, Mark rang the doorbell, just as he did when visiting Dr. Pym, and then quietly waited for the owner to appear.

Mark knew that when Ava is not on a mission as a ghost, she usually stays in the sealed chamber that Bill Foster built for her to alleviate the pain and torment caused by her Phasing abilities. So this time, his patience is more abundant, ringing the doorbell every minute, without any signs of impatience.

"Who are you!?" Finally, a figure dressed in white battle attire appeared behind Mark and asked in a sinister tone.

However, this did not manage to frighten Mark, because his powerful soul, obtained through the practice of magic, allowed him to sense the spatial fluctuations caused by Ava's appearance even before she showed up.

He turned around, wearing a polite smile, and somewhat ruefully said, "I thought I was quite famous... You're not really pretending not to know me, are you?

I mean, as a superhero from the Avengers, I've been in the public eye for quite some time. Moreover, I'm one of the smartest and wealthiest individuals globally. I thought that apart from those who don't follow the news, there shouldn't be anyone in this country who doesn't recognize me.

Speaking of which, you can't really be someone who doesn't follow the news, Miss Ava Starr, right? Even if you don't follow the news, if you genuinely want to cure the stubborn ailment on your body, you should at least be aware of news about a genius scientist like me."

"You're Mark Stark!" Indeed, as Mark turned to face Ava directly, she immediately recognized Mark's identity.

As Mark mentioned, anyone who primarily follows the news or frequently surfs the internet shouldn't be unaware of this super-genius who has had a massive impact on human society, especially considering he is also a superhero.

Ava's knowledge of Mark primarily stemmed from Mark being a former guest of S.H.I.E.L.D. In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research team, almost all researchers spoke highly of his abilities, calling him the most intelligent human brain in history.

Based on this, she obsessively searched for Mark's information and saw hope for her own healing in him.

Unfortunately, the disparity in their identities was too vast, and she had no chance to approach Mark and request treatment from him. After the fall and reconstruction of S.H.I.E.L.D., their interactions became even scarcer, and such thoughts gradually faded, deeply buried in her heart.

Ava had also considered using her abilities to get closer to Mark, but her foster father, Bill Foster, had stopped her. If Ava forcefully kidnapped Mark for her own treatment using her abilities, even if she succeeded in getting healed, how would she endure the retaliation from a colossal entity like the Stark family after losing her powers?

Knowing the impossibility of her actions, Ava shelved her thoughts and relied on her foster father, Bill Foster, to fulfill his promise and cure her.

But the seed of an idea buried long ago, now that Mark appeared before her, sprouted rapidly like a seed nourished by catalysts, breaking through the soil and growing into a towering tree of madness.

And after recognizing Mark's identity, the next words he said to her felt like a gigantic nuclear explosion in her mind, causing her to lose all rationality, feeling her brain clouding over, sinking into a frenzy of joy.

"Yes, I am Mark Stark. I came here today hoping to make a deal with you, and my bargaining chip is to help you heal the pain caused by your Phasing ability. I wonder if we can go inside and have a proper conversation?"

The moment Mark saw Ava, he activated his informational vision ability to analyze her Phasing ability. The results matched Mark's speculation, and in addition to using the large amount of quantum energy to induce healing, the method in his plan can also achieve the effect.

"Miss Ava?" Mark noticed that after Ava heard his words, she fell into a dazed state and didn't respond. He realized that she must be overwhelmed by this unexpected surprise, so he called out again.

"Uh! Sorry, this news is just too shocking for me. I never dared to imagine that Mark Stark would one day stand in front of me to fulfill my lifelong wish.

Whatever the trade is, as long as it can help me return to normal and free me from this tormenting pain, I'll agree to it!"

"..." Seeing how readily Ava agreed, Mark felt unsure how to respond. He had prepared words to win her trust, but he didn't get a chance to use them.

"Well, let's go inside and have a proper talk. At least after you understand the terms of the deal I'm proposing, you can make your decision."

"Okay, come with me," Ava said eagerly, leading Mark into the living room.

After pouring a glass of water for Mark, Ava stared at him intently, her eyes filled with urgency.

"Ahem, okay, let me tell you my conditions. As part of the exchange for healing your ailment, you need to hand over the mobile laboratory you obtained from Dr. Pym yesterday.

Additionally, you must keep everything I use during the treatment confidential, not to be disclosed to anyone, not even your foster father, Bill Foster.

If I catch wind of any leaks from you, believe me, the suffering I can make you endure will be a thousand times worse than what you're currently experiencing."

When Mark reached this point, to emphasize his stern words, he intentionally made a fierce expression.

