Marcus had a problem.
Well, technically he had several problems, but the main one occupying his mind right now was that he'd been too successful.
The Numeron Dragon appearance had been incredible—terrifying, awe-inspiring, absolutely perfect for breaking HYDRA's spirit. But it had also raised questions. Questions like "is the cosmic dragon the same entity as the other monsters?" and "how many of these things ARE there?" and "should we be concerned about an invasion of trading card game creatures?"
The Avengers, being intelligent people with access to vast resources, were definitely asking these questions. SHIELD, despite its current chaos, was asking these questions. Every intelligence agency on the planet was asking these questions.
And Marcus had a choice to make.
He could reveal the truth—that all the monsters were him, one guy with a really weird power set—and accept whatever consequences came from that.
OR.
He could commit to the bit so hard that everyone became convinced the monsters were completely separate entities. A whole pantheon of Duel Monster spirits, each with their own personality and agenda, who just happened to all be helping humanity.
Option two was objectively more complicated, more difficult to maintain, and more likely to cause long-term problems.
Marcus chose option two immediately.
"If I'm going to be a cosmic entity," he reasoned, pacing his apartment, "I might as well be MULTIPLE cosmic entities. That's way more fun. And confusing. And hilarious."
The plan was simple in concept, if absurd in execution: he would appear as Numeron Dragon again—establishing it as a separate, distinct being from his other forms—and give the Avengers a "lore dump" about the nature of Duel Monster spirits. He would explain that there were MANY such beings, each representing different aspects of existence, and that they had all taken an interest in protecting this dimension.
It was complete nonsense, of course. But it was BELIEVABLE nonsense, which was all that mattered.
The key was consistency. If he was going to sell this lie, he needed to make sure his different forms had distinct personalities, distinct speech patterns, distinct vibes. Numeron Dragon would be cosmic and philosophical. Black Luster Soldier would be noble and warrior-like. Dark Magician would be mysterious and wise. Kuriboh would be... well, Kuriboh.
He could do this. He was GREAT at this.
And as a bonus, he'd finally get to meet Spider-Man.
Three Days After The HYDRA Incident
Marcus's Apartment
10:00 AM
Marcus had spent the past two days doing research.
Not monster research—he knew his Yu-Gi-Oh lore inside and out. No, he'd been researching the AVENGERS. Specifically, he'd been using various surveillance-capable monster forms to observe their daily routines, their communication patterns, their security protocols.
He needed to know how to approach them without getting shot.
(He probably couldn't BE shot in most of his monster forms, but it was the principle of the thing.)
What he'd learned was interesting.
Tony Stark was obsessed with understanding him. The billionaire had dedicated an entire floor of Avengers Tower to analyzing monster sightings, compiling data, running simulations. He had a wall covered in photos and notes connected by red string, like a conspiracy theorist's fever dream. It was flattering and slightly concerning.
Steve Rogers was cautious but open-minded. He'd been advocating for trying to establish communication with the "Duel Monster entities," arguing that they'd proven themselves allies. He wanted to understand their goals, their origins, their nature.
Natasha Romanoff was suspicious but pragmatic. She'd accepted that the monsters were powerful and apparently helpful, but she was watching for any sign of betrayal. Marcus respected that.
Bruce Banner was fascinated from a scientific perspective. He'd been running energy analysis on every piece of footage they had, trying to find commonalities that might explain how the transformations worked. He was getting closer than Marcus was comfortable with.
Clint Barton was the most relaxed about the whole thing, possibly because he had the most experience with the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise thanks to his kids. He'd become the unofficial "monster translator," explaining card lore to his teammates and occasionally defending Marcus's more ridiculous choices.
And Thor, who had finally returned from Asgard, was apparently DELIGHTED by the whole situation. He kept comparing the monsters to Asgardian legends and expressing hope that he might "do battle alongside these noble spirits" someday.
Marcus was going to have so much fun with Thor.
But first, he needed to find Spider-Man.
Queens, New York
That Same Day
2:30 PM
Spider-Man wasn't hard to find, once you knew what to look for.
Marcus, in his Winged Kuriboh form, had been floating around Queens for about an hour when he spotted the distinctive red-and-blue figure swinging between buildings. The movements were fluid and confident—this was definitely an experienced Spider-Man, not a newbie.
The question was: which one?
Marcus followed at a distance, observing. The costume was the classic design, no fancy tech upgrades visible. The body language suggested someone young but not TOO young—late teens, maybe early twenties. The quips being thrown at a group of bank robbers below were genuinely funny.
"—and THAT'S why you should never try to rob a bank on a Tuesday! It's statistically the worst day for crime! I read that somewhere!"
Okay, this was definitely Peter Parker. The energy was unmistakable.
