Chapitre 49: 421-425
Although Mark didn't finish his sentence, the reasons he provided were enough to convince Captain and the others.
Without much hesitation, Mark's proposed team assignment was unanimously approved by everyone.
Only Tony noticed the peculiar aspect of Mark's decision, but he didn't expose Mark in front of everyone.
After the meeting concluded, the group members began preparing for the Time Heist plan, while Tony separately approached Mark, who was also getting ready to leave.
"Kid, what were you thinking when you suggested teaming up with me and swapping with Natasha and Barton for the Vormir mission?"
Seeing Mark's innocent expression, Tony added, "Don't forget, I'm your old man. I could tell something was off with your behavior just now. You're definitely hiding something."
Mark was somewhat surprised that Tony had sought him out and had noticed his hidden agenda. He even detected some emotions in Tony's gaze that he couldn't quite place.
After all, Tony, his old man, had always been somewhat irresponsible and unpredictable. So, Mark was both surprised and touched by Tony's behavior today.
However, despite the gratitude, Mark didn't reveal the answer to Tony. "It's not the right time yet. You'll know the real reason when we get to Vormir."
Having said that, he paid no attention to Tony's peculiar expression and left the meeting room to begin preparing for the mission.
After a night of rest, the next morning, everyone appeared at the Quantum Temporal Tunnel device, full of energy.
In fact, the previous night, many of them were so excited that they couldn't sleep, like elementary school students eagerly anticipating a field trip.
Fortunately, Mark had anticipated the possibility of this situation and had prepared nutrient hibernation pods for everyone in advance. These sleep pods were equipped with a brain-wave device, ensuring that users could efficiently enter deep sleep and get the most restful sleep possible.
Additionally, the nutrient hibernation pods had built-in body repair functions that could help heal accumulated injuries in their bodies while they rested, bringing their bodies to optimal condition.
From the current state and performance of the team members, Mark's preparations were very effective, providing an extra layer of assurance for the upcoming Time Heist plan.
Seeing that everyone had assembled, Mark and Tony both instinctively looked at Captain. The meaning in their eyes was clear: they wanted Captain, the spiritual leader, to inspire the team and give a pep talk before the mission.
Captain, observing the identical expressions on the father and son, rolled his eyes in exasperation. Nevertheless, he stood before the team, ready to address this "unexpected mission."
"Everyone, before we depart, I'd like to say a few words. Five years ago, we all suffered a devastating defeat.
We lost friends, we lost loved ones, and at times, we even lost ourselves.
But today, an opportunity lies before us, one that can help us reclaim everything we've lost.
We trust each other and understand the responsibilities and duties we carry. I want to remind you all that we're about to face our familiar past, but we might also encounter unexpected situations. We must take care of each other and proceed with caution.
This is the battle where we turn the tide in our favor. I believe we will ultimately achieve victory. Good luck, everyone!"
Captain's speech immediately boosted the team's morale to its peak. Everyone was eager and ready, looking like they couldn't wait to start the mission.
Mark wasted no time and gave a direct order to Baymax: "Baymax, prepare to travel through the temporal tunnel for the mission. Cut off magical network communication with our mechanical exoskeletons."
"But, Master, are you sure..."
"Baymax! Execute the order!" Mark interrupted him abruptly, his tone extremely stern.
The team didn't understand the reasons behind this exchange, but they had never seen Mark communicate like this with Baymax or anyone else. Mark had always been calm, gentle, and polite in his interactions.
However, considering that today marked the launch of Mark's personally devised and led Time Heist plan, some changes in his demeanor weren't entirely surprising. The team didn't delve deeper into the unusual conversation between Mark and Baymax.
Only Tony looked in Mark's direction, furrowing his brows with deepening suspicion. He knew that Mark was hiding something, but now was not the time to disrupt the team's high spirits following Captain's successful pep talk.
"It seems I'll only find out what this brat is hiding when we get to Vormir," Tony mused. "I just hope it won't be too late by then."
"Master, the avatars are ready. Magic network connection has been successfully severed," Baymax reported.
As Baymax finished speaking, both Baymax and Mark momentarily seemed lost in thought, their minds elsewhere. After a few seconds, they snapped back to reality. Mark stretched his body, evaluating his physical sensations, appearing somewhat satisfied.
"It's a shame we can't restore my information visual ability through technical means; otherwise, this mechanical exoskeleton would be truly perfect," Mark commented.
"But that's alright. If my predictions are accurate, this operation..."
Mark paused, squinting slightly with a serious expression, not continuing his thought.
At that moment, Rocket, wearing a curious expression, approached Baymax and asked, "Hey, what are you guys up to? Seems kinda weird."
"Because...," Baymax began to explain but was cut off by Mark, who shot him a sharp, knife-like glare.
"Uh... I misspoke! It's because my main consciousness and database, usually residing within Earth's magical network, control the body's actions through implanted exoskeleton mind antennae. However, when the Time Heist plan activates, our mechanical exoskeletons will disconnect from this timeline's magical network, rendering consciousness transfer impossible."
"If we proceed with the upcoming tasks in this state, not only will we be unable to assist you, but we'll also need your help to retrieve our exoskeletons later. So, last night, my master completed this plan alone, creating a mirrored copy of our consciousness and primary databases. This ensures that our volume remains within the exoskeleton's carrying capacity while allowing us to maintain normal cognitive reasoning and logical thinking."
"Mark is quite impressive," Rocket remarked with admiration after hearing the explanation.
Rocket had always heard Baymax describe his owner, Mark, as exceptionally intelligent and capable during their space adventures. Initially, Rocket had doubted these claims, thinking, "What could a primitive species without advanced spacefaring technology possibly achieve?" However, once he came to Earth and interacted with Mark, he realized that Baymax's previous descriptions were modest at best.
With his vast experience in adventuring across the cosmos, Rocket had never come across anyone quite like Mark. He recognized Mark as a true genius, especially considering that Mark had invented a time machine with his own intelligence.
The minor dispute between Mark and Baymax didn't affect the team's readiness. Once all preparations were complete, Baymax took control of the Quantum Temporal Device's operation, initiated the temporal tunnel, and officially commenced the Time Heist.
---
Morag, 2014. On this day, after two years of drifting through space, Baymax would land on this planet and encounter his future adventuring companion, Star-Lord.
However, at the moment when Mark and the others arrived through time travel, neither the Baymax nor Star-Lord from this timeline had reached Morag yet.
This meant that Rhodey and Baymax, who had time-traveled, could easily obtain the Power Stone and then return to their original timeline.
On the desolate and quiet planet Morag, the four time-travelers stood still for a while, trying to alleviate the dizziness caused by their temporal journey. Mark retrieved a capsule and pressed the button on the top.
Bang!
After the classic burst of white mist, a brand-new spaceship appeared on the surface of Morag. This ship was a replica of the Milano, the Guardians of the Galaxy's ship, based on the data in Baymax's database. As for the original ship of Star-Lord, it had long turned into a pile of scrap during the cataclysmic battle on Titan.
"Best of luck to you both, I'll be waiting in the future. And Tony, don't let your bad temper flare up at a time like this. Take care of each other, understand?"
Rhodey spoke as he gave Tony and Mark each a hug and bid them farewell beside the spaceship. Baymax, however, remained motionless, staring fixedly at Mark's figure but making no move.
"Understood, Rhodey. Just don't dig into my secrets again, see you around!" Tony waved at Rhodey and boarded the spaceship. The hatch closed, and following the coordinates provided by Nebula earlier, Tony and Mark set off for the realm where the Soul Stone was located.
"Alright, Baymax, lead the way. It's time for us to take the Power Stone back!" Rhodey looked at the departing spaceship, then turned to Baymax.
"Baymax?" Seeing no response, Rhodey called out again.
At that moment, Baymax finally withdrew his gaze from the now-empty starry sky. "I apologize, Mr. Rhodey."
He offered an apology to Rhodey and began to stride forward to lead the way. However, Rhodey suddenly grabbed Baymax's arm and looked at him with a serious expression. "What's going on? I feel like both you and Mark have been acting strangely today..."
If it were just a couple of unusual occurrences, it could be attributed to coincidence. However, the repeated unusual behavior of Mark and Baymax had raised Rhodey's suspicions.
"Mr. Rhodey..."
"What! You didn't tell everyone about something this important before the plan started?"
On the planet Morag, if there were anyone else within a five-kilometer radius of Rhodey, they would probably hear his angry roar.
Rhodey had every reason to be angry because just a moment ago, after Tony and Mark's spaceship had left, Baymax confessed an astonishing piece of news to him.
It turns out that Mark and Baymax had both severed their connections to the Earth's magical network, but their execution plans were completely different.
Baymax's method was as he had explained before, leaving a mirrored consciousness in his android body, allowing it to act independently after the disconnection.
Mark's method, on the other hand, was much riskier. He had successfully transferred his complete consciousness into his android body using a soul-folding technique that Rhodey couldn't understand, coupled with a quantum-state material formed from vibranium.
Using this method would grant Mark more agile thinking and more precise judgment compared to Baymax.
However, it also meant that if Mark encountered any unexpected events during this mission, he wouldn't just lose a mere android body, but he would face true death.
Because of this, Rhodey roared in anger, looking at Baymax as if he wanted to devour him whole.
Baymax felt unjustified about this, "But this is the order given by my master. He instructed me not to tell you, not to reveal his plan."
Regardless, Rhodey, a former Air Force colonel, quickly regained control of his emotions and calmed down.
He also knew that as Mark is Baymax's owner, it couldn't possibly defy Mark's orders. If it weren't for Rhodey having noticed clues from Baymax's behavior just now, he might not have even gotten this information.
"What is Mark's plan exactly? Baymax, what else are you keeping from me?
If you don't want to see Mark in danger, then tell me everything you know!
When out in the field, orders can be disregarded! Mark is not here now, and the situation is very special. Baymax, you don't need to worry about Mark's previous orders to keep quiet."
Since Baymax was unwilling to speak voluntarily, Rhodey could only obtain the answers he wanted through his own questioning and guidance.
After hesitating for a moment, torn between following Mark's orders and ensuring Mark's safety, Baymax ultimately chose the latter and revealed the information he knew.
"In fact, I don't know the specific details of the master's plan, but from the conversations between the master and me, it seems that the mission to acquire the Soul Stone on Vormir is fraught with great danger.
That's why the master proposed adjusting the team, suggesting that he and the old master execute this mission together.
Furthermore, to ensure the mission's success, the master needed to have his complete soul and consciousness within the android body, which is why he transferred his essence out of the magical network.
I can sense that the master has meticulously planned this mission, but he still lacks full confidence in its success, which is why he kept his plan hidden from everyone."
Upon hearing Baymax's response, Rhodey felt perplexed. These pieces of information were just as unhelpful as not knowing at all. They only served to increase his concern for Mark and Tony, and there was little Rhodey could do about it.
Moreover, the Time Heist plan this time was expected to carry some risk, a fact they had prepared for before setting out. Even if Mark believed that the mission was too dangerous for Natasha and Hawkeye and chose to replace them with Tony and himself for a more certain team, it was justifiable for the sake of the mission's success.
It could only be said that the mission to acquire the Soul Stone on Vormir was too perilous, to the extent that Mark was unwilling to reveal it, all for the sake of the team's well-being, to avoid distracting the other members.
"Sigh! Mark and Tony have already taken off with the spaceship. At this point, even if I want to help them, I feel powerless. Let's hurry and secure the Power Stone first, so the whole plan doesn't fall apart on our end."
"Alright," Baymax nodded and continued to lead the way. They needed to obtain the Infinity Stone before the Baymax of this timeline appeared.
...
On the other side, aboard their spacecraft, Tony and Mark were approaching the destination of their current journey—the planet Vormir.
It had to be said that the Milano ship of the Guardians of the Galaxy was very advanced, it was a gift from the Nova Corps of Xandar.
Precise interstellar travel maps, fully automated navigation, and the crucial technology of interstellar flight, the warp drive. These cosmic technologies ensured that the ship replicated by Mark could accurately and swiftly take them to their predetermined destination.
At this moment, the ship had entered the atmosphere of Vormir, gradually decelerating and descending toward the surface.
In mid-air, Tony and Mark sat in the cockpit, looking down below, and immediately understood why this planet was known as the Land of the Dead.
Because there was no starlight, the planet's surface was not only dim but also desolate, devoid of any trace of life.
At the same time, the intense energy releases from the planet's core had not caused it to freeze but had instead created a hot climate, resulting in harsh natural disasters on Vormir.
Not far from where their spaceship was parked, a rugged mountain peak towered over the surface of Vormir, like a sword thrust into the heart of this planet. And that was the destination they were heading to in order to obtain the Soul Stone...
"Oh, the environment here is truly extreme. It was scorching down below just a moment ago, and now it's freezing up here. Anyway, I guess that raccoon doesn't have to climb the mountain like us."
"To be precise, Rocket isn't just a raccoon, Dad," Mark turned around and said to Tony.
"Who cares? I don't mind either way; they both like rummaging through trash cans," Tony shrugged, indifferent.
When they had just landed on the surface of Vormir, Tony was very cautious and careful.
But as they continued to climb this mountain, as they moved away from the surface where heat dissipated, the external temperature gradually began to drop, even leading to frost and snowflakes.
Along with the dropping temperature, Tony's fragile vigilance diminished. From his current attitude of complaining about Rocket's species, it was clear that he had thrown his previous caution out the window.
If it weren't for the frigid temperatures around, Mark believed Tony wouldn't even bother wearing his nanosuit.
"We're almost at the summit. I didn't expect this planet, known as the Land of the Dead, to have such a terrifying reputation, but our mission unexpectedly seems easy. We haven't encountered a single living creature on this journey."
Tony's tone was quite relaxed and optimistic. In his view, all they needed to do next was reach the mountaintop, obtain the Soul Stone, and then return to their original timeline.
Everything seemed easy and enjoyable.
"I've told you before, the dangers on Vormir are not apparent to the naked eye. The truly lethal means have yet to reveal themselves. But if you want to meet beings other than us, I believe you'll have the opportunity very soon."
As Mark spoke, a hint of anticipation appeared on his face.
Tony, upon hearing Mark's words, was completely puzzled and didn't understand what he meant.
However, the next moment, he was startled by a sudden figure that appeared out of nowhere, and only then did he grasp the meaning behind Mark's earlier words.
Unexpectedly, on this desolate and lifeless planet, there was indeed another living presence!
Tony didn't waste any time thinking and quickly donned his suit's face mask, activated the palm cannon in his hand, took two steps back to create some distance, and looked extremely vigilant at the sudden figure that had emerged.
On the other hand, Mark remained remarkably composed. He didn't take any defensive actions, nor did he show any signs of panic. He simply stood there calmly, observing everything that was happening before him.
For Mark, he had long understood the situation on Vormir and was well aware of the identity of the person before them. Although the stranger looked rather mysterious, he posed no threat to them.
Of course, even if he had the intention, with his abilities, he wouldn't have the capability. The individual strengths of both Tony and Mark were such that he had no chance of winning against them.
At this moment, Tony, who was cautiously on guard against the mysterious figure, could clearly see the face hidden beneath the hood.
"Red Skull!" Tony exclaimed. He knew the notorious villain well, the founder of HYDRA and one of the most infamous adversaries of Captain America and his father, Howard Stark.
But it was precisely because he knew about him that Tony was so shocked when the data analysis function of his suit revealed the stranger's identity.
Red Skull should have been eliminated in 1945, alongside Captain America and his Howling Commandos. Yet here he was, standing before them alive and well, more than seventy years later!
"But when you think about it, it's not entirely unthinkable. After all, Captain was originally believed to have sacrificed himself, but who would have thought he would be dug out from the ice of the Arctic Ocean more than seventy years later."
"Welcome, Tony Stark, son of Howard Stark; Mark Stark, son of Tony Stark!"
Red Skull made an astonishing entrance and showcased his mysterious superpower—he could know your father's name!
Perhaps it had been so long since he had seen anyone he could use his power on that he could clearly hear the excitement and eagerness in Red Skull's voice when he uttered these welcoming words.
This was also why Mark didn't have his guard up against him. Ever since Red Skull had been accidentally transported to Vormir during his battle with Captain America, he had become a recluse over the years.
Though he had gained eternal life and extraordinary "superpowers" thanks to the Soul Stone, the long years of solitude and the Stone's influence had made him completely lose his original dreams and ambitions.
"Red Skull, huh? That's a name both distant and nostalgic."
"But now I'm just a guide for everyone who comes here, a guide to the location of the Soul Stone."
After carefully observing Red Skull's condition and seeing Mark's composed demeanor, Tony temporarily lowered his combat posture but remained cautious.
He looked at Mark, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "You knew this situation would arise a long time ago, didn't you, you rascal?"
From Mark's remarks before Red Skull appeared, if Tony couldn't guess something by now, he would truly be far from a genius.
Mark heard Tony's question but didn't deny it, simply nodding in response.
"Hmph!" Tony snorted, clearly displeased with Mark's behavior of withholding information and spectating from the sidelines.
Then he turned to Red Skull and said, "Since you're the guide, why don't you just tell us the location of the Soul Stone, and we'll go get it ourselves."
"I'm very sorry, Tony Stark, son of Howard Stark."
Red Skull once again showed off his "superpower" in front of others.
"If you want to obtain the Soul Stone, I'm afraid it's not that simple. Please follow me—"
With that, Red Skull turned around and began leading the way ahead. Tony and Mark exchanged a glance and followed him.
Upon reaching the summit of the rocky peak with Red Skull, Tony noticed something unusual about this place.
At the mountaintop, the ground was marked with mysterious runes, and there stood a majestic stone column gate.
Red Skull paid no attention to Tony's astonished expression behind him and proceeded to fulfill his role as a guide.
"The Soul Stone you seek is right before your eyes, and it is accompanied by your deepest fears. For either one of you to obtain the Soul Stone, you must lose your dearest love in your heart. This is the eternal trade and the only way to obtain the Soul Stone—a soul exchange for soul."
After saying the last sentence, Red Skull fell silent. Even though he might have a strong desire to communicate with others, the binding influence of the Soul Stone forced him to stand aside and await the final decision of Tony and Mark.
"Damn, this has got to be some kind of nonsense! Who is he anyway—Red Skull? A notorious murderer, one of the most infamous villains in history. How can we trust what he's saying!"
Upon hearing Red Skull's explanation of the rule involving the exchange of souls, Tony immediately became irate and refused to believe Red Skull's claims of being a guide.
But Mark remained unfazed, looking at Tony with a smile and saying, "I actually think he's telling the truth."
"Why? Just because he mentioned our fathers' names?"
"With our identities, anyone on Earth could have access to this information. Even if you didn't know, a quick internet search would reveal it."
Tony refused to believe in the authenticity of the trade rule, or perhaps his inner convictions were already wavering, but the harsh reality made him instinctively choose to evade.
"Dad, after he disappeared in front of Captain in 1945, he remained on this planet far from the solar system for ninety years. In 1945, you weren't even born yet, let alone me.
He couldn't have known our identities in advance, and he certainly couldn't have surfed the internet here. And why do you think I swapped teams with Natasha and Hawkeye, choosing to come here to carry out the mission on Vormir with you?
Thanos took the Soul Stone from here but left his daughter Gamora. That's not a coincidence; it's the price he paid to achieve his ambitions.
Do you still remember what Thanos said on Titan, and how my words initially shook his convictions but he ultimately strengthened his resolve? He said, 'In order to achieve all this, I have already paid too much'
Don't you understand what this means, dad?"
After Mark's counter-question, Tony could only shake his head in resignation.
It's not that he didn't understand the truth of the matter; he just didn't want to accept it.
Seeing Tony's expression, Mark added, "If we can't obtain this Soul Stone, we won't be able to reverse the initial timeline's catastrophe, and the billions of lives that Thanos wiped out, along with our loved ones, won't come back."
"I know. But you promised me before that my participation in this mission would guarantee the preservation of everything I have now.
