"Peter Quill, Missouri. You've worked hard," Ada said, handing over the information. Daniel had tasked her with investigating Star-Lord, and with his provided clues, she managed to find him. It was a combination of his mother dying of a brain tumor and a missing child that led her to the right path. Even though the individual clues were hard to track, combining them made the search feasible. Given the era of big data, even long-unsolved cases left traces. With the right effort and resources, finding Peter Quill was just a matter of time. S.H.I.E.L.D. likely would have found him much sooner.
As for what to do next, Daniel hadn't thought that far ahead. The Guardians of the Galaxy and Ego were far beyond his current reach, much like the Power Stone and the Soul Stone. Even if he knew where they were, he wouldn't pursue them now. The Soul Stone's acquisition required a sacrifice he couldn't make, and he lacked a vessel to wield all six Infinity Stones. The Infinity Gauntlet in Asgard's vault was a fake, and creating one himself was out of the question given the immense power of the Stones. Even Tony Stark wasn't yet capable of making such a gauntlet.
"I'll let fake Ada handle her own problems." After considering it for a while, Daniel decided not to tell Ada about her fake counterpart. As for Star-Lord's hometown, he planned to visit later to see if he could find anything left by Ego. He was curious about Ego, the celestial planet, but he knew Ego's actual planet form was well-hidden and dangerous. For now, the seed Ego left on Earth was safe enough, especially with Odin and the Ancient One still around.
"Could throwing the Power Stone at Ego's planet destroy him? From Star-Lord's actions, it doesn't seem likely. That route seems unfeasible."
If there was a chance to eliminate Ego, Daniel wouldn't hesitate. Unfortunately, he couldn't think of any viable method. "Looks like I'll have to rely on the idiot."
Ego wasn't just powerful; his planetary form was also well-hidden. Unless Ego himself brought someone like Star-Lord to it, finding it would be nearly impossible.
"Forget it. These issues are too far off for now. I'll deal with them later." With Ada here, Daniel set aside these thoughts and started chatting with her.
Daniel was curious about Ada's activities, but she seemed reluctant to discuss her personal life. Nonetheless, Daniel knew she had shifted from agent work to exploring unknown ruins. Despite the advanced technology in the Marvel world, many hidden ruins still existed on Earth, undetectable by satellites.
"Time to deal with Hive." A few days after Ada left, Daniel prepared for action.
To reach the alien planet, he needed the large black stone in Malik's possession. He hadn't acted earlier due to the risks. Malik wasn't a minor figure; he was a member of the World Security Council and his family's enterprise ranked among the top ten global companies. He wielded considerable influence in the Western world.
HYDRA's resilience, growing back heads like the mythical Hydra, was largely due to Malik's family's support. After the Red Skull's defeat, their backing allowed HYDRA to infiltrate the Strategic Scientific Reserve swiftly, outmaneuvering even Peggy Carter. As long as the Malik family remained, HYDRA could regenerate. In the original timeline, Coulson and his team only managed to eliminate the Maliks due to Hive's influence.
Even the President of the United States had to rely on Coulson to deal with Malik covertly, unable to confront him directly.
Such a figure was too risky to eliminate prematurely.
The Malik family had a vault containing vast wealth, heavily guarded. However, these defenses were meaningless to Daniel. With a mirror dimension, all defenses became irrelevant.
"Hmm, it's not here. Did I remember wrong?" After searching the vault twice, Daniel frowned, not finding the peculiar black stone.
"Is it not here? I guess I'll have to confront Malik directly." Failing to find the stone, Daniel decided to question Malik. With his numerous properties worldwide, searching them all would be time-consuming. Instead, he'd hypnotize Malik for answers. The telekinetic Inhuman protecting Malik wasn't a concern, far inferior to a certain green-haired loli.
"Speak of the devil." Just as Daniel planned to act, the vault door opened, and Malik entered.
"Is this the black stone?" Watching Malik ignore other treasures and head straight to a reinforced glass case, Daniel saw him retrieve a small box. When the box opened to reveal an ordinary-looking stone pillar, Daniel realized this must be it.
