Banner lifted his head and looked at Xiao Han, his gaze complicated."So… it really was you?"
Xiao Han nodded."That's right. I just came from a battle in New York and conveniently dealt with the Chitauri."
Banner took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself."Alright… assuming what you're saying is true, what do you plan to do now? We need the Stones to bring everyone back."
"I can help you," Xiao Han said, "but I have conditions."
"What conditions?" Banner asked warily.
"The Stones of this universe—Space, Mind, and Time. After you're done using them, you must hand them over to me."
Banner hesitated and glanced toward the Ancient One.
The Ancient One smiled faintly."Dr. Banner, his power far exceeds what you can imagine. If he wishes to help you… this may be your best option."
Perhaps afraid Banner still didn't believe her, she added casually:"His mastery of magic is very high."
Banner fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded."Alright. I'll trust you. But we need to return to 2023 as soon as possible. The others are waiting."
Xiao Han's lips curved slightly."No problem. Tell me your universe's coordinates."
Banner provided the coordinates. Xiao Han lifted his hand, golden energy gathering in his palm as a massive portal slowly unfolded.
On the other side was the Avengers' base in the year 2023.
Banner's eyes widened."This… this is cross-timeline teleportation?!"
"Let's go," Xiao Han stepped into the portal first. "Your teammates are waiting."
Banner and the Ancient One exchanged a look, then followed.The Ancient One remained behind in 2012.
2023 – Avengers Base
Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Scott Lang and the others were anxiously waiting.
Suddenly, a golden portal expanded in the center of the base, and Banner walked out—along with a man they had never seen before.
"Doc," Tony hurried forward."How did it go— and who is this?" His eyes landed on Xiao Han, brows furrowing.
Banner immediately introduced:"This is Xiao Han. The Time, Space, and Mind Stones are with him— but he's willing to help us."
"What?" Steve looked at Xiao Han warily."He has the Stones?"
Xiao Han didn't waste time. He raised his hand, and three Stones floated above his palm.
"The Stones are here."
He said calmly, "But I need to confirm whether you agree to my terms."
"Agree to what?" Steve asked.
"Those three Stones must be returned to him after we use them," Banner explained quickly.
Tony stared at Xiao Han, expression complicated."Who exactly are you?"
"A traveler from another universe," Xiao Han said with a small smile."You can call me… Superman."
"Superman?" Scott couldn't help interrupting."Like the comic book one?"
"Pretty close." Xiao Han shrugged."Though I prefer solving problems with my fists."
Everyone exchanged looks, unsure how to respond.
Finally, Tony sighed."Fine. Since the Stones are with you and you're willing to help, we have no reason to refuse. But about the snap…"
"I'll do it."
Xiao Han cut him off."Your bodies can't handle the Stones' energy. But I can."
Banner stared at him in shock."You're sure? The combined energy of all six Stones can annihilate any living being!"
Xiao Han smiled."Trust me. I'm not like you."
A glimmer of gold flashed through his eyes, an invisible force flowing through his entire body.
Tony looked at him for several seconds before suddenly laughing."Alright. Not like we have any better options. Welcome to the Avengers, Mr. Superman."
Xiao Han nodded."Hm. Interesting feeling."
"Where's Natasha and Clint?" Banner suddenly asked.
At that moment—
Clint Barton staggered out of the quantum tunnel, clutching the orange Soul Stone tightly, grief carved into every line of his face.
"We got the Stone…" His voice was hoarse."But Natasha… she…"
Everyone instantly understood.
Tony stepped forward and gently patted Clint's shoulder."We'll remember her sacrifice."
Banner's face drained of color. He stumbled backward, his arm scraping harshly against the lab table.
"No… no, that's impossible…"His pupils dilated."We promised we'd go back together!"
Xiao Han immediately noticed the violent fluctuations of gamma energy rippling inside Banner.
Without drawing attention, he released a biological force field, isolating Banner from the others.
"Calm down, Doctor."Xiao Han's voice carried a strange, soothing pressure."Anger won't solve anything."
"Calm down?!" Banner spun around and smashed his fist into the wall.
The metal wall shattered like paper under Hulk-level strength—yet Xiao Han's force field absorbed the shock, preventing damage to the equipment.
"She's dead! Because of that damned Stone!" Banner roared, his voice already tinged with Hulk's gravelly snarl.
Steve stepped forward, gripping Banner's trembling shoulder."We'll all miss her. But right now, we need you, Bruce. Fulfilling her wish is the best way to honor her."
Banner's breathing was ragged, green light flickering in his eyes.
Xiao Han suddenly reached out and pressed two fingers to Banner's temple.A faint golden glow pulsed.
Banner shuddered—and the raging gamma energy inside him calmed almost instantly.
"What did you do to him?" Thor lifted his hammer, tense.
"Just adjusted his endocrine system a bit," Xiao Han withdrew his hand."Now… shouldn't we get to work?"
Tony glanced at Banner—who was now eerily calm—then turned to activate the holographic display.
"Based on the model, we need to channel all six Stones' energy through the nano gauntlet…"
Under Xiao Han's influence, Banner's emotions gradually stabilized, though his eyes remained dim with sorrow.
"We have to finish this," he murmured, clenching and unclenching his fists."For Natasha."
The group followed Tony into the chamber containing the nano Infinity Gauntlet. As the glass cover lifted, the gauntlet rose from the platform.
Everyone looked at Xiao Han.
He walked forward calmly, sliding his right hand into the gauntlet. It immediately adjusted to fit him.
Then, Xiao Han placed the Infinity Stones into their sockets one by one.In an instant, six colors of energy surged through his body.
The team held their breath as the gauntlet lit up, the brilliance of six Infinity Stones reflecting in everyone's eyes.
Xiao Han felt an unprecedented force roaring through him—each Stone burning like a star within the gauntlet.
Power, Space, Reality, Soul, Time, Mind.
Six primal energies of the universe wove together at his fingertips, as though the weight of the entire cosmos pressed down on his arm.
"This feeling…"
Xiao Han narrowed his eyes slightly.With this power, he felt that one punch could shatter Earth—even tear open space itself.
But he restrained the impulse and turned toward the waiting Avengers.