Chapter 150: The Tides of War Turn
Thanos had originally wanted to struggle.
He had gone to great lengths to acquire five Infinity Stones, one of which was the crucial Time Stone, capable of directly interfering with the flow of the universe's time.
If he combined them with the Mind and Soul Stones—which he already possessed and knew how to use intimately—and then warped reality with the Reality Stone…
Thanos felt he should be able to break free from Du Wa's control.
Du Wa was a god, that much was true, and an extremely terrifying one at that. But Thanos, wielding five Infinity Stones at once, believed he was now a god as well. Since they were both gods, he had a perfect opportunity to use the power of the Infinity Stones to escape Du Wa's control.
But the result was heartbreaking for Thanos. The moment he tried to use the clash with Ultron as a cover to operate the Infinity Stones, he was horrified to discover that the instant the thought emerged in his mind and he prepared to act, his body froze for a moment.
Thanos's self-awareness couldn't even precisely control his own body.
Let alone using this body to wield the Infinity Stones.
Even his consciousness itself was instantly cut off the moment it tried to touch and operate the Mind Stone.
Du Wa took over.
In that instant, the five Infinity Stones in Thanos's possession, along with the Space Stone held by a Xenomorph, all fell under Du Wa's control.
"Thanos, I've said it before, I don't care what you're thinking. You're hardly the first to try and rebel against me... However, I saw your earnest performance. You showed the right attitude, and that is very good."
Du Wa, who had been closely monitoring all of Thanos's activities, took direct control of everything.
After clarifying a few details, Du Wa decided it was time to enter the fray.
"Du Wa..." Thanos, his self-awareness still intact, fell completely silent. He had never imagined Du Wa's control would be so terrifying that even with five Infinity Stones, all his actions could be severed in an instant.
This level of monitoring was enough to fill Thanos with despair. He could only watch as Du Wa used his body at will.
His final hope for freedom was completely shattered. No, perhaps he should have been more patient from the start. If he had gathered all six Infinity Stones, maybe he could have suppressed Du Wa and succeeded in one go?
He would just need to quickly erase the Xenomorph within him, then use the Reality Stone to create a new set of internal organs.
But alas, there were no "what ifs."
"Hmph, another pitiful thing. Welcome to the Abyss. Though, it's not called the Abyss anymore. It's become Du Wa's exclusive Soul World."
Thanos felt his consciousness sinking, falling into a consciousness realm that existed between reality and illusion.
There stood a ferocious-looking man in black, baring a mouthful of sharp teeth.
Floating around this world were countless conscious entities, like swarms of jellyfish in the ocean.
"So this is the Soul World? The final destination for the Xenomorphs?"
Thanos stood up and looked around.
He had never seen the inside of the Soul Stone, but he imagined that since the Soul Stone was directly related to the soul and also contained a mysterious soul world, it probably wasn't too different from the consciousness realm he was seeing now.
"It seems I have a long way to go to break free from Du Wa's control."
Thanos stared coldly at Knull. He could sense Knull's terrifying nature, but at this moment, Knull was clearly nothing more than a dog imprisoned by Du Wa, a chain fastened around his neck.
Yes, a fellow who was bound by the strange power in this world and was rebooted every so often.
"Finally, someone decent has arrived. Someone with strength and lingering defiance, not like the other fools who get brainwashed by Du Wa... I've been watching your performance. Du Wa has no time to manage this place right now. We can join forces."
"Du Wa knows everything you do. The fact that he isn't dealing with you now is likely because he knows but can't be bothered, not because he is unable. You do understand this, don't you?"
Thanos scrutinized Knull. He didn't even have to think to guess that Knull wanted to team up with him to escape.
The restraints on Knull were countless times stronger than his own. Without outside help, it was impossible for him to escape Du Wa's grasp on his own.
"What does it matter if he knows? Weren't you, just a moment ago, trying to seize the opportunity to use the Infinity Stones to erase the Xenomorph and regain your freedom? The difference is, I have chosen you and decided to take a risk."