Malik's singular focus on this stone suggested it wasn't ordinary. While others might not deduce its significance, Daniel knew better.
"Strange, I remember it being a large stone that swallowed Simmons. Why is it so small now? Did I forget something?" Daniel pondered, confused by the stone's size.
"Can't recall, never mind." Unable to remember, Daniel dismissed the thought. He only remembered key events or particularly impressive scenes from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Simmons being swallowed by the stone was one such event.
"In this day and age, relying on an ancient Inhuman... truly pitiful." Watching Malik lovingly re-seal the stone, Daniel shook his head.
"Room: Slaughterhouse." After Malik left, Daniel exited the vault, left the mirror dimension, and used his Ope Ope no Mi powers to swap the black stone from the box with a slice he had taken from the pillar. For Daniel, just a piece of the black stone was enough to locate the alien world and didn't need the entire stone to open the portal.
"Got it." Using his powers, Daniel identified the frequency to liquefy the stone and sensed the other side's space. With hand signs, he opened a golden portal revealing a desolate landscape on the other side.
"The energy cost isn't high. Kamar-Taj's magic is the biggest hack in this world. No wonder Doctor Strange could return from Titan so quickly." The portal led to another planet, its distance from Earth unknown.
Comparing spatial teleportation, Apparition in the Harry Potter world was faster to cast but much more energy-consuming. Kamar-Taj's magic, though slower, required far less energy. Daniel could use it to traverse Earth's entire span, something Apparition couldn't manage due to its high energy demand.
"This place is truly barren." Stepping through the portal, Daniel surveyed the surroundings, sighing at the desolate landscape and distant sandstorms.
No greenery was in sight, making him marvel at Simmons' survival here, let alone the man who endured for over a decade.
Thinking of his goal, Daniel set down his supplies and activated the Pym Particles. Four large containers appeared, releasing forty Iron Man suits that flew out and hovered in a fan formation above him.
"Which direction to start searching?" The landscape was almost identical everywhere, making the search difficult without knowing where to start.
"These must be remnants from the far star project." Using detectors, Daniel quickly found buried bones and old equipment, remnants from the previous exploration team.
"Human presence detected. It must be Will." Finding Hive was easiest by locating Will, the man who survived here for years. Daniel had equipped the Iron Man suits with human-detection sensors for this purpose.
"Sorry, Will." Daniel had planned his approach to dealing with Will, who wasn't part of his rescue mission. Besides, in the original timeline, Will didn't survive.
"Who's there?" Ragged and gathering supplies, Will spotted the Iron Man suits and fled.
As an ordinary man, he couldn't outrun the suits, especially since Daniel had equipped them with Spider-Man's webbing.
"Imperius Curse." Daniel quickly caught up and cast the Imperius Curse on Will, not wanting any information about the alien world to leak. Unlike Fitz, Daniel had no intention of rescuing Will.
"Hive's playing cat and mouse, huh?" From Will, Daniel learned he survived by finding a natural underground hideout and using it as a base while scavenging nearby for supplies.
The alien world, though barren, still had water and some life, enough for Will to survive. Hive likely spared him to keep him as a reserve meal, playing a twisted game.
Hive wasn't just a mindless monster; he had intelligence and, through centuries of Malik family sacrifices, had some understanding of Earth's civilization. Hive could absorb the memories of those he consumed.
"I wonder how Hive escaped in the original story." Understanding Hive's resurrection through Ward's body was one thing, but Daniel couldn't fathom how he escaped the alien world. The portal should have been destroyed by then. If it were that easy, Hive would have returned long ago.
Unable to figure it out, Daniel focused on his current plan. To lure out Hive, he used the controlled Will as bait.
Hive was vulnerable. In the original story, he nearly died to Hellfire's surprise attack.
"So this is Hive. He looks like a zombie. If Malik's family hadn't kept feeding him, Hive might have starved over the centuries. Poor Malik." Besides playing cat and mouse, Hive likely kept Will as emergency rations, sensing the periodic sacrifices from the Malik family.
