Clever minds are quick.
"Our universe is numbered 199999? What's yours?" Tony asked.
Duval smiled faintly. "It doesn't have a number yet, but it will be soon."
"Because of you?"
"Of course. If it weren't for me, this universe's existence would be meaningless to the entire multiverse, becoming nothing more than a backdrop for disaster after disaster, and you wouldn't be here," Duval said.
"That's quite an original statement. You alone have given a universe a number... though I still don't fully understand the difference between having a number and not having one."
Tony and Banner brainstormed, racking their brains to process the immense amount of information they had just received.
To be honest, they didn't really care much about universe numbers.
Unless they were powerful individuals who had accumulated a certain amount of power and began to roam the multiverse, numbers meant nothing to those who lived and died within a single universe.
Their real concern was what Duval would do with them in the end: would he just kill them? This might be the best outcome, at least guaranteeing the safety and independence of Universe 199999. However, it seems unlikely at this point. The more likely scenario is for Duval to stuff them with aliens and then return them to Universe 199999, well-fed and well-fed.
Just look at this world, teeming with powerful beings, where countless aliens roam the globe, fearlessly charging into major events.
Imagine the scene if these creatures were to reach Earth 199999.
If it were just the kind of aliens from movies and comics on Earth 199999, it wouldn't be a problem. A skilled superhero could easily dispatch them with a variety of weapons and explosives.
Unfortunately, these aliens comprise multiple branches, each on a different evolutionary path. Behind all of them lies a deity whose ultimate power is impossible to assess. This would undoubtedly unleash a turbulent situation on Earth 199999.
Tony was determined not to bring these terrifying creatures into his own world. If he did, the world would spiral out of control, and humanity would have a true god controlling everything, unprecedented in history.
"Take the aliens back. I will erase all traces of your presence in the time plane. No one but me and a few others will know of your arrival, and no one but me will be able to enter your world in reverse."
Sure enough, Tony's worst fears came true. He saw Duval stand up and say these words.
He and Banner's hearts sank to the bottom. What should they do? Rage and fight Duval? Take him hostage, like in some superhero movie? That was hopeless.
Escape? Even impossible. They would be caught even if they traveled through time. Where else could they escape?
"I'm not discussing with you, I'm informing you of the result. As the bell ringers who opened the door to communication between the two universes, you have the right to know, and I'm a person who is happy to share intelligence with those who are optimistic about me."
Duva clapped his hands: "All the unfortunate people in your world will thank you for your great contribution in the near future."
"Thank us for turning into aliens and becoming your vassals? Thank us for letting the whole world fall?" Tony shook his head repeatedly. He felt like he would go crazy when he imagined that picture.
"You should think about the problem from a different perspective. For example, the things that worry you are not a problem at all in my eyes. You should have made great sacrifices to restore the world to its original appearance. If you ask me to help, you don't have to worry too much."
Duva still kept smiling: "All tragedies will be rewritten, and all the beauty will be frozen forever. The displaced families will have children and grandchildren again, and the regrets and farewells of your life will not happen. What do you think of such a story? I have the ability to write your already shattered ending better."
At the same time, Duva glanced at Tony, and the next second, Tony's face turned pale, he covered his chest in pain, and fell to the ground trembling.
Duvall said calmly, "Perhaps you've become accustomed to the charade of mortals rivaling gods. After all, your universe is small, and the line between humanity and godhood is not unreachable. But here, you must learn to respect beings far superior to you, at least until you possess the power to oppose me."
Tony struggled in agony. The numerous nanobots within him should have sprung into action, safeguarding Tony's bodily functions.
Unfortunately, under Duvall's precise, high-pressure pressure, they were immobilized.
Banner's face turned even greener. He lowered his head, and after a long pause, he managed to utter, "It seems we have no choice. You've orchestrated everything since we arrived in this world. You possess not only formidable strength and influence, but also formidable wisdom and vision."
"Yes, that's right. You should return, and take the two men from Stark Tower with you."
...
Tony in this universe was also studying Captain America and Scott from Universe 199999, peppering him with questions.
He even collected cells from both individuals for analysis, but found nothing that resonated with him.
"That's terrible! You're even more mediocre than I expected. Look, even you, Captain, your shield is made of something like vibranium, not a single adamantium element."
Tony was utterly disappointed. He hadn't found any valuable research.
A shield made entirely of vibranium? To put it bluntly, Tony had a million ways to smash it to pieces.
If it were a real shield, a raw adamantium shield made of vibranium and a bunch of other rare metals, somehow somehow created, it would have the hardness of adamantium and the energy absorption and reflection capabilities of vibranium. It would be truly indestructible. Without the power of a Celestial Father, it would be difficult to damage it.
This was evident in the Death Girl. Death's skeleton is made of beta adamantium, which, aside from its self-healing ability, is far inferior to original adamantium in every other respect. Despite this, Death was able to pin down a Celestial-level foe with her relentless pursuit, quickly creating a 50-50 advantage.
Of course, a true Celestial would have countless ways to deal with Death, from ripping space apart to fling her far away to simply throwing her into the vacuum of space or into the sun.
Even if one didn't fight Death, simply using super speed to escape, she wouldn't be able to catch up.
"I don't know why Duval would be interested in you... or your world? Even the smallest world is a complete universe, and perhaps we could discover something completely different."
Tony, receiving Duval's message, immediately released her.
Just like that, the four members of the time-travel team met again, but this time, they were no longer as high-spirited as they were at the beginning, only gloomy and uncertain expressions remained.
"Did you get the Time Stone? Tony, you look younger than me."
"Someone treated me to a spa treatment, and the maintenance was quite successful. How about you? Did you get the Space Stone?" The four of them exchanged grim glances, finally falling into a long silence.
"Let me summarize: not only did our operation fail to obtain a single Infinity Stone, but it also compromised the coordinates of our universe, placing us in the crosshairs of a terrifying entity."
Tony felt a tightness in his chest, wondering if the alien within him was beginning to replace his heart.
"Even if we retrieved this universe's Infinity Stones and brought them back to ours, they probably wouldn't be of any use."
"Yes, that's what Stark from this universe told me."
The men exchanged information, their faces filled with worry. Now, they were all certain of one thing: not being able to obtain the Infinity Stones wasn't the real problem; the real problem was having to bring aliens into their world. They
had no choice; all four of them had aliens forcibly implanted within them, and they weren't just any aliens.
"Look at it another way, maybe it's not such a bad thing... I know I might get beaten for saying this, but Duva has indeed protected this world with his actions, right? I've looked into it carefully, and the ordinary people in this world adored Duva, longing to be parasitized by the aliens from Duva and become superhumans, forever free from birth, old age, sickness, and death, enjoying the peace and comfort Duva created." Scott hesitated, then spoke carefully.
