Chapter 30: Eliminating Hidden Threat
Lin Chen opened a portal directly onto the mansion grounds. As he stepped through, he was surprised to see the courtyard filled with seven mutants who hadn't been there before—the ones he'd freed from captivity across the globe.
Some looked scared and confused. Others looked relieved.
Professor Xavier was already there, his wheelchair positioned near the entrance as he spoke gently with the new arrivals, trying to calm their fears and assess their needs.
But Lin Chen sensed there were still more mutants traveling toward the school on foot, some injured, some too weak to make the journey quickly.
He couldn't let them suffer any longer.
Lin Chen closed his eyes and extended his spatial manipulation across the entire planet earth. He located every freed mutant still traveling toward the school—some in Europe, some in Asia, some in Russia—and gently transported them all directly to Xavier's mansion grounds using carefully controlled portals.
In an instant, dozens more mutants appeared, looking around in shock and confusion.
"It's alright," Lin Chen called out, his voice calm and reassuring. "You're safe now. This is Xavier's School. You're home."
Professor Xavier wheeled over to Lin Chen, his expression showing both gratitude and concern.
"Lin Chen," Charles said quietly. "What you've done... freeing all these people... it's extraordinary. But also dangerous. The governments who were holding them—"
"Are no longer a concern," Lin Chen interrupted gently. "The organizations that imprisoned and tortured these people no longer exist. Their leadership is gone. These mutants are safe now."
Charles studied Lin Chen's face carefully with his telepathy, though he couldn't penetrate Lin Chen's mental shields. "What did you do?"
"What actually you need to do early," Lin Chen replied simply. "They hurt children, Charles. They murdered innocent people. They don't deserve mercy."
Charles was quiet for a moment, clearly troubled by the implications but also recognizing the good that had been done. "I understand. And I'm grateful. We'll take care of everyone here. They'll have a home for as long as they need it."
As they spoke, Lin Chen noticed a young girl standing slightly apart from the others. She wore a tattered red jacket and looked nervous, her eyes darting around as if expecting danger at any moment. She appeared to be in her late teens, with dark hair and striking features.
Lin Chen recognized her immediately from his knowledge of the Marvel universe—this was Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, though she didn't know her true potential yet.
He walked over to her slowly, making sure not to seem threatening.
"Hello," he said gently. "I'm Lin Chen. You're safe here."
Wanda looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly with recognition. "You... you're the one who freed us. I felt your presence in my mind, telling us to come here."
"Yes," Lin Chen confirmed with a warm smile. "What's your name?"
"Wanda," she said quietly. "Wanda Maximoff. I... thank you."
"You have great potential, Wanda," Lin Chen said honestly. "But potential isn't dangerous—only how it's used matters. I will help you if needed."
Wanda looked at him with something like hope. "You really think I can be normal? That I can control whatever this is inside me?"
"I don't think you should aim for normal," Lin Chen said with a slight smile. "Normal is overrated. But yes, you can definitely learn to control your power. And when you do, you'll be extraordinary."
Wanda smiled—a genuine smile that transformed her nervous expression into something bright and hopeful.
"Thank you," she said again, this time with more confidence.
Lin Chen spent a few more minutes talking with various rescued mutants, offering encouragement and reassurance. Then he turned to Professor Xavier.
"I need to return to my family now," Lin Chen said. "But if you need anything—anything at all—don't hesitate to contact me."
"I won't," Charles promised. "And Lin Chen? Thank you."
---
Lin Chen opened a portal to the private wing where his family lived. As he stepped through, he was immediately greeted by the sound of children laughing.
"Daddy!" Kyle shouted, running toward him with his sister Lin Xue right behind.
Lin Chen knelt down and caught them both in a tight hug, lifting them off the ground as they giggled.
"I missed you two so much," he said, kissing their foreheads.
"Where did you go?" Lin Xue asked curiously. "You were gone all night!"
"I had to help some people who were in trouble," Lin Chen explained. "But I'm back now."
Jean and Daisy appeared from the living area, both smiled warmly.
"Welcome home," Jean said, walking over to kiss him gently. "We saw the news about the battle in New York. You did amazing work."
"We're proud of you," Daisy added, hugging him tightly. "But we're also glad you're safe."
They spent the rest of the day together as a family—playing with the children, sharing meals, talking about everything and nothing. It was peaceful, normal, and exactly what Lin Chen needed after the intensity of recent events.
That evening, after the children were asleep, Lin Chen sat with Jean and Daisy in the living room.
"I need to tell you both something," he said seriously. "Tomorrow, I'm going to be leaving Earth for a while."
Both women looked concerned immediately.
"How long?" Jean asked.
"I don't know exactly," Lin Chen admitted. "There's a threat I need to deal with—something that could endanger everyone if left unchecked. It's not on Earth, but it's connected to Earth's history."
"Can't someone else handle it?" Daisy asked, worry clear in her voice.
"No," Lin Chen said gently. "This is something only I can do. But I promise I'll come back as soon as it's done."
Jean took his hand. "Just... be careful. Please. The children need their father."
"I need you too," Daisy added softly.
"I will be," Lin Chen promised, pulling them both close. "I love you both. And I'll return safely."
