A island nearshore off Singapore, a clandestine meeting unfolded.

An Atlantean with gray-blue skin, tall and powerfully built, with gills on his neck, emerged slowly from the seawater, clutching a trident sword. He fixed his gaze on the diverse group of humans before him and spoke, his voice heavy with skepticism. “You claim you can help me fulfill my lifelong ambition. Is that true?”

The Mandarin stepped forward, his presence commanding as he addressed the Atlantean. “Namor, if you join us in opposing the troublesome Avengers, we will naturally lend our strength to help you seize control of Atlantis.”

Namor’s eyes narrowed, assessing the group with disdain.

“You? As far as I can see, aside from you, Mandarin, these others lack the standing to bargain with me, nor do they possess the power to aid me.”

The Mandarin smiled thinly. “Whether they can assist depends on their individual strengths. Allow me to introduce your future allies. First, we have Leader and Absorbing Man…”

The Mandarin began with the two figures standing loyally behind him: Leader, Samuel Sterns, and Absorbing Man, Carl Creel, both of whom had vanished during the height of the New York battle.

Having introduced his most trusted lieutenants, the Mandarin gestured to the shadows, where four more figures emerged one by one.

“Next, this lady hails from the Hand. Her name is Elektra,” he announced.

A dark-haired Caucasian woman in a red bodysuit stepped forward, twin sai strapped to her waist. Despite her seemingly frail human frame, Namor sensed an unmistakable aura of danger radiating from her.

“Elektra is the only woman among us, so I ask you, Namor, to treat her with care,” the Mandarin continued. “Now, the next member comes from beyond Earth, a symbiote bonded to a human named Angelo. You may call them… Venom!”

Venom slithered forward, its jagged white teeth gleaming, acidic tongue lashing.

Sebastian’s arrival in this world had altered not only familiar events but also many unknown threads, weaving new outcomes.

“Next, we have a man of noble lineage, likely known to you, Namor. From Kamar-Taj, this is Mordo, also known as Baron Mordo. He has quietly parted ways with Kamar-Taj over ideological differences and joined our cause,” the Mandarin said.

Clad in a black robe and hood, Mordo stepped out of the darkness. His eyes glinted with a shadowy intensity, a red mark of the Dark Dimension etched on his forehead, revealing his allegiance to Dormammu.

“And finally, the last member, who co-founded this organization with me, though he is not present today,” the Mandarin added. “You may know him as… Doctor Doom!”

With that, the Mandarin spread his arms wide, his voice resonating with authority. “Namor, welcome to our fold. Welcome to the Shadow Council!”

———————

At the top floor of Avengers Tower, the team gathered, drinks in hand, their conversation flowing with camaraderie.

Destroying a Hydra branch and capturing Baron Strucker had been a significant victory, and the mood reflected their success.

Though the Mind Scepter had been taken, with Sebastian on their side, the Avengers felt confident it would soon be recovered, easing any lingering concerns.

Sebastian sipped his soda water, steadfast in his choice to avoid alcohol.

As a wizard, he could handle liquor without issue, but he disliked the way it dulled his senses and clouded his judgment, making reactions sluggish and decisions reckless. Even now, capable of drinking, he stuck to soda water to maintain his sharpness.

Steve, clutching a beer, settled beside Sebastian and said, “Sebastian, I haven’t had the chance to say this properly—thank you for helping with Bucky.”

“Just a small favor,” Sebastian replied. “Besides, you’ve already thanked me, and I’ve been repaid. No need to keep bringing it up, right?”

Steve nodded slightly at Sebastian’s words, falling silent. Yet in his heart, he recorded the debt. What was a small favor to Sebastian was monumental to him. Steve’s sense of honor and duty wouldn’t let him dismiss it as trivial just because Sebastian downplayed it.

After a brief chat with Steve, Sebastian’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

Pulling it out, he glanced at the message, his expression turning peculiar. It was from Reed, requesting a meeting at a factory in New York’s suburbs.