Tony, unusually irritable, said, "Ah, you think this is wonderful? What you say is wonderful, but the premise is that your life and death are controlled by Duva, and the future of your world will no longer be decided by humans themselves, but by Duva. One person decides the fate of all humanity?"
"But think about it another way. Duva is human too. Even though he's been huddled together with the aliens, he's still human, isn't he? The actions of humans determine the fate of humanity."
"Letting an alien god in human skin from a parallel universe decide the fate of humanity in our universe? All our efforts shouldn't end up like this, introducing a monster from another world." Tony was in a very bad mood.
He could clearly feel his body being eroded and controlled by Duva, and every word he spoke was heard by Duva.
On this planet, and even in this universe, there were countless people like him, their every word and action monitored and manipulated by Duva.
Right now, he could still distinguish when he was his true self and when he was expressing himself under Duva's control.
But what if he dared to imagine a few years from now? By then, wouldn't a terrifying reality exist: all individuals infected by the alien would eventually achieve mind and body convergence, forever unable to distinguish whether their thoughts and actions were the result of Duva's manipulation or their own will?
This was entirely possible, a highly likely future Tony had calculated.
The four, left in silence and even despair, were forced to open the time tunnel and return to Universe 199999.
The Avengers base.
The other teams also returned one after another, each with what they sought. Their only regret was that Natasha, the Black Widow, had died.
A life for a life, a life in exchange for the Soul Stone.
Hawkeye, clutching the Soul Stone, wept bitterly, muttering things like, "It should have been me who jumped."
Most of the others wore sorrowful expressions, knowing what had happened could not be undone.
Only Tony and the other three, though heavy-hearted, betrayed no trace of extreme sadness. If time could go awry, then rescuing someone from the depths of death shouldn't be impossible.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you making those expressions? Tony, what's wrong with your face? Are you letting time recycle through you, like Scott did before, restoring your youth? What about the Space Stone and the Time Stone?" War Machine Rhodes asked inquiringly.
At the back of the crowd, Nebula lowered her head in silence, observing the others with a malevolent gaze.
Seeing that the Space Stone and the Time Stone were missing, a complex mixture of relief and regret crossed her face.
"Something went wrong, guys. Our plan has failed... right?"
"It didn't affect history, did it? If not, we can just try again."
"We'll have to think long-term about this. It seems you haven't been affected... but now's not the right time to travel."
Captain America's words were hesitant, further confusing the others.
Nebula, having confirmed that these people had no plans to continue time traveling, lost her patience. She had no interest in hearing these future humans recount their failures. "
Failure? No matter. Just leave the technology behind. The great Thanos will handle the rest," Nebula thought to herself.
She darted to the control panel and quickly tapped away, entering the time coordinates using Earth's sense of time.
"Nebula, what are you doing?!"
"She's activating the time machine... Damn it, she's dragging people from the past!"
"This isn't the Nebula we know, this is the Nebula of the past! I remember, her brain is partially mechanical, and there might be something wrong with that."
The Avengers, their eyes bloodshot, could only watch helplessly as the Sanctuary II emerged from time.
...
Elsewhere, Duval stretched. Actually, he no longer needed to stretch his body, but as a human being, he still retained some insignificant little habits.
"Yes, it seems I need to be prepared as well."
Duval carefully sensed the changes on Earth 199999. There were some twists and turns, but generally speaking, it was not bad.
This time, with Duval's intervention, the situation was different.
"What kind of future Universe 199999 will face is actually not important. Whether I can achieve my goal is more important."
Chapter 141: Iron Man, you must have been secretly practicing this combo for a long time, right?
Everything happened so fast.
From Nebula's decisive action, quickly manipulating the time machine, to the arrival of Temple II and the immediate intensive bombing of the Avengers base,
the Avengers present could hardly mount an effective targeted defense, forcing them to passively resort to various means to survive.
When everything calmed down,
they struggled hard in the ruins.
"Tony?"
"Don't worry, I've got the mechanical gauntlet, and the Infinity Stones are in our possession. They haven't been taken by the enemy."
"Nebula has connected to the past and summoned those vicious creatures. We must immediately use the power of the Infinity Stones to eliminate them. Give me the gauntlet! I'm the most powerful Avenger, and I'm absolutely confident in my ability to wield four Infinity Stones!"
"No, this gauntlet is just an experiment, and a first-generation one at that. It hasn't been precisely tuned. It's too dangerous to allow it to carry the power of multiple Infinity Stones. It could kill you in an instant."
"But we don't need the gauntlet to carry the power of all six stones, just four!"
Thor said this with immense impatience.
His powerful senses, through the thick ruins above him, could sense that Thanos had already landed outside and was waiting eagerly for their arrival.
Time was like a cycle, with similar scenes repeating themselves in a repetitive cycle.
This time, Thor would not allow himself another chance against Thanos. He would do everything in his power to slay this past Thanos—younger, more powerful, and full of fighting spirit and ambition than the crippled Thanos he had beheaded.
Now, with four Infinity Stones and a partially constructed mechanical gauntlet in hand, the Avengers had nothing to fear from the past Thanos.
"I've grown stronger, and I even have Stormrage!" Thor roared, his emotions surging.
But Banner lifted a large piece of concrete and said coldly, "But you're not the same person you were five years ago. Do you still have the strength and enterprising spirit you had back then? Do you really dare to say that you're stronger now than you were five years ago? You nearly killed Thanos, who was carrying six Infinity Stones. What about you now? How long can you last in a one-on-one battle with Thanos?"
"Then we can find a way to hide the Infinity Stones before the battle. Four Stones wouldn't be enough to snap our fingers, let alone bring back the dead half of the population."
"Yes, that's the best way to deal with it right now. None of us have experience using a single Infinity Stone—Strange and his crew are gone, and we can't make any mistakes. So, use the four Infinity Stones as a backup. Once we kill this Thanos, we'll have plenty of time and opportunity to obtain the Time Stone and the Space Stone," Banner said in a deep voice.
Everyone was anxious. Thanos was lurking outside, ready to cut them down one by one.
"Banner, you will guard the Infinity Stones and the gauntlet. Acclimate to their power as quickly as possible. You must not show up easily. You are our vital safety net." Tony's words held a hidden meaning.
Thor still didn't understand. If they were both trying, why not just take out one or two Infinity Stones and try it out before facing Thanos?
