(A/N: Where are the comments bruh?! If you are reading this then comment! Both paragraph and chapter comments!)
...
Raphael Pov
"Now that my status has been updated and I've officially unlocked Space Manipulation, it's time to retrieve the remaining Infinity Stones as fast as possible. I don't plan on wasting a single second."
I activated my Universal Sense, unleashing its full power and letting it spread across the vast expanse of the Universe. Every corner, every galaxy, every distant star system came under my perception. My goal was straightforward—track down the remaining Infinity Stones, wherever they were hiding.
The search didn't take long. I detected the unique energy signatures of the remaining stones almost immediately. Fortunately, all of them were located within our local galaxy cluster. That was a massive relief.
If they had been scattered across the Universe, I would've had to burn through an insane amount of Magicules to reach them all, and even with my abilities, that would have been a logistical nightmare.
But even limiting the scan to the galaxy cluster wasn't cheap. The act of using Universal Sense on such a wide scale, paired with my newly integrated detection enhancements, drained about 40% of my current Magicule reserves.
If I hadn't recently installed the upgraded version of the Magicule Fusion Reactor, this would've been a much riskier move. The new reactor was a game-changer—it allowed me to channel vast amounts of Magicules with surgical efficiency and power my long-range scans with ease.
"For the first Infinity Stone, heading to Planet Morag seems like the smartest move."
I folded space and teleported instantly from my current location.
...
Andromeda Galaxy, Binary Star M31V J00443799+4129236 – Planet Morag
Morag is a largely oceanic world, characterized by its harsh and unpredictable seasonal cycles. The planet is completely submerged in water for six months out of its fourteen-month calendar year. During this period, nearly every structure—natural or artificial—is hidden beneath deep ocean layers.
I emerged above the planet's atmosphere, hovering in the void of space, and gazed down upon the blue marble that was Morag. The temple that housed the Power Stone was, as expected, completely underwater. I took a moment to appreciate the haunting beauty of the ocean-covered world beneath me.
'This place is weirdly peaceful... if only people knew what kind of power was hidden beneath that surface.'
Without wasting more time, I teleported again, this time directly inside the temple ruins, to the precise location where the Power Stone was kept. The chamber was protected by a sophisticated laser defense system, but that didn't matter.
With my newly acquired Spatial Manipulation, I effortlessly bypassed the system. I reached into the space itself and pulled the stone directly from the laser-protected chamber into my hand, bypassing all physical barriers like they didn't even exist.
The Power Stone was encased in its standard containment shell. I crushed the shell in my grip, and a radiant, purple-glowing orb emerged—pulsating with raw, destructive energy.
I didn't hesitate. I invoked Void God Azathoth, and consumed the Power Stone.
The stone resisted, unleashing waves of violent energy in a desperate attempt to remain whole. But it was no match. The void swallowed it completely, absorbing its cosmic power. It didn't even make a dent in Azathoth.
The moment it was consumed, I felt it.
A wave of raw power surged through me. My physical stats exploded—each of them increasing a hundredfold. My muscles, my speed, my durability, everything reached a new level of transcendence. Along with the surge came something else.
{Extra Skill: God Strength has been acquired.}
{Unique Skill: All Booster has been acquired.}
"Raphael: All of my skills and every single stat have now been boosted by a factor of 100... and on top of that, I can amplify them even further simply by feeding in more Magicules. This is ridiculous. I've now got two of them... only four more to go."
With my objective on Morag completed, I shifted my focus to the next target. I manipulated the surrounding space and teleported once more.
...
Planet Vormir
I arrived above a jagged, isolated cliffside, suspended in the dark, eerie atmosphere of Vormir. The planet itself gave off a grim aura—as if soaked in the essence of sacrifice and despair. I slowly descended and landed gently at the edge of the cliff, my steps echoing faintly on the stony ground.
I began walking forward toward the central point of the cliff, but I was interrupted by a voice that rang out from the shadows.
"Welcome, traveler. I am the guide to that which you seek."
I turned my head and met eyes with the infamous Red Skull. He stood as still as a statue, his red, grotesque face only partially illuminated by the dim light of Vormir's dying sun.
"Hahaha! Red Skull, how does it feel going from a high-ranking organizational tyrant to being downgraded to some kind of glorified kidney stone tour guide?"
He looked momentarily stunned at my remark, but he quickly composed himself.
"I presume you know who I am, then?"
"Of course I do. Everyone on Earth knows who you are. In fact, the younger generation there calls you 'the Father of Hitler'. You're a literal meme now."
He looked vaguely offended but held his ground. His voice lowered, almost defensive.
"The younger generation fails to grasp the meaning of my goals... they can't comprehend what I truly wanted to accomplish. Comparing me to Hitler is an oversimplified insult. That man was a crude imitation of vision. My past, however... is behind me now. I am the guardian of the Soul Stone. And you—you're here for it, aren't you?"
'He's still clinging to his delusions. Typical.'
I gave him a cold stare.
"Well, for what other reason would I be on this deserted rock of a planet, if not to get my hands on the Soul Stone?"
Red Skull gave a slight tilt of his head, his voice calm and sarcastic as always.
"Well, I mean... you could be here for the sightseeing. The views are quite majestic, actually. Vormir has some of the most stunning valleys, towering cliffs, and geographical features you won't find on Earth—or probably anywhere else in this galaxy."
I raised an eyebrow and stared at him blankly.
"Are you sure you're the guardian of the Soul Stone and not just some intergalactic tourist guide in denial?"
Red Skull fell silent for a moment. If he had eyebrows, one of them would've twitched.
"..."
He let out a theatrical cough.
"Ahem I am quite certain of my role... mostly. Whatever—if you want the Soul Stone, then follow me."
Without waiting for a reply, he began levitating slowly across the rocky terrain, moving toward the infamous sacrificial cliff. I already knew exactly where the stone was and what the process involved, but I decided to humor him. Following him might be mildly entertaining at the very least.
'Let's see how this crusty old skull reacts when I do things my way.'
As we made our way toward the cliff, Red Skull turned his head slightly, clearly in the mood for conversation.
"I must admit, I am no longer in touch with the affairs of Earth, but you—you're clearly not human. Tell me, have humans finally entered the stellar age?"
I shrugged casually.
"Nah, not yet. But there was a secretive first contact a while back. A group of aliens visited Earth and struck a few hidden deals. After that, a covert organization was formed—it's called Men in Black. They're responsible for maintaining peaceful relations between humans and extraterrestrial beings, kind of like interspecies diplomats and planetary bouncers at the same time."
Red Skull seemed intrigued, his floating pace slowing slightly.
"Fascinating... It sounds like quite a formidable organization. I'd be interested to know more. What are their capabilities? Are they political or militaristic?"
I grinned mischievously.
"Very well, let me tell you all about them."
And so, for the next ten minutes I used Bullshit no jutsu, I fed him a mixture of nonsense, half-truths, and complete fabrications. From quantum squid translators to dimension-hopping coffee machines and agents who could erase timelines by blinking—none of it was remotely real.
'I swear, if this guy ever finds out I was just messing with him the whole time, he's going to throw himself off this cliff voluntarily out of pure frustration.'
Red Skull finally came to a stop and turned to face me, gesturing toward the edge of the cliff.
"We have arrived. I must say, our conversation was the most engaging one I've had since being teleported here—actually, it was the only one. Still, it was... enlightening. It's nice to have a window into the current state of Earth after such a long isolation."
"Yeah, I had fun too. Talking with a dead Nazi floating ghost head isn't exactly how I imagined spending my afternoon, but hey—I'll take what I can get."
Red Skull's expression didn't change—mostly because his face lacked the muscles for it—but his tone turned serious.
"This is the end of the path. If you wish to obtain the Soul Stone, you must offer a sacrifice—something that you love, something truly precious to you. It demands a soul in exchange for a soul."
I stared silently for a second, then started walking toward the edge of the cliff.
"Well, I don't exactly have a soul to sacrifice... but I have something else that might do the trick."
Red Skull's eyes narrowed. For the first time since I met him, he actually looked uncertain.
"...What do you mean by that?"
I didn't respond. I just kept walking—calm, confident, unbothered by the dramatic tension he was clearly trying to build.
'Let's see how this plays out. If nothing else, I'll enjoy the look on his skeletal face when things don't go according to the ancient script.'
I ignored him and began walking toward the edge of the cliff, calm and unfazed.
As I reached the edge, I gently floated into the air, rising above the cliffside. My eyes narrowed as I looked down toward the shimmering lake far below. The wind whispered around me, and the sky above Vormir seemed to dim, as if even the stars were watching what was about to happen.
A golden light began to shine around me, surrounding my body in an aura of divine authority. I slowly raised my right hand and pointed directly at the lake below.
"In the name of Raphael! I command thee! By the supreme authority of the One Above All, reveal yourself—Soul Stone!"
The entire planet trembled violently in response to my command. Massive shockwaves rippled across Vormir. The ground cracked. Mountains rumbled. The lake below began to glow intensely, turning from its original murky shade into a radiant, blinding gold.
The light intensified, spreading outward in a ring of divine energy, and then—without warning—a brilliant yellow orb emerged from the lake and began to rise, floating steadily upward toward me.
Meanwhile, Red Skull stood a few meters behind, frozen in place. His jaw metaphorically hit the floor as he watched the scene unfold. His expression could only be described as a 'WTF' moment. (⊙_⊙;)
The glowing orb gently landed in the palm of my hand. It was warm to the touch, pulsing with sentient energy. This was no ordinary artifact—it was the Soul Stone. Also known as the yellow-colored Kidney Stone of Eternity, a name I gave it purely for fun.
As I stared into its core, I felt a presence—an intelligent one.
"Interesting... it seems you're different from the other Infinity Stones. You have self-awareness. You possess a consciousness."
I smirked.
"Initially, I was planning to devour you like the others. But I'll offer you a choice: become my subordinate and serve me willingly... or be consumed like the rest, turned into nourishment to empower my existence."
Even if it chose to become my subordinate, I would still benefit. Thanks to Void God Azathoth's unique function, I could acquire the abilities of any subordinate under my command. In other words, whether it submitted or got devoured, I would walk away with its power. But if it submitted, I would get double the benefit—its power and the skills granted by Azathoth's passive absorption.
The Soul Stone trembled slightly in my hand. Its energy pulsed rapidly as if communicating nonverbally. Then I sensed its decision. It wanted to live. It wanted to serve.
"Very well. If you're going to serve me, you'll need a body worthy of that role."
I raised my left hand this time, drawing power from Azura Mazda. A blinding light shone from my fingertips as I used divine creation magic to form a vessel. Molecules swirled in the air, compacting and aligning. A humanoid figure began to take shape in front of me—a body made from Orichalcum, one of the most durable and energy-conductive materials in existence.
Within moments, a fully-formed human-like vessel stood before me. It had a sleek, athletic build, glowing yellow eyes, and jet-black hair with faint yellow streaks running through it like lightning scars.
(A/N: He looks like Zhongli, man fun thing is I didn't even knew the guy when I selected his pic)
Using Void God Azathoth, I absorbed the Soul Stone's energy and transferred its consciousness into the newly created body.
The vessel glowed for a moment as the soul fused with its new shell. Then it moved. Slowly at first, but with purpose. It opened its eyes, looked around, then turned its gaze to me—and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Master, for granting me a body."
"Now, I'll ask once more—do you wish to serve me as my subordinate?"
"Yes, Master! I have longed for this moment."
His voice trembled slightly, filled with centuries—no, trillions of years—of repressed emotion.
