"Hurry up. With the backlash, her soul flame will collapse soon," Morgana warned, and Edward swiftly acted. He activated his Domain to isolate her from the universe before quickly scanning her soul, body, memory, and Life Code. Once that was done, he took her Time Gem and calmly watched her soul dissipate before leaving.
He summoned his gem before casting a spell that manifested in the form of two magic circles: one above and one below. The two gems rotated around each other before fusing into one.
"It worked," Edward commented. "The time energy it can produce increases by at least three times."
"More importantly, its connection with the Time Laws of this world has drastically increased," Morgana added. "Should we add hunting the infinity stones to our to-do list?"
"Yes." These stones were currently the most powerful source of energy they had access to, so Edward planned to make good use of them. "Alright, let's save that stupid dragon." He knew where the Ancient One imprisoned Albion and directly teleported there, bypassing all the other security measures.
"How many times do I have to tell you," said the dragon in a weak voice, slowly opening his eyes. "You're wasting your time. Plus, it won't be long for my master to come to save me."
"So, you finally admit I'm your master?"
"Edward, is that you? Thank the Dragon Father. I've never been so happy to see you," proclaimed the proud dragon.
"Yes, you're not looking too good."
Albion sighed deeply, "Ever since the Great Dragon Civil War, my luck has been the worst."
Edward wanted to know more, but now was not the time for such conversation. "Let me free you first." He destroyed the chain binding the dragon before casting a Healing Spell on him, returning him to his peak state.
"Oh, freedom and — power," said the former Thunder Dragon King. As his strength returned, including his enhanced senses, he looked at Edward incredibly: "Your strength — you're already Tier 10?" This was the strength back in his prime, so he swiftly recognized Edward's power. "Moreover, your strength seemed to have surpassed 20 realms."
"Realms?"
"It's a way to distinguish how powerful a Tier 10 God is."
"So, based on the number of Tier 10 planes they've conquered or created?"
"Correct."
"Quite direct but also efficient," Edward nodded. "Alright, let's leave." He opened a portal outside."
"You haven't told me how you became so strong and so fast?"
"What do you think?"
"Yes. With access to other universes, it's indeed possible for your growth to be this exponential."
"I thought you would say I was tricking, and this place was just another plane in our universe."
"I am not that incapable," Albion explained. "I can sense my connection to the Bloodline Source completely severed. Furthermore, the Thunder Authorities of this world are completely different, and not the small difference in other planes. It's to the point I cannot use my Thunder Character at all. So, I know you were not lying.
Edward looked at him.
"What's with this expression?"
"I sometimes forget your race is known for their wisdom despite all their flaws."
"What a rude bastard."
"What now?" Edward asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I'm asking."
"Oh, that. Of course, you're now my boss."
"That was easy."
Albion sighed. "Even at my peak, I was only in the middle level amongst the Dragon Kings. Now, I have an opportunity to be the most powerful. Better yet, I have a chance at achieving Tier 11 and beyond. I only ask you for two things."
"I'm listening."
"Firstly, free me from the control of the Bloodline Source."
"That's a given. I wouldn't want someone to have any influence over you besides me," Edward nodded.
"Secondly, whenever we meet one of my kind, give me the chance first to convince them to join our sides. And even if they refuse, if it's in your power, imprison them instead of killing them."
"That's fine and all, but you should understand that depending on the situation or how things evolve, killing them might be the only choice."
"I know. I just want you to do your best."
"I can do that," Edward nodded. "In the worst-case scenario, we will clone or transfer their bloodline." Albion's mouth twitched after hearing this. "And when we return to our timeline, I'll give you all the energy you need to return to your peak."
"Really?"
"The situation in this world is complicated, and I'll need all the help I can."
"The situation is that bad?" Albion had never seen this man so seriously. Although the latter rarely showed his emotions during their conversation, for him to take things so solemnly.
"We'll talk later."
While the two were having this conversation in the air, out in public, alerting the heroes of this earth. Rhodey/War Machine, Wanda, Vision, Hulk, Sam/New Captain America, Black Panther, and Thor arrived. They looked at Albion, the hatred palpable in their eyes.
"Damn dragon, you'll pay for what you did to my friend," Rodhey roared as countless new weapons appeared on his armor's shoulders and bodies. The other also took a fighting stance. Sadly, before they could act, Edward raised his hand to fire a light beam that incinerated everyone except Wanda, vision, black panther's armor, Thor's hammer, and the Captain America shield.
