Thanos continued, “I know what you’re thinking. If it were up to you, you’d probably use the Infinity Stones to help them migrate to another star system.
“But I’ll tell you this: you only have one life. You can’t wield the power of all six stones continuously. Their power would mercilessly tear your body apart, and you wouldn’t be able to save them a second time.
“The Celestial seeds across the universe aren’t limited to one or two. Any planet with life could become an incubation site. Interstellar migration would only repeat the same tragedy. It’s an unavoidable disaster.
“Over the years, I’ve come to understand this: the only way to stop it is to use the Infinity Stones’ power to wipe out half the universe’s population—and we only get one chance.”
Thanos stood and looked Xia Luo directly in the eye. “So, Spider-Man, I don’t know what your goal is this time, but please, don’t stand in my way. We’re out of time.”
“You’re overthinking it. I don’t have the power to stop you right now.”
Xia Luo jumped down from the throne, patting Thanos’s chest.
“Hmm, you’re way stronger than before. I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Thanos kept his gaze fixed on Xia Luo. “But you do have a way to stop me—I know you do.”
“I really don’t,” Xia Luo shrugged.
“You do. I remember what happened back then very clearly. You must know something that no one else does.”
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
“Fine, I do,” Xia Luo sighed, unable to argue anymore.
With that admission, Thanos’s expression grew serious.
“You’ve admitted it. So until I succeed, you’ll have to stay here.”
He added, “This isn’t a prison. I appreciate your help in the past. You’re free to move around as you please, but you can’t leave here.”
“Well, thanks a lot.” Xia Luo rolled his eyes.
With that, he turned to leave.
“Wait. Leave the Mind Stone. That’s mine,” Thanos said.
Xia Luo: “…”
Busted. Awkward.
Half an hour later, Xia Luo arrived at Thor’s holding cell.
“Xia Luo Parker, it seems being a prisoner comes with certain privileges.”
Seeing Xia Luo moving freely among the Chitauri soldiers, Tuxedo Loki looked at him with envy.
If he’d had this kind of treatment back in the day…
The memory brought a heavy silence over him.
“Loki, you’re really not well.”
Beside him, Thor from this world looked at his brother in exasperation.
Even though Loki had already admitted his mistakes, and Thor had forgiven him, whenever they talked, Loki would often pause at certain points, falling into low spirits.
Thor was convinced that his brother was sick.
Very seriously sick.
Xia Luo noticed this and couldn’t help but smirk.
“What’s with you? It’s just a clone—no need to be so down about it.”
“What?”
Thor was momentarily stunned by Xia Luo’s words.
A moment later, he erupted, grabbing Loki by the collar.
“Loki, you lied to me again! When will you ever change…”
“Cough, cough—take it easy! I can’t breathe! I’m not a clone.”
Tuxedo Loki quickly broke free from Thor’s grip.
“On the way here to find Thor, I stopped being a clone,” he explained, fixing his collar.
“Really?”
Xia Luo, half-skeptical, raised the staff that no longer held the Mind Stone.
“What are you doing?” Loki asked, suddenly on guard.
“Testing if you’re a clone.”
“Wait, don’t mess around! I’m really not a clone. You’ll kill me like this!”
“Hulk didn’t manage to smash you to death; you won’t die so easily.”
“How do you know—Ow, ow, ow!”
“Brother!! You hurt my brother! I must…no, no, no, wait. Let me find my hammer first, and then we’ll duel fairly.”
“Well, he’s definitely not a clone.” Xia Luo nodded, dead serious.
In the corner, both Loki and Thor lay groaning on the ground.
“Brother, your friend is brutal,” Thor muttered, clutching one side of his aching backside.
Tuxedo Loki, utterly dismayed, replied, “I didn’t expect you’d be so useless without your hammer, unable even to take down a spider.”
“I’m only injured! When I’m fully recovered, I’ll defeat him. Trust me,” Thor insisted, stubborn as ever.
Loki glanced at the shock collar on Thor’s wrist and sighed dejectedly.
As expected, this world’s God of Thunder also feared electricity.
The three of them spent the remaining time in boredom, until elimination prompts appeared before Xia Luo and Tuxedo Loki.
[You have been eliminated. Resurrection not possible. Reward: Native Web Mode +1]
[16 retries remaining. Restart?]
Restart!
Fourth Resurrection Round.
Beneath the radio tower, Xia Luo raised his hand and shot out a web.
A purple web. Still useless.
Next up, Hamlet Street Theater!
After easily retrieving the Mind Staff, Xia Luo encountered Tuxedo Loki.
“I’m Xia Luo Parker, a superhero from another world. Have you heard the story of Spider-Man?” Xia Luo introduced himself.
Tuxedo Loki frowned. “No.”
He’d never heard of Spider-Man before Thanos strangled him to death.
Xia Luo didn’t mind. “Alright, no problem. We can work together to earn a resurrection slot.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You can trust him.”
As another voice echoed, old Steve emerged from the shadows, his shield catching Tuxedo Loki’s attention.
“Steve, is that you?”
“Yes, and I’m from the same world as you.”
Following Xia Luo’s instructions, old Steve began, “After you died, Asgard’s surviving half of the population migrated to Earth. But with Thanos’s arrival, the Avengers lost, and half the universe’s population was wiped out, including half of what was left of Asgard.”
Hearing this, Tuxedo Loki merely turned his head without the emotional reaction they expected.
“I already suspected it. Thor wouldn’t be his match, and Father was gone. I saw Hulk lose to him with my own eyes; there was no one left who could stop him.”
Old Steve took the staff from Xia Luo and said, “Thor lost his last family member. Don’t you want to go back to see him?”
“I…”
Loki was silent for a moment, then replied, “Without a troublemaking brother, Thor will be better off.”
“No, you may not know what happened afterward.”
Old Steve began telling Loki everything that had happened since.
Xia Luo stood quietly to the side, waiting for the outcome.
In the previous round, he’d already figured that this Loki might be from the same world as the old man.
With any other Loki, he might not have succeeded in persuading him.
But with Loki from the events of Thor: Ragnarok, Xia Luo had decided it was worth a shot.
Sure enough, old Steve managed to convince him.
Taking up the Mind Staff, a now-proud Loki cast Xia Luo a sidelong glance.
“I’ve heard your powers are absurd. I’d like to see for myself. Don’t disappoint me.”
Hearing this, Xia Luo had a sinking feeling.
“Old man, what did you say to him?”
Old Steve looked up at the sky. “Not much—just gave a simple rundown of your abilities.”
“Perfect. You can also share some details of your intimate bonding moments with Lizard Parker.”
“I was wrong.”
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