Watching Hive, more zombie-like than zombies themselves, emerge from the sand and rush at Will, Daniel activated his trap. As Hive attacked, flames engulfed Will, and Iron Man suits surrounded them, spraying intense fire.
"Room." Among the Iron Man suits, one contained Daniel. As flames engulfed Will, Daniel used his Ope Ope no Mi powers to scan Hive.
"A millennium of hope for the Malik family, reduced to this. If they knew their thousand-year hope was destroyed so easily, I wonder how they'd react."
Daniel's confidence stemmed from his knowledge of Hive's abilities and the fact that Hive was in a weakened state. It was a classic case of
striking when the enemy was down.
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"What a strong will," Daniel Davis mused as he surveyed Will's underground hideout, taking in the crude surroundings. Living alone for over a decade on a barren planet inhabited by a terrifying monster would have driven most people to despair.
But Will had connections with HYDRA.
"Even though the daylight hours are short, Will's survival here for over ten years indicates that, with some environmental improvements, this planet could be suitable for human colonization. This is real estate on a galactic scale," Daniel thought, remembering Earth's real estate prices.
Colonizing an alien planet came with numerous challenges, one being establishing a reliable space route. While spatial teleportation could bring people here, Daniel couldn't constantly serve as their personal transporter. He had his own matters to attend to.
These considerations were for the future. Whether or not Daniel would expose the existence of this alien planet depended on the circumstances at that time.
"Maybe I should invest in an ecological research institute to find ways to improve this planet's environment. And I should contact Newt."
Beyond the scientists in the Marvel universe specializing in ecosystems, there were magical creatures from the Harry Potter world that might aid in terraforming. Newt Scamander, author of *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, would have valuable insights.
Unfortunately, this planet wasn't in the Harry Potter universe; otherwise, enlisting a legion of wizards would simplify the task. Transforming the environment with magic would be straightforward.
Daniel had never considered monopolizing the planet. As a human, he felt a duty to contribute to humanity's future, even if this world wasn't his original Earth.
"Star-Lord might help chart space routes." Knowledge of interstellar travel was outside Daniel's expertise, but Star-Lord, a seasoned Ravager, would know how. In exchange, Earth could offer him substantial rewards.
Daniel wouldn't reveal the alien planet for free. By leveraging this planet, he could gain significant tangible and intangible benefits on Earth, aligning with his goal of contributing positively, which the Ancient One would likely appreciate.
The Ancient One seldom intervened in human affairs but still cared for Earth, having protected it for centuries.
"If I reveal this now, HYDRA's Insight program might be thwarted," Daniel mused, pondering the implications while setting up his equipment from his villa's lab on the alien planet.
Despite having undetectable extension charms for storage, it felt wasteful not to utilize the vast alien terrain. While the planet's sandstorms couldn't be completely eradicated yet, temporary barriers could mitigate them.
Here, he could freely produce Iron Man suits. Mining resources could be handled by Red Queen-controlled exploration robots, establishing his industrial park on the alien planet.
"Once operations are underway, I'll invite Tony for joint development and then make it public."
Although revealing Iron Man suit production to Tony wasn't a big deal, since replicating the technology wasn't hard. Anton Vanko could make one; other major powers could too, albeit at higher costs.
The Arc Reactor had solved the major power issue. Even without Stark's exact methods, S.H.I.E.L.D. could produce Iron Man suits if the Security Council permitted it. Agents like Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Shuri would gain significantly from using such suits.
During the Battle of New York, if Hawkeye and others had Iron Man suits, the outcome might have been different.
The Security Council, representing the United Nations' five permanent members, maintained a balance of power. While it seemed only Stark and the Iron Patriot possessed suits publicly, the major powers likely had their versions.
The U.S. military had the Iron Patriot, which they would have reverse-engineered extensively. Military scientists, with a working model, would eventually figure it out.