He did ask, but Tony's brusque response silenced the God of Thunder. "How can you guarantee that those one or two Infinity Stones you attempt to control in front of Thanos won't fall cleanly into his hands after a few rounds? He doesn't have any Infinity Stones, and we still have a chance. If he gains control of even one, how can we defeat him? Why not buy Banner some time and let him try? He has a large amount of gamma radiation in his body, making him the perfect candidate to handle the Infinity Stones!"
Banner nodded heavily, understanding the depth of Tony's words. Feeling the throbbing in his chest, he nodded silently.
Those who hadn't been to that stable yet terrifying parallel universe couldn't understand the meaning of Tony's words.
They are no longer their true selves now, and they have a whole new meaning of existence. Once the world defined by that man as Universe 199999 collapses, even if all four Infinity Stones are taken away by Thanos, they still have a backup plan and will not be defeated like they were five years ago when they faced Thanos.
When Tony, Thor, and Steve stood on the ruins and officially confronted Thanos, Thanos slowly stood up, but he did not take action immediately or express his anger in words.
Instead, he looked at Tony and Steve with a puzzled look. Obviously, this butcher with keen senses noticed that something was wrong with these two people.
However, Thanos did not take it too seriously because it was the first time he saw these guys.
"I heard from Nebula that you didn't get all six Infinity Stones. That's unfortunate. I had expected you to snap your fingers and resurrect half of the humanity I killed in this timeline before I arrived and took action."
Thanos lost interest in talking to these men who couldn't even gather the Infinity Stones. He didn't even bother discussing their ideological differences. He immediately grabbed the Tyrant Glaive and charged forward.
The Avengers' three giants also launched their full-scale attacks, besieging Thanos.
It can only be said that although their fighting style was spectacular and showy, facing Thanos' overwhelming strength and combat experience, their attacks were each resisted and broken.
After just a few rounds, Thanos seized upon their weaknesses and felled them one by one.
"Thanos, you absolutely cannot succeed this time!!"
"I succeeded in this world, so I can do it too. You will all die soon. I will use your equipment and technology to return to the past and retrieve the two gems that eluded you," Thanos said coldly. "I don't care if you deliberately hid the gems in the past, or if you truly failed due to some resistance from the past."
Thanos watched Thor swing his axe horizontally while simultaneously controlling Mjolnir to strike forward, his face expressionless. In his eyes, the fat man before him looked fierce, but his movements were too slow, full of flaws. He
was like a once-precise and massive machine, but years of neglect had left it rusty.
What a waste of this powerful axe.
Thanos first kicked Thor in the knee, staggering him. Then, he blocked Stormrage with his Tyrant Glaive. With his free hand, he grabbed Thor's wrist, knocking Mjolnir away. Then, he grabbed Thor and slammed him into a hillock.
"Your tricks are good, and your weapon is great too." Thanos grabbed Stormrage and pressed it down on Thor's chest.
Thor was about to be killed by his own weapon.
Captain America's Steve watched helplessly as this unfolded, his eyes bloodshot. He thought he had to do something to save the situation.
The next second, Thor's hammer soared into the air. This hammer, said to be lifted only by those with a righteous heart, instantly, without Thor's control, knocked Thanos aside and flew back to its new owner.
Thor, blood spurting from his mouth, laughed heartily, "I knew it... Wait, why wasn't Steve the one lifting the hammer?"
Boom! Thanos didn't care. He kicked Thor, sending him stumbling several times, then turned with a sullen expression to Tony Stark, the man who had triggered this new dynamic.
"You actually..."
Captain America lay on the ground, his face awash with disbelief. He was completely stunned, staring at the Iron Man before him, clad in armor, wielding Mjolnir, his entire form bathed in endless lightning.
This development was indeed unexpected, but it was for the better. This change could change the course of the battle.
But Captain America felt something was amiss.
"Cap, I saw you raise your hand just now, too. You were clearly making the right attempt, but for some reason, the hammer chose me."
Tony himself was bewildered. Both his intuition and his rationale told him that this situation was wrong, very wrong.
Captain America, who was clearly a man of justice, had, in the events of Age of Ultron a few years ago, moved Mjolnir in front of everyone.
If, in this critical moment, Captain America, with unwavering resolve and a profound enlightenment, summoned Thor's hammer and successfully lifted it with a mortal resolve, everyone would be surprised, but not overly shocked or bewildered.
Tony, the person involved, was now incredibly bewildered and even more lost.
At best, he had used his superhuman brain to instantly conjure countless possible solutions to the dilemma at that critical moment. Most of these were hypothetical, devoid of any practical significance. One such idea was to consider whether he could use the unused Thor's hammer to solve the problem.
But it was just that thought, a mere insignificant one among countless others. Yet, like guessing the correct nuclear code, it sent Thor's hammer flying towards him with overwhelming excitement, fearing a nanosecond's delay.
Yes, excitement.
Tony gripped the hammer in his hand, and even through the layer of nano-armor, he could clearly feel the primal agitation emanating from it.
Tony sensed the endless flow of divine power and effortlessly controlled it.
Tony channeled the full power of Thor's hammer into his armor, radiating streaks of lightning.
Even the real Thor, dazed from the beating, strained his swollen eyes to take a look. He felt the man before him resembled Thor more than himself.
He was just Tony Odinson, armored and wielding Thor's hammer.
It was outrageous. A man like Tony Stark could actually wield Thor's hammer?
Tony didn't bother to investigate the reasoning behind this, nor did he want to. He charged forward to challenge Thanos once again.
He even raised his hand to absorb Captain America's shield into his own left arm.
With his shield in his left hand and Thor's hammer in his right, he engaged Thanos in a fierce battle.
Tony flung his shield, only to be sent flying by Thanos's blade. Then, he summoned Thor's hammer to blast Thanos with lightning.
While Thanos was caught off guard, he revealed the reactor on his chest, unleashing a burst of full-powered energy, sending Thanos flying dozens of meters.
This combo flowed seamlessly, perfectly integrating the abilities of the Avengers' three greatest powers, unleashing them to their full potential in a remarkably short period of time.
"Have you been practicing this in secret? Or were you impersonating me when you lifted Mjolnir?" Thor muttered incoherently, rising to his feet. He should have been pleased with Tony's prowess, but for some reason, he wasn't particularly thrilled.
"I came up with these moves on the spur of the moment, and it's like they're ingrained in me. I can utilize every tool at hand to its full potential in an instant, mastering a vast array of combat techniques without Friday's help," Tony said.
Thor, of course, didn't believe it.
But Captain America, standing beside him, immediately realized the reason and expressed a complex expression, for he felt a similar sentiment.
He hadn't expected the aliens within them to actually be so effective, directly granting their hosts powerful combat instincts.
