Chapter 40: Wait? Ancient One, how did you follow my portal up here?
"Sorry, excuse me. Take your time eating."
Snap!
The second Thor saw that figure on the other side, he instantly closed the portal and turned to Valeria with great urgency.
"Quick, quick, quick! Valeria! Disinfect immediately! Don't let the Zombie Virus float in!"
"Are you stupid? Thor, that thing obviously isn't airborne."
Valeria once again marveled at Thor's IQ, but she still pulled out a portable bio-purification device and began disinfecting the area where the portal had just closed.
"Who was that? The pressure he gave off was terrifying, even more so than Thor!"
Remy LeBeau was completely startled by the golden figure's gaze and aura, to the point where he instinctively infused all the playing cards in his hand with energy.
Everyone else was the same; Laura had even extended her claws while holding Mjolnir, her Beast instincts flaring up!
"He is one of Earth's strongest superheroes, possessing the power of a million exploding suns: the Sentinel, Robert Reynolds."
"Currently, the only ones who could definitely beat him are Valeria's brother, the Scarlet Witch at her peak, and Phoenix—other overpowered individuals like that."
Thor's expression was uncharacteristically solemn. He never expected that just by opening a portal, he would stumble directly into the Zombie Universe.
It was bad enough to open the wrong one, but to run right into the Zombie Sentinel...
If his reaction had been a second slower and he'd let the other party rush through, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
There was no helping it; the Sentinel was a severely overpowered existence within the rules of Marvel.
His lowest point was a ceiling that most heroes could never reach in their entire lives.
He could fight, but he had no confidence in protecting everyone around him while facing such a monster.
Furthermore, in his perception, the opponent wasn't much weaker than his current self, who had reached the peak of the Quasi-Single Universe level. Not to mention, he hadn't fully mastered the Law of Annihilation and lacked the ability to completely eliminate the opponent.
"So that was... the Zombie Universe?"
Betsy raised an eyebrow, recalling the terrifying WorldThor had once mentioned to her.
"Yes. In that Universe, all superheroes were infected by a Cross-dimensional Hunger Virus and turned into immortal zombies.
They retain all their intelligence and power, yet only one thought remains—preying on living beings."
"Later, to prevent the virus from contaminating the entire Multiverse, The Watcher locked two Universes into a Time Loop, sealing the disaster inside forever."
"Who is The Watcher?"
Betsy continued to ask.
"He's a... let me think how to put it."
Thor thought for a moment, but before he could speak, Valeria had already found data on the Sentinel and The Watcher.
"Let me see..."
It was time for Valeria's classic box-opening session. She pulled up her universal Personal Terminal, opened the database, and began reciting.
"The Watcher, one of the oldest races in the Universe, maintains absolute neutrality, observing without interfering. Responsible for recording major events in the Multiverse, their power is close to that of a Cosmic Deity, and they do not easily intervene in any conflict."
Immediately after, a 3D holographic image of a big-headed figure in a blue cloak appeared before everyone.
"As for the Sentinel, Robert Reynolds:
One of Earth's top super-powered individuals. In his youth, he stole and drank the Military's enhanced version of the Super Soldier Serum (the Golden Sentinel Serum), accidentally connecting to a cosmic energy source and gaining the power of a million exploding suns;
His mind houses a dark personality called The Void. His strength is extremely unstable; his normal state is already the ceiling of Earth's combat power—a severely overpowered and dangerous individual..."
"Valeria, why don't you just come with me? I'm lacking a walking database..."
Thor rubbed his hands together, looking at Valeria with a look of longing.
"Eww..." Valeria took a half-step back in disgust. "Thor, you clearly don't know much less than I do. Also, why don't you look in a mirror? You really look like a creepy pervert uncle right now."
"Me? Like a creepy pervert uncle?" Thor pointed at himself, looked at the kid, and then at the others, seeking their opinion.
"Thor, she's right. You really do look like one right now, hahaha!"
Betsy took a close look and finally reached a conclusion, slapping Thor's shoulder several times before leaning on him and laughing out loud.
(눈_눈)
I never expected the first person to backstab me would be you, Betsy. It seems I'll have to find an opportunity to give you a good rod education. You're so arrogant after just half a day without a beating; what will happen later?!
Thor silently planned Betsy's punishment in his heart. Keep laughing; I hope you don't beg for mercy then, Betsy.
He had plenty of strength and methods!
Tsk, tsk, tsk...
Ignoring Betsy who was laughing at him, Thor reached out again and began summoning a portal.
He wondered which Universe he would open up to this time.
After all, he now held what was essentially a master key to the Multiverse, he just hadn't locked onto the precise coordinates of the Main Universe yet—every World he hadn't visited was a blind opening. To precisely locate the Main Universe, he still had to rely on a bit of luck.
The shimmering golden portal opened again. On the other side was a dilapidated street. Thor took a quick look and saw it was a New York street. Just as he was about to go in and see what was happening, a massive, three-meter-tall green monster stepped through the portal.
"Heh, do you ants want to have a go with me too?"
The Abomination, that pointy-headed fellow, looked at Thor's group and gave a cruel smile.
Rumble!
The next second, a thick pillar of purple-black lightning descended from the sky, striking the green monster directly. In less than half a minute, the Abominationcompletely dissipated, leaving only a patch of scorched ground.
"Pah! What kind of trash are you, acting tough with me? Do you think you're the Sentinel?"
Thor spat on the ground and began desecrating the ashes...
Next!
The aura of the laws in the opposite Universe was average. Normally, the aura of the laws in the Main Universe should be a bit stronger than in other Universes.
Otherwise, how long would it take if he had to go into each one to check?
"Valeria, my magical little darling, it's your turn to step up. Identify if the one opposite is the Main Universe?"
Valeria rolled her eyes hard. After tinkering with her Personal Terminal for a long time, she gave an answer. "The one opposite is Earth-236689, not the Main Universe."
"Also, which Main Universe do you want? There's one numbered 616, and another numbered 199999."
"Wait, you actually have them?"
Now it was Thor's turn to be completely shocked. The Universe Valeria was from was a bit too overpowered; they could even observe this?!
"It's just observation. We don't have the corresponding coordinates. The Dimensional Barriers of these two Universes are very strong, especially the 616 Universe. Even Franklin finds it a bit troublesome."
"Skip the 616 Universe. Do you really not have the coordinates for the other Universe?"
Thor asked again, unwilling to give up. It was better to go to the cinematic Universe first; the comic Universe was too overpowered. With his current strength, he'd just be a slightly larger grasshopper there.
"Let me look... Eh?! There really is one! Let me see what's going on. That guy Franklin actually went to this Universe-199999 in secret?! And he didn't take me with him?!!"
"Quick! Give me the coordinates!"
"What's the rush? You're not thinking of looking for a woman, are you?"
Valeria looked up, eyeing Thor suspiciously. Why are you so excited?
Cough, cough... Actually, he was going to find the future Multiverse-level combatant, the Scarlet Witch. He was just going to recruit an ally; how could it be as vulgar as this brat said?
"Well... the laws of the Main Universe are more complete. I can grow stronger faster. And once I'm stronger, won't it be easier for me to catch Dimensional Demon Gods for your research?"
Thor decisively began to lie and make empty promises.
"Here, these are the coordinate energy signatures and such. I'll give them all to you; you can just open it."
Valeria handed over her Personal Terminal.
Thor quickly channeled his divine power along with the Law of Reality and Law of Space to begin precise positioning.
Sizzle...
Swish!
A portal four meters high and two meters wide appeared before everyone. Before they could react, a bald woman in yellow robes stepped out.