Marcus watched as Spider-Man efficiently webbed up the robbers, left them for the police, and swung away to continue his patrol. He seemed to be heading toward a quieter part of the neighborhood—probably planning to take a break.
Perfect.
Marcus followed, waiting for the right moment. When Spider-Man finally landed on a rooftop water tower to catch his breath, Marcus made his move.
He floated down from above, positioning himself directly in front of the hero's face.
"Kuri!"
Spider-Man SCREAMED.
It was extremely satisfying.
"WHAT THE—HOLY—WHAT IS THAT—"
Marcus bobbed cheerfully in the air, his Kuriboh form radiating pure adorable energy. "Kuri kuri!"
Spider-Man, pressed against the water tower with his hands up defensively, stared at him with wide eyes visible even through the mask.
"Is that... is that a KURIBOH? An actual, literal Kuriboh? From Yu-Gi-Oh?"
"Kuri!" Marcus confirmed happily.
"Oh my god. Oh my GOD. I'm not hallucinating, right? There's really a Kuriboh floating in front of my face? This is actually happening?"
"Kuri kuri kuri!"
"I don't—I don't speak Kuriboh! I don't know what you're saying!" Spider-Man's voice was climbing in pitch. "Are you friendly? Please tell me you're friendly. You look friendly. You look EXTREMELY friendly. You're literally the cutest thing I've ever seen, please don't be evil."
Marcus decided to have mercy on him. He transformed.
The shift from Kuriboh to human happened in the blink of an eye—one moment, cute fluffball; the next, a regular guy in jeans and a t-shirt, hovering in mid-air through sheer force of "the transformation doesn't technically require me to be on the ground."
Spider-Man's mask eyes went impossibly wider.
"Okay," the hero said slowly. "Okay. So the Kuriboh can turn into a person. That's... that's a thing that just happened. Cool. Cool cool cool."
"Hi!" Marcus said brightly. "I'm a huge fan. Love your work. The thing with the ferry was GREAT."
"The ferry—that hasn't happened yet—wait, how do you know about—who ARE you?"
"That's a complicated question with a very long answer." Marcus floated down to stand on the water tower's platform, bringing himself to Spider-Man's level. "Short version: I'm the guy behind the monster sightings. Well, ONE of the guys. It's complicated. I'll explain more later."
"You're the Duel Monster Menace?!"
"I prefer 'Duel Monster Enthusiast,' but sure."
Spider-Man was silent for a long moment, clearly trying to process everything.
"You're the one who stopped HYDRA," he said finally. "The dragon. That was you?"
"One of us, yes." Marcus was already laying the groundwork for his "multiple entities" deception. "There are... several of us. We work together sometimes."
"Several of you. Several people who can turn into Yu-Gi-Oh monsters."
"Spirits, technically. We're spirits. From another dimension. It's a whole thing."
"Spirits from another dimension," Spider-Man repeated flatly. "Who look like trading card game characters."
"The trading card game is based on us, actually. Well, based on echoes of us. Memories that filtered through the dimensional barriers. The creator thought he was making things up, but he was actually channeling ancient truths." Marcus was improvising wildly, but it sounded good. "It happens more often than you'd think."
Spider-Man sat down heavily on the water tower's edge, apparently giving up on understanding the situation through normal means.
"Okay," he said. "Sure. Why not. I've fought a guy made of sand, this isn't even the weirdest thing that's happened to me this month." He looked up at Marcus. "So why are you here? Why come to me specifically?"
"Because you're going to be important," Marcus said, his tone becoming more serious. "Really, really important. And I wanted to meet you before everything gets crazy."
"Before everything gets crazy? What does that mean? Is something bad going to happen?"
"Something bad is ALWAYS about to happen in this city. But I meant more... cosmically. There are threats coming that you'll need to face. You'll have choices to make that will affect millions of lives. And I wanted you to know that you won't be alone."
Spider-Man was quiet for a moment.
"You sound like you know the future."
"I know POSSIBLE futures. Different paths, different outcomes. Nothing is set in stone." Marcus sat down next to him, letting his legs dangle over the edge. "I'm not here to tell you what to do. That's not my job. I'm just here to say... you're doing great. Keep doing what you're doing. And when things get hard—really hard, impossibly hard—remember that there are beings watching over this world who believe in you."
"That's... surprisingly wholesome for a conversation with a guy who can turn into a cosmic dragon."
"I contain multitudes."
Spider-Man laughed—a genuine, surprised sound. "Okay, that was funny. You're funny. I didn't expect the interdimensional card game spirits to be funny."
"We try." Marcus stood up, stretching. "Listen, I have to go—there's a meeting I need to get to with some other heroes. But I wanted to give you something first."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card—a Kuriboh card, one he'd found at a comic shop and bought specifically for this moment.
