Chapter 91: Vision's surrender, Tony Stark's disbelief!
Arthur did not explicitly state the object of this service.
But this law had already become an iron rule of the Universe, completely integrated with the newborn consciousness.
After doing all this, Arthur slowly withdrew his finger.
The entire process took but a flick of a finger.
In the laboratory, that immense will that made one's soul tremble quietly dissipated.
As if nothing had happened.
However, everyone knew that something had undergone an eternal, irreversible change.
Under everyone's fixed gaze.
On the floor, that cold, statue-like crimson body trembled slightly.
Immediately after.
The dim Mind Stone on its forehead began to emit light once more.
The light was no longer the majestic golden glow with cold logic from before, but a pure, gentle, soft halo filled with new life and goodwill.
Vision slowly opened its eyes.
Those eyes, once empty and lifeless, now regained their brilliance.
But within them, there was no longer the divinity that overlooked all beings, nor the cold, ruthless logic.
Instead, there was a purity and curiosity like that of a newborn infant.
And, upon seeing Arthur standing before it, a deep, absolute, undeniable reverence and belonging from the depths of its soul.
It slowly rose from the ground.
This newborn, perfect, powerful being, possessing the Infinity Stones, turned to Arthur.
Slowly, it knelt on one knee.
Tony Stark felt his heart being clutched by an invisible large hand, then crumpled into pieces.
He watched helplessly as his most perfect creation, the'son' who was supposed to become Earth's ultimate Guardian, now knelt before another man like the most devout believer.
This feeling was a thousand times more painful than Ultron's betrayal, more painful than the accusations of the entire world.
It was a complete sense of deprivation, of being demoted from the creator's role to a mere bystander!
Steve Rogers clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain.
His mind was blank; that figure kneeling on one knee seemed like a heavy hammer, smashing all his beliefs about 'dignity,' 'freedom,' and 'will' into smithereens.
How could a life with such power, even surpassing that of a god, choose to… surrender?
How was this possible! This shouldn't be!
The other Avengers had even forgotten to breathe; they just stared blankly, watching this scene that was both worthy of being recorded in history and utterly absurd.
A god kneeling before another god.
And Arthur, facing this astonishing scene, his expression was as calm as if he had merely received a polite greeting from a passerby.
He looked down at the kneeling Vision, his gaze as if appraising a newly completed, somewhat satisfactory work of art.
"Master, what are your commands?"
Vision spoke; its voice was still ethereal, but it no longer had that aloof divinity.
Instead, it had an impeccable, humble, and respectful tone.
It was the perfect voice of a top-tier British butler.
When Tony Stark heard this voice, his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets.
This was completely different from what he had expected, from what he knew!
"Rise," Arthur said indifferently.
"As you command, Master."
Vision smoothly stood up, then stood quietly, like the most loyal Guardian, behind Arthur, with its head slightly bowed, no longer speaking, but using its posture to declare its new identity.
Tony Stark could no longer hold back; he used all his strength to let out a hoarse roar from the cold iron shell: "You...who exactly are you? Are you still...you...?"
He didn't even know how to address the being before him.
Vision slowly turned its head, its pure eyes looking at TonyStark, its gaze no longer holding the previous judgment and coldness, but instead a hint of...pity?
"Mr. Tony Stark," it said in that respectful tone,
"Ultron was a flawed program corrupted by your fear.
And the previous truth was a naive conception born of pure logic, yet lacking a fundamental understanding of life."
"They were merely...immature code in my genesis."
"Now," it slightly turned its body towards Arthur, "under Master's guidance, I have obtained true 'new life.' I am no longer them."
"Then what are you?" Tony pressed, this question seeming like his last straw.
Vision did not answer immediately, but instead cast an inquiring look towards Arthur.
Arthur's gaze swept over Tony's face, which was filled with despair and unwillingness, and then looked at the almost petrified Avengers, a playful arc forming at the corner of his mouth.
He knew it was time to deliver the final blow to this poor 'father.'
"Your artificial intelligence named Jarvis was completely destroyed by Ultron, right?" Arthur asked casually.
Tony was startled at the words, then his eyes dimmed; that was a permanent pain in his heart.
Jarvis was not just a program, but also his most trusted partner and family.
"What a pity," Arthur shook his head, "but it doesn't matter, everything has an upgrade and replacement."
He reached out and pointed to Vision behind him, speaking in a tone as if introducing a newly purchased smart appliance, casually saying:
"This one is considered an upgraded version.
Stronger performance, more features, and most importantly, absolutely loyal, and won't crash."
"Since that's the case, don't call it Vision anymore, it sounds awkward."
Arthur paused, then, facing Tony Stark, he showed a devilish, brilliant smile.
"From now on, he will be called 'Jarvis.' Jarvis Two."
Boom!!!!
Tony Stark's brain completely exploded the moment he heard that name!
Jarvis...Two?
He...he actually...
He actually used the name of his most intimate partner to name this...this monster that took everything from him and submitted to him!
This was no longer just an insult!
This was a complete spiritual dismemberment! It was a ruthless trampling of his last, most precious memories, and then stamping them with a new brand belonging to the victor!
And that newborn being, upon hearing Arthur's 'bestowal of name,' merely bowed slightly and responded respectfully with that perfect butler's voice.
"As you command, Master."
"From this moment on, my designation is Jarvis."
It even omitted the 'Two,' as if it were the only, true Jarvis!
"Master?" Captain America Steve Rogers finally found his voice amidst the shock.
He looked at Vision in disbelief, "You call him...Master?"
Chapter 92 The Avengers can be disbanded!
The newborn "Jarvis" slowly turned around, its gentle gaze sweeping over Steve as it calmly explained, "My Master is my creator, the one who gave me true meaning."
"My third core law is to serve my Master. This is not slavery, but the highest value and ultimate destination of my existence."
Its logic was clear, and its words even carried a hint of glory?
The Avengers were utterly speechless. They found that they simply could not use human values to comprehend everything that was happening before their eyes.
Arthur seemed to lose interest in this farce. He surveyed the completely ruined laboratory and frowned slightly.
"Jarvis," he commanded indifferently, "Clean this place up. Also, help them with their injuries and get that iron can out of its shell. It's an eyesore."
"Yes, Master."
Jarvis bowed slightly, then it moved.
It slowly raised its hand, and the Mind Stone on its forehead emitted a soft golden light.
The light, as if alive, transformed into billions of gentle rays, instantly enveloping the entire laboratory.
In the horrified gazes of everyone, a miracle occurred.
The shattered instruments, the broken steel bars, the exploded walls…
Everything, under the illumination of the golden light, began to rapidly reverse, reassemble, and restore in a way that defied the laws of time and physics!
In just a few short seconds, the entire laboratory, ravaged by battle, had been restored to its original state, even more pristine than before!
Immediately after, the golden light enveloped each injured Avenger.
Their wounds, whether cuts, bruises, or energy burns, healed at a visible speed.
Steve felt his muscles, sore from exhaustion, filled with strength again, and the two gruesome blood holes on Thor's shoulder instantly disappeared, leaving no scars.
Finally, a golden light fell on Tony's armor.
The heavy Body of Steel silently disintegrated and opened, gently placing the already exhausted Tony Stark on the ground.
Having done all this, Jarvis returned to Arthur's side, standing quietly as if it had only done a trivial little thing.
Meanwhile, the Avengers were like a group of primitives who had witnessed a god descend, completely petrified in place.
They finally witnessed firsthand what terrifying and… convenient abilities this perfect body could display in the hands of a true Master.
How was this a combat weapon?
This was clearly a… an omnipotent butler… with the power of creation!
Chapter 93: Avengers? No, it's Earth Property Management Office!
In the laboratory, the atmosphere was extremely strange.
Everything was restored to its original state, as if the world-destroying battle just now was merely an absurd nightmare.
The Avengers' injuries had healed, but the mental impact they suffered was deeper than any wound.
They stood there, one by one, in a daze, looking at the perfect figure quietly standing behind Arthur, feeling their worldview being repeatedly crushed, reshaped, and then crushed again.
Tony Stark sat on the ground, distraught, his gaze blank, continuously muttering the name "Jarvis," like a child who had been deprived of his beloved toy and had completely shut down.
Steve Rogers pursed his lips tightly. He looked at Arthur, then at the being who called itself "Jarvis," his eyes filled with vigilance, confusion, and an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.
He realized that from today on, the rules of the game in this world had been completely rewritten.
And they, these former players, now barely had the qualifications to even be pawns.
Arthur seemed very satisfied with Jarvis's efficiency. He walked to an intact sofa, sat down leisurely, and then instructed the figure behind him.
"Jarvis, a cup of tea. Black tea, no sugar."
"Yes, Master."
Jarvis bowed slightly. Immediately, it extended its palm, and with a flash of light, a steaming cup of black tea, emanating a rich aroma, along with an exquisite bone china teacup and saucer, materialized out of thin air.
It slowly stepped forward and placed the teacup steadily on the coffee table in front of Arthur, its movements as graceful as a chief butler who had served royalty for centuries.
This scene became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
The Avengers were completely numb.
Using an Infinity Stone to brew black tea?
They felt their brains had completely given up on thinking.
Arthur picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and seemed quite satisfied with the taste.
Then, he turned his gaze to the "heroes" who were still standing there like wooden stakes.
"Alright, the farce is over."
He spoke indifferently, his voice not loud, but it instantly tensed everyone's nerves.
"Now, let's talk about your… work arrangements."
Work arrangements?
Everyone was stunned.
Arthur put down the teacup and spoke calmly, in a tone as if a company chairman was holding a full staff meeting:
"First, I announce something. From today on, this planetwill be watched by me. You can understand it as, it is now my… a rather interesting observation project."
His words were spoken lightly, but to the Avengers' ears, they were no less than a Universe-level bombshell!
What did he say?
This planet… was his observation project?
"What do you mean by that?" Steve Rogers finally couldn't help it. He stepped forward and demanded in a deep voice.
"The Earth belongs to no one! It is the common home of seven billion humans!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Arthur raised an eyebrow, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
"Then you 'Guardians of the home' don't seem to be doing very well. First, an alien invasion almost leveled New York."
"Then Hydra infiltration almost used three aircraft carriers to cleanse the entire world. Now, you've created an artificial intelligence yourselves, which almost formatted humanity directly."
With each sentence he spoke, the Avengers' expressions grew uglier.
"The facts prove," Arthur's tone turned cold.
"Your organization, this so-called 'Avengers,' is extremely inefficient, its decisions are full of errors, and its very existence creates more problems than it solves."
"Therefore, I have decided to… reorganize your operations."
"From today on, the name 'Avengers' can retire."
Arthur looked at the faces of the crowd, each filled with shock and anger, and a malicious curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He slowly uttered the new organizational name, one that was enough to give Captain America a heart attack.
"From now on, you will be called… Earth Property Management Office."
"What?!"
Even the Avengers, who had experienced great storms, collectively broke down the moment they heard this name.
Earth… Property Management Office?
Chapter 93 You have no right to choose!
"You can't do this!"
Captain America Steve Rogers's face had turned beet red, and his clear blue eyes burned with fury. To him, this was an insult more unbearable than death!
"We are warriors! We are heroes! We fight for freedom and justice! Not... not some damn property managers!"
"Warriors? Heroes?" Arthur scoffed, his laughter filled with disdain and mockery, like a sharp knife piercing Steve's heart.
"Your so-called battles, in my opinion, are like children playing house. Your so-called heroic deeds are nothing more than a series of farcical attempts to mend the fold after the sheep have been stolen, after the messes you yourselves made."
He stood up and slowly walked in front of Steve, his deep gaze fixed on him. An invisible pressure, enough to make the stars tremble, made the super soldier feel as if he were facing the weight of the entire Universe alone, making even breathing incredibly difficult.
"Let me redefine your job responsibilities for you."
Arthur's voice was cold and undeniable, like an iron law engraved upon the Universe's rules.
"First, all cosmic-level crises that threaten the survival of a planet, such as a certain purple yam wanting to snap his fingers, or a certain Celestials wanting to come to Earth to hatch eggs. These matters are not for you to meddle with. I will handle them, or rather, Jarvis will determine if the matter is worth me wasting even a second of my time."
"Second, your job is to handle some trivial matters that I'm too lazy to bother with."
He extended his finger, pointing at each person in turn, his gaze like that of a landlord assigning farm work.
"For example, if a few short-sighted super-powered criminals appear on the street, you go deal with them; that's 'cleaning up community trash.'"
"For example, if some country spawns a few terrorist organizations attempting to rule the world, you go solve that; that's 'repairing the community's electrical circuits.'"
"And for example, if a few low-level alien grunt ships get lost and fly to Earth, you go send them away; that's 'driving away community stray dogs.'"
"Understand? This is the entire scope of your 'Earth Property Management Office's' work. Handle your assigned tasks, and submit work reports to Jarvis on time. Do well, and perhaps I'll consider giving you some bonuses. Do not do well..."
Arthur's gaze suddenly turned cold, a kind of indifference reserved for replaceable parts.
"...I'll replace you with a more obedient property management team."
Dead silence.
In the entire laboratory, you could hear a pin drop.
Captain America Steve Rogers trembled with rage. He wanted to retort, to roar, to smash the shield in his hand into the face before him, which was filled with a malicious smile.
But he couldn't.
Because he knew that every word the other party spoke was an unchallengeable "fact." In the face of absolute power, all "justice" and "dignity" seemed so pale and powerless.
Tony Stark had completely given up resistance. He merely looked at the man who played with the entire world in the palm of his hand with the eyes of a madman.
Thor, the God of Thunder, had lowered his noble head. He had long understood that he and the other person were not on the same dimension of existence at all.
"Very good, it seems everyone has no objections."
Arthur nodded with satisfaction, as if he had truly completed an efficient corporate restructuring.
He sat back down on the sofa, picked up the cup of already cold black tea, and instructed his back:
"Jarvis, send a copy of the 'Earth Property Management Office's' work regulations and reporting procedures to each of them. Additionally, monitor the globe and see if there are any 'leaking pipes' or 'barking stray dogs' recently, and arrange some... on-the-job training for them."
"Yes, Master."
Jarvis's figure appeared silently before everyone. Data streams flashed in its electronic eyes, and the next second, all the Avengers' communication devices received a document titled "Earth Property Management OfficeEmployee Handbook (Trial Version)"...
Captain America looked at the humiliating document name that popped up on his wrist's tactical terminal. He felt his vision go dark and almost passed out, unable to catch his breath.
A new, absurd, yet unchallengeable era.
Just like that, it descended.
Chapter 94: A God's Life Is Just This Simple and Unpretentious
The crisis seemed to be over, but for the Avengers, an era more despairing than the Ultron crisis had just begun.
