Reborn As an Invincible Young Hero, I Conquer All Realms
Chapter 57: Fusion of the Complete Aether Particle, Appointed Guardian of Asgard!
Thor hovered in mid-air, his Divine Power of thunder slowly receding around him.
He stared at the spot where the black hole had just collapsed; Malekith had been completely crushed, not even leaving dust behind.
Yet in that empty space, a cluster of dark red liquid energy was still slowly churning, only the size of a fist, yet radiating a pulse that made one's heart palpitate.
"What exactly is the Aether Particle, that even a black hole cannot destroy it?" Thor's voice was full of disbelief.
He had seen the power of Marcus's black hole with his own eyes; even dark energy had been devoured completely, yet this particle itself remained unscathed.
Odin rode his horse forward, his single eye fixed on the floating dark red particle, and remained silent for a moment before speaking: "The Aether Particle is one of the six Infinity Stones born from the Big Bang, representing the most primitive 'Reality' Law in the Universe.
To destroy it, one must use power of an equivalent level. Other than that, no power can erase it from existence."
While he explained, the Aether Particle particle had already begun to drift slowly toward Marcus, like iron filings attracted to a magnet, silently sinking into his chest.
Odin did not intervene; this was, after all, Marcus's spoils of war.
The moment the complete Aether Particle finished its Fusion within his body, Marcus's consciousness was suddenly pulled into a boundless dark red Void Realm.
There was no sound, no gravity, only countless hair-thin energy streams converging from all directions, weaving into layers of nets invisible to the naked eye, with every single thread directly connected to his nerve endings.
This feeling was completely different from before; previously, when he mobilized the Aether Particle, he needed to exert willpower, like dragging a reluctant beast.
But now, the Aether Particle felt as if it had completely merged with him; as long as he had a thought, the Aether Particle would respond synchronously, almost without delay.
He could clearly perceive where the limits of the Aether Particle lay, and he could also feel the vitality within his body being extracted by the Aether Particle, strand by strand.
It was just that his Physique was too strong; the amount extracted was merely a drop in the ocean compared to his total vitality.
When his consciousness withdrew from the dark red Void Realm, all power was completely drained from his limbs and bones.
His eyelids felt as heavy as lead, his body felt as if it had been filled with cold molten iron, and he fell straight down from mid-air.
Thor was quick-witted and agile, grabbing his shoulder and steadily supporting him.
Odin rode his horse forward, holding gungnir horizontally across his saddle, his voice low and solemn: "I want to thank you solemnly once again, Your Excellency Marcus.
Thank you for saving Frigga, and thank you for saving Asgard."
Marcus lifted his eyelids with great effort, his voice weak but calm: "Just don't forget what you promised to give me, and that will be enough."
Odin nodded solemnly: "I swear in the name of the All-Father that I will never go back on what I promised you."
Marcus nodded slightly, and his eyelids finally could not hold out any longer and closed.
Thor supported him, said to Odin, "Father, I will take him back first," and then swung mjolnir, dragging a silver-gray trail as he flew toward the palace.
After returning to the palace, Thor settled Marcus in a guest room.
Marcus fell into a deep slumber almost as soon as he touched the bed; after his physical strength was exhausted to the limit, the Viltrumite self-healing mechanism began to operate at full speed, and his breathing gradually changed from short gasps to long and steady breaths.
He slept for two full days and nights.
When he opened his eyes again, the sunlight of Asgardwas streaming through the crystal dome and onto the bed.
He sat up slowly, clenched his fists, and felt the situation inside his body; his strength had recovered, and the complete Aether Particle lay quietly hidden deep in his chest, perfectly synchronized with his will, with no more sluggishness.
After simply eating the meal sent by the maid, a golden-armored guard came to convey a message, saying that God King Odin invited him to the palace hall.
Marcus followed the guard through the corridor flowing with golden light and stepped into the main hall.
Odin sat on the main seat, with Frigga standing by his side; although her complexion was still a bit pale, she looked much better than two days ago.
Thor stood below the steps, and upon seeing Marcus, he grinned and stepped forward to pat his shoulder: "Brother, you're finally awake!"
Odin stood up from the main seat, walked slowly down the steps, holding a metal box carved with Runes in his hand.
He had no extra pleasantries, his tone solemn and direct: "This is what I promised you."
Marcus reached out to take the metal box, and when his fingertips touched the edge of the lid, he could feel the slight pulse of the Runes on the metal surface.
He opened the lid, and three thumb-sized pure white crystals lay quietly on the velvet lining; inside the crystals, liquid light slowly flowed, like a small galaxy sealed within.
Beside them lay a golden apple, its skin glowing with a gentle sheen, emitting a sweet fragrance that did not belong to the Mortal world.
"These are crystals condensed from the Fountain of Life of Asgard, each containing powerful life essence."
Odin's voice echoed in the hall, his tone steady but weighty, "A Mortal using them can increase their lifespan by a hundred years. For a warrior like you, it can also significantly improve your physical fitness and vitality."
Odin's gaze moved away from the Fountain of Life crystals and fell on the golden apple glowing with a gentle sheen; he continued to explain: "This is the Golden Apple of Olympus, with an effect five times more powerful than the Fountain of Life. Even in the treasure vaults of Asgard, it is an extremely rare treasure."
Marcus closed the metal box, held the treasure steadily in his palm, and nodded slightly to Odin: "Thank you, God King."
Odin raised his hand, signaling that he was not finished yet.
He tapped gungnir lightly on the ground, and golden light patterns spread from where the spear tip landed, instantly covering the entire floor of the hall.
"Your Excellency Marcus." Odin's voice was solemn and resonant, echoing under the dome, "You saved Queen Frigga single-handedly, fought side by side with my son Thor to defeat the King of the Dark Elves, and saved Asgard.
From this day forward, I, as the All-Father and King of Asgard, bestow upon you the title of 'Guardian of Asgard'.
If you need assistance, simply call the name of Heimdall, and the Bifrost Bridge will open for you; the gates of Asgard will always be open to you."
Thor stood to the side, the smile on his face even brighter than when he heard his own reward.
Frigga also nodded slightly, a gentle approval appearing on her pale face.
After the title was bestowed, Odin put away gungnir, turned back to the main seat, and continued to deal with the post-war aftermath.
Thor also accompanied Frigga and Jane Foster to the healing room.
Marcus tucked the metal box into his embrace, turned around, walked through the corridor flowing with golden light, and headed toward the direction of the Bifrost Bridge.
He stepped onto the iridescent crystal bridge, and Heimdall, who had been waiting at the observatory, turned around, his golden eyes watching him calmly.
He leaned on his sword with both hands, his voice low and solemn: "Your Excellency Guardian, the Bifrost Bridge is open for you at any time."
Marcus nodded slightly: "Send me back to Earth."
Heimdall inserted his sword into the core of the bridge and turned it with force.