However, it's unclear whether it was because Mark's face naturally didn't suit this expression or if his acting skills were just too poor, but it ended up making Ava, who had been listening attentively, burst into laughter.

"Be serious, I'm not joking with you. When I passed by the sealed chamber you usually use for recovery, I saw a VR device inside. It's used to relax your mind and isolate the pain caused by your physical condition, right?

But as the inventor, I've come up with many extensions for that device. One of them I call the virtual execution chamber. In the virtual execution chamber, I can subject the person inside to various punishments that have been banned in the real world for humanitarian reasons.

Even without resorting to any punitive measures, because one second in the outside world would extend to half an hour within the virtual execution chamber, it would make the subject experience a sentence that could never be achieved in the real world.

Hundreds, even thousands of years in solitary confinement, without eating or drinking, without death or immortality, with no possibility of communication, such a torment was already the cruelest punishment.

So, let me be clear from the start. If you don't want to be the first to experience the virtual execution chamber, it's best to keep the details of our trade between us, including all the processes of my treatment for you, forever sealed in your memory. Do you understand what I mean, Ava?"

"Yes, I understand, I understand! So when do we start the treatment? Are you sure you can guarantee my cure? I don't have much time left; I can feel it. If I can't expel the quantum energy from my body within a few weeks, I'll completely disappear from this world under the tear of this energy."

Ava nodded urgently. For her, who was now facing life and death, no threats had any effect because if she couldn't overcome this hurdle, then even if the world turned upside down, it would have nothing to do with her.

Seeing Ava in this state, Mark knew that all his lengthy explanations from earlier had been in vain. "I am sure I can cure you, and it won't even take a few weeks. If you're willing, I can help you recover your health right now."

"Really!?" Ava excitedly pushed herself up from the couch and looked at Mark with enthusiasm. "I'm willing; I can accept the treatment right now! I no longer want to endure the pain brought by this ability, the constant sensation of being torn apart by a force every moment."

"Since that's the case, control yourself and don't resist..." Mark also stood up from the couch and instructed Ava. Then, in Ava's terrified gaze, he firmly slapped her forehead.

Bang!

Ava felt the world spinning around her, and then she saw her own body slowly falling towards the couch. Mark's right hand, the one that had struck her forehead, emitted a faint glow as it began to draw the quantum energy from her body.

"What... what's going on? Where's my body? Where am I? Who am I?" Ava incredulously looked down at her body and realized that her body was now in a semi-transparent state, as if it were ethereal, floating in the air.

Before she could think further about what had happened, a powerful irresistible force suddenly appeared in front of her. Under the influence of this force, she rapidly approached her own falling self.

Bang!

Another dizzying sensation, and when Ava shook her heavy head again and opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the couch, and the bizarre scene from earlier had completely disappeared.

But soon she felt something different. She no longer experienced the torment caused by the quantum energy within her. Her whole body seemed to release from a heavy burden, providing her with an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort.

"I've been cured!?" Ava widened her eyes and looked at Mark.

"Yes, according to our agreement, I've resolved the issue that troubled you," Mark nodded in response.

Upon hearing Mark's confirmation, Ava couldn't contain her excitement and joy. However, as if to ensure that happiness wasn't coming too easily and abruptly, Ava, as seen in common TV drama scenes, pinched her thigh forcefully. Feeling the clear pain, she finally broke into a smile.

To further confirm, she imitated the way the male protagonist in "Inception" did, found a spinning top, and placed it on the table. It stopped spinning! It wasn't a dream!

Focusing her thoughts, she attempted to use her abilities as she had in the past but failed. She didn't undergo any transformation!

"I really have been cured; this isn't a dream!" After confirming through various means, Ava finally believed that she had been healed and broke into a sweet smile that was typical for someone of her age.

Standing on the side, Mark found this both amusing and somewhat pitiable. As a reincarnator, he was well aware of Ava's life experiences.

She had lost her parents at a young age and suffered from the torment of quantum energy. Because of the abilities and talents that this torment had brought her, she had become a spy agent with blood on her hands by S.H.I.E.L.D.

After finally escaping the whirlwind of slaughter, fate had declared that her life was nearing its end. Now, being able to cure Ava in a way that brought happiness to both parties, and without her ending up on a wanted list as originally scripted, was undoubtedly the best outcome.

Just as Mark thought this way and felt happy for Ava, the young girl, who had been joyfully bouncing around moments ago, suddenly seemed to remember something. She rushed to Mark and curiously asked, "Mr. Stark, is this why you asked me to keep it a secret? What was that just now? Was it magic? It felt like my soul was expelled from my body, and I saw..."