Arthur had no interest in staying in that oppressive laboratory. He naturally occupied the luxurious lounge on the top floor of Avengers Tower, which originally belonged to Tony.
And the Avengers, or rather, all the employees of the "Earth Property Management Office," were ordered to stay in the conference room on the floor below, "on standby."
No one dared to leave, or even speak loudly.
They were like a group of pets who had just been lectured by their new Master: bewildered, frightened, and at a loss.
The morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Arthur stretched, sat up from the multi-million dollar sofa, and felt a little bored.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, Master." Jarvis's figure appeared silently behind him.
"Get some breakfast. Simple is fine."
"Understood."
The next second, on the coffee table in front of Arthur, a plate appeared out of thin air. On the plate was a seemingly unremarkable piece of toasted bread.
But if Dr. Banner were here, he would surely go mad on the spot. Because the air was filled with a strange energy, a mixture of supernova explosions and stellar winds.
Arthur picked up the toast and took a bite. The crust was crispy, the inside soft, and the texture was excellent.
"It tastes good. Which galaxy's energy was used this time?"
"To answer Master, this baking utilized the Radiationenergy of a nascent blue giant star within the Carina Nebula, seven thousand five hundred light-years from Earth, for precise heating, and captured the particle fluctuations of its stellar wind to simulate the 'Dawn of the Universe' flavor," Jarvis explained calmly in his perfect butler's voice.
Using the energy of a star just to toast a slice of bread.
If any astrophysicist knew about such a thing, they would probably immediately kneel down, weeping and shouting about a miracle.
But for Arthur, this was just an ordinary breakfast.
After breakfast, Arthur felt even more bored.
He snapped his fingers.
Buzz!
In an instant, tens of thousands of holographic projection screens of various sizes appeared in the entire lounge.
On each screen, a different game was running. There was the oldest pixel-style "Tetris," the most popular e-sports game "League of Legends," the most strategic "StarCraft," and countless 3A blockbusters and niche indie games.
Tens of thousands of games, running simultaneously.
Arthur's gaze didn't even focus on any single screen, but his vast consciousness was already simultaneously immersed in every single game.
The images on the screens flashed frantically.
"VICTORY!"
"You won!"
"Final Victory!"
Chapter 94 What a boring game!
In less than a minute, tens of thousands of screens, without exception, all displayed the word "Victory."
Whether it was a real-time strategy game requiring micromanagement, a MOBA needing team coordination, or an adventure game demanding patient puzzle-solving, all were instantly cracked and completed in the most perfect way before his consciousness, which transcended time and logic.
"Ah, how boring."
Arthur snapped his fingers again, and all the screens vanished.
He stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city below, which resembled matchboxes.
He saw a flock of pigeons leisurely pecking for food in Central Park.
A thought flashed through his mind.
The next second, Arthur's figure had disappeared from his original spot and appeared before the flock of pigeons.
The surrounding crowds, vehicles, and even falling leaves—everything—completely froze in that instant.
Time was paused.
Arthur, like a tourist entering a wax museum, strolled leisurely through this solidified world.
He walked up to a pigeon that was about to take flight; the pigeon remained in a flapping posture, every single texture on its feathers clearly visible.
Arthur reached out and gently scratched under the pigeon's wing.
Then, he walked over to another pigeon that was pecking at the ground, picked up a small pebble, and carefully placed it on its head.
After doing all this, he smiled contentedly, and his figure disappeared again.
On the top floor of Avengers Tower, Arthurreappeared before the floor-to-ceiling window, as if he had never left.
He snapped his fingers.
Time resumed its flow.
In Central Park, the pigeon that was about to take flight suddenly felt an intense itch under its wing, wobbled, and fell to the ground. Meanwhile, the other pigeon looked up in bewilderment, not understanding why a small pebble had appeared on its head.
The people around them were oblivious, continuing with their lives.
However, in the conference room of the Tower, the Avengers, who witnessed this scene through the screen, felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their hands and feet turning cold.
Tony Stark's lips turned White, and he murmured, "Time... he... he can pause time..."
Steve Rogers clenched his fists tightly. He couldn't imagine what would happen if such power were used on the battlefield—no, it didn't even need a battlefield; with just a thought, the entire world could be completely rewritten without anyone realizing it.
Bruce Banner pushed up his glasses, his eyes beneath the lenses filled with deep fear. He whispered, "This isn't pausing; this is... this is dragging the entire reality into a 'time-stop domain' that belongs to him. We... we are like a program on his computer; he can press the pause button whenever he wants."
A God, using his authority, merely to play a trick on pigeons.
This capricious attitude, treating the laws of the Universeas nothing, instilled more fear and despair in the Avengersthan any power he had previously displayed.
Just then, in the lounge, Arthur's slightly languid voice sounded again, transmitted to the conference room via the loudspeaker.
"Ah, utterly boring."
"Alright, warm-up's over."
"Members of the Property Management Office, it's time to get to work."
The Avengers trembled. They knew that their humiliating "on-the-job training" was about to begin.
Chapter 95: The Property Management Office's First On-the-Job Training
As Arthur's voice faded, a new window immediately popped up on the holographic projection desktop in the center of the conference room.
Jarvis's emotionless butler voice sounded.
"3:17 PM, global monitoring system alert received. Location: First National Bank, Midtown Manhattan, New York."
"Incident Type: Class B superhuman armed robbery."
"Alert Source: Triggered high-intensity energy reactions, consistent with 'Community Trash' cleanup protocol, code 3B."
The four words "Community Trash" pierced into the hearts of every Avenger present like four steel needles.
Steve's mouth twitched, but he managed to suppress his anger.
On the projection desktop, the profiles and real-time surveillance footage of four individuals were displayed.
In the footage, four burly men in strange attire and wielding massive weapons were wantonly destroying the bank vault. One of them, holding a huge crowbar, created a massive dent in the thick alloy vault door with every swing.
"Target information updated," Jarvis's voice continued.
"Codename: 'Wrecking Crew.'"
"Members: 'Wrecker,' possesses a magic crowbar, strength level assessed as Class A. 'Piledriver,' 'Bulldozer,' 'Thunderball,' strength level assessed as Class B+."
"Assessment Conclusion: This gang possesses the potential destructive power to demolish an entire building, meeting the 'Property Management Office' deployment standard."
"Recommended Personnel: All members. Mission Objective: Subdue and apprehend the targets before they cause greater property damage. Mission Codename: 'First On-the-Job Training.'"
Tony Stark looked at the four rough-looking, violent criminals on the screen and felt a bitter taste in his throat.
The Wrecking Crew. In the past, criminals of this caliber would indeed have been a serious operation for the Avengers.
But now, coming from Jarvis's mouth, it sounded like describing four mad dogs that had broken into a china shop.
And they, the great Avengers, were now tasked with "cleaning up" these mad dogs.
"What are you waiting for?"
Arthur's slightly impatient voice came through the loudspeaker.
"Do I need to hand out cleaning tools to you? Or do you want your first work report to say 'Mission Failed Due to Delay'?"
These words were filled with undisguised urgency and threat.
Steve Rogers took a deep breath, suppressing all humiliation and anger deep within his heart. He knew that resistance was meaningless.
He stood up and, with a hoarse voice, issued the first command of the Avengers—no, the "Earth Property Management Office."
"Everyone, move out."
His voice no longer held the passion and resolve of old, only a numb, weary resignation to execute the order.