"If you ever need help—REALLY need help, the kind where you're out of options and everything is falling apart—hold this card and call for Kuriboh. One of us will come."
Spider-Man took the card carefully, looking at it like it might explode. "You're serious? This will actually summon a monster?"
"It'll get our attention, at least. We're usually watching anyway, but the card makes it... clearer. Like a signal flare."
"That's... actually really cool." Spider-Man tucked the card into a hidden pocket in his suit. "Thank you. I mean it."
"You're welcome." Marcus grinned. "Now, I really do have to go. The Avengers are expecting me. Well, they're not EXPECTING me, but they're about to receive me, which is basically the same thing."
"Wait, you're going to just show up at Avengers Tower? Right now?"
"That's the plan!"
"Can I come? I've always wanted to meet the Avengers. Well, I've MET some of them, but not all of them, and not in a casual 'hanging out' way—"
Marcus considered it. Having Spider-Man there would actually be helpful—another witness to his "lore dump" who could spread the story, another hero who'd buy into the "multiple entities" narrative.
"Sure," he said. "Why not. Let's go crash a superhero team meeting."
Spider-Man practically vibrated with excitement. "This is the best day EVER."
Avengers Tower
Twenty Minutes Later
The security systems at Avengers Tower were state-of-the-art, designed by Tony Stark himself to detect and respond to virtually any threat.
They did not know how to handle a Numeron Dragon materializing in the lobby.
Marcus had considered a subtle approach—sneaking in, appearing dramatically in the middle of a meeting, the usual. But then he'd decided that subtle was boring, and if he was going to commit to the "cosmic entity" persona, he should really lean into it.
So he'd transformed into Numeron Dragon right outside the building.
In the middle of Fifth Avenue.
During lunch hour.
The chaos was IMMEDIATE.
People screamed and ran. Cars screeched to a halt. Someone crashed their bicycle into a hot dog stand. The hot dog vendor shook his fist at the sky and yelled something about insurance rates.
Marcus, in all his cosmic dragon glory, ignored the chaos and simply... waited. His massive body coiled in the street, carefully avoiding any actual property damage, his galaxy-scale eyes fixed on the tower above.
Spider-Man, who had swung alongside him during the journey, landed on a nearby rooftop and stared.
"You could have warned me you were going to do THAT!"
"WHERE WOULD BE THE FUN IN THAT?" Numeron Dragon replied, its voice echoing across the city.
The tower's external speakers crackled to life.
"This is Tony Stark. Giant cosmic dragon currently blocking traffic on Fifth Avenue. Are you here to help or destroy? Please indicate clearly, as my afternoon schedule is very full."
Marcus laughed—a sound that resonated through dimensions and made several nearby windows rattle.
"I AM HERE TO TALK, IRON MAN. I BRING INFORMATION THAT YOU AND YOUR ALLIES WILL FIND... ENLIGHTENING."
"Information, huh? What kind of information?"
"THE KIND THAT EXPLAINS WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE COME FROM, AND WHY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO PROTECT THIS DIMENSION. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN SEEKING SUCH ANSWERS."
A pause.
"JARVIS, is this thing lying?"
"I cannot detect deception in the traditional sense, sir. However, the entity's energy signature matches the one recorded at the HYDRA facility. This is almost certainly the same being."
Another pause.
"Fine. Come on up. But if you break anything, you're paying for it."
"THAT SEEMS FAIR."
Marcus transformed.
Between one moment and the next, the massive cosmic dragon vanished, replaced by a much more manageable form: Dark Magician, the iconic spellcaster in purple robes and armor, staff in hand.
This was deliberate. He needed to demonstrate—visibly, publicly—that different monsters could appear from the "same source" while still being distinct entities. The watching crowds, the news cameras, the millions of people who would see this footage later—they would all see Numeron Dragon become Dark Magician.
It wasn't PROOF that they were separate beings. But it was ambiguous enough to support either interpretation. And Marcus intended to push the "separate beings" angle HARD during the meeting.
He floated up toward the tower's landing pad, Spider-Man swinging alongside him.
"Dude," Spider-Man said, "that was AWESOME. The transformation, the dramatic entrance, the—wait, are you actually the same dragon? Or did the dragon leave and you showed up? How does this WORK?"
"ALL WILL BE EXPLAINED," Dark Magician replied mysteriously, because that was the kind of thing Dark Magician would say.
They landed on the rooftop to find the full Avengers team waiting for them. Iron Man in his armor. Captain America with his shield. Black Widow with her usual unreadable expression. Hawkeye with his bow, though it was pointed at the ground. Thor, who looked absolutely DELIGHTED. And Bruce Banner, who was eyeing Dark Magician with scientific fascination.