The colorful beam of the Bifrost Bridge crashed down from the depths of the firmament, swallowing Marcus's figure.
A moment later, the beam dissipated, and he was already standing in the backyard of the villa in Queens.
Chapter 58: Returning from Asgard, A Tender Daily Routine
The colorful beam of the Bifrost Bridge gradually dissipated in the backyard. Just as Marcus steadied his footing, a hurried rustling sound came from the back door of the villa.
A faint golden shadow darted out from the door crack, its eight slender legs moving rapidly across the lawn as it lunged straight toward his face.
Marcus raised his hand, letting Little Spider land in his palm. The little one's eight slender legs held tightly onto his thumb, and its childish voice exploded in his mind like a barrage of cannon fire: "Master, where did you go! I was so bored all by myself at home! If I hadn't been able to feel that the Totem Power inside you hadn't disappeared, I would have thought you were dead!"
Marcus looked at the Little Spider in his palm, which seemed to be written all over with "grievance." He let it jump onto his shoulder, turned, and walked into the house, his tone tinged with apology: "I went to Asgard. Sorry, it happened too suddenly, and I forgot to take you with me."
He walked slowly into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Little Spider jumped off his shoulder, landed on the coffee table, and tucked its eight slender legs in neatly.
"Master, what kind of place is Asgard? Is it dangerous there? Are you hurt?" It chattered on incessantly; before Marcus could answer one question, the next one had already popped out.
Marcus leaned back against the sofa. Although his stamina had recovered, he still felt lethargic and didn't want to move. He briefly recounted what had happened in Asgard.
Little Spider listened, its eight slender legs tensing up. Only after Marcus finished speaking did it let out a long sigh.
"It's good that Master is fine." It lay on the coffee table, front legs crossed, its voice muffled: "Next time, Master must take me with you. Although I'm small, I can crawl into an enemy's ear to cause trouble, I can help Master scout, and I can also..."
It raised its front legs to gesture, seemingly trying to find a more impressive way to phrase it, but finally blurted out: "I can also bite people."
The corners of Marcus's mouth lifted slightly. He sat up straight on the sofa, reached into his bosom, took out the metal box engraved with runes, gently lifted the lid, and placed it on the coffee table.
The liquid light inside the three crystals flowed slowly, and the skin of the golden apple shimmered with a gentle, warm glow. Two distinct, sweet scents intertwined, causing even the Little Spider at the edge of the coffee table to involuntarily scuttle forward two steps.
"So fragrant." It lay by the edge of the box, front legs resting on the metal rim, the nebula patterns on its back brightening and dimming with its breathing: "Master, what is this?"
"This is a crystal of the Fountain of Life, and also a golden apple from Olympus." Marcus picked up a pure white crystal and twirled it between his fingertips; the flowing light inside the crystal refracted a small nebula-like halo as the angle changed: "The crystal can enhance physical strength and vitality. The effect of the golden apple is five times that."
He paused and looked down at the Little Spider lying by the box.
He suddenly remembered that Little Spider had said before that it could condense Totem Power by eating. It could digest and absorb ordinary meat, so it should be able to handle this crystal of the Fountain of Life as well.
So he held the crystal out to Little Spider and said: "Eat this."
Little Spider's eight slender legs froze simultaneously. It lay by the box, front legs resting on the metal edge, looking at the pure white crystal with its flowing liquid light, then at Marcus, its childish voice tinged with a trace of hesitation: "Master, such a precious thing, do you really want me to eat it?"
"Aren't there two more?" Marcus glanced at the two remaining crystals and the golden apple in the box, his tone flat: "Just go ahead and eat this one."
Little Spider no longer hesitated. It leaned forward, opened its mouth, and bit down on the crystal. The crystal shell shattered at the touch of its tiny chelicerae, and the liquid light inside turned into streams of pure white energy, flowing into its body through its mouth.
It closed its eyes, and the nebula patterns on its back suddenly lit up. A pale golden light rippled outward like water waves, and the entire spider was enveloped in a soft golden mist of light.
Marcus sat quietly, waiting patiently.
Not long after, the nebula patterns on Little Spider's back began to flicker again. It opened its eyes, looked down at its slender legs, and then raised its head to look at Marcus, its voice full of unbelievable excitement: "Master, this thing is amazing! It directly generated ten portions of Totem Power inside me!"
After it finished speaking, it raised its front legs, looking eager to try: "Master, how about I inject these ten portions of Totem Power into you right now?"
Marcus leaned back against the sofa backrest and said in a relaxed tone: "Ten portions won't increase my strength much. Keep them for now; let's wait until we've gathered one hundred portions."
Hearing Marcus's words, Little Spider pulled back its front legs and obediently lay back down on the coffee table: "Alright, then I'll save them up first. I'll inject them into Master once I've gathered one hundred portions."
Marcus leaned against the sofa back, suddenly remembering something. Before he left, he had told Gwenthat he was going to Asgard for a few days. Now that he was back, he needed to tell her.
He reached out, picked up his phone from the coffee table, and sent a message to Gwen.
"I'm back."
Less than a few seconds after the message was sent, the phone screen lit up, and Gwen's reply popped up almost as if she had been waiting on the other side of the screen.
"Marcus! You're back! How was it? Are you hurt?"
One could tell from the speed of the reply that Gwen had been waiting anxiously for news.
After all, what Marcus said before leaving was that he was going to Asgard, not just a normal trip. For the past few days, she had been going to class, coming home, and eating as usual, but there had been a stone hanging in her heart the whole time. Only when this message popped up did that hanging heart finally settle slightly.
Marcus looked at the series of questions, the corners of his mouth twitching imperceptibly. He typed very slowly and just replied briefly.
"I'm fine."
Just as the message was sent, Gwen's reply followed, so fast it was as if she had already typed it out and was just waiting for him to reply: "That's good! Tell me about Asgard."
Immediately followed by another one: "What does it look like over there? How is Thor's girlfriend? Did you see Odin?"
She still had half a sentence she hadn't sent, "What have you been doing these past few days?", but she deleted it because she knew the question was too broad, and ultimately, she had already received the answer she wanted most. He said he was fine, so he was fine.
Marcus replied to her briefly: Asgard is quite beautiful; the Bifrost Bridge is built over the galaxy, and the palace is golden. Jane Foster is fine, and Odin and Frigga are both doing well. Nothing else special.
He skipped over the battles, injuries, and the part about the Aether Particle, choosing only to mention a few of the most trivial things.
Gwen looked at the message on the screen, guessing that he had omitted quite a lot of his experiences.
But she didn't press for details, just replied at the end: "That's good. Take me with you next time, I want to see the goddess too." Followed by a smiley face.
Marcus looked at the smiley face and replied with one word: "Okay."
Chapter 59: Encountering Gwen Fighting Crime, Gifting a Nano-Bracelet on the Rooftop!
