Base

"Honestly, the Celestial Group has a seriously twisted sense of humor. They actually made a little girl who can’t grow up? Even more ridiculous, there’s a deaf-mute among the Eternals. What were they thinking?"

Tony grumbled inwardly. At that moment, he saw Captain Marvel constantly using her watch to communicate online and could not help sneering. "Wow, our Captain Marvel is actually an internet-addicted kid—uh, woman?"

Captain Marvel turned to glance at Tony and said, "I finally understand why so many people want to punch you. Your mouth is exceptionally foul."

"That’s all slander. No one wants to punch me. Everyone loves Iron Man, and my merchandise sells incredibly well."

Tony laughed. Captain America could not help shaking his head beside him. Iron Man from the Main Universe was clearly livelier, more foul-mouthed, and more annoying than the Iron Man from their universe.

Captain America sighed inwardly. Because he had lived too well, his personality had never changed. By comparison, Old Tony had it rough, getting beaten down by disaster after disaster.

Wang Bert turned to Captain Marvel and asked, "Carol, is something wrong in the universe?"

"Xandar sent word that a planet has gone out of contact. They want me to go investigate."

Captain Marvel said, "Unfortunately, I can’t get away right now. Both Ultron and Old Tony have to be dealt with."

"Carol, don’t rush to leave Earth. Ultron and Tony aren’t the final bosses. The final boss is someone else."

"Someone else? There’s someone even more troublesome?"

Captain Marvel was stunned, and everyone else turned to look over.

"Have you heard of the Sacred Timeline?" Wang Bert asked.

"What’s that?"

Captain Marvel was confused. Captain America said, "The Sacred Timeline is rather complicated to explain. Bert, are you talking about Kang the Conqueror?"

"Yes, Steve. Kang the Conqueror may come for us at any time. We have to prepare in advance."

Wang Bert nodded and said, "Steve, I’m going to use the Domo to lock onto Ultron’s location. You explain the details."

In truth, the Domo was not locking onto Ultron, but the aura of Deviants. However, the only Deviants left on Earth were Ultron and his descendants. Following that clue could not be wrong.

"This starts with Old Tony and me disappearing."

Steve sighed and explained everything in detail. Then he said, "After Old Tony killed Kang the Conqueror, the Sacred Timeline collapsed, and the multiverse reappeared. In the near future, Kang the Conquerors from other universes will invade ours."

"This is a crisis on the level of universal destruction."

Everyone looked grim. One Kang the Conqueror was already terrifying enough, let alone a whole group of them.

Nick Fury asked, "Wasn’t our universe sealed off by the Infinity Stones?"

"The universes where the Kang the Conquerors are from share the same origin as yours. Breaking through the Infinity Stones’ seal will not be difficult, because you were originally one whole."

Wang Bert said, "Oh, Kang the Conqueror left behind a book called Sacred Timeline. After this battle, I’ll copy it and let you read it. It records not only the history of the past, but also the future."

"It records the future?"

Everyone was curious. Steve asked somewhat hesitantly, "Bert, is that really a good idea? Shouldn’t as few people as possible know about the future?"

"It’s fine. Everyone here is a Super Hero. Besides, I love spoilers."

Wang Bert laughed. He had not dared spoil things before because he had been too weak and needed to gain benefits from the plot. Now that he was a Creator God, he had no such reservations.

Everyone was speechless. Blood God’s personality was getting worse and worse.

"Although Old Tony went to extremes, his original intention wasn’t wrong. I’m giving you Sacred Timeline mainly because I hope you can find a way to stop the disasters."

Wang Bert said, "Your future is quite tragic."

"Quite tragic?"

Everyone frowned. Steve sighed. "It really is tragic, both for the Super Heroes and for Earth. For example, according to normal history, Spider-Man’s Aunt May will be killed by a villain from another universe in the near future."

"I’ll never let that happen! Aunt May is my only family!"

Everyone fell silent at once. The death of one’s only family member was far too tragic. Thor rubbed his nose. There seemed to be no one around him left who could die, right? Well, except Loki, who could not stay dead no matter how many times he died.

Tony could not help asking, "Bert, what about our universe? Will it turn out like that too?"