They spent the night together, the three of them finding comfort and connection in each other's arms.
---
Lin Chen stood in the mansion courtyard with Jean, Daisy, and his children. The morning sun cast golden light across the grounds.
"I have to go now," Lin Chen said, kneeling to hug Kyle and Lin Xue one more time. "Be good for your mothers, okay? And keep practicing control over your abilities."
"We will, Daddy," Kyle promised seriously.
"Come back soon," Lin Xue said, her eyes glistening with tears.
"I will, sweetheart. I promise."
He stood and kissed Jean deeply, then Daisy, holding them both for a long moment.
"Stay safe," Jean whispered.
"Always," Lin Chen replied.
He stepped back and opened a space portal—not to anywhere on Earth, but to the space between dimensions, where he could begin his hunt for his true target.
With one last look at his family, Lin Chen stepped through and disappeared.
---
As Lin Chen traveled through dimensional space, his mind focused on his target: Chthon, the Elder God of Chaos Magic.
He knew from his knowledge of Marvel's history that Chthon was one of the most dangerous entities in existence—a being whose power predated the conventional Multiverse, whose very essence was tied to chaos and dark magic itself.
More importantly, Lin Chen knew that in the original timeline, Wanda Maximoff's reality-warping powers would eventually come from Chthon's influence, either directly or through the Darkhold—the book of dark magic Chthon had created.
If Lin Chen could eliminate Chthon now, before the Elder God could touch Wanda's potential, he could prevent countless tragedies. No "House of M" reality warp. No "No More Mutants" declaration. No descent into madness driven by chaos magic she couldn't control.
But killing an Elder God wouldn't be easy. This wasn't a physical battle—this was a metaphysical war against a fundamental force of chaos itself.
Lin Chen's tactical mind, operating at master-level combat intelligence, began devising a multi-layered approach. He couldn't just overpower Chthon with brute force. He needed to manipulate the very rules of engagement.
Using his enhanced mental power and dimensional awareness, Lin Chen traced the threads of chaos magic back to their source—the Flickering Realm, Chthon's own dimension.
He opened a portal and stepped through.
---
The Flickering Realm
The realm was nightmare made manifest. Reality itself seemed unstable here—the ground was made of bleeding stone, the sky shifted through impossible colors, and the very air vibrated with chaotic energy that tried to unmake anything that entered.
Lin Chen manifested fully within this chaotic plane, his form protected by layer of reality-warping resistance.
Immediately, a massive presence made itself known.
"An intruder?" A voice echoed through the realm like grinding cosmic plates. It was ancient, malevolent, and filled with dark amusement. "How interesting... a child playing with power beyond his understanding."
A spectral colossus formed before Lin Chen—Chthon, the Elder God, taking physical form. The creature was massive, constantly shifting between forms, its essence composed of pure chaos and dark magic.
"Still," Chthon continued mockingly, "your dark powers are a mere flicker compared to my endless chaos and black magic!"
Lin Chen activated his system to analyze his opponent.
[ANALYZING: Chthon - Elder God]
Name: Chthon (Elder God of Chaos)
Physical Attributes:
- Strength: 78 tons (physical manifestation)
- Physique: 1,384
- Speed: 85 m/s
- Mental Power: 7,830
Power Scale: High Multiversal (within own realm: Complex Multiversal scale)
Abilities:
- Dark & Chaos Magic - Primary power, allowing manipulation, warping, and reconstruction of reality according to his whims. This is raw, fundamental force of existence that can rewrite universal laws.
- Reality Warping - Can alter reality on massive scale, potentially affecting entire universes.
- Immortality & Regeneration - True immortality as a fundamental concept of chaos; possesses advanced regenerative abilities.
- Telepathy & Mind Control - Can read, control, and communicate with minds even across dimensional barriers; can create hive minds to control multiple beings simultaneously.
- Demonic Possession - Can possess mortal hosts on Earth if proper rituals are performed.
- Power Bestowal - Can grant portions of his power to others, often through the Darkhold spells.
- Dimensional Control - Within his own dimension (Flickering Realm), virtually omnipotent with total control over every aspect of that reality.
- Energy Manipulation - Can project powerful mystical energy for various effects including energy blasts, levitation, and telekinesis.
Weaknesses:
- Bound by certain mystical laws and contracts
- In his Physical manifestations can be destroyed and killed.
Threat Assessment: Extreme. (Complex Multiversal)
Lin Chen smiled coldly. "A flicker? Let's test that theory."
Chthon unleashed a torrent of pure Chaos Magic—a reality-shattering force designed to simply unmake Lin Chen's existence, to erase him from reality itself.
Lin Chen raised his hands calmly. He activated his Energy Absorption ability, attempting to drink in the chaotic energy.
But Chaos Magic was tricky—it wasn't just energy, it was anti-reality, the fundamental force of disorder trying to break down the structure of existence itself.
Lin Chen immediately switched tactics. He engaged his Reality Warping Resistance and Space-Time Manipulation Resistance simultaneously, creating multiple layers of defense.
The chaos magic crashed against his defenses like a tsunami against a cliff. The impact was tremendous, but Lin Chen held firm.
