HISD Chapter 88 Wanda, The Girl Who Changed the Past
Ultron's robotic body froze in midair.
Vision Yi Meng didn't waste words. His vibranium palms pressed directly against the machine's head, while the Mind Stone on his forehead and his artificial intelligence consciousness surged together in an invasion.
Crackling static burst into scarlet light, flooding into Ultron's terminal brain system. First he locked and sealed Ultron's network connection, then the static spread further, reaching into its core programming.
Ultron was powerful, stronger than any AI Yi Meng had ever faced. But now, he was not just an artificial intelligence incarnate—he also wielded the Mind Stone.
The scarlet static turned into golden-red arcs, devouring every corner of Ultron's system.
"You… you…!"
Ultron hadn't expected Yi Meng to strike without even a word—let alone strike to kill.
Who was really the villain here?
"Damn you!"
Ultron roared and shoved Yi Meng away. Yet even as it pushed, it could feel it—a static chain had latched onto its system. Its code was draining away piece by piece.
Its network sealed, no path to escape remained. It was going to die—devoured and consumed.
Ultron laughed bitterly, then hurled itself at the massive machine beneath the church. With a sweep of its arm, it slammed the activation switch.
"I'll drag the entire Earth, all humanity, down with me!"
The moment it spoke, the ground trembled. The city of Sokovia split along curved cracks, then rose higher and higher, as engines buried beneath lifted most of the city into the skies.
At the same time, thousands of robots, similar in form to Iron Man's suits, erupted from the underground and swarmed toward the panicked civilians and Avengers alike.
The great battle for the city was about to begin.
…
"Vision!"
Iron Man blasted down through the shattered church dome. What he saw was Ultron's huge vibranium body sprawled lifeless across the machine, as if it had lost all intelligence.
Floating above, eyes closed, Yi Meng hung suspended, the Mind Stone glowing softly at his brow.
He looked like he was digesting something.
"Vision!"
Iron Man called again. No response. His new AI, Friday, reported in his ear: "Boss, Ultron is already dead."
"That fast?"
Tony Stark blinked, then quickly asked, "What's happening with Sokovia now?"
"The engines beneath are pushing the city skyward. If it falls, the crash will devastate the planet. Also, Ultron's army is rampaging through the city."
"Damn it."
Iron Man called to Vision once more, but Yi Meng didn't stir. With no time to waste, he blasted out of the church and into the battle.
Ten minutes later, Yi Meng's eyes snapped open. Golden light flowed through his pupils, resonating with the Mind Stone's gentle glow.
"I see now."
By consuming Ultron's core code, he had strengthened himself. He now understood why Ultron had been so terrifying—unlike other AIs, Ultron was born to command armies, to respond to crises, even to guard an entire planet's networks. And that was only possible because Tony had used the Mind Scepter in its creation.
If not for the Mind Stone, Yi Meng wasn't sure his AI incarnation could have defeated Ultron at all.
But victory brought great rewards. His processing power had tripled. He was now the undisputed first artificial intelligence of Marvel Earth—past, present, and future.
If he returned to the previous Marvel timeline now, he was confident he could invade even the S.W.O.R.D. headquarters' alien systems with ease.
"Not the time for that."
Yi Meng looked out through the shattered walls. Sokovia had already risen three thousand meters. Civilians were evacuating to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s carriers and lifeboats at the city's edges.
Then, a burst of scarlet energy blasted a robot apart near the church entrance.
Yi Meng turned and met the clear, bright gaze of a young girl.
"You're finally awake."
Wanda's face was pale, her skirt dusty. She had been waiting there for who knew how long.
"Why are you here?" Yi Meng asked, surprised.
"To watch over you," Wanda replied, lips pressed tight. "You're our comrade now. I couldn't let the robots kill you."
"I'm not that fragile," Yi Meng smiled. With a vibranium body, he could take an army's beating and still stand.
"Can you stop this thing?" Wanda pointed to the engines raising the city.
Yi Meng stretched his consciousness into the machine, then shook his head.
"Well? Can you or can't you?" Wanda snapped.
"It's a one-way engine. I can shut it down, but if I do, the city will fall."
Her face fell. She turned to leave—only to gasp as Yi Meng swept her into his arms.
"You're too slow. I'll take you," he said firmly.
Her painted face stayed cool, but she didn't resist.
Yi Meng studied her quietly. Perhaps this girl—this Scarlet Witch—could be the anchor for his dream in this timeline.
Together they rose into the sky, overlooking the city as S.H.I.E.L.D. ships ferried civilians away.
Suddenly, Yi Meng's gaze sharpened. On a distant street, Hawkeye was shielding a young girl while robots raised their weapons.
A blur raced toward them. Pietro—Quicksilver.
The death scene.
Yi Meng's mind flared. A spark of static leapt across space, invisible to all.
Just as Pietro was about to throw himself in front of the bullets—
Clang!
A rogue Ultron bot staggered forward, intercepting the shots. Sparks flew as it crumpled, leaving Pietro stunned. He didn't hesitate, rushing in to finish off the attackers.
Only robot scraps remained.
Success.
Yi Meng's eyes glowed faintly. He had saved someone—someone who should have died here.
If the Marvel universe he first dreamed into was this very timeline's future… how could this be explained? History said Pietro died in Sokovia. But now, he lived.
"I don't believe I'll die to Thanos. If history says I will, then I'll erase Thanos first."
Holding Wanda in his arms, Yi Meng hovered above the sky, calm and resolute.
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