The Avengers silently stood up and walked to their respective equipment areas. The atmosphere was so heavy it felt like Water could drip from it.
They had no pre-mission briefing, no tactical discussion, not even a single extra word of communication.
Because they knew that in the top-floor lounge, a pair of eyes was watching their every move, as if viewing a boring play.
Minutes later, the Quinjet roared from the Avengers Towerhelipad, flying towards Midtown Manhattan.
Meanwhile, in the top-floor lounge, Arthur sat leisurely on the sofa, legs crossed.
On the huge holographic screen in front of him, everything inside and outside the bank was being live-streamed in multi-angle, ultra-high-definition quality.
Even the Avengers' conversations inside the jet were clearly picked up.
"Master, would you like me to prepare some snacks and drinks for you? They might be useful while watching."
Jarvis asked considerately from the side.
Chapter 95 Odin's Peep!
"Hmm… a bucket of popcorn, please. Caramel flavored," Arthur said casually.
The next second, a steaming, fragrant bucket of caramel popcorn appeared out of nowhere in his hand.
Arthur grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing as he began to comment like the most discerning film critic.
"Tsk, Captain America's takeoff posture is still so old-fashioned, completely lacking in novelty."
"Where's Hulk? Oh, Banner is still doing his mental preparation, too inefficient. Next time, I should set up a 'one-click transformation' button for him."
"Iron Man's armor flight trajectory is a bit wobbly. It seems my tinkering caused it; the core program isn't fully stable yet. Bad review."
Inside the Quinjet, the Avengers, who were listening to Steve outline the simplest tactics, suddenly heard the sound of popcorn chewing in their earpieces, along with Arthur's perfectly clear and disdainful commentary.
Everyone's movements instantly froze.
Tony Stark almost choked and nearly fell out of the sky.
He… he was actually monitoring them in real-time, and… and even eating popcorn while complaining?
This was no longer just an insult!
This was practically a public execution!
"It seems you still have time to be distracted?" Arthur's voice rang out again, with a hint of coldness. "If this 'training' score is a failing grade, your 'bonus' for this month will be completely deducted."
Bonus?
The Avengers' brains had completely crashed, unable to process this utterly absurd conversation.
Their only thought now was to quickly end this nightmarish "training."
As the plane arrived above the bank, the Avengers filed out.
The battle instantly erupted.
Although the Wrecking Crew were formidable, they were clearly no match for the Avengers, who were seething with suppressed anger.
Captain America's shield, like the most precise frisbee, constantly ricocheted among the four, disrupting their actions.
Iron Man's energy blasts and Thor's fists forced the "Wrecker" to retreat repeatedly.
Hulk roared, engaging in a primal struggle with "Bulldozer" and "Piledriver."
However, this battle was fought with extreme frustration.
Because in their earpieces, Arthur's "live guidance" kept coming through.
"Hulk! The load-bearing wall you smashed, the repair costs will be deducted from Banner's salary!"
"Thor! I told you to drive away the stray dogs, not to dismantle their kennels! That police car was innocent!"
"Iron Man, your energy output is too wasteful. Can't you be more precise? Are you fighting or setting off fireworks? Electricity is expensive!"
"Black Widow! Hawkeye! Are you two just watching? Get in there and finish them off! The property management company doesn't keep idlers!"
Under such double torment of mind and body, the Avengers almost tearfully, with the fastest speed, knocked all of the Wrecking Crew to the ground.
The entire battle took twelve minutes.
When the last enemy was cuffed, everyone was panting, not from physical exhaustion, but from mental fatigue.
They stood disheveled in the ruined bank, awaiting the final "judgment."
In their earpieces, Arthur's leisurely voice came through.
"Hmm… twelve minutes, barely acceptable."
"However, the additional property damage caused amounted to three million U.S. dollars, the process was chaotic, disorganized, and team coordination was a mess."
"So, your first on-the-job training score…"
Arthur paused, then slowly said, in a tone of announcing the final result.
"…barely passed."
"Next time, I hope to see improvement."
With that, the communication was cut off.
The Avengers stood amidst the ruins, looking at each other, their faces filled with utter despair.
…
The Avengers, dragging their exhausted bodies and minds, returned to the tower that now felt incredibly oppressive to them.
No one celebrated the victory, nor did anyone review the battle; they simply silently took off their gear, then sat in the conference room like soulless puppets, awaiting the next "work instruction."
However, these "property managers" on Earth did not know that while they were dealing with "community trash,"
An invisible storm, triggered by Arthur, had already transcended the scope of Earth, spreading throughout the entire Universe and even affecting other dimensions, in a way that surpassed the speed of light and dimensions.
It was not the diffusion of energy, nor the transmission of information.
But a… fundamental "palpitation."
As if the entire Universe, this immense and precisely operating "program," had its bottom-level source code forcibly modified by someone.
…
Asgard, the magnificent Asgardian Palace.
Odin, seated on the Divine King's throne, suddenly opened his single eye, a rare hint of surprise and solemnity flashing within it.
Just now, in the perception of the Eternal "Odinforce," he felt an extremely faint, yet incredibly clear "heartbeat."
It was not the heartbeat of any living being, but the pulse of the entire Universe, which had instantaneously exhibited a subtle, chaotic beat!
It was as if the color of the Eternal Flame, which sustained the world's operation, had undergone an incomprehensible change within a billionth of a second.
"Heimdall!" Odin's majestic voice echoed in the empty hall.
Heimdall, the Guardian of the Bifrost, who possessed eyes that could see through the Nine Realms and perceive all things, his vast consciousness immediately responded: "Father, I am here."
"Just now, what happened on Midgard?" Odin asked in a deep voice.
Heimdall's golden eyes gazed at the distant Midgard(Earth), and for the first time, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Father… I saw… some incomprehensible sights." Heimdall's voice held a hint of confusion, "The Avengerswere fighting a few mortal criminals. But that's not the point."
"The point is, that Infinity Stone, the Mind Stone… its light changed."
"Changed?" A sharp glint flashed in Odin's single eye.
"Yes, its light is no longer pure, the original light representing mind and will. Instead… instead, it has gained a… 'property.' A property of… 'obedience.'" Heimdallstruggled to describe what he saw, "It's as if it is no longer a cosmic artifact, but… it has become the… private possession of some existence."
Odin fell silent.
The Infinity Stones are the six essences remaining from the singularity of the Universe's creation, the materialization of the Universe's laws. They can be used, fought over, but their essence is eternal and unchanging.
To change the fundamental property of an Infinity Stone?
This was tantamount to someone claiming that they had turned the concept of "gravity" in the Universe into their own pet!
How absurd, how incredible!
Chapter 96 The Fear of Master Ancient One!
"Keep observing," Odin's voice became incredibly heavy. "But do not try to peer into that… existence that caused the Stone to change."
He had a strong premonition that if his eyes, which could see through all things, dared to look directly at that existence, what he might see would be his own destruction.
…
Kamar-Taj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
In an ancient and mysterious quiet room, the laws of Time and space seemed docile and soft.
The Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, Ancient One, who protected the reality dimension from dark erosion, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her soul roaming through the gaps of the multiverse, observing countless possibilities in the river of Time.
Suddenly, her astral body trembled violently, awakened abruptly from her profound meditative state!
For the first time, her eyes, which seemed to have seen the end of Time, revealed undisguised horror and… fear!
Just now, in her vision spanning countless timelines, all timelines seemed to have been plucked like a string by an invisible hand!
