A celebration party was held at the Avengers base. Not only the Avengers and the resurrected members of the Guardians of the Galaxy attended, but Doctor Strange and Wong from Kamar-Taj, along with the people of Wakanda, were also invited to the banquet.
Before the banquet, Ethan also resurrected Vision as a side task. He did not even need to borrow the Time Stone from Doctor Strange, and the Mind Stone returned to Vision's forehead. Vision was using it just fine, so there was no need to find a new keeper for it.
"This really is one grand reunion!"
Everyone chatted among themselves. Those who had vanished for five years spoke with familiar faces, trying to learn what had happened during that time, and many of them made a point of thanking the Avengers and Ethan.
Of course, some people also wanted to witness the bizarre sight of two Tonys standing together. They even joked that the Tony of this world looked much older than his counterpart from the parallel world, though they already knew that the parallel world's Tony was not that much younger than this world's Tony.
"Nothing I can do about it. This guy learned a lot of things I don't understand."
Tony spread his hands. He did not deny what his other self had said, nor did he say anything like, "Actually, if this Tony wanted to, he could absolutely create a similar serum to restore his youth."
Although they were the same person, they were not truly the same. They had different lives and different goals, so there was no need to force his own ideas onto "another version of himself."
Everyone was chatting and drinking, while Ethan and Steve sat in a corner.
Steve was staring at Ethan in disbelief, his eyes wide.
"What did you say? Open a separate timeline just for me?"
"It's a rare opportunity. Don't miss it."
Steve took a deep breath. Ethan's sales-pitch-like tone made him think the other party was joking.
"It sounds wonderful."
"The experience shouldn't be bad, as long as you truly and sincerely want to make up for that regret."
"..."
Steve fell silent for a moment. He truly did want to make up for that regret. Even though more than ten years had passed, he still felt as if he did not belong in this era, despite already having adapted to everything in it.
In the end, he still could not forget the promise he had missed back then.
"What exactly do you mean by opening a separate timeline?"
Steve was still tempted. He really wanted to know what that meant. Was it like in the movies, sending him to a certain parallel world?
"No. That would just be sending you to a parallel universe. Even without my intervention, you could use the equipment Tony Stark created to travel smoothly to other parallel universes. As long as you choose the right time, you really could see Peggy Carter."
"So what you mean by opening a separate timeline is different from that?"
"If you go to a parallel universe, there will still be another you in that universe."
Steve suddenly understood, but that made it even harder for him to believe.
"You mean sending me to a world where I don't exist?"
"What I mean is a brand-new timeline. In that world, you will be Steve."
Ethan briefly explained his idea to Steve. He could use special means to transfer Steve's soul to a point before his birth, then let him be "reincarnated" as himself.
That timeline would then become a new parallel universe, and Steve would retain all his memories while becoming his younger self.
"In that case, you might have to give up that muscular physique."
"Those things, just like that shield, were never truly mine to begin with."
After understanding Ethan's plan, Steve nodded and agreed almost without hesitation. As for that superhuman strength, he had never valued it that much.
Still, if nothing went wrong, the grown-up Steve would most likely undergo the super-soldier transformation program again. At that point, he would return to his current appearance.
"And you don't have to worry about abandoning your responsibilities."
"Huh?"
"Tony Stark has even created equipment for traveling between parallel dimensions. If a truly difficult problem appears here, they can completely go to a parallel world and ask for your help."
Just don't look for the scrawny version of Captain America who has not been enhanced yet!
"I really hadn't thought of that..."
Steve had already considered completely letting go of his duties and announcing his retirement. However, having a fallback was always a good thing, because if a real disaster happened, he probably would not be able to simply stand by and do nothing.
Ethan's plan covered every aspect, and Steve thought it was very good. But would it be troublesome to carry out?
"No. You'll be the one suffering anyway."
"..."
Ethan only needed to cast a few spells, while Steve had to become a child again. With an adult's mind, he would probably have a very uncomfortable time during the two decades he spent growing up.
"Let's do it, but I need to arrange some things first."
"All right."