Thanos stood up, somewhat embarrassed. He too was amazed by Tony's feat, but that was all.
Thanos stripped off his damaged armor and, wielding the Tyrant Blade, launched a fierce blow at Tony. Tony's combat prowess, especially his terrifying intuition in battle, made him frown.
"There's something wrong with your body, and your senses of combat aren't right either. You suffer the curse of knowledge, not the curse of combat,"
Thanos declared, bracing himself for the risk of being struck by Thor's hammer and striking Tony's shoulder.
Even with the nano-armor's protection, half of Tony's shoulder would normally be gone.
But that wasn't the case. After the nano-armor shattered, the Tyrant Blade sunk deep into Tony's shoulder, causing Thanos to feel a noticeable resistance. The highly corrosive blood spurting from the wound further grimaced.
Sizzling!
Thanos watched as puffs of green smoke billowed from Tony's wound, healing itself at a visible speed.
This wasn't a healing ability possessed by a mere human on Earth.
Reflecting on the failed attempt to obtain the two Infinity Stones, Thanos concluded that something extraordinary must have occurred.
"No matter what happens, I will go back and see what you've experienced firsthand." Thanos swung his weapon, splashing the strange blood onto the ground. A look of shock crossed his face as he watched a large area of the ground corroded in an instant.
Tony clutched his chest, sensing the strange transformations of the larvae. A grimace worse than tears crossed his face. "I think you don't need to do that; you'll see it soon enough."
"Hmm?"
Thanos sensed a strange aura rapidly growing from Tony.
Chapter 142: The Overwhelming Power of the Gods of the Parallel Universes
. To be honest, the Thanos of Universe 199999 has relatively noble ideals and beliefs, and is determined to sacrifice everything for them.
At least he is much more noble than the Thanos of other universes who are bent on being bootlickers and trying their best to please Death.
This tyrant is also from the Eternals. After so many years of fighting in the universe, he is also experienced and has a sharp eye.
From the first time he saw the three giants of the Avengers, he noticed that something was wrong with two of them.
From the level of vital signs, they were not purely individual, but rather seemed to have something else mixed in.
Thanos had never taken this matter to heart before. Such a trivial matter was not worth his repeated thinking.
But now it seems that the guy who is really looking down on this battle can't help but show up.
"Sure enough, there's a problem. Are you about to show up? A sneak attack while I'm not paying attention would be a good tactic."
Thanos plunged his Stormbreaker into the ground, taking his time. He held a mixture of anger and caution towards the Earthlings who had killed his future self, intent on completing the massacre of Earth with absolute force.
He gazed coldly at Tony Stark, sensing a strange aura rising from him he had never felt before.
But no matter what strange creature appeared, Thanos wouldn't be surprised. He had roamed the universe for so many years, and had encountered countless bizarre races.
"Tony?"
Of the three, only Thor was stunned. He stumbled to his feet, his overweight body weighing heavily. With difficulty, he raised his head and gazed bewilderedly at Tony, who gave him a strange feeling. The
ruins should have been desolate and magnificent, but at this moment, with this completely unfamiliar power, so alien that even the natives of this universe felt alien, the land was suddenly filled with an endless sense of awe and terror.
Pure, dark, and vast.
This was definitely not a power Tony, a pure human without any genetic modification or superpower activation, could possess.
Captain America took a deep breath, his expression extremely complicated. "He's coming."
Tony, silently sensing the changes within himself, felt a strange feeling. He clearly had clear senses, but he felt as if he was losing control, becoming a mere spectator. So, he muttered, "Yes, he's coming. I had thought I could stall for a while, using the vast distance as a buffer to formulate a counterattack plan, but I didn't expect it to come so soon..."
"Who, who's coming?" Thor, carrying his axe, seized the opportunity to adjust himself. "What are you two talking about? Ever since you went back, you've been acting strangely. I'm getting an uneasy feeling. What are you hiding?"
Thor was just a bit nervous at times, even deliberately trying to numb himself, but he was no fool. Furthermore, the changes happening at this moment could very well affect the future of the entire universe and, more importantly, his ability to achieve his revenge on Thanos.
"Aliens are coming."
"Aliens? What?"
This time, Tony stopped talking, his expression beneath the mask becoming deeply distressed.
If it were Peter, he'd definitely understand what I was talking about. He'd be incredibly familiar with the Alien movies, unlike Thor, who, despite being a homebody for five years, hasn't seen enough movies, Tony thought.
In the next second, he completely lost control of his body. Not only his body, but also his nanosuit and Thor's hammer, fell into the hands of a man traveling across the universe.
As the oppressive aura emanating from Tony's body gradually subsided, everyone present knew that the Tony before them was no longer Tony.
"Not bad. The gods of this universe didn't intervene. I thought I'd have to negotiate with them first. At worst, I'd have to fight before I could get the pass."
Tony spoke again, his tone light and casual. He moved his arm seriously and patted his shoulder, adjusting to his new body.
Thanos could tell that the unknown being, after possessing Tony Stark's body, was adapting to the rules of this universe with its series of subtle movements.
"A visitor from a parallel universe? Time travel happens all the time, and the gods can't really care. It seems your universe has gods with exceptionally strict management."
Thanos knew what was going on from just one word, and immediately thought of Tony and Captain America's failed attempts to travel back in time and obtain the Time and Space Stones.
It seemed this being from a parallel universe had somehow intervened.
Thanos was intrigued by this person's methods. How, from another universe, had they intervened to prevent time travel from the future into the past?
"The gods of our universe aren't exactly harsh. They don't care about the reckless actions of mortals. It's just that while they can ignore mortals like you, they can't ignore beings like me."
Tony, or rather Duval, spent a few seconds deciphering the myriad rules of this universe and had a clear understanding.
In any other universe, Duval wouldn't have needed to deliberately take such action, but Universe 199999 was different. The universes spawned from it were naturally distinct from the others, and it was natural for them to develop completely unfamiliar rules.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Duval. I've had the pleasure of traveling to Universe 199999. You're my first opponent. I promised the Avengers of this universe that I'd help them solve a problem."
Duval looked at Thanos before him. "It seems they want me to solve the problem you're looking for."
"Are you a god from another universe?" Thanos gripped his weapon tightly, sizing up the outsider with a serious expression.
"I used to be, and it won't be long before I'm one again."
"No matter who you are or where you come from, it's best not to stop me from saving this world. I will bring lasting peace to it. And now, these guys' actions are essentially pushing this universe towards destruction."
Thanos was unwilling to engage in a meaningless battle with such a self-proclaimed god of unknown origin. Who knew what kind of power this guy held in his parallel universe? What powerful warriors are under his command. He simply wanted to save the universe, not dominate it.
"Your way to save the universe is to kill half the population?" Thor roared angrily. "You even slaughtered my own people!"
"Wrong, that was my old idea. My method now is to kill you all and recreate the Big Bang. New life will then worship me as a god. There will be no more meaningless hatred, and no one will be so obsessed with restoring the world to its former state like you do."
Thanos said, snapping his fingers, but his eyes were clearly fixed on Duval.
Unfortunately, under Thanos's gaze, Duval completely disagreed with his philosophy.
"You seem to be a shortsighted outsider. I don't care if you're a god in this parallel universe, or if our definitions of deity differ. But since you've decided to side with these Earthlings, you're an obstacle to me." Thanos was disappointed. Even the powerful beings of parallel universes didn't care about the fate of the universe?
What about other universes? Were the gods in those universes like this one?
What a horrific scene the entire multiverse would be, filled with so-called gods who are either selfish or aloof and indifferent to the mundane.
"Your method of saving the world is rubbish. I despise it. My method is far more perfect."
Duva observed this Thanos. Honestly, in this small multiverse he descended into, or perhaps simply the MCU, the Thanoses throughout the MCU are relatively interesting.
Besides the Thanos of Universe 199999, who was twice surrounded and killed by the Avengers, there are Thanoses in other universes who were killed by the Illuminati, Thanoses who didn't become the cosmic butcher in one universe but instead joined the Reavers and became Yondu's subordinate, and Thanos who was instantly killed by Ultron.
In this unique community of cosmic beings in the MCU, these Thanoses at least haven't been captured by death. They are nothing like the servile Thanos, possessing independent personalities and different philosophies.
Duval hadn't yet dealt with those death-loving Thanos lickers. In fact, he had no interest in them at all.
"Are you worried about the universe's end, so you're desperately collecting Infinity Stones to keep it alive? Then, according to my method, I'll transform everyone into aliens, parasitizing them. Each person will possess an independent personality and dreams, while also existing as a part of me in a unique form."
Duval said, "In such a world, all rules are visible, all competition is controllable. Your fear of a population explosion leading to the demise of the universe will never happen, because while I provide stability and peace to people, I can also control their reproductive functions."
"I haven't considered such a world. I'm starting to believe you're truly a god in your universe. Unfortunately, I can't give up a guaranteed future just because of a few words from you. Using the Infinity Stones to eliminate half the population is a path my future self has practiced with his life. It's a viable path. What I need to do now is to eliminate the other half."
Thanos said nothing more and immediately attacked Duval, unleashing his full might.
Unfortunately, while his strength might be considered formidable in Universe 199999, it pales in comparison to the Thanos-like sycophants of other universes.
"Without energy manipulation, mental interference, matter decomposition, and other abilities, you can't possibly be my match,"
Duval shook his head. Even if he was merely controlling Tony's body, the young alien within him that possessed the divine gene and thus could wield Thor's hammer, his current power was more than enough to defeat Thanos.
A massive burst of lightning suddenly erupted, far exceeding the power Thor could mobilize, transforming vast areas into pools of lightning, pounding down densely.
However, the primary force wasn't directed against Thanos, but rather concentrated on Temple II.
The vast Chitauri army was utterly annihilated, and the Four Obsidian Warriors fled in panic, struggling to survive the intense bombardment.
Just moments ago, they had bombarded the Avengers base, but now everything was reversed.
Duval glanced down at the shield on his left arm with a look of disdain, then casually threw it away, only to be caught by the sprinting Captain America.
He forcibly grabbed Thor's Stormbreaker.
"This is my axe!" Thor clutched the axe tightly, and Duval dragged him towards him through the air.
"I know it's your axe, I'm just using it. You don't really think someone like me would monopolize your axe and never return it, do you?"
Duval was a little impatient. He was more interested in Thanos than in this God of Thunder.
He already had a female God of Thunder under his command, so recruiting a new one was not part of his plan.
Duval couldn't just keep a large number of God of Thunder as his professional thugs like the god Doom did.
Thanos withstood countless lightning bolts, scars beginning to appear on his body, and pointed his weapon directly at Duval's head.
But then, Duval launched a flying kick, sending Thor, who refused to let go, flying. The terrifying force, a combination of divine strength, alien physique, and the armor's own strength, was so immense it instantly shattered the countless nanobots on the outermost layer.
Duval casually swung Thor's cherished Stormbreaker. As Thor stared in disbelief, this casual attack unleashed a terrifying surge of divine power, rivaling even the full-strength Stormbreaker strike he'd delivered five years earlier to neutralize Thanos, the Six Gems.
Thor instantly shrank. He couldn't believe his beloved buddy could unleash such immense power in the hands of a stranger using Tony's body. A single strike rivaled his greatest strikes.
Thanos's expression darkened, and he swung his Tyrant Blade down. However, upon impact, the Blade shattered, sending fragments piercing Thanos's body, creating numerous holes.
Blood spurted out.
Duval swung Thor's hammer again, striking Thanos's skull with a single blow. A gash opened in the tyrant's head, and terrifying cracks spread rapidly from the wound on his head to his entire skull.
"Now, we can talk... The Butcher of the Universe, in my own way, of course."
Chapter 143: See those Infinity Stones? Take them!
Across the multiverse, a variety of exotic races exist.
Among them, one of the oldest, most advanced, most powerful, and most mysterious of the advanced races is undoubtedly the renowned Observers.
Think of this race as the multiverse's historians.
Their antiquity is enough to stifle those who have come after them, a history so vast they cannot fathom or trace.
The Observers existed countless multiverses ago, witnessing countless destructions and reboots.
Once, members of this race meddled in the evolution of species, leading to the extinction of entire civilizations. Learning from their mistakes, they resolved to observe, not interfere.
Regardless of the fate of their subjects, or the events of their lives, they observe and record from another dimension, never interfering.
Currently, the Observer stationed in these universes of the MCU is a being called "Watu."
Observer Watu's mission is to travel through the various universes within the MCU. Whenever a major event occurs in any universe, he rushes there and immediately records it.
There's no need to worry about Watu being late. He possesses the most advanced technology in the multidimensional universe, commanding the most powerful warships and the most efficient space travel technology. Even without high-tech technology, his sheer physical strength is enough to penetrate cosmic barriers and effortlessly travel from universe to universe.
Now, Watu has arrived in Universe 199999 once again.
"Well, I thought the events would be similar to those in other universes, but I didn't expect such a huge surprise this time—an intervenor from a parallel universe?"
