Drift Of The Multiverse: [Marvel] [Resident Evil] [DC] [Bleach] [DB]

"So, using this thing lets you send me a message?"

Ethan, who was about to leave, first made a stop at the New York Sanctum. The Ancient One was easy to deal with—it was just a matter of explaining how to use communication magic. Once she understood the basics, she naturally mastered it with ease.

As for the dark energy within her, it wasn't an immediate concern. In truth, the Ancient One's eventual passing had little to do with that energy. Ultimately, it was a matter of perspective and choice. If the perfect solution could be found, she would have the means to avoid her fate altogether.

After leaving the Sanctum, Ethan and Arthur headed straight to Stark Tower. At this point in time, the building had yet to become an iconic landmark, and the giant "STARK" letters had not been mounted on its exterior. Soon, Tony would begin experimenting with new energy technologies here, followed by Loki's arrival and the Chitauri invasion, turning Stark Tower into the Avengers' base.

Unlike the Ancient One, Tony required additional tools to use the communication method Ethan provided. He needed to construct a specialized device to connect to the enchanted communication crystal Ethan had given him—only then could he successfully send messages.

"Yeah, but I can't guarantee real-time transmission. Maybe as my strength improves, the delay will decrease, and eventually, it'll be instantaneous."

Ethan glanced at his left hand, where a magic circle glowed faintly. This was the key, a beacon capable of transmitting messages across countless dimensions.

With further mastery over time and space energy, perhaps he wouldn't just receive messages but send them as well. True interdimensional communication was within reach.

"Better than having no way to contact you at all."

"My thoughts exactly."

Tony gestured toward a suitcase beside him.

"That's what you asked for—built to your exact specifications."

Ethan opened the case, revealing a meticulously arranged set of equipment he and Tony had put together. Inside were a laptop, multiple cell phones, specialized glasses, small wearable lights for his ears, and various other tools.

The suitcase itself was a custom-built device, equipped with a miniature Arc Reactor capable of charging all the electronics inside.

"If nothing else, this case has enough energy to last you for years."

"A few years is plenty."

Among all the tools, the most critical component was an integrated program across multiple devices. This program would allow Ethan to connect to modern networks and generate a "legitimate" identity whenever he entered a technologically advanced world, preventing the issue of lacking official documentation.

For worlds without the internet, Tony had provided physical identification documents, sufficient for most situations. However, in ultra-advanced civilizations or non-Earth-based worlds, even Tony couldn't offer a perfect solution.

"These will save me a lot of trouble down the road. Thanks, Tony."

"Don't make a big deal out of it." Tony waved it off casually. "Compared to you fixing my injuries, this is nothing. Just don't expect a hug or anything."

Of course, Ethan hadn't expected a sentimental farewell. After exchanging a few more words with Tony, he also thanked Pepper and Rhodey, who had come to see him off. With that, he and Arthur prepared to leave.

"By the way, tell Coulson I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye. He's a good guy."

Coulson was currently tied up dealing with the Thor situation in New Mexico, so he hadn't been able to make it. In fact, even S.H.I.E.L.D. had no idea Ethan was leaving.

"I'll pass along the message when I see him."

"Good. Just don't let the first message you send me be a distress call."

Before Tony could fire back with a retort, Ethan activated the magic circle on his hand. A dazzling blue light filled the room, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. Tony, momentarily stunned by the brilliance, swallowed whatever he was about to say. By the time the light faded and their vision cleared, Ethan was already gone.

"This guy totally did that on purpose!"

Yes, he absolutely did.

At his current level of mastery, there was no need for excessive energy leakage. Ethan had deliberately cranked up the brightness just to "blind" Tony for a moment, making sure he couldn't retaliate.

"I feel like… there's something different about you."

Back in the Sea of Calm, Arthur studied Ethan curiously. Ethan, looking out at the familiar waters, instinctively responded, "Probably because my mindset has changed."

In the past, uncertainty about the future weighed on him daily. Even after gaining a path from Merlin, that anxiety never fully disappeared.