"What do you think? Earth in the Main Universe won’t suffer any major disasters, because I’m here."

Wang Bert said, "No matter what disaster it is, one slap will settle it. For example, in this universe, the Celestial Group is a world-ending crisis that could erupt at any moment. In our Main Universe, the Celestial Group has obediently relocated its people and even paid me substantial compensation."

Tony let out a sigh of relief. "That’s good. Bert, you shouldn’t have let the Celestial Group go. You should have captured them and let us study them."

Everyone was speechless. Was he not being far too arrogant? That was the Celestial Group! Unlike the doubtful Eternals, the other Super Heroes all knew Wang Bert was telling the truth. They sighed inwardly. Unfortunately, their universe had no Blood God. Whatever happened, they could only bear it themselves.

At that moment, Wang Bert suddenly stopped the Domo above a forest. Then he said, "All right, we’re here. It looks like a military base. In other words, the American military is sheltering Ultron. Ha, I’m not surprised by that answer at all."

"A military base?"

Everyone was stunned and hurried toward the control console. Wang Bert waved his hand, and a projection of the forest appeared on the console. Then the projection shifted to reveal the military base beneath the forest.

"This style really is American military. They’re still bastards, as always."

Nick Fury cursed first, then said, "Old Tony would never tear down his own platform. The people in this military base should be America’s opposition faction, the former upper ranks of the government."

"Whoever they are, they have to die."

Wang Bert said, "No time to waste. We attack immediately."

Captain America was startled. "No reconnaissance?"

"There’s no need, and no time. Old Tony may notice our actions at any moment."

Wang Bert said, "Also, I can sense that Ultron isn’t in the base. The base is full of monsters."

"Monsters?"

"Yes, Deviant monsters transformed from humans. That’s why I said they all deserve to die."

Wang Bert ordered, "Sprite, prepare a large-scale illusion. Everyone else, assault the military base. Rocket, Star-Lord, operate the Domo’s weapons systems. If anything happens, I authorize you to fire at will. Also, block communications throughout this area."

"No problem."

Rocket and Star-Lord answered simultaneously. The Domo originally had no weapons systems; Wang Bert had specifically asked Rocket to modify it.

With Wang Bert’s orders given, no one wasted any more time. They all prepared for battle. Then Wang Bert pressed a button, and everyone was teleported into the forest below.

Wang Bert and Sersi did not go into the forest. He called out from the Domo, "Sprite."

"No problem."

Sprite raised both hands, and an illusion identical to the forest enveloped it. With that illusion in place, no matter what happened in the forest next, outsiders would not know.

"Very good."

Wang Bert was about to order everyone to begin the assault when he sensed something. He curled his lips in annoyance. What a coincidence.

Wang Bert entered Sersi’s body. Then, controlling Sersi’s body, he said, "Our old friends have arrived too. What do you think we should do?"

"Old friends? Old Tony?"

Everyone froze. Captain Marvel said, "Split into two groups. One group stops them, while the other assaults the base."

"If Ultron were in the base, I would agree with you. But Ultron isn’t there."

Steve said, "We do nothing and attack the base alongside them. We can discuss everything after we find Ultron."

"The Captain is right. This isn’t the time to clash with Old Tony. That would only benefit Ultron."

Black Panther agreed. Everyone thought it over and raised no objections. The bigger picture was more important.

Thus, everyone paused their operation and waited in place for Old Tony to arrive.

On Old Tony’s new spaceship, Loki asked, "We’re almost there. By the way, Tony, what is this ship called?"

"The Quiet. I hope Earth can remain quiet forever, without so many disasters and storms."

Old Tony said. The Quiet was a circular spacecraft that looked like a flying saucer. This was the classic style of thirtieth-century spaceships.

"The Quiet? I’ve finally met someone whose naming sense is worse than mine."

Loki mocked. The Eternals beside him nodded in deep agreement. Old Tony could not be bothered with Loki and said to Phastos, "The target is right ahead. I don’t want anything unpleasant to happen."

"Don’t worry. As long as you can destroy Ultron, we won’t do anything."

Phastos said, "Besides, even if we wanted to do something, there’s nothing we could do."

"That’s for the best."

Old Tony nodded. At that moment, the spaceship arrived above a forest. Loki said, "It’s down there."

"Good. Friday, scan the forest."

Old Tony ordered, "Also, deploy a large holographic projection so Wakanda won’t notice anything unusual."

Friday immediately replied, "Yes, sir."

Very quickly, a large holographic projection descended toward the forest below. To everyone’s surprise, the holographic projection seemed to clash with something. The forest rippled continuously like water.

A moment later, the ripples disappeared, and a line of glowing words appeared within the forest: "Old Tony Stark, I heard you haven’t been able to perform lately?"

Old Tony’s face darkened slightly. He snorted over the public channel. "Blood God, can you people be any more childish?"

"We can."

Wang Bert replied. Immediately afterward, the words below changed to: "Old Tony Stark, so you really can’t perform anymore."

Steve and the others in the forest could not help laughing. Sprite’s heart pounded. Could such a childish person really be a Creator God? Could I be about to lose another bet? To grow up, Sprite had tried all sorts of things, including absurd rumors and strange potions. She had already been disappointed far too many times.

"Blood God!"

Old Tony gritted his teeth. He glanced at the three Eternals and asked through the public channel, "Why do you know about this place?"

"I should be asking you that. I got here before you did."

Wang Bert said, "Forget it, there’s no point discussing that. Old Tony, Ultron isn’t inside. This isn’t the time to fight. Let’s take down this base first."

"Fine."

Old Tony did not refuse. Since Ultron was not inside, there was no need to start fighting now.

After the negotiations ended, Old Tony teleported down to the ground with the Eternals. Loki remained on the spaceship in case of emergencies.

Steve walked up to Old Tony and said, "According to the scans, this underground base has two entrances, front and back. We have more people, so we’ll attack through the front entrance. You take the Backdoor. Try to leave survivors. Any objections?"

"Yes. We’ll fight separately, but I’ll leave survivors."

Wearing his Nanotech Armor, Old Tony snorted. Then spatial light shone from his chest. The light swelled and wrapped around him and the three Eternals. When it dissipated, all four vanished at once.

"The Space Stone? He really is impatient."

Steve shook his head and ordered the Sentinel Robot, "Sentinel, take Tony, Carol, and Thor inside the base. Try to find the person in charge before Old Tony does. Everyone else, charge in through the front with me."

The Sentinel Robot did not answer. It directly vanished with Tony and the other two. Steve smiled and led everyone in a frontal assault.

Leaving the battle at the front aside for now, at the heart of the base, Old Tony and the three Eternals appeared out of thin air in a corridor.

"This way."

Old Tony scanned the area, then led the Eternals charging toward a room on the right. He did not hold back, directly smashing the door open with a bang and seeing a group of people having a meal.

That was right, a meal. The only unusual thing was that the food was human beings.

Hearing the noise, General Ross snapped his head around. When he saw Iron Man, his expression changed drastically. Without even wiping the blood from his mouth, he shouted, "Iron Man is here! Everyone, come support us!"

"Ross?"

Old Tony froze, then asked in shock, "You’re actually eating people?"

"Careful, he’s a Deviant."

Gilgamesh shouted, "Ultron turned them into Deviants. His abilities are even more terrifying than we imagined."

"Turning people into Deviants? Damn it."

Old Tony raised his hand and fired a Pulse Cannon at General Ross. Ross nimbly dodged. Then he let out a low roar, and his body rapidly transformed. In the blink of an eye, he had become a half-human, half-beast monster.

Not only did General Ross transform, but everyone else transformed as well. Roaring like beasts, they charged toward Old Tony and the others.

Old Tony cursed and fired Pulse Cannons repeatedly at General Ross and the others—he needed to leave survivors, so he did not use lasers.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The monsters were blasted away one after another by the Pulse Cannons. Gilgamesh stepped forward and swung his fists fiercely, helping Old Tony deal with the monsters, while Kingo fired Energy Bullets from behind.

Although General Ross and the others were fairly strong, they were far inferior to Old Tony and his group. They were knocked down one after another. At that moment, a group of soldiers rushed in from outside. Seeing that the situation was bad, they immediately transformed into all kinds of grotesque monsters.

These soldiers were the "companions" General Ross and the others had carefully selected.