I'M IN MARVEL

C21 : Gwen and George, Russell and the Ancient One

Earth-65, Queens, New York.

Gwen frowned as she stepped inside her home.

"No one? Where's George? Is he busy with a case?"

Her thoughts drifted as she turned on the living room light.

The space was neat, almost too neat. There was no clutter, and the furniture was arranged meticulously. Yet, a thin layer of dust covered nearly every surface.

Downstairs, George sat in his car, his face hollow with exhaustion. He had been sitting there for hours.

Since Gwen had disappeared, every night felt the same—long and filled with worry.

"Hmm? The living room light is on. Is someone inside? Or could it be Gwen?"

Cautiously, George pulled his gun and pressed the doorbell.

"Gwen?"

He called out, his voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear.

"Dad!"

The door opened, and father and daughter embraced each other in a rush of emotion.

Though they hadn't been apart for long, the pain of separation had stretched those moments into an eternity.

"I'm so glad you're back. I'm so glad…"

George's hands trembled as he patted Gwen's back.

When Gwen had first disappeared, George had assumed she had run away, and he was angry. Though they had their disagreements, he never thought it would escalate like this.

After an exhaustive investigation, there were no signs of her anywhere. Panic set in as George feared she had become a target of the criminals who had previously made his life a living hell.

"Dad, I'll explain everything. Don't worry," Gwen said, her voice filled with concern.

As she looked at George, noticing the white streaks in his hair and the deepening lines around his eyes, she couldn't help but compare him to the younger, more carefree George from another universe. The difference weighed heavily on her heart.

"What a touching reunion."

A voice broke through the moment, as the mirror space around them began to ripple. A figure, an elderly man with a long white beard and an almost ethereal presence, appeared from the shimmering light.

Earth-616, the main Marvel Universe—Master Ancient One.

"Master Ancient One," Russell greeted, bowing slightly.

"Ah, Master Russell," the Ancient One responded with a warm smile, returning the gesture. "Gwen has spoken highly of you. You are indeed quite handsome."

Russell blinked, unsure how to respond to such a compliment. It wasn't that he was shy—he just wasn't used to this kind of praise.

"Don't mind the compliments. We're both the Ancient One here," the Master explained, sensing Russell's unease.

"Mind-reading?" Russell asked, surprised.

"You can't? It should be quite natural," Ancient One replied with a slight chuckle.

"I assumed you were deliberately letting me read your thoughts."

Russell's expression grew serious as he quickly locked down his thoughts and activated his perception powers to detect any fluctuations in the Ancient One's mental state.

"See? You can do it," Ancient One commented, initially letting Russell read his mind before blocking it with a wave of his hand.

Russell raised an eyebrow. "Master, isn't that tiring?"

The Ancient One chuckled. "Since I left my physical body and became a spiritual form, this has become second nature—just like breathing. But if I try to block it, yes, it becomes exhausting. You're young, you should take care of me, an old man."

"Spiritual form?" Russell thought about it before his eyes widened with realization. Despite its physical appearance, Ancient One's body was a manifestation of pure spiritual energy.

"Master, is that a sign of... giving up your physical form? Are you passing the mantle to Doctor Strange?" Russell wondered aloud.

"It's just a body," Ancient One waved dismissively. "At my level, there's no real difference between the spiritual and physical. Both serve their purpose."

With a fluid motion, the Ancient One's form shifted between physical and spiritual, demonstrating his control over both states.

"Also, my physical body is still mortal. Don't follow my example."

Russell couldn't help but remember what Deacon Frost, the Blood God, had said during their brief encounter—a regular human body could only be enhanced so much before reaching its limit.

"Master, is there a limit to how much one can enhance the body?" Russell asked, intrigued.

Ancient One looked at him with a raised brow. "The body and soul both have limits. To surpass those, one either needs a special opportunity or must tap into the power of the mind. Generally, the mind is more compatible with the soul, so it's easier for the soul to break its limits."

As Ancient One focused on Russell, he looked him over carefully. "Your body, soul, and mind seem to be in balance, transforming. You're in the midst of something significant. And you come from an alternate universe—how did the other me teach you?"

Russell shrugged casually, maintaining a composed demeanor. "Do I really need to understand all of this?"

The Ancient One observed him carefully, a smile forming. "You haven't hit your limit yet?"

Russell nodded, knowing that was a part of his journey still ahead.

"That makes sense," the Ancient One said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "You're quite talented. Though you may not be as naturally strong as some other beings, your balance and potential for development are extraordinary."

Russell, still processing the conversation, accessed his Deep Blue system.

---

System: Name: Russell (Super)

Lifespan: 25/323, 4399

Constitution II: 100

Perception II: 100

Spirit II: 100

Talent 1 [Energy Absorption]: Absorb any energy and convert it into attribute points, default lifespan.

Talent 2 [Attribute Transfer]: Convert [Lifespan] into [Constitution], [Perception], or [Spirit].

Upgrading in approximately three months.

---

Ancient One raised an eyebrow as Russell processed the system's data. "Energy absorption? That's... not something I've seen before."

Russell smiled faintly, already anticipating the questions about his powers. The female version of Ancient One had likely been aware of his unique abilities, but clearly, the other Ancient Ones in the multiverse hadn't caught on to the details.

"By the way," Ancient One asked, snapping Russell back to the conversation, "What spells have you learned so far?"

Russell stretched out a finger. "Learned them all?"

He corrected himself, holding up another finger. "One."

A portal opened instantly before him, leading outside of the mirror space.

"Impressive," the Ancient One said, though his voice was tinged with concern. "You've learned how to break through my mirror space, but only one spell?"

Russell scratched his head. "Isn't that enough? I mean, I've got hands for other stuff."

Ancient One sighed deeply, his spiritual body flickering slightly. "How long have you been learning magic, Russell?"

"One day," Russell replied nonchalantly.

The Ancient One blinked. "One day?"

Russell just nodded, not entirely understanding why this was such a surprise.

"I see. My greatest disciple, Stephen Strange, took far longer to master basic concepts," Ancient One mused aloud. "You've got potential, but remember: magic requires study and discipline."

Just as the father and daughter outside finished their emotional reunion, the Ancient One began to fade away.

"You should come to Kamar-Taj tomorrow. I have something special to show you," he said as his figure dissipated.

With a final flash, the mirror space was gone, and Russell made his way back to Gwen's house, opening a portal directly into the living room.

Russell knew Gwen's father wouldn't believe the multiverse story right away, so he intended to show him—through actions—what was truly happening.

---