Successive Acquisitions

Inside the arena, Hulk smashed the Thing opposite him to pieces with one punch, then shouted, "I want to fight ten!"

"Hulk! Hulk! Hulk…"

The audience went completely wild, cheering at the top of their lungs. Grandmaster was just as excited. This was the perfect Champion contender. He was definitely going to win this bet.

"This guy really knows how to show off. It’s only because I’ve got a better temper now. Otherwise, I’d have gone up there and beaten him up. Come to think of it, I did beat him once in an arena before."

Fat Thor said unhappily. Tony and the others scoffed, and no one believed Thor could beat Hulk.

"I’m telling the truth…"

Just as Fat Thor was about to explain, a figure came running over excitedly and shouted, "Mr. Stark, Thor, Captain, I finally found you!"

Everyone turned around and saw that the newcomer was none other than Ant-Man, Scott Lang. They were instantly overjoyed. Future Tony said happily, "Scott, we thought you were dead."

"When I got sucked in, I thought I was done for too. I was even wondering what my funeral would be like, how much money I had left, and whether it would be a shame to die."

Future Ant-Man laughed. "But I didn’t die. I fell from the sky into a pile of garbage. After that, I kept surviving on this planet. I only learned you were here when I saw Hulk enter the ring just now, so I came straight over."

"You’re lucky. I hope your father-in-law is just as lucky."

Tony sighed. Dr. Pym had been lost in the Quantum Realm, and his situation was far worse than Future Ant-Man’s.

"That’s Scott’s father-in-law, not mine."

Future Ant-Man shrugged and asked, "Why are you here?"

"It’s like this…"

Tony gave him a brief rundown. Future Ant-Man was stunned. "So many of you are looking for one Stone, while Blood God is looking for five by himself?"

"No choice. We have to end this quickly. Since Bert dared to make such a plan, he must be confident."

Tony shook his head and said, "Never mind that. Scott, stay with us. Once we find all the Stones, we’ll head back immediately."

Future Ant-Man’s eyes flickered for a moment before he nodded. "All right. Your call."

At the same time, inside Sanctuary at Future Ant-Man’s waist, Thanos cursed angrily, "How dare that Blood God be so arrogant? Getting five Stones within three days—even I wouldn’t dare make such a boast. Damn it, if he fails, our plan is over."

Ebony Maw nodded. "Exactly. That guy is far too arrogant. All we can do now is pray that he succeeds."

"Damn it."

Thanos cursed, then sincerely prayed in his heart for Wang Bert to succeed, though it seemed unlikely.

"Ah-choo! Damn it, which bastard is cursing me?"

Wang Bert rubbed his nose and cursed irritably. The Elder of the Universe across from him, Champion, who had long red hair, asked coldly, "Kid, what do you want, coming to my territory?"

Wang Bert was courteous before resorting to force. "I want to collect the Infinity Stones. Champion, could you give me your Power Stone? I can grant you one condition."

"You want the Power Stone? Easy. Just defeat me. But let me make this clear first: I’ll use the Power Stone."

Champion agreed readily. His name alone made it clear that he was one of the combative sort.

Wang Bert sighed. "Do we have to fight? I’m a civilized man."

Champion said impatiently, "What’s with all the nonsense? Fight or get lost."

"Then I have no choice. Champion, take this."

Wang Bert stopped wasting words and aimed his left palm at Champion. A Magic Array swiftly appeared, and a spatial ripple enveloped Champion’s body, intending to teleport him away—Space Magic, Banishment Spell.

Champion’s expression changed slightly. Purple light immediately flared from his right fist as he prepared to shatter the space and disrupt Wang Bert’s magic.

Wang Bert had been prepared. The Infinity Gauntlet appeared out of thin air on his right hand, followed by the Soul Stone lighting up. Champion’s soul was drawn out, trying to fly free of his body.

Champion hurriedly suppressed his soul. That delay allowed the Space Magic to take effect, and Champion was directly banished into outer space.

Wang Bert controlled the projection and entered space. Looking at Champion’s ugly expression, he said, "Give me the Power Stone, and I’ll send you back to that planet."

Champion was powerful, but because of his race, he needed oxygen to survive just like mortals. That was his fatal weakness.

"Who leaked my information?"

Champion was furious. He clenched his purple-glowing right fist and said coldly, "Even without oxygen, I can survive for twelve hours. Twelve hours is enough for me to kill you thousands of times."

Wang Bert said with a broad smile, "That’s assuming I’m here."

