The four of them quickly spun around, instincts screaming danger.
Behind them—no, not standing, but floating—was a figure that shouldn't exist here.
Red skin. Gray metallic body with golden accents. A yellow cape fluttering behind him despite the complete absence of wind.
"Vision," Elric muttered unconsciously.
The floating figure's head tilted slightly, processing the word.
"Vision..." he repeated, almost to himself, as if tasting an unfamiliar flavor. "What an unexpected word. I did not think I would hear it here."
His glowing eyes focused on Elric with sudden intensity.
"Are you from another universe? Or from the future?" Vision paused, analyzing. "No... there is no Stark here, no Pym either. So you must be from another universe."
He continued talking, seemingly to himself, his voice carrying that peculiar quality of someone working through a complex equation.
"And looking at your surprised expression, it seems you also did not expect to encounter me here. Which means I am not your target, correct?"
Vision floated there, completely unconcerned with the others around him, lost in his own logical deductions.
Logan and Jean unconsciously glanced at Elric and Hela.
Other universe?
Elric ignored their stares. His full attention was locked on the floating figure above. His mind raced through possibilities.
What is Vision doing here? Is it really Vision? Or could this be Ultron wearing Vision's body?
But looking at how the figure was still calmly analyzing the situation rather than immediately attacking, it didn't seem like he intended violence.
At least not yet.
Elric decided to go with honesty—or at least, partial honesty.
"Yeah, I'm from a different universe," he said carefully. "We ended up here because of an Infinity Stone accident. What about you? You clearly don't belong to this world either."
Vision finally broke from his analytical trance. He looked at Elric properly now, his synthetic eyes seeming to pierce through layers of deception.
After a long moment, he spoke.
"It seems you really aren't from there." His voice carried a hint of relief.
"I am also from another universe. I came to this... dead universe... to hide from my pursuers."
"Dead universe?" Jean interrupted. "What do you mean, dead?"
Vision glanced at her briefly. "This universe's timeline has been catastrophically altered. Most of its major events have been erased or severely disrupted. It is, for all intents and purposes, a dying branch of reality—stable enough to exist, but with no significant future."
That was... disturbing.
"Do you know your universe's designation?" Vision asked. "Or the number? I might be able to help you get back if you want."
"No." Elric's answer was immediate and firm.
Elric had his guesses about which universe he might be from. But he wasn't about to share that theory with someone he'd just met.
Vision seemed to expect the deflection. "A polite offer, nonetheless. Though I should warn you—while I came here to hide, the ones pursuing me have also found their way to this universe."
His expression grew serious.
"I hope we can have a peaceful conversation. Attracting their attention would not benefit any of us."
"Who are you talking about, bub?" Logan growled, claws still extended.
But before Vision could answer, his face suddenly twisted with alarm.
"No. We're already too late. He's found us."
Elric and Jean felt it simultaneously—an invisible wave of energy sweeping over them like a radar pulse, scanning, analyzing, and then locking on to their position with absolute precision.
Before anyone could react, reality tore open.
A portal materialized directly in front of them, crackling with electromagnetic energy and spatial distortion.
And a figure stepped through.
Not quite human. Not quite machine.
It was something in between—a horrifying fusion of flesh and technology. Half of its face was recognizably human, the other half replaced with gleaming metal and circuitry. One eye glowed with artificial light. Countless wires and cables wrapped around its body like mechanical veins, pulsing with stolen energy.
The thing looked like someone had taken a person and forced them into a nightmare of cybernetic enhancement, with no regard for aesthetics or humanity.
Logan's face went pale. "Magneto?"
Because despite the grotesque modifications, the human half of the face was unmistakable.
Erik Lehnsherr.
Or what was left of him.
The cyborg-Magneto's gaze didn't even acknowledge them. His attention was entirely fixed on Vision, burning with single-minded focus.
"It is no use running," the thing said, its voice a disturbing blend of human and synthetic tones. "I have already locked onto your electromagnetic signature. I can find you even if you flee to the other side of the universe."
Vision floated backward slightly, his cape rippling.
"I went through considerable trouble to acquire this body," cyborg-Magneto continued, almost conversationally. "A mutant with the power to control electromagnetic forces. Then I enhanced it—upgraded the biological components, integrated superior processing systems, removed the weaknesses of flesh."
He raised one hand, and metal debris from the surrounding chamber began to orbit around him like planets around a sun.
"You know how much trouble you've caused us, Vision? Running, hiding, disrupting our operations?" The mechanical eye glowed brighter. "Once I'm done with you, I'm going to sell your vibranium body for scrap in the multiversal market. Maybe use your Mind Stone to power something useful."
"You are not Erik Lehnsherr," Logan said, his voice shaking slightly.
"What are you?"
The cyborg finally glanced at them, as if noticing their presence for the first time.
"Erik Lehnsherr is... sleeping," it said with a hint of amusement. "His body, his powers—they serve a greater purpose now. You may call me what I am: Ultron."
Oh fuck, Elric thought.
Not just Ultron.
Ultron inhabiting Magneto's body, enhanced with cybernetic upgrades, hunting Vision across the multiverse.
This was so much worse than Apocalypse.
"Boss." Another voice echoed from the portal. "The targets are secured. Should we extract?"
More figures began emerging from the portal—humanoid robots, each one gleaming with advanced technology that made Earth's current level look like stone-age tools.
Vision's expression, normally so neutral, showed something that might have been fear.
"I apologize for bringing this to your universe," he said quietly, looking at them. "I truly did not intend—"
"Enough talking." Ultron-Magneto raised both hands.
Every piece of metal in the chamber—support beams, equipment, even the trace minerals in the ice—ripped free and converged on Vision in a crushing sphere.
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