I don't want Morgan to lose her father at such a young age, and I don't want Pepper to be heartbroken because of me."
In front of Mark, Tony didn't hide his thoughts, even though it might make him appear weak, but it was all for the sake of his family...
"I know, Dad, and I will never look down on you for it. In my eyes, you'll always be the amazing genius—Tony Stark.
In the past, you could become Iron Man and save people from all sorts of dangers. And now, when your family needs you to come back, you've taken on the responsibilities of a husband and a father, holding firm to your principles and boundaries.
No matter what decision you make, I'll support your choice. And Dad, don't forget, I made a promise too.
If there ever comes a situation that requires sacrifice, I'll be the first to step forward. Now is the time for me to step up, and I need your support just like I support you."
"It's impossible!" Tony flatly rejected Mark's decision without room for negotiation. "I can't just stand by and watch you sacrifice yourself for some damn Infinity Stone and other people's lives!
Damn it! You promised to preserve everything I have. You're my son; how can you exclude yourself from that?"
"Take it easy, Dad! If it were up to me, I wouldn't want to die in vain either. So when I took over from Natasha and Hawkeye to complete the mission on Vormir, I had already thought it through.
I questioned whether there might be a glimmer of hope within the rules set by the Soul Stone. I harbored doubts and used the computational advantage of Intelligent life form to deduce within the magical network.
In the end, I arrived at one result, the only viable solution. If any of the others among us were to undertake this mission, it would likely involve someone making a sacrifice, or perhaps two people silently agreeing to abandon the mission and return directly.
But if we do it, it's different. We can not only successfully obtain the Soul Stone but also do so without an irreversible cost. The premise is that today, I might have to die again."
"!?" Upon hearing Mark's explanation, Tony was left dumbfounded on the spot...
"Uh... What do you mean by 'die again'? Are you really planning to exchange your own soul for the Soul Stone?"
It's not Tony's poor reading comprehension to blame, Mark's statement was just too frightening that he couldn't believe it.
Mark smiled faintly and replied casually, "It means exactly what it says, a real death, according to the rules of the trade, I exchange soul for a [soul].
Dad, you haven't forgotten how I got this appearance now, have you? Speaking of which, you had a hand in it too—"
"!" Hearing this, Tony's eyes widened instantly, and he looked at Mark with excitement, asking, "Do you mean you've replicated and backed up your soul just like you were five years ago? Even if you sacrifice your soul here, you can resurrect again?"
In response to Tony's speculation, Mark first nodded and then shook his head, leaving Tony even more confused.
"Souls are not something to be trifled with. Excessive splitting of one's own soul can cause irreparable permanent damage.
If I still had a physical body, I could recover through reciprocity with the material world, but in my current form as an intelligent life form, splitting my soul for backup would be akin to self-destruction. Even if successful, I would become a complete idiot.
Moreover, this part of my soul now is originally composed of a small fragment, supplemented through quantum realm energy, and it doesn't have enough elements for further splitting."
Seeing that no matter what Mark said, the end result was still to complete the mission, Tony could no longer stay calm and shouted hysterically:
"Isn't that still an exchange with your life? There's no way to have it both ways!
It's been five years, and I've finally brought you back to my side. I won't stand by and watch you disappear in front of me again!
Let's give up on this Soul Stone. Let's choose a different time, a time when the Stone has already appeared, and we can snatch it from Thanos."
As he spoke, Tony's tone even carried a hint of pleading, trying to persuade Mark to temporarily abandon this mission.
"We don't have any other chances, Dad. When Thanos got the Soul Stone, he already had four Infinity Stones in his possession. If we had a chance to win, there's no need for us to plan a Time Heist like we are now.
And listen to me first, even though I don't have any other soul backups, there is still a chance for resurrection.
The soul I have now is just a replica formed through Quantum Realm energy. The real soul and body have actually disappeared under Thanos's snap."
"But this is the lifeline I've found, and it's also my chance for a successful resurrection.
As long as we can successfully gather all six Infinity Stones in the Time Heist plan and return to our original timeline to activate that game-changing snap, my true self can be restored through the power of the Infinity Stones."
