Marvel Cybernetic Girl

— A cabin in the forest, during dinner.

Kagura sat at a warm, cozy dinner table, surrounded by Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, and their adorable little daughter, Morgan Stark.

Under the soft, amber glow of the lights, they enjoyed a rare homemade Chinese dinner.

On the table were delicious dishes: braised pork with radish, steamed crucian carp, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and Kagura's personal favorite—stuffed green peppers.

What a blissful life this was.

From the bottom of her heart, Kagura felt utterly content.

A faint blush of happiness warmed her cheeks.

And yet... something felt off.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Everything before her eyes felt so real, yet there was an indescribable sense of wrongness—a subtle dissonance that, the more she thought about it, sent a chill down her spine.

This is fake. All of it is fake.

Her heart screamed in protest.

This wasn't reality.

No matter how many parallel universes you could gather, not a single one could have produced this "reality."

This was a fabricated history. A perfect illusion.

A "Neverland" as impossible as any story from the Lostbelt.

And yet…

So what if it was just a dream?

Wasn't this the life she had always wanted?

After more than ten years of wandering and struggling in the Marvel Universe, wasn't this peaceful, carefree existence exactly what Kagura longed for?

The disasters were over. The calamities had been wiped away.

Even the Infinity Stones had been reduced to dust five years ago with Thanos' second snap.

And Thanos himself? Gone forever, wiped from history by Thor's final swing of his axe.

Those who were lost could never return, but those who remained could keep living—on a world that had truly become better.

A world that would carry the memories of the vanished into the next tomorrow.

Would it really be so bad to live forever in this perfect dream?

And yet... something still felt wrong.

"Big sis, big sis!"

Morgan's sweet, childish voice jolted Kagura from her thoughts.

"Is something wrong, big sis? Does the food taste bad? It's gotta be Dad's fault, right? I knew it! You gave him the recipe, but if it's not delicious, Dad's the one to blame!"

Kagura chuckled softly and patted Morgan's head.

"No, no, Mr.Stark's cooking is delicious."

"Really? Then eat up! Morgan's still growing, you know! You need to eat lots too, big sis!"

"Hehe! Morgan will try her best! When it comes to food, Morgan won't lose to Kagura big sis!" Morgan proudly put her hands on her hips. "I'm digging in again!"

"Slow down. Don't choke yourself…"

Pepper shook her head helplessly and gently wiped the corner of Morgan's mouth with a napkin.

"But really, when it comes to eating, don't compete with Kagura. She's an unbeatable, undefeated champion in that area, no doubt about it!"

Undefeated... champion?

A faint tremor flickered in Kagura's golden eyes.

A tiny crack inside her heart began to widen.

She was supposed to be content.

So why couldn't she find peace?

Was it because half the universe's life was erased?

Because the Avengers had failed completely five years ago?

Was it because she couldn't save Asgard—because Thor had given up, turned into a drunken recluse after settling his people in Norway?

No... that wasn't it.

This unease—it came from deeper within.

From her very soul.

From her refusal to accept this complacent happiness.

This world—this peaceful life—could never have come true.

Because her heart would never allow such a future to exist!

'Crack!'

The sealed wall around her heart split wide open.

A torrent of psychic energy surged forth.

It was Kagura's will—the burning spirit buried deep within her soul—her desperate wish for herself, her friends, her family, and for the whole world.

A flame that would never die.

A heart that would never forget its vow—

Happiness? Peace? Joy?

So what if this was the perfect dream?

She would never accept such a small, cornered life.

She would never build her happiness atop the ashes of trillions of lives!

That's enough. No more pretending, Mind Stone.

This "trial" is utterly meaningless to me!

The power of her Core Energy began to stir.

As the others at the table looked on in shock, Kagura slowly rose to her feet.

"Kagura… what's wrong?"

Tony Stark's concerned voice reached her.

His eyes were filled with warmth, like a gentle father's worry.

But Kagura stood unmoved.

A soft glow began to shine in her eyes.

Blue lines, like circuits, lit up across her body.