"Spider-Man?" Captain America said, clearly surprised. "I didn't know you were involved with... this."
"I wasn't! I mean, I am now, but I just met the, uh, the spirit like twenty minutes ago. He gave me a card. It was very mystical." Spider-Man held up the Kuriboh card as evidence.
"A Kuriboh card," Hawkeye said, recognition immediate. "That's one of the most iconic monsters in the game. The little fuzzy guy."
"I am familiar with the Kuriboh," Thor boomed. "It is a noble creature! Small but mighty! Much like the rabbits of Asgard!"
Everyone turned to look at Thor.
"Asgard has rabbits?" Spider-Man asked.
"They are fearsome beasts who guard the gardens of the palace. Very fluffy. Very deadly."
"I LIKE HIM," Dark Magician announced, pointing at Thor. "HE UNDERSTANDS THE NATURE OF SMALL FIERCE THINGS."
"Thanks, Stark, for letting us have this conversation on the roof instead of inside where it's comfortable," Tony said sarcastically to no one in particular. "JARVIS, can we move this to the conference room without the magical being setting off every alarm in the building?"
"Unknown, sir. The entity's energy signature is highly variable."
"I CAN SUPPRESS MY PRESENCE IF NEEDED," Dark Magician offered. "WE ARE NOT WITHOUT SUBTLETY."
"Could've fooled me, considering you just turned into a galaxy-sized dragon in the middle of Fifth Avenue."
"THAT WAS DRAMA. THIS IS SUBTLETY. THEY ARE DIFFERENT SKILLS."
Tony stared at the spellcaster for a long moment, then sighed.
"Fine. Conference room. Everyone. Let's go get some answers."
Avengers Tower - Conference Room
Fifteen Minutes Later
The conference room was large, comfortable, and equipped with enough technology to run a small country. The Avengers took their usual seats around the central table, with Spider-Man awkwardly claiming an empty chair at the end.
Dark Magician did not sit. Instead, the spellcaster hovered in the center of the room, staff held loosely, purple robes shifting in an nonexistent wind.
It was very dramatic.
Marcus was enjoying himself immensely.
"Alright," Tony said, leaning back in his chair. "You said you have information for us. Start talking. Who are you, what are you, where did you come from, and why should we trust anything you say?"
"THOSE ARE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS," Dark Magician replied. "I WILL ANSWER THEM IN ORDER."
The spellcaster raised one hand, and the room's lighting dimmed slightly as mystical energy gathered in the air. Images began to form—holograms of light and magic, showing scenes from another world.
"WE ARE THE DUEL SPIRITS. BEINGS OF MAGIC AND WILL, BORN FROM THE DREAMS OF CREATION ITSELF. WE EXIST IN A DIMENSION PARALLEL TO YOURS—A REALM WHERE THOUGHT BECOMES REALITY AND BELIEF GIVES SHAPE TO POWER."
The images showed a vast landscape of impossible geometry—floating islands, crystalline towers, shadows that moved with purpose. Monsters of every description moved through this realm, some terrifying, some beautiful, some utterly bizarre.
"IN OUR REALM, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US. DRAGONS AND WARRIORS. SPELLCASTERS AND MACHINES. FAIRIES AND DEMONS. EACH OF US EMBODIES A CONCEPT, AN IDEA, A PIECE OF THE INFINITE TAPESTRY OF EXISTENCE."
"Like Asgard," Thor said, nodding thoughtfully. "Different realms, different beings. The universe is vast and full of wonders."
"PRECISELY, THOR ODINSON. YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NINE REALMS GIVES YOU INSIGHT THAT OTHERS LACK. OUR REALM IS... ADJACENT TO YOUR REALITY. CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH, USUALLY TOO FAR TO REACH."
"Usually?" Natasha asked, her tone sharp. "What changed?"
"THE BARRIERS BETWEEN DIMENSIONS HAVE BEEN WEAKENING. THE TESSERACT'S ACTIVATION, THE PORTAL OVER NEW YORK, THE PRESENCE OF THE AETHER—EACH OF THESE EVENTS HAS SENT RIPPLES THROUGH THE FABRIC OF REALITY. THESE RIPPLES HAVE CREATED... OPENINGS."
The images shifted, showing cracks in the barrier between worlds—thin spots where energy could flow through, where beings could slip between dimensions.
"SOME OF US HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO YOUR WORLD THROUGH THESE OPENINGS. WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME—WE HAVE DIFFERENT ORIGINS, DIFFERENT PURPOSES, DIFFERENT NATURES. BUT WE SHARE A COMMON CAUSE."