"Thor Odinson, you have stirred the Multiversal coordinates and forcibly broken through the Dimensional Barrier to come to this World."
"For what purpose?"
Chapter 41: Loki, God of Time
Beep, beep, beep—!
The alarm tore through the final peace of the TVA.
The entire temporal loom room was shrouded in blinding red light; the massive temporal loom was operating at overload, emitting a roar that bordered on collapse, as if it would completely explode in the next second.
Outside the door were endless, frantically expanding multiversal timelines.
Countless bands of colored light collided, intertwined, and burst; the space-time storm battered the protective gates like a tsunami, causing the entire TVA to tremble violently.
OB stared fixedly at the console, his fingertips trembling, his voice carrying an extreme sense of suppressed despair:
"The branches are still growing... growing infinitely! On a physical level, the Loom simply cannot carry this many timelines! It's going to blow; everything's going to blow!"
Victor Timely sat slumped by the instruments, his face drenched in sweat, his eyes hollow.
He had tried every formula, every model, every expansion plan, but ultimately reached only one cold conclusion.
"Infinite versus finite... there is no mathematical solution. We are fighting against the Universe itself; we cannot win."
Mobius held onto the control panel, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his throat tightening, yet he couldn't say a single word.
He had seen the destruction of countless timelines, but never had he felt as powerless as he did now—they had tried everything, fixed everything, and prayed for everything, yet the ending remained destruction.
"Is there really... no other way?"
B-15 stood guard by the door, her armor stained with the faint light left by space-time radiation. She watched as TVA employees outside were torn apart, twisted, and reduced to nothingness by the uncontrolled flow of time, her eyes cold and pained.
They were guarding free will, yet free will was about to bury all Universes with its own hands.
Casey huddled in a corner, desperately flipping through the ancient code left by He Who Remains, but the screen showed only row after row of unbreakable deadlocks.
No backdoors, no hidden programs, no miracles.
This was a stalemate; the Multiverse was about to collapse and return completely to nihility.
"Wait! Do you see that throne? There's a throne right behind the temporal loom!"
Mobius seemed to have suddenly discovered something, pressing himself against the door leading to the temporal gravity flow.
B-15 stepped forward quickly, looking out through the circular window with Mobius. Behind the temporal loom at the end of the Gantry, a golden throne was revealed.
Loki, who had just time-slipped back to the present from his first meeting with Mobius, felt his body jolt upon hearing this. He realized something and stared fixedly at that throne.
"No! Loki, that's not your responsibility. There must be another way."
Sylvie also reacted, remembering something the Thor from the Land of Nihility had said to Loki before the two of them stepped into Kang the Conqueror's citadel.
A seemingly random word of comfort was now beginning to come true.
"Let's go to the Land of Nihility and find that Thor! He can see this moment; he must have a way!"
Sylvie gripped Loki's arm tightly, her tone unconsciously turning into a plea.
"Sylvie, he and Father were right. My throne was never in Asgard. This is my destiny. For the free will of the entire Multiverse, this is my throne, and my responsibility."
Loki cupped Sylvie's face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears streaming down her face.
"No! This shouldn't be your responsibility, Loki! I was the one who killed Kang the Conqueror; I should be the one to end this!"
Sylvie shoved Loki away and rushed toward the airlock.
Snap!
Loki snapped his fingers, freezing Sylvie in place, and looked around at his friends.
In his Universe, except for his father, mother, and that foolish brother of his, no one respected him as Loki, the God of Mischief, and no one had ever cared about him. From beginning to end, he never had a true friend.
He never expected that by coming to the TVA, he would not only find like-minded friends but also his unique love—a variant of himself who had lost everything since childhood, Sylvie.
That Thor from the Land of Nihility, his brother, had apparently seen this coming long ago and knew exactly what choice he would make.
Now it was his turn to choose: ascend the throne to save the Multiverse, or perish along with his friends?
The answer was self-evident.
"Loki! What do you mean? You have a way, don't you?"
Mobius walked forward, looking at the suddenly immobilized Sylvie.
"Yes, I have a way. A way to save the free will of the entire Multiverse."
Loki straightened his collar, using magic to remove all the dust and wrinkles from his clothes.
"A way that involves sacrificing yourself to save the Multiverse?" B-15 crossed her arms, blocking Loki's path.
"It's the only way."
Loki emphasized.
"No! Loki! Sylvie is right, there must be another way. Let's try again!"
Mobius also stepped in to stop Loki.
"Loki is right; this is indeed the only way." Victor Timelysmoothed his afro and pushed up his falling glasses.
"Once, Kang the Conqueror alone maintained the stability of the Multiverse and all its timelines. Now that he's dead, unless someone takes his place to stabilize the timelines again, the price will be the sacrifice of one person."
"We won't sacrifice anyone!"
Mobius turned and shouted.
"But it's the only way left. Otherwise, we're just waiting for death."
Victor Timely stated calmly.
Sacrifice one person to save the Multiverse, or have everyone perish together?
"Friends, there's no need to argue over this. This is my responsibility, not yours."
As Loki was about to step forward, Mobius stopped him.
Boom, boom, boom—!
Without giving anyone a chance to react, waves of massive temporal gravity flows began to spread outward, violently battering the machine room where they were.
Hum—!
With a casual wave of Loki's hand, a pale green magical light helped everyone steady themselves. Invisible shackles of divine power locked their limbs, trapping them in place.
Loki walked up to Sylvie, looking at her with a gentle gaze. He placed his right hand softly behind her head and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"Sylvie, I love you."
Sylvie clearly felt the warmth of Loki's hand behind her head and the kiss on her forehead. Tears streamed down uncontrollably as she struggled desperately, but to no avail. Before the great power of time, all struggle was futile.
Having said that, Loki went to the thick airlock door. He operated the machinery nearby, and the door leading to the end of time slowly opened, allowing the violent temporal gravity flow to surge in instantly.
Braving the massive temporal storm, Loki slowly stepped onto the bridge. He looked back at the closing airlock, at Sylvie rushing to the door, and at Mobius and the others.
He smiled. His whole life had been a series of failures, but this time he had succeeded. Not only did he protect the person he loved and the friends he cared about, but he would also save the entire Multiverse.
"I know what kind of god I need to be. For you. For all of us."
He took one last deep look at the people behind him and didn't look back again. Under the condensation of divine power, his white shirt slowly transformed into traditional Asgardian attire—the attire belonging solely to him as the God of Mischief.
His golden horned helmet shone brilliantly in the temporal storm, and his dark green robes rustled loudly in the terrifying gravity flow.
Under immense pressure, Loki reached the throne. He raised his hands above his head, fully releasing the divine power within him for the first and last time.
The emerald-green divine light gradually suppressed and extinguished the iridescent gravity flow. One by one, the timelines went dim, hanging above the throne.
Loki touched them gently.
The throne he had always fought for but which had never belonged to him now sat quietly before his eyes.
He no longer hesitated. Elegantly lifting his robes, he sat down like a true king.
Simultaneously, he reached out and grabbed the intertwined timelines above. Divine power erupted from his hands, winding up the thick timelines. In the blink of an eye, a massive Temporal Tree was formed, shining with a brilliant deep green light at the end of time.
Thus, Loki, the God of Stories, was born.
His gaze looked forward calmly, peering through the shadows of countless Multiverses to find the Thor who had guided him to his true throne.
"Thor Odinson, I will wait for you at the end of time."
Chapter 42: Thor, You Moved on Pretty Fast, Didn't You?
"Is magic really this magical?"
Betsy looked at the buildings constantly flipping, restructuring, and rotating before her eyes and voiced her question.
"That depends on how you view magic, Miss Elizabeth." Ancient One led the way alone, not forgetting to look back and answer their questions.
"You know me? Respected Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi."
Betsy felt a bit numb. Why did it feel like everywhere she went now, everyone knew her?
"Strictly speaking, I don't really know you. It's just that while traveling through the Multiverse, I encountered another you."
With a casual wave of Ancient One's hand, everyone felt a dizzying sensation. Then, they appeared inside an antique wooden house, with a cup of steaming tea placed in front of each person.
"Respected Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi, I bring greetings from K'un-Lun on behalf of my people." Iron Fist Danny stood up and cupped his hands, his gentle and refined voice echoing in the room.
"No need for formalities, Mr. Danny Rand, the 66th Iron Fist of K'un-Lun."
Ancient One waved her hand, indicating they shouldn't mind, and finally fixed her gaze on the group's backbone, Thor Odinson.
"So, Thor Odinson, you have been frequently searching for the coordinates of my Universe, even going so far as to open a cross-dimensional portal. What is your purpose?"
Thor really hadn't expected that as soon as he opened the portal, Ancient One would follow the trail right to him. In his past life, watching the comics and movies, he didn't think much of it, but now the people he met—except for Captain Hydra and those even worse than him—were each stronger than the last.
Holy cat, no wonder it was said in his past life that she died because the special effects were too expensive. He just wanted to sneak in and pick up a girl, but he got caught on the spot.
It was a little awkward.
"Sorcerer Ancient One, I have come to end Ragnarok, and also for the Infinity Stones."
Thor wasn't sure if she could tell if he was lying, so he simply told the truth.
"The Time Stone can be given to you, but I have a condition."
"If you don't agree then... Eh?! What did you say?!"
Thor initially thought Ancient One wouldn't agree, but he didn't expect her to be so straightforward. There's a catch, there's definitely a catch!
She wouldn't be trying to trick him into becoming the Sorcerer Supreme of the cinematic Universe, would she?
"You're overthinking it. I don't need you to be the Sorcerer Supreme."
What the f—?!
I've already mastered part of the Law of Mind and the Law of Soul, why can you still read my mind?
This is getting a bit un-magical, okay?
"This is just a small magic trick I created myself; you needn't be so alarmed. If you mastered the complete Laws of Mind and Soul, I wouldn't be able to read you."
Ancient One spoke calmly.
"But if we come to change the course of Ragnarok, doesn't that mean changing the future? Aren't you going to stop us, Sorcerer Ancient One?"
Thor looked at the Sorcerer Supreme before him, who was clearly much more powerful and mysterious, and asked what was on his mind.
"Thor, you must understand one thing: the future is never set in stone. I can see tens of millions of future possibilities, but I cannot guarantee that the future will definitely develop according to the possibilities I see."
"Then why did you agree to give me the Time Stone? I have already mastered the complete Law of Time, and shouldn't this be the property of the next Sorcerer Supreme?"
Ancient One reached out and wiped the air, and images of the six Infinity Stones and countless Multiverses appeared before everyone.
"Thor Odinson, you should know that the Infinity Stonesare merely vessels for the laws, not the laws themselves, and there are differences between Universes."
"The Law of Time you currently master is indeed complete according to your understanding. You can use the power of the Law of Time in different Multiverses, but if you encounter an existence that also masters similar powers, you will be helpless against them."
"There are also differences between laws, and the Infinity Stones in my Universe contain laws that are a step higher than those in most Multiverses."
Hearing this, Thor also had a sudden realization.
You basically just want to say that the Law of Time you've mastered is more proficient than mine, isn't that what you mean?
"You misunderstand, Thor. I have not mastered the laws; I simply utilize them."
That's even more terrifying, okay?
You, who hasn't even comprehended the laws, can know what I'm going to say next and what I'm thinking just by utilizing them?
Isn't that a bit too overpowered? No wonder you had to be 'banned.' If you didn't retire, how could the upcoming crises on Earth proceed!
"Then what is the price?"
Thor was a bit excited at the thought of being able to master a more powerful Law of Time, but he also grew wary in his heart. This price probably won't be easy to pay!
"It's simple. As long as you agree to my request, I will no longer interfere with how you intervene in the future of this Universe."
Ancient One picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"Sorcerer Ancient One, hearing you say that makes me a little afraid to agree..."
"Then please leave."
"Wait, wait, wait! I agree! Tell me what it is first."
Ancient One gave Thor a meaningful look and said:
"Assist the Scarlet Witch in becoming the Sorcerer Supreme to take my place."
"Ah?!!"
Such a simple request?
Something's not right; it feels like she's seen right through him.
He suddenly really wished his cheat was a system; at least it might be able to block the perception of these cheating fellows.
"What about Strange? He's the future Sorcerer Supreme, aren't you going to take him?"
"I traveled through the Multiverse a while ago and saw a Strange who destroyed his Universe to resurrect his lover..."
The plot is getting more and more off-track. How could you even run into that Dark Supreme Strange fellow?
This is totally unreasonable, right?
"Isn't Wanda also someone who would destroy a Universefor her children?"
Thor instinctively sold out Wanda's character.
"In any case, you're here, aren't you?"
Ancient One glanced at Thor.
"Dammit, with the plot deviating like this, I wouldn't be surprised if Dr. Banner turned into One Punch Man one day."
Thor knew he was truly out of options, so he could only nod in agreement.
"The stone is yours. Be as quick as you can; I've wanted to get off work for a long time."
Ancient One casually tossed the Time Stone to Thor as if offloading a heavy burden, then turned and opened a portal, vanishing.
"So? Valeria was right, you're just here to pick up girls?"
Betsy narrowed her eyes, looking at Thor who was standing there in a daze with nothing to do.
Old Loki retreated with Little Groot. Captain Carter, Iron Fist Danny, and Black Widow Natasha also withdrew when they saw things taking a turn for the worse.
"That... Betsy, you know, for the legacy of Asgard, it's my duty. And you heard Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi's request just now; there's... there's no other way. For the safety of the Multiverse, I have to step up, don't I?"
Thor explained, bracing himself.
"Thor, Emma and I don't care if you have other women, but the problem is, you've only been with me for a day and you've already moved on?"
Betsy began to crack her knuckles.
Thor was soon backed into a corner. Just when he thought he was about to get beaten up, he felt a softness on his lips.
"Thor, I think making sure you don't have the energy to think about other women is a very good approach. What do you think?"
Chapter 43: Parting Ways! Setting Off for the GrootUniverse!
By the bedside, Thor looked at Betsy's flushed cheeks and stroked her hair. "Betsy, you're hurting yourself as much as you're hurting me!"
"Tch, it's all because you moved on so quickly. I may not be a little girl anymore, but your behavior really pisses me off!"
Betsy thumped Thor's chest a few times.
"Are you jealous?"
Thor teased.
"Yes, so have you thought about how to make it up to me?"
Betsy looked straight into Thor's eyes.
"Then how do you want me to make it up to you?"
Thor threw the question back at Betsy.
"After you rescue Groot's teammates, spend some quality time with me, or else..."
Betsy raised her fist, though it didn't look threatening at all.
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
Thor kissed Betsy's forehead and with a wave of his hand, his armor quickly covered his entire body, his pitch-black cape billowing without any wind.
Hmm... having the Law of Reality is great; you can have whatever you want. Speaking of which, can this thing create stormbreaker?
That thing is no ordinary beast!
In the movies, Thor could go head-to-head with the energy of all six stones right after getting it. Since he has now mastered the complete Law of Time and Law of Reality, wouldn't it be even more powerful?
Acting on the thought, Thor began shaping it based on memories from his past life. In less than a minute, an axe identical to the one in his memory floated before him.
"Hmm... the appearance is right, and the metal is Uru, which can easily cut through my divine body. But without the function to summon the Bifrost Bridge, it feels like it's missing its soul."
Thor fell into deep thought as he looked at a cut on his palm that healed as soon as it appeared.
What he created with the Law of Reality was just the exterior of stormbreaker. While it possessed its indestructible properties, he remembered that Thor's weapon seemed to have its own consciousness to an extent.
According to his experience reading novels in his past life, it was probably equivalent to having a weapon soul.
Whether it had the Odinforce didn't matter; his power was now comparable to Odin in his prime. It should be called the Thor-force now.
Is it because he hasn't mastered the complete Law of Space that he can't create the Bifrost function?
From that perspective, once he understands the laws of all six stones, he'll be able to hand-craft divine artifacts on the fly!
After saving Rocket, he would go to the Main Universe and pluck all the stones there in advance.
Thor looked at the Time Stone inside the eye of agamottoin his hand. The energy contained within was on a completely different level compared to the Time Stone he had absorbed in the Land of Nihility.
It just so happened that he had mastered the Law of Time, so he could use this to refine his skills.
Buzz—!
A strange humming sound rang out, and an emerald-green energy shield quickly covered Thor's entire body.
Betsy got out of bed naked, walked up to Thor, and poked the suddenly appearing energy shield curiously.
"Betsy, why are you standing there instead of changing your clothes?"
Thor had just finished using time acceleration to speed up his refinement of the Law of Time. Looking at the completely unclothed Betsy, he didn't understand what she was trying to do.
"Thor, don't you know transformation magic? Give me an outfit."
Betsy blinked her large eyes, looking at Thor with a face full of longing.
*Cough cough*... Does this girl Betsy not realize that doing this makes it very easy for things to heat up again?
Thor forced himself to look away. "What style do you want, Betsy?"
"Whatever you think looks good."
"Alright, Betsy, you have no idea how seductive you are right now."
Thor pointed his finger lightly at Betsy. Deep purple armor quickly covered her body, two scabbards appeared on her back, and a pitch-black short baton hung at her waist.
"Is that so? If I'm so seductive, then I wonder who was thinking about another woman on our very first day together?"
Betsy looked down at the armor, then looked up at Thor, speaking sarcastically.
"Ahem... take these two blades. They're made of Uru metal; ordinary weapons won't be able to hurt Thanos' subordinates."
Thor chose to strategically change the subject.
Betsy rolled her eyes at his actions, took the two long blades and sheathed them on her back, then casually tied her shoulder-length purple hair into a ponytail.
"Let's go. Little Groot is probably getting impatient."
With that, she led the way out of the room.
Thor weighed the stormbreaker in his hand; it would have to do for now.
He then followed Betsy out the door.
"Thor, I remember you only loved your Jane. What's this? You moved on so quickly?"
Black Widow Natasha, who had been leaning outside the door at some point, teased Thor as he walked out.
"Natasha, why are you hanging around here instead of gathering intel?"
"Gathering intel?" Natasha laughed after hearing that. "While you and Elizabeth were being all lovey-dovey, we were still trapped in this Mirror Dimension thing."
"Loki, you didn't take them out?"
Thor asked Old Loki, who was looking more and more like a retired official.
"I've never studied Kamar-Taj magic, how was I supposed to take them out?"
After answering, Old Loki picked up his eternal thermos, blew on it gently, and then took a sip.
"I am Groot!"
(Thor, you bastard, you're finally out!)
Groot flew in front of Thor, hands on his hips, glaring at him very angrily.
"Alright, alright, it's definitely my fault. Let's set off now!"
Thor comforted the little guy by stroking his head, then extended his left hand and lightly snapped his fingers.
*Crack...*
With the sound of shattering glass, the Mirror Dimensionvanished in the blink of an eye, and the group found themselves on the rooftop of a residential building in New York.
"Carter, I'll leave the intel gathering to you. Oh, right, you should be careful of that Black Braised Egg; that guy is no good."
Thor gave a few instructions, channeled his divine power to sense Groot's aura, and then began drawing circles in the air with his palm.
A shimmering golden portal abruptly appeared. Thor took Groot, Betsy, and Old Loki through it, disappearing from this Universe.
"What's a Black Braised Egg? Is it some delicacy from the Dragon Kingdom?" Captain Carter frowned, somewhat confused. He only gave a nickname and not a name; how was she supposed to know who he was talking about?
Not to mention being wary of the guy.
"Carter, I think I know who Thor was talking about."
Natasha chuckled, having thought of something.
"It's S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury. Thor's description is actually quite accurate."
Iron Fist Danny chimed in. He didn't expect to have acquaintances in the Main Universe as well, though he wondered if White Tiger and Spider-Man were in this Universe.
"In that case, wouldn't Coulson be a white braised egg?"
Natasha's mood finally relaxed, and she even had the heart to joke about her former colleague. After all, compared to surviving in the Land of Nihility, investigating intel in modern society was far too simple.
As for whether they had identification?
That could be handled as long as they had money. And as for where the money would come from?
Her gaze slowly drifted toward the distance, right where Hells Kitchen was located.
Chapter 44: Saving People at a Critical Moment
Yellow sand filled the sky, and not a trace of life could be seen on the surface of the Desolate Planet. A broken Spaceship, enveloped in dust, plummeted straight down from high altitude, plunging into a soft Sand Dune and kicking up a sky full of Sand Mist.
"Quick! Gamora, Nebula! You two help Drax and Mantis go first, Rocket and I will cover the rear!"
Clang—!
Star-Lord, Peter Quill, wearing a retro 90s dark red jacket, kicked open the deformed Spaceship hatch. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his voice trembled with urgency as he frantically signaled his teammates to evacuate quickly.
"Peter, what about you and Rocket?!"
Gamora gritted her teeth, dragging the heavily injured Drax. His heavy body made her stumble, and her eyes were filled with unresolvable worry as she stared intently at the man in front of her.
"Go! What are you standing there for? If we dilly-dally any longer, we'll all die here!" Peter stepped forward and pushed Gamora twice, his brows furrowed, his face almost overflowing with anxiety and unease, devoid of his usual carefree demeanor.
"Gamora, he's right. If we don't leave now, none of us will escape. This isn't the time for sentimental talk." Nebulasaid with a cold face, helping the weak Mantis to take the lead. Her tone was completely calm, almost cruelly rational.
Gamora looked back at Peter deeply, then at Nebula's receding back. In the end, she suppressed the tremor and worry in her heart, gritted her teeth, and quickly followed, supporting Drax.
"Peter, you idiot, you finally did something like a Captain."
Rocket Raccoon held an Energy Weapon several times larger than his body, his furry ears stiff and straight. His tone was still fierce and irritable, but it contained a rare hint of approval.
"Groot is gone... That bastard Thanos, I'll settle this score with him sooner or later."
Peter clenched his hands tightly, the image of Grootdisappearing flashing through his mind, his eyes filled with raging anger and unconcealed grief.
"Fuck... You don't have to tell me, I'll make that Purple Potato Spirit taste my improved Energy Cannon."
"So, how about we ambush them?" Peter turned to Rocket, his eyes filled with a desperate resolve.
"Fuck... Just what I wanted! I'm going to tear his purple head into pieces, not a single one left! Now, let's begin our final battle!"
Rocket spat fiercely, quickly checked his ammunition, and then, with Peter, crouched behind a Sand Dune to swiftly set up traps.
In just a few minutes, the originally clear sky suddenly darkened, and a huge shadow enveloped the entire land.
A giant, Donut-shaped Alien Warship silently hovered above the Planet. Its hull gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster, and the oppressive feeling was overwhelming.
"They're here." Peter looked up at the familiar warship, his expression instantly grave.
"Good timing! My ammunition is enough for them to have a good taste!"
Click...
Rocket pulled down the safety device of the Energy Weapon, his small body steadily embracing the barrel, his whole body tense, ready to attack at any moment.
Just then, a dark golden pattern split open beneath the Donut-shaped warship, and a thick, long, dazzling pale blue light beam suddenly broke through the clouds, smashing directly onto the Sand Dune ahead.
Wherever the light beam passed, the air twisted violently, and the sky full of sand was forcefully pushed aside. Light and shadow rapidly condensed, and several figures in dark combat armor slowly stepped out from the light beam, each step carrying a suffocating pressure.
The light beam only lasted for a few seconds before suddenly retracting. The dust slowly settled, and the Black Order stood on either side, Ebony Maw in the center, his gaze calmly sweeping over Star-Lord and Rocket, as if looking at two insignificant ants.
He spoke softly, his tone indifferent and distant, yet it felt like a cold piece of black iron, heavily pressing on their hearts: "You've been running for so long, you must be tired. Your so-called resistance is nothing but a futile struggle before death."
Peter tightened his grip on his Dual-Element Gun, his eyes instantly growing cold: "Cut the crap! If you want Gamora, you'll have to beat us first!"
Rocket let out a fierce growl, the muzzle of his gun already glowing faintly, his sharp voice filled with bone-deep hatred:
"Don't waste words on this weakling! If you dare touch our people, we'll bury you on this rotten Planet today!"
Ebony Maw raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had heard something extremely ridiculous. His tone remained calm, but it held a chilling contempt: "Commendable courage. Unfortunately, in the face of absolute power, it's meaningless. Hand over Gamora, and I'll leave your bodies intact."
"You wish! Take this!"
Rocket Raccoon abruptly adjusted the muzzle to aim at Ebony Maw, and without the slightest hesitation, fiercely pulled the trigger.
Boom—!
A thick, giant energy beam sliced through the air, its scorching heat twisting the surrounding airflow. With a destructive force, it shot directly towards the leading Ebony Maw.
Pfft—
Ebony Maw didn't even lift an eyelid. Black Dwarf beside him had already swung his giant axe, forcibly intercepting the energy beam. The energy Impact exploded on the axe blade, but it failed to budge the giant axe in the slightest.
Black Dwarf retracted his giant axe, his massive body suddenly starting to move. He charged towards the two with heavy steps, and with each step, the ground trembled violently, sending yellow sand flying.
"Rocket, activate Plan B!" Peter said in a deep voice, not at all surprised by this scene.
"I hope these dog-fed bastards can survive the second round, otherwise it won't be enough to vent my anger!" Rocket quickly charged the Energy Cannon, and a second, even thicker energy beam instantly shot out, smashing heavily into Black Dwarf's chest.
The immense kinetic energy directly sent Black Dwarfflying, crashing heavily into the sand ten meters away, kicking up a sky full of yellow sand.
Bang!
Before Black Dwarf could get up, pale blue electric light instantly flickered around him, and a huge energy field cage suddenly formed, trapping him firmly within.
Bang bang bang!
Black Dwarf furiously wielded his giant axe, smashing it fiercely against the field barrier, but no matter how much strength he used, the seemingly fragile barrier remained motionless.
"Tedious resistance, Corvus Glaive, rescue that useless fellow." Ebony Maw frowned slightly, his tone full of impatience.
Corvus Glaive held his Glaive and walked slowly towards the trapped Black Dwarf, but as soon as he took two steps, a strong current suddenly shot out from underground, trapping him firmly and rendering him immobile.
"Hope you like this gift."
Peter put on his mask and activated the jet boots on his feet, instantly soaring into the air. His Dual-Element Guns fired alternately, countless energy bullets raining down like a storm, blasting towards Ebony Maw, Supergiant, and Proxima Midnight.
Ebony Maw elegantly raised his left hand, and an invisible, intangible Psychic Barrier instantly erected. All the energy bullets that hit it dissipated into points of light, effortlessly blocking Peter's full-force attack.
"Supergiant, control that little bug." Ebony Maw ordered indifferently.
"Understood." Supergiant nodded, her eyes glowing faintly, and her immense Mental Energy instantly locked onto Rocket Raccoon on the ground.
"Damn mind control!" Rocket felt a sharp pain in his head, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. The simple Psychic Protection Headband he wore instantly dimmed and became useless.
Enduring the dizziness, Rocket didn't give Supergiantanother chance to manipulate him. He quickly pulled out several Energy Grenades and threw them at the three.
Proxima Midnight narrowed her cold eyes, raised her hand, and swung her spear. Several pale yellow energy beams shot out precisely, instantly hitting the grenades in the air.
Boom boom boom!
A violent explosion instantly swept through, and Impactspread in all directions. The Electrical Device trapping Corvus Glaive was also temporarily disabled by this Impact.
Corvus Glaive seized the opportunity to break free, and with a backhand, he threw his Glaive. The sharp blade easily cut open the energy cage, freeing Black Dwarf.
"Here, Corvus Glaive." Black Dwarf said in a muffled voice, picking up the long blade that had fallen to the ground and handing it back to Corvus Glaive.
Locking his gaze on Peter, who was still stubbornly resisting in the air, Black Dwarf tightened his grip on his giant axe, aimed, and then violently threw the axe.
The giant axe, propelled by his terrifying strength, transformed into a black shadow, shooting out at an astonishing speed. It accurately predicted Peter's evasion route and smashed heavily into his waist.
Boom!
Peter's body stiffened, blood instantly gushed from his mouth, and like a kite with a broken string, he plummeted straight down from the air, crashing heavily onto the sandy ground.
If not for the Energy Belt around his waist blocking most of the Impact, this blow would have been enough to kill him instantly.
"Quill!"
Rocket's eyes were bloodshot. Seeing his heavily injured teammate collapse, his rage completely erupted.
Its claws quickly operated, and the Energy Cannon in its hands rapidly reorganized and expanded. A giant Energy Cannon Platform, three meters long and two meters high, instantly formed on the spot.
The energy light at the muzzle furiously condensed, and just as a fatal blow was about to be fired, a black spear suddenly streaked through the air. Its speed was extreme, and in just a flash, it shattered the cannon platform, scattering its parts everywhere.
"The resistance ends here. You have lost."
Ebony Maw didn't even spare a glance for these two who had barely caused some trouble. He merely glanced at Corvus Glaive beside him and gave the execution order.
Corvus Glaive, expressionless, walked slowly to Peter's front, raising his Glaive high. The blade gleamed with a cold light, and without any hesitation, he violently brought it down towards Peter's head!
"Stop!"
Rumble—!
A furious roar exploded like thunder, and the entire sky suddenly turned inky black. Rolling thunder swept across the entire Planet, and colorful lightning wildly churned and leaped in the clouds.
The moisture on the Planet's surface was instantly drawn away, condensing into clouds in the sky, and drizzling raindrops fell, pattering.
A majestic figure in Black and Silver Interwoven Battle Armor had, at some point, already stood between Corvus Glaive and Peter.
An ancient, heavy axe firmly blocked the indestructible Glaive.
Thunder God Thor, arrived!
Chapter 45: The Black Order is Weak!
Ebony Maw's gaze slowly swept over Thor. Psionic power quietly gathered in the air, pressing the swirling yellow sand tightly to the ground. The raindrops in the air gradually hovered, then dissipated.
His tone was calm, his voice deep with a hint of lazy indifference. Every word clearly struck everyone's ears, without a trace of malice, yet exuding an undeniable authority:
"What you are obstructing is the supreme will of His Majesty Thanos of Titan. This crime is enough to shatter your soul."
"State your name, and I can grant you a swift end. This is my last act of mercy towards you."
Corvus Glaive put away his Glaive, its cold light still lingering. He slowly returned to Ebony Maw's side, gripping his weapon tightly, ready to strike.
"Who am I?" Thor looked at the 'Octopus Brother' in front of him, sneered, and then announced his name.
"I am Thunder God Thor! The King of Asgard! And the one who personally buried your master, Thanos!"
Betsy and Old Loki, at some point, stood beside Thor, fully armed, their energy gathered, ready to strike at any moment.
Groot controlled the Bamboo Dragonfly on his head, flying beside Rocket Raccoon.
"I am Groot!"
(It's great that you guys are okay!)
"So, Groot, not only are you not dead? You also brought us reinforcements, and it's that Thunder God Thor from Asgard, that blonde tough guy we met once before?!"
Rocket Raccoon looked at Little Groot, who was only the size of his palm. The sadness in his heart dissipated, and he gently poked Groot's branch with his small paw.
"I am Groot! I am Groot!"
"What do you mean? Not the Thunder God Thor from our Universe? You mean the Multiverse? This thing actually exists?!"
Rocket Raccoon's tone involuntarily rose an octave, frantically shaking Groot in his palm.
"I am Groot..."
(If you shake me any more, I'll get dizzy. I met Thor in a junkyard...)
"What..."
"Buried my master?" Ebony Maw slowly repeated these four words, then let out a soft laugh, a laugh so faint, yet full of undisguised contempt and mockery. "Thunder God of Asgard, what a big mouth."
"The power of His Majesty Thanos is never something an ant like you can fathom. Your arrogant words will only make your coming fate even more tragic."
Before his voice faded, he looked up at Thor and his companions, flicked his left hand lightly without any extra movement, and a highly condensed Psionic Impact wave, carrying destructive aura, immediately blasted towards everyone. Its speed was extreme, even squeezing the air into a piercing shriek.
Seeing this, Betsy drew the two long blades from her back, instantly activated her psychic power, and a faint purple psionic energy immediately covered her weapons.
Feeling the terrifying Psionic Impact wave, she took a deep breath, stepped forward first, raised her twin blades high, and with a burst of psionic light, she gathered all her strength and slashed down in an X-shape!
Swish swish swish!
The terrifying Psionic Impact wave was easily split into four by Betsy. The overflowing Impact waves perfectly avoided Thor and the others, blasting to both sides and stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Resisting stubbornly. Corvus, Proxima, take down that woman."
"Yes, esteemed Lord Ebony Maw!"
Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight responded, exchanged glances, and shot towards Betsy.
"Good! It's been days since anyone sparred with me. You two are perfect for a warm-up!"
Betsy looked at the aggressive husband-and-wife duo charging at her. Instead of retreating, she advanced, her Psionic Longblades skimming the ground as she rushed towards them.
Clang!
She raised her two longblades and slammed them upwards, precisely blocking their combined attack. Her body slightly hunched, she suddenly used the momentum, spun 360 degrees in the air, and then fiercely kicked Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive in the chest.
Bang!
Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight hastily crossed their weapons in front of their chests. However, this action did nothing to resist Betsy's terrifying strength. The next instant, their bodies shot backward like cannonballs.
"Phew... Thor's new body is really good!"
Betsy saw that her strength had suppressed the two opponents in just one encounter and laughed to herself. A faint blue spatial mist flickered, and she vanished from her spot, pressing the advantage.
"Useless! You can't even take down one woman! Black Dwarf! Don't disappoint me again!"
Ebony Maw watched his teammates get blasted away again in an instant, a rare flicker of anger in his eyes. At the same time, he raised both hands, and a psionic energy capable of making one's heart palpitate quickly gathered.
Black Dwarf did not reply. He gripped his axe and strode forward, crashing like an unstoppable tank.
"I am Groot!"
"Groot! What are you doing?! You're not his match! Come back!"
Rocket Raccoon watched Little Groot fly out of his palm, heading straight for Black Dwarf. An inexplicable panic welled up in his heart, and he quickly shouted.
"I am Groot!"
(Rocket, I'm here to avenge you!)
Groot's palm-sized body rapidly expanded, transforming into a ten-meter-tall giant in the blink of an eye. At the same time, he twisted his body, swung his right fist, and slammed it down on the charging Black Dwarf!
Black Dwarf's expression remained unchanged, without the slightest fear. He raised his weapon, his muscles bulging, and smashed it against the huge fist hurtling towards him.
Bang!
Black Dwarf's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, disappearing from sight in just one second.
"Only Shit! Groot, what kind of mutated feed did you eat?! How did you get so strong?!"
Rocket Raccoon held his tiny head in his hands, his eyes wide with disbelief at the scene before him.
Did Groot have the ability to change size at will before?
He remembered he didn't, right?!
Thor glanced at Star-Lord Peter Quill, who was lying on the ground wailing after saving the Milky Way Galaxy with a dance-off. He raised his hand and unleashed a Law of Life, healing his injuries.
"Thank you, Thor. Did you find the weapon that can kill Thanos?"
Peter dusted himself off and stood up.
"I am not the Thunder God of your Universe. For the specifics, ask Rocket. I'm afraid you won't understand."
Damn it! Whether he was the Thor he knew or not, he still disliked him just as much!
Seeing that the few people Thunder God Thor brought were currently gaining the upper hand, Peter turned to Rocket, ready to ask a question, when he witnessed Grootpunching Black Dwarf away.
"Only shit! Groot, are you cheating?!"
Ebony Maw finally realized that the few people in front of him were not easy to deal with, and completely unleashed all his psionic power.
Boom boom boom!
Om—!
The earth began to tremble, rain flowed backward, and swirling sand and rocks floated uncontrollably in the air.
The air began to twist uncontrollably. A massive Psionic Field instantly enveloped the entire Planet, weighing as much as a Planet, heavily smashing down on Thor below.
The surrounding space began to emit an uncontrollable wail.
Snap!
"Betsy, watch closely, I'll give you a flower."
There were no fancy moves. Thor, as if completely unaware of the terrifying power, casually snapped his fingers, even flirting with Betsy, who was currently beating up Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight.
The red Law of Reality permeated, the planetary-level Psionic Field vanished, and a giant, almost tangible, deep purple Phalaenopsis orchid quietly bloomed in the air, its faint fragrance filling the entire Planet.
However, the fragrance between heaven and earth was instantly crushed by an aura of deathly stillness, heaviness, and even laws that had to retreat before it.
There was no light, no loud noise, only a chilling silence that spread from the depths of the Universe.
Thanos stepped through the air, sitting alone on his Floating Throne, his purple face devoid of expression, merely staring quietly at Thor.
He did not look at the defeated Black Order, only at the Thunder God who had lightly snapped his fingers.
His voice was low, slow, and calm, without anger, only a nearly indifferent expectation:
"So that's it.
No wonder my people couldn't even withstand a single move from you."
He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the Law of Reality that had not yet dispersed around Thor. His tone was so light it was almost inaudible:
"You are the first god who dares to wield the rules so lavishly in front of me."
