The hospital cafeteria was far from cozy, yet at that moment it seemed more alive than ever. The distant sound of footsteps echoed through the halls, mingling with the monotonous hum of fluorescent lights. Trays clattered, nurses rushed about, but for Arthur and Susan, all of it faded into the background.
The two had arrived together, still a bit worn out from the previous events, but that didn't stop them from laughing and chatting as if the weight of the night had simply vanished. Arthur pulled out a chair for her — a simple, yet chivalrous gesture that made Susan smile faintly.
While reaching for her tray, Susan watched him closely.
Finally, with courage slipping past her lips before she could think twice, she asked:
"To be honest… has anyone ever told you that you're really attractive?"
Arthur looked at her for a moment, raising an eyebrow as though pondering the best way to respond. Then he let out a low chuckle.
"More times than you'd think. And not just from women, either… But you, certainly, are the first to be so straightforward."
Susan's eyes widened before she laughed along, shaking her head. "Should I feel honored by that?"
"Honored might even be an understatement," Arthur replied with a light, confident smile.
The atmosphere between them was just about to deepen when the cafeteria doors swung open.
"Hey, guys."
Johnny Storm's cheerful — and somewhat showy — voice filled the space. He walked in wearing a leather jacket that looked like it had come straight out of an eighties thrift store. Susan frowned, while Arthur merely raised an eyebrow.
"You won't believe what just happened!" Johnny declared, gesturing dramatically.
Arthur smirked. "I really have no idea… but I can guess."
Johnny blinked, caught off guard by the quick response. But before he could reply, a thunderous crash shook the hospital.
BOOM!!
The sound rumbled through the corridors, making the walls tremble. Shouts rang out in the distance, and the heavy silence that followed was immediately shattered by hurried footsteps and blaring alarms.
The three exchanged looks, then bolted toward Ben's room, the source of the noise. When they arrived, the wall was destroyed, a massive hole letting in the cold night air. Reed, dazed, was struggling to his feet amid the dust and rubble.
Susan rushed to him. "What happened? Where's Ben?"
Reed braced himself against the bed, breathing heavily, his voice hoarse. "He… he went home."
---
The next morning, after spending the night under medical observation, everyone was finally discharged. The hospital seemed less menacing in daylight, though tension still lingered in the air.
Ben had already been tracked down, and Reed could barely contain his eagerness to begin the tests that might restore his friend to human form. The scientist muttered theories to himself, his tired eyes shining with their usual intensity.
Arthur, meanwhile, was preparing to leave. Before departing, he exchanged contact information with Susan who, despite smiling, couldn't hide the pang of sadness growing in her chest as he walked away across the hospital parking lot.
She watched him leave, each step echoing like a strange emptiness inside her. She couldn't explain it, but whenever she was near Arthur, it felt as though an invisible, silent thread pulled her closer to him, against her will.
Johnny, noticing his sister's expression, tried to lighten the mood with his trademark humor. He forced a grin and nudged her arm with his elbow.
"You should chase after him… you know, like in those sappy romance movies you love watching."
"Johnny!" Susan's face turned crimson, her eyes narrowing with anger.
"Are you asking for a beating?!"
Johnny raised his hands in mock surrender, though his teasing smile didn't fade.
Ignoring him, Susan turned back toward the direction Arthur had gone. Her lips moved in a near whisper: "Woe is me…"
---
Meanwhile, outside, Arthur walked calmly down the sidewalk. Despite his calm facade, he felt the same tightness in his chest that Susan had felt watching him leave. Still, he chose to ignore it.
His mind was elsewhere. Ever since his appearance had changed, nobody stopped him on the street anymore for autographs or photos. It was a huge relief; at last, he could walk freely without worrying about stalkers or people trying to uncover where he lived.
But that peace only lasted until the thoughts started hammering in again.
"I still wonder why Gwen didn't call the police the moment she woke up… or how she even recognized me back then."
He frowned, recalling a few months ago — the day Gwen had fainted at his doorstep.
"I can't even say I was fully sane that day. Any normal person would've called an ambulance. And it didn't make sense for her to trust me so quickly, enough to reveal she had powers."
Arthur rubbed the back of his neck, unsettled.
"It's like a badly written fanfic plot… Sure, I know I'm good with words, but even so, convincing Jean so quickly that Xavier's thoughts were wrong doesn't add up either."
He sighed deeply, even more confused.
"What a strange feeling…"
Taking a long breath, he tried to organize the storm of thoughts. Finally, he muttered softly:
"System, log in for today."
[Login successful]
[Congratulations, you obtained: Sacrifice Card x3]
[Sacrifice Card — Single use]
[Effect: Allows the user to fulfill a deep desire, whether for themselves or for others. The power of the fulfilled desire depends directly on the sacrifice made.]