"Stop!" Without giving Ava the chance to continue her questions, Mark directly interrupted her.

He, who had just escaped Peter Parker's clutches yesterday, really hadn't expected that this quiet young girl would become so talkative after being cured. Mark couldn't understand it at all.

"What you should be doing now isn't asking me things you shouldn't know, but rather fulfilling our trade. Hand over the mobile lab you stole, keep our secret safe, and make sure you don't reveal anything.

If you truly want to know how I cured you, then go to a place called Kathmandu and seek out a location called Kamar-Taj. If you have the fate for it, you'll naturally find the answers you seek," Mark explained.

Mark probably didn't anticipate that the words he spoke to Ava that day would create yet another powerful sorcerer in Kamar-Taj in the future...

Due to the constant erosion of quantum energy on Ava's body, not only did her affinity for various energies increase significantly, but her perception of magic reached an extraordinary level.

This meant that the biggest barrier for anyone aspiring to become a sorcerer, which was obtaining magic from other dimensions, simply didn't exist for Ava.

Ava's current talent for sensing magic surpassed even Mark, the man who could be considered a walking power source. 

While Mark relied on his powerful soul from two lifetimes, Ava's connection to external energies had been established through years of exposure to quantum energy.

With this talent, if Ava were to become a mystic sorcerer, she would outshine Mark as a human energy source. No matter how she used her magic, she wouldn't need to worry about running out of magical energy because no matter how it was consumed, she could instantly replenish it.

However, none of these matters concerned Mark now. The reason he had guided Ava down this path was partly to escape her chatty nature and partly to help her change her mindset and adapt to her new life during her journey to Kathmandu.

Mark never expected that his unintentional action would bring about a potential magical genius for Kamar-Taj. This could be seen as planting a tree unintentionally and watching it grow into a flourishing one.

After resolving Ava's issue, Mark didn't continue to endure her transformation into a chatterbox. He headed back with Dr. Pym's mobile lab.

On the way, Mark unusually switched to autopilot, not driving manually. Although he added autonomous driving capabilities to every car he purchased, he rarely used them himself.

The reason for this unprecedented use of autopilot today was Mark's excitement over the data he obtained about Ava's Phasing abilities.

Before witnessing it firsthand with his informational vision, Mark's imagination of this ability was quite limited. All the talk of Magu Magu no Mi Logia-type Devil Fruit had been an insult compared to Ava's Phasing abilities.

The Third Magic!!!

This was the only thought that popped into Mark's mind after receiving data on Ava's Phasing abilities.

The concept of the Third Magic came from the Fate series, representing a magic that could materialize the soul. However, the significance represented by the Third Magic was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

When Mark previously taught Doctor Strange the technique of astral projection, he had warned Doctor Strange that the soul and the physical body cannot remain separated for an extended period. 

This is because the material world continuously erodes the body once the soul is absent. If this erosion exceeds a certain limit, the affinity between the soul and the body is completely lost. The soul cannot return to the body, and the body is deemed dead by the laws of the world.

Furthermore, a soul without the protection of a physical body is also susceptible to energy erosion from the spiritual world. Ultimately, it becomes assimilated by the vast energy, losing consciousness and memory, transforming into a ownerless spiritual force.

Unless someone like the Ancient One, after the soul leaves the body, seeks out a special dimension suitable for long-term soul survival, or like Dormammu invades the operational rules of dimensions, stealing spatial authority for personal use, isolating the soul from erosion.

However, if Mark could successfully achieve the Third Magic, the materialization of the soul would mean that the soul could completely free itself from the constraints of the body.

  It wouldn't be subject to erosion and could freely move between the spiritual world and the material world.

Once the soul materialization of the Third Magic is completed, it also means that Mark can obtain magic from different spatial dimensions without any restrictions, forming a soul perpetual motion device. 

Due to the special nature of the soul and its immunity to world erosion, it would naturally achieve immortality and even the eternal life of not aging or dying. 

Regardless of any damage to the soul, the perpetual motion device could immediately call upon magic for repair, restoring it to its optimal state.

Furthermore, in the state of the Third Magic, Mark could simultaneously exist as a material being and an intelligent life form. 

When entering the spiritual world through phase change, he could achieve the ability to perform high-intensity calculations like Baymax by utilizing the magic network.

It can be said that the Third Magic is a miracle that allows Mark to transcend physical and mental limitations, surpassing the constraints of time and space. This miracle that once seemed untouchable is now right in front of him, almost within his grasp. How could he not be excited?