[Mental Power +2,543.2]
[New Mental Power: 15,505.5](High Complex Multiversal)
As he defended, Lin Chen focused his Enhanced Perception and near-omniscient understanding of dimensional environments to analyze the very fabric of Chthon's attack, learning its patterns and weaknesses.
Then, in a brilliant flash of crimson light—
[DETECTED: Chaos Manipulation]
[ABILITY ACQUIRED: Chaos Magic Mastery]
[Mental Power +2,734.6]
[New Mental Power: 18,240.1]
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Mental Power has reached Hyperversal Scale]
[SYSTEM NOTICE: All abilities upgraded to Hyperversal Scale]
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Power now affects almost entire Marvel Universe simultaneously]
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Powers are no longer limited by Marvel Universe physics—can work fully in any universe]
Chaos energy suddenly flared around Lin Chen's hands, responding to his will perfectly.
"Two can play the game of chaos," Lin Chen declared, his voice carrying a cruel edge that surprised even himself.
He combined his newly acquired Chaos Magic with his Reality Warping, now operating at Hyperversal scale. He created a Dimensional Universe Field that encased both of them—a pocket dimension with physics dictated entirely by Lin Chen's will.
Inside this controlled reality, the rules of Chthon's magic suddenly became subject to Lin Chen's authority. The chaos that Chthon wielded found itself constrained by order, directed by a will stronger than its own nature.
Lin Chen turned Chthon's own power against him. He manifested colossal constructs of pure Cosmic Energy, striking the Elder God with force that matched his own scale. Each blow carried the weight of collapsing universes.
Chthon roared in frustration, his massive form writhing. "Impossible! This mortal is using MY power against me!"
"Not just using it," Lin Chen corrected coldly. "Mastering it."
Lin Chen didn't relent. He accessed his Time Manipulation ability. "Time to seal your fate," he whispered.
He initiated a Time Stop that froze the chaotic energies swirling through the pocket dimension. Then he reversed time solely on Chthon's physical manifestation, forcing the god's form to de-age, weaken, and condense its essence into something more manageable.
[Mental Power +798.8]
[New Mental Power: 19,038.9]
As Chthon condensed into a more concentrated, physical avatar, Lin Chen moved in for the final strike. He gathered his power and prepared to use Existence Erasure.
Chthon seemed to sense his impending doom. "You cannot destroy me! I am chaos itself! I am eternal!"
"You are a harmful creature of chaos bound to corrupt and destroy," Lin Chen stated, his mental power overwhelming any psychic resistance from the Elder God. "But I am beyond that limitation. I choose order. I choose protection. And you have no place in that world."
With a final push of his immense will, Lin Chen activated Existence Erasure.
Chthon, the Elder God of Chaos Magic, the source of the Darkhold, the corrupter of reality itself... simply vanished. His essence was snuffed out completely by a superior power wielded by someone who had mastered both order and chaos itself.
The pocket dimension fell silent. The threat was neutralized.
Lin Chen dismantled his custom universe and stepped back into mainstream dimensional space. He felt the weight of what he'd just done, eliminated a being that had existed since before humans.
But he felt no regret. Chthon had caused untold suffering across millennia. And more importantly, Wanda Maximoff would now never be corrupted by chaos magic. She could develop her powers naturally, without the taint of an Elder God influencing her.
---
As Lin Chen prepared to leave, a question suddenly occurred to him. He directed it at his system.
"System, I've been wondering something. I've changed major events—saved people who should have died, killed beings that were supposed to remain threats, altered timelines significantly. Why hasn't the TVA—the Time Variance Authority—shown up to stop me?"
The system responded immediately:
[SYSTEM RESPONSE: This timeline is currently missing from TVA tracking systems]
[REASON: Host's unique origin point creates a blind spot in their surveillance]
[CONCLUSION: Host can operate freely without TVA interference as long as actions remain within this timeline branch]
Lin Chen processed this information carefully. So he was essentially invisible to the TVA—the organization that normally policed timeline variants and prevented major changes to the "sacred timeline."
Lin Chen processed this information and then smiled coldly.
"Not that it matters," he said aloud. "Even if the TVA noticed me, they couldn't stop me."
[Host's abilities are no longer limited by Marvel Universe rules or physics]
[Host can function fully across any universe with complete power]
[TVA's temporal manipulation operates within Marvel's multiversal framework]
[Host's Space-Time Manipulation transcends that framework]
[ASSESSMENT: TVA would be unable to prune, reset, or contain Host]
[Host could potentially destroy or subjugate TVA if necessary]
Lin Chen nodded to himself. The TVA were essentially cosmic bureaucrats with advanced technology and some time manipulation tech. But their power was still bound by the rules of the Marvel multiverse.
His power, however, now transcended those rules entirely. He could affect nearly the entire Marvel Universe simultaneously, and his abilities would work at full strength in any universe he visited—DC, other anime universes, completely foreign realities.
If the TVA tried to "prune" his timeline, he could simply stop time across their entire organization, or erase the TVA itself from existence, or trap them in a dimensional field where their technology didn't work.
He wasn't afraid of them. He was beyond them.
---