Marvel: Starting from the Bottom Chapter 147

Chapter 147: A Reward for a Promise


Quasar was strong, much stronger than most, and at some corner of my heart, it felt almost unfair.


I could see him testing out his powers, amazed and amused by what he was capable of doing. But I stood with a smile, fully aware that another promise had been fulfilled.


“Will I… be unable to live my human life from now on?” Wendell, or Quasar as he would now be known, asked. 


He was a little uneasy, maybe excited, still hoping to not have to let go of the life that he lived.


In a way, I understood what he felt.


“You can, my child,” Infinity assured the man, “And you will. However, you will now have responsibilities as well.”


I wondered how true her words were. The threats that Quasar was meant to deal with were not ones that any other hero of Earth could deal with.


Extraterrestrial threats, borderline cosmic threats.


And compared to the threats that the heroes of Earth dealt with, these threats could not be neutralized in hours or days.


It would take months, years, or even lifetimes.


So, I hoped that he could handle this life. After all, he would have to let go of things he loved, willingly or unwillingly.


“Then I am willing to accept this life,” Quasar was determined, “If it means helping people while also not sacrificing the little in life that I love.”


He looked at me, surprisingly quiet.


I knew what he was thinking, and so, I gave him a nod of assurance.


“I will serve you,” he bowed.


It was rare for a person to accept serving under someone with such ease, and for one such as Wendell, a man who had fought battles and won yet never bowed to anyone other than his country—it was quite amusing to see.


“Then, Wendell Vaughn, I wish that you may never have to regret your decision and live for the sake of this universe,” Infinity’s voice boomed around us.


And if after all these years, meeting and facing beings of much greater birth than mine and of power unheard of—I have learned that they all talked with grand words, yet they all wanted the same thing.


Even Infinity was the same, and for now, I could say nothing about it.


Watch and wonder, that's all I did.


Seeing Wendell being taught the ability to transform between his human self and his avatar, I stood back and watched.


I had to figure out everything on my own. Gathered powers throughout the years just to reach a quarter of the powers that he received in the blink of an eye.


It was unfair, maybe to many, maybe even for my past self.


But now, I just felt amused.


For once, I don't regret having to go through years of hardships to reach this level. After all, with all those hardships also came experiences and people that I would not trade anything for.


I lived a life fully and enjoyed it to the last bits before moving onto this one.


So, Wendell becoming Quasar did not feel bad. I was stronger than him, by miles, but even that was not why I wasn’t upset.


It was because I lived for this life and power, while Quasar was forced into it.


The boy—the man, who was a boy for me given our age difference—was shown the ability to teleport, or warp from one place to another. And while he was possibly never going to be able to freely walk into Infinity's realm again, just for this once she allowed the warp from her realm back to Earth.


Good for Quasar, better for me.


“I believe I haven’t extended my gratitude, Marcellus.”


Markus, but I didn't bother correcting. It was all a meaningless act in front of a cosmic being.


“I simply did what I was asked for,” Infinity was a complex being, both in self and in thoughts. “A promise was all that I kept.”


“And you succeeded.”


“Failing to keep a promise to a cosmic being was not even a possibility,” I said, keeping an impassive face.


Not the cocky, calculative, or even amazed look I had when I met her previously. Now, it was just a simple face.


“You have grown,” She said and despite her lack of a human face, I could feel the smile that she was showing. “And grown to be better.”


I had grown, I know. Older and maybe wiser or stupider.


“I have been trying,” I told her honestly, “And maybe I will have grown enough to satisfy my own thoughts one day.”


She stood, in her gigantic form and without as much so as a word for what seemed like minutes.


“Do you recall what reward I promised you?” She asked, possibly a trick.


“I do not,” one that I was too indolent to think about.


“You will never be my avatar.”


Did not know why, but somehow I felt like she was telling that to herself instead of to me.


“I am aware of that,” I was.


“Yet you still possess an aspect of mine.”


Again, she was not wrong. I possessed her space and by extension—time.


Aspects that I was still bad at controlling.


“Those aspects are still unstable, still weak, and still undeveloped in you,” she told me what I already knew.


My Sentry powers awakened the spatial abilities, yet it still required brute force to make them work.


“I can use it,” I said, “But never control it.”


“So what you wish for is control,” she deduced, yet I shook my head.


“What I want is different,” I replied. “I want something else.”


This piqued her interest.


“And what might that be?” She inquired, curiosity emanating from her cosmic self.


She could read my mind, but I simply wasn’t thinking about it. I had long since mastered the art of thinking exactly on the spot without jeopardizing my safety.


“I wish for the freedom to reach the other cosmos,” I answered her. “I wish to meet the others.”


It was a simple request, but much more dangerous than one would think.


“Amusing how you reach a scenario where I am forced to follow not just your wish, but of someone else too,” her voice held a tint of defeat.


“You mean…” I wasn’t stupid. I knew what she was insinuating.


“I can agree to that,” she said. “I have to agree.”


That astounded me.


No protest, no attempt to dissuade me.


But an agreement without condition.


“But it was something I would have given you without your asking.”


Now, this was truly surprising.


“You may ask for something else.”


Not one, but two surprising things.


“This cannot be considered a reward,” she explained. “So, tell me. What do you want?”


The truth was, currently, I did not have anything I wanted.


While I desired a lot, either I had ways to obtain them, or I was not in any hurry to obtain them.


So, I decided to ask her something instead.


“I believe I am not sure what I can ask for,” I answered genuinely. “May I think about it for a while?”


There was much I wanted. But either they were not a priority, or she was incapable of granting them.


Yes, even a cosmic being was incapable when it came to certain things.


“Do you desire power?”


Sadly, it seemed she was not interested in waiting.


“I have more power than I can ask for.”


It was a lie, but maybe the powers I desired were above hers.


“Then…”


But what she suggested next amazed me.


“Do you desire mastery?”


“Pardon?”


Mastery? Did she mean…


“The reason you have never been able to control your spatial powers is because they didn't accept you,” she spoke. “A human, even if enhanced or enchanted, cannot fully accept cosmic power.”


I stood quietly.


“But seeing how much you have been able to delve into the power despite the limitations and how you have kept your promise,” she looked at me with her non-existent eyes. “Maybe I should grant you the mastery of it.”


All these years…


I haven’t been able to access the spatial powers fully because she didn't bother to give me the key to unlock them?


I felt stupid and annoyed, but it was never my power to begin with. And she was leagues above me, so I couldn't say a single thing.


“So, as a reward for the promise you kept and the proof of your capabilities,” her voice boomed once again, “I free you from the restraints of the infinite and grant you the power of space.”


This made my eyes widen.


“The power of space is now yours, just as it is of mine and of the cosmos.”


She finally gave me the key, even without my asking.


“You can now control space as your own,” she declared. “And you shall be able to do that once you leave this realm and return to your own.”


Maybe finding an avatar for her, a true heir for her, was worth it.


“And you will need it to face what is to come.”


But…


Who would have known, she was just preparing me not to die.


Why?


Because from the hands of infinity, I was to fall into the embrace of death.


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[A/N: You can read the previous chapters under the Marvel tag, all 146 chapters are there.]