[Cost: The greater the wish, the greater the required sacrifice.]
Arthur froze mid-step, eyes widening at the description.
"…That's way too broken…" he muttered, baffled.
"A sacrifice in exchange, huh?" Arthur murmured.
"Like equivalent exchange." He chuckled, remembering an anime he had loved in his other life.
---
Arthur continued walking calmly down the streets.
But in the middle of the calm, a sudden thought struck him like lightning:
'If the Space Stone at full power can manipulate the fabric of reality for interdimensional travel… then, theoretically, I could cross the multiverse…'
He stopped for a moment. He recalled things he had once read about the Infinity Stones online in his past life, but the one the System had given him bore a different label — (Special).
That could only mean one thing: it wasn't just a copy of the normal Stones, but likely a superior version.
A smile crept across his lips.
'So… maybe I can travel to other universes with it…'
Driven by curiosity, Arthur slipped into a narrow, quiet alley. He looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then, he drew a deep breath and let the Space Stone's energy flow through him.
Raising his right hand, he watched as space twisted before him, a bluish fissure expanding into a swirling portal.
On the other side, he saw the white sands of a deserted island in the Pacific. Gentle waves lapped against the empty shore. Arthur stepped forward and crossed the portal, the humid heat and salty scent of the sea filling his senses.
Now free from any curious eyes, he decided to take the next step.
His eyes glowed a deep shade, and his body began to change. Every muscle fiber seemed to ignite with energy as his skin took on the same dense, starry aspect as before.
Pure cosmic energy coursed through his veins, shining like living constellations beneath his skin.
The instant he fully assumed that cosmic form, the Space Stone responded, unleashing its entire power. Arthur felt it flowing through every inch of him, as if it were a natural extension of his very essence.
"Alright… time for the truth," he murmured.
He raised his hand, closed his eyes, and focused. Not on Earth… but on somewhere far away, in another universe. In his mind, he pictured the rooftop of the Gotham City Police Department — dark, rain-soaked, thick with the city's ever-present smoke.
The space before him trembled. An invisible crack split the air, like a mirror on the verge of shattering. With a sharp snap, the portal opened.
And there it was.
Exactly as he remembered: Gotham's police rooftop. The weathered stone gargoyle, the skylight leading into the meeting room, the distant sirens echoing across the streets. Even the red light reflections shimmering in the rain puddles looked identical.
Arthur stepped toward the portal.
But then, as if an instinct screamed in his mind, he froze.
The Infinity Stones don't work outside their native universe…
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut. He remembered what he'd read about the Stones in Marvel's lore: once outside their reality, they became nothing more than shiny, useless rocks.
If he crossed through, he might end up trapped in another universe with no way back.
Of course, he still had that traversal pass he could use to return — but unfortunately, it was still on cooldown.
He didn't even know how long it might take before he could return if he entered the portal.
Arthur clenched his fists, hesitating as he stared at the shimmering gateway. He truly wanted to see Diana, Barbara, and Selina. For a moment, the impulse to risk it all surged within him. But reason prevailed.
He exhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and with effort, dismissed the cosmic rift. The portal vanished like a flame snuffed out by the wind. His body gradually reverted to its human form, the cosmic glow fading until only his ordinary appearance remained.
Though he hadn't crossed over, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
"So I was right…" he murmured.
"The Stone really can traverse universes."
Even without taking the final step, confirming his theory was enough to make him happy.
Once the traversal pass's cooldown ended, he could test whether his special Space Stone would retain its power after entering the DC universe.
With a simple motion, he opened another portal, this time back to the alley where he'd started. Stepping through, he returned to the city where everything looked perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened.
Arthur adjusted his coat, looked up at the sky, and smiled.
Now, he was certain he could travel to other worlds — and possibly return — using the Stone's power alone.
As he resumed walking through the streets, his phone suddenly rang.
"Hey, Tony? Need something?"
{"I want to ask you something…"} Tony's voice came from the other end, laced with suspicion. {"Why exactly are your hair and eye color different?"}
Arthur calmly raised the phone to his ear, almost laughing at the question. "Tony… this happened quite a while ago, and you're only noticing now?"
{"Hey, can you blame me?"} Tony shot back immediately. {"I don't spend my time checking out men, it's not exactly my hobby. Now, hair color changing, fine, that happens, sure. But eyes? How the hell did you change your eye color?"}
Arthur was about to give some half-baked excuse, but Tony's voice cut in again, rushed, as if anticipating the lie.
"And don't even try to say contact lenses. I know for a fact they weren't like that before."
Arthur sighed deeply. "Yeah… that's a long story."
{"Perfect."} Tony replied without hesitation. {"I love long stories. Go on, start talking."}
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."