Watu is a creature with a massive, hairless head. His eyes, like those of electronic screens, radiate light, a manifestation of his ability to observe the universe.
He himself stands in another higher dimension, observing the events of another world through a barrier, as if watching a movie.
Logically, Watu wouldn't have high expectations for the major events in Universe 199999.
The reason was simple. The Avengers' siege of Thanos—whether they successfully defeated him or were annihilated by him once again—had been repeated countless times in other universes, and Wa Tu had documented them so many times that nothing new was happening.
"While Universe 199999 is the center of this universe, it doesn't hold the same absolute central position within the multiverse as Universe 616 does. This means it can't, like Universe 616, experience a major internal event that directly impacts the operation and stability of the entire multiverse..."
Wa Tu's eyes widened with excitement, scrutinizing every event in this universe, recording every detail frantically.
This time, however, was different. A time traveler had intruded, possessing a form of mind control similar to astral projection, a sort of arrival.
Even more ecstatic, Wa Tu realized this person wasn't from a universe within the MCU, but rather from the outer reaches, a true visitor from the multiverse.
Well, based on his overall assessment of Universe 199999, facing the ruthless forces outside the MCU, the indigenous humans of this universe seem incapable of threatening a formidable foe.
But Watu doesn't worry about that. He's only concerned with the new, unprecedented changes that have occurred. They're something he's never imagined, something completely new, unfamiliar, and fresh. This means that this event inherently holds immense observational value.
Indeed, observers relish the unheard-of, far-reaching changes; they observe and record them.
"Extremely powerful, controlling Iron Man's body, mastering Mjolnir, and nearly beating Thanos to death in a few rounds, almost as if it were a joke... Aliens? I looked it up, and in Universe 199999, these parasitic creatures are cinematic artifacts? I see. Perhaps this universe, under its multiverse, is influenced by distant, unknown universes, resulting in cinematic representations?"
Watu, privy to so much hidden information, appeared unfazed.
He also knew of a place called the Zombie Universe, a microcosm of the newly born zombie concept's initial integration into Marvel's native universe.
This resulted in a certain ordinary universe within the MCU being affected by the Zombie Universe, giving rise to a highly localized, weakened zombie virus: the Quantum Zombie Virus.
Watu had just returned from that universe.
He was deeply concerned about this figure named Duwa. Which universe did he originate from? Like the zombies, was he also a newly formed "alien" concept?
...
Duwa was unaware of Watu's presence. He couldn't yet see through higher dimensions. Generally speaking, those realms could only be seen by a single, omnipotent being, or even a multi-dimensional being.
Although he suspected that Watu or some other observer was closely observing his every move,
this wasn't the remote, unnumbered universe where his original body resided, but the heart of a cosmic community, destined to have at least one observer watching.
But it didn't matter; whether the observer saw or not made no difference.
As for the Observers' so-called principle of non-interference, those who knew about it knew it was nonsense. If pushed to the limit, the Observers would still take action. But as long as Duval didn't attack them, theoretically, they wouldn't be subject to interference.
"Thanos, you're about to die. Any last words?"
Duval looked down at the burly man before him.
His understatement made it seem like a trivial accomplishment, and to Duval, it was indeed so.
But Thor and the others, especially the heroes who had just struggled to emerge from the rubble, were immediately shocked by the scene before them.
"That's Thanos, the tyrant who once easily defeated us all and wiped out half the universe's population. How could he be defeated so miserably in just a few rounds..."
Thor was completely stunned. He knew exactly how powerful Thanos was, and this Thanos before him had abandoned his so-called "mercy" and was a deadly force with every blow.
"Thor, what's going on? Have you successfully defeated Thanos?"
"That's great! I saw this good news as soon as I came out. When we were bombed, I thought we were all doomed."
"Tony is actually holding Thor's hammer! He also has a heart of justice! No wonder he can defeat Thanos." "Look at Thanos's awful state. It looks like his skull is about to burst open. He deserves it!"
The surviving Avengers gathered together, overjoyed, some even hugging each other and crying tears of joy.
"Scott, did you see that?" Banner whispered.
Scott's face was serious. "Yes, there's something stirring in my chest. That's not Tony, it's Duval."
"We don't need weapons like the Infinity Stones. We haven't even deployed our original form. Just using Tony's body and our powers, we can beat the incredibly powerful Thanos to this state... I can't believe how powerful he must have been when we saw him in Wayland Tower, with his endless legions..."
Banner looked at the horrified Thanos, feeling both relief and deep frustration.
Thanos could push them closer and closer, but Duval could easily tear down their corners, then bury them, and even the entire Earth, in concrete, leaving no one to escape.
The exchange between the two left the other heroes even more bewildered.
But their attention quickly shifted when they caught sight of Nebula.
"How could this be? Thanos actually lost... How could he lose so miserably in just such a short time? This is an illusion. You used the Reality Stone on me, didn't you?!" Nebula was captured by the heroes. She had no intention of resisting or escaping. Instead, she stared at her nominal father with wide eyes in disbelief.
She felt as if the sky was falling. She hated Thanos, but the deeper her hatred, the more frantic her admiration.
Under the gazes of the crowd, even breathing was agonizing for Thanos. His heavy breathing echoed throughout the battlefield like a broken bellows.
"I've never lost so miserably. The power you possess is beyond my imagination. Even in this world, using the power of these people, you can easily defeat me..." Thanos felt the fountain-like hole above his head, his face ashen.
If it were any other opponent, he would have taken advantage of this conversation to fight to the death, perhaps even succeeding in a counterattack. In that case, he could still be saved and the situation could be reversed.
But what about now? Even if he succeeded in killing the Duva in front of him, it was obvious that a new Duva would soon arrive in this universe in such a strange way.
The guy holding the shield was still watching nearby, and he also exuded that strange aura, indicating that he was also a qualified "vessel".
"You won. I have been planning for so many years, but in the end, an alien god destroyed all the results."
"Thanos, in this timeline, you are also an alien. In the eyes of the natives, you are more hateful than me. But you don't have to be discouraged. There are countless people and gods defeated by me. You are nothing among all the losers. There is no need to complain about it. It will lower my evaluation of you."
Duva said: "My promise is still valid. Since you insist on extending the life of this universe, then follow my method-although I have no intention of extending the life of this universe, as long as you nod, I will do it. It only requires a little bit of means."
"Foreign gods want to take action to change the entire universe, and local gods will not let you go."
"Isn't that better, isn't it more in line with your wishes? The war between gods is bound to affect many galaxies, destroying a large number of planets with life, and slaughtering countless people. Isn't this equivalent to achieving the goal of reducing the total population and extending the life of the universe?" Duva said.
