The humming blue light of the quantum channel console dispersed, and Chen Tian and his group landed steadily on the cold metal platform.
The faint glow of residual energy flickered on them a few times before completely extinguishing.
"Five minutes, seventeen seconds. Precise." Hank Pym tapped his timer, his gaze sweeping over everyone to confirm their status.
Beside him, Princess Shuri's fingers flew across the light screen, shutting down the channel stabilization program.
Pym's daughter, Hope, walked onto the platform in a protective suit, scanning everyone with an instrument in her hand to prevent any viruses from the quantum World from being carried over.
"Did you get it?" Steve, who had stayed behind, strode to the platform's edge, his gaze immediately locking onto Chen Tian.
"Here." Chen Tian flipped his wrist, and the orange-glowing Soul Stone appeared in his hand. "Let's find a time, and I'll snap my fingers."
Tony, who was receiving disinfectant spray from a robotic arm on the platform, frowned when he heard Chen Tian's words. In that World, he had seen Green Dr. after snapping his fingers, and Tony, who had nearly carbonized half his body before even snapping his fingers.
He was a little worried, "Hey, kid, I think snapping your fingers can wait. Let me find a safe method. I don't want you to end up like that Old Iron Can."
Chen Tian put his arm around Tony's shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Tony, my body strength far surpasses Old Iron Can and Green Dr.. If we compare it to my current physical quality, it won't be much worse than Injustice Superman, or even stronger."
Tony raised an eyebrow and sized up Chen Tian, "Are you sure? Why can't I tell? You know, Injustice Superman's physique is even more beautiful than a Greek sculpture. If he entered a classical bodybuilding competition, he would definitely get first place, and you..."
Tony sneered, "I can't tell."
"Hey, I call this looking thin in clothes and muscular without them, alright?" Chen Tian, displeased, locked Tony's neck in a headlock.
"Cough, cough, alright, alright, I believe you, I believe you," Tony pretended to be out of breath, and Chen Tian released him.
Tony rubbed his chin, "Alright, kid, but I still recommend not rushing. How about this, give me two days. I'll see if I can find a suitable method. Anyway, since we can travel back, the time can be adjusted."
Chen Tian shrugged, knowing that if he didn't give Tony two days to research a safer finger-snapping plan, he would probably cause a ruckus all night.
"Alright, I'll give you two days." Chen Tian took the Infinity Stones out of his summoning space and placed them in a Vibranium box nearby.
Tony took the box, waved at Shuri, Banner, and the Pym father and daughter, and without even saying goodbye to Chen Tian, ran off to his quantum laboratory.
Chen Tian looked at Tony's hurried back and shouted, "Remember! Only two days!"
Tony waved back at Chen Tian without turning his head and quickly exited the door.
Chen Tian spread his hands to the others, "Let's go, let's also clean up and then have a big meal, and wait for Tony's news."
Dante put his arm around Chen Tian's shoulder from behind him, "Big nephew, you know me, I only want pizza and strawberry pudding."
Kiana also raised her right hand high, "I want strawberry cake!"
Vergil crossed his arms, "Child, black tea, please."
And Ban, in the same pose as Vergil, "My Lord, matcha, if you please."
Chen Tian nodded repeatedly, helpless, "Alright, alright, you'll all have it, but first, how about we return to Arbitrator Tower?"
Thus, Chen Tian and Tony split into two teams. Tony's team conducted research day and night in the quantum laboratory, while Chen Tian's team vacationed amidst the sunshine, sea breeze, fine wine, and delicious food in Los Angeles.
Sparks flew in the laboratory. Tony stared at the furiously jumping data on the holographic projection, while Shuri and Banner were installing the last antimatter buffer on the Vibranium Gauntlet.
"This damn thing can only withstand a maximum of 30% energy impact," Tony squeezed his coffee cup, making it creak, "The remaining 70% will have to be taken by that kid's face."
Banner and Shuri looked at the data and sighed helplessly, and there was still a hint of worry in Tony's eyes.
On a private beach in Malibu, Chen Tian, wearing beach shorts, lay on a lounge chair, while Ban controlled the power of his Fire Release to make BBQ.
Wukong and Saitama were competing in push-ups, and judging by Pietro's shouts, who was watching their competition, they must have already done over ten thousand.
On several lounge chairs next to Chen Tian, several charming figures lay in bikinis.
There was Bayonetta in a black bikini, Natasha in a purple bikini, and 2B in a maid-style swimsuit.
In the sea, Dante surfed stylishly, loudly instructing Kiana who was nearby.
The atmosphere was completely opposite to that in the laboratory.
Two days later, the laboratory door slid open.
Tony walked out with dark circles under his eyes, holding a Vibranium-forged Infinity Gauntlet, with six Stones embedded in it.
"This is all I can do." Tony's voice was hoarse. "Vibranium + Apokolips alloy can absorb 40% of the energy impact. The rest..." He stared at Chen Tian, "...relies on your Greek sculpture physique to withstand."
Chen Tian chuckled and casually took the Gauntlet: "Thanks, Old Iron, but—" He weighed the Gauntlet in his hand, "—I don't think it'll be of much use."
After saying this, he walked into the specially constructed safe room.
Inside the safe room, Chen Tian had just raised the Gauntlet when a sudden "thump, thump, thump" knocking sound came from outside the door. Through the blast-proof glass, he could see Wade Wilson's handsome face twisted into an emoji.
"What the..." Chen Tian put down the Gauntlet and opened the door.
Wade Wilson slid to his knees and hugged his thigh: "Dad, no!"
Tears and snot smeared Chen Tian's pants, "I finally became the top duck king of Los Angeles, and with that snap—"
He trembled as he pulled out his phone, the screen saver showing his current handsome photo, "Look! What a perfect face! More precious than Captain America's butt!"
Outside the safe room, Falcon 'pffted' with laughter and looked at Steve, whose face was grim: "Hey, Steve, he's not wrong, your perky butt." He then glanced behind Steve, "Very American."
At this remark, everyone burst into laughter.
Chen Tian picked up the crying Deadpool: "Listen, your current body is just your original Soul stuffed into the Wade Wilson's body of our World. You can't keep occupying someone else's body."
"Excessive!!!" Wade Wilson shrieked, "Can't you, when you separate this World with a snap, also remove my cancer and turn me back into my original handsome self? If you can, I'm willing to lick your hook!"
Banner suddenly interjected: "Theoretically..."
"Shut up, Banner!" Wade Wilson directly hugged Chen Tian's arm, clinging tightly like a koala, "Please ~ You are my God, I believe with my handsome appearance, Vanessa will love me even more madly!"
Chen Tian rolled his eyes, pulled out his phone, and snapped a picture of Deadpool's current handsome face: "Alright, if you turn back into an avocado, I'll personally photoshop it for you."
"I want skin smoothing! I want face slimming! I want—"
Bang! Chen Tian directly closed the door, and Deadpool's wails came from outside: "At least turn on a beauty filter, you bastard!"
The safe room door blocked out Deadpool's howling.
Inside the room, it was instantly quiet, with only the light of the Stones flowing on the Vibranium Gauntlet.
"Ready?" Chen Tian's voice came through the loudspeaker, his tone very relaxed.
Outside, everyone held their breath.
The tension that had been diluted by Deadpool's antics earlier surged back into their chests.
Everyone stared intently at Chen Tian, at the raised Gauntlet behind the blast-proof glass.
Click.
Chen Tian's right hand smoothly slipped into the Vibranium Gauntlet.
The six Stones, like activated beasts, suddenly burst forth with dazzling light!
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple—six colors of violent energy lightning instantly wrapped around his arm, like countless venomous snakes twisting and biting madly!
Crack! Zzzzzzt—!
Piercing electric crackling sounds penetrated the thick walls of the safe room!
The energy impact visibly rippled through the air in circles.
Chen Tian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Hiss... A little numb." His voice still came out steadily, "Looks like your Gauntlet wasn't completely useless, Tony, it blocked quite a bit."
Tony outside couldn't hear what he was saying at all, his eyes fixed on the frantically jumping energy readings on the holographic screen, his face pale: "Friday! Real-time vital signs! Energy erosion depth!"
"Boss, Mr. Chen Tian's vital signs are stable! Energy impact absorbed and neutralized by the Gauntlet exceeds 38.7%, residual energy has not broken through the target's epidermal defense layer!" Friday's mechanical voice responded urgently.
Everyone watched as Chen Tian slowly closed his eyes.
The six-colored energy lightning wrapped around his arm suddenly collapsed inward, condensing at the fingertips of his Infinity Gauntlet-wearing hand!
Time seemed to stretch for a second.
Snap!
A crisp, clear snap!
There was no booming explosion, no violent tremor, only a massive halo of pure, six-colored light, centered on Chen Tian, that suddenly burst outwards in all directions!
The halo instantly engulfed the entire interior space of the safe house, its light so brilliant that everyone outside instinctively closed their eyes or raised a hand to shield them.
However, this dazzling light only existed for one ten-thousandth of a second.
Eyes closed, then opened.
The light was gone.
Inside the safe house, Chen Tian still stood in place, his arm lowered, as if nothing had happened.
The energy lightning that had coiled around him was gone without a trace, only the Infinity Stones on the Infinity Gauntlet still emitted a gentle glow.
A brief, absolute silence.
"Chen Tian!" Tony practically roared as he lunged for the safe house's control button, "Open the door! Open it quickly! Friday! Scan him immediately!"
The heavy door of the safe house rose.
A group of people surged in like a tide!
Tony was the first to rush in front of Chen Tian, his bloodshot eyes eager to scan every bone in Chen Tian's body: "How do you feel? Does anything hurt? Any residual energy reactions? Speak quickly!"
Steve squeezed forward, unconcealed concern in his eyes: "It worked?"
Dr. Banner held a smoking portable gamma-ray detector, his face full of disbelief: "Peak energy instantly returned to Zero... Residual readings... Almost negligible? How is this possible? That impact..."
"Commander!" Kiana's White hair was practically standing on end.
"My Lord?" Madara's Sharingan unconsciously activated.
Chen Tian moved his right wrist, which wore the heavy Infinity Gauntlet, producing a faint metallic friction sound.
He grinned at the overly tense faces around him, revealing a mouthful of White teeth:
"What could happen?" He even shook his hand, "It was just a snap, like lighting a lighter. The only uncomfortable part was being a bit numb from the electricity, plus..."
He looked disdainfully at the snot and tear stains on his pant leg that hadn't dried yet, "Wade's 'love' got all over my leg."
Seeing his relaxed demeanor, and with Friday confirming everything was normal, everyone finally relaxed.
Shuri, standing nearby, suddenly spoke: "So, now the question is—"
"Was our damned stitched-up Universe 'fixed' by that snap?"
Everyone looked at Chen Tian again. He shrugged, "It's simple," he pointed at a bewildered Wade Wilson, "You'll know by looking at him."
"Looking at him?" Everyone turned their heads in unison, their gazes focused on Wade Wilson, who had just climbed up from the ground.
Wade (Duck King version) looked utterly bewildered, unconsciously touching his smooth, handsome face to confirm his perfect makeup hadn't smeared. He looked at the group of strangely dressed, imposing individuals in front of him, his bewildered eyes suddenly lit up with immense surprise!
"Oh my God!" He clapped a hand over his mouth, his voice trembling with excitement, even adopting a slightly affected accent.
"You... you are the Arbitrators?! The superhero team that saved the World?!" His eyes shone as he scanned everyone's face like a scanner, finally settling on Chen Tian, his tone instantly switching to the enthusiastic pitch of a top salesman.
"I knew the starlight was exceptionally brilliant today! It must be God's favor! Gentlemen and ladies! I am Wade Wilson, Los Angeles's top escort consultant, code-named 'Shining Star'! To serve the Arbitrators is the honor of my life!!"
Like magic, he pulled out a thick stack of gold-edged business cards from his tight pants pocket (no idea how they fit) and began deftly handing them out one by one: "Private parties? High-end dinners? Emotional companionship? Eliminating loneliness? Full package! Guaranteed satisfaction! Exclusive! Sign a non-disclosure agreement! Exclusive VIP discounts available! Oh God."
He excitedly hopped in place, looking at Tony, "Mr. Stark! Next time at a charity gala, do you need a companion who can make all the spotlights dim in comparison? I can! Absolutely professional! Absolutely elegant!"
