"Fishing for intel? That's my specialty."
In a New York apartment, Natasha stretched and glanced at the message from Nick Fury on her phone, then nodded.
From the twins' chatroom posts, their ages were clearly young. Getting them to talk would be easy for her.
As for Aoi Shun, she raised a brow at the chat. "Interesting. The man the goddess of death is fated to lose? Heh."
Inside the quiz chatroom:
"Fifteen minutes remain. Please be advised."
The thick mechanical voice sounded again. The chatter died at once.
[The Ancient One (Died Because VFX Was Too Expensive): Everyone, you heard the prompt. We have fifteen minutes left. As the only one who knows the answer, if no one volunteers, I will answer in the final minute. But in that case you will miss the reward. Teleportation is of little use to me.]
The chat came alive again.
[Nick Fury (Would Love a Vacation on the Moon): Honored Sorcerer Supreme, you said you would reexamine the future. Do you have results?]
[Tony Stark (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): Someone can actually see the future? Hard to believe. If it's true, I want to know whether I die under that weapon.]
[Stephen Strange (I'm Here to Negotiate): Since the beginning I've wanted to ask about a sorcerer's physiology compared to a normal human. Also, if possible, could I use proper instruments to examine...]
[Natasha (Stop Arguing, I'll Jump Off a Cliff): @Strange, shut it.]
[Clint Barton (If I Fight, We Win): Agreed. @Strange, zip it.]
[Aoi Shun (The Man the Goddess of Death Is Fated to Lose): Sorcerer Supreme, did you see my future?]
[The Ancient One (Died Because VFX Was Too Expensive): @Tony Stark, you do not die. @Aoi Shun, I saw your future, Earth's future, even the universe's. No matter the outcome, I must thank you in the name of the Sorcerer Supreme. Child, you are a hero worthy of respect.]
In his apartment, Aoi Shun arched a brow at the word child. It was awkward, but fair. He had no idea how old the Ancient One was, but likely over a century. He was nineteen.
Curious what sort of fabricated "future" the system had given him to earn such thanks, he asked it directly. The answer came at once: in that future, he would lead the Avengers, sword in hand, against Death, one of the Five Cosmic Entities.
He could only give the system a thumbs-up.
Impressive.
Fighting Death, huh.
[Tony Stark (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): Wow. I'm not dead, good. If I'm alive, I'll find whoever planned this. But @Aoi Shun, pal, what did you do to make the so-called sorcerer thank you?]
[Aoi Shun (The Man the Goddess of Death Is Fated to Lose): @Tony Stark, how would I know? I can't see the future. Superhero? Never crossed my mind.]
[Steve Rogers (Combo Prince Who Wants to Dance With Her): @Aoi Shun, believe me, I never planned to be a quote superhero either. I just wanted to do something. When some things arrive, we can't hide. We may have choices, to be a momentary hero or an ordinary person for life. In that instant, the decision you make and the strength you unleash may surprise even you. Being a hero is not a job. It is a responsibility shared by anyone who holds justice in their heart.]
[Tony Stark (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): Wow. @Steve Rogers, is that how you talked your Howling Commandos into missions? With lines like that, no wonder my old man never shut up about you and used you to lecture me.]
[Steve Rogers (Combo Prince Who Wants to Dance With Her): @Tony Stark, your old man? I know... wait, Stark? Do you mean Howard Stark? Last time I saw him, he called himself a lifelong bachelor. I wake up and his son is talking to me.]
[Tony Stark (She Says She Loves Me Three Thousand Times): @Steve Rogers, I feel like you're taking advantage of me here...]