Thanos thought about it and felt Duval's words made sense. He'd been doing this for years, only he'd only kill half, leaving the other half to reproduce, rather than blowing up the entire planet.
"Are you recruiting me?" Thanos's expression was impassive, as if he were discussing something completely unrelated. Faced with his shattered ideals, life and death held no clear distinction for him.
"Recruit? You can interpret it that way. Or, if you want to interpret it differently, consider it enslavement. It all depends on your perspective, but whatever you think, it doesn't matter to the outcome." Duval spread his hands.
If he had to capture a Thanos as his subordinate, he'd choose the Thanos of Universe 199999.
He couldn't stand those mad Thanos who licked Death's boots.
Although the Thanos of Universe 199999 possessed no special abilities besides a muscular build and world-class combat skills, he would likely be crushed if he faced a Thanos from outside the MCU, even a normal Thanos.
But it didn't matter. Duval didn't mind. As long as they recruited the right people, their strength could be improved by any means. The Alien Parasite was already a boost, and further improvement through other means was no problem.
"Give up! You think you can recruit me? What I'm going to do is something even gods can't do," Thanos said coldly. He reached out and grasped the half-lost skull, exerting a little force and buckling it down.
"No!!!" Nebula's eyes were bloodshot, and she screamed shrilly. She was about to charge, but she was held tightly by the Avengers.
"He was a butcher, and now he's dead. Do you want to honor him? Impossible. God killed him," Rhodes shouted, his eyes filled with deep fear.
Duval looked at the dead Thanos, his eyes open.
He turned to Banner and opened his hand. "Give it to me!"
Banner hesitated for a moment. "Which one?"
"All of them."
Banner sighed and threw the mechanical gauntlet encrusted with four Infinity Stones.
The other heroes were all stunned, especially Hawkeye who was the most excited: "What is going on? Is that man really Tony? What's wrong with you? What kind of god? The Infinity Stones are what Natasha collected at the cost of her life..."
But no one could stop the Infinity Stones from falling into Duval's hands.
Snap!
Duval put on the mechanical gloves, clenched his fist, and slightly turned his wrist.
One of the four gems, the Reality Stone, made a humming sound, and a red light flashed, modifying reality and correcting Thanos.
Looking at Thanos's expression, which became extremely gloomy after he understood what happened, Duval smiled and whispered: "Welcome to reality. Now you understand why I said I don't care what you think? You can't run away. I don't care whether you are willing or not. I accept your body."
Chapter 144: The Observer Has Overdosed His Job.
For the first time, Thanos truly resented the Infinity Stones.
"You've mastered the Infinity Stones so skillfully from the start. It seems I can't get rid of you no matter what I do."
Thanos's expression was utterly grim. Normally, a seasoned overlord like him wouldn't easily show his inner feelings on his face, as such expressions of emotion would be meaningless in most situations.
But now, even Thanos, no matter how kindhearted he might be, couldn't contain himself.
What the hell?
For the first time, he felt that his life, meant for a great mission, was so worthless in the hands of this outsider.
No, it should be said that it was cheap.
Thanos gazed at the four Infinity Stones in Duval's hand, gleaming beneath the dim sky. Even with two conspicuously empty slots on the glove, they still emanated a power that would command the attention of even a god. Thanos
stared at the Infinity Stones, racking his brains for a way to decipher them, while Duval, too, familiarized himself with their power.
Indeed, this was indeed his first time wielding an Infinity Stone. Each one directly represented the supreme authority over a particular cosmic law. As long as the wielder possessed sufficient power and qualifications, they could perfectly control the various laws represented by each Infinity Stone.
For Duval, wielding four Infinity Stones was effortless.
As for truly acquiring all six Infinity Stones at once, he would likely instantly possess power exceeding the cosmic level of a single one. Not to mention reaching multiverse-level power, but at least a single individual would be omnipotent.
This was due to the limitations of the Infinity Stones. After all, they were nurtured within a specific region. Once outside their specific location, they became useless, no more useful than a random stone picked up from the street.
However, even if Duval truly possessed all six Infinity Stones, Tony's current body, even with the support of a high-quality Alien larva, would still be a significant burden for him to fully unleash the power of all six Infinity Stones.
But it didn't matter. Duval hadn't yet encountered a foe stronger than a single universe. There was no need to assemble all the Infinity Stones, nor did he need to designate Tony Stark from Universe 199999 as the bearer.
Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, Duval placed his mechanically gloved hand on the bald head of Thanos, who had previously knelt grievously wounded.
"Thanos, I accept your allegiance. From now on, you are the first Thanos under my command, and I cannot guarantee you will be the last. I grant you the alien form and faith, and you will fight for me until the very end." Duval spoke calmly, like a medieval lord accepting the allegiance of a knight.
The Avengers were speechless for a long time, feeling the scene before them was too jarring, too bizarre, and they were at a loss for words.
"I might be hallucinating. He mistook that gauntlet, adorned with four Infinity Stones, for a sword and brought it down on the Knight's head—isn't that correct? Am I, too, unknowingly influenced by the Reality Stone?" Rhodes was completely bewildered.
"You're not mistaken. He slashed Thanos's head, and after Thanos, unwilling to accept the humiliation, committed suicide, he successfully revived Thanos with the Infinity Stones, then held his head down and demanded his loyalty... This is bizarre, I feel like I'm watching a bizarre stage play."
Banner lowered his head, meeting the questioning glances of his comrades. He opened his mouth with a complex expression, but couldn't explain himself. He could only subconsciously touch his muscular green chest.
This was ridiculous, like a dream. From the moment they time-traveled, everything was beyond their control and beyond their expectations. The situation had completely spiraled out of control.
Look at what's happening now. Thanos, the man who restarted the universe, has been forcibly conquered by an outsider, physically at least.
What will happen next? Will Earth truly be better? When will the dead be resurrected?
"Perhaps this isn't entirely a bad thing. The future promised by that man, no, that god, might actually be a good thing for ordinary people, trapped in the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death... He can provide a foundation for all ordinary people," Banner muttered. Pained and uncertain, he couldn't help but contemplate future scenarios no one had ever imagined.
"No!! No one can humiliate Thanos like this. Who is he? He's definitely not from Earth. How could an Earthling possess such power?!"
Only Nebula howled in fury, like a fish that has lost its life's purpose, thrashing about under pressure. The mechanical part of her brain was now in disarray, various programs conflicting with each other, causing sparks to erupt from all parts of her body.
But Nebula's fury couldn't change reality; she didn't possess the Reality Stone.
