Mark paused mid-step, his eyebrows rising sharply.
The Multiverse Transmigration System?
Those words exploded in his mind, instantly stirring his emotions.
Had his long-awaited advantage finally arrived?
Even without a system, he had already begun planning his path toward greater power.
Still, having additional help was undeniably welcome.
More importantly, this was a Multiverse System.
That meant traveling to other universes.
The minimum reward might be modest, but the potential ceiling was incredibly high.
Mark quickly focused his thoughts.
“System, begin traversal immediately.”
“Target destination: a higher-level universe.”
The response came almost instantly.
[Warning: Current system authority insufficient.]
[Unable to travel to universes without an anchor point.]
[Current host may only access anchor universes highly compatible with the host’s character profile.]
Mark frowned.
An anchor universe?
“A universe similar to me?” he asked mentally.
For a moment, the system seemed less impressive than he had initially imagined.
Compared to Angstrom Levy’s dimensional abilities, this felt heavily restricted.
At least Angstrom could travel freely.
With his current condition, the system required a full year of charging to support a single traversal.
[It is not a parallel universe.]
The system’s mechanical voice echoed again.
[The host currently exists within the Invincible Prime Universe.
This has been verified.]
[The host’s Viltrumite profile is fundamentally comparable to the archetype represented by Superman within the DC Universe.
This serves as the primary character anchor.]
[Based on anchor compatibility, currently available traversal destinations include: DC Prime Universe and associated variants, Marvel Prime Universe and associated variants, The Boys Prime Universe and associated variants.]
[No additional options are available at this time.]
“I see.”
Mark quickly regained his composure.
Most of his excitement faded.
These universes certainly contained tremendous opportunities, but none offered instant ascension.
There were no miraculous shortcuts waiting for him.
No immediate path to becoming an unbeatable god.
Jumping into another universe right now would simply mean entering dangerous territory with powers he barely understood.
The risk outweighed the reward.
At the very least, he needed time to master his Viltrumite abilities under Nolan’s guidance.
Flight.
Super speed.
Enhanced senses.
Near-invulnerability.
Every one of those powers needed training before he considered crossing into another reality.
The system spoke once more.
[Supplementary information: The host may activate traversal authority at any time.]
[Destination universes are randomly selected during the initial traversal.]
[Upon entering a universe for the first time, a permanent anchor point will be established automatically.]
[Future traversals may then target that anchored universe directly.]
Mark nodded slightly.
The system’s purpose became much clearer.
It was not a miraculous tool that handed out power freely.
It would not make him stronger overnight.
Ultimately, success would still depend on his own decisions, planning, and ability to seize opportunities across multiple universes.
That was enough.
After all, he knew the worlds of DC, Marvel, and The Boys extremely well.
Years of reading comics, watching adaptations, and studying lore had left countless details engraved in his memory.
Hidden resources.
Powerful artifacts.
Secret organizations.
The strengths and weaknesses of major factions.
He did not know everything, but he knew enough.
Combined with his Viltrumite powers, that knowledge could become a tremendous advantage.
If he played his cards correctly, he could establish himself quickly wherever he arrived.
As for when to begin traveling, there was no reason to rush.
Mark gazed into the distance.
The sunlight reflected in his eyes, carrying a sharper edge than before.
First, he would master his Viltrumite abilities.
Second, he would determine exactly where Nolan’s loyalties truly lay.
Third, he would use every opportunity available to strengthen himself.
Only after making those preparations would he step into the multiverse.
As for the free traversal opportunity, he intended to save it.
For now, it was an emergency escape route.
If things ever went disastrously wrong with Nolan, if his father chose the Viltrumite Empire over his family, Mark would at least have somewhere to run.
Unlike the original Mark, he wasn’t sure he could respond to Nolan’s betrayal with unconditional faith.
Their relationship was good.
Very good, in fact.
But knowing the future made things complicated.
Mark let out a quiet breath.
Family bonds were rarely simple.
Especially when one side secretly worked for an interstellar empire bent on conquest.
The sound of the car engine fading pulled him from his thoughts.
Mark sat quietly for a moment, looking through the windshield.
The familiar Grayson home stood ahead, warm lights glowing against the evening sky.
He adjusted his breathing.
The excitement from his awakening and the appearance of the system gradually settled.
Then he opened the door and stepped out.
“Mark!
You’re back just in time!”
Debbie Grayson leaned out from the front doorway.
She wore an apron decorated with a cartoon cake, her face bright with excitement.
“Go wash your hands.
Dinner’s almost ready.
Your father just got home too.”
“Okay, Mom.”
Mark walked toward the house.
The rich aroma of roasted ribs and apple pie drifted through the air.
Butter, rosemary, and spices blended together into one of the most comforting scents he knew.
It felt like home.
Inside the dining room sat Nolan Grayson.
To the world, he was Omni-Man.
To Mark, he was simply Dad.
Nolan sat comfortably at the head of the table, dressed in gray loungewear while enjoying a thick-cut steak.
Hearing Mark enter, he looked up and smiled.
“Hey, kid.
How was your birthday?”
“You didn’t spend the entire day studying in the library again, did you?”
“Pretty much,” Mark replied.
“I did have to deal with a little trouble, though.”
He casually brushed aside the incident at the library and headed toward the bathroom.
Cold water ran across his hands.
Even now, he could still feel the immense strength flowing beneath his skin.
The power had not weakened in the slightest.
When he returned, Debbie had finished preparing dinner.
The table was packed with food.
Perfectly roasted ribs.
Creamy mashed potatoes piled high.
Fresh green broccoli.
And at the center sat a golden apple pie.
The three members of the Grayson family took their seats.
The lighting was soft.
The atmosphere warm and ordinary.
Mark cut a piece of rib and tasted it.
The meat was tender and flavorful.
The seasoning was perfect.
As he ate, he studied Nolan carefully.
Nolan enjoyed his meal with enthusiasm, occasionally trading jokes with Debbie.
To anyone watching, he looked exactly like what he appeared to be.
A loving husband.
A caring father.
A man enjoying a peaceful evening with his family after a long day.
There was no sign whatsoever of the Viltrumite conqueror hidden beneath the surface.