American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

373. The Harvelle’s Roadhouse.

At Alex's loud call, the shadow on the wall began to twist slightly before forming into the shape of a bald man.

"I still advise you not to intervene in this matter. After all, there are already professionals handling it, and we should trust them," the figure said.

"Spare me the lecture. We can't keep relying on sealing methods to deal with contamination. Sooner or later, these ticking bombs will explode, and we both know it," Alex replied firmly.

Alex was fully aware of the consequences of contamination spreading unchecked. Just thinking about the star-clad giant that couldn't resist the pollution was enough to realize that if even beings of that level couldn't stop it, who else could?

Although the Watchers could currently control the spread of contamination through time loops, it was not a permanent solution. If the sources of contamination ever broke free, the threat would go far beyond a few universes.

At that point, the entire multiverse—and even other multiverses—would be doomed.

Right now, however, Alex had a golden opportunity to confront these sources of contamination on a perfect stage. Even if he couldn't find their weaknesses, just understanding them better would be a significant gain.

"Sigh," the Watcher let out a soft sigh, understanding Alex's point. However, he still hadn't fully made up his mind. But as he gazed at Alex, who was brimming with incomprehensible power, reason told him this might truly be a rare opportunity.

After some thought, the Watcher finally spoke.

"I cannot send you to that universe. As I said before, it's beyond my jurisdiction. That realm is overseen by more experienced Watchers. However…"

"However?" Alex raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"I can point you in the right direction," the Watcher said, calmly explaining.

"That universe is far from here. You'll need to first travel to a nearby universe and use it as a stepping stone. In that universe, find a rift to the heavens, then transfer to the target universe."

Alex nodded, understanding.

"This is what you mean by the principle of the cosmic prism reflection, right? In simple terms, find a transit point that allows me to cross immeasurable distances to reach that universe."

"Correct. That's one way to put it. That universe has interacted with many others in the multiverse. You might be able to find an appropriate pathway through this connection."

"The 'many multiverses,' huh…" Alex squinted, pondering.

Indeed, in the Zombie Heroes universe, this storyline had connected with many others, as if anyone from any world could come to witness heroes turning into zombies.

Among these, the most notable crossover was the prequel to Zombie Heroes—the Evil Dead series.

In the Evil Dead comics, the protagonist Ash, cursed by the Necronomicon, would traverse to a new world upon each death, constantly battling various spirits. The Zombie Heroes universe was one of his stops.

If Alex remembered correctly, Ash had glimpsed the heavens in his last moments in the previous world. There, he saw countless angels and pure souls. But soon, he noticed zombie Sentry inexplicably appearing, devouring angels. Not long after, Ash was transported to the Zombie Heroes universe, arriving at the story's origin.

"It seems this is the station where I need to catch my train," Alex mused. His plan was clear: first, head to the Evil Dead universe, find the gateway to its heavens, and tear open a rift to the Zombie Heroes universe.

How hard could it be?

"This journey will be fraught with peril. Even I cannot guarantee your safety. So, tread carefully and make each decision with caution," the Watcher warned, seeing Alex's eager expression.

"Thank you for the reminder. I'll keep that in mind," Alex replied with a smile, though he could feel his heartbeat quicken.

Having always sought to avoid disasters and find paths in despair, Alex now actively walked toward danger, embarking on a dark road. The irony wasn't lost on him.

[Sir, are you not planning to call Pietro and the others for this mission?]

Miss Minutes's voice echoed in Alex's mind.

Alex paused for a moment at her suggestion.

Pietro and Kara, huh…

Turning to look outside the window, Alex saw Pietro and Ashley cleaning up after defeating Doctor Lizard. Meanwhile, Kara and Clark were making swift progress, unbothered by ordinary firearms.

Quietly watching the smiles on their faces, Alex couldn't help but smile himself.

After a few moments, Alex slowly shook his head.

"No, this isn't their responsibility. They've already found their paths in life, and I won't drag them into danger anymore. Besides, I'm no longer the ordinary person who needed protecting."

To protect them, I need to become stronger.

Pausing briefly, Alex waved his hand to open a portal. Sharing a determined glance with the Watcher, Alex solidified his resolve and stepped through.

-----------------

In an unknown universe.

The air was filled with yellow sand, countless grains swirling in the sky, rendering the distant scenery hazy and indistinct.