"It seems like I need to thoroughly study the knowledge of the quantum field next. It can not only block the influence of the six Infinity Stones but also operate independently, transcending all rules between universes. 

How many unknown secrets and infinite possibilities lie hidden in the quantum field..."

The Third Magic's temptation for Mark, while immensely strong, had to be set aside for now. He still needed to fulfill his commitment to Dr. Pym.

Dr. Pym himself was a super expert in the field of quantum physics. During their collaboration, it was expected that he would provide Mark with more insights into quantum physics.

Another piece of good news was that Scott had agreed to become a new member of the Avengers. Especially since Mark had promised to provide funding and project support for the company Scott and his friends were establishing.

After gifting Scott's daughter with the latest personal health assistant, Scott immediately declared that he would go to great lengths for justice.

Mark didn't bring the mobile laboratory back to the abandoned neighborhood where Dr. Pym had originally placed it. Instead, he found a secluded spot in the woods and contacted Dr. Pym and the others to rendezvous.

The construction of the quantum tunnel progressed smoothly. With Mark's involvement and the high-quality materials and technology provided by the Mark Research Center, despite having to start from scratch with the entire mathematical model, the progress was faster than Dr. Pym had originally estimated.

And tonight, Mark and Dr. Pym were going to attempt to activate the entire quantum tunnel system for the first time and conduct the final performance tests. If the test results met the design standards, they would further attempt to locate Janet Van Dyne to prepare for the upcoming rescue mission.

"The system has been loaded!" In front of the control panel, Dr. Pym's daughter Hope, acting as an assistant, loaded the operating system Mark had written onto the core computer of the quantum tunnel.

"Very well, initiate the fusion coil!" Dr. Pym, receiving feedback from Hope, gave the command to activate the fusion coil, officially starting the quantum tunnel.

"Coil activated, the Arc reactor is functioning normally, and the quantum tunnel is fully charged."

Hope monitored real-time data on the screen and accurately relayed the information to Mark and Dr. Pym. After confirming that the quantum tunnel was ready to be activated, she turned to Scott, who was standing idly by. "Once the quantum tunnel is open, if you receive any information about my mother, you must remember to inform us, understood?"

"Okay, understood!" Scott responded seriously. This was a matter of the safety of his future mother-in-law. If he messed up in this matter, he was sure his relationship with Hope would suffer greatly, so he couldn't help but be careful and cautious.

At this moment, Mark, who had been comparing the quantum tunnel parameter settings, also looked up. "All parameters have been input according to the established values, so get ready, the experiment is about to begin.

Three!

Two!

One!

Activating the tunnel!"

The countdown ended, and Mark officially pressed the startup button he controlled.

Hum—! The quantum tunnel started with a humming sound, and the path to the quantum realm finally unveiled its mysterious veil before everyone.

A large amount of information and fluctuations emanating from the quantum realm were collected and recorded computing center by the receiving system Mark had arranged in advance.

"The quantum tunnel is running well, all values are stable, meeting the preset standards!" Hope, monitoring the quantum tunnel's operational data, excitedly announced this news because it meant they were one step closer to rescuing her mother.

Dr. Pym, upon hearing this news, was equally thrilled and turned to Scott, asking, "So, did you receive any information from quantum entanglement?"

"Uh, not yet. Is it because I was too nervous? The last time I received information, I was just about to go to the bathroom..."

Scott hadn't finished speaking when his expression suddenly became somewhat strange. Then he happily rushed towards Dr. Pym and Hope, giving them a big hug.

"Hey, Scott, what are you doing!? We're at a critical moment now, don't joke around with me at this time!" Hope pushed Scott away angrily. Although their relationship was progressing well, making such a gesture at this moment was clearly inappropriate, which made her quite annoyed.

However, Scott was completely oblivious and, after being pushed away, still gazed affectionately at Hope with a lovesick expression, even reaching out to pinch her cheek.

Just as Hope was about to angrily swat Scott's hand away, one sentence from Scott froze her in place.

"I've really missed you, my dear Jellybean!"

"Mom?" Hope looked at Scott with some uncertainty and asked, no, maybe it should be called [Janet] now.

The motherly gaze in those eyes and the intimate nickname unique to a mother and daughter made Hope momentarily think that the person in front of her was her mother, Janet Van Dyne, even though she had Scott's face. But she and Scott had never discussed the nickname her mother had given her, and they had never used such a term of endearment.

"Janet..." Dr. Pym also looked at her with disbelief, hoping to get an answer from her.

"It's me, dear!" She turned and gently comforted Dr. Pym, whose face was already lined with wrinkles.