Publicly, Stark and the Iron Patriot having suits was a compromise. Should Daniel reveal the alien planet, he would instantly gain more influence than Stark. The Iron Man suit wouldn't even be a point of contention.
"The current worlds I've visited offer resources but little in terms of power enhancement. Voldemort's complete revival isn't a concern anymore."
The magic of Harry Potter's world was fascinating but had limitations. Killing Voldemort wasn't challenging for Daniel now, whether through magic or technology. Similar to defeating the Hive, he could have done it without Iron Man suits, using his surgical fruit and magic.
Nevertheless, Harry's world still held value. Items like the Time-Turner and Felix Felicis, which boosted luck, were highly beneficial.
Felix Felicis, enhancing luck for a limited time, could ensure favorable outcomes for Daniel.
Currently, Daniel sought a world that could further enhance his powers. If he were of Asgardian royal lineage, his pursuits would be easily attainable. Asgardians had lifespans exceeding five thousand years, far surpassing even the Ancient One.
Although Daniel could live long, five thousand years was beyond reach. China's recorded history spanned five thousand years, and Asgardians had genetic and perhaps soul-based longevity that current sciences couldn't fully decipher.
Kamar-Taj's magic focused on soul cultivation but didn't explain the soul's composition.
This disparity, the starting point of others being his endpoint, could be bridged with Felix Felicis, potentially leading him to a power-enhancing world. The potion's luck-enhancing properties could accelerate Zhao Helen's nanotech research.
Scientific breakthroughs often hinged on sudden inspiration. Felix Felicis, providing such moments, would expedite progress.
Producing Felix Felicis was exceedingly complex, even for Severus Snape, an expert in potions. Horace Slughorn, the only one capable of brewing it successfully, was highly sought after, even by Voldemort.
During the final battle, many members of Dumbledore's Army survived due to the potion's luck-enhancing effects, dodging lethal spells.
Such a valuable potion was rare not only due to its complexity but also because it required six months to brew, with a high failure rate.
Outside the Harry Potter world, its efficacy would remain, though potentially diminished, confirmed through conversations with Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Snape.
If Zhao Helen advanced nanotech, the advent of nanotech Iron Man suits would excite Daniel, Stark, and the world.
Nanotech medical advancements could cure many disabilities, elevating Daniel's influence and status.
Finding Slughorn was crucial. His whereabouts were elusive, possibly due to the potion's effects. Grindelwald's followers often found themselves just missing him.
While Felix Felicis was challenging to brew, Daniel's surgical fruit abilities should simplify the process. Successfully brewing it, even with limited use, would be immensely valuable.
Slughorn's respect stemmed from nurturing talent and his potion expertise.
"So many missed calls from Coulson. What's happened now?" Returning to his villa after setting up the alien lab, Daniel found numerous missed calls from Coulson. Realizing it must be urgent, he immediately called back.
"It's you, Fitz. Where's Coulson? What's the emergency?" Daniel asked upon seeing Fitz's anxious face instead of Coulson.
"Finally! Skye's in trouble. Coulson wanted your help," Fitz quickly explained.
"Give me your coordinates. I'll be there immediately." Hearing Fitz, Daniel knew Skye was in critical condition. Coulson had diverted to the facility that saved his life, unable to reach Daniel.
Normally secretive, Fitz divulged the location for Skye's sake, prioritizing her life over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s confidentiality.
Daniel understood this was the plot from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where Garrett orchestrated Skye's shooting to uncover Coulson's resurrection secret. If Daniel had been reachable, Coulson might not have needed to go there. However, Daniel had been on an alien planet, out of signal range.
Daniel couldn't preemptively warn Coulson or Skye without revealing too much. Moreover, they wouldn't have heeded warnings about preordained events.
"Coordinates?" Fitz provided them. Though far from New York, Daniel used a portal, having no qualms about revealing his increased powers.
Previously, he hadn't exposed such abilities due to personal power limitations. Now, stronger and technologically advanced, Daniel could easily handle Hive and other threats.
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