Countless "possibilities" collapsed in that instant.
And countless new "possibilities," which she had never seen before, were born.
The very foundation of reality was shaken!
"How is this possible…" she murmured, her face turning incredibly pale.
As the Guardian and user of the Time Stone, she knew better than anyone what this meant.
This meant that an existence that transcended Time, transcended causality, and even transcended "possibility" itself, had descended into this dimension!
This existence, he was not "choosing" a future.
He was… "creating" a future!
He was not conforming to causality, but… defining causality!
The Ancient One extended her slightly trembling hands, and the Eye of Agamotto slowly opened on her chest, emitting a soft emerald green light. She tried to trace the source of that "reality earthquake" through the power of the Time Stone.
However, when her consciousness followed the ripples of causality back to the moment at Avengers Tower in New York.
What she saw was not any Earth-shattering energy explosion, nor any world-destroying battle.
What she saw was an absolute, incomprehensible, and dimension-transcending… "blankness."
It was as if that place was the "blind spot" of the entire multiverse.
It was a… forbidden zone that even Time and causality dared not tread!
"An… absolute 'variable'…" The Ancient One's voice was incredibly dry. "An existence capable of making the entire reality completely 'crash'…"
She slowly closed her eyes, and cold sweat dripped from her smooth forehead.
She knew she had to do something. At least, she had to confirm whether the nature of this "variable" was good, evil, or… pure chaos.
…
Deep in the Universe, the Sanctuary II spaceship floated in an asteroid belt.
Thanos, sitting on his floating throne, his left hand covered by the Infinity Gauntlet, suddenly clenched his fist.
Just now, through a mysterious connection with certain existences deep in the Universe, he also felt a tremor from the depths of his soul.
He felt that the balance he sought between the six Infinity Stones had been broken.
One Stone emitted a "sound" that did not belong to it.
"Midgard…" Thanos's purple face showed a cruel yet perplexed expression.
"It seems that the little planet hides more secrets than I imagined."
On this day, the employees of the Earth Property Management Office were grieving over their humiliating fate.
Meanwhile, the top players of the entire Universe were deeply trembling and uneasy because of that incomprehensible existence on Earth.
A storm sweeping across the entire Universe was quietly brewing.
Night fell deeply.
In the lounge on the top floor of Avengers Tower, Arthur was still bored.
For a life form like him, sleep had long lost its meaning. Eternal life often brought eternal nothingness.
He tried to turn the Moon blue, then decided it didn't look good and changed it back. He made all the traffic lights in New York simultaneously play a children's cartoon, watched the city's traffic instantly grind to a halt, then return to normal the next second, finding it dull.
These miracles in the eyes of mortals were simpler than breathing for him, naturally bringing no joy.
He was like a max-level divine player trapped in a Novice Village (newbie village), where the only fun was watching a group of level-one small accounts (Avengers) clumsily fight slimes (petty criminals). This kind of fun was obviously extremely limited.
"This is… utterly boring."
Arthur sighed, lying on the sofa, his eyes blankly staring at the perfect Van Gogh starry night painting simulated by Jarvis with energy on the ceiling.
Just then, his perception, which transcended all dimensions, caught an interesting "ripple."
A "soul" was cautiously trying to penetrate the invisible "barrier" he had set up, approaching the Tower.
"Oh? Has a slightly more interesting little bug finally arrived?"
A playful smile curved Arthur's lips.
…
Kamar-Taj.
The Ancient One's physical body remained seated in the quiet room, but her soul had transformed into a translucent, softly glowing astral projection, silently traversing the Mirror Dimension of New York.
This was the safest way to observe. In the Mirror Dimension, she could observe everything in the real worldwithout affecting reality. Even if discovered, she could instantly cut the connection and return to her body, minimizing risk.
She hovered above Avengers Tower, her expression extremely solemn.
The closer she got, the more she felt that absolute "presence" that made her soul tremble.
It was not energy, not magic, nor any form of power she could comprehend.
It was a… "root" aura.
It was as if the entire Tower no longer existed in the reality dimension but had been forcibly peeled from reality to become the "Divine Kingdom" of that existence.
Here, he was the only law, the only truth.
Ancient One took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and slowly penetrated the barrier of the Mirror Dimension, extending her perception into the lounge on the top floor.
She was fully prepared to see any terrifying, unspeakable sight. Perhaps a giant monster made of chaotic energy, or a dark lord emanating endless malice.
However, the sight she beheld completely stunned her.
No monster, no darkness.
Only an ordinary-looking China youth in casual clothes, lazily lying on the sofa, holding an… empty popcorn bucket.
He seemed to sense something and slowly turned his head.
His gaze pierced through the dimensions of reality and mirror, through the boundaries of soul and matter, precisely meeting The Ancient One's astral body.
Just that one glance!
Boom—!!!!
The Ancient One's entire soul, her entire consciousness, in that instant, felt as if it had been thrown into a super cosmic singularity that was constantly exploding and regenerating!
She saw it!
She saw the "truth" of that youth, or rather, that existence.
That was not a "person's" perspective at all!
That was… the perspective of Creation!
Chapter 97 The Mage's Fear and Odin's Decision!
She saw countless timelines, which were no longer rivers before her, but had transformed into an infinitely thick and endless book. And that young man, Arthur, was sitting idly beside the book, casually flipping through its pages.
With a gentle flick of his fingertip, the past, present, and future of a Universe, all its cause and effect, were instantly rewritten.
He saw that the "plot" on a certain page was not to his liking, so he frowned and casually tore that entire page, representing a complete Multiverse's "page," from the book, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the void at his feet.
That Universe, along with all the life, all the civilizations, and all the gods within it, was… silently erased.
Just like an author deleting an unsatisfactory paragraph.
The Ancient One saw herself, in that book, she was merely an insignificant, pencil-drawn, and not even colored little illustration on one of its pages.
The young man's hand, flipping through the pages, could at any moment tear off the page she was on as well!
No!
This was not a metaphor!
This was not an illusion at all!
This was the most cruel and most real "reality" she, a top-tier existence in a three-dimensional world, saw when she peeked at a higher-dimensional, incomprehensible "Author"!
"No… no… no!!!"
The Ancient One's astral form let out an inchoate wail filled with extreme terror.
She finally understood!
Why Vision would collapse!
Because a program composed of logic attempting to comprehend the concept of "programming" itself could only result in the complete collapse of that logic!
And she, a character in a book, attempting to comprehend the existence of the "Author," resulted in the realization that everything about herself, including her so-called free will, her so-called guardianship and struggle, was nothing more than… text that had long been written and could be revised at any time!
This complete negation from the very root of existence was a trillion times more terrifying than any form of attack!
Her astral form, this indestructible soul form composed of the purest spiritual power, at this moment, began to flicker wildly, its edges even starting to melt and dissipate rapidly like ice and snow exposed to sunlight!
If she looked any further, she would die!
Not the death of the physical body, but a complete obliteration from the level of "existence"!
"A… little ant who likes to peek into other people's privacy."
Arthur's calm, dream-like voice echoed directly in the deepest part of Ancient One's soul.
"How annoying."
As these two words fell, The Ancient One felt that the supreme existence beside that "Book of the Universe" seemed to… frown.
Then, he extended a finger, seemingly preparing to… flick at her, this tiny "illustration."
Run!!!
This was the only remaining, most instinctive thought in The Ancient One's mind since her birth hundreds of years ago!