With a thought, he put the hammer, shield, and black panther's suit away. He would not waste any amount of vibranium, and he was also interested in the metal from Thor's hammer. He summoned chains that appeared out of nowhere and captured Vision, even sealing his Mind Stone.
"No," roared Wanda as she blasted red energy beams at Edward, but they were easily dealt with by a shield that appeared before him.
"Analysis completed," Morgana said in his mind. "I have found the Energy Source of Chaos Magic." Edward's senses immediately found a dimension with Chaos Energy.
"In that case, let's continue gathering data." The chains around Vision tighten, cracking his vibranium body.
"No, no," repeated Wanda as the intensity of her energy blasts increased.
"This is not enough," Edward stated as he slowly led Vision before him, and like Thanos, he ripped the stone from his forehead, killing him before her.
"No!" screamed Wanda, her voice full of anger and despair. She gathered an even more intense amount of red energy before firing like a beam. Edward calmly raised his hand to block it.
"Her anger allowed her to reach Tier 8 level of strength," he calmly commented. "On top of that, this attack resonated with the Destruction Authority — all because she wished to annihilate me."
Wanda looked at him in shock. She did not expect her attack, powered by all emotions, to be dealt with so easily.
"Got all the data?"
"Yes, but it could help to get more," replied the little elf.
"Fine," Edward nodded before waving his hands to stun and put her in his hyperspace as a test subject.
"What a weird world," Albion commented. He had noticed the non-linear power system of this world before, but it was still weird seeing how this tiny human that could probably be killed by a rock created such a powerful attack.
Edward ignored him before continuing his rampage. Now that he was here, the fact that this universe would eventually be his enemy removed all his moral restraint. So, he plundered Wakanda and Talokan's vibranium, Asgard's library, resources, and life code samples, this universe's infinity stones, the Lost Library of Cagliostro, and certain technology — including the ones from forces in the universe. The only thing of value he did not touch was the Darkhold, which he planned to deal with the one in his timeline once he was prepared. The thing was too dangerous for him to get in contact with without sufficient preparations.
Finally, Edward returned home.
After returning home, Edward headed directly to the Time Force headquarters. His trip into the Multiverse was not simply to save the dragon but to test something. One of the consequences of Doctor Strange using Dreamwalking was creating an Incursion, which is similar to the Convergence that Edward was preparing for.
Incursions are random and disorganized and can result in one or both universes being destroyed in the process. Meanwhile, Convergence wishes for the universes to fuse or for one to remain. Any kind of multiverse travel could cause an incursion, and the chances are higher by using Dreamwalking – which was a technique from the Darkhold. Edward needed to know what would happen after his trip.
"What is the situation?"
"Sir, the data is still coming in," Ra responded, and Edward nodded. He took this time to send Albion to the magic tower and set him up with the energy he needed to return to his peak.
"Sir, we have the result."
"I'm guessing by your tone that it's bad news."
"Yes. Our Earth and Earth-125 are starting to converge."
"I guess I now have to limit my travel in the Multiverse," Edward commented.
"Sir, how do you want us to prepare?"
"What would happen if we destroyed that universe before it collided with ours?"
"There is no data to answer such a question."
"I know," Edward nodded before sitting cross-legged in the air and gazing into the future with the Eye of Agamotto. He frowned because he could not see clearly after the destruction. He stopped this pointless action before walking to a secluded room. He used a communication spell, creating three screens before him, which showed the Ancient One, Frigga, and Odin.
"Did something happen?" the Ancient One asked.
"The first world convergence is about to happen?"
"So soon? I thought we still had a few more decades to prepare," Odin asked. Edward explained his trip to them.
"I understand why you did it, but weren't you a little reckless?" Frigga asked.
"Maybe, but we need information and resources, and the multiverse is the best place to gather them," Edward stated.
Odin grunted. "There is no point in focusing on that since it's already done. Is this the only reason you called us?"
"No. I want to know what will happen if the other universe is destroyed before it can fuse with ours." The meeting was quiet for a few seconds before the Ancient One spoke: "What do you want us to do?"
"Odin, can you use the power of the Destroyer?"
"There should be no problem if it's for a short battle."
"Excellent," Edward nodded. "How long do you need to prepare?"
"Give me thirty minutes."
