Chapter 21: Endgame Unraveled
"I've already won," Ultron replied disdainfully.
In the next moment, Ultron's chest and forehead began to glow brilliantly, as the power of all six Infinity Stones activated simultaneously.
"What?"
"Boom!!!!!!"
In an instant, an immense surge of energy exploded from Ultron's core, obliterating the Earth into cosmic dust. Even Captain Marvel was completely annihilated, leaving not even a trace behind.
"This…" Scarlet Witch's voice trembled. "This… what just happened? How is he able to…"
Tony Stark stared in disbelief, his eyes bloodshot with three parts grief and seven parts rage. Clenching his teeth, he growled at Ultron, "He's dead meat."
But it was Ned who had already foreseen this outcome when Captain Marvel ignored his warning. Acting quickly, he instructed those holding the Infinity Stones to gather together. Simultaneously, he activated the power of the stones to protect everyone.
Then, Mr. Strange cast a protective spell around them that allowed them to survive in space. (For the sake of this setting, the spell is capable of enabling space survival.) This quick action saved Wanda, Stark, and the others, including Ned himself.
"Strange!" Ned called out to Doctor Strange.
"Understood." Strange nodded, opening the Eye of Agamotto. His hands moved in intricate motions, and soon a green magical circle began to glow from the Eye of Agamotto.
"Oh? What are you trying to do?" Ultron, noticing that Ned and the others had survived, looked at Doctor Strange with amusement.
"Mr. Strange is reversing time—trying to turn back the clock to before Ultron destroyed Earth. Let's move! We can't let him be interrupted!" Ned said gravely, locking eyes on Ultron.
"Got it!"
This time, Ned's real body continued channeling the power of the two stones, but his projection leaped into action. Flying straight at Ultron, he wielded the Flaming Blade of Vishanti, the fiery weapon glowing brilliantly as it slashed at Ultron.
"Clang!"
Ultron raised his arm to block, effortlessly stopping Ned's attack. The sharp blade and its flames couldn't even scratch Ultron's vibranium body.
"Hum!"
A ripple in space appeared, and Stormbreaker—the massive battle axe—suddenly materialized behind Ultron, spinning toward his neck.
Ultron noticed it and tried to dodge, but suddenly, his body froze in place.
"!!!"
Ultron's face was filled with shock as he looked down at his immobile limbs, which were now encased in Scarlet Witch's Chaos Magic.
"Impossible!!! You won't succeed!!"
Ultron roared, channeling the power of the stones in an attempt to break free from Wanda's grip.
"Arghhh!!!!!!"
A burst of purple energy illuminated the cosmos, so bright that it made Ned's eyes water from the intensity. This display of power was unmatched.
But this time was different. With the Reality Stone amplifying her Chaos Magic, Wanda's power reached limitless levels. Despite Ultron's desperation, he couldn't move even a fraction of an inch before Wanda's strength ran out.
"Clang!"
Taking the opportunity, Stormbreaker cleaved through Ultron's neck, decapitating him. The Infinity Stones on his body dimmed, and Ned quickly dissipated the flames on his sword. His hands moved swiftly, fueled by the speed of someone who had been single for two lifetimes. He frantically patted down Ultron's chest.
After a brief moment, Ned leapt backward, holding something in his right hand.
"Crack."
Sure enough, Ultron's severed head began floating back to his body as if it were alive.
"Hmm… Feeling hopeless, are we?" Ultron muttered mockingly as he touched his neck, now completely intact, before turning his gaze to Thor.
"Hm?"
Sensing something wrong, Ultron looked down at his chest, only to find the five Infinity Stones missing. In their place were five small, empty holes.
Snapping his head up, he saw Ned holding several Infinity Stones in his right hand.
"You're dead!"
Ultron flew into a rage, roaring as he unleashed a Mind Stone beam at Ned.
But Ned remained calm. As expected, a vengeful Tony Stark descended from above, landing in front of Ned. With repulsor blasts from both palms and a chest-mounted unibeam, Stark fired three concentrated lasers to counter Ultron's attack.
Simultaneously, the surroundings began to shift. A green glow enveloped them, and Ned realized they were back at the ruins of the Avengers' base.
"Ah…"
With a soft groan, Doctor Strange collapsed, utterly drained. This spell had taken everything out of him.
"Well done, Mr. Strange," Ned said, splitting off a projection to support Strange. Taking the Eye of Agamotto from Strange's neck, he added, "Leave the rest to me sir."
"You…" Doctor Strange began, but he ultimately nodded weakly.
"Argh!!!"
Meanwhile, Ultron continued his stalemate with Iron Man. Without the five Infinity Stones, Ultron was reduced to Vision's level of strength—albeit ten times more ruthless—and was no longer a match for Tony Stark in his ultimate nanotech armor.
"What… just happened?"
Captain Marvel's confused voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Everyone," Ned called out, ignoring her. "Bring me the Infinity Stones. Let's finish this."
"Alright."
Thor resisted the urge to strike Ultron with Stormbreaker again just to see if he'd resurrect, instead flying to Ned's side. Placing Stormbreaker and Mjolnir down, he said, "You told me to smack the stones on them earlier. I'm not sure how to take them off."
"Got it."
Ned nodded, removing the Mind and Soul Stones from the gauntlet on his right hand. He quickly swapped them with the Space and Time Stones, and with a flash of blue and green light, Stormbreaker and Mjolnir returned to their original forms, releasing the Infinity Stones they held.
"Here."
Wanda handed over the Reality Stone.
Ned accepted it, removed the stones from Ultron's body, and placed them all into the gauntlet. He then took off the gauntlet and fitted all six stones into it.
"Hey! Over there, you super arrogant cosmic powerhouse!" Ned's voice dripped with sarcasm.
Even the usually unity-focused Captain America remained silent at Ned's tone, unable to fault him. Captain Marvel's earlier arrogance had caused disastrous consequences. If Strange hadn't risked everything with the time spell, Earth would've been lost.
"You…"
Captain Marvel, having processed the events, suppressed her anger and flew over. "What is it?"
"Snap your fingers and make sure that guy is erased—for good," Ned said, handing her the gauntlet filled with all six stones. "Remember—completely erased."
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