Marcus put down his phone and took the golden apple from the metal box. He took a bite, and the sweet, fresh pulp turned into a stream of warm energy that surged into his body, making every part of him feel like it was soaking in a hot spring.
With a thought, he opened his attribute panel.
[Super Strength: Level 5 (9%)]
[Super Durability: Level 5 (11%)]
[Super Mind: Level 5 (15%)]
[Super Speed: Level 5 (5%)]
[Bio-field: Level 5 (20%)]
[Spider-Sense: Level 5 (3%)]
[Dimensional Travel: Level 1 (50%)]
He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him. Although the battle with Malekith was dangerous, the rewards were equally bountiful. The Aether Particle lay quietly hidden deep in his chest, and the life force of the golden apple continued to nourish his body.
Marcus closed the panel, got up, and went to take a shower. The hot water washed away the fatigue of the past few days. He changed into clean casual clothes and returned to the living room, where Little Spider was lying on the coffee table waiting for him.
He played with Little Spider for a while, drawing circles on the tabletop with his finger for it to chase, and crumpling a tissue into a small ball to throw for it to fetch. The little guy jumped excitedly between the coffee table and the sofa, the nebula patterns on its back flashing rapidly.
As the sky grew dark, Marcus stood up. With a slight movement of his mind, the Aether Particle within his chest flowed out silently. Dark red fluid spread from his chest to his entire body, transforming his casual clothes into the pure white Empire uniform.
Little Spider jumped lightly onto his shoulder, its thin legs gripping the fabric firmly. Marcus took off from the backyard and flew toward Gwen's house.
Halfway there, he suddenly slowed down. In front of a bank below, police lights were flashing. Several police cars were parked horizontally on the roadside, and the officers were hiding behind the car doors, aiming their guns at the entrance.
At the bank entrance, a familiar figure was tossing two robbers off the steps, one in each hand.
Gwen was wearing that white, black, and pink spider-web combat suit. Her movements were clean and efficient. The two robbers were tied hand and foot by her spider silk, unable to move as they lay on the ground. She stood up straight and brushed the dust off her hands.
Little Spider, perched on Marcus's shoulder, lifted its front legs excitedly: "Master, it's Gwen!"
Marcus didn't go down to help. Opponents of this level posed no threat to Gwen now. He just hovered in mid-air, watching quietly.
Below, Gwen was just about to walk toward the police cars to hand them over when her movements suddenly paused. Her Spider-Sense caught a familiar aura. She looked up abruptly and, through her goggles, saw that pure white figure in the night sky.
The corners of her mouth under the goggles couldn't help but curl up. She raised her hand, wanting to wave hello.
"Bang—"
The side door of the bank was kicked open. A robber hiding inside rushed out with a shotgun, aiming it at Gwen, who was looking up at the sky.
Gwen's Spider-Sense sounded the alarm before the gunshot rang out. Without even turning her head, she twisted her waist sharply to the side. The shotgun pellets grazed her shoulder and embedded themselves into the wall behind her, sending debris flying.
The moment she turned, her hands were already raised. Two strands of spider silk shot out from the web-shooters on her wrists, precisely sticking to the robber's chest and wrist, pulling him off the ground and slamming him hard against the wall.
The robber struggled a few times but was firmly stuck by the spider silk. The gun slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.
Seeing this scene, the corners of Marcus's mouth curled up slightly. He turned his body and flew toward a building not far away.
Just as Gwen handed the robber over to the arriving police, she looked up and saw that pure white figure turning away.
She immediately leaped into the air, flipped her wrist to shoot a strand of spider silk that stuck to a billboard on the opposite building, and swung in an arc, following closely behind.
Marcus had just turned on the rooftop of the building when Gwen followed closely and landed lightly on the railing. She crouched down and reached up to pull off her mask. Her blonde hair was scattered by the night wind, and her blue eyes, reflecting the city lights, curved into two crescent moons.
Little Spider raised its front legs from his shoulder and waved at Gwen.
Gwen jumped down from the railing and waved back at Little Spider, then turned to Marcus, her tone filled with a hint of complaint: "I haven't seen you for so many days, and you didn't even come down to help me."
Marcus leaned against the railing, his tone relaxed: "They were just some ordinary people. If you couldn't even handle these few, then I would really have to doubt whether my training has had any effect. Or perhaps, you've been slacking off these past few days?"
Gwen hummed, resting her hands on the railing. The night wind caused the hood on the back of her combat suit to sway gently: "I haven't been slacking off with my training while you were in Asgard. These few people aren't even enough for me to warm up."
Marcus looked at her and suddenly reached out to press his left wrist. The nano-bracelet loosened with a click and he took it off his wrist. The bracelet shone with a cold, silver-gray luster in the moonlight.
"This is for you." He handed the bracelet to Gwen.
Gwen looked down at the exquisite bracelet, not reaching out to take it immediately. She raised her head, her tone filled with confusion: "What is this?"
"A nano-bracelet. It stores a large number of nanobots that can generate various items according to your will." Marcuspushed the bracelet forward another half-inch, his tone as flat as if he were talking about something completely ordinary. "Weapons, tools, auxiliary equipment—as long as you can visualize the specific form in your mind, it can make it happen for you."
Gwen's gaze fell on the bracelet, the silver-gray metallic surface flowing with a subtle luster in the moonlight. Her fingers subconsciously clenched the edge of the railing, then released, and she shook her head: "Something so valuable, I can't accept it."
Marcus looked at her without rushing to persuade her. He raised his right hand, a thought moved, and the Aether Particle within his chest flowed out silently. Dark red fluid overflowed from his fingertips, covering his whole body like a veil.
The pure white Empire uniform surged and changed like water ripples in the dark red light. First, it transformed into a sharp-cut black suit, then into a dark gray hoodie, followed by a futuristic, silver, high-tech combat armor, and finally solidified back into the original pure white uniform.
The whole process took only a few seconds, and every change was smooth and natural, as if the clothes themselves had life.
"The nano-bracelet is of no use to me now." Marcuslowered his right hand, and the afterglow of the Aether Particle dissipated from his fingertips. His tone remained flat. "So it's not a valuable item to me."
He glanced at Gwen, then looked down at the bracelet in his palm, and said casually: "Of course, if you don't want it, then I'll just throw it away."
As soon as he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist, and the bracelet was gently tossed out. The silver-gray metal drew a dim arc in the night, crossed the railing, and fell toward the street below.
Chapter 60: Bidding Farewell to Gwen, Forging a Ring with Aether Particle, and Heading to Knowhere!
"What are you — —" Gwen's eyes widened sharply. She didn't even have time to finish her sentence before her body had already reacted.
Webbing shot out from her wrist, the white thread tracing a precise trajectory through the night sky, catching up to the falling bracelet and sticking firmly to it. With a flick and pull of her wrist, the web brought the bracelet snapping back, landing steadily in her palm.