"I'm sorry, this is not the way I expected our family reunion, but it's so good to see you again." She turned to Mark, "Mr. Mark, I am truly grateful for your help. The parameters and algorithms you provided are perfect. This allowed me the opportunity to possess Scott's body stably through the quantum tunnel."

The scene unfolding before them was indeed very miraculous, but the fact that the person was using Scott's male body to make feminine gestures and speak was extremely unsettling for Mark, sending shivers down his spine.

Mark forced a smile and said, "No need for thanks; this is a fair deal I made with Dr. Pym. However, Ms. Van Dyne, I assume there's a reason you've possessed Scott's body? While the quantum tunnel's connection is stable, your time to inhabit Scott's body is limited."

"Thank you for the reminder!" She nodded and then ran over to the positioning device next to the quantum tunnel to start tracking and locating.

"I originally wanted to provide some help in this way, but I didn't expect the quantum tunnel you built to be so perfect that my preparations were of no use.

However, this final step of positioning is best handled by me. The probability field is too complex. I've set special signal anchor points in the quantum realm to make it easy to track in the real world. Only this way can I accurately determine my location."

"Mom, what you left on Scott's body is not just a piece of information, but a receiving antenna! It can transmit your consciousness to him and at the same time receive signals emitted by information anchor points in the quantum realm, just like tracing the source of a phone call!"

"That's right, my sweet Jellybean. You're so clever; I'm proud of you."

Beep beep beep!

As the positioning device's alert sounded, a set of quantum realm coordinates appeared on the real-world screen.

"We've locked onto the signal source; we did it!" Dr. Pym and Hope both looked at it with excitement.

"Hank, Hope, you must accurately navigate to this coordinate to find me. I am in the quantum realm that transcends quantum space. It's extremely dangerous there, especially for the human mind. Please be very cautious!

Moreover, time and space in the quantum realm operate completely differently from the real world. You have only two hours. After two hours, the probability field will shift."

"We will find you!" Hope said firmly.

"I believe in you, Jellybean." As soon as he finished speaking, Scott's expression returned to its original state, but his face clearly showed confusion.

"How did I end up here? Wasn't I just communicating with you over there?"

"Hope, Janet has already left," Dr. Pym said, ignoring Scott and looking at his somewhat disheartened daughter. "Don't be sad. I believe that with our efforts, we'll soon be able to reunite with Janet!"

"Dr. Pym, Mrs. Van Dyne's position in the quantum realm has been determined. Time is running out, and we should start preparing to delve into the quantum realm. However, I have an unpleasant request. I hope that the upcoming journey into the quantum realm will include me as well."

Although he didn't want to interrupt the heartfelt moment between Dr. Pym and Hope, the two-hour countdown had already begun. Their actions required not only delving into the quantum realm to find Janet but also returning to the real space within two hours.

If they failed and the probability field shifted, the quantum tunnel they had constructed would be completely cut off. Not only Janet but also Dr. Pym and Mark would be trapped in the quantum realm with no escape.

The main reason Mark had volunteered for this dangerous mission was to collect research samples from the quantum realm with the highest energy concentration, accumulating data for the Third Magic's research.

"I'm sorry, Mark. Forgive me, but I cannot agree!" Unexpectedly, Dr. Pym directly rejected Mark's request...

"I'm sorry, Mark. I can't agree to your request," Dr. Pym replied without hesitation. "I will enter the quantum realm alone and rescue Janet."

"Father!" Hope looked at Dr. Pym in surprise, clearly taken aback by his decision. "We had already agreed that I would go. Why?"

"Forgive my broken promise, Hope. Let me bring her back home or accompany her in the quantum realm. I've lived most of my life, and my time is nearing its end. 

But Hope, and Mark, you both are still full of vitality and hope. You have plenty of time to enjoy the essence of life. I cannot let you take such a huge risk in this operation."

"I think he has a point..." Scott, who had been somewhat unnoticed until now, offered his opinion.

However, the response he received was the stern gazes of Hope and Mark, which made Scott shrink back and cover his mouth, afraid to continue speaking.

Mark, on the other hand, didn't give up because of Dr. Pym's refusal. He continued to argue, "Dr. Pym, thank you for your consideration and confidence in me. 

However, I have a compelling reason to enter the quantum realm. Even if it's not this time with you, I will build a quantum tunnel of my own to enter this mysterious realm.

Do you still remember the ghost, Ava Starr, who tied you up and stole the mobile laboratory yesterday? I mentioned that her abilities were a result of excessive radiation from the quantum tunnel explosion. 

But after personally negotiating with her and confirming it yesterday, I found that residual energy in her body is from the quantum realm. 