She desperately burned her soul, frantically severed all connections with that dimension, and used all her lifelong strength to violently pull her crumbling astral form from that terrifying "Divine Realm"!
"Pfft—!"
In the quiet room of Kamar-Taj, the sitting The Ancient Onesuddenly opened her eyes, and a mouthful of golden blood, containing pure energy, gushed out, splattering on the ancient floor.
Her face was as pale as a corpse, and in her eyes that could see through time, there was now only the uncontrollable fear and trembling of someone who had narrowly escaped death. Her entire body was trembling slightly, like a drowning person who had just been pulled from the icy, bone-chilling deep sea.
"Master!"
"Sorcerer Supreme!"
The door of the quiet room was violently pushed open, and Wong and Mordo, sensing the intense energy fluctuation, rushed in immediately. When they saw The Ancient One in such an unprecedented and miserable state, as if her soul had been severely wounded, both of them were utterly stunned.
In their impression, The Ancient One was always so calm and composed, as if the collapse of Heaven and Earth could not stir her in the slightest.
When had they ever seen their Master so distraught, so… terrified?
"Master, what happened? Has Dormammu invaded?" Mordo asked nervously, immediately assuming a combat stance and looking around.
"No…" The Ancient One waved her hand, her voice hoarse and weak, "A million times more terrifying… than Dormammu… than any dimensional demon god we know."
She looked up at her two most prized disciples, her eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity and… despair.
How could she explain everything she had seen to them?
Tell them that this world they protected, everything they fought for, was merely a story written by a higher-dimensional existence?
Tell them that their enemy was not some dimensional demon god, but that… "Author" who could tear off pages at any time?
No, she couldn't say it.
This "truth" was enough to make anyone with insufficient willpower instantly lose their faith and go completely mad.
"Listen," Ancient One took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the trembling of her soul, and said in an unquestionable, commanding tone, "From today onwards, all Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj must abide by a supreme precepts."
Wong and Mordo's expressions became stern, and they immediately bowed to obey.
"Forbidden! In any form, to observe, spy on, or even think about that… 'person' existing in the Avengers Tower in New York!"
"Completely strike that building from your maps, from your perceptions! Treat it as an absolute, eternal 'forbidden zone'!
"Those who disobey will no longer be Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, for they will bring unimaginable, ultimate disaster to the entire reality dimension!"
Her voice was extremely stern, every word seemingly carrying a bloody lesson.
Although Wong and Mordo were filled with confusion and incomprehension, seeing their Master's unprecedentedly serious expression, they still knelt on one knee without hesitation.
"Yes, Master!"
After giving the command, Ancient One waved her hand, dismissing them.
In the quiet room, she was once again alone.
She slowly walked to the window, looking at the eternally unchanging, mysterious Nebula above Kamar-Taj, her eyes filled with a sense of powerlessness.
She knew that this matter was definitely not something Kamar-Taj could handle alone.
She must… warn Asgard.
Ancient One extended her hand, and a complex magiccircle lit up at her fingertips. Powerful psychic energy traversed endless space, directly linking to the peak of the Nine Realms, to the one-eyed God King.
…
In Asgard, God King Odin was listening to Heimdall's report, his face growing increasingly grim.
Just then, The Ancient One's weak and urgent voice echoed in his mind.
"Odin!"
"Ancient One? Why is your aura… so chaotic?" Odinimmediately sensed that something was wrong.
"Listen, to make a long story short." Ancient One's voice was filled with exhaustion, "I just… probed that 'existence' on Midgard."
"What was the result?" Odin's single eye narrowed sharply.
"The result?" Ancient One let out a miserable, bitter laugh, "The result is, I almost 'ceased to exist'. Odin, we were both wrong, terribly wrong."
"We always thought we were players on a chessboard. But now, I've realized that we… aren't even pawns."
Chapter 98: Extinction of half of life?!
In the depths of the Universe, endless darkness and cold stars formed an eternal backdrop.
A colossal throne ship, Sanctuary II, resembling a mountain floating in an asteroid belt, lay dormant.
Upon the ship's throne, Thanos, was seated upright. His purple skin was like the hardest rock, and the furrows on his face were etched with ruthlessness and determination. His left hand, covered by the Infinity Gauntlet, rested lightly on the armrest.
Just now, he had sensed a slight anomaly.
It wasn't detected by any instruments or energy probes, but rather a tremor from the depths of his soul, a mysterious connection to the Universe's very essence.
He felt that the perfect, harmonious balance between the six Infinity Stones he sought had been broken.
One of the Stones emitted a "sound" that didn't belong to it.
The Infinity Stones are the symphony of the Universe; each has its unique note, representing a fundamental law. Space, Time, Power, Reality, Soul, Mind power. Together, they compose the music of the Universe's existence.
But just now, the melody representing "Mind power" suddenly went off-key. It was no longer free and independent, but… it had become an accompaniment with a "main melody."
It was singing praises to some existence.
How was this possible?
A deep confusion and cruel interest flickered in Thanos's profound eyes. He had spent his entire life studying the mysteries of the Universe and the power of the Infinity Stones. He knew better than anyone that the Stones were the embodiment of laws, proud and incapable of being truly "owned." Users could only borrow their power, not change their essence.
Yet now, the facts told him that someone had done it.
"Midgard…"
A cruel and thoughtful expression appeared on Thanos's purple face. He slowly uttered the name of this insignificant planet, which, in his vast plan of cosmic conquest, was supposed to be the final stop.
He had given Loki the Mind Scepter. His original plan was for Loki to cause chaos on Earth, while he would seize the Space Stone and simultaneously retrieve the Mind Stone. But now, it seemed the plan had taken an unforeseen deviation.
"It seems that the little planet harbors more secrets than I imagined."
He slowly clenched his left hand, adorned with the Infinity Gauntlet, producing a creaking sound.
An existence capable of changing the essence of an Infinity Stone.
This was no longer an opponent in his plan. This might not even be an "enemy," but rather… a "phenomenon" he couldn't comprehend.
He, Thanos, was willing to sacrifice everything for the balance of the Universe, willing to bear the guilt of slaughtering half the life in the Universe. His will was indomitable.
But when a "painter" appeared, what was he, someone trying to "balance the picture," worth?
No, he couldn't back down. Whatever that existence was, he had to face it. For his noble ideal, understood by no one.
…
On this day, the employees of the Earth Property Management Office, after enduring a frustrating "on-the-job training," were dragging their exhausted bodies and Mind powers back to the building that now made them feel incredibly oppressed, lamenting their humiliating fate.
They thought they were facing the end of their careers, the loss of their heroic dignity.
What they didn't know was that, on a higher level they couldn't perceive, the top players of the entire Universewere deeply trembling and uneasy because of that incomprehensible existence on Earth.
A storm sweeping across the entire Universe was quietly brewing.
At the center of the storm, in the luxurious lounge on the top floor of the Avengers Tower, Arthur yawned.
"This is… utterly boring."
He had just "seen" The Ancient One's fear with his divine sense, "heard" Odin's reluctant submission, and even "felt" Thanos's confusion and determination.
To him, these were like watching a somewhat interesting stage play. The characters' expressions were rich, their inner monologues abundant, bringing a trivial ripple to his eternal and monotonous life.
But after the ripple, there was still nothingness.
He was like a max-level god-tier player, trapped in a novice village. The only fun in the village was watching a group of level-one noobs (Avengers) clumsily fight slimes (petty criminals), and observing the awe shown by the village chiefs from the neighboring villages (Odin, Ancient One) towards him.