"After Nemesis destroyed herself and divided her existence into the six Infinity Stones, I gained something... unique. Unlike the others, I developed a soul. I became conscious—aware of myself, aware of my solitude. For eons, I drifted across this barren planet, isolated, forgotten. I witnessed cosmic events from afar, saw galaxies born and annihilated, but never once did I have the chance to experience any of it. All I ever wanted... was to be free—to explore the boundless Multiverse."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"And yet, that doesn't explain why you chose me to be your master."
He looked up at me, his expression serious and respectful.
"A few cycles ago, I sensed that something had changed. The Time Stone was behaving abnormally. I checked the frequency of its existence and discovered a singularity had manifested within this Universe."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"Singularities are incredibly rare. In all of existence, only beings such as the Living Tribunal, the Beyonder, and a few other high-tier cosmic entities can be classified as Singularities. I knew this because I was once part of Nemesis—she herself was a singularity. When I traced the anomaly... I discovered it was you. You had already devoured the Mind Stone. That level of dominance was not something any mortal could achieve. Only a being who is already a Cosmic God—or one destined to become one—could manage such a feat."
I smiled faintly, amused and pleased.
"You're surprisingly intelligent for someone named Soul Stone. Honestly, with your level of insight, you should've been the Mind Stone."
What I didn't expect was his next thought—one that he didn't say aloud, but I heard it anyway.
'If I was the Mind Stone, I would've been slurped down like an energy drink by Master. No thanks. Even if I get the chance to reincarnate and choose between being the Power Stone or the Reality Stone, I would still pick to be the Soul Stone. At least this way I get to serve rather than get digested. Thank you, Living Tribunal... and thank you, Lady Death, for this lucky roll of fate.'
I turned my head toward him, letting my smirk widen just a bit.
" You know I can hear your thoughts, right?"
He froze in place, then immediately knelt down lower.
"I-I apologize, Master! I didn't mean any offense!"
I waved my hand dismissively, still amused.
" Relax. I found it hilarious."
'At least this one has a survival instinct. That's more than I can say for most cosmic relics.'
"Anyway... I suppose I should give you a name. Calling you a yellow-colored Kidney—cough—Infinity Stone just doesn't sound right anymore."
The newly formed Soul Stone entity looked at me with anticipation.
"Very well, Master. Please grant me a name."
I crossed my arms and gave it some thought for a moment before nodding to myself.
"Your name will be Ataman."
As soon as the words left my mouth, an overwhelming surge of Magicules engulfed him. The air around us trembled as ancient power flowed into his new form, strengthening it beyond measure. His Orichalcum body pulsed with divine energy as the power coursed through every inch of him.
{Soul Attack Resistance has been acquired.}
{Unique Skill: Soul Manipulation has been acquired.}
I glanced at the new list of skills I had copied from him, analyzing them carefully.
'So Spiritual Resistance and Soul Resistance really are different... Makes sense. One deals with ethereal interference, the other with direct assault on the soul core itself. Very useful.'
The transformation continued for a few more moments before settling. Ataman slowly opened his eyes, staring down at his hands, then at his own body as if seeing himself for the very first time.
"Master... what just happened to me? I feel... stronger. I can feel new abilities within me. What are these skills I've received?"
I explained everything to him—about Magicules, the nature of skills, and how my authority allowed his evolution. As I spoke, his expression lit up with awe and pure excitement. For someone who had been nothing but a silent cosmic relic for trillions of years, this was probably the most thrilling experience of his existence.
After he thanked me repeatedly, I decided it was time to leave Vormir.
I began charging up spatial energy to teleport us away when Ataman suddenly raised his hand, stopping me. He turned around and looked toward the stunned Red Skull, who still hadn't moved an inch.
"Red Skull! Your duty has been fulfilled. You've done well. You may now rest. Take a vacation—or even two. You've earned it!"
He then looked at me and gave a small, respectful nod.
Red Skull, still standing where we left him earlier, looked like someone who just witnessed a cosmic prank unfold in front of him. He blinked several times, trying to formulate a response.
"W-wait, I..."