This energy has incredible properties, allowing Mrs. Van Dyne to survive for thirty years in the quantum realm without any supplies, thanks to its miraculous effects.

This energy will be the primary focus of my next research phase. So, I hope to enter it with you this time, collect some data and samples, and, of course, help you rescue Mrs. Van Dyne. In fact, if possible, having both Scott and me perform this mission would be the most suitable option.

Dr. Pym, I understand your feelings, but just like astronauts selected and rigorously trained for space missions, the pressure of entering the quantum realm exceeds the limits your age can bear.

Scott has already had a successful experience of traveling back and forth between the quantum realm and the real world, and as a superhero, I am far above the average person in terms of physical and mental strength.

Rescuing Mrs. Van Dyne, without considering emotional factors, would have the highest chance of success if entrusted to me and Scott.

In the next-best scenario, if you, Dr. Pym, insist on personally participating, having me along would provide added security.

Let's not forget that Mrs. Van Dyne reminded us when she left that the most dangerous aspect of the quantum realm is its ability to erode one's mind and will."

Hearing Mark's persuasive words, Dr. Pym fell silent. He had heard descriptions of entering the quantum realm from Scott before—colorful lights, disorienting dizziness, and the endless, eerie silence. 

Just imagining it from these descriptions made Dr. Pym feel the helplessness and despair. He couldn't even fathom how his wife, Janet, endured thirty years in such conditions.

But at the same time, this danger only solidified his determination. He was determined to personally complete the mission of bringing Janet back home.

"Mark, since you've made up your mind and have your own goals and plans, I can agree to your inclusion and entering the quantum realm with me.

I'm sorry, Hope. This time, I may have to be stubborn in front of you. If I can't return safely, Scott, you must take good care of Hope in my place."

"Don't talk so negatively, Father! I can't lose you too..." Hope looked at Dr. Pym with worry, but she didn't stop him from making his decision. All she could do now was provide her father with the greatest support and offer the strongest assistance in the laboratory.

...

"Prepare to enter the quantum realm. The shuttle is ready, and we can launch at any time."

Mark sat in the co-pilot seat, conducting a final check of the shuttle's settings and conditions.

"Everything is ready. We're ready to depart. I love you, Hope. Let's go!" Dr. Pym gave the command, and Mark firmly pressed the launch button.

Buzz—! On the launch runway, a magnetic field opposite to the shuttle was generated, creating tremendous thrust that instantly accelerated the shuttle to supersonic speed, heading toward the quantum tunnel—Boom!

After a sonic boom, the entire shuttle had shrunk to the nanoscale, entering the quantum realm...

Although Dr. Pym had undertaken many missions as the first Ant-Man, this was his first time entering the microscopic realm.

The bizarre and surreal sights, various microorganisms, and tiny particles, at the moment they are reduced to the nanometer scale, appeared like an alien world from a science fiction movie. The gigantic forms and menacing visages instilled fear in anyone who beheld them.

"Scott never mentioned that the scenery here would be so magnificent; this place is like a wonderland on Earth!" Dr. Pym exclaimed as he looked at the unprecedented views before him.

"I guess Scott must have been scared out of his wits the first time he entered the quantum realm; certainly, he couldn't have leisurely appreciated this beauty like we do," Mark replied, manipulating the positioning navigation device in his hand.

"So, can you locate the coordinates left by Janet?" Dr. Pym shifted his attention back to the device in Mark's hands after being captivated by the scenery.

"No problem. I am recalibrating the positioning, and in a dozen seconds, we'll be able to lock onto Mrs. Van Dyne's location," Mark confirmed.

Beep, beep, beep!

Before long, under Mark's skillful operation, the positioning navigation device emitted a successful signal lock notification. "Location confirmed; we can proceed."

"Good," Dr. Pym nodded, continuing to shrink the shuttle as they advanced toward location.

"Warning, the shuttle has entered the quantum realm and is about to enter the even more dangerous quantum void. Please prepare yourselves!"

Mark and Dr. Pym progressed rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, they were ready to enter quantum void. However, this time was relative to the quantum realm; in the real world, Hope and Scott had already anxiously waited for over forty minutes.

If Mark and Dr. Pym couldn't find Janet and begin their return in the remaining half of the time, they would be trapped. In the quantum realm, where all universal rules and laws were overturned, even Mark's spatial magic would be of no use.

Just as the shuttle issued the warning, Mark and Dr. Pym entered a completely dark environment. This wasn't the quantum void yet, but because of the extremely tiny scale of the space they now occupied, even photons couldn't fit in such a minuscule subspace, leaving their external surroundings in complete darkness.