He paused, then slowly raised his hand. On the golden gauntlet, three Infinity Stones glowed with a faint aura of Eternity and Annihilation.
"Very well.
It's been a long time since I... acted personally."
Chapter 46: Three-Stone Thanos
Three-stone Thanos?
Thor's expression became slightly more serious. The Thanos of this Universe wielded the Power, Reality, and Space Stones; it seemed he wouldn't be able to one-shot this Thanos for the time being.
The three Infinity Stones stacked together were enough to briefly counteract his time stop. Based on his perception, these three stones could buy Thanos one to two seconds of reaction time.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't care, but against Thanos, he had to be cautious. The opponent was a 'hexagon warrior' with maxed-out combat skills, strength, and intelligence. Others might not react in one or two seconds, but for this purple sweet potato, it was plenty of time.
This damn Law Resistance mechanism—even after mastering a complete Law, one could still be weakened for no reason when facing an opponent with multiple Infinity Stones.
While Thor was grumbling, Thanos slowly put on his golden helmet, picked up his exclusive weapon, the tyrants blade, with his right hand, and controlled his floating throne to descend slowly.
"Thor Odinson, you are indeed extraordinary. Unfortunately, you have chosen the wrong side."
He paused, thrusting the tyrants blade easily into the sand, his tone carrying a hint of regret:
"Today, you and your companions shall be buried here together."
"This is the greatest respect and mercy I can grant you."
Divine power surged through Thor. He crossed his arms over his chest, glanced at Thanos talking trash before the battle, and spoke with disdain.
"Thanos, I've seen many arrogant fellows like you. To show my respect, I sent them to meet Death. You will be next."
"Sharp-tongued Thor, that will not delay your demise."
Thanos stopped talking and lightly pulled the tyrants blade from the ground. He clenched his left fist, and the Laws contained within the Power Stone instantly flooded his body.
In the next moment, his massive frame exploded with speed completely unbefitting his size, lunging at Thor like a cannonball with a downward slash.
Clang—!
A massive metallic collision rang out. Thor's body was forced backward uncontrollably, leaving two deep gouges in the sand.
As expected of the Power Stone, it's got quite a kick!
Thor stopped testing the waters. He mobilized his divine power to activate the one-third of the Law of Power he mastered along with the Law of Annihilation, enchanting this pseudo-stormbreaker. Rainbow lightning coiled around his body as he charged straight at the incoming Thanos with a vicious slash!
The shockwaves from their clash covered a hundred-mile radius. Ebony Maw couldn't be bothered with finishing off Old Loki and the others; he waved his hand to recall Black Dwarf to stand before the four of them, then cast a thick wall of telekinetic energy to block the indiscriminate shockwaves.
Zzzzt...
Old Loki was still holding his thermos. He casually drew a Kamar-Taj portal and said to Betsy, Groot, and the others,
"Let's go find your companions."
"Loki, I remember you saying before that you didn't know how to make these portals?"
Betsy felt more and more that this Old Loki was even more powerful than she imagined, and she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
"Oh, that? I just simply wanted to see Thor make a fool of himself. The essence of magic is mostly the same; it's just that they rely on borrowing power, while I have divine power."
Old Loki explained casually and was the first to step into the portal, with Betsy following right behind him.
"Is this thing reliable? Groot?"
Peter looked at the shimmering golden ring in front of him and then at Groot, who was perched on Rocket's head behind him.
"I am Groot!"
(Thor brought me to find you guys just like this!)
"Alright, it seems that big dummy actually has some skills."
Peter turned to signal Rocket and Groot to follow, then stepped after Betsy.
On the other side, beneath a towering mountain peak in the distance, Gamora and Nebula led Mantis and Drax into a cave.
After laying the two injured and unconscious companions flat on the ground, they walked out of the cave entrance.
"What? Are you worried about your little lover?"
Nebula had found a blade of grass from somewhere and was chewing on it, looking at the frowning Gamora whose face was full of worry.
"You know we were both Father's daughters. We know the strength of the Black Order all too well. Peter and Rocketare no match for them, let alone when Father is there too."
"You want to go with him?!"
Nebula saw through Gamora's thoughts at a glance.
"Then wouldn't Groot have sacrificed himself for nothing?! Gamora, we have no choice now."
"Kill me, Nebula. I'll go join Quill. I won't let Thanos get the Soul Stone!"
Gamora held out a dagger and closed her eyes, quietly waiting for Death.
Slap!
Nebula ruthlessly slapped Gamora across the face. The force was so great that Gamora's head whipped to the side, a clear handprint appearing on her cheek.
"What do you mean by giving up and even wanting to commit suicide now? You'd waste the sacrifices of Groot, Rocket, and your Peter?!!"
She looked at her nominal sister with frustration, not expecting that the person who used to surpass her in every field was actually a complete coward!
"I... but only if I die will Thanos's plan fail..."
"Fuck you! Gamora, you're a coward! We should be thinking about how to twist his head off, not running away from the problem!"
Nebula poked her finger hard against Gamora's chest.
"But... I..."
Munch, munch...
The sound of someone chewing food suddenly rang out, breaking their conversation.
Gamora and Nebula turned around simultaneously to see a man in a suit drinking tea, while next to him, a woman in deep purple armor was cracking melon seeds.
Right beside them were Star-Lord Peter Quill, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot—whom they had thought were dead. The three were sitting on stone blocks, each holding a piece of melon.
...
"How long have you been here?!"
Nebula looked at them expressionlessly.
"Since you started talking about the little lover."
Old Loki closed his thermos lid and spoke calmly.
"You guys too?!!"
"And here I was trying to slap some sense into Gamora, and it turns out none of you are dead? You're just sitting here watching us like a joke?!!!!"
Nebula's gaze landed on Groot and the others, her murderous intent almost tangible, wishing she could blade these melon-eating spectators!
"Well... we just didn't want to ruin the emotional atmosphere between you two..."
Rocket Raccoon scratched his head, his voice dropping low.
"I am Groot."
(Me too.)
Gamora's expression shifted constantly, but judging by the rising and falling of her chest, she was likely weeping with joy.
She walked straight to Star-Lord Peter, hauled him up, and gave him a knee strike.
"Hey! Gamora! I know you were worried about me... oh... my god! This is even more powerful than the first time! This time it's two birds with one stone!"
Peter clutched his 'third leg' and curled up on the ground in pain. This pain, this sensation—it was very familiar.
These guys were simply unbearable to watch. Betsylooked at Old Loki beside her, her face full of confusion and disbelief.
"This is the Guardians of the Galaxy you said saved the Universe?!"
Old Loki picked up a pastry and put it in his mouth. Looking at the heartlessly fooling-around group, he gave an affirmative answer,
"That's right, exactly as you see. They're a team of oddballs."
Chapter 47: Sorry, My Cheat Code Gets Stronger the More I Fight!
Boom————!
Thor was sent flying yet again by a slash from Thanos. Using the momentum of his retreat, he swung his stormbreaker backhanded, hacking fiercely at the onrushing Thanos!
Clang——!
This time, Thor's body only swayed slightly, completely blocking Thanos's attack empowered by the Power Stone. Seizing the second of Thanos's stunned hesitation, Thorrapidly gathered power in his right fist. Rainbow lightning enveloped him as he released a sphere of electricity at point-blank range. The powerful energy blasted a slight dent into Thanos's armor, forcing the titan back several steps uncontrollably.
"You actually comprehended the Law of Power during the fight?!"
A ripple of disturbance crossed Thanos's wrinkled purple face for the first time. This Thunder God Thor was even stronger than he had imagined. He absolutely could not allow him to grow further and threaten his plan!