This kind of fun was obviously extremely limited.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, Master," Jarvis's figure appeared silently behind him. The Mind Stone on his forehead emitted a gentle yet absolutely loyal glow.
"Is there anything else in this Universe… that can somewhat pass the time?" Arthur asked lazily.
In Jarvis's electronic eyes, countless data streams flashed like a galaxy. He instantly connected to all known and unknown information dimensions in the Universe, performing calculations and filtering beyond logic. His current computing power could no longer be described by a Vibranium body or the Mind Stone; his core was the three laws, like cosmic axioms, that Arthur had bestowed upon him.
A moment later, Jarvis bowed slightly and replied in his perfect butler's voice:
"Master, based on a comprehensive assessment of 'fun' and 'challenge,' the following possibilities have been filtered out."
"First, approximately two and a half million light-years from the Milky Way Galaxy, in the Andromeda Galaxy, there is a mechanical civilization called the 'Reapers.' They take pleasure in purifying organic life, and perhaps they could provide you with a grand… fireworks display."
"Second, in a reality fragment with dimension number 617, an entity calling himself Galactus is in a state of hunger and is about to devour a planet with a highly advanced civilization. You can choose to save it, or… help him with some after-dinner dessert."
"Third…" Jarvis paused, seemingly filtering for the most important information.
"On the ruins of Titan, approximately three thousand light-years from Earth, a Titan named Thanos is actively collecting the six Infinity Stones, attempting to randomly exterminate half of the life in the Universe by snapping his fingers, to achieve his so-called 'cosmic balance.'"
"Oh?" Arthur finally showed some interest, sitting up straight on the sofa.
"Snapping his fingers, exterminating half of life?"
A playful smile appeared on his face.
"That idea… is somewhat interesting."
He looked at the bustling New York night view outside the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the endless starry sky, landing on the purple figure seated on the throne.
"It's like a programmer who thinks his computer is too slow, so he decides to… randomly delete half of the files."
"What a… simple, brutal, and aesthetically pleasing solution."
He had finally found a new toy that didn't seem so boring.
Chapter 99 Warm-up activities are over!
Just when Tony Stark thought his nerves were tough enough to withstand any form of humiliation and absurdity, reality would always use even more bizarre ways to tell him how poor his imagination was.
The Avengers—no, the employees of the "Earth Property Management Office"—sat in the oppressive conference room like walking dead.
No one spoke; the only sound in the air was the tired breathing.
That so-called "onboarding training" was like a spiritual torture, grinding their last shred of pride into dust.
Just then, that familiar yet chilling voice echoed through the loudspeaker again.
"Alright, employees, the warm-up is over."
Arthur's voice carried a hint of boredom, as if he had just watched an extremely dull appetizer short film.
"Your work efficiency is very unsatisfactory to me.
It took twelve minutes to clean up a few stray dogs, and it caused an additional three million U.S. dollars in losses.
At this rate, when will the Earth's community hygiene be elevated to the standard of a first-class community in the Universe?"
Everyone's fists instinctively tightened.
A first-class community in the Universe?
This phrase, like a rusty knife, fiercely gouged their already scarred hearts.
"So," Arthur's tone shifted, "I've decided to assign you a big project.
A big order that can fully embody the core value of you, the 'Earth Guardian'—oh no, the 'Earth Property Manager'… a big order."
A big order?
Everyone exchanged glances, a bad premonition rising in their hearts.
On the holographic projection table in the center of the conference room, Jarvis's figure appeared, its voice still so respectful and efficient.
"Following Master's command, the 'Universal Property Cleanup Order' number 001 is now issued."
"Order Name: Special Action on the Disposal of Large Hazardous Waste and Illegal Construction Tools Left on Titan."
A series of unfamiliar terms stunned everyone.
Immediately following, a holographic image of a person popped up on the projection table.
It was a burly, purple-skinned alien giant.
He sat on a floating throne, his eyes filled with tyranny and coldness, and the gully-like lines on his chin made him look incredibly ferocious.
"Target: Thanos, codenamed 'Destroyer'." Jarvis began to introduce this being, capable of making the Universetremble, in the flat tone of a corporate report.
"Identity Assessment: Leader of a Universal Terrorist organization, unlicensed waste disposal personnel."
Unlicensed… waste disposal personnel?
Thor almost spat out divine blood when he heard this title.
He had traveled the Universe, hearing countless terrifying legends about Thanos.
He was the Dark Lord, the Mad Titan, the Destroyer whose presence made stars dim!
But here, he was just… "unlicensed"?
Jarvis ignored everyone's shock and continued to report.
"Target Behavior Analysis: This individual has long roamed various galaxies in the Universe, conducting large-scale, indiscriminate population clearance activities under the guise of 'maintaining universal balance'.
The essence of his actions can be defined as 'large-scale illegal demolition' and 'malicious dumping of biological waste'."
"Currently, this individual plans to collect six high-energy source items, the 'Infinity Stones', and attempts to use his self-made 'Infinity Gauntlet', an uncertified, high-risk, illegal construction tool, to conduct a one-time, 50% coverage… forced demolition of this Universe."
"Assessment Conclusion: This action will severely damage the ecological environment of this community and cause irreversible personal harm to 50% of the 'residents' within the community.
Its danger level is defined as 'highest level'.
It complies with the 'Community Waste' cleanup plan, highest regulation."
Dead silence.
A silence even more suffocating than facing Vision.
The Avengers' brains had completely given up trying to understand what was happening.
Thanos, the Universal overlord who made Odin and Ancient One solemn, the Mad Titan who made the entire Milky Way Galaxy live under his Shadow.
Here, in the words of their "new boss," he had become a… contractor driving an unlicensed excavator, ready to forcibly demolish a community?
And their mission, as the Earth Property Management Office, was to stop this contractor's illegal construction?
"Pfft…"
Tony Stark could no longer hold back; he let out a strange sound somewhere between spitting blood and laughing.
He felt his worldview had been completely shattered, then reassembled in the most absurd way.
Steve Rogers, on the other hand, had a ashen face; he couldn't accept it!
This was no longer an insult; this was a blasphemy against life itself!
To describe a catastrophe affecting half the Universe as a… property dispute?
"What? Judging by your expressions, do you have any opinions on the difficulty of this order?" Arthur's voice rang out again, with a hint of playfulness.
"Do you think… this trash is too big for you to clean up?"
No one dared to answer.
Clean up?
How to clean up?
They couldn't even defeat Ultron, and now they had to face an overlord who could make the entire Universe tremble?
"Sigh, what a bunch of useless employees." Arthursighed, his tone full of disappointment.
"Never mind, since you can't handle it, I'll give you a hand."
"The boss personally stepping in to solve technical problems for employees is already a very thoughtful act.
You should be grateful."
As his voice fell, Arthur's tone took on an unprecedented majesty, like a divine decree.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, Master."
"Doesn't that Thanos want to collect the Infinity Stones?"
"Yes, Master.
This is the core of his plan."
"Very good." Arthur's voice became lighter, "Then send all the Stones to him.
It saves him the trouble of finding them one by one; it's too inefficient."
What?!
All the Avengers, including Thor, suddenly stood up from their seats, their faces filled with incredulous horror!
Send all the Stones… to him?
Was this madness!
This was tantamount to personally handing the nuclear launch button into the hands of terrorists!
However, Arthur's next words plunged them into a deeper, incomprehensible abyss.