However, this was also good news, indicating they were heading in the right direction. By passing through this dark space and further reducing their scale, they would be able to enter the mysterious and unknown quantum void.

Finally, after traversing the eternal darkness, a beam of light illuminated the shuttle, and this was their destination: the quantum void and the place where Janet was trapped.

The light in the quantum void is not exactly what humans perceive as [light] in the conventional sense, because Mark has not been able to obtain any information and data about the quantum void through informatized vision.

However, through the analysis of various precise modules of the nanobots within his body that had already been quantized, Mark knew that the light here was actually high-intensity energy that directly stimulated the human soul, much like when regular people wear virtual reality devices for virtual exploration. Even though the eyes couldn't see, the images were transmitted directly to the visual center through brainwaves.

Finally arriving in the quantum void, a space full of the unknown, and landing only to immediately gain crucial information about this place, Mark felt an immense excitement. He hadn't experienced this kind of thrill from exploring the unknown in a long time.

Planning to open the hatch and quickly search for Janet's whereabouts while also collecting data about the quantum realm and samples of this energy, Mark turned to Dr. Pym, only to find that Dr. Pym's condition was just as he had anticipated before departing. Due to the deterioration of his body and mind, he was no longer able to resist the erosion of the quantum realm and had fallen into a state of dizziness.

Mark knew that in the original storyline, Dr. Pym happened to encounter his wife because Janet had spent years in the quantum realm, undergoing transformation with the quantum energy, which granted her some extraordinary abilities and allowed her to regain her senses.

In the current situation, although Dr. Pym's willpower had faltered prematurely, Mark's presence meant that their positioning and navigation device had a more accurate range. Mark was confident he could quickly find Janet and provide treatment for Dr. Pym.

With no time for excessive consideration or hesitation, Mark opened the hatch and began searching for Janet's whereabouts based on the tracking signal on the positioning navigation device.

"If only I had informational vision assistance, I could directly trace Mrs. Van Dyne's location based on the spatial signal fluctuations."

Mark had already searched the area back and forth according to the location indicated by the positioning navigation device several times but still hadn't been able to find the source of the signal. He wasn't sure if the visual perception of the quantum realm was inherently distorted or if there was a problem with the positioning navigation device.

"I can't believe it. In the original storyline, Dr. Pym could find his wife just by wandering around casually, but I've been walking around for ages and haven't seen a trace..."

Mark didn't know how to comment on the predicament he found himself in. He never expected that at a critical moment, he would go from being lucky to being a complete novice.

"No, I can't keep searching aimlessly like this. If we take too much time, Dr. Pym's mental willpower will be completely eroded by the energy in the quantum realm."

Unable to find any trace of Janet, Mark could only retrace his steps. He was worried that if this continued, Dr. Pym would lose consciousness and become a vegetable.

According to his speculation, Janet's method of awakening Dr. Pym should involve harnessing the energy within herself to neutralize the energy that was eroding Dr. Pym's will, forming a protective barrier that would allow him to adapt to the environment of the quantum void in a short time.

This is similar to the theory that Ava's foster father Bill Foster originally wanted to cure Ava's phasing ability, both involving guiding the intrusive energy out using externally sourced energy.

The difference is that Ava's issue was in her physical body, whereas Dr. Pym's issue is in his mind. If Mark were to guide Dr. Pym's soul out in the quantum void, it wouldn't be able to extract the energy like in Ava's case. Instead, it would expose Dr. Pym's soul to the energy in the quantum realm, causing even more severe damage.

Furthermore, Mark couldn't currently communicate through the quantum realm's barriers to the dimensions in the multiverse, so he couldn't replenish his magic. Once he depleted his remaining magical reserves here, he would lose his magical abilities altogether.

"Perhaps I can try actively guiding the quantum energy into my body using the communication method of magic. I can attempt to initiate and control the flow of the quantum energy, maybe achieving the same effect as Mrs. Van Dyne," Mark thought uncertainly about a solution to their current predicament.

At this point, he had returned to the shuttle's side and entered the cabin. Dr. Pym in the pilot's seat had a visibly distressed complexion, a result of the excruciating pain caused by the quantum energy's erosion.

Mark didn't have any thoughts of backing down; he had mentally prepared himself for the risks before entering the quantum realm. After making the decision, he immediately began trying not to resist the erosion of his mental willpower by quantum energy. He actively communicated and guided it, setting it on a path that followed the route of his magical operations.

"It's actually working!" Mark hadn't anticipated that the seemingly dangerous energy would become remarkably gentle and obedient after he actively guided it into himself, completely devoid of its previous wild nature.