"Which is?" Steve prompted.
"PROTECTION." The images faded, and Dark Magician's gaze swept across the assembled heroes. "YOUR WORLD IS YOUNG, BY COSMIC STANDARDS. BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT. THE CONVERGENCE OF INFINITY STONES ON THIS PLANET IS NOT COINCIDENCE—EARTH IS A NEXUS, A FOCAL POINT FOR FORCES THAT MOST BEINGS CANNOT COMPREHEND."
"The Infinity Stones again," Bruce murmured. "The dragon mentioned those too."
"NUMERON DRAGON SEES FAR," Dark Magician confirmed. "FURTHER THAN MOST OF US. IT EXISTS PARTIALLY OUTSIDE OF TIME, WHICH GIVES IT... PERSPECTIVE. WHEN IT WARNS OF THREATS, IT IS WISE TO LISTEN."
"So the dragon and you are different beings?" Tony asked, leaning forward. "You're not the same entity in different forms?"
This was the crucial moment. Marcus had to sell this lie PERFECTLY.
"WE ARE... CONNECTED," Dark Magician said carefully, "BUT NOT IDENTICAL. THINK OF US AS... FACETS OF THE SAME JEWEL. WE SHARE A SOURCE, A COMMON ORIGIN IN THE REALM OF DUEL SPIRITS. WE CAN COMMUNICATE, COORDINATE, WORK TOGETHER. BUT WE ARE DISTINCT BEINGS WITH DISTINCT WILLS."
"That's why the energy signatures are similar but not identical," Bruce said, his eyes lighting up with understanding. "You're all drawing from the same dimensional source, but expressing it differently based on your individual natures."
"PRECISELY, DR. BANNER. YOUR SCIENTIFIC MIND GRASPS THE TRUTH QUICKLY."
Marcus was trying very hard not to laugh. Bruce had just explained his lie FOR him, using actual scientific reasoning to justify something Marcus had completely made up.
This was BEAUTIFUL.
"How many of you are there?" Natasha asked. "Here, in our dimension. How many Duel Spirits have crossed over?"
"CURRENTLY? PERHAPS A DOZEN, PERHAPS MORE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO COUNT—SOME OF US ARE MORE ACTIVE THAN OTHERS. SOME PREFER TO OBSERVE RATHER THAN ACT. AND NEW SPIRITS MAY CROSS OVER AT ANY TIME, AS THE DIMENSIONAL BARRIERS CONTINUE TO WEAKEN."
"Great," Tony muttered. "So we might be looking at an ongoing influx of magical card game creatures. That's... that's just great."
"NOT ALL WHO CROSS WILL BE BENEVOLENT," Dark Magician warned, and Marcus actually meant this one. If his powers worked the way he thought they did, he could probably summon villainous monsters too. He hadn't tried it—didn't WANT to try it—but the possibility existed. "OUR REALM CONTAINS BEINGS OF DARKNESS AS WELL AS LIGHT. DEMONS, CORRUPT SPIRITS, ENTITIES THAT WOULD SEEK TO HARM YOUR WORLD."
"And if they show up?"
"THEN WE WILL FIGHT THEM. THAT IS PART OF WHY WE ARE HERE—TO PROTECT THIS DIMENSION FROM THREATS THAT YOU CANNOT FACE ALONE."
"That's... actually really helpful," Steve admitted. "Having allies who can fight supernatural threats would be a significant advantage."
"WE DO NOT SEEK TO REPLACE YOU, CAPTAIN. YOUR AVENGERS ARE IMPORTANT—MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU KNOW. WE ARE MERELY... ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. ANOTHER LINE OF DEFENSE."
"You mentioned Thanos before," Spider-Man spoke up, apparently unable to contain himself any longer. "The dragon said he was coming. That he wanted the Infinity Stones. Is that still happening?"
Dark Magician turned to face the young hero, and Marcus felt a surge of genuine affection. Spider-Man was so earnest, so determined to help despite being so young.
"THANOS IS COMING," the spellcaster confirmed. "NOT TODAY. NOT TOMORROW. BUT EVENTUALLY—INEVITABLY—HE WILL TURN HIS ATTENTION TO EARTH. AND WHEN HE DOES, EVERYTHING WILL BE AT STAKE."
"Can we stop him?"
"THAT DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS. YOUR PREPARATION. YOUR UNITY. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES." Dark Magician paused. "BUT YES. VICTORY IS POSSIBLE. NOT GUARANTEED—NEVER GUARANTEED—BUT POSSIBLE."
"That's more than we had before," Steve said quietly.
"THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. TO GIVE YOU KNOWLEDGE. TO GIVE YOU TIME. TO GIVE YOU HOPE."