Survival had always been his top priority. In a world like the Sea of Calm, pressure was constant. The need to grow stronger pushed him forward relentlessly. He had spent every moment focusing on training, striving to increase his chances of survival.

Only recently had he allowed himself to relax.

After nearly two years, he had built a solid foundation. With his current strength and Wilson's—venturing into the Sea of Storms wouldn't be an immediate death sentence.

Moreover, he now had the Death Magic Stone. With that as a bargaining chip, he could acquire a better ship. His initial objectives were largely complete, allowing him to finally ease up a little.

This shift in mentality naturally reflected in his actions, which was why Arthur had noticed the change.

Now, for the first time in a long while, Ethan could truly enjoy this life, while still using his abilities to achieve things that once seemed impossible.

"This... is a good change."

"Of course." Ethan smiled and looked at Arthur. "Isn't it better to live a happier life than to constantly worry about your next meal?"

He gestured toward the items he had brought back from the Marvel universe. "Every time I travel between worlds, I work hard to gather resources, to make myself stronger. So I can live better, and make things easier for myself."

Arthur chuckled. "I suppose I should say congratulations?"

"Thanks." Ethan glanced at Arthur, suddenly realizing just how much he had grown. Before he knew it, Arthur had surpassed him in height. Maybe it had gone unnoticed because they saw each other so often. "Next, you'll be starting a journey that's entirely your own."

"Yeah!"

Arthur was full of anticipation for what lay ahead. The journey had gone by much faster than he expected, it hardly felt like over a year had passed since he set out.

This past year had been more eventful than the previous ten combined. He had learned things he never could have imagined before, and with that knowledge came a newfound understanding of the world.

He was eager to see where his path would lead not just for himself, but for Britain. Would he be able to usher in an age of unprecedented glory? Or would his reign fall short of its legendary counterpart? The uncertainty was intoxicating. For the first time, his future was entirely in his own hands.

Now, Arthur finally understood what Ethan had felt before. After years of struggle, Ethan had reached a point where he could take control of his own fate. No wonder his mindset had changed.

Reflecting on everything that had happened, Arthur finished packing and made his way back up to the deck. Meanwhile, Ethan was preparing to channel the remaining time-space energy through the magic circle.

"You're leaving right away?"

"No point in delaying. Besides, you'll be staying with me for a few more days, right?"

"Yeah."

This was Ethan's first time attempting consecutive teleportations. The fact that it worked meant that as long as he had enough time-space energy stored in the magic circle, he could teleport whenever he needed. That was a valuable escape mechanism, one more life-saving measure at his disposal.

"Alright, let's go."

The Goddess of Dawn remained anchored in place, but less than an hour after returning to the Sea of Calm, Ethan and Arthur departed once again—this time, to another plane.

It was a world Ethan was already familiar with. Using the method Merlin had provided, he successfully locked onto Arthur's original world. And as he did, he sensed another powerful force reaching out to him, helping him break through the planar barrier more easily.

"It's Merlin."

Recognizing the familiar magic, Ethan followed the path Merlin had laid out. A moment later, he arrived safely in Arthur's world. As the glow of teleportation faded, he found himself standing inside Merlin's residence.

"Welcome back, Arthur!"

Merlin looked at Arthur, noting how much he had grown. His energy was strong, his presence steadier—he had matured significantly. Merlin nodded in satisfaction.

"And you as well, Ethan," he added.

"It's good to see you again." Ethan smiled. Compared to their last meeting, he had grown too, his face had lost much of its youthful naivety.

In less than two years, both young men had undergone remarkable transformations not just in appearance, but in temperament. Seeing this, Merlin couldn't help but feel pleased.

This was exactly what he had hoped for. Now, he was even more eager to see what kind of king Arthur would become.

After settling Ethan in, Merlin took Arthur aside for an evaluation. The results surprised him. Arthur had grown far beyond expectations. Not only had he matured, but he had also developed a keen understanding of governance.

He even suggested traveling the kingdom to see how his people truly lived before formally ascending the throne.

At that moment, Merlin knew he had made the right choice.

And as a token of gratitude, he decided to give Ethan an even greater reward than he had originally planned.

***

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