Argument

"Tony and the others are all right? Great, I’ll head over in a bit."

Thor was delighted at first, then asked awkwardly, "Uh, where is S.W.O.R.D.?"

Jarvis controlled Hela’s phone and brought up a map, then said, "Please come as soon as possible. Mr. Wang does not like waiting."

"Who’s Mr. Wang? Never mind, I’ll get there as soon as I can."

Thor shook his head, then looked at Hela strangely and asked, "You actually know how to use a phone?"

"Do I look like some primitive?"

Hela snorted and said into the phone, "Jarvis, some asshole camped my corpse all night last night. Find his address for me. I’m going over there to scare him to death."

"Wow, sis, you like taking out opponents outside the game too?"

Thor’s eyes lit up. He often scared online players himself. It was loads of fun.

"Are we that familiar? Loser."

Hela picked up her phone and walked away with a look of disdain. Thor shrugged and said, "Father, it looks like Hela hasn’t changed much."

"She has changed a lot, actually. At the very least, she isn’t killing people anymore."

Odin shook his head and said, "Go handle your business first. Frigga and I will make a nice meal and wait for you to come back and eat with us. Oh, and this world’s Thor doesn’t know about Hela and me. If you see him, don’t say anything."

"Father, you’ve changed so much."

Thor could not help sighing. The current Odin was like an old father rather than the King of Asgard.

Odin patted Thor on the shoulder and said, "I’ve let go, Thor. You need to learn to let go too."

"I can’t. If I hadn’t been so useless, the Asgardians wouldn’t have died so horribly."

Thor wore a bitter smile. He said nothing more, turning into a thick bolt of lightning as he flew toward S.W.O.R.D.

"He’s suffered enough," Frigga sighed.

"I’m the one who set him up."

Odin shook his head, then thought of something and said, "In our world, Hela and Surtur probably won’t trigger Ragnarok again, but Great Serpent might. We need to prepare in advance. We can’t leave trouble for Thor."

Odin, the master troublemaker, had finally awakened.

"Great Serpent? He won’t be easy to deal with."

Frigga frowned. Great Serpent was Odin’s elder brother, Cul, Asgard’s former God-King and the God of Fear. Because he was too brutal, Odin had overthrown him and sealed him on Earth.

Yes, Earth again.

"At worst, I’ll fight him with the Reality Stone."

Odin thought of something and cursed, "Damn it, that bastard Blood God borrowed my Infinity Gauntlet. It’s been over two years, and he still hasn’t returned it."

"If you ask him, he’ll definitely say, ‘I borrowed it with my own ability, so why should I return it?’"

Frigga laughed. This world’s Thor would not be as miserable as Future Thor, because this world had the Blood God.

In S.W.O.R.D.’s conference room, Future Tony and the other four, along with Steve, Tony, Dr. Richards, Dr. Banner, Ivan, Strange, and other Super Heroes, had gathered together.

Wang Bert had not come in person. Only his hologram was there—he was lying on a cruise ship deck with two bikini-clad beauties in his arms, one of whom was feeding him fruit.

"This guy is really the protector of your world?"

Future Banner could not help mocking him. "Greasy. Way too greasy."

"Though I don’t want to admit it, he is."

Tony shrugged and asked Wang Bert, "Bert, we’ve already explained everything. Are you lending us the Infinity Stones or not?"

"What do you all think?"

Wang Bert asked casually. It was worth noting that the women beside him could not hear their conversation.

"Of course we should lend them. That’s trillions of lives."

Tony immediately replied. Future Tony and the others looked at him gratefully.

"I think we should lend them too."

Steve spoke as well. Dr. Banner, Dr. Richards, Ant-Man, and the others nodded in agreement.

"I don’t think we should. The Infinity Stones are too important. What if they don’t come back? What will we use to resist future enemies?"

Ivan opposed it. His counterpart from that timeline was already dead as hell. Lend them? Screw that.

Future Tony said, "We will definitely return the Stones."

"I believe in your character, but traveling through time and interfering with destiny will inevitably bring time’s backlash."

Ivan said, "By then, you may not have the chance to return the Stones. We can’t take that risk."

Tony frowned slightly and asked Wang Bert, "Bert, what will happen after they take the Stones back?"

Everyone turned to Wang Bert. He said, "The future has already changed. I don’t know what will happen to them either, but it definitely won’t go smoothly. This is truly an act against heaven."