The room was silent for a long moment.
Then Thor stood up, his expression one of fierce determination.
"I like these Duel Spirits!" he announced. "They are noble warriors who seek to protect the innocent! I propose that we welcome them as allies!"
"That's... we need to discuss this as a team, Thor," Steve said carefully.
"What is there to discuss? They have proven themselves in battle! They defeated the HYDRA serpent! They warn us of future threats! These are the actions of HEROES!"
"They're also the actions of someone trying to earn our trust before they betray us," Natasha pointed out.
"A FAIR CONCERN," Dark Magician acknowledged. "YOU HAVE NO REASON TO TRUST US BEYOND OUR ACTIONS. AND ACTIONS CAN BE DECEIVING."
"So what do you suggest?" Natasha asked.
"NOTHING. I SUGGEST NOTHING." The spellcaster spread its hands. "WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACT AS WE HAVE BEEN ACTING. WE WILL STOP THREATS WHEN WE ENCOUNTER THEM. WE WILL SHARE INFORMATION WHEN IT IS RELEVANT. WE WILL NOT ASK FOR YOUR TRUST—THAT MUST BE EARNED, NOT DEMANDED."
"You're being very reasonable for a mysterious magical entity," Tony observed.
"I AM THE DARK MAGICIAN. I HAVE SERVED PHARAOHS AND PROTECTED KINGDOMS. I UNDERSTAND POLITICS."
Tony snorted. "Fair enough."
"IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS, I WILL TAKE MY LEAVE. OTHER DUTIES REQUIRE MY ATTENTION."
"Actually, one more question," Bruce said, raising a hand like he was in a classroom. "The transformation we saw outside—from the dragon to you. How does that work? Are you physically changing, or is it some kind of substitution effect?"
Marcus had been dreading this question. Bruce was too smart.
"IT IS... COMPLICATED," Dark Magician said, stalling. "WHEN ONE OF US CHOOSES TO WITHDRAW AND ANOTHER CHOOSES TO MANIFEST, THE TRANSITION CAN APPEAR INSTANTANEOUS. BUT WE ARE NOT TRANSFORMING—WE ARE EXCHANGING PLACES. THE DRAGON RETURNED TO OUR REALM AS I EMERGED INTO YOURS."
"So there's some kind of dimensional swap happening?"
"IN ESSENCE, YES."
"That's fascinating. The energy requirements alone would be—"
"PERHAPS WE CAN DISCUSS THE METAPHYSICS ANOTHER TIME," Dark Magician interrupted, not unkindly. "I SENSE THERE IS CRIME OCCURRING IN THE CITY THAT REQUIRES MY ATTENTION."
This was a lie. Marcus just wanted to escape before Bruce asked more questions.
"Crime where?" Spider-Man asked, immediately alert.
"HELL'S KITCHEN. A ROBBERY IN PROGRESS. NOTHING YOU NEED TO CONCERN YOURSELF WITH—I CAN HANDLE IT."
"I'll come with you!" Spider-Man was already standing up. "I mean, if that's okay. I want to see you in action. Plus, you know, crime-fighting is kind of my thing."
Marcus considered it. Having Spider-Man as a witness to another monster "switch" would reinforce the multiple entities narrative.
"VERY WELL. LET US GO."
Dark Magician turned to the Avengers, giving a formal bow that Marcus had absolutely practiced in the mirror.
"UNTIL NEXT TIME, AVENGERS. MAY YOUR BATTLES BE GLORIOUS AND YOUR VICTORIES COMPLETE."
"That's very Thor of you," Clint observed.
"I WILL TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT."
And with a swirl of purple energy, Dark Magician vanished—reappearing on the rooftop outside, where Spider-Man joined him moments later.
"That was AMAZING," Spider-Man gushed as they launched themselves toward Hell's Kitchen. "You just—you just did a whole presentation! With magical holograms! And everyone believed you!"
"DID THEY?" Dark Magician asked, genuinely curious. He hadn't been able to read the room perfectly while maintaining his cosmic spellcaster persona.
"Well, Thor definitely did. Captain America seemed convinced. Hawkeye was pretty chill about everything. Black Widow is suspicious but she's suspicious of EVERYTHING. Tony is... processing. And Dr. Banner is going to spend the next week trying to figure out the science of dimensional swapping."
"THAT SEEMS LIKE AN ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME."
They swung and floated through the city, the spellcaster and the spider, an unlikely pair of heroes heading toward an imaginary crime scene.
(Marcus would find a REAL crime once they got to Hell's Kitchen. There was always crime in Hell's Kitchen.)
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Spider-Man said as they traveled.
"YOU MAY."
"The whole 'separate beings' thing—the dragon and you and the other monsters. Is that really true? Or is it more like... I don't know... different aspects of one person?"