Mark's proposed plan was logically and factually sound, and for him, his original physical body was more important than his current mechanical form. It was the key to his access to the Third Magic and contained the essence of all his technology.
For example, his informationized vision ability was a miracle born of both science and luck and was almost impossible to replicate.
But at the same time, this plan was also incredibly crazy because no one could guarantee that after the snap, Mark, who had died twice, would definitely come back.
Furthermore, all of this hinged on the success of the Time Heist plan and the convergence of the six Infinity Stones from various timelines into their hands.
"This is basically a 'sink or swim' scenario; this idea is just too insane. I feel like even the Mad Titan Thanos isn't as crazy as you!"
At this moment, Tony looked at Mark as if he were looking at a madman. Who else would use their own life as a bargaining chip to bet on such a fleeting possibility?
"But, if it's just that, I can't convince myself to watch my son go to his death..."
If it was just a possibility, Tony would rather accept the Avengers' failure five years ago than lose Mark.
"On this point, I've already thought it through. No matter what reasons I give, you won't agree.
After all, there's no absolute safety in this world, and there's no one hundred percent success rate, and how could a father be willing to watch his child risk his life?
However, Dad, you can't stop me. If you don't want me to sacrifice in vain, then work hard to gather the six Infinity Stones and reverse that unpleasant outcome."
After Mark finished speaking, he didn't look at Tony's expression anymore and gave a light glance at the Red Skull standing at the edge of the cliff, then took a step and walked straight towards the cliff.
"No!" Tony saw that Mark was about to put the plan into action and immediately tried to stop him.
But at that moment, he realized that he was forcibly bound by nanotech armor on him and couldn't move at all.
"Damn it! You little brat, what have you done to my armor!" Tony had never imagined that his most potent ally all along would turn into the biggest obstacle to stopping Mark from sacrificing himself.
"I've already told you, Dad, just like you understand me, I also understand you. Since I anticipated that you wouldn't agree with my plan, I naturally had to leave a contingency in advance.
By the way, even though Friday is just a standalone emergency AI system, I didn't expect there to be so many vulnerabilities.
Dad, you have the image of a genius, but creating something like this is really subpar.
So—this time, I won again!"
At the edge of the cliff, Mark turned his back to the abyss, facing Tony, wearing a triumphant smile on his face, and fell backward.
"No—!" Tony's agonizing shout echoed on Vormir, and at this moment, he finally realized the true meaning of this planet being called the Realm of Death, but it was already too late...
Tony didn't know how he had fallen unconscious or how he had ended up in his current location.
When he woke up again, he found himself by a shallow pool beneath the cliff, clutching in his hand the Soul Stone acquired at the cost of Mark's soul.
As he gazed at the Soul Stone peacefully shimmering in his palm, Tony had no mind to appreciate its beauty.
At this moment, in his mind, the image of Mark falling from the cliff replayed continuously, like a nightmare haunting his heart, impossible to dispel.
"You little brat, rest assured. I will gather all six Infinity Stones and bring you back to my side."
Tony clenched his fist, holding the Soul Stone tightly. The next moment, he activated the locator on his wrist and time-traveled back to his original timeline.
...
"Five seconds, the timing was perfect. So, have all of you completed your tasks?"
The speaker was Rocket, and this time, his journey to Asgard with Thor and Nebula had been quite enjoyable.
Of course, it would have been more perfect if they hadn't been pursued by a large number of Asgardian guards.
Thor reunited with his deceased parents and his mischievous brother Loki.
On his way back, he also brought back Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, which had been shattered by the Goddess of Death, Hela, in the future.
Rocket and Nebula, on the other hand, regained a sense of adventure from their days with the Guardians of the Galaxy and gained some extraordinary experiences and memories.
However, Rocket's joyful mood couldn't infect the others, and he soon noticed that something was amiss with the rest of the team.
First, there was Tony's side, and there was no sign of Mark, who had accompanied him to Vormir for the mission.
And then there was Captain's group, although all of them had returned, their faces looked extremely grim, suggesting that something unexpected had occurred during their mission.
"Tony, where's Mark?" Thor was the first to voice the question that everyone had in their minds.