"It really is against heaven."

Everyone nodded. At that moment, Strange said, "I oppose giving them the Infinity Stones."

"What? You oppose it?"

Future Tony and the others were stunned. Future Tony shouted, "Strange, you were the one who voluntarily handed the Time Stone to Thanos. You arranged all of this."

"That was me from your world, not me from this world."

Strange said calmly, "After receiving your message, I traveled through the River of Time to view the future. I discovered that if we agree to your request, our world will be destroyed."

Everyone was shocked. "What? Our world will be destroyed?"

"Your world is so powerful. How could it possibly be destroyed?"

Future Tony shouted, "And you said we had a one-in-fourteen-million chance of succeeding."

"That was under normal circumstances. The situation in both our worlds has long ceased to be normal."

As Strange spoke, he glanced at Wang Bert. The reason time-space was abnormal was probably related to the Blood God.

Future Tony had no response. After all, the two timelines truly were abnormal. Future Banner shouted, "How can you stand by and watch half the life in the universe die?"

Tony said, "We aren’t standing by and watching. Bert, we’ve all stated our opinions. What’s yours?"

Wang Bert did not answer immediately. He said, "There is a special organization in the universe called the Elders of the Universe. They made a rule that no one could possess multiple Infinity Stones.

"Back then, I took three Infinity Stones. Those Elders came to warn me. I was pissed, so I went to war with them and killed several Elders.

"Later, they told me that if the Infinity Stones gathered together, Nemesis would revive and destroy the world."

Strange suddenly understood. "So that’s how it is."

Future Tony shouted, "Nonsense! When Thanos snapped his fingers, there was no Nemesis at all."

"Your world differs from ours. For example, your world has no Dr. Richards, no Fantastic Four, and no Blade."

Wang Bert said, "Our world is far more complicated than yours. What the Elders of the Universe said is probably true, so I will not allow the Infinity Stones to gather."

In truth, even if he wanted to gather them, he could not. Wang Bert had swallowed the Space Stone, and the Power Stone had lost its energy. A snap was simply impossible.

Future Thor, the fat man who had not spoken and looked as if he had fallen asleep, suddenly stood up and shouted, "No! We must obtain the Infinity Stones. This is my last hope. I will never give up, no matter what."

Dr. Banner mocked him, "You’re finally awake? I thought you were dead."

"We must obtain the Infinity Stones, even if we have to take them by force."

Future Banner said with great seriousness. Future Tony and the others nodded at the same time, their expressions incomparably resolute.

Wang Bert said flatly, "Then this is easy. Steve, someone is threatening the world. Arrest them."

Steve smiled bitterly. "Isn’t that a little inappropriate? We’re all on the same side."

"There’s nothing inappropriate about it. It just so happens we can complete the ‘Civil War’ arc."

Wang Bert said, "Arrest them and send them back to their timeline. When that happens, I’ll seal off their entire world so they can no longer travel through time."

After a pause, Wang Bert said, "Of course, we’re on the same side, so I won’t do nothing. I’ll erase the memories of everyone on Earth, let them forget losing their loved ones, and start their lives over."

"Erase their memories?"

Future Steve immediately objected. "I can’t accept that method. It’s running away. They’ve already lost their loved ones, and now they can’t even keep their memories. That’s far too cruel to them."

"It is indeed cruel, but they won’t know. Earth will flourish again because of it."

Wang Bert said, "From the bigger picture, it has every benefit and no harm for Earth."

"I support Bert’s method."

Strange nodded. "For your world, this is the best solution."

Future Tony shouted, "The best solution is to get the Infinity Stones and snap our fingers to bring them back."

"Why should we risk saving your world? You ruined your own world. What right do you have to make us bear responsibility for it?"

Ivan sneered. "And when half the universe suddenly returns, do you know how many problems that will cause? Food problems, interest problems, power problems, war problems… In the end, more people might die than the half that returned."

"Food, interests, power?"

Future Tony and the others were all stunned. Then Future Steve said, "Bring them back first. We’ll find a way to solve those problems."

"Such familiar optimism."

Ivan snorted disdainfully and said, "Let’s vote. I think Bert’s method is excellent—perhaps even better than snapping half the people back. What do you all think?"

"I agree."

Strange was the first to nod. After thinking it over, Dr. Richards and the others nodded as well. They truly sympathized with Future Time-Space, but no matter how much they sympathized, they could not risk their own world.

Tony hesitated, then said to Future Tony, "If we can’t get the Infinity Stones, erasing memories really is a good method. At least you won’t die, and you can protect Morgan as she grows up in peace."

"Die?" Ivan’s eyes flickered.

Future Tony shook his head. "But that would be too unfair to Peter, to everyone who sacrificed themselves. And can he really brainwash every single person on Earth?"

Tony looked toward Wang Bert, who smiled and said, "That won’t be a problem."

Seeing Future Tony wavering, Thor shouted, "I said I won’t accept this! If you won’t give them to us, I’ll take them by force. I can cut off Thanos’s head, so why should I fear you?"

As he spoke, Stormbreaker appeared out of thin air in Thor’s hand. Then lightning flashed, and his clothes were replaced by armor—the belly was still there, making him look rather clumsy.

"I won’t accept it either."

Future Banner stood up and tore open his tank top. "I don’t like fighting, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight."

Future Ant-Man rapidly shrank, while Future Steve picked up his shield and prepared for battle.

Future Tony did not move. It was not that he had truly wavered, but that he knew his group was no match for them.

The Blood God would not even need to act. The others alone would be enough to deal with them.

Dr. Banner transformed into Hulk and shouted, "Haha, I’ve wanted to beat you up for ages. You’re not Hulk enough at all."

"You think you can run wild here?"

Ivan equipped his Magic Suit, his face full of cold mockery. Seeing this, Steve hurriedly said, "Don’t fight. We’re all on the same side. Let’s talk it out."

"There’s nothing to discuss. We must get the Infinity Stones."

Thor shouted. Just as battle was about to erupt, Wang Bert suddenly said, "Hulk, go outside and play with Thor. Everyone else, continue the meeting."

Future Tony’s eyes lit up. "Continue the meeting? Mr. Wang, have you changed your mind?"

Wang Bert smiled. "There’s been a new development. It should be an opportunity for you, but the fight still needs to happen. At the very least, you need to understand our strength."

"You think I’m afraid of you?"

Thor shouted. Hulk grinned, charged forward, grabbed Thor, and jumped out the window with him. Steve shouted, "Hulk, go easy! Don’t smash up S.W.O.R.D.!"

"Got it."

Along with Hulk’s voice, rumbling sounds came from below. Clearly, the two had begun fighting.

If Future Thor had been at his peak, Hulk would not have been able to defeat him unless he became the God of Anger. But this fat Thor who had wasted away for five years was, frankly speaking, in an extremely worrying state.

Tony ignored the battle below and asked Wang Bert, "Bert, what opportunity is there?"

Wang Bert said, "Future Tony and the others aren’t the only time travelers."

"What?"

Everyone was astonished. Could time travel actually lead to a collision like this?…

Let’s turn back time a little. Outside Dragon Subduing Teahouse, Wang Bert had an arm around Wanda as he said, "A new extra-spicy hotpot restaurant opened on South Street. They have a challenge where you eat for free. Let’s go try it."

"You eat, I’ll watch. The way you eat, you’re not eating food at all—you’re practically eating chili peppers."

Wanda mocked him. "And you, the Galaxy’s Richest Man, are actually trying to take advantage of such a tiny freebie?"

"It’s not about taking advantage. It’s mainly for fun. At worst, if I enjoy the meal, I’ll cut their rent a little."

Wang Bert laughed. Yes, the restaurant space belonged to him.

"If you don’t enjoy it, are you planning to raise their rent?"

Wanda thought of something and said, "Oh, and don’t let your eyes wander later. Summer’s here, and those women practically want to walk down the street naked."

"You have the nerve to talk about others?"

Wang Bert mocked, "Don’t worry, I promise I won’t look."

At that moment, a black-and-white figure suddenly fell from the sky. Wang Bert instinctively caught her and dispersed the impact, then looked at the figure in his arms and froze. Why was it her?

She wore a black-and-white spider suit and a hooded cape. If Wang Bert remembered correctly, she should be the female Spider-Man from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Gwen Stacy.

"Hey, how much longer are you going to hold her?"

Wanda was deeply displeased. He had just promised not to look at women, yet he immediately grabbed a masked beauty and refused to let go. This guy was rotten to the core.