Authors Note-
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Ivan couldn't hide his discontent. Comparisons were pointless. Gaia and Alaya showered their generosity on the Ancient One, the protector of humanity, while he received nothing. Despite the justification, a sliver of unease gnawed at him. To distract himself, he turned his attention to the Eye of Agamotto, the Time Gem.
Though he hadn't seen the gem itself, Ivan grasped some basics thanks to the Ancient One's explanation and his past life's knowledge. The simplest method involved injecting energy and visualizing a specific period. Theoretically, the gem could access any point in time. However, Ivan craved a more profound understanding – the core principle behind its operation.
For the next three days, Ivan became engrossed in unraveling the mysteries of the Time Gem. He remained secluded in the Devil's Hut, even his meals delivered to him. Curious about Ivan's potential progress, the Ancient One kept him company throughout his research endeavors.
On the third day, Ivan halted his studies. With a solemn expression, he lifted the Time Gem, held aloft by an unseen force. Three grains of time sand swirled around it, forming a miniature constellation. A gentle tap from Ivan infused the gem with a trace of energy, bathing it in an emerald glow. Within the illuminated area, a timeline materialized before his eyes.
Ivan swiftly located his timeline and tapped it with his finger. "Now!" he declared.
The three-time sands sprung into motion. One landed on him, splitting the remaining two grains. "Past!" he commanded, sending the second grain flying. It merged with his past timeline, absorbing it. Finally, the last grain incorporated his future timeline with the utterance of "Future!" All three sands then returned to the Time Gem, absorbing some of its power before dissolving into Ivan's palm.
The Ancient One had been keenly observing Ivan's actions. Her face was complex as she witnessed him remove himself from the influence of time.
"So this was your goal? To sever ties with the grand river of time using this method. No constraints, a life dictated by your will, free from the whims of fate. No wonder I couldn't perceive your past or future."
Ivan caught the falling Eye of Agamotto, the last sentence of Master Gu Yi hanging in the air. "What? You checked my past with the Time Stone?" he blurted out.
Master Gu Yi offered a curt nod. "Indeed. It was shrouded in mist, offering no clues whatsoever. It puzzled me then, but now the reason unfolds. You've concealed your timeline."
"Then I'm glad it worked," Ivan said with a grin. "Even if Thanos gathers all six Infinity Stones, they'll be useless against me. My existence is untouchable. There's no way to erase it now."
"Very well," the Ancient One replied, accepting the Eye of Agamotto.
"The Time Gem is returned, and our transaction concludes."
Master Gu Yi harbored lingering doubts about Ivan – his power's origin, true identity, and enigmatic abilities. But it was clear he wasn't forthcoming, and Gu Yi wouldn't force the issue.
However, a sense of security settled over her. Recognition from Gaia and Alaya suggested he wouldn't endanger Earth or humanity; moreover, after witnessing Alaya, a plan blossomed in Gu Yi's mind. She could potentially leverage Alaya's power to restrict Ivan.
Though Alaya, a collective of human consciousness, lacked emotions, it wasn't entirely unusable. Representing the collective human will could be a tool. Gu Yi envisioned a future where leaders or a majority vote could represent humanity; their will would become an order for Alaya, one that even Ivan couldn't defy.
Of course, this was mere speculation, its success uncertain. And Gu Yi would only resort to it if necessary. Presently, both she and Ivan served as Earth's protectors. Future threats might be required for his assistance, a thought the Ancient One acknowledged silently. With that, she secured the Eye of Agamotto and departed.
Ivan, immensely relieved with his concealed presence, returned to his farm, embracing his life of leisure. Time, a swift river, carried him forward. Over a decade, he had elapsed, the years punctuated by occasional earthly events he observed from afar.