However, Mark also noticed that even though he had full control over these absorbed and harnessed energy, they still attempted to seep into his soul. He could only divert a portion of his mental focus to control the direction of these energies while simultaneously beginning the treatment for Dr. Pym.

Channeling a small portion of the energy into his palms, Mark covered both sides of Dr. Pym's temples. By controlling these energies, he cleared and expelled the energy that had eroded Dr. Pym's willpower.

Before long, Dr. Pym's trembling body settled down, and the expression of pain on his face eased. After dispersing the last trace of the intrusive energy from his soul and constructing a temporary energy shield, Mark stopped his actions and carefully observed Dr. Pym's condition.

"Why am I asleep, Mark?" Slowly opening his eyes and seeing Mark's worried expression from the co-pilot's seat, Dr. Pym asked in confusion.

"You didn't fall asleep; you were rendered unconscious by the intrusion of energy in the quantum realm. But it's okay; you're all right now. Let's hurry and find your wife, Mrs. Van Dyne. I tried searching on my own earlier, but perhaps we just didn't have the luck. It seems like you'll need to take matters into your own hands."

"Yes! I want to personally bring Janet back home," Dr. Pym's tone was resolute. Although he had just awakened from unconsciousness and was still relatively weak, he decisively took the positioning navigation device from Mark's hand, opened the hatch, and left the shuttle.

Mark was ready to follow Dr. Pym's lead and collect more information and data about the quantum void in the process. However, before he could step out of the hatch, he noticed that Dr. Pym had already returned to the ship with Janet.

"Do we really need to get this mystical?" Mark couldn't help but complain in his mind. "I'm Mark Stark, a firm believer in science. Why does it always have to be unexplainable things, even beyond the realm of probability, that challenge my worldview?"

Unfortunately, regardless of Mark's inner complaints, the results were right before his eyes. Dr. Pym had just left the ship, walked a short distance, and coincidentally met Janet, who had followed her intuition. They exchanged smiles, shared a long-awaited embrace, and then together, as a couple, returned, appearing directly in front of Mark, who had prepared to follow Dr. Pym's lead.

"It's truly incredible, Mark! I had just left the shuttle not long ago, and I encountered Janet, who followed her instincts. You were right; sometimes completing a task requires considering luck and fate," Dr. Pym excitedly shared his joy with Mark, completely unaware that his words felt like a direct arrow piercing Mark's heart.

"Don't rub it in! I know I'm a novice in the quantum realm, but this is absolutely because the rules here are too chaotic. Otherwise, how could something so unscientific happen!" Mark muttered earnestly in his heart. However, to maintain his persona, he simply said, "Congratulations, Dr. Pym, on reuniting with Mrs. Van Dyne!"

At this moment, Janet, who had been leaning affectionately on Dr. Pym's shoulder, spoke up to explain to both of them: "It's not luck or mysticism, but rather, I am no longer the same as I was thirty years ago.

In this place, the quantum realm, it changes a person. Adapting to the environment here is just one part of it, but there's another part I call evolution.

After enduring a test of my willpower and being influenced by the energy of the quantum realm for an extended period, I developed some extraordinary abilities. With the help of these abilities, I left information about myself in Scott's mind and established contact with all of you.

Today is no different. My sixth sense told me to move in a certain direction, and at the end of that path, I would find a way home. Sure enough, I met you, Hank, and we can now go home together as a family, reuniting with Hope!"

"Sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Van Dyne. Although I also hope to reunite you with your family as soon as possible, while we still have a bit of spare time before we reach the limit for our return journey, could you allow me to stay here a little longer? I hope to collect more information about this mysterious realm and gather some energy as a special souvenir to bring back to the real world."

Although Mark didn't enjoy disrupting the atmosphere like this, he felt he couldn't worry about it too much now. Just a moment ago, as he attempted to let the energy he had tamed penetrate into his soul, he received an interesting result...

Not only did his soul not get eroded by the energy as expected, but these energies, which had been circulating in his magical circuit, seamlessly blended into his soul like drops of water into a lake.

And when this entire process was complete, he astonishingly discovered that a part of his soul had manifested as physical matter. This alone was enough to excite and thrill Mark.

For this reason, he reluctantly interrupted Dr. Pym and Janet's family reunion plan, hoping to fully utilize this journey to gather more experimental data.

The Third Magic, originally a virtual concept fabricated by game designers, might actually be realized in the Marvel Universe.

"An immortal perpetual motion machine, I can already see hope within reach. After this, whether it's the limit of humanity or the domain of the divine, let me explore it with my own soul..."