Marcus felt his heart rate spike slightly. Spider-Man was perceptive.
"WHY DO YOU ASK?"
"I don't know. It's just... you all have the same vibe, kind of? Like, the way you talk, the way you approach things. The dragon was more cosmic and the Kuriboh was more cute, but underneath it all, there's this same... energy? This same sense of humor?"
Damn. Spider-Man was TOO perceptive.
"WE SHARE A COMMON ORIGIN," Dark Magician said carefully. "IT IS NATURAL THAT WE WOULD HAVE SIMILARITIES. BUT I ASSURE YOU—I AM NOT THE DRAGON, AND NEITHER OF US IS THE KURIBOH. WE ARE DISTINCT."
Spider-Man was quiet for a moment.
"Okay," he said finally. "I believe you. I just... I wanted to check."
"YOUR CAUTION DOES YOU CREDIT, SPIDER-MAN. NEVER STOP ASKING QUESTIONS."
They arrived in Hell's Kitchen, and Marcus immediately spotted a legitimate crime in progress—a group of men loading suspicious-looking crates into a truck outside what appeared to be a closed restaurant.
"AH. THERE."
"Is that... are those guys moving drugs? In broad daylight?"
"IT APPEARS SO. SHALL WE?"
"Oh, absolutely."
Dark Magician raised his staff, preparing to make a dramatic entrance—
And then stopped.
"ACTUALLY," the spellcaster said, a note of mischief entering its voice, "I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION CALLS FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH."
Marcus transformed.
One moment, the imposing figure of the Dark Magician. The next, a tiny, adorable Kuriboh, floating at Spider-Man's eye level with big sparkly eyes.
"Kuri!"
Spider-Man burst out laughing.
"Oh my god. OH MY GOD. You're going to fight drug dealers as a KURIBOH?"
"Kuri kuri!" Marcus confirmed enthusiastically.
"This is the best day of my LIFE."
The Drug Dealers' Perspective
Things were going well until the fluffy ball of death appeared.
Rico had been in the game for fifteen years. He'd seen a lot of weird stuff—enhanced individuals, alien invasions, that time a guy in a rhino suit had tried to shake down his boss. He thought he was prepared for anything.
He was not prepared for the Kuriboh.
It floated down from the sky like a cotton ball with eyes, making little chirping sounds that were simultaneously adorable and deeply unsettling. It stopped directly in front of the truck, blocking their path.
"Kuri!" it said.
Rico stared at it.
"What the hell is that?" asked Miguel, his partner.
"I don't know. Some kind of... puffball?"
"Should we... shoot it?"
The puffball's eyes narrowed.
"Kuri," it said, and there was something in its tone that made Rico's blood run cold.
Then Spider-Man dropped from the sky, landing on the truck's roof with a theatrical flourish.
"Hey guys! I see you've met my friend! He's really cute, isn't he? Very fluffy. Very friendly. Unless you make him angry."
"Spider-Man?" Rico reached for his gun. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know, just hanging out. Stopping crime. Making friends with interdimensional spirits. The usual."
"Inter-what?"
The Kuriboh floated closer, and Rico could swear it was SMILING now.
"Kuri kuri kuri," it said, and somehow the chirping sounds seemed to translate directly into his brain as: "DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND SURRENDER PEACEFULLY, OR I WILL SHOW YOU WHY SIZE IS IRRELEVANT TO POWER."
Rico dropped his gun immediately.
So did Miguel.
So did the other four guys who were just now realizing that something had gone terribly wrong.
"Smart choice!" Spider-Man said cheerfully. "Now, if you could all just sit down with your hands on your heads, my fluffy friend here won't have to demonstrate what happens when you upset a Duel Spirit."
They sat.
They put their hands on their heads.
The Kuriboh floated in circles around them, chirping happily, occasionally booping one of them on the nose just to watch them flinch.
"This is humiliating," Rico muttered.
"Kuri!" the puffball agreed, sounding delighted.
Later
After the Police Arrived
Spider-Man and the Kuriboh watched from a nearby rooftop as the drug dealers were loaded into police vehicles. The officers had been... confused by the reports of a "small fluffy creature" assisting in the arrest, but the evidence was clear and the criminals were cooperative.
"That was amazing," Spider-Man said, still grinning. "The look on their faces when they realized a KURIBOH was taking them down..."
"Kuri kuri!" Marcus agreed.
"You could have used, like, a dragon or something. Made it quick and scary. But you chose to be cute and terrifying at the same time. That's—that's an art form."
"Kuri!"
"I'm going to tell EVERYONE about this. The Avengers need to know that the interdimensional spirit guardians fight crime as adorable puffballs."