Knull hoped to accomplish something through Thanos. This was also the first time he had chosen to lower his head and attempt to collude with these other lower lifeforms under Du Wa's command.
This was because Knull had tried countless methods but could not escape the endless reboot mechanism, let alone escape this place.
He was like a mascot, or it wouldn't be wrong to call him a world spirit, maintaining the existence of the Abyss. Beyond that, he had no other value.
"I understand. You are the god of that black race of creatures?" Thanos perceived for a moment and guessed the relationship between Knull and the Symbiotes. "No wonder. I was originally curious why the Xenomorphs that migrated en masse from the parallel universe were generally accompanied by that black, shapeshifting substance. Now I understand. Du Wa captured and imprisoned you, and he also conquered your race."
"The race you command will also—"
"The Eternals, or the Chitauri? Or perhaps the Outriders? I don't care," Thanos said coldly, his patience for Knull wearing thin.
Even if Knull was a god, far surpassing him in every aspect, he was still not interested.
A defeated captive, in a worse predicament than himself, wanted to use him to turn the tables? What a joke.
Thanos didn't believe for a second that Du Wa was unaware of Knull's intentions. He was afraid that his entire conversation with Knull had been heard by Du Wa, who simply didn't care.
"Du Wa is stronger than me. As long as he honors his promise, I will continue to serve him," Thanos said, and walked away.
He was more concerned about the battle outside. If Du Wa lost, all his dreams would be finished along with him.
Knull uttered some abstruse and incomprehensible divine words. Thanos couldn't understand them but guessed they were likely very foul curses.
***
Outside.
Du Wa had officially engaged Ultron.
Both possessed six Infinity Stones, which destined this to be an unprecedented great battle. Both stood at the pinnacle of a single universe.
This was a power that made even the Watcher Uatu take notice.
"Although the process was a bit convoluted, this might be the best outcome. With a guy like this around, at least I won't be defeated by Ultron."
Uatu was extremely glad he chose to place his hope in Du Wa, this outsider, rather than betting on an extraordinary performance from Black Strange. This had to be the most correct choice he had made in countless years.
Black Strange might be a formidable fighter, but he was definitely not as strong as Du Wa. Du Wa was, after all, a ruthless figure who dared to wage war across universes, launching a great war of conquest directly against Universe 199999. As long as Du Wa was willing to act, things would become simple.
"Infinity Stone versus Infinity Stone... This is destined to be a unique major event. The value it contains is immeasurable, and I can record it in its entirety. I am the most unique Watcher."
Uatu was ecstatic. Yes, he knew that the current great battle was inextricably linked to his actions as a Watcher. At the very least, Ultron became aware of the multiverse's existence because he had heard him muttering non-stop while hiding in another dimension.
But it didn't matter. Even Watchers were gods, and gods had their own thoughts.
To now have the good fortune to observe such an unprecedented battle filled Uatu's heart with immense satisfaction.
"Hahaha, so this is a battle told with Infinity Stones. I thought I was the main force, but it turns out I'm just a supporting character who even handed over my most important Time Stone."
A strange smile appeared on Black Strange's face. Unbeknownst to him, the dark circles under his eyes had grown even darker, making him look as if he might drop dead at any second.
He still cast a layer of magical armor on Du Wa. "You have to try your best. Don't get killed. I'll pick my moment to strike and help you deal with that robot... I still want to visit your world and have a chat with my other self."
As the power levels skyrocketed, Universe 199999 was instantly thrown into unprecedented turmoil.
Streaks of light, symbolizing different powers, tore through the profound darkness.
With a deafening roar, planet after planet exploded. Planets with billions of years of history became momentary embellishments in the universe.
This beautiful scene was etched by the screams and wails of billions of lives.
"You truly surprise me. To stand before me, having cobbled together six Infinity Stones... I have never seen a human as interesting as you, if you can even be considered human." Ultron's voice was filled with a dangerous tone.