He then turned to Steve, his eyes sincere, "Captain Rogers! Need to relive some retro charm? The purest gentlemanly style of 1940s Brooklyn, I've studied it! 100% authentic! I can even match the color of your uniform!"
Inside and outside the safe house, there was a deathly silence. Everyone, who had just been immersed in the lingering aftermath of the snap's energy impact, collectively turned to stone.
Natasha expressionlessly looked at the gold-embossed business card in her hand, which read 'Let me show you the ultimate tenderness of the City of Angels'.
Dr. Banner pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses filled with confusion: "Personality transfer... Soul stripping... Perfect social adaptability... Even professional instincts fully preserved... Unbelievable..."
Tony's eye twitched as he clutched the business card, feeling it was hotter than the Infinity energy readings he had just seen: "Friday, scan him. Confirm brainwaves."
"Scan complete, Boss. Target brainwaves match Mr. Chen Tian's previously recorded database records with 99.98% accuracy. No Deadpool-related Soul residue characteristics. Identity confirmed: Wade Wilson (original Universe)."
"Pfft!" Sam was the first to lose it, pointing at Wade (Duck King version) trying his best to sell himself, then looking at Steve's indescribable face next to him, laughing so hard he couldn't stand straight: "Hey! Captain! Retro charm! He even considered the color of your uniform! How thoughtful, hahahaha!"
"So..." Shuri's voice was filled with great uncertainty as she looked at Chen Tian, "The snap was successful? He changed back... but..."
Chen Tian was looking down at his Vibranium Infinity Gauntlet, which was still smoking—the Vibranium structure that had blocked 40% of the impact. "It seems to have worked?" Chen Tian's tone was a little ethereal. He looked up, his gaze passing over the excitedly promoting Duck King Wade, and looked towards the sky outside the Base.
Outside the window, the sky was clear and blue. Not a cloud in sight.
It was as if the once stitched-up 'New World' had never appeared.
It was gone.
Completely.
As if it had never existed.
Just as Duck King Wade was still incessantly promoting his "retro charm package," and everyone was staring blankly at the cloudless sky—
"Chen Tian! You big liar who goes back on his word!!!"
A shrill wail like a broken gong violently shattered the brief tranquility.
Everyone was startled by the piercing noise and instantly turned to look at the source.
They saw a figure in a red and black bodysuit, running wildly towards the safe house with an extremely flamboyant posture and a mix of grief and indignation! The person was running while frantically slapping his masked face—or rather, slapping the exaggerated White eye coverings on the mask:
"My face! My flawless, priceless, handsome face that makes Vanessa swoon?! You said you'd keep it?! You said you'd keep the beauty filter?! Huh?!" He rushed to Chen Tian, grabbing his collar, the White eye covering almost touching Chen Tian's nose, "Open your eyes and look! Look! This bumpy texture! This uneven terrain! Did you use sandpaper to exfoliate my face with that snap?! Huh?! I'm a walking avocado salad now!!!"
A brief, deathly silence fell inside and outside the safe house.
Then—
"Pffthahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Laughter almost brought down the roof!
Everyone, who had been a bit confused just a moment ago, now looked at this lively, cursing Deadpool in his iconic red and black bodysuit, with a disfigured face (though only imaginable through the mask), and instantly understood everything!
Tony was the first to react. He pressed his throbbing temples, looking at this clown, but the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curled upwards. He raised an eyebrow at Chen Tian, his tired face full of relaxed smiles: "So?"
Chen Tian also smiled. He easily pulled away from Deadpool's grasp. He looked at Tony, then scanned the relieved faces around him, and nodded:
"It's done."
Two words, spoken with conviction.
Deadpool stomped his foot in anger: "Done?! That's it?! Where's my handsome face?! I'll kill you—!" He made a move to lunge forward.
No one paid attention to him.
The sky was blue and cloudless.
And Deadpool's lively swearing and attempts at "assault," at this moment, became the perfect background sound—the vitality a complete World should have.
Tony looked at Chen Tian, then glanced at Deadpool, who was still jumping on the spot, turning himself into an angry meme, and the smile on his lips deepened.