She clutched the bracelet tightly, her chest rising and falling slightly. She looked up, about to say something, but met Marcus's calm eyes. He was leaning against the railing with a faint smile on his lips, as if he had known all along that she wouldn't let the bracelet fall.
Marcus watched the hand with which Gwen clutched the bracelet, the smile still not fading from his lips: "Now you're willing to accept it, right."
Gwen looked down at the silver-gray bracelet in her palm, her thumb gently rubbing the edge of the bracelet. After a moment, she looked up, her blue eyes carrying a hint of stubbornness from having her thoughts seen through: "If you throw it again next time, I might not be able to catch it."
"You wouldn't fail to catch it." Marcus said with certainty.
Gwen glared at him, but the curve of her lips could no longer be hidden. She fastened the bracelet onto her right wrist. The moment the metal surface touched her skin, a sliver of blue light slid along the edge of the bracelet.
She raised her wrist to look at it under the moonlight; the bracelet's simple and clean lines unexpectedly matched the web pattern of her suit.
"How do you use this thing?" She turned her wrist, curiously examining the silver-gray metal ring on her wrist.
Marcus raised his hand and pointed to the bracelet on Gwen's wrist: "Just press the bracelet's screen."
Gwen hurriedly lowered her head and pressed her thumb onto the bracelet's screen. Nanobots surged out in response, the silver-gray particles spreading along her arm like a living thing.
Her eyes lit up. First, it turned into a deep blue evening gown; the hem had just formed before it instantly switched to a motorcycle jacket, followed immediately by a bright orange down jacket, a shimmering futuristic combat suit, and a dark purple assassin's robe with a hood.
She was having a great time, with each switch forming in an instant; it was as if she were putting on a one-person fashion show on the rooftop.
Marcus leaned against the railing and watched quietly for a moment.
When she finally stopped, he spoke: "Since you've accepted the item, it's time for me to leave."
Gwen was just changing her suit back to its original web pattern, and her movements stopped upon hearing this. She looked up, her tone still lingering with the excitement from just moments ago: "Where are you going?"
"I'm going into the Universe to find something."
Gwen was silent for a moment. The excitement in her blue eyes faded: "Does that mean you're going away for a long time again?"
"That's right. The reason I came back to Earth was to give you this." He tilted his chin, gesturing toward the bracelet on her wrist. "If you have an enemy you can't handle, just press the bracelet's screen and say 'Otto'. Then, many Spider-Men from other Universes will come, and you can ask them for help."
Gwen lowered her head, her thumb unconsciously rubbing the edge of the bracelet. She gave a soft "Mn," her voice muffled, tinged with a faint sense of dejection.
Marcus watched her lowered head, her blonde hair swaying slightly in the night breeze. He stepped forward, raised his hand, and gently pressed it onto the top of her head; the few strands of hair beneath his palm were soft and warm.
"Don't be sad. It's not like I'm not coming back." His voice softened a little. "I'll bring you an alien gift when I return."
Gwen suddenly raised her head. Although there were clearly no tears in her eyes, they were excessively bright. She glared at him, her voice carrying a stubborn, unyielding tone: "I'm not sad at all. Not only do I want an alien gift, but I also want you to take me to different planets to play."
Marcus withdrew his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly: "Alright. Let me take you back first."
Upon hearing this, Gwen reached out her hands. Marcusstepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her steadily. His Bio-field expanded silently, and the two rose into the air from the building's rooftop, flying toward the direction of Gwen's home.
In just a moment, he landed in the familiar alley behind Gwen's house. He released her, and Gwen stepped out of his embrace, raising her hand to gather her hair that had been blown loose by the wind.
"Be careful." She said.
Marcus nodded: "Alright."
Immediately, his figure rose into the air again, flying toward the direction of the villa.
Returning to the villa's courtyard, Marcus had just steadied his footing when Little Spider stood up from his shoulder, its thin legs tightening slightly. Its youthful voice sounded in his mind, carrying an irrepressible nervousness: "Master, you won't leave me behind this time, right?"
Marcus turned his head to look at it; the nebula patterns on the little guy's back were flickering rapidly, alternating between bright and dim. He replied in a calm and serious tone: "Rest assured, I won't forget."
Only then did Little Spider breathe a sigh of relief, its thin legs settling back down obediently.
Marcus walked into the house and stood in the center of the living room. He raised his right hand, and the Aether Particle within his body surged out silently. The dark red fluid spread along his arm to his fingertips, slowly sketching the outline of a ring in the air.
He used his will to drive the Aether Particle to reconstruct matter at the molecular level, forcibly tearing a fissure in the empty space, then shaping and solidifying it.
A dark red ring, only the size of a fist, gradually took shape, hovering above his palm and rotating slowly.
He could clearly feel the life force within his body being extracted bit by bit by the Aether Particle.
When the ring finally stabilized, he estimated that making this spatial bracelet had consumed about one year of his life force. The price was not small, but it was worth it.
He picked up the bracelet and fastened it onto his left wrist. He projected his consciousness into it, perceiving a space of about one cubic meter, with clear and stable boundaries.
Then, he placed the medicine suitcase stored in the villa, along with the metal box containing the Life Spring Water crystals and Golden Apples, one by one into the spatial bracelet. After confirming the items were intact, he turned and walked out of the house.
The night breeze gently brushed over the lawn in the backyard. Marcus stopped, looked up at the starry sky, and called out loudly: "Heimdall."
No more than a few seconds after his voice fell, a seven-colored beam of light crashed down from the depths of the firmament, striking precisely in front of him. The energy of the Bifrost Bridge dissipated like a receding tide, and he was already standing steadily on the crystal bridge surface, with the towering golden observatory before him and the endless galaxy beneath the bridge.
Heimdall was leaning on his Guardian Sword with both hands, his golden eyes watching him calmly, and he nodded slightly: "Guardian, Your Excellency, where do you intend to go."
Marcus stepped forward: "Can you send me to Knowhere?"
Heimdall did not ask further, just nodded: "No problem."
He inserted the Guardian Sword into the core of the bridge surface and gripped the hilt with both hands: "Please prepare yourself."
Marcus took a deep breath, his Bio-field spreading out around him, and Little Spider's eight thin legs firmly gripped his clothing on his shoulder. He nodded to Heimdall.
Heimdall turned the hilt with force. The energy of the Bifrost Bridge engulfed him once again, transforming into a seven-colored beam of light that traversed the galaxy, shooting rapidly toward that lawless, no-man's-land deep in the Universe.
Chapter 61: The Bifrost Bridge Lands in Land of Nihility! An Aether Particle Behemoth as a Gift
The colorful beam of the Bifrost Bridge slammed into the central thoroughfare of Land of Nihility, its energy shockwave scattering debris and garbage across the ground.
Before the beam had even dissipated, the entire street had fallen silent.
