Ace

Chapter 113: Ace

Zhang Ye’s move was nothing short of pulling the rug out from under the enemy. Of course, it was also an extremely dangerous gambit, because it could very likely trigger a stress response from that bizarre entity.

But it had to be said that this method had indeed produced results in a certain sense. According to Miss Minutes’s real-time observations, as Kara’s massacre grew more influential, the rate at which this parallel universe drifted off course gradually slowed.

Perhaps it was a repulsion effect between different universes. After Kara emerged, this universe’s similarity to the Prime Universe was greatly weakened, generating a repulsive force between them and continuously reducing the speed at which this universe was colliding with the Prime Universe.

"But that thing is still there. We still can’t get rid of him." Moon Knight spoke up. "Even if we can avoid harming other parallel universes, what about this universe?"

"Marc, this is only one move. I have a way to solve this major problem and restore everything to how it was before. It’s just…" Zhang Ye fell silent, gazing deeply at Moon Knight as though he were looking at an old friend.

"Just what?" Moon Knight felt uncomfortable under Zhang Ye’s stare. He always felt that Zhang Ye was hiding something from him.

"Nothing." Zhang Ye shook his head and continued. "But you are right about one thing. We really can’t keep sitting around doing nothing. The time has come. We should begin."

Zhang Ye turned off the television and poured the last of the tea into the trash. He rose to his feet, and Moon Knight beside him stood as well.

"What do we do?" Seeing Zhang Ye make a move, Moon Knight immediately asked.

"Not us. You." Zhang Ye spoke with a somewhat solemn expression. "I’ve already notified Pietro, John, and Carolina. The three of you are about to undertake something extremely dangerous. I can’t guarantee whether you’ll come back alive, but—"

"I’ll go." Moon Knight did not hesitate in the slightest.

"I knew you wouldn’t refuse." Zhang Ye smiled. "But I hope you understand the importance of this mission."

"Tell me about it. I know Kara is only your visible bait, meant to draw everyone’s attention, along with that entity’s. I was wondering when you planned to make your real move under the cover of darkness." Moon Knight replied.

As expected of an intelligent superhero, Moon Knight always saw straight to the heart of things. Perhaps it was an unspoken understanding between smart people. Sometimes, Zhang Ye did not even need to spell things out for Moon Knight to grasp the deeper meaning.

After a pause, Zhang Ye said, "Precisely because this mission is so important, I waited for Carolina to recover completely and for Pietro’s prosthetic limb to be installed. The more combat power you have, the safer you’ll be on this trip."

Pietro’s prosthetic limb had been assembled by people John found. Since the Avengers’ heroes were currently trapped in a massive cognitive crisis, Zhang Ye had settled for the next best thing and turned his attention toward the villains.

After Kara killed Baron Zemo, Murdock, and the others, many of their laboratories and technicians had been left without owners. That gave Zhang Ye and the others an opportunity. With those people’s help, creating a mechanical prosthetic limb that Pietro could move freely was no problem.

Naturally, the prosthetic’s material had to be the best. For that, Pietro had Baron Zemo to thank. That man’s secret vault had contained a huge supply of Vibranium. In the Marvel Universe, that top-tier metal was already considered an exceptional material.

"What is our target?" Sensing Zhang Ye’s seriousness, Moon Knight frowned slightly and asked.

"To bring back the Punisher and Doctor Strange," Zhang Ye said flatly.

The Punisher?

Doctor Strange?

Moon Knight frowned, turning those two names over and over in his mind.

Another lapse in his thoughts struck. An inexplicable rage rose within Moon Knight. He had had enough of having his perceptions altered every moment, and that anger also stemmed from his fear of being powerless.

"You don’t remember them, do you?" Zhang Ye watched Moon Knight.

Distorted memories surfaced in Moon Knight’s mind. He only remembered Nick Fury coming to find him and assigning him to investigate the deaths of numerous superheroes.

Later, more people had joined their team.

He remembered his conversation with Cable in Mexico. He remembered his argument with Kate Bishop at the Fantastic Four building. He also remembered going with them to Deadpool’s Safe House to investigate clues.

Later, Misty Knight had suggested that everyone split into groups. Kate and Jessica, the two street heroes, formed one group. Cable and Misty Knight, the two enhanced humans, formed another. In the end, only he himself remained, alone…

It seemed…

There was nothing wrong.

He had arranged for Gwenpool to secretly infiltrate Red Skull’s headquarters. He had also intercepted the message Deadpool sent to the Guardians of the Galaxy. After that, he had met Zhang Ye in the forest where the Guardians of the Galaxy had died.

At that thought, Moon Knight raised his head and looked helplessly at Zhang Ye, letting out a heavy sigh. "I wasn’t alone when I went to see you, was I? There was someone else with me then. Splitting into groups wouldn’t leave one person alone."

"That’s right." Zhang Ye nodded, then patted Moon Knight on the shoulder. "You can’t blame yourself. Doctor Strange is Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. Though he has fallen from grace now, he remains one of this world’s strongest forces. And because of that, that thing’s influence over the Sanctum Sanctorum is even greater."

Perhaps because the Punisher had "awakened" Doctor Strange, the trap that entity had left beside Doctor Strange had taken effect. Strictly speaking, the Sanctum Sanctorum now existed outside reality. It had been erased from this reality—or, rather, overwritten.

"So that’s why I forgot the two of them? No, I still remember Doctor Strange—Stephen Strange. I remember him!" Rather than relaxing, Moon Knight became even more alert.

"Don’t underestimate sorcerers." Zhang Ye smiled. "They are still fighting. They have not given up. They are still resisting the unspeakable entity in the cracks between realities. And that is the purpose of your mission!"

"I understand." Moon Knight clenched his fist and nodded heavily.

Zhang Ye took a playing card from his coat and slowly handed it to Moon Knight. Moon Knight accepted it and turned it over. A red Joker was printed on its face.

"This card will lead you to the cracks in reality, and it will also help you at a critical moment. If you succeed, we may be able to solve this problem…"

Moon Knight tucked the playing card into an inner pocket of his clothes and hurried away with a grave expression.

Only Zhang Ye remained in the house.

He stood quietly, staring in the direction Moon Knight had left. After a long time, Zhang Ye let out a faint sigh.