"As you wish, I would also like to introduce everyone to our new ally—Ra. He's the leader of the Time Force," Edward continued by adding a projection of Ra and explaining its function. Everyone looked at Ra, guessing how strong or influential he must be if he were attending this meeting.
After Ra introduced himself, the meeting ended, and Edward teleported to Kamar Taj.
"You need something?"
"I have something for you," Edward stated as he handed her another Eye of Agamotto. The Ancient One slowly took it: "She–"
"She didn't want to negotiate and talk peacefully."
"I figured," she nodded. "But why are you giving this to me?"
"I don't want something to happen to you in this battle. So, you can borrow either the Soul, Space, or Mind Stone."
"I'll take the Space Stone."
Edward waved his hand to summon the space stone inside the Tesseract. "I'll get you a Time Stone on my next trip."
"Alright." The Ancient One placed the stone in the amulet before sending Edward away. She looked at this new Eye of Agomoto. "What's this? A warning?" She shook her head. "It's truly sad living a life full of suspicion and paranoia."
Thirty minutes passed, and Edward took the group — minus Frigga and Odin, who only sent the Destroyer — to the Blank Realm: the space between universes/dimensions/timelines. While floating in the void, the group saw it. Behind them was their Earth surrounded by a shield, and in the distance, another Earth was rapidly moving toward them. In fact, their earth was also moving upon closer observation.
"Give me a moment," Edward said before activating a few spells: Danger Awareness Cancelation Spell, Anti-Divination Spell, Cosmic Awareness Nullification Spell, and Anti Future Sight Spell.
"Now, let's start."
Ra's eyes suddenly turned red before firing a terrifying beam. The Destroyer also fired a beam, but it was golden. The Ancient One's spell was Dimension of Darkness, in which she used the power of the Space Stone to create a vast dimension before filling it with the corruptive power of the Darkness Dimension. Meanwhile, Edward used a Destruction Spell by sending an ever-expanding purple orb of destruction that would annihilate all matter, energy, and concepts in its path.
To the naked and untrained eyes, these attacks entered the shield around the earth before it exploded. However, to these people, inside the shield was an entire universe, and they saw the devastation their attack did.
Ra's beam would incinerate galaxies and everything it touches with its intense beam. The Ancient One's attack enveloped the world in darkness before corrupting and killing them. Edward's orb expands, disintegrating everything in its path. Finally, the Destroyer was the most devastating.
A few dimensions had the strength to survive this attack. However, the sudden attack and the power of the Destroyer did not give them this chance. The golden orb evaporated all its dimensions and some people inside.
However, to no one's surprise, a few people survived this terrible attack. A few of the Demon Gods and Hell Lords, Eternity — who were at the center of the universe — Arishem, the Prime Celestial, and a few other people. They glanced at Edward's group with great intensity, some not hiding their hatred.
"Prepare for —"
Edward did not finish his words when an unknown power descended from the void and annihilated all the survivors of Earth-125. Then, they turned into a mass of golden energy that fused with Edward's earth.
"What's going on?" Odin asked through the Destroyer.
"I don't know."
"Could it be that this is the consequence if our world is destroyed before the convergence? Become nourishment for the victor?" The Ancient One analyzed. "What a cruel game."
"It might be even more cruel if this is our fate as long as any universe is destroyed." The others squinted. Yes, what if one universe is destroyed before the final fusion? Logically speaking, with their strength, they should be able to carve a small place for themselves in the other universe as long as they protect themselves. But if there is a mechanism that will eradicate them as long as their world is destroyed, then the group has lost one escape route in this great catastrophe.
"Your action was too reckless," Odin said. This plan had too many ways it could have gone wrong.
"On the contrary, it was not bold enough," Edward rebutted. "We need more information. Otherwise, could you imagine the consequences if we had to learn of this mechanism after our timelines were destroyed?" Edward sighed, too. "If only Luna were here. I wouldn't have to worry about gathering information in these reckless ways."
"Wait, your tone indicates you want to try again?"
"Yes."
"We were lucky that our sneak attack worked, but what if it failed?"
"I'm going to be more sneaky this time."
"How?"
"Reincarnation," Edward said. "I'll send a piece of my soul to reincarnate on another Earth— thus acquiring the identity of that universe. Then, he'll create a convergence with another universe and gather more data and information."
Odin grunted. "What if your reincarnation spells immediately create a convergence with our world instead?"
"Then, we will know how sensitive the convergence mechanism is."