Pausing to think, Sebastian realized why Reed might need him. During his second visit to the X-Men world, Reed and his team were preparing to launch a rocket for extraterrestrial research.

If all went as expected, they might now be experiencing transformations, and Reed’s summons likely related to these changes.

Sebastian sent a quick reply, confirming he’d come.

Turning to Steve and the others, he said, “Sorry, I’ve got something to attend to. I’ll see you all later.”

Before Steve or Tony could respond, Sebastian set his glass on a nearby coffee table, transformed into a swirling vortex and vanished.

Watching him disappear, Tony pursed his lips, muttering wryly, “Shame I don’t have the knack for magic. That trick’s just too cool—I’d love to master it.”

Meanwhile, Sebastian materialized outside the factory at the address Reed provided.

He eyed the building, clearly repurposed into a high-tech facility. As he reached for his phone to send a message, the heavily fortified door slid open, and Reed’s voice crackled through a nearby speaker.

“Sebastian, come on in. We’re waiting for you inside,” Reed said.

Nodding, Sebastian transformed into black smoke through his Animagus death raven’s Phase Form, swiftly following the sequentially lighting path into the factory. Upon entering, he spotted four figures under the bright central lights.

Two men, one woman, and a massive yellow rock-like figure.

Seeing the rock giant, Sebastian knew his guess was correct—Reed and his team had indeed undergone transformations.

The black smoke dissipated, and Sebastian’s form emerged. Glancing at Reed, then at the rock giant, he addressed Reed directly. “Reed, what’s this about?”

Reed, noting Sebastian’s calm demeanor, asked curiously, “You don’t seem surprised by any of this.”

Sebastian chuckled lightly, sidestepping the truth—that he’d anticipated their fate. “I’ve seen a lot, Reed. You know about the Battle of New York—aliens, superhumans, I’ve encountered them all. Your friend’s appearance doesn’t strike me as particularly unusual.”

Reed exchanged glances with the others, noting their nods—especially the rock giant’s approval. He gave a small nod and said, “Sebastian, it’s not just Ben. All three of us have changed.”

With that, Reed extended his arm, which stretched dramatically, elastic like rubber but far more resilient, snatching a drink from a distant lab table and bringing it to himself.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Fascinating ability. Care to introduce the others?”

Reed gestured invitingly to the remaining two.

The younger man spoke first. “I’m Jonathan Storm, and this is my sister, Susan Storm—though she might soon be Susan Invincible “

Before he could finish, Susan swatted his back, making him wince and grimace, his hands fumbling behind him to rub the spot but unable to reach it—a clear sign Susan was well-practiced in such reprimands.

Stepping forward, Susan shook Sebastian’s hand. “Hi, I’m Susan, Susan Storm, Reed’s partner.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sebastian Shaw, Reed’s friend,” Sebastian replied.

“I know you,” Susan said with a smile. “The famous Dark Wizard. I’m a big fan.”

To the average person, Sebastian’s identity as the Avengers’ Dark Wizard was a secret, but for those like Reed who’d crossed paths with him, uncovering his true role wasn’t difficult. If not for protecting Alisha’s privacy, Sebastian wouldn’t care if the whole world knew—it made little difference to him.

“You two must have gained abilities as well, right?” Sebastian asked.

At his words, Susan vanished, her body turning invisible while her clothes remained. She reappeared moments later but, in attempting another feat, accidentally projected a transparent force field.

The sudden barrier pushed Sebastian back two steps and sent Jonathan, standing nearby, sprawling onto the floor with a thud.

Startled, flames erupted across Jonathan’s body, incinerating his clothes and spreading rapidly, threatening to engulf the others and the equipment. Reed and the team scrambled, shouting for extinguishers.

Ben, grabbing one, crushed it in his newly transformed grip, sending dry powder spraying everywhere. The scene descended into chaotic pandemonium.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep