"Holy crab, am I seeing this right? Is that really Peggy Carter, the one I know?"
Falcon was with Steve at the time, just returning from a mission. On their way back, they encountered the arrival of the Quiz Game and found a high spot to watch the livestream.
His face full of surprise, Falcon turned to Steve and said, "The multiverse really is wild. Cap, I bet this version of Peggy might be a Captain too—Captain Britain, maybe?"
"Yeah, who would've thought Peggy would end up picking up the shield?" Steve couldn't help but marvel.
Even though the Peggy on the screen looked unfamiliar in her heroic poise, there was a unique charm about her that struck Steve.
And it sparked an odd thought in his mind: If Peggy could become a superhero in another universe, then maybe—just maybe— my Peggy could gain powers too?
Since the arrival of the Quiz Game, Steve had been trying to find a way to prolong Peggy Carter's life.
In fact, he had already succeeded to some degree. With the points he'd earned from participating in multiple rounds of the Quiz Game, he hadn't yet been able to afford the legendary elixirs that reverse aging or grant eternal youth, but he did manage to purchase a few life-extending treasures.
Thanks to his quiet care, the Peggy Carter in this universe had regained her health. Not long ago, Steve even went to visit her—they talked for hours.
But during that visit, Steve realized there was still a deep emotional gap between them.
Sure, he'd been frozen for decades, but Peggy had lived an entire life. And unlike Natasha, who had retained her youth through special serums, Peggy had aged gradually like any normal human.
So even if he could help her regain her youth, the weariness of her soul might be harder to heal.
Lying in her hospital bed, her hair snow-white and her face lined with age, Peggy had told him more than once, "The best moments should be left in the best years. You came back too late."
Steve understood the shift in her mindset. He hesitated. He now had enough points to afford an elixir or magic potion that could restore youth—but those could never change her heart.
So he wondered: should he wait, save up even more points, and eventually buy something that could not only reverse her aging but also give her supernatural abilities?
Maybe with powers of her own, she could shake off that sense of melancholy and start a new life?
But earning more points came with risks. If he lost in a round of the Quiz Game, his points could be wiped out. And besides, he worried that turning Peggy into a superhero might burden her with too much danger and responsibility. So, Steve remained hesitant.
Now, seeing Captain Carter on the screen, he let out a deep breath. A decision quietly formed in his heart. He turned back to the screen, eyes gleaming, anticipation growing for this multiverse version of Peggy.
On the screen, Mordo calmly introduced the members of the Illuminati to Stephen Strange.
First, of course, was the bold and gallant Captain Carter. She seemed to hold some hostility toward Strange—she'd barely arrived before she threw her shield, narrowly missing him, a clear warning shot.
"Captain Carter, the First Avenger," Mordo announced.
She retrieved her shield and sat down gracefully.
Mordo then gestured to the man next to her, clad in a skintight battle suit. "Blackagar Boltagon, leader of the Inhumans—Black Bolt."
The tuning fork-like symbol on his cowl stood out. Silent and composed, he said nothing.
Next was the protector of the cosmos—Captain Marvel!
But this wasn't Carol Danvers as previously revealed by the Quiz Game. This Captain Marvel was a Black woman.
Finally, Mordo introduced the heavyweight of the group: "The world's smartest man—Reed Richards, Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four."
His entrance was unusual—he seemed to emerge from some kind of dimensional portal, holding a remote device that looked more like black-tech than any of Strange's magic portals.
Outside the screen, Tony Stark was immediately unimpressed. "Huh? This guy just pops out of nowhere and he's the smartest man in the world? What, I don't exist in his universe?"
Pepper rolled her eyes. "Maybe you don't."
Tony snorted. "Yeah, if I was there, I'd be the one leading this 'Illuminati,' no question."
He then instructed JARVIS to look into the Illuminati and the four figures in the video—maybe they had counterparts in their own universe.
Back on the screen, Stephen Strange looked like a defendant standing trial. Naturally, he was annoyed by this treatment—especially since Mordo had clearly set him up. So while Mordo introduced the members, Stephen couldn't stop himself from throwing jabs.
He even mistook the Fantastic Four for a 1960s rock band and mocked them as relics of the past. When he noticed Black Bolt wasn't speaking, he snarked, "What, does he have bad breath or something?"
Captain Carter sighed. "This Strange is even more arrogant than ours."
After some verbal sparring, Reed finally got to the point. "Stephen, by coming here, you've confused and disrupted reality. The more you move through this world, the greater the danger you create."
According to him, every time Strange crossed into Universe 838, it created chaotic overlaps between 838 and his original Universe 616—like one world invading another. The end result could only be one world surviving… or both being destroyed.
This warning wasn't unfounded. Some sharp viewers immediately recalled that the TVA's future videos also mentioned something similar—Kang the Conqueror had alluded to such dangers.
Crossing the multiverse was incredibly risky. Not only did it endanger the traveler, but it also posed a threat to both worlds.
Strange remained skeptical. Captain Carter then said, "Your other self created the Illuminati. We do what no one else dares. Today, we'll decide what to do with you… and with the girl."
The Black female Captain Marvel added, "Before we vote, as the accused, you still have one last chance to plead your case."
Of course, Strange wasn't going to waste the opportunity. He stepped forward, appealing to the so-called 'judges,' and stressed how dangerous Wanda was. He pleaded for their help in locating the Book of Vishanti—only with it could he hope to stop the madness consuming her.
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