A scavenger crouching beneath a rusted pipe hurriedly lowered their head, shrinking back into the depths of the shadows, even softening their breathing.
Several Ravagers at the entrance of the tavern opposite reached for the energy pistol grips at their waists, but none dared to draw them, retreating step by step back inside instead. The windows on the second floor closed silently.
In a lawless place like Land of Nihility, those who have survived to this day understand one fundamental Law of survival: Do not provoke the people of Asgard.
The Bifrost Bridge is Asgard's exclusive teleportation technology; whoever arrives through this beam is either a god or an army. Regardless of which it is, crushing them would be easier than crushing a bug.
The beam slowly dissipated, and a slender white figure stepped out from the residual colorful energy.
Marcus stopped and swept his gaze calmly across the surroundings.
The nebula patterns on the back of the Little Spider on his shoulder flickered slightly, and a youthful voice echoed in his mind: "Master, they seem very afraid of us."
Marcus withdrew his gaze, his tone flat: "It's not us they fear, it's the Bifrost Bridge."
The Little Spider let out an "Oh" as if it half-understood, its slender legs obediently retracting, and it didn't ask any more questions.
At this moment, a red-skinned maid walked quickly from the street corner. She stopped three steps in front of Marcus, pressed her hands to her chest, bowed, and said in a respectful and steady voice: "Welcome to Land of Nihility, noble guest from Asgard. I am an attendant to the Collector. Upon hearing the news of the Bifrost Bridge's arrival, he sent me to welcome you. He is waiting at his residence; please follow me."
The Little Spider's slender legs shifted slightly on Marcus's shoulder, and the youthful voice echoed in his mind: "Master, are we going to follow her?"
Marcus said in a low voice: "We are going to be staying here for a while, after all, so it would be good to meet the master of this place."
He raised his eyes to look at the maid and nodded slightly.
The maid bowed slightly and turned to lead the way.
After passing through several narrow alleys pieced together from the wreckage of abandoned starships, the view suddenly opened up. A building, vastly different from the dilapidated surroundings, stood at the end of the street. Its outer walls were constructed from polished alloy plates, with every seam fitting perfectly, and on either side of the entrance stood a stone sculpture of an exotic beast, excavated from some unknown civilization's ruins.
The maid pushed open the heavy metal door and stepped aside. Marcus stepped inside, and the door behind him closed silently. The air inside the hall was dry and cool, completely isolated from the pungent smell of fuel outside.
The display cases lining the walls were filled with all kinds of collections, ranging from stone fragments of ancient civilizations to the complete skeletons of unknown creatures, each carefully displayed within an independent energy shield.
A white-haired man walked out from the depths of the display area. He wore a dark robe trimmed with gold thread, with two thin black lines painted around his eyes. His hands were gently clasped in front of his chest, and his face wore a smile that was somewhere between enthusiastic and scrutinizing.
"Noble guest from Asgard, may I ask what brings you to Land of Nihility?" The Collector's voice was soft and slow, each syllable sounding as if it had been carefully deliberated before leaving his tongue.
Marcus looked at him, his tone flat: "I came here only to wait for a group of people."
The corner of the Collector's eye twitched slightly. He had assumed this Asgardian guest would make some troublesome request or had taken a fancy to some rare treasure in his collection; he hadn't expected the other party to merely be borrowing his territory to wait for a group of people.
He put back on that elegant smile, his tone carrying just the right amount of curiosity: "Those who can make Your Excellency make a special trip must surely not be ordinary people."
Marcus looked at him, his tone flat: "A group called the Guardians of the Galaxy; you probably haven't heard of them."
The Collector tilted his head slightly, quickly searching his mind for the name. He considered himself to have mastered the intelligence network of almost every force in the Universe, from the high-level appointments of the Kree Empire to the shady deals between various Ravager factions; there was nothing he didn't know.
But the term "Guardians of the Galaxy" left absolutely no impression. It was either a small group that had just been formed, or it was something this Asgardian before him had made up on the spot.
He piled the smile back onto his face, his tone carrying a bit more probing: "May I ask how long Your Excellency intends to stay?"
"It shouldn't take long, six months at most." Marcus's tone was flat.
The Collector nodded; six months was nothing. For an ancient being like him who had lived through several epochs, it was merely the blink of an eye.
Moreover, having an Asgardian willing to stay in his museum was something worth exploiting. At the very least, for the next six months, other forces in Land of Nihility would think his relationship with Asgard was closer than it actually was.
"In that case, please make yourself at home, Your Excellency." He said, turning slightly and pointing to the other side of the hall, "There is a lounge over there; if you have any needs, just let the attendants know."
Marcus did not turn to walk toward the lounge. He glanced at a large, empty display case in the corner of the hall; the transparent energy shield inside was three stories high, and on the base sat only a metal plaque labeled "Pending."
"I will not stay here for free."
He raised his right hand, and the Aether Particle within his chest flowed out silently. The dark red liquid energy surged and condensed within the display case, and within seconds, the corpse of a six-legged behemoth was lying quietly in the center of the display case.
The Collector's footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He walked quickly to the display case, braced his hands on his knees, and brought his nose almost against the energy shield. His gaze swept from the six limbs to the bone blades on the tail. His lips moved for a long time before he squeezed out a sentence: "Incredible. I have never seen this kind of life form. The carapace structure does not belong to any known galaxy, and the residual frequency of the energy pulsation is completely foreign. Although it is just a corpse, it is still extremely precious."
He straightened up and turned to Marcus, his gaze landing on the dark red particles still slowly retracting into his right hand. His eyes widened slightly, and then the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward, forming a knowing smile.
"This is the Reality Stone, isn't it."
His tone was certain, and his eyes reflected the dark red afterglow of the Aether Particle, his interest much more intense than before.
An Asgardian who could casually use an Infinity Stone—his true identity might be even older than "gods and armies."
Marcus did not answer.
The Collector did not receive a response, but he did not continue to press the issue; he had lived through too many epochs and knew that the answers to some questions were more dangerous than silence.
He smoothed out the wrinkles on his robe, recovering his usual elegant posture, though the enthusiasm in his tone was a bit more sincere than before.
"This gift of yours, Your Excellency, is worth more than half the collection in my museum. Please, stay as long as you like."
Marcus nodded slightly, accepting the enthusiasm. He turned and walked toward the lounge, with the Little Spider perched on his shoulder, its slender legs shifting slightly as a youthful voice echoed in his mind: "Master, are we really going to stay here for half a year?"
"Yes."
Chapter 62: Artillery Fire Rains Down! Everyone's in a Mess, Yet I Steadily Hold the Power Stone!
Three months later.
Marcus was strolling through the streets of Land of Nihilitywith Little Spider.
Over these past three months, he had become familiar with every back alley of this lawless zone.