Steve still had many matters to deal with here, especially with his fellow Avengers. He needed to say goodbye to each of them. As for the authorities, he did not need to bother. Their relationship had already fallen apart.
Moreover, saving the world this time was different from the original plot. Neither Steve nor Tony "sacrificed" themselves, so the officials still would not say anything good about him. That made it even less necessary for him to care about those people.
"But you'd better hurry. I don't plan to stay here for too long."
"I'll be as quick as possible."
He really was quick. On the third day after the celebration party ended, Steve had already finished handling his personal affairs.
Everyone who knew about Steve's decision gathered at the Avengers base to see him off.
In fact, this was also a collective farewell. Aside from Steve going off to "start a new life in a brand-new world," Tony Stark also officially announced his retirement.
After fighting as Iron Man for so many years, and secretly researching space-time technology in recent years, Tony had completely burned through all his energy. His current physical condition could no longer support him continuing.
However, he would not retire as thoroughly as Steve. Tony would still provide financial and technological support to the new generation of Avengers.
In addition, Hawkeye, who had already announced his retirement but had been forced to return because of his family, would go back and enjoy his family life. Perhaps he could meet with Tony often and discuss how to pass the slow days after retirement.
"Actually, I want to retire too."
Natasha also felt tired, but her situation was too special for her to retire so casually. The Avengers were also going through a generational transition, so they needed the older members to guide them.
However, she would no longer stay on the front lines. Natasha would gradually shift to logistics and administrative work, which was also a decent outcome.
Everyone hugged Steve, and the last person standing in front of him was Sharon Carter, whom he had dated for a while.
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
Every time Ethan saw these two, he felt like saying, "Steve, you're really a beast." This was truly a case of a strange uncle.
Ethan and Tony also said goodbye to everyone. They would not be coming back after leaving this time. After helping Steve begin his "new instance," Ethan would return to the timeline he was more familiar with.
However, Tony would take a small piece of equipment back with him, allowing the Avengers of this world to locate their timeline. If needed, they could use the equipment Tony had created to seek help from the parallel universe.
Steve also had such equipment on him, making it convenient to find him if necessary.
However, unlike Tony and Ethan, who could actively come here on their own, Steve had no way to return by himself unless the Tony Stark of that world also created similar equipment.
"Anyway, it was an honor to work with you all."
After saying his final words, Steve nodded to Ethan. Ethan waved goodbye to the Avengers of this world as well, then opened a spatial portal nearby.
Tony was the first to walk in, followed by Steve. Ethan stepped into the portal last.
After Ethan entered the spatial portal, it disappeared. In that instant, they left this world.
However, the three people who stepped through the spatial portal did not arrive in any world. Instead, they appeared in the void.
This strange environment made Steve a little uneasy. Just as he wondered whether he could survive here, he immediately noticed a transparent barrier surrounding them, enclosing them as they floated in the void.
"Where is this?"
Seeing Ethan enter, he asked curiously.
Ethan pointed at the clusters of light around them and explained to Steve, "This is the void between the multiverse. Each of these light clusters represents a universe."
This was only the void of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's multiverse, but that was not the main point.
"So many?"
Steve looked at the dense clusters of light, like stars filling the sky. He was a little worried about whether they could find a suitable world.
"You don't need to worry. I only need a template, and that template is right here."
Ethan pointed his thumb behind him, and Steve immediately understood. Ethan was going to use the world they had just left as the basis for the new timeline.
"Watch me."
Tony watched quietly. Although Steve had some questions he wanted to ask, he knew this was not the right time to speak, so he also stood silently at the side.
Ethan, meanwhile, left the barrier and entered the void outside. Then he reached out and drew a cluster of light from the vast expanse of light clusters.
Steve could only see a ball of light, while Tony stared closely into the light for a few more moments and suddenly felt dizzy, nauseous, and extremely exhausted. Realizing that this was something he could not understand at his current level, he immediately looked away.
Just as he was dazed, Ethan rubbed the light cluster in his hand a few times, then flicked it into the void. A brand-new, enormous cluster of light was born.
"All right!"
(To be continued.)