After returning to the wizarding world, Dumbledore declared war on Voldemort after recognizing Harry Potter's heightened power. A fierce battle ensued, with Dumbledore, Harry, and the werewolf Lupin joining forces to defeat Voldemort and the King of Vampires. Harry himself ended Voldemort, avenging his parents and restoring peace to the wizarding world, forever remembered as its savior.
Following his contract with Ivan, Howard Stark remained on Skull Island for research, presumed dead by all. Stark Industries fell to his son, Tony. Tony's brilliance led to developing advanced weaponry, propelling the company to new heights.
Interestingly, Ivan held many shares in Stark Industries, arguably the largest shareholder after Tony himself. However, Ivan preferred to remain inconspicuous; these shares were distributed discreetly among over a dozen individuals.
Mutant societies grappled with growing social conflicts. Magneto's Brotherhood gained traction, with a more mature and strategic leader at the helm. Though his methods remained radical, he adhered to a code, keeping conflict with humans in check and retreating when necessary to avoid public backlash.
Professor X led the X-Men down a different path, forging some cooperation with the government. This collaboration yielded results, creating a team of mutant heroes.
The Red Devil's faction operated in the shadows, aiding Magneto and Professor X from behind the scenes. These covert operatives served the mutant cause significantly but always remained out of the public eye.
Following Carter's retirement, Alexander Pierce became Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., effectively transforming it into a front for Hydra. Initially, he aggressively targeted Ivan, but Pierce adopted a more cunning approach after repeated failures, attempting to win Ivan over. Unfazed by these tactics, Ivan ignored him.
Meanwhile, Nick Fury joined S.H.I.E.L.D., groomed by Pierce as his potential successor.
Aldridge Killian, the future villain of Iron Man III, had begun his research on the Extremis virus...
In Siberia, Ivan Vanke and his son remained imprisoned, fuming over their defeat by Tony Stark.
Over the years, Ivan has attempted to recruit several powerful individuals, including Killian and the Vankes, but their extreme personalities and exorbitant demands always led to failed negotiations. Despite these setbacks, Ivan wasn't overly concerned. With his current power base, these additions were merely desirable and optional.
One quiet day, Ivan received news from the Red Queen about a gamma ray lab accident that had created a large, green rage monster—the Hulk.
The Hulk and his human alias, Bruce Banner, the genius physicist, had piqued Ivan's interest for a while. However, hesitant to alter Bruce Banner's fate, potentially preventing the Hulk's emergence, Ivan held off on any attempts to recruit him. Now that the Hulk had manifested, Ivan saw an opportunity. Additionally, the Hulk's blood held immense potential – it could create beings like the Red Hulk, Abomination, and even female versions of these characters. Ivan craved a deeper understanding of the Hulk's bloodline.
Beyond the Hulk himself, Ivan was curious about his father, a brilliant scientist who experimented on himself and passed the effects onto his son. Through genetic manipulation, this scientist could alter his form and absorb energy at will.
Both the Hulk and his father possessed qualities that fascinated Ivan. Thus, upon receiving the news, he devised a plan. However, unforeseen circumstances threatened to disrupt his operations. Kerry reported unusual activity surrounding Hellboy, whom Ivan had discreetly monitored.
While on a recent mission, Ivan learned that Hellboy had been attacked by the monstrous hellhound Sammael. Though victorious, Hellboy sustained injuries. Further investigation by Professor Broom, Hellboy's adoptive father, revealed details surrounding the murder that had triggered the mission. Professor Broom was now headed to Russia.
Recognizing this as the beginning of the Hellboy plot, which intertwined with the fate of the trapped chaos god, Ogdru-Jahad, Ivan knew Germany, a location he'd secured sixty years ago, was at stake. He couldn't leave it to chance and needed to intervene personally.
Forced to divide his resources, Ivan dispatched a team led by Arnold to locate the Hulk. Their primary objective was to capture the Hulk's father, ideally on Skull Island, to avoid conflict with the US. If capturing him proved impossible, acquiring a blood sample sufficed. The Hulk, for now, would remain at large.