Marcus transformed back into Dark Magician, deciding that the human form was too risky for extended conversation.
"THE KURIBOH IS PARTICULARLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT STREET-LEVEL CRIME," he explained. "IT ENJOYS THE PERSONAL TOUCH."
"It has personality. They all have personality." Spider-Man shook his head wonderingly. "This is so wild. A month ago, I was just a guy fighting normal criminals. Now I'm teaming up with magical card game spirits to stop drug dealers."
"LIFE IS FULL OF UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS."
"That's one way to put it."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the sun begin to set over the city.
"Hey," Spider-Man said quietly. "Thanks. For today. For the card, and the information, and... all of it. It's nice to know there are other people—beings—whatever—looking out for the city."
"YOU ARE NOT ALONE, SPIDER-MAN. YOU NEVER WERE. AND YOU NEVER WILL BE."
"That's... that's really nice of you to say."
"IT IS ALSO TRUE. REMEMBER THAT, WHEN THINGS GET HARD."
Dark Magician stood, preparing to depart.
"I MUST GO. OTHER DUTIES CALL. BUT I SUSPECT WE WILL MEET AGAIN SOON."
"I hope so." Spider-Man stood as well, offering his hand. "It was good to meet you. All of you. However many of you there are."
Dark Magician shook the offered hand—a surprisingly normal gesture for a cosmic spellcaster.
"UNTIL NEXT TIME, SPIDER-MAN. KEEP PROTECTING YOUR CITY."
"Always."
And with a swirl of purple energy, Dark Magician vanished, leaving Spider-Man alone on the rooftop with a lot to think about.
Marcus's Apartment
That Night
Marcus collapsed onto his sleeping bag, exhausted but triumphant.
The lore dump had worked PERFECTLY. The Avengers now believed they were dealing with multiple distinct entities from a parallel dimension—beings that shared a common origin but had individual personalities and purposes. The "facets of the same jewel" metaphor had been accepted without question.
Spider-Man was on board. He'd been given a Kuriboh card and a sense of cosmic connection. He'd witnessed multiple "transitions" between monsters and believed they were separate beings switching places.
The foundation was laid.
Now came the fun part: maintaining the deception while continuing to help, continuing to mess with people, continuing to be the most chaotic force for good this dimension had ever seen.
"Okay," Marcus said to himself, staring at the ceiling. "Status update. The Avengers think I'm a coalition of spirits. Spider-Man thinks I'm a coalition of spirits. HYDRA is destroyed. The world is preparing for Thanos."
He paused.
"And I still need to visit Loki. That was on the list. 'Mess with the God of Mischief' is definitely still on the list."
He grinned.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow he'd figure out how to get to Asgard.
Or maybe he'd just take a day off. He'd earned a day off.
...Nah, who was he kidding. There was chaos to cause.
Sleep now.
Chaos tomorrow.
Avengers Tower
That Same Night
Tony Stark sat in his lab, surrounded by screens displaying every piece of data they'd collected on the Duel Spirits.
"JARVIS, run the analysis again. Compare the energy signatures of the Dark Magician to the Numeron Dragon to every other monster we have on record."
"Running analysis now, sir."
Tony leaned back, rubbing his eyes.
The presentation had been convincing. The "separate beings from the same source" explanation made sense. The dimensional metaphysics lined up with what they knew about the Tesseract and other cross-dimensional events.
But something nagged at him.
The humor. The presentation style. The way every single monster, regardless of form, seemed to have the same underlying wit and self-awareness.
It was like talking to the same person wearing different masks.
"Analysis complete, sir."
"And?"
"The energy signatures are similar enough to suggest a common origin, as the entity claimed. However, there are also subtle consistencies that could indicate..."
"Indicate what?"
"That all manifestations are drawing from the same individual consciousness, sir. The variations are consistent with changing emotional states and intention rather than genuinely distinct personalities."
Tony sat up straighter.
"You're saying it might be one person after all?"
"I am saying the data is inconclusive, sir. Both interpretations are possible. The 'coalition of spirits' explanation fits the evidence. But so does 'single shapeshifter with excellent acting skills.'"
Tony was quiet for a long moment.
"Keep monitoring. If it IS one person, they're incredibly good at this. And I want to know why they're going to so much trouble to convince us otherwise."
"Understood, sir. Shall I inform the rest of the team of this analysis?"
Tony considered it.
"Not yet. Let's see how this plays out first. If our mysterious friend wants to pretend to be multiple entities, there might be a reason for it. And until we know what that reason is, I don't want to tip our hand."
"Very well, sir."
Tony turned back to his screens, a small smile playing at his lips.
The game was afoot.
And Tony Stark loved games.