Suddenly, a purple pillar of light shot up from the direction of the Collection, tearing through the perpetually gray sky of Land of Nihility.
A violent energy shockwave swept crazily outward from the pillar, launching the wreckage of abandoned starships into the air, with debris raining down like raindrops.
The entire street's ground shook violently.
Several scavengers crouching in the corner were knocked to the ground by the blast wave; they scrambled up and ran in the opposite direction without even daring to look back.
Marcus turned sharply, gazing at the still-expanding purple energy pillar.
The dark purple light reflected in his pupils like two burning flames.
The Power Stone—he had waited three months in Land of Nihility, and this was the moment he had been waiting for.
"Little Spider, get on."
Little Spider kicked off with its eight slender legs, landing steadily on his shoulder, its legs gripping firmly onto the fabric of his uniform.
Then, the Bio-field enveloped both Marcus and Little Spider.
The next instant, his figure vanished from where he stood, and the gravel at his feet was swept into the air by the suddenly accelerated airflow, only to clatter back down to the ground.
A scorched hole had been blown through the dome of the Collection, and the residual purple energy was still humming and vibrating in the air.
The entrance was a mess; broken steel beams were slanted in the rubble, glass shards from display cases crunched underfoot, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of ozone mixed with molten metal.
A raccoon wearing a tactical vest was poking Star-Lord in the chest with its claw, its voice loud enough for the whole street to hear: "What damn good has the Universe ever done for you? Why do you want to protect it?"
Star-Lord Peter Quill slapped its claw away, his voice also raised an octave: "Because I, a patient, live in this Universe!"
The green-skinned Gamora stood between the two, pushing them apart with both hands, separating this duo who were almost face-to-face in a heated argument.
Her voice was calm and urgent: "We absolutely cannot let Ronan get the Power Stone! We must leave now and take it to the Nova Empire."
Star-Lord shook his head, spinning the glowing purple Universe Orb in his hand around his fingertips.
A cunning smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, a smile mixed with the audacity of a gambler and the confidence of a con man: "Or, we could hand it over to someone who won't arrest us, has good character, and is willing to pay us a huge sum of money."
As soon as he finished speaking, a steady voice came from behind them.
"I am that person you are talking about."
Star-Lord and Gamora drew their guns simultaneously, their movements almost perfectly synchronized.
Rocket pulled an energy gun from behind his back, aiming it at Marcus's chest.
Groot, standing behind Rocket, let out a low growl, his vine-like arms rapidly extending as he struck a combat pose.
Marcus stood on the tilted pile of rubble, the pure white of his Empire uniform standing out starkly against the smoke and ash.
Little Spider lay on his shoulder, tilting its head as it sized up these strange new faces.
"Who are you?" Star-Lord's gun remained pointed steadily at Marcus, his eyes filled with clear wariness.
In this lawless zone, there were only three types of people who would suddenly appear at an explosion site: scavengers picking up scraps, ravagers looting during the chaos, or someone even more troublesome.
And this guy in the white uniform before them, without a speck of dust on him, was definitely the most troublesome kind.
Marcus looked at them and spoke in a flat tone: "Aren't you looking to sell what you have in your hands? I can offer thirty million to buy it."
Gamora frowned, her tone firm and decisive: "We're not selling."
As soon as she finished speaking, Star-Lord raised a hand to interrupt her.
He tilted his head to study Marcus, a shrewd smile hanging on his lips: "Someone has offered four billion for this thing; thirty million is a bit too low, don't you think?"
Rocket Raccoon shouldered his energy gun, pointed another claw at the Universe Orb in Star-Lord's hand, and chimed in: "That's right, we won't sell for anything less than two billion. Thirty million? That's not even enough to buy one of my bombs."
"You money-grubbing scoundrels." Gamora squeezed these words out through gritted teeth, the muscles beneath her green skin taut.
She knew all too well what the consequences would be if the Power Stone fell into the hands of those with ulterior motives; Ronan would destroy the entire planet of Xandar, and as for this stranger in the white uniform, who knew what he would do with it.
Groot slowly turned his head to look at everyone, his voice deep and slow: "I am Groot."
Marcus just looked at Star-Lord calmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation: "If you don't sell now, the price won't be the same in a moment."
After saying this, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze passing over them to look at the sky.
Star-Lord turned his head to look in the direction of his gaze.
A massive dark purple warship was slowly descending from above the gray sky of Land of Nihility.
Both sides of the hull were densely packed with the silhouettes of countless small fighter craft, like poisonous bees swarming out after their hive had been breached.
That was Ronan's flagship—the Dark Aster; the shadow it cast alone was enough to cover half the street.
The screeching sound of the Necrocraft engines came from high above, piercing enough to make one's eardrums ache.
Just then, a loud and crazed burst of laughter came from the square not far ahead.
Drax the Destroyer stood shirtless on a pile of rubble, spreading his arms toward the massive warship drawing closer in the sky, his red tattoos glowing with a dull light amidst the smoke: "Prepare to die, Ronan!"
"How did this idiot bring Ronan here!" Star-Lord cursed, his hands moving faster than his brain.
He tossed the Universe Orb toward Marcus, not even bothering to confirm if the other party caught it, "Thirty million, deal!"
The Universe Orb traced an arc through the air.
Gamora instinctively reached out to intercept it, her fingertips brushing against the cold metal shell of the sphere, but she only caught air.
Marcus closed his fingers, steadily catching the flying Universe Orb.
Almost at the same instant, the energy cannons of the Necrocraft poured down from high above.
The dark purple beams smashed into the pile of rubble at the entrance of the Collection, and the blast wave from the explosion sent broken steel beams flying into the air.
Star-Lord was sent flying by the shockwave, his back slamming into a collapsed pillar, and as he slid to the ground, he choked on a mouthful of dust.
Rocket grabbed Groot's branch and pulled him behind an overturned alloy plate, though he himself ended up half-buried by rubble.
Gamora rolled on the ground to avoid the core of the explosion, and by the time she knelt on one knee, her face was already covered in a layer of gray-white dust.
Drax was knocked over by the blast wave in the center of the square, and the first thing he did upon climbing up was to roar at the sky, "Ronan, you coward!"
The aftermath of the artillery fire slowly dissipated, with smoke still billowing in the air.
Star-Lord wiped the dust from his face, looked up, and then froze.
Marcus was still standing in the same spot, and there wasn't even a scorch mark on his pure white Empireuniform.
Little Spider was lying on his shoulder, bowing its head to wipe dust off one of its slender legs with its front legs, its movements as composed as if it had just finished a nap in the living room.
Around them, where they had just been standing, the ground had been blasted into a scorched, shallow crater.
With the crater as the center, the surrounding area was filled with rubble, scorched earth, and twisted metal fragments; only the very center of that shallow crater seemed to have been deliberately protected by an invisible hand.
Chapter 63: Instant Kill of Ronan! Sweeping the Entire Kree Army Single-Handedly!