Nebula watched as Thanos, whom she both deeply hated and admired, rose to his feet. It was as if the cosmic tyrant had returned, but unfortunately, he stood beside the man.
Thanos resisted in every way, refusing to yield. However, he was repeatedly abused by Duval, using the power of the Infinity Stones, until he was finally controlled by Duval, his mind and soul.
"Even if you constantly rebel against me, it doesn't matter. I never care about that. I only care about how much value you bring to me."
Duval was completely unimpressed by Thanos's behavior.
After all, there were also some of his subordinates who were determined to rebel, but they just didn't find the right opportunity or the right means. Thanos was not the only one like him, and he wasn't stationed in the same universe as those who were plotting this.
"Why would someone like you need me?" Thanos sneered grimly. "You're a god. When would a god ever need human help?"
"Gods do need human help. Just like the gods of this universe, none have stepped forward to reboot the universe and save countless lives like you have. I believe they're too lazy to do it, as it's meaningless. I'm different. I'll do my best to accomplish what I say. This universe has some value, making it a perfect springboard for me. I'm even more determined to keep my promise."
Duval, four Infinity Stones in hand, quickly turned his attention away from Thanos. He turned his gaze to the group of superheroes gathered, nervous and wary.
"I admire your courage, but unfortunately, you're not yet worthy of my personal recruitment. But don't lose heart. In the days ahead, you'll have countless opportunities to choose. Even if you do nothing, standing by me will be the best option. But before that..."
Duval pointed a finger at one of the Avengers.
"But I'm more curious about whether the Skrulls can also become Earth's Avengers?"
As soon as the words fell, Rhodes's face changed instantly, filled with countless fears. Even though he pretended to be calm, facing such a terrifying Duva, he collapsed on the spot.
He didn't even dare to resist, and immediately revealed his true form, a green-skinned Skrull.
"What??" "Who are the Skrulls? Where's Rhodes? Where did you hide Rhodes? When did you replace him?"
"You're not War Machine? Then you were the one telling us those jokes?"
The Avengers were once again stunned, staring at the green-clad Skrull in disbelief, their entire perspective shattered. Where had the real Rhodes gone? For all those years, was it Rhodes or this green-skinned creature who had fought alongside them?
Duva smiled faintly, not wanting to explore how the Avengers would handle the Skrulls who had secretly infiltrated Earth.
The behavior of the Skrulls of Universe 199999 was tragic.
They'd braved dangers for decades, their entire clan working for Nick Fury, hoping for a Skrull habitat on Earth—and it didn't even have to be too large.
Faced with the Asgardian refugees fleeing to Earth, Nick Fury simply arranged for a small town for them to live and work.
But when it comes to the Skrulls, Nick Fury is completely stingy, his frugality his primary concern. He treats these shapeshifting race like mere tools, using them to their death.
Duval had no intention of criticizing Nick Fury's actions in this universe. Whether it's politically right or wrong is difficult to say. After all, no matter how miserable the Asgardians are, they still have Thor as their leader, a formidable force. The Skrulls, however, are penniless and, naturally, more susceptible to deception and enslavement.
Regardless of how these groups interact, the outcome of this universe will be drastically altered, ultimately heading towards a future that belongs to aliens.
"Next, we'll have to see what the limits of tolerance are for the gods of this universe... If I truly expand with all my might, how much of the universe do I have to annex before the gods personally intervene, expel me, or even annihilate me?"
Duval was deeply interested in finding that limit.
Even a creator god with countless avatars wouldn't sit idly by while his own avatar rules the universe, leaving it to its own devices.
"I hope the local gods will be polite and not be ungrateful... Then, I can begin expanding within this universe."
He would do whatever it took to fulfill his promise to this universe's Thanos.
After all, it wasn't a matter of principle to him. As for the execution of the universal alien plan, Thanos would naturally be responsible, and he would undoubtedly accept it with great joy.
Duva glanced at Thanos, who looked as if he had eaten shit, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Next, we will transport the first batch of aliens to this universe to complete their localization and thus rapidly reproduce."
Duva made the decision.
Watu observed everything that unfolded here.
He stood motionless before the dimensional barrier.
"Magnificent, truly magnificent! I've never seen such a remarkable event in any universe. A greater event overshadows the previous one, directly leading the entire universe in an unprecedented direction."
Watu withdrew his gaze with satisfaction, having recorded everything that had transpired here.
There was no doubt that if Wa Tu relayed this history back to the Observers, it would surely elicit astonishment and praise from many observers.
Thinking of this, Wa Tu felt extremely delighted. After all, his mission was to observe rare and significant events.
With such remarkable events unfolding in Universe 199999, he had begun to lose interest in the major events unfolding in other universes.
The entire MCU wasn't large to begin with, let alone the entire multiverse. However, Wa Tu was currently responsible only for the MCU universe, unable to enter the true multiverse for extensive observation.
Wa Tu observed the major events in other universes, and images from various universes flashed before his eyes like clips from a movie.
"Wait, something special seems to be happening on Earth in this universe... It's also been invaded by Thanos."
Bored, Wa Tu casually clicked on a universe's image, observing from a higher dimension.
He saw that this universe's Ultron, with the Mind Stone on his forehead, unleashed a beam of energy. With one strike, it bisected Thanos, who had just arrived on Earth using the Space Stone, achieving a single, instant kill.
Ultron even immediately picked up Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet, stripped off all the Infinity Stones, and placed them in his own hand.
There are many birds in the forest, and Thanos's various deaths were unexpected.
But even that wasn't enough to dedicate too much energy to Wa Tu. He had originally planned to record this scene and then observe other universes.
"Looks like another universe where Thanos has been defeated, but this universe doesn't offer me any special excitement. It's far inferior to Universe 199999," Wa Tu muttered, like a human who enjoys watching a soap opera, enjoying the story from a god's perspective while commenting on the plot.
But these words were overheard by Ultron, who had collected all six Infinity Stones.
"So that's how it is. I'm truly sorry that what I did bored you. But thankfully, I still have a chance to make amends, because I've found you. It turns out there are hidden here... and there are even more universes beyond this universe."
Ultron suddenly turned his head and flew into the sky, arriving at an open space. His glowing red eyes stared straight into the air ahead, and through the dimensional barrier, a creepy smile curled up at the corner of his mouth as he met Watu's gaze with precision.
It was like a character in a movie, somehow suddenly breaking through the fourth wall and making direct eye contact with the audience.
Watu was horrified and immediately closed his observation camera.
"Is it talking to me? It's not an illusion. Has it really discovered me? But why would this happen... It's okay. I immediately distanced myself from it..."