Champion froze. Purple light blasted toward Wang Bert with Earth-Shattering force. Wang Bert vanished like ripples on water, then reappeared elsewhere a moment later and said, "Are you planning to drag this out for twelve hours, or will you give me the Power Stone now and go back for a hot bath?"

Champion’s expression became incomparably ugly. Space was too vast; he had no confidence he could find a planet with oxygen within twelve hours.

Even if he did find one, it would be useless, because Wang Bert could simply banish him again.

Champion said, "How do I know you won’t kill me after taking the Stone?"

Wang Bert knew Champion had yielded. He said, "We can sign a contract, one written with the Reality Stone. However, I’ll add a clause: for seven days, you may not tell anyone about me. Otherwise, you die."

"You have the Reality Stone too?"

Champion was stunned. He asked, "Is Collector dead?"

Wang Bert activated the Reality Stone’s power, and the situation inside Collector’s museum appeared before Champion. Champion looked at the frozen Collector, snorted, and said, "Sign the contract."

"Good."

Wang Bert nodded in satisfaction and used the Reality Stone’s power to write a contract in the air.

Seeing that Wang Bert’s true body still had not appeared, Champion could not help sighing. It seemed he truly had no chance left.

Champion then obediently signed the contract and dug the Power Stone out of his arm. "Take your Stone and send me back to my planet."

Wang Bert was very satisfied. He used Space Magic to teleport the Power Stone to his side.

"Power Stone, acquired."

Wang Bert raised his right hand, and the Power Stone flew into the socket on his index finger. Immediately afterward, a violent purple power surged into his body. Even he felt as if his body was about to burst apart.

"It really is the Power Stone. Quite the kick."

Wang Bert nodded in satisfaction, then opened a portal and appeared before Champion with a smile. "After you."

"Seven days from now, the Council of Elders of the Universe will definitely come settle the score with you."

Champion snorted and strode through the portal, returning to his planet.

"If you can find me in seven days, I’ll admit defeat."

Wang Bert smiled and headed for his next target: the Space Stone.

The Space Stone was in Runner’s possession. Runner ran through the universe every day, and not even Collector knew where he currently was. Fortunately, Wang Bert had the Reality Stone. With a casual wish, he found Runner.

Using the Reality Stone as a combat tool was the stupidest thing one could do. The Reality Stone was best used for support.

After making his wish, Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Another place I’ve never been. Guess I’ll have to fly there slowly."

"He changed location again. Does that bastard have ADHD or something?"

Phoenix stopped in exasperation. After thinking for a moment, she flew straight toward Celestial Head. Based on her earlier experience, Celestial Head was that guy’s base of operations. She should be able to catch him there—at the very least, it was better than flying around aimlessly.

Inside the spaceship, Dr. Strange asked Professor X, "Phoenix changed direction again. Does she already know we’re looking for her?"

Professor X shook his head. "Definitely not, because she isn’t avoiding us."

Dr. Strange sighed. "That’s true. Change course."

"No need to be so anxious. Just treat it as sightseeing."

A voluptuous woman said this. She was the mutant White Queen, who possessed powerful Mind Power. Professor X had specifically invited her to help.

Wolverine snorted. "Of course you’re not worried. You’d love for something to happen to Jean, so you can have Cyclops all to yourself."

"Back at you. Don’t you pray every day that something happens to Cyclops?"

White Queen snorted. Everyone else in the spaceship rolled their eyes at the same time. What a shameless pair.

"Runner, I hope you can give me the Space Stone. I can grant you one condition."

Wang Bert remained courteous before resorting to force. A person should have manners, after all. He was one of the good guys.

Runner, whose legs were exceptionally developed, agreed readily. "As long as you can catch me, the Space Stone is yours. But let me make this clear first: I’ll use the Space Stone."

"Then why the hell would I race you? Why are all these guys like this?"

Wang Bert complained. "Forget it. No point wasting time."

With that, Wang Bert raised his right hand. The Soul Stone shone brightly, and Runner’s soul immediately began trying to leave his body against his control.

Runner’s expression changed. He hurriedly activated the Space Stone to escape, but at that moment, the Power Stone lit up. The Soul Stone’s energy was amplified several times over, and Runner’s soul was directly stripped from his body, suspended in midair and unable to move.

"Collecting Infinity Stones starts hard and gets easier. With three Stones in hand, isn’t collecting the rest a piece of cake?"

Wang Bert searched Runner and found the Space Stone. Runner shouted, "The Elders of the Universe won’t let you get away with this!"

"Could you people come up with a different threat?"

Wang Bert complained. Then, he used the Soul Stone to put Runner into hibernation before throwing both his body and soul onto an uninhabited planet.

"Done."

Wang Bert smiled and placed the Space Stone into the socket on his middle finger. A surge of Space Energy immediately entered his body, and then he reestablished contact with his true body.

Wang Bert’s true body was overjoyed. "Huh? I can actually connect across universes?"

In fact, it was more than just a connection. Wang Bert could even travel to another universe.

"In other words, as long as I obtain the Space Stones from other worlds, I can travel freely between universes?"

Wang Bert beamed with joy. After thinking for a moment, he had the projection keep a closer watch on Earth while he personally headed to the other universe. It would only take a few dozen minutes, so there should not be a problem. Even if something did happen, he could teleport back immediately.

Dragon Soul Clone knew why Wang Bert had come in person. He raised his right hand and asked, "How long will it take?"

"It takes a long time for an ant to swallow an elephant, but for one elephant to swallow another, it’s quite easy."

Wang Bert smiled and beckoned. The Space Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet flew into his body and was rapidly devoured.

"Three hours is still a bit too long. Make a wish."

Wang Bert sensed it and spoke. Dragon Soul Clone nodded, clenched his fist, and said, "At the cost of half a planetary core, accelerate the true body’s absorption of the Space Stone."

A planetary core was the core of a planet. Collector had some among his collections. To others, such a thing was priceless, but to Wang Bert, it was nothing much. After all, he possessed the power to destroy planets.

The Reality Stone emitted a dazzling red glow. Wang Bert’s devouring speed suddenly skyrocketed. Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and laughed heartily. "Excellent. Not only has my strength increased by half, but this universe has become my home ground as well."

Dragon Soul Clone asked, "If you keep devouring them like this, wouldn’t it be possible to become a Creator God?"

"Possible, but Space Power is too strong. It would make my powers unbalanced."

Wang Bert shook his head. After some thought, he said, "This universe also has a Dragon World. Before you return, devour the Dragon World’s origin and those evil dragons to strengthen Blood God Power and qi."

"No problem. It’s a small matter. I can finish it in a day."

Dragon Soul Clone pointed at the socket on the Infinity Gauntlet and said, "I need a Space Stone."

"Then I’ll give you one."

Wang Bert opened his mouth, and a Space Stone flew out and fused into the Infinity Gauntlet.

This Space Stone was formed from Wang Bert’s power and was completely under his control. He said, "The Space Stone has already been devoured by me. Whether Nemesis exists in this world or not, she can never be revived."

"That’s true. Heh, with this Space Stone here, no one can control this Infinity Gauntlet unless we allow it."

Dragon Soul Clone laughed. "All right, you can get lost now. You can’t leave the Main Universe for too long."

"Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?"

Wang Bert gave him the middle finger, traveled back to Earth to continue chasing women—cough, to continue being its guardian.

"Getting another home ground is wonderful."

Dragon Soul Clone sensed the surrounding space and laughed heartily. Then, without wasting time, he immediately headed for the planet owned by Gardener.

Gardener’s planet was covered in plants and looked full of life. Wang Bert walked up to Gardener, who was planting flowers and had many plants growing on his body, and said, "Hello, Gardener. I hope you can give me the Time Stone. I can grant you one condition."

"Protecting the Time Stone is my responsibility."

Gardener looked at Wang Bert warily and said, "Leave. I won’t give you the Time Stone. You should know that with the Time Stone, I am invincible."

"The Time Stone may be invincible, but you are not."

Seeing Gardener refuse, Wang Bert could not be bothered to waste words. The Power Stone and Soul Stone lit up at the same time, and Gardener’s soul was stripped out on the spot.

Gardener was shocked and tried to activate the Time Stone’s power from afar. Wang Bert waved his hand and severed the space, immediately cutting off the connection between Gardener and the Time Stone.

Wang Bert then searched Gardener and found the Time Stone. Afterward, he placed the green Time Stone into the socket on his thumb.

"Five Stones, all acquired. Time spent: two days."

Wang Bert nodded in satisfaction. Looking at the furious Gardener, he said, "Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. Since you like plants so much, be a plant for seven days."

With that, Wang Bert used the Reality Stone to turn Gardener into an apple tree planted in the ground. He would have no consciousness for those seven days, and after seven days, he would return to normal.

Although Wang Bert disliked the Elders of the Universe, he had never been someone who slaughtered the innocent.