Chapter 45: New Beginnings
Niklaus sat on the cold ice, his face unnaturally calm.
It had become second nature to suppress his emotions, manipulating reality itself to keep them in check.
It wasn't that he didn't feel anything—he simply refused to allow those feelings to surface when he did not need them.
His mind was silent, all extra thoughts ruthlessly extinguished, leaving only cold logic in their place.
As he stood up and looked at the snowy landscape , he reflected on his achievements in this "timeline" .
He had done things differently—better, even.
Vought was more powerful than it had ever been, and this time, he had ensured that his connection to Jean remained intact.
He had not made the mistake of letting her slip away as he had before.
Niklaus had pushed himself further, injecting Compound V dervied from special blood like that of Jean and Robert into his system, using it to bolster his strength.
It had worked—his abilities had evolved, granting him powers beyond his own.
He had even experimented with Wolverine's genes, though they weren't compatible with his own. Still, the effort wasn't wasted.
His life energy had grown exponentially due to his willingness to experiment, to push the boundaries of what was possible.
He had known in his previous life that these measures could enhance him, but he had been hesitant, too cautious.
This time, though, there was no hesitation. Every decision was done without any shred of it , every move designed to make him stronger, more formidable.
He had become so much stronger, yet he couldn't finish one job.
As the icy wind howled around him, Niklaus remained still, his gaze distant.
This version of himself, the one standing here now, was far beyond what he had once been.
Stronger. Smarter. Colder.
And actually more heroic.
Somehow him becoming more rational led to him enjoying some of his time as a hero when he wasn't actively suppressing his feelings to oblivion.
-
The familiar hum of a jet engine broke through the icy winds. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was; he had already sensed her approach miles away.
Ashley, his most loyal subordinate, was descending towards his location in a sleek, black jet, cutting through the frigid air.
The sound of her voice came through his intercom as the jet prepared to land near him.
"Master, what's the status of the target?" she asked, her voice steady, professional, with that ever-present edge of deference she always showed him.
She had changed since he had taken her in again—more powerful, more capable, and completely devoted.
Niklaus pressed a finger to his earpiece, his tone as controlled as ever. "The target's consciousness escaped," he responded coolly, "but the body is gone. For now, there's nothing left to pursue."
The jet landed nearby, and the ramp lowered with a soft hiss.
Ashley emerged, dressed in tactical gear that seemed to accentuate her purpose.
She walked toward him briskly, her eyes scanning the area before settling on Niklaus.
As she approached, her steps slowed, and she came to a stop a few feet away, her posture respectful.
"Should we proceed with the next phase of our plans?" she asked, watching him carefully, always reading his cues.
She had come a long way since that broken girl who had tried to end her own life, and now, under his guidance, she was one of his most trusted assets.
Her loyalty was absolute—something Niklaus never took lightly, even if he had no intention of letting emotions rule his decisions.
He glanced at her briefly, assessing.
"Yes," he finally said, his voice low but firm. "Prepare everything. We'll need to tighten our control in the coming weeks."
Ashley nodded, understanding exactly what that meant.
She moved to relay his orders, efficiently coordinating from her position.
She knew what needed to be done, and he trusted her to execute his will without question.
Niklaus turned his gaze back to the expanse of ice, the vast emptiness stretching out before him.
There was always more to accomplish, always more power to secure, and he had already set the pieces in motion.
This time, he wouldn't leave anything to chance.
---
Niklaus entered the underground lab beneath Vought Tower.
The place was a hive of activity, though none of the workers acknowledged him.
Rows of scientists and engineers moved mechanically, their eyes covered by sleek, high-tech visors that streamed data directly into their minds.
They worked like mindless drones, fingers typing rapidly, bodies bent over consoles, each one oblivious to his presence, entirely focused on their tasks.
At the center of the room stood the massive contraption—a hulking machine designed to tear apart pieces of the Tesseract.
The device was a marvel of engineering, a combination of robotic arms, lasers, and energy extractors, all working in tandem to carefully slice into the cube. The cut-up sections were meticulously placed on a series of crystalline plates for study.
Niklaus strode over to one of the plates, his gaze fixed on a sliver of the Tesseract's material.
He picked up the thin, shimmering piece, feeling its strange weight in his hand.
The material was unlike anything he had encountered, a blend of crystal and energy that seemed to pulse with a faint glow.
It was clear this was no ordinary substance—something far more advanced than any metal or element from Earth.
He inspected the plate, running his fingers over its surface, his mind racing with possibilities.
He could feel the power locked within the material, its synergy with the Space Stone's energy.
This was the key to understanding how to harness the Infinity Stones, how to control their nigh "Infinite" power.
Satisfied with the inspection, Niklaus turned his attention to the cube itself.
He held it up in his hand, his eyes narrowing as he focused.
With a deep breath, he activated One For All, pushing it to full throttle.
His veins bulged, glowing with the energy surging through his body as he began to absorb the power from the Tesseract.
At first, it was exhilarating.
The energy flowed into him like a flood, filling every cell of his body with raw power.
But it didn't take long before he started to feel bloated, his body reaching its current peak.
His muscles tightened, his skin tingling as he struggled to contain the surge of energy.
He grimaced, clenching his fist around the cube as his body strained against the immense force.
The sensation of power was intoxicating, but it was clear he had hit his limit. For now.
With a sharp exhale, he relaxed, allowing the energy to settle within him as he carefully placed the cube back on the plate.
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