"Mr.Stark... may I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Do you remember those who turned to dust five years ago?"

"Hitomi... what are you saying? The past is the past. It's time to let go and move on..."

"The past is the past?"

The silver-haired girl gave a small, knowing smile.

"No, Mind Stone. This is where you messed up. This part… you failed to imitate."

"What... what are you talking about?"

Tony Stark's expression froze in shock.

He instinctively pulled Morgan into his arms, staring at Kagura with fear in his eyes.

"Enough of this charade. This twisted little game means nothing to me."

Kagura spoke firmly.

"Tony Stark is not the kind of man who would trade peace for forgetting the past. And neither am I!"

As she spoke, she pointed toward the photo shelf in the kitchen.

"Mind Stone... in this cozy little house you've conjured from my mind, you conveniently forgot to include a picture of Peter Parker, didn't you?"

"You think everyone can just let go of the past and pretend to enjoy a peaceful life? You really underestimate us."

"No. There are many heroes in this world—countless stubborn souls like me who refuse to forget!"

"What I hold dear... they will never forget either!"

As she spoke, the energy of her Core flared, the searing heat swirling around her.

The scene began to warp and crack, dissolving into mist and ashes as the false reality burned away like fragile paper consumed by fire.

"How about it? Want to keep trying? Send as many illusions, as many tricks as you want!"

Kagura stood firm, her expression unshakable as she gazed into the fading mirage.

"No matter how beautiful the dream... no matter how tempting the fantasy... bring them on! My will is my own. No one controls my heart!"

"Well done, Kagura. You managed to resist the deepest desire of your soul."

From the drifting ashes of the crumbling dream, a new form began to take shape.

A stunning woman, draped in a golden evening gown, slowly emerged amidst a flurry of pure white feathers—like an angel descending from heaven.

"Your heart... is unexpectedly captivating. Oh, I don't want to let go at all. I want to keep toying with your thoughts forever…"

As expected, this woman bore Kagura's exact appearance—but with an unsettling, yandere-like air.

"Sorry, Mind Stone. I don't have time for your childish mind games."

Kagura tilted her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips.

"But I'll admit... this dream you wove is far more comfortable than the twisted realities Ether tried to piece together with fragments of parallel worlds."

"Of course it is," the woman said with a sweet laugh.

"The Mind Stone's power governs thought and desire itself—unbound by any limits of reality. In my dreams, everything your heart desires becomes real without question."

"Oh, and one more thing... I'm not just 'the Mind Stone.'"

"I am its manifestation—your reflection. I have a name. You may call me... Hata no Kokoro."

"...What?" Kagura stared blankly. "You… You're a maniac otaku too?"

"Why so surprised?"

Kokoro giggled, delicately covering her mouth.

"Every manifested Infinity Stone is given life by the Soul Stone's power. Naturally, we have our own thoughts, our own interests. All the knowledge we have comes from your memories. Gensokyo, fantasy worlds—you name it. Everything in your mind... we know all of it."

"Wonderful..." Kagura sighed in resignation. "Have it your way, Miss Kokoro."

"So then... does this mean I've passed the Mind Stone's trial?"

"But of course! In truth, I've always liked you so much! I had no intention of stopping you at all."

Kokoro leaned closer, her gentle, noble aura washing over Kagura.

"After all, the Mind Stone is the most emotional of the Infinity Stones."

"But no need for more chatter. I'm simply glad I could share that happy moment with you."

With that, Kokoro hugged Kagura tightly.

Her body began to glow with golden light, gradually fading into the air.

"Life is short. Nothing lasts forever. For me... happiness is enough to make everything worthwhile. But you... you're different. Which is why the final trial you face will be from the one who measures eternity itself."

"And so... Kagura, congratulations on passing the Mind Stone's trial. I wish you luck."

"Farewell, forever."

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[Infinity Mental Mirage - Mind: Trial Cleared]

[Recognition of the Mind Stone acquired]

[Special Ability Updated]

[You can now use the special ability: Mind Control freely, without cost]

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What remained ahead... was the final trial:

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The Judge of Eternity—Time.

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