Tony didn't answer Thor's question; he silently lowered his head, his face devoid of any expression.
But the sorrow that emanated from Tony's dim eyes made everyone suspect why Mark hadn't returned to this place.
Tony knelt on the ground, silently speechless, and the other members didn't approach or disturb him; they just stood by his side, quietly accompanying him.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but Tony finally managed to gather himself and regain some spirit.
He then shared everything that had happened on Vormir with the other members, including the rule that the Soul Stone required the sacrifice of a loved one's soul and Mark's sacrifice.
Upon learning the truth, Natasha and Hawkeye were the first to break down, repeatedly saying, "It should have been me."
Even Captain displayed a reaction to the situation, with his most important weapon, the Vibranium shield, slipping from his hand and falling to the ground.
As for the giant-sized Baymax, he unexpectedly curled up into a ball, huddled alone in the corner of the room.
"Why are you all like this? It's as if Mark can never come back again.
Didn't Mark say that as long as we can gather all six Infinity Stones and activate that game-changing snap, he can come back!
We're the Avengers; let's pull ourselves together. Mark is still waiting for us to bring him and the other half of his life that disappeared in the universe back!"
Thor, who had been appearing extremely disheartened since five years ago, now showed a rare display of leadership qualities as the former leader of the Avengers, lifting the team's spirits.
"The Infinity Stones, have you all obtained them?
Mark sacrificed himself for the Soul Stone, and I successfully got the Reality Stone. How about the Power Stone on your end, Rhodey?"
Facing Thor's question, Rhodey nodded and simultaneously presented the Universal Cerebral Orb in his hand.
"Captain, what about your mission?" Seeing that the three dispersed Infinity Stones were all complete, Thor turned to the Captain and their team, responsible for the other three Stones.
The Captain, with an unpleasant expression, shook his head. "We encountered a slight mishap during the mission. We only acquired the Time Stone and the Mind Stone.
The Space Stone was taken away by Loki; we couldn't retrieve it."
"It's okay, we still have a chance. We can use the quantum time-space tunnel to go back again, choose the right moment, and bring back the Space Stone," Thor reassured the Captain, patting his shoulder.
"The problem now is to determine which specific moment to choose, where the success rate is the highest and we can acquire it."
Rodney, who had been silent, stepped forward and said, "Although Mark's sacrifice was surprising, we were prepared in advance, and it shouldn't throw us into excessive chaos."
Since they had already invested so much effort into the Time Heist plan and even sacrificed a comrade's life, they could not simply abandon it now.
What they needed to do now was to formulate the best plan, stick to their established objectives, and reclaim everything that had been taken by Thanos.
"If what's ultimately missing is the Space Stone, then let Captain and Dad form a team and head to the New Jersey military base in 1970."
"What?" Hearing Baymax suddenly speak up from the corner, both Captain and Tony turned to him simultaneously, questioning.
"This is the information my master entrusted to me last night. My master said that if the Space Stone hasn't been obtained, then he wants Captain and Mr. Stark to team up and go to the New Jersey military base in 1970. There, you will find what you need."
The New Jersey military base, where legends were born. It was where Captain had trained and passed the selection process before receiving the Super Soldier Serum injection. Furthermore, it was also the founding location of the precursor to S.H.I.E.L.D. — the Strategic Scientific Reserve.
Considering this information, Tony quickly discerned the deeper meaning in Mark's message.
"It seems like this isn't just about the Space Stone, but what surprises me more is that this brat anticipated even the unexpected with the Space Stone... Captain, what do you think? Mark's suggesting that the two of us go together to complete the mission to obtain the final Infinity Stone."
Captain bent down to pick up his Vibranium shield from the ground and securely fastened it to his arm. "I believe in Mark, and I believe in you, Tony."
Tony's lips curled upward, and the sorrowful expression vanished from his face as he extended a hand to Captain. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's work together and reclaim what rightfully belongs to us!"
Clap! Captain didn't hesitate; their hands met, and the next moment, they both disappeared from this timeline...
— Un nouveau chapitre arrive bientôt — Écrire un avis
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone