"I was in too much of a rush this time," Mar-Vell admitted, his purple tongues writhing with frustration as he surveyed the devastated landscape. "Didn't bring the Galactus Engine. Otherwise, these Kryptonian primitives wouldn't have stood a chance against us."
The Galactus Engine—a reality-warping weapon created by reverse-engineering the World Devourer's cosmic technology. It could consume stellar matter and convert it directly into offensive energy. In the Cancerverse, it had proven capable of destroying entire star systems.
But Mar-Vell had left it behind in his eagerness to invade this new reality.
"Finding the Coroner is more important," he continued, dismissing his tactical error with casual confidence. "Once we kill the Coroner, Death itself will fall in this universe. All life here will be consumed by the cancer cells and transformed into servants of the Many-Angled Ones."
His diseased flesh pulsed with anticipation.
"At that point, everyone in this reality will serve the Old Gods. There won't be any distinction between conqueror and conquered. We'll all be unified under glorious immortality."
Bad Ben nodded slowly, his own tumor-covered body aching with each movement.
The pain was constant now—a burning sensation that radiated from every cancerous growth. But he'd grown to accept it as the price of genuine immortality.
"You make a valid point," he conceded. "But where exactly do we find this Coroner?"
"Don't worry." Mar-Vell's grin widened, revealing purple-stained teeth. "I can already sense the aura of Death emanating from somewhere not far from our current location."
His connection to the abstract entity he'd killed gave him sensitivity to its presence in other realities.
"The people of this universe don't understand our true purpose. They've actually imprisoned the Coroner in the same dimensional space as us!" He laughed with genuine delight. "It's truly a sign of cosmic destiny! The universe itself is facilitating our victory!"
Bad Ben's analytical mind considered the implications.
If they really did trap their Death-representative here with us, then they've made a catastrophic strategic error. We can kill Death, consume this universe's immortality, and then escape at our leisure.
"So we can eliminate Death soon," he said, his earlier fear of the Kryptonians evaporating.
What were Kryptonians compared to abstract cosmic entities? Powerful, certainly, but fundamentally limited. They were physical beings with physical vulnerabilities.
Death was conceptual. Metaphysical. The end of all things made manifest.
Killing Death would grant them power beyond anything mere superhumans could challenge.
"Let's go find the Coroner," Mar-Vell commanded, gesturing toward the deeper regions of the Null Void Realm.
The Revengers assembled around him—corrupted versions of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and others. Bad Ben fell into formation with them, his Omnitrix pulsing with dark energy.
They marched into the crimson wasteland, seeking Thanos—the false Coroner that Lady Death had positioned as bait.
Meanwhile, someone else was searching for the genuine article.
Or rather, she was hunting the Lord of Mana himself.
Genesis- Hours Earlier
Charmcaster had vanished.
Since training had concluded that afternoon, the white-haired sorceress had secretly departed from the mutant hideout without explanation or farewell.
The White Queen paced anxiously in the command center, her diamond form glittering with agitation.
"She's been gone for six hours," Emma Frost said, her telepathy sweeping outward in increasingly desperate search patterns. "I can't locate her anywhere in the dimension."
Magik stood nearby, her soulsword manifested and glowing with limbo energy.
"Her magic has become incredibly sophisticated," Illyana admitted with grudging respect. "She's mastered dimensional concealment techniques I didn't even know existed. I can't find any trace of her teleportation signature."
Colossus crossed his massive metallic arms.
"Should we inform the Ancient One?" he rumbled. "If Hope has abandoned the resistance—"
"She hasn't abandoned anything," Emma interrupted sharply. "She's just... pursuing her own agenda."
Which was exactly what worried the White Queen.
Unknown Location Within Genesis
Charmcaster's Perspective
"The Phoenix Force?" Charmcaster muttered to herself, pink energy crackling around her fingers as she navigated through dimensional barriers with practiced ease. "Never heard of it. Don't need it!"
She had little reverence for cosmic powers she didn't fully understand or control.
In her view, the Lord of Mana was already functionally invincible within this dimension. The energy responded to his will like an extension of his consciousness. Reality itself bent to accommodate his desires.
Why would I borrow the Phoenix Force when I can just steal his authority directly?
"Once I defeat the Lord of Mana and obtain the Keystone of Bezel, I'll be invincible!" she declared to the empty air, her voice carrying absolute confidence. "I'll control this entire dimensional realm!"
Her thoughts turned to the mutants she was supposedly helping.
"Isn't it just about reviving the mutant species? That'll be easy once I'm in charge! I'll recreate them myself!"
In fact, Charmcaster's assessment wasn't entirely wrong.
If she could genuinely become the Lord of Mana—the dimensional ruler of Genesis—she would indeed possess the power to recreate or restore mutants to existence.
The dimension's energy was fundamentally creative in nature, capable of shaping reality on a universal scale within its boundaries.
Originally, in the White Queen's home universe, mutants had disappeared because Wanda Maximoff had spoken three words: "No more mutants." The Scarlet Witch's chaos magic had rewritten reality to eliminate the X-gene from existence.
Now that Genesis possessed absorbed Chaos Magic along with divine power from Asgard, energy from the Nine Realms, dimensional daemon strength from the Ancient One's contracts, and contributions from Eternity and the Vishanti, its fundamental power level equaled or exceeded what the Scarlet Witch had once wielded.
The problem was that becoming the Lord of Mana was nothing short of a delusional fantasy.
Charmcaster didn't think so.
She believed the advantage was entirely on her side.
I'm a master sorceress from the Lagerdomain dimension. I've studied magic for decades. This Ben Parker is just some teenager who stumbled into power through alien technology!
"There are two extremely strong Mana signatures over in this direction," she murmured, her magical senses detecting the presence of powerful beings.
Without hesitation, she teleported directly toward the two intense energy readings.
GenesisBeneath the World TreeOdin and the Ancient One's Retirement
The scene was one of impossible tranquility.
Beneath an ancient tree whose roots stretched down into the dimensional bedrock, Odin Borson—former All-Father of Asgard, King of the Nine Realms, warrior-god who had conquered countless enemies—sat cross-legged on soft grass with his white beard flowing down to his chest.
He'd removed his armor months ago. Now he wore simple robes that resembled a monk's meditation garments, comfortable and unrestricting.
With one weathered hand, he scooped up a handful of crystal-clear spring water from the stream that flowed past the World Tree's roots. His divine power heated the water to a perfect boil within seconds, steam rising from his cupped palms.
Then, with his other hand, he plucked several leaves directly from the World Tree itself.
The leaves shimmered with runic energy—the fundamental magical language of the cosmos.
He dropped them into the boiling water.
Instantly, a clear and profoundly fragrant tea aroma wafted through the air. The scent carried hints of cosmic knowledge, ancient wisdom, and the fundamental structure of reality itself.
Using the World Tree's leaves to brew tea, Odin thought with satisfaction. This is like those "enlightenment tea" ceremonies from mortal legends. Except this is real.
Rune magic that had once cost him an eye to obtain—hanging himself from Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, speared through the side, sacrificing vision for wisdom—could now be casually absorbed by drinking leaf-infused water.
This retirement was genuinely blissful.
Perhaps I should take up bird-watching, Odin mused idly. Keep some exotic species in dimensional cages, take them for walks...
"If Ben knew we were this idle, he'd definitely assign us some responsibility," the Ancient One observed from her seated position opposite him, sipping her own cup of World Tree tea.
Her tone carried amusement mixed with genuine concern.
"That absolutely won't happen!" Odin glared, his beard bristling with indignation. "He's still young—hasn't even reached a hundred years old yet! The absolute prime of life for any immortal being!"
He gestured emphatically with his tea cup.
"We're already old! We've earned our rest! Let the youngsters handle the cosmic crises for a while!"
The Ancient One shook her head with helpless fondness, about to take another sip of her tea when suddenly she looked up sharply.
Odin's single remaining eye also began glowing with golden light.
WHOOSH!
A rose-colored magic circle materialized in the air before them, arcane symbols rotating rapidly.
The figure of Charmcaster appeared out of thin air, her white hair flowing dramatically as she completed her dimensional teleportation.
"Huh?" The young sorceress blinked in confusion as she looked around.
She saw a completely bald woman in saffron robes sitting serenely on one side of a tea ceremony.
On the other side sat a bearded, one-eyed old man whose physique was more powerful than a bear's, despite his evident age.
Charmcaster was immediately startled.
Good heavens!
What kind of combination is this?!
A monk and a pirate having tea together?
Could these two possibly be the source of the immense Mana energy I detected?
Odin and the Ancient One were equally puzzled by the intrusion.
Logically speaking, the Genesis dimension only contained a few specific populations: Asgardians who'd chosen to retire here, Anodites who were native to Mana-rich environments, and occasional sorcerers who came for advanced magical training.
This white-haired girl clearly belonged to none of those categories.
Odin was about to demand her identity when Charmcaster spoke first, her voice carrying imperious authority despite her surprise.
"A one-eyed old man and a bald monk?" She pointed accusingly at both of them. "Which of you is the Lord of Mana? Hand over the Keystone of Bezel immediately!"
"Ah. So you're looking for that kid." Odin immediately lost all interest in the confrontation.
He plopped back down onto the grass, picked up his tea cup, and completely ignored Charmcaster's existence as though she were a particularly unimportant insect.
The Ancient One, however, began examining the young woman with considerably more interest.
This is a remarkably promising candidate for magical training!
The Ancient One's recruiting instincts immediately activated. Her mind mentally crossed out "most outstanding student" next to Doctor Strange's name for approximately the hundredth time, and she began plotting how exactly to seduce this white-haired sorceress into accepting the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme.
"The Lord of Mana you're searching for isn't here," the Ancient One said diplomatically, gesturing toward the empty cushion beside her. "He isn't even in this dimension at the moment. Why don't you sit down and have some tea? Chat with us two old folks for a while?"
"I don't believe you for a second!" Charmcaster retorted immediately, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
She pointed directly at the Ancient One.
"You bald monk, you're clearly trying to deceive me!"
Her voice rose with indignation.
"Where else could the Lord of Mana possibly be except in Genesis?! I bet you two are just afraid to admit your identity because you're scared I'll steal your Mana control!"
Pink energy began crackling around her hands, building rapidly in intensity.
"Since you won't hand over the Keystone willingly, I'll just take it myself! And don't say I didn't show proper respect to my elders!"
She charged forward, hands extended, magical energy blazing.
The Ancient One sighed with genuine helplessness.
Why do young sorcerers always choose violence first?
She set down her teacup with careful precision, her entire demeanor shifting instantly from peaceful tea ceremony participant to combat-ready warrior.
With movements almost too fast to perceive, she struck.
Her hand formed a blade-like shape, fingers extended, glowing with golden dimensional energy. She slashed directly at Charmcaster's chest—not aiming for the physical body, but for the spiritual essence beneath.
BANG!
Charmcaster's soul was instantly ejected from her body.
The young sorceress's physical form collapsed bonelessly onto the grass, completely unconscious. Her spiritual essence hung suspended in the air, translucent and glowing faintly pink.
"Young people these days," Odin commented dryly, glancing at Charmcaster's collapsed body. "Fall asleep the moment they arrive. No stamina at all."
The Ancient One's smile was serene as she addressed the floating soul.
"Now then. Can you listen to me properly?"
But to Charmcaster's perspective, that smile was absolutely demonic.
Her soul trembled with terror.
My god, this universe is terrifying!
Uncle Hex, please come take me home!
"Like I said before," the Ancient One continued patiently, "neither of us is the Lord of Mana. We're merely retired individuals enjoying our well-earned peace."
"You... you really aren't?" Charmcaster's spiritual form asked timidly, her earlier bravado completely evaporated.
She'd been instantly defeated without even comprehending what had happened. There was absolutely no reason for these two to lie about their identity.
If they were the dimensional lord, they could have just killed me.
"Then can you please let me go?" she pleaded, her soul flickering with distress. "I need to find the real Lord of Mana! It's extremely important!"
"That's probably impossible," the Ancient One said, settling back into her seated position.
She closed her eyes, her consciousness extending across dimensional barriers, slowly deducing Ben Parker's current actions through mystical analysis.
After several moments of calculation, she arrived at a surprising conclusion.
Her eyes opened, carrying amusement.
"Ben is quite busy right now. He's about to give birth. He probably can't receive visitors at the moment."
"He? Giving birth?"
Charmcaster's soul flickered with confusion.
She found it extraordinarily difficult to connect those two concepts together. The Lord of Mana was male, wasn't he? Males didn't give birth. That was fundamental biology.
Is she being metaphorical? Or is this universe just completely insane?
The Ancient One didn't intend to explain the complexities of creating new life in the Genesis dimension.
Instead, she continued speaking, her tone shifting to something more calculating.
"I know what you truly desire. You want to obtain more powerful Mana. You want to reach the level of a dimensional lord. You want absolute magical authority."
Charmcaster's soul brightened with interest despite her fear.
"Yes! Exactly! Can you help me achieve that?"
"I have a method that will definitely make it happen," the Ancient One confirmed, her smile widening.
"What method?!"
"Become the Sorcerer Supreme."
The Ancient One's smile was positively radiant.
Charmcaster's soul immediately shuddered with primal terror, as though she'd just been offered a deal with a devil.
It felt as though what awaited her wasn't powerful strength and mystical authority, but rather a bottomless pit of endless responsibility from which there would be no escape.
"Um..." Her soul's voice became very small. "Can I refuse?"
The Ancient One's smile never wavered.
Odin chuckled into his tea.