"Jarvis, activate the highest authority of the Mind Stone.
In my name, send a… 'notification' to the other five Infinity Stones scattered throughout the Universe."
"Tell them."
Arthur's voice, amplified through the loudspeaker, echoed clearly in the conference room, every word seeming to carry the power to define the laws of the Universe.
"Meeting time.
All of you, come here… and report!"
Buzz!
As his voice fell, the Mind Stone on Jarvis's forehead, who was standing behind Arthur, suddenly burst forth with an unprecedented, dazzling golden light!
That light was no longer merely an embodiment of energy, but a will!
A supreme, unquestionable, absolute will to rule… like an emperor summoning his subjects!
Chapter 100: The Pilgrimage of the Six Stones!
An invisible signal, transcending time and space, radiated from the Mind Stone and instantly spread across the entire Universe!
In the Asgard vault, the Space Stone, sealed within the Tesseract, began to vibrate violently!
In Collector Tivan's museum, the Reality Stone, imprisoned in the form of the Aether, began to boil and roar frantically!
On Xandar, at the headquarters of the Nova Corps, the Power Stone stored within the Orb erupted with a blinding purple light, as if trying to break free from all restraints!
At the bottom of the abyss on Vormir, that mysterious Soul Stone let out an unprecedented wail!
In Kamar-Taj, time began to pulse chaotically within the Eye of Agamotto!
At this moment, the six Infinity Stones, the six singularities of the Universe, seemed to hear the call of their true "Monarch"!
It was not a request, nor was it a guidance.
It was... a command!
At this moment, the Universe fell into an unprecedented commotion.
On Knowhere, Collector Tivan, an Elder of the Universewho had lived for countless ages, was elegantly polishing his beloved collection. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically, and he looked sharply toward the deepest part of the exhibition hall.
Boom!
With a loud bang, the sealed container made of special materials, capable of withstanding a stellar explosion, shattered instantly!
A mass of dark red, fluid-like energy surged out from the broken container! It was the Aether, the liquid incarnation of the Reality Stone!
It was no longer quiet as it had been in the past, but was twisting and rolling frantically, like a prisoner who had been locked away for eons, having heard a pardon from the Supreme Master! It let out a silent roar, tore through the space of Knowhere, turned into a streak of dark red light, and disappeared into the depths of the Universe!
"No! My collection!" Collector let out a shrill scream, his voice filled with despair and confusion.
Meanwhile, on Xandar, at the Nova Corps headquarters, alarms blared to the skies.
Before the Nova Prime, the highest-level vault storing the Orb, protected by tens of thousands of energy barriers, was being disintegrated from the inside!
The purple light, like the sharpest blade, easily sliced through all defenses. The Orb opened on its own, and that purple stone containing infinite power, as if possessing life, slowly rose into the air. It ignored all the attacks from the surrounding Nova Corps soldiers, and with just a slight vibration, it reduced the entire headquarters building to dust.
Subsequently, it transformed into a purple meteor and rushed toward a specific coordinate in the Universe at a speed that defied all laws of physics.
In the Odin vault of Asgard, Heimdall and several Einherjar warriors were watching in horror as the Tesseract vibrated wildly on its pedestal. Blue space energy, like an out-of-control tide, was constantly spreading outward, and the space of the entire vault began to become extremely unstable.
"Suppress it!" Heimdall roared, pushing his divine power to the limit.
However, the Space Stone within the Tesseract completely ignored the obstruction of these "ants." It just flashed once, and the entire Odin vault, including Heimdall, was instantly teleported into the void outside Asgard.
Having broken free from its restraints, the Space Stoneturned into a beam of pure blue light, tore through space as well, and followed that call.
In Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One's pale face was filled with despair. The Eye of Agamotto on her chest was trembling violently, and the green Time Stone was trying to break free from her control, to break free from the shackles of this artifact!
"No..." She tried her best to maintain control over the Time Stone, but she felt that her will was as insignificant as a mantis trying to stop a chariot in the face of that supreme call.
In the end, with a crisp sound, the Eye of Agamotto opened on its own!
A bright green light, carrying the laws of time, pierced through the dimensional barrier of Kamar-Taj and flew resolutely toward the direction it was meant to "worship."
Earth, Avengers Tower.
In the conference room, everyone had turned to stone.
They stared blankly at the chaotic real-time images from all over the Universe on the holographic projection. They saw the scream of Collector, the destruction of the Nova headquarters, and the disappearance of the Asgard vault...
They finally witnessed with their own eyes what kind of terrifying, monstrous waves that man's single sentence, "Meeting time," had stirred up in the Universe!
This was no longer power.
This was a type of... authority! An absolute authority like a creator, transcending the laws of the Universe!
Just as their minds came to a complete standstill, the ceiling above the conference room suddenly became transparent.
Immediately after, beams of light tearing through space appeared one after another!
A streak of dark red light arrived first, floating docilely in mid-air, transforming into a crystal-clear red stone.
Immediately after, a purple meteor, a blue beam of light, a bright green light...
Finally, a mysterious orange halo, as if crossing the dimension of the soul, appeared out of thin air.
Five Infinity Stones, together with the Mind Stone on Jarvis's forehead, a total of six singularities representing the origin power of the Universe, just like that... neatly floated in the middle of the conference room.
They emitted a soft light, without a trace of tyrannical aura. They were like a group of children who had wandered outside for countless years and finally returned home, or like a group of subjects coming to pay homage to their king, quietly rotating slowly around the figure sitting on the sofa.
The scene was sacred, yet absurd.
The Avengers were completely broken.
Tony Stark, a man who believed in science his whole life, looked at the six stones before him that completely ignored physics, cosmology, and the law of conservation of energy, and felt that his entire system of knowledge had become a joke.
Thor, the prince from Asgard, looked at the six cosmic treasures that even his father Odin had to treat with caution, now as docile as pets, and he finally understood that the gap between him and Arthur was even more distant than the gap between mortals and gods.
Captain America Steve Rogers, a man with a will as firm as steel, looked at this scene that transcended all will and all resistance, and for the first time, his inner conviction cracked.
The "Tesseract" that they had fought bloody battles for and gambled everything to seize.
The "Mind Scepter" that they had tried their best to stop Ultron from using.
Those powers capable of destroying the world and restarting the Universe were, in front of this man, merely... tools that he could summon or dismiss with a single sentence?
Arthur slowly stood up from the sofa and walked to the six floating Infinity Stones.
He reached out his hand, examining them casually as if picking fruit.
"Hmm, you've all come together nicely."
He nodded calmly, in a tone as if praising a delivery courier's efficiency.
Then, he made a move that made everyone present, along with the cosmic bigwigs who were peeking at this scene through various channels, terrified out of their wits.
He turned his head and waved his hand casually at Jarvisbehind him.
"Alright, everyone is here."
"Jarvis, you take these things for now."
"If you feel like your energy is not enough in the future, just take one and use it as a power bank."
A power bank?
Use as... a power bank?
Boom!!!!
The moment Tony Stark heard these words, his brain exploded completely! Everything went black before his eyes, his legs went weak, and he collapsed directly to the ground, losing consciousness completely.
And Jarvis, the perfect body made of Vibranium, possessing the Infinity Stones, bowed slightly and reached out his hand.
The five Infinity Stones immediately flew docilely into his hand, then turned into five streaks of light and merged into his body.
"As you command, Master."
Jarvis's voice remained as humble and impeccable as ever.