By the side of a desolate highway, Alex was trudging through the wind and sand, walking slowly on foot.

This was Alex's third hour in this world. He had been wandering for quite a while, unable to determine his location. With no better option, he simply followed the highway aimlessly.

"The energy in this world is so strange… I can hear a cacophony of noises buzzing in my ears, and there are all kinds of bizarre energy flows interfering with the operation of my magic," Alex muttered, clenching his fist and frowning.

[Many universes have various types of energy. That's a normal phenomenon, especially for us in a completely unfamiliar universe,] Miss Minutes explained.

"Are you sure this is the Evil Dead universe? Something about it feels off," Alex said skeptically, surveying his surroundings.

The endless plains seemed barren and underdeveloped, entirely inconsistent with the Evil Dead universe's setting.

Occasionally, a car would speed past on the highway, but none of the drivers gave Alex a second glance, let alone slowed down. They simply drove on, disappearing into the horizon.

[Uh, there shouldn't be an issue. Wasn't this the route the 'Watcher' directed us to? It's unlikely the coordinates they provided are wrong.]

"I have serious doubts about that," Alex said, shaking his head. "Remember, their jurisdiction is near the Wasteland, so technically, they can't fully guarantee the accuracy of this route either."

After a brief pause, Alex decided to stop overthinking.

"Fine. I'll study this universe's energy for a while and find the entrance to the heavens myself."

As he continued along the road, Alex worked on adjusting the flow of magical energy within his body.

To this universe, Alex was an outsider, and everything about him was foreign. As a result, using his powers would inevitably cause significant rejection from the local energy.

To avoid this, Alex disguised his magical energy to align with the energy of this world. This allowed him to use his abilities more seamlessly.

Although this method was tedious, it was safe.

Alex could have used the Timepad to convert the Wasteland's stellar energy, but such a forceful approach risked triggering a reaction from the universe itself—a scenario he wanted to avoid. After all, Alex was merely passing through, not here to destroy the world.

It was hard to say how long he had been walking. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, a roadside tavern in the distance caught Alex's attention.

It was a distinctly "retro" establishment, giving Alex a nostalgic sense of returning to the Wasteland universe. Perhaps, though, this style was simply typical in this universe.

The tavern wasn't large. Its patched-up, weathered walls exuded a sense of decay.

In the parking lot behind the tavern, a few old-fashioned cars were scattered about. Alex wasn't much of a car enthusiast, so he only glanced at them briefly before turning his attention back to the tavern.

Above the entrance hung a sign with the words Harvelle's Roadhouse..

"Harvelle's Roadhouse?" Alex raised an eyebrow, his expression tinged with curiosity.

"What an interesting name. Could this tavern be a hangout for hunters?" he wondered aloud.

Adjusting his coat, Alex quickened his pace toward the tavern.

Pushing open the door, he was immediately hit with the smell of alcohol and the hum of lively chatter.

Looking around, Alex noted that the tavern wasn't crowded. At a glance, there were only seven or eight patrons, each sitting in separate corners of the room, engaged in hushed conversations, as if wary of one another.

The layout of the tavern was simple. Directly facing the entrance was a wide counter, polished spotlessly clean, with a few strange totems arranged along its edges.

Behind the bar, a shelf displayed a wide variety of alcohol, much like any typical bar. What stood out, however, were the small, rune-like markings etched onto some of the bottles.

To the left of the room was a spacious area with an old, worn-out pool table. Judging by its condition, it hadn't been used in ages.

Alex's arrival did not go unnoticed. The patrons shifted their gazes, sizing him up with wary eyes.

At that moment, a young woman walked over.

"Hello. What can I get you?" she asked.

The girl had long blonde hair and appeared no older than seventeen or eighteen. Her striking beauty and slender figure were impossible to ignore.

She wore a black crop top, with a denim jacket casually tied around her waist, revealing her toned legs beneath a pair of shorts.

Even Alex couldn't help but glance at her a second time, despite himself. However, the girl clearly wasn't overly friendly. Alex noticed her hand behind her back, gripping a pistol that was already loaded.

When Alex didn't immediately respond, the girl spoke again.

"Sir, this is the Harvelle's Roadhouse. Did you come to the wrong place?"

.....

📢30 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: /Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
374. The Forces of Evil!
375. The Winchester Duo.
376. The Work of Hunters.
377. The Gift.
378. The Case of the Missing Girl!