Star-Lord crawled out from the pile of rubble, patted the thick dust off his hair, and stared straight at Marcus. He lowered his voice, squeezing a few words through his teeth: "Who exactly is this guy?"
Rocket crawled out from under a crooked alloy plate nearby, spat out the gravel in his mouth, and followed Star-Lord's gaze to glance at Marcus, who was standing motionless in place.
He snatched up the energy gun that had fallen on the ground, his speaking speed as fast as a machine gun: "Whatever, it doesn't matter who he is. Ronan's fighter jets are coming again, and we need to run for it right now."
Before he could finish speaking, a dark purple Necrocraft streaked across the low altitude, the screeching of its engines piercing their eardrums.
The fighter jet slowly landed in the center of the plaza, its landing gear hitting the rubble with a dull metallic thud. The hatch opened, and a tall figure stepped out from the darkness.
Ronan stood there, the Kree Empire's black armor gleaming with a cold, hard luster amidst the smoke, as he held that Kree warhammer in one hand.
Before anyone could speak, Drax's eyes instantly became bloodshot. He clenched his fists, and a roar exploded from the depths of his throat: "Ronan! Prepare to die!"
Then, he launched himself forward like a cannonball fired from a chamber.
Ronan watched Drax charging toward him, merely raising the warhammer in his hand, its head lighting up with a blinding white light. The next instant, a white shockwave exploded from the hammerhead, sweeping outward with him as the center.
Before Drax could even touch the hem of Ronan's clothes, he was hit head-on by the shockwave. Like a baseball that had been struck, he flew backward faster than he had charged, slamming heavily into a pile of rubble dozens of meters away, his back hitting the ground with a dull, thunderous thud.
Drax lay face up in the rubble, his chest heaving violently as he tried to prop himself up with trembling arms. But just as his arms were halfway up, his palms slipped on the rubble, and he fell heavily back down, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
He gasped for air, not even having the strength left to curse.
Ronan withdrew his gaze, not sparing another look at the fallen Destroyer. His cold, hard gaze swept over Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora, and Groot, finally landing on Cosmic Orbin Marcus's hand.
His voice was low and cold: "Hand over Cosmic Orb to me, and I can spare your pathetic life."
Marcus did not respond. He just calmly raised his hand, stored Cosmic Orb into his space bracelet, and then raised his eyes to look at Ronan.
The next instant, his figure vanished from where he stood.
Before Ronan's pupils could even contract, Marcus had already appeared in front of him, the distance between them so close that Ronan could see his own reflection in those eyes.
Marcus raised both hands, clapping his palms against both sides of Ronan's head simultaneously.
A dull, crisp sound. The radical Kree Accuser, the butcher who once colluded with Thanos and struck fear into all of Xandar, the man who once led the Kree Vanguard fleet to conquer the star seas—his head exploded between his palms like a crushed eggshell.
Dark purple blood mixed with bone fragments splattered in all directions. Ronan's tall body froze in place, and the glowing Kree warhammer slipped from his loosening fingers, hitting the ground with a thud.
The headless corpse swayed twice, then collapsed backward with a boom.
Star-Lord's mouth hung open, unable to utter a single word. Rocket's ears drooped, and his energy gun nearly slipped from his paws.
Gamora's pupils contracted violently. She had followed Thanos and was well aware of Ronan's fearsome reputation, having witnessed countless of the most cruel and terrifying powers in the Universe, yet she had never seen such a primitive and brutal way of killing.
What made her heart go cold was that the process of Marcus dealing with Ronan was too effortless, as simple as casually swatting a bothersome fly to death.
Marcus did not look at the corpse. His knees bent slightly, he exerted force with his feet, and the ground shattered beneath him.
His figure shot up from the ground, turning into a straight white line that streaked toward the sky, his Bio-fieldtearing open a vacuum channel in the air before him.
In mid-air, he smashed through the cockpit of the first Necrocraft, the alloy armor like paper before him, and the fighter jet exploded into a fireball behind him.
He did not slow down; before the explosion's flames had even spread, he had already turned toward the second one, punching through its engine core and exiting through the tail, while the third one was torn into two halves by his bare hands before it could even turn around.
The Necrocraft fleet began to focus fire on him, with hundreds of energy beams shooting from all directions, weaving an airtight purple web of fire in the night sky.
Marcus did not dodge or evade, his Bio-field isolating all attacks. The energy beams bounced off the field, exploding into circles of brilliant yet futile halos around him, as if someone were continuously setting off fireworks in space.
He plunged straight into the densest part of the fire web, picking them off one by one, not missing a single fighter jet. Every penetration was precise and fatal, every turn without a pause.
In just a moment, not a single dark purple fighter jet could be seen in the sky.
Shattered metal debris drifted slowly in the low-gravity environment of Land of Nihility, as if someone had scattered a handful of burnt paper money over this lawless zone.
Marcus emerged from the last burst of explosion and landed steadily back in the center of the plaza. On his Empire uniform, let alone damage, not even a speck of dust clung to it; the pure white fabric was blindingly clean amidst the smoke.
He raised his hand to pat the Little Spider on his shoulder that had been blown askew by the wind. The latter's eight thin legs were firmly hooked onto his collar; it shook its head and made a tiny clicking sound, as if clearing the ringing in its ears.
Marcus looked at Star-Lord and the others, saying in a flat tone: "I don't have that much money right now. I'm going to find The Collector and borrow some; you wait here."
After speaking, he turned and walked toward the ruins of the collection hall, his white Empire uniform's back soon disappearing among the broken steel beams and rubble.
Rocket's ears twitched, and the handle of his energy gun creaked as he gripped it: "Are we really going to wait here? Should we just run for it now?"
Star-Lord leaned against a crooked steel beam, arms crossed, the dust not yet wiped clean from his face: "We haven't gotten the money yet."
"If we get the money, will we even have the life to spend it?" Rocket's paw pointed toward the headless corpse in the center of the plaza, his voice unable to be suppressed, "Did you see that? Ronan. Swatted to death by him with one slap. Like swatting a fly. Do you think it'll be harder for him to swat us than it was to swat Ronan?"
Star-Lord was silent for two seconds, then spread his hands: "You're right. But the item has already been handed over to him; we can't just have worked for nothing these past few days."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Rocket and Gamora, "Besides, if he wanted to kill us, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths."
Gamora had been staring in the direction where Marcusdisappeared, her voice very low: "When a powerhouse like that tells us not to move, we'd best not move. I don't want my head to be smashed like Ronan's."
Rocket's ears drooped completely, and he scratched the back of his head with his paw, saying nothing more. Star-Lord opened his mouth, found he couldn't refute it, shrugged, and swallowed the rest of his words.
Chapter 64: Controlling Two Infinity Stones! Restoring Ruins with a Single Thought!
