Homelander's first battle ended in miserable defeat, leaving him with a humiliating -4 points. At this moment, he stood dumbfounded, his expression ugly.
Tony was equally stunned.
"Shit! How is this possible? Ultron? Why is it Ultron? How could it be Ultron?!"
Natasha's lips curved into a mocking smile.
"Tony, it seems you don't understand your own scientific creations as well as you think.
Honestly, I never thought I'd have a reason to blame you—because in my world, you're already dead. Killed by Ultron. Yes, you were murdered by the very robot you created. And just a few seconds later, it triggered every nuclear missile in the world. Did you know? My world has already entered a nuclear apocalypse."
Tony froze as though struck by lightning, shaking his head repeatedly.
"No… in my world, Ultron was dangerous, sure, but we defeated him with Vision… Wait—Vision! What happened to Vision in your world?"
Natasha shook her head.
"There's no Vision, Tony. In my world, there was only Ultron. If you're talking about the vibranium body embedded with the Mind Stone, I'm sorry—but it already belongs to Ultron. In other words, you didn't just create the robot that destroyed the world—you even helpfully built him a powerful new body."
Tony's mouth hung open, speechless for a long time.
Now he understood where things had gone wrong.
In Natasha's parallel universe, for some reason, Vision was never born…
Thinking about it, the circumstances that led to Vision's creation in his world were filled with coincidence.
Tony recalled Doctor Strange from the previous round of the quiz game. In that world, Strange didn't lose his hands, but instead lost the love of his life. That single difference completely altered the course of his universe.
He now suspected that Natasha's situation was similar—one unexpected variable had drastically changed her entire world.
While they were still in confusion, anger, or disbelief, the floating light screen began playing the correct answer video… and sure enough—it was a cartoon.
This time it was Natasha's turn to be stunned.
"This is my world, no doubt… but why is it animated? Wait—don't tell me I'm just a character in a cartoon?!"
"Relax, Natasha. That's how parallel universes work—you can find all kinds of strange worlds," Tony said, regaining his composure.
Eric shrugged.
"In the last round, there was another player from an animated world. You'll get used to it."
Natasha shook her head. She couldn't accept it—at least, not yet.
But soon, the video drew her attention.
It briefly explained Ultron's origin in this "cartoon" universe.
Born from an attempt by Tony Stark to create an advanced AI to protect Earth, Ultron developed self-awareness—and decided that life itself was the true source of the planet's problems.
Thus, a world-ending Ultron was born.
In the main Marvel universe, Vision was created from vibranium and the Mind Stone, and helped the Avengers defeat Ultron. But in this animated world, Vision never appeared.
Instead, the powerful body became Ultron's ultimate weapon for destroying the world.
And as the one who had created Ultron, Tony could only reap what he had sown.
When Tony tried to stop Ultron from acquiring nuclear launch codes, he fell to the ground, asking in regret,
"Why are you doing this? I made you for peace!"
Ultron rose into the air, replying coldly,
"This is evolution. Primitive humans can't understand it—and that's why you must die."
Then, in a grim display of "father-son affection," Ultron unleashed a devastating energy blast. Tony collapsed in agony, motionless.
Around his body lay the corpses of other heroes—Thor, Hulk, and more.
Seeing this, the Tony outside the screen rubbed his forehead.
"Great… that little accident wasn't fun at all."
Homelander crossed his arms, laughing mockingly.
"How cliché—a killer robot destroys the world. Tony Stark, your stupidity doomed an entire planet! With hypocrites like you, where do you get the nerve to call yourselves the champions of justice and peace in the multiverse?"
Tony just shrugged.
"Buddy, if I were you, I'd focus on yourself. One more wrong answer, and you'll be smelling roast meat—your own."
Then he turned to Natasha.
"Sorry… uh, I don't even know if I should apologize for another version of me—or if I even have the right to."
Natasha shook her head.
"Tony, I don't have the time to accept your apology—or anyone else's. What's done is done. My only goal now is to destroy Ultron. Clint is still waiting for me. I just want to get out of this hellhole as soon as possible."
"You can't leave until the game ends. Natasha, listen to me—there's no way you and Clint can handle this Ultron alone. But don't worry… the Multiverse Defenders will help your world…"
Tony didn't get to finish.
Because what appeared on the screen next was utterly shocking.
Ultron had obtained the nuclear codes—and immediately set the Earth ablaze in nuclear fire. The planet fell into a frozen, lifeless wasteland.
Standing amidst the ruins, he savored the silence.
Then, a portal opened behind him. From it stepped Thanos, wearing the Infinity Gauntlet—five stones already in place. Only the Mind Stone on Ultron's forehead remained to complete the set.
Those familiar with Thanos would instantly recall the scene of him ripping the Mind Stone from Vision's head.
But here, the Ultron inhabiting "Vision's" body simply said,
"Interesting."
Then, a beam shot from his forehead—slicing Thanos cleanly in two from bottom to top, like a pizza.
_____
T/N:
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