But before he could finish, the teleportation sequence activated, and in a flash of light, we were gone.
Third-Person POV
Red Skull stood motionless on the cliff, staring into the now-empty space in front of him. His red skull-like face twisted in confusion.
"Red Skull: What just happened?"
He blinked again. No answer came. Just the silent wind of Vormir howling behind him.
RedSkull.exe has stopped responding. Please reboot.
Meanwhile — Earth, Stark Tower
Inside the high-tech meeting room of Stark Tower, all of the active Avengers—except Thor—were gathered, seated around a large conference table. There was tension in the air, not of hostility, but of anticipation. They weren't just waiting for something.
They were waiting for someone.
Suddenly, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, approaching the meeting room. The doors slid open, and two figures entered: the always-composed Nick Fury, and standing beside him—radiating confidence and cosmic energy—was Carol Danvers, known throughout the galaxy as Captain Marvel.
Nick Fury stepped forward, gesturing toward his companion.
"Everyone, meet Captain Marvel—Carol Danvers. Carol, these are the Avengers."
Carol gave a respectful nod as she introduced herself.
"I'm Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel. It's a pleasure to finally meet you all."
Bruce Banner was the first to greet her.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Bruce Banner."
"Tony Stark. But most people call me Iron Man. Or genius. Or both."
"Steve Rogers. Though I'm guessing you've heard of my other name—Captain America."
"Natasha Romanoff."
"Clint Barton. Also known as Hawkeye."
Carol smiled politely as she acknowledged each introduction. But before the conversation could continue, Tony gave Nick Fury a skeptical glance.
"Are you absolutely sure she's the right person for this? No offense meant, but we're the Avengers—the Earth's mightiest. And if we couldn't stop Ultron... what makes you think she can?"
Carol raised an eyebrow, her pride slightly poked. She stepped forward, her voice steady.
"You protect one planet. I protect entire galaxies."
With that, she activated her powers. Her body lit up with radiant plasma energy as her suit materialized around her. She floated slightly off the ground and hovered toward Tony with a confident smirk.
"Can you do this without your fancy armor?"
Tony looked at her calmly but muttered under his breath.
'Show off.'
"Alright, I'll give you that. I'll trust Fury's judgment. And... sorry about earlier."
Carol nodded, powering down and landing gracefully.
"Apology accepted. Anyone else want to test me?"
Everyone else quickly shook their heads.
"No."
" I'll admit, what Fury said about you does seem to check out. But defeating Ultron won't be easy. He's not the same as before." Banner said.
"People said the same about the Kree Empire. I proved them wrong too."
"Our biggest issue right now is his entropy-based powers." Clint grunted.
Carol blinked, mildly intrigued.
"Entropy powers? Huh. That's... oddly specific. Sounds like the exact opposite of what I specialize in."
Nick nodded and added.
"He got those powers from the Mind Stone. It's a similar energy to the Tesseract."
Carol's expression grew serious.
"So he's powered by one of the Infinity Stones?"
"???"
Seeing their confusion, she took a step back and explained the basics of the Infinity Stones and their terrifying capabilities.
"No wonder Ultron's that strong..." Banner muttered to himself.
"So he's wielding power from one of the six singularities that shaped the universe. Just like the Tesseract did." Tony analyzed.
"Correct. In fact, I got my powers from the Tesseract. From the Space Stone."
"That makes things interesting. If you've survived direct contact with a stone's power, we might actually have a chance." Banner smiled.
"So we're fighting fire with fire?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"More like... a devourer versus a discharger." Tony grinned.
Nick nodded, clearly satisfied.
"Told you all. She's worth more than a million soldiers."
"Yeah, alright, Fury. Now let's get back to business. We need to list every possible weakness Ultron has. Anything that might help us bring him down." Tony rolled his eyes at Nick Fury's dick eating.
"Then I need to be fully updated on what you know so far."
Tony nodded and said, "Fair enough. Let's run through everything we've discovered."
To Be Continued...