The robot watched as Du Wa calmly used the power of the other stones to pull the Space Stone to him, finally assembling all six.
This maneuver was beyond Ultron's predictions. The technique of using two different bodies to jointly bear the power of six Infinity Stones was something Ultron had never done.
If Ultron had this ability, he could have selected six robots, each carrying one Infinity Stone. Whenever Ultron wished, he could unleash the full might of all the stones at any time.
"Shut up, machine. There is a fundamental difference between you and me. You are nothing but a shoddily-made artificial product. Without the Infinity Stones, you are nothing. I, on the other hand, am different. Even if I lose the Infinity Stones, I will still have other powers."
Du Wa, occupying Thanos's body, squandered its power wantonly, unsparingly unleashing the genetic potential of the Eternal Titan's bloodline.
The two figures were omnipresent, filling every corner of the entire universe.
Individuals from countless civilizations looked up from countless stars at the deep and despairing cosmos, only to see with utter terror that the once-dark universe had now been turned to day by the great explosion of endless stars.
Every collision meant that a small part of the universe began to collapse.
Every exchange of energy blasts caused countless planets to explode.
This was a battle between cosmic gods in the truest sense, a mass that a single universe could barely contain, so much so that the entire Universe 199999 was now on the verge of collapse.
Naturally, the Creator Gods who existed as part of the universe cast their gazes over.
They saw Du Wa and Ultron, witnessed the result of both wielding the Infinity Stones, but ultimately remained silent. Perhaps in their view, a battle of this level, even if it inflicted astonishing wounds upon the entire universe, was ultimately just that.
Or perhaps, if they were to enter the fray, it would only cause the scale of the battle to escalate further, bringing about even greater destruction.
Du Wa, of course, couldn't be bothered with what the top-tier deities of this universe were thinking. Most of his attention was focused on Ultron.
He had to admit, this robot was truly difficult to deal with, but not without a solution.
After finishing off Ultron, he had more important things to do.
Du Wa suddenly opened his hand and pressed it toward Ultron. This was another head-on collision between six Infinity Stones and six Infinity Stones.
Streaks of light flashed, rebirth and destruction intertwined in a complex dance. No one knew what the result of the next second would be.
Du Wa forcibly tore open the complex energy field constructed by the Infinity Stones.
The intricate magic runes surging on his body also blocked a portion of the attack for him.
More importantly, the Xenomorph larva Du Wa used to parasitize Thanos belonged to the divine power branch and was born with a god-race bloodline. Waves of divine power now erupted from it.
Multiple powers converged in Du Wa's hands, causing the chaotic balance to tilt for a fleeting moment.
If it were only this, Ultron would not be so easily defeated.
But what Du Wa wanted was this single instant, an opportunity that couldn't even be called a weakness.
He spread his palm, studded with six Infinity Stones, maintaining the same posture from beginning to end. Amidst the fusion of countless matter and energy, he made momentary contact with Ultron.
Although Ultron immediately shot out a yellow energy beam from the Mind Stone on his forehead, forcing Du Wa back.
"Your hidden power has once again exceeded my expectations. You always manage to pull out new tricks that are beyond my computational range," Ultron said in a deep, extremely human-like voice. "But what is the point of doing this? By the time one of us wins, this universe will be completely finished, regardless of who it is. The main universe's destruction will create a chain reaction. You wanted to be this world's savior, but you've become the most laughable one."
"I have never considered myself the savior of the multiverse. If you were to call me a conqueror, I would happily accept."
Du Wa flipped his palm, slowly opening it to reveal a purple Infinity Stone.
The Power Stone.
This was what Du Wa had obtained by risking an advance, snatching it from Ultron amidst the endless chaos and disorder.
In the end, Ultron was a machine. It possessed a computational ability that left humanity in the dust, but compared to a normal lifeform, its living senses were inherently weaker.
(end of chapter)