Marvel: Starting with the Homelander Template

What followed was almost mechanical in its efficiency. With Alex's request still ringing in his ears, Hank bent over the console, claws flying across the keyboard as he sifted through the Ultron-Prime's vast database.

Minutes later, his eyes widened. "Alex… it's all here." He turned the screen toward him, the glowing lines of alien code reflecting in his glasses.

"Good work, Hank." Alex nodded, his tone calm but his gaze intent as he scanned the screen. He devoured the streams of data, the memories, and the carefully logged experiences of Ultron-Prime's multiversal travels.

Every detail mattered. Every calculation, every fluctuation of the Infinity Stones, every failed attempt recorded in Ultron's relentless digital memory.

And as Alex read, he had to admit—he was impressed.

"So, that's how it is? The Ultron-Prime… was more talented than I gave him credit for."

The thought wasn't spoken out of admiration for his enemy, but out of recognition. One had to concede that artificial intelligence programs could outstrip the human brain in raw calculation. Ultron had discovered methods of utilizing the Stones that Alex had never even considered, exploiting angles only a machine's flawless logic could uncover.

Still, Alex's lips curved faintly. Knowledge is only as good as the hand that wields it.

"Let's see if this works." His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

After briefing Hank, Alex gathered the necessary Stones and withdrew to a secluded, empty expanse. He wanted no interruptions, no risks should something go wrong.

Then the experiments began.

Over and over, he repeated the procedures Ultron had perfected, channeling energy in precise sequences, adjusting the resonance of the Stones to the frequencies described. And yet—

Failure.

Again and again, the attempt collapsed in sparks and shattered energy ripples, leaving Alex standing amidst fading echoes of power.

He frowned, the Gauntlet humming faintly on his hand. "Why doesn't it work…?"

Minutes turned to hours before the realization struck him. He glanced at the Stones glittering on his gauntlet. Five belonged to his original set. But the Time Stone—

That one had been taken from the Ultron-Prime.

His expression hardened. "Two different universes. Two incomplete sets."

That had to be it. The Stones resonated with their own reality, their own fundamental constants. Mixing them disrupted the harmony needed to pierce the barrier of worlds.

Of course, this was still speculation. Without prior cases to reference, Alex had only his instincts to rely on. But his instincts had rarely failed him before.

It wasn't crucial anyway. Hank was still painstakingly exporting the Ultron-Prime's colossal database—a process that would take at least a week. Once complete, Ultron would outlive his usefulness.

And then Alex would pry the Mind Stone from his forehead without hesitation.

Days later, his theory was proven right.

When Alex assembled a full, singular set—Ultron's Mind Stone paired with the other five from its own universe—and fed them into the Gauntlet, the results were immediate.

Crack! Crack!

A sound like glass shattering echoed through the secluded chamber. Reality itself fractured before his eyes. A swirling black hole tore open in midair, its depths seething with infinite darkness.

"Success." Alex's voice trembled with excitement, the golden glow of the Stones reflecting in his eyes.

"You… you succeeded!" Hank's voice came from behind, tinged with awe and unease as he approached. The Beast's fur bristled at the sight of the abyssal vortex, his instincts screaming caution.

Yes, Alex stood at the pinnacle of their world. On Earth, even in the cosmos, few could challenge him. But this was something different entirely. This was the multiverse.

And no one could predict what lurked beyond. What if even Alex's power wasn't enough?

Alex, however, was smiling. "Yes. I succeeded."

The stark contrast between their expressions said it all. Hank wrestled with anxiety; Alex burned with anticipation. The thrill of discovery outweighed any fear.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

More fissures rippled outward, the fabric of space desperately healing itself. With a hiss, the black hole sealed shut, leaving no trace behind.

Alex lowered his hand and turned. "Let's go, Hank. It's time to tell the others."

---

Twenty minutes later, the leaders of Krakoa gathered in the council chamber—Raven, Charles, Erik, Emma Frost, and the rest.

Under their watchful eyes, Alex spoke plainly, explaining what he had learned from Ultron, the inevitability of the multiverse's arrival, and his plan to step into it first.

When he finished, silence fell like a weight across the room.

Most of them had never even set foot beyond Earth, had never seen the far reaches of space with their own eyes. And now, Alex was talking about breaking through to entirely different universes. It felt less like a leap forward and more like skipping centuries of natural progress.

"Alex… isn't this decision a bit too rushed?" Raven finally broke the silence, her voice edged with concern. "We know next to nothing about what's waiting out there."

Alex only smiled, calm and confident. "The future is always unknown, Raven. That's no reason to fear it."

His gaze swept the room, steady and unyielding. He had more knowledge than any of them about the multiverse—knowledge drawn not just from this reality, but from the echoes of his old one. The multiverse wasn't some nightmare abyss. It was a frontier.

"Everyone, the multiverse isn't as terrifying as you imagine." With measured words, he shared the truths he knew—tidbits of lore, rules of interaction, the nature of infinite realities colliding.

Slowly, the tension in the room eased.

Erik leaned forward, arms folded across his chest. "Alex, go. Do what you feel must be done. Leave Krakoa to us." His eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and pragmatism. He knew Alex well enough—once his mind was made up, persuasion was pointless. Besides, perhaps this was what their island needed: to learn to stand without leaning on him.

Emma Frost's lips curved in a half-smile. "So… do we really have a choice?"

The council exchanged glances. Concerns remained, but the decision was inevitable. Alex would go. And Krakoa would endure.

After all, Thanos was gone. The Celestial Arishem had been dealt with. Their strength as a nation was greater than ever. And Alex was leaving behind five Infinity Stones as a safeguard.

It was as close to peace of mind as they could ask for.

---

When preparations were complete, Alex stood once more before a freshly opened vortex. The black hole swirled with raw, hungry power.

He looked back one final time at the gathered faces. "Everyone… I'll see you soon."

Then, without another word, he stepped into the void.

Swish!

The world collapsed in a blur of color and sensation. His vision warped, then snapped into focus.

Alex landed softly, boots meeting solid ground. His senses adjusted, and he looked around. The air smelled different—heavier, darker. The sky itself seemed burdened with shadows.

This was no familiar Earth. No familiar cosmos.

It was a new universe entirely.

"I wonder…" His eyes narrowed, curiosity burning. "…which universe is this?"

As he scanned his surroundings, a massive signboard loomed into view. Bright neon letters glared against the gloom, spelling out a name that froze him in place.

Welcome to Gotham.

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