Drex Valen recreated the events of Ant-Man from memory and handed the entire observation project over to Black Queen.
Her task was simple.
Monitor Scott Lang and Hank Pym.
Record every deviation.
Every similarity.
Every change.
Years ago, Drex would have assumed his reality was simply another numbered Marvel parallel universe.
Now?
After what the Ancient One had told him, he wasn't so sure anymore.
The more he thought about it, the more serious the situation seemed.
The last thing he wanted was a complete convergence of universes.
If that happened, he'd eventually have to deal with countless single-universe entities, hyperversal threats, and multiversal catastrophes.
Worlds like the Battleworld timeline.
The Marvel Zombies universe.
And countless other nightmares capable of giving even cosmic beings a headache.
For a long time now, Drex had been searching for a solution.
Unfortunately, neither Kryptonian science nor Earth's knowledge had ever truly touched the foundations of the multiverse.
He had no roadmap.
No guide.
No precedent.
As for studying at Kamar-Taj?
That seemed equally pointless.
The Vishanti themselves were merely multiversal entities.
If they had sent the Ancient One to warn him about a future universal convergence or collapse, then it meant they didn't possess a solution either.
In the end, there was only one option.
Figure it out himself.
"Maybe I should just become a dimensional god."
The thought suddenly didn't sound ridiculous.
Becoming a dimensional entity didn't necessarily require abandoning one's physical body.
The greatest benefits came from fully merging with a dimension, but partial integration was still possible.
Drex didn't care about most of those advantages.
What he needed was something else.
A dimension large enough to help distribute the unimaginable metaphysical attraction he now exerted on reality itself.
The more he considered it, the more practical the idea seemed.
The only problem was finding an ownerless dimension.
Then a memory surfaced.
Years ago, he'd helped the Ancient One clean up fragments of a Hell Dimension.
That provided an answer.
The Ancient One probably possessed access to countless dimensional fragments and abandoned realms.
Perhaps he could acquire one.
Just as Drex was preparing to visit Kamar-Taj and discuss the possibility...
That familiar sensation returned.
Only this time, he wasn't observing someone else being pulled away.
He was the target.
Ordinary ambushes were meaningless against him.
His reaction speed exceeded light itself.
He should have been able to evade.
Counterattack.
Resist.
Yet none of those things happened.
He was taken.
Instantly.
A tunnel opened before him.
Reality folded.
Then he stepped into another universe.
Drex found himself standing atop a skyscraper.
Below stretched a city that never slept.
Countless lights illuminated the night.
Neon signs painted the streets in crimson and violet.
Steam rose from sewer grates, mixing with the glow of the city and creating a hazy dreamscape.
It was early spring.
The air was cold.
Smog drifted between the buildings.
Industrial pollution lingered on the wind.
From above, everything looked magnificent.
Wealth.
Power.
Status.
Luxury.
A glittering monument to civilization.
But Drex could see beyond the facade.
Somewhere in the darkness were alleyways filled with trash.
Underground tunnels sheltering the homeless.
Bridges occupied by gangs.
Discarded firearms.
Unreported corpses.
Dried bloodstains.
The distant echoes of screams and laughter.
The city wore beauty like a mask.
Beneath it lurked madness.
Where am I?
Drex activated the Mind Stone.
At the same time, the Phoenix Force expanded outward.
His consciousness swept across the planet.
Billions of minds unfolded before him.
Information flooded in.
Memories.
Languages.
History.
Culture.
Then his expression became increasingly strange.
Very strange.
Because he had discovered exactly what kind of universe had pulled him here.
And it was unlike anything he'd ever expected.
The universe appeared to be a Marvel reality.
But there was one defining difference.
Every superhero was female.
Every supervillain was female.
Every single one.
Tony Stark had become Toni Stark.
Not Natasha Stark.
Toni Stark.
Steve Rogers had become a blonde super-soldier woman.
Bruce Banner was She-Hulk.
Thor was a female Thor.
Hawkeye was a female archer.
Doctor Octopus had become a stunning female scientist.
Doctor Doom was now a masked queen.
Crossbones.
Rumlow.
Taskmaster.
Scorpion.
Venom.
Every one of them had female counterparts.
The truly bizarre part?
Characters who were originally women remained women.
Black Widow was still Black Widow.
Scarlet Witch was still Scarlet Witch.
Storm was still Storm.
Only now, many relationships that had once been romantic partnerships or rivalries had transformed into close female friendships.
The entire world felt surreal.
Drex couldn't even begin to imagine how such a universe had come into existence.
Its social structure had developed accordingly.
Historically, men occupied lower positions throughout society.
Only in recent centuries had equality movements begun gaining traction.
Even now, women dominated most positions of authority.
They were the superheroes.
The strongest individuals.
The political leaders.
The military commanders.
Power naturally followed power.
And power belonged overwhelmingly to women.
Drex rubbed his forehead.
"The editor who created this universe wasn't secretly a radical feminist, was she?"
Despite the absurdity, he found himself fascinated.
Returning home would be effortless.
He could tear open a black hole and step back into his own universe whenever he wished.
But for now...
His curiosity won.
Then someone landed behind him.
A graceful figure descended from the sky and touched down on the rooftop.
"Sir... oh my God..."
The newcomer froze.
Then immediately corrected herself.
"I mean, please don't do anything reckless! Life is precious! You have your whole future ahead of you!"
The voice came from behind a familiar spider-themed mask.
A web-patterned bodysuit hugged an athletic frame.
Spider-Woman.
More specifically...
Penny Parker.
Not the Gwen Stacy known as Spider-Gwen from Drex's reality.
A completely different version.
Apparently, she'd spotted a lone man standing on the edge of a skyscraper at night and assumed he was contemplating suicide.
That had been her reason for approaching.
Then she'd actually seen him.
And her thoughts immediately derailed.
Inside her head, a flood of increasingly chaotic reactions played out.
He's ridiculously handsome.
Why would someone that handsome want to jump?
Should I talk to him?
Maybe encourage him?
Maybe spend some time with him?
There's so much worth living for!
Drex could hear every thought perfectly.
His expression became even more peculiar.
This universe's Parker really was surprisingly enthusiastic.
"I wasn't planning to jump."
He said calmly.
Spider-Woman nodded.
"Right."
Her tone clearly indicated she didn't believe him for a second.
"That's exactly what everyone says."
...
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