Meanwhile, deep within the ruined gallery of The Collector.
Marcus stepped through the rubble and walked inside. The main hall of the gallery had been blasted beyond recognition, with a gaping hole in the dome through which dim light poured down.
Broken steel beams were thrust diagonally into the piles of debris, and shards of glass from the display cases littered the floor. The energy shields that had once housed rare artifacts were long extinguished, leaving only charred scorch marks on the empty pedestals.
The Collector sat in the very center of this ruin, perched upon a toppled stone pedestal.
His gold-trimmed robe was covered in ash and dark purple bloodstains. His left hand clutched a fragment of an ancient Kree Empire stone tablet, while his right hand hung limply at his knee, his fingertips still trembling slightly. Several attendants stood far off at the edge of the ruins, glancing at each other, none daring to approach.
Marcus stopped in front of him, the gravel crunching softly under his boots.
The Collector slowly raised his head. His eye makeup was smudged by sweat, creating two greyish-black tear tracks at the corners of his eyes. His lips moved for a moment before he squeezed out a hoarse voice: "My collection... it's all destroyed."
Marcus swept his gaze across the chaotic ruins, then withdrew his eyes and spoke in a flat tone: "How about we make a deal?"
The Collector's dust-covered brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of confusion flashed in his eyes, which were still streaked with greyish-black tears.
"You give me thirty million, and I will help you restore these artifacts," Marcus said bluntly.
The Collector's dim eyes suddenly lit up. His fingers, clutching the tablet fragment, tightened abruptly, his knuckles turning white against the edge of the broken stone. He stared fixedly at Marcus, his lips moving repeatedly, as he probed in a hoarse voice: "Is this true?"
Marcus offered no further response. He raised his right hand, and the Aether Particle surged out from within him, condensing in his palm into a dark red energy gauntlet, with dense, deep energy patterns flowing across the knuckles of the five fingers.
He raised his hand to summon Cosmic Orb from his space bracelet and lightly opened the sphere with his fingertips. The instant the gap opened, a blazing purple light erupted, instantly bathing the ruined gallery in an intense purple glow.
The Power Stone hovered in mid-air, its violent energy causing the surrounding air to twist intensely, making the fine gravel on the ground tremble and dance.
Marcus reached out steadily with his right hand, which was encased in the Aether Particle gauntlet, and grasped the restless stone.
The moment the two Infinity Stone powers made contact, they produced a violent repulsive reaction. Dark red and deep purple energies tore frantically between his fingers, exploding in circle after circle of tiny electric arcs.
He tightened his fingers, forcibly suppressing the rampaging Power Stone, and slowly pressed it into the slot of the gauntlet.
The instant the Power Stone locked into place, the energy patterns on the surface of the gauntlet suddenly lit up, with dark red and deep purple intertwining into dense veins that spread from his arm throughout his entire body.
Marcus raised his right hand, and the Aether Particle, bolstered by the Power Stone, surged out like a tidal wave, with the dark red liquid energy sweeping outward with him at the center.
The shattered display case glass reassembled and formed into shape the moment the energy swept over it. The charred pedestals shed their scorch marks, and the broken steel beams flew up from the piles of rubble, the metal at the fractures fusing together on its own.
The artifacts in the display cases coalesced anew from the ash and fragments; broken stone tablets, shriveled specimens, and twisted metal components all restored themselves one by one.
The Collector slowly stood up from his toppled stone pedestal, his hands subconsciously clasped in front of his chest.
His eyes, which had been dim and lifeless just moments ago, now reflected the intertwined light of dark red and deep purple. His lips parted slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
His gaze was locked tightly onto the gauntlet on Marcus's hand, which was embedded with two Infinity Stones simultaneously. His breathing became rapid and shallow, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably, and that greed was almost spilling out of his eye sockets.
Then he saw Marcus's eyes—those calm, ripple-free eyes were looking right at him.
The Collector shuddered, immediately lowered his head, and blinked hard, forcing that greed back down. He pinched his own wrist inside his sleeve, the pain bringing him back to his senses.
A moment later, the last piece of shattered dome glass returned to its place in the flow of energy, and the entire gallery was restored to its former completeness.
The Collector took a deep breath, raised his hand to straighten the collar of his dust-covered robe, put on his elegant smile again, pulled a black-and-gold interstellar bank credit voucher from his bosom, and respectfully handed it over with both hands.
"Thank you for your help, Your Excellency. Here is fifty million—twenty million more than the thirty million you mentioned. Consider it an extra token of gratitude." The Collector's voice had returned to its usual steady state, but his slightly trembling fingertips still betrayed his inner turmoil.
Marcus took the voucher, and the two stones on the gauntlet separated again according to his will. He removed the Power Stone from the slot of the gauntlet and sealed it back inside Cosmic Orb.
The gauntlet turned into Aether Particle and retreated back into his body. He glanced at the number on the voucher, casually stored it along with Cosmic Orb into his space bracelet, and turned to walk out of the gallery.
Marcus stepped out of the gallery entrance, his footsteps pausing slightly.
In the center of the plaza, Drax was squatting beside Ronan's headless corpse, his dagger rising and falling, the blade stabbing into the dark purple flesh with a dull cutting sound.
He had already removed one of Ronan's arms and was pulling at the other, muttering to himself, cursing fiercely with every cut.
Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, and Groot stood a few steps away, watching Drax vent his rage on Ronan's remains.
Rocket had his arms crossed over his chest, his ears drooping slightly. Gamora's expression was complex. Groot tilted his head, softly reciting his own signature phrase.
Star-Lord caught a glimpse of Marcus's figure out of the corner of his eye, hurriedly straightened his posture, subconsciously moved his hand away from the gun grip at his waist, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
Marcus did not walk up to them; he casually tossed the interstellar credit voucher over. Star-Lord hurriedly stretched out his hands to catch it, glanced down at the number, and his eyes suddenly widened. Before he could say anything, Marcus's voice had already sounded.
"There is fifty million in here; the extra is for you."
Star-Lord looked down at the number on the voucher, a wave of emotion rising in his heart. It was nearly double what he had asked for.
He raised his head and opened his mouth, but not a single word of his usual bargaining tactics could pop out of his brain. Rocket stood on tiptoe to peek at the voucher, his ears suddenly perking up, and the energy gun in his claws nearly slipped out.
Gamora shifted her gaze from the voucher to Marcus's face. Her lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just let out a soft sigh. She had lived for so many years and had seen the most treacherous scammers and the most brutal warlords in the Universe, but she had never seen anyone like this.
"You really are a man of your word." Star-Lord finally found his voice, carefully folded the voucher and tucked it into his pocket, and patted his chest.
Marcus did not reply. He lightly kicked off the ground, his figure rising silently into the air, his pure white Empireuniform trailing a straight trajectory under the gloomy sky, disappearing in an instant into the murky clouds of Land of Nihility.