Thanos's expression turned grave. The killing intent in his eyes didn't diminish but instead increased. Energy from the Power Stone surged rapidly throughout his body. All his power converged on the tyrants blade in his hand as he slashed down fiercely at Thor in the distance!
A purple blade aura, a full three hundred meters long, tore through the void. Carrying an unstoppable might, it blasted straight forward.
This was the first time he had unleashed the full power of a single stone since obtaining three Infinity Stones. The Law energy contained within the Infinity Stones was still overwhelmingly powerful. His physical body showed signs of severe strain, his bones creaking under the burden.
The next moment, the crimson Reality Stone lit up. Thanosused the Reality Stone to repair the wounds on his body, standing calmly in place, waiting for news of Thor's death.
"Holy crap! That move is a bit too much!"
Thor gazed at the terrifying blade aura and sighed with feeling.
Just now, during the fight with Thanos, because his opponent kept using the power of the Power Stone, Thorhad already grasped two-thirds of the Law of Power. He was only one step away from fully mastering the complete Law of Power.
As long as he could withstand this one strike, the tide of battle should turn.
Fortunately, before coming, he had absorbed the even more powerful Law of Time from the Time Stone given by the Sorcerer Ancient One, directly accelerating his Heaven-Defying Comprehension. Otherwise, comprehending it normally probably wouldn't have been this fast.
After all, that was a complete universal Law. Those who master the Law of Time are far too overpowered. But, since the one mastering time was himself, it could only be said to be perfectly normal.
He had also long ago set a time anchor point for himself. Even if he couldn't withstand it, it would be no big deal. Besides, he also had another complete Law of Reality.
With the help of the Law of Time, his cheat code, Heaven-Defying Comprehension, finally unleashed an even more absurd level of power.
What to do when you can't win temporarily or are evenly matched?
Sorry, my cheat code only gets stronger the more I fight!
Thor mobilized all the Law power and divine power within his body. Instantly, the sky above the entire Planet was covered by a thunderstorm. The day directly turned dark, as if covered by a huge cloth. Rainbow-like lightning danced incessantly, ultimately all converging into the stormbreakerin his hand.
"Slash——!"
With Thor's furious roar, a thunderous blade aura, not inferior in the slightest to Thanos's attack, shot from his hand, closing in on the purple blade aura at an astonishing speed.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The moment the two collided, everything around them was rapidly annihilated. Matter, space, even light, all twisted and shattered.
Under such power, the Planet began to tremble. The ground cracked, mountains collapsed. All ecosystems perished under the shockwave sweeping the globe.
Finally, with an even more massive explosion, the desolate Planet began to collapse from its core inward. A once intact Planet began its destruction under such powerful energy opposition.
"You all need to leave! Now! It'll be too late!"
Feeling the two terrifying energy fluctuations simultaneously, Old Loki swiftly opened a golden, glittering portal. He urgently urged Betsy and the bunch of oddballs from the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Although the Guardians of the Galaxy were a bit odd and their combat power was average, they at least knew which way the wind blew. Star-Lord Peter and Gamora, carrying the still-unconscious Mantis and Draxx, quickly entered the portal. The others followed closely behind.
Old Loki brought up the rear, constantly muttering various magic incantations under his breath. His hands began to wave incessantly, almost leaving afterimages.
Over a hundred enormous magic barriers materialized out of thin air, blocking the area before the portal. Old Loki's complexion paled with weakness. He turned and stepped into the portal, then closed it.
The full hundred magic barriers, under that shockwave, lasted a mere five seconds before beginning to shatter. The mountain peak where they had just been standing vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
"Cough, cough... Thor really is something, unleashing his ultimate without even a heads-up..."
Old Loki tumbled out of the portal somewhat disheveled. After bitterly complaining about Thor, he suddenly realized the environment was unnervingly quiet.
Pretending nothing was wrong, he got up from the ground and looked at the few members of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Betsy beside him.
"Hey! Old man, did you do that on purpose?"
Rocket Raccoon, seeing Old Loki emerge, also complained. Holding an energy rifle, he looked ahead with a wary, battle-ready expression.
Old Loki followed everyone's gaze forward. He saw five familiar figures standing directly in front of them. They were the Black Order, led by Ebony Maw. The surroundings were clearly the interior of a ship or vessel.
So? Had he opened the wrong door too?!
...
In the cosmic void, two figures stood facing each other from a distance. No one cared about the Planet just destroyed beneath their feet. In their eyes, there was only each other.
"You are stronger than Odin, Thor. But you will ultimately be buried here. As a token of my mercy, I will bring news of your death to Asgard and Earth."
Thanos sat on his floating throne. His voice, carried by the power of the Laws, clearly reached Thor's ears.
"No, no, no, Thanos. You need to understand one thing. You went all out with the Power Stone and still couldn't finish me. Now it's my turn."
Feeling the complete Law of Power within his body, an endless stream of energy surged forth. He would have inexhaustible power, limitless strength, and never tire. He truly lacked for nothing now!
It was just a pity his stormbreaker had been shattered to pieces.
The next moment, the two vanished from their spots simultaneously. When they reappeared, a large and a small fist, each wrapped in the Law of Power, collided. Destructive energy waves swept out once more.
Thor and Thanos each took a step back, then immediately closed the distance again, beginning Marvel's classic hand-to-hand combat segment.
Boom, boom, boom———!
Thanos's massive body, carrying terrifying kinetic energy, blasted toward Thor. Thor raised his arms to block, then thrust his foot out, delivering a fierce kick to Thanos's chest.
The two separated again by a distance. Seeing the Power Stone could no longer suppress his opponent, the pale blue stone on Thanos's left-hand Infinity Gauntlet began to glow. He made a grasping motion toward Thor.
The surrounding Law of Space instantly became Thanos's weapon. It directly sealed off the space around Thor, then began to compress and cut inward.
Countless spatial cracks began to appear. The entire area of space shattered and exploded like fragile glass. The power of space, under Thanos's control, pressed down on Thor's entire being, leaving no room for a comeback.
Thor mobilized his divine power to drive the Law of Powerand the Law of Reality to protect his body, secretly beginning his 'get stronger mid-battle' phase.
A faint green light flashed through his pupils. The speed of comprehending the Law of Space increased at a terrifying rate.
"Hmm?! The power of time?!"
Thanos, As expected as a Universe overlord-level existence, easily caught this fleeting anomaly.
He picked up the tyrants blade once more. The three Infinity Stones on his left hand lit up simultaneously. The burden of using three Infinity Stones at once was utterly terrifying. Even with Thanos's physical constitution, blood began to trickle from his nose and mouth.
As long as he could eliminate this Thor, any sacrifice would be worth it.
The tyrants blade, now glowing purple, blue, and red, tore through space. Carrying power sufficient to shatter stars, it smashed heavily toward Thor, who was secretly accelerating his comprehension of the Law of Space. The blade instantly cut into Thor's chest, grievously wounding him.
Scalding divine blood drifted in the depths of space. Distracted by comprehending the Law, Thor's protective Laws of Power and Reality were completely insufficient to resist this full-force strike from Thanos.
He looked down at the wound sufficient to split him in two and smiled. "Now that's got some kick to it."
The next second, a green light enveloping Thor's entire body flashed intensely. Time began to rewind, returning to the moment just before Thor was grievously wounded.
Clang!
Thor, who had been resisting the power of the Law of Space, suddenly opened his eyes. A blue light flickered in their depths. He gently reached out and pinched the tyrants blade, imbued with the power of three Laws, between his fingers. He looked at Thanos:
"Thanos, are your last words ready?"