Chapter 186 Captain America: Long Live Hydra
Steve fastened the box.
The scepter lay still, the yellow glow of the Mind Stonedancing on the inner wall of the box. He pulled out the time-space gps, pressed a few buttons, and prepared to leave.
A voice came through the communicator.
"Wait."
Natasha.
Steve tightened his grip on the edge of his shield: "What's wrong?"
"Loki escaped," Natasha said.
"What?"
"That Tony in 2012 fell in the hall, the Tesseract flew out, and Loki picked it up and vanished," Natasha's voice held an uncontrollable anger, "I was chasing Rumlow just now, and didn't have time to watch him."
Steve's mind raced.
The Tesseract was gone. The Space Stone couldn't be obtained. Loki, with that thing, could go anywhere in the Nine Realms—Jotunheim, the depths of the Universe, or even some Planet no one had ever heard of. There was no way to catch him.
He pressed his earpiece: "Tony?"
"I saw it," Tony's voice came from the other end of the communicator, "that unlucky me was knocked down by Thor, and the Tesseract rolled to Loki's feet. But I'm here at the Sanctum, too late to go over. Steve, the plan needs to change."
Steve rushed out of the room.
He looked down through the broken French window. His 2012 self was standing with Thor, talking, and there was an empty box on the ground. Loki was gone, and the Tesseract was also gone.
"Damn it."
Steve rarely cursed. But now he did.
The air in the center of the hall suddenly twisted.
A rift appeared out of nowhere, its edges shimmering with golden light. The 2012 Avengers all stopped their movements—shields, armors, gun muzzles simultaneously pointed at the rift.
A person walked out of it.
A black trench coat. A calm face. Light flowed in his right palm.
Chu Hang.
Steve was stunned.
This was wrong. Chu Hang shouldn't be on this timeline. They had confirmed that Chu Hang wasn't involved in the Battle of New York in 2012—at that time, Chu Hang was drifting in the depths of the Universe, not yet returned to Earth. So who was this now?
The 2012 Thor raised his hammer. Blue lightning danced on the hammer: "Who are you? Where is Loki?"
Chu Hang didn't answer.
He raised his right hand, gently tracing a line in the air with his finger.
Another rift appeared twenty meters away. A figure in an Asgardian prison uniform flew out of it backwards, crashing heavily onto the floor.
Loki.
He still held the Tesseract in his hand, his face filled with terror and confusion.
Chu Hang walked towards him. His steps were steady, his voice clearly audible in the quiet hall. Loki scrambled up from the ground, raised the Tesseract, aimed it at Chu Hang, and blue energy began to dance on the Tesseract's surface.
"Don't move," Loki threatened, "or I'll teleport you to the depths of the Universe."
Chu Hang stopped.
He looked at Loki.
A few seconds later, he extended his palm. The light in his palm erupted, and space was folded, twisted, and compressed like fabric. The Tesseract flew out of Loki's hand, landing in Chu Hang's palm.
Loki was trapped by an invisible force, suspended in mid-air, unable to move.
"Who are you?" Loki's voice held real fear, "I don't know you."
Chu Hang didn't answer.
He held the Tesseract, and the light in his palm grew brighter. That was the fluctuation of the Space Law—Stevehad seen that kind of light during the Infinity War, when Chu Hang used this power to tear open portals.
The 2012 Natasha raised her gun: "Put down the gem."
The 2012 Clint drew his bow.
The 2012 Thor, wreathed in lightning, was ready to charge forward.
Chu Hang turned his head and looked at them.
"Don't move."
He said.
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it clearly.
The 2012 Avengers all froze. Not out of fear—but because their bodies wouldn't obey. Space was solidified; they were trapped in place, only able to blink and breathe.
Steve clutched the box in his hand.
He recognized it. This was Chu Hang's Space Controlability. But this wasn't right—Chu Hang from this timeline wasn't here, so where did this one come from?
"Tony, did you see that?" Steve asked in a low voice.
"I saw it," Tony's voice was tense, "That's Chu Hang. But not from our timeline."
"What do you mean?"
"It means," Tony said, "someone came from another timeline. And not with a time-space gps—they tore through the time barrier directly."
Steve swallowed hard.
Chu Hang held the Tesseract, looking at Loki in mid-air.
"I know where you want to go," Chu Hang said, "Sakaar, right? To join the Grandmaster. And then hide there for a few years until the storm passes."
Loki's face turned White.
"You... how do you know?"
"Because you've already been there," Chu Hang said, "in another timeline."
Loki's pupils constricted.
Chu Hang released his hand, and the Tesseract floated in mid-air. He turned and looked in a certain direction on the second floor of the hall—where Steve was hiding.
"Come out, Captain," Chu Hang said, "I know you're there."
Steve took a deep breath.
He stepped out of the Shadows, standing by the broken French window.
Chu Hang looked up at him.
"Captain from 2023," Chu Hang said, "Here to get the gems."
Steve didn't deny it.
"Who are you?" Steve asked, "You're not Chu Hang from this timeline."
"No," Chu Hang said, "To be precise, there is no me in this timeline; I came from 2024 of your timeline."
2024.
Steve's mind was a bit muddled. It was currently 2023, and they had traveled back to 2012 to get the gems. So why would Chu Hang from 2024 appear here?
"Why are you here? Did our plan fail?" Steve asked.
"It's hard to explain, because I saw the timeline," Chu Hangsaid, "Loki escaping with the Tesseract—this shouldn't have happened in the original history. He would go to Sakaar, and then trigger a series of chain reactions there. Ultimately leading to Thanos knowing the location of the gems ahead of time. This timeline ultimately led to destruction."
Steve's heart sank.
"So you came to stop him."
"No," Chu Hang said, "I came to give the gems back to you."
He waved his hand.
The Tesseract flew towards Steve. Steve instinctively caught it, his palm feeling the Tesseract's coldness and energy pulsations.
"Hold onto it," Chu Hang said, "Continue your plan."
Steve looked at the Tesseract in his hand, then at Chu Hang.
"What about Loki?"
"I'll handle it," Chu Hang said.
He snapped his fingers.
Loki fell from mid-air, but didn't hit the ground—a golden portal opened beneath his feet, and he fell directly into it, disappearing.
The 2012 Avengers were still trapped in place. Thorwanted to shout, but couldn't make a sound. Natasha's finger was on the trigger, but she couldn't pull it.
Chu Hang looked at them.
"I'm sorry," he said, "You won't remember I was here."
He snapped his fingers again.
Golden light spread from his palm, enveloping the entire hall. Steve saw the light sweep over the 2012 Avengers—their eyes became dazed, and their bodies began to regain movement.
Thor put down his hammer, looking around: "Where's Loki?"
Natasha put away her gun: "He escaped."
Clint lowered his bow: "He escaped using the Tesseract."
Their memories were altered.
Steve clutched the Tesseract.
Chu Hang turned and looked at him.
"Go back," Chu Hang said, "Continue your mission. Don't worry about the timeline—I'll take care of it."
Chu Hang was silent for a few seconds.
"During the Infinity War, I wasn't there. So on this timeline, I'll make up for it."
Steve wanted to say something, but Chu Hang had already turned around.
A golden rift opened behind Chu Hang. It wasn't the blue light of the time-space gps—it was a deeper, more powerful gold. That was a pure fusion of the Law of Timeand the Space Law.
Chu Hang walked into the rift.
The rift closed.
The hall returned to normal. The 2012 Avengers were cleaning up the battlefield, Thor was searching for Loki's tracks, and Natasha was counting prisoners. Everything seemed normal—except for the extra Tesseract in Steve's hand.
The communicator rang.
"Steve?" Tony's voice, "Did you get the Tesseract?"
"I got it," Steve said.
"How did you get it?" Tony asked, "Didn't Loki run away?"
Steve looked at the Tesseract in his hand.
"Chu Hang gave it to me."
"What?"
"Chu Hang from 2024," Steve said, "He came here and gave me the Tesseract."
Silence on the other end of the communicator for a few seconds.
"2024?" Tony's voice was a bit distorted, "How did he do that? The time-space gps can only travel through time, not across timelines."
"He didn't use a time-space gps," Steve said, "He tore through the time barrier directly."
Again, silence.
"Alright," Tony finally said, "That's very Chu Hang. Let's retreat first, and talk about it when we get back."
Steve pressed the time-space gps.
The moment they pressed the time-space gps, a gleam of light enveloped them, and Chu Hang's figure appeared in the distance, looking at the disappearing Avengers and muttering:
"I'm sorry, friends, you cannot take this memory back with you."
Chapter 187 Another Chu Hang
Steve fastened the latch on the box.
The Scepter lay still, the yellow glow of the Mind Stonedancing on the inner walls of the box. He pulled out the time-space gps, pressed a few buttons, and prepared to leave.
A voice came through the communicator.
"Wait."
Natasha.
Steve gripped the edge of his shield: "What is it?"
"Loki ran away," Natasha said.
"What?"
"The 2012 Tony fell in the hall, the Tesseract flew out, and Loki picked it up and vanished." There was suppressed Fire in Natasha's voice. "I was chasing Rumlow just now, I didn't have time to keep an eye on him."
Steve's mind raced.
The Tesseract was gone. The Space Stone couldn't be retrieved. Loki could go anywhere in the Nine Realms with that thing—Jotunheim, deep in the Universe, or even some Planet no one had ever heard of. He was impossible to catch.
He pressed his earpiece: "Tony?"
"I saw it." Tony's voice came from the other end of the communicator. "My unlucky self was knocked down by Thor, and the Tesseract rolled right to Loki's feet. But I'm over here at the Sanctum, I can't get there in time. Steve, the plan has to change."
Steve rushed out of the room.
He looked down through the shattered floor-to-ceiling window. His 2012 self was standing and talking with Thor, and there was an empty box on the floor. Loki was gone, and the Tesseract was gone too.
"Damn it."
Steve rarely swore. But he did now.
The air in the center of the hall suddenly twisted.
A rift appeared out of thin air, its edges flashing with golden light. The 2012 Avengers all stopped moving—shields, armors, and muzzles were simultaneously pointed at the rift.
A person stepped out of it.
A black trench coat. A calm face. Light flowed in the palm of his right hand.
Chu Hang.
Steve was stunned.
This wasn't right. Chu Hang shouldn't be on this timeline. They had confirmed that Chu Hang wasn't involved in the 2012 Battle of New York—at that time, Chu Hang was drifting deep in the Universe and hadn't returned to Earthyet. So who was this?
The 2012 Thor raised his hammer. Blue electric light danced on the hammer's body: "Who are you? Where is Loki?"
Chu Hang did not answer.
He raised his right hand and gently traced a line in the air with his finger.
Another rift appeared twenty meters away. A figure wearing an Asgardian prison uniform flew backward out of it, smashing heavily onto the floor.
Loki.
He was still clutching the Tesseract, his face filled with panic and confusion.
Chu Hang walked toward him. His steps were steady, and his voice was clearly audible in the quiet hall. Lokiscrambled up from the floor, raised the Tesseract toward Chu Hang, and blue energy began to flicker on the Tesseract's surface.
"Don't move," Loki threatened. "Or I'll teleport you deep into the Universe."
Chu Hang stopped.
He looked at Loki.
A few seconds later, he stretched out his palm. The light in his palm erupted, and Space was folded, twisted, and compressed like fabric. The Tesseract flew out of Loki's hand and landed in Chu Hang's palm.
Loki was trapped by an invisible force, suspended in mid-air, unable to move.
"Who are you?" There was genuine fear in Loki's voice. "I don't know you."
Chu Hang did not answer.
He held the Tesseract, and the light in his palm grew brighter. That was the fluctuation of the Space Law—Stevehad seen that light before, during the Infinity War, when Chu Hang used this power to tear open portals.
The 2012 Natasha raised her gun: "Put down the gems."
The 2012 Clint drew his bow.
The 2012 Thor was wreathed in lightning, ready to charge forward.
Chu Hang turned his head and looked at them.
"Don't move."
He said.
The voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it clearly.
The 2012 Avengers froze completely. Not because of fear—but because their bodies wouldn't obey them. Space had been solidified; they were trapped in place, able only to blink and breathe.
Steve tightened his grip on the box in his hand.
He recognized it. This was Chu Hang's Space Controlability. But this wasn't right—Chu Hang wasn't here on this timeline, so where did this one come from?
"Tony, did you see that?" Steve whispered.
"I saw it." Tony's voice was strained. "That's Chu Hang. But not the one from our timeline."
"What do you mean?"
"It means," Tony said, "someone came over from another timeline. And not using the time-space gps—he tore through the time barrier directly."
Steve swallowed.
Chu Hang held the Tesseract and looked at Lokisuspended in mid-air.
"I know where you want to go," Chu Hang said. "Sakaar, right? To join the Grandmaster. Hide there for a few years until things blow over."
Loki's face went White.
"How... how do you know?"
"Because you already went," Chu Hang said. "On another timeline."
Loki's pupils contracted.
Chu Hang released his grip, and the Tesseract floated in mid-air. He turned and looked toward a certain direction on the second floor of the hall—where Steve was hiding.
"Come out, Captain," Chu Hang said. "I know you're there."
Steve took a deep breath.
He stepped out of the Shadow, standing by the shattered floor-to-ceiling window.
Chu Hang looked up at him.
"The 2023 Captain," Chu Hang said. "You're here to retrieve the gems."
Steve did not deny it.
"Who are you?" Steve asked. "You aren't the Chu Hangfrom this timeline."
"No," Chu Hang said. "To be precise, I don't exist on this timeline. I came from the year 2024 on your timeline."
2024.
Steve's mind was reeling. It was currently 2023, and they had traveled back to 2012 to get the gems. Why would the 2024 Chu Hang appear here?
"Why are you here? Did our plan fail?" Steve asked.
"It's hard to explain, because I saw the timeline," Chu Hangsaid. "Loki escaping with the Tesseract—this shouldn't have happened in the original history. He would go to Sakaar and trigger a series of chain reactions there. This would eventually lead to Thanos finding out the location of the gems ahead of time. This timeline ultimately led to destruction."
Steve's heart sank.
"So you came to stop him."
"No," Chu Hang said. "I came to give the gems back to you."
He waved his hand.
The Tesseract flew toward Steve. Steve instinctively caught it, feeling the coldness and energy pulse of the Tesseract's surface in his palm.
"Hold onto it," Chu Hang said. "Continue your plan."
Steve looked at the Tesseract in his hand, then back at Chu Hang.
"What about Loki?"
"I will handle him," Chu Hang said.
He snapped his fingers.
Loki fell from mid-air, but he didn't hit the floor—a golden portal opened beneath his feet, and he dropped right into it and vanished.
The 2012 Avengers were still trapped in place. Thorwanted to yell, but no sound came out. Natasha's finger was on the trigger, but she couldn't pull it.
Chu Hang looked at them.
"I apologize," he said. "You won't remember that I was here."
He snapped his fingers again.
Golden light spread out from his palm, covering the entire hall. Steve watched the light sweep over the 2012 Avengers—their eyes became confused, and their bodies began to regain the ability to move.
Thor lowered his hammer and looked around: "Where is Loki?"
Natasha holstered her gun: "He escaped."
Clint lowered his bow: "He escaped using the Tesseract."
Their memories had been altered.
Steve gripped the Tesseract tightly.
Chu Hang turned and looked at him.
"Go back," Chu Hang said. "Continue your mission. Don't worry about the timeline—I will handle it."
Chu Hang was silent for a few seconds.
"I was absent during the Infinity War. So, I will compensate for that on this timeline."
Steve wanted to say something, but Chu Hang had already turned away.
A golden rift opened behind Chu Hang. It wasn't the blue light of the time-space gps—it was a deeper, more powerful gold. It was the fusion of the pure Law of Timeand the Space Law.
Chu Hang stepped into the rift.
The rift closed.
The hall returned to normal. The 2012 Avengers were clearing the battlefield, Thor was looking for traces of Loki, and Natasha was counting the prisoners. Everything looked normal—except for the extra Tesseract in Steve's hand.
The communicator rang.
"Steve?" Tony's voice. "Did you get the Tesseract?"
"I got it," Steve said.
"How did you get it?" Tony asked. "Didn't Loki run away?"
Steve looked at the Tesseract in his hand.
"Chu Hang gave it to me."
"What?"
"The 2024 Chu Hang," Steve said. "He came for a visit and returned the Tesseract to me."
There was silence on the other end of the communicator for a few seconds.
"2024?" Tony's voice was slightly distorted. "How did he do that? The time-space gps can only travel through time, not across timelines."
"He didn't use the time-space gps," Steve said. "He tore through the time barrier directly."
More silence.
"Alright," Tony finally said. "That's very Chu Hang. Let's retreat first and discuss this when we get back."
Steve pressed the time-space gps.
The moment they pressed the time-space gps, a flash of light enveloped them. In the distance, Chu Hang's figure appeared, murmuring as he watched the disappearing Avengers:
"I'm sorry, my friends. You can't take this memory back with you."
Chapter 188 Goodbye Odin
Chu Hang stepped onto Asgard's Bifrost Bridge.
The bridge surface was transparent crystal, revealing the Nebula in the depths of the Universe below. Asgard in 2013 was still intact, with golden palaces gleaming under the sun, not the ruins Hela would later destroy.
He pressed the time-space gps, confirming the time anchor was stable.
November 15, 2013, 3:20 PM. At this time, Jane Foster had the Aether Particle in her, and Thor should have just brought her back to Asgard.
Heimdall, the Guardian at the end of the Bifrost Bridge, turned around.
His golden eyes stared at Chu Hang.
His sword was already unsheathed.
"Stop," Heimdall said, "Who are you?"
Chu Hang paused.
"My name is Chu Hang," he said, "I'm here to see Odin."
Heimdall frowned. The tip of his sword pointed at Chu Hang's throat, less than half a meter away. "My eyes can see through the Nine Realms, but I have never seen you. You are not a resident of the Nine Realms, nor a friend of Asgard. Tell me, where do you come from?"
"A very distant place," Chu Hang said.
He did not make a move. Heimdall was the Guardian, and his duty was to stop intruders. Moreover, according to the timeline, Heimdall at this point did not know him—because he had never appeared on this timeline.
"I need to see Odin," Chu Hang repeated, "It's about the Infinity Stones."
Heimdall's sword remained raised.
"Infinity Stones?"
"The Aether Particle," Chu Hang said, "It's inside Jane Foster. I know how to remove it without harming her."
Heimdall was silent for a few seconds.
His golden eyes swept over Chu Hang, as if trying to see through his soul. A few seconds later, Heimdall sheathed his sword, but his hand remained on the hilt.
"Follow me."
They crossed the Bifrost Bridge and entered the palace.
The corridor was wide, with portraits of past Kings hanging on the walls. Soldiers stood on both sides, each wearing golden armor and holding a spear. Their gazes followed Chu Hang, filled with vigilance.
Chu Hang could feel these gazes.
Unfamiliar. Wary.
No one recognized him.
They walked past the training ground. Thor was sparring with Sif, the sound of his hammer and her sword clashing echoing in the open space. Thor saw Heimdall passing with a stranger and stopped his movements.
"Heimdall?" Thor called out, "Who is that?"
Heimdall did not answer, merely continued walking forward.
Thor put down his hammer and strode after them. He blocked Chu Hang's path, Mjolnir in his hand.
"I asked who you are," Thor said.
Chu Hang looked at him, his brow suddenly furrowing. Thor did not recognize him, even though they should have known each other by now.
"My name is Chu Hang," Chu Hang said, "I'm here to see your father."
"I don't know you," Thor said, "And there's no record of you in Asgard."
Thor stared at him for a few seconds, then turned to Heimdall: "Is he telling the truth? About the Aether Particle?"
Heimdall nodded.
Thor hesitated for a moment, finally stepping aside. But Mjolnir remained in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.
They continued forward.
Passing the medical bay, Chu Hang saw Jane Foster. She lay on the bed, pale and breathing weakly. Red energy pulsed beneath her skin, as if alive.
Beside Jane stood Queen Frigga, using magic to stabilize her vital signs.
Frigga looked up, gazing at Chu Hang.
Her eyes were calm. No hostility, no familiarity.
Chu Hang averted his gaze.
They entered the throne room.
Odin sat on the high throne, holding the Eternal Spear. His single eye stared at Chu Hang as he entered, his gaze as profound as if he could see through time itself.
Heimdall knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty, this man says he can help Jane Foster."
Odin did not speak.
He simply watched Chu Hang.
For a long time.
Chu Hang stood his ground, neither kneeling nor bowing. He simply met Odin's gaze, waiting for the Allfather to speak.
Odin stood up.
The Eternal Spear struck the ground, emitting a dull thud.
"Withdraw," Odin said.
Heimdall was stunned for a moment, but still rose and retreated to the doorway. Thor hesitated for a few seconds, then followed him out. The hall doors closed, leaving only Chu Hang and Odin.
Odin descended from the throne.
His steps were slow, but each was steady. His single eye stared at Chu Hang, with a complex emotion in his gaze—not hostility, nor friendliness, but more like confirmation.
"You do not belong here," Odin said.
Chu Hang nodded: "I am from the future."
"I know," Odin said, "But it's more than that."
He stopped in front of Chu Hang, raised the Eternal Spear, and pointed its tip at Chu Hang's chest. It was not a threatening posture, but more like a form of detection.
Golden runes surged from the spear tip, forming a complex magic array in the air. The array spun, its light sweeping over Chu Hang's entire body.
Then, the magic array shattered.
Odin retrieved the Eternal Spear, his brow furrowed even deeper.
"Unseen," he said, "Your past, your future, your destiny line—all unseen. It's as if you do not exist in the river of time."
Chu Hang was silent for a few seconds.
"What do you mean?"
"Time is a river," Odin said, "Every life is a drop of Water in that river, with a source and a destination. But you are not. You are like a stone that appeared out of nowhere on the river's surface, creating ripples, yet no one can find where you were thrown in from."
Chu Hang felt a tightness in his chest.
"So I don't have variants?"
"Variants are projections of the same existence across different timelines," Odin said, "But you cannot even find the source of your main body. You are not part of this river; you are an anomaly forced into it by some power."
Chu Hang clenched his fists.
He did not exist on this timeline; no one recognized him.
"The Time Variance Authority," Chu Hang said, "They want to erase me."
"More than just erasing you," Odin said, "They want to erase this timeline of yours. Because your very existence is the greatest threat to the Sacred Timeline. You are unbound by fate, unbound by time; every choice you make creates branches they cannot predict."
Odin turned and walked back to the throne.
"So they must eliminate you," Odin sat down, "Before you grow strong enough to threaten them."
Chu Hang took a deep breath.
"How do you know all this?"
"I have lived for five thousand years," Odin said, "I have seen countless time travelers, seen the Time Variance Authority's purgers, and seen the traces they left behind. But you are different. You are the first existence I have seen in five thousand years that completely does not belong to the river of time."
He paused.
"You came here for the Aether Particle?"
Chu Hang nodded: "I need it to fight Thanos."
"Thanos," Odin uttered the name, "That madman. What did he do in the future?"
"He collected all six Infinity Stones, snapped his fingers, and half the life in the Universe disappeared," Chu Hangsaid, "Including many friends of your son, Thor."
Odin was silent.
Odin closed his eyes.
The eyelid beneath his single eye trembled slightly, as if he was recalling something or calculating something. A few seconds later, he reopened his eye, his gaze becoming even more profound.
"You said you are from the future," Odin said, "Then you should know that if the Aether Particle is removed from Jane, it will kill her."
"I know," Chu Hang said, "But in my timeline, I removed it, and she survived."
"How did you do it?"
"By simultaneously applying the Law of Death and the Law of Life," Chu Hang said, "The Law of Death severs the Aether Particle's connection to her life, and the Law of Liferepairs her damaged cells at the same time. The time difference cannot exceed 0.03 seconds, otherwise she will die."
Odin looked at him, with approval in his eyes.
"You have mastered two opposing laws."
"More than two," Chu Hang said, "Space, Power, Life, Mind, Time, Reality, Death, Life. Eight laws."
Odin's single eye widened slightly.
Only slightly, but for the Allfather, this was already a clear sign of shock.
"Eight laws merged," Odin said slowly, "No wonder the Time Variance Authority wants to eliminate you. You are on the most dangerous path, and also the most powerful path. If you can survive to the end, you will surpass all Skyfather level beings, and even touch the threshold of a single Universe level."
Chu Hang did not speak.
He knew his path was dangerous. With each additional law he integrated, the conflict of power within him grew more intense. He had already experienced several near-Death breakthroughs, each time dancing on the edge of a knife.
But he had no choice.
Thanos was too strong. Thanos, with six Infinity Stones in hand, could easily wipe out half the life in the entire Universe. If he didn't become stronger, he couldn't win.
"You can take the Aether Particle," Odin suddenly said.
Chu Hang was startled.
"Just like that?"
"I trust you," Odin said, "Not because of your words, but because of your very existence. The Time Variance Authority wants to eliminate you, which means you pose a threat to their Sacred Timeline. And anything that threatens the Time Variance Authority is worthy of my trust."
He stood up, the Eternal Spear striking the ground.
"Those who claim to maintain time's order are actually just maintaining their own rule," Odin's voice carried a chill, "They prune all timelines that do not meet their expectations, erasing all variables they cannot control. They are not Guardians; they are dictators."
Chu Hang looked at Odin.
"You've fought them?"
"A long time ago," Odin said, "They wanted to prune a timeline, and I on that line refused, so they sent purgers. I killed three purgers, but they had more. In the end, I compromised and let them prune that branch."
He paused.
"Since then, I have known they are unconquerable. Not because of how strong they are, but because they control time itself. They can see all possible futures, know what you will do before you make a choice, and erase you before you can grow."
"But they couldn't erase me," Chu Hang said.
"Because you are not in the river of time," Odin said, "You are their blind spot. They cannot see your future, cannot predict your choices. So they can only use the clumsiest method—directly destroying the entire timeline you are on."
Chu Hang felt a chill.
He followed Thor to the medical room, using the Law of Reality to connect with the Aether Particle, and then using the Law of Life to deliver life energy to Jane.
Before long, a red stone appeared in Chu Hang's hand.
"Take it," Odin said, "Use it to do what you must."
Chu Hang gripped the stone, putting it into his pocket dimension.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Odin said, "I am merely making a gamble. A gamble that you can defeat the Time Variance Authority, a gamble that you can change the destiny they have set. If you lose, I lose nothing. If you win, perhaps Asgard can usher in a future not monitored by the Time Variance Authority."
He turned and walked out of the vault.
Chu Hang followed behind.
They returned to the throne room, the doors opened again, and Thor and Heimdall entered. Thor held Mjolnir, his eyes vigilantly watching Chu Hang.
"Father, he took the Aether Particle?" Thor asked.
"Yes," Odin said.
"But that is Asgard's treasure—"
"It is a curse," Odin interrupted him, "Keeping it here will only attract more trouble. Let him take it; it is safer for Asgard."
Thor opened his mouth, but ultimately closed it.
Chu Hang looked at Thor. This young Thor did not yet know what the future held, did not know he would lose his mother, his father, his home. Did not know he would wander the Universe, become a gladiator on Sakaar, and in the final moments pierce Thanos's chest with stormbreaker—yet be unable to prevent the snap.
"Thor," Chu Hang began, "I know you don't know me, but I want to say, you will become a great King. Greater than you can imagine."
Thor was startled for a moment, his brow furrowing: "What are you talking about?"
Chu Hang did not explain, merely turned and walked towards the hall exit.
"Heimdall, please transport me to Vormir. I don't know its location," Chu Hang called out to Heimdall.
Heimdall looked at Odin, and with Odin's nod, he activated the Bifrost Bridge: "Guest, your power is too great. Do not resist the Bifrost Bridge's power, otherwise it will be unable to move you even an inch."
The moment Chu Hang's teleportation began, he heard Odin's voice from behind him:
"Remember, lonely one on the timeline. You have no past, no future; you only have the present. So cherish every present, for that is the only thing you possess."
Chu Hang did not look back.
Light enveloped him.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on the snow-covered Vormir.
Chapter 189: Soul Law Obtained, Advancing to Peak Skyfather level
The wind on Vormir blew fiercely.
Before him was a mountain, and at its summit stood an altar, crudely built from stone.
A figure in a black robe stood by the altar, their face obscured beneath a hood.
Chu Hang walked up the mountain.
The snow grew deeper, each step sinking in up to half a foot.
The robed figure did not move, standing still like a statue.
Chu Hang walked up to the altar and stopped.
The robed figure raised their head.
Beneath the hood, a red face was revealed—no nose, sunken eye sockets, the outline of a skull, yet still possessing skin.
Chu Hang recognized him. Red Skull—Schmidt.
The HYDRA leader who had been transported here by the Tesseract seventy years ago.
"Welcome," Red Skull said, his voice hollow. "To those who seek the Soul Stone."
Chu Hang did not respond.
He looked at the altar. There was a groove in the center, empty. Yet, he could sense something there—a vast force of law concerning the essence of the Soul.
"You know who I am," Chu Hang said.
"I know all who come here," Red Skull said. "Their names, their pasts, their desires. The Tesseract trapped me here, making me the guide for the Soul Stone. It is my curse, and my duty."
Chu Hang stared at him.
"Do you know me?"
Red Skull was silent for a few seconds.
His red face turned toward Chu Hang, the darkness in his eye sockets as deep as two holes.
"You are unique," Red Skull said slowly. "I cannot see your past. You are like a mist, drifting in the river of time, with no roots and no source."
Chu Hang clenched his fists.
This answer again.
Odin said he was not in the river of time. Red Skull could not see his past either. He was like a foreign object forced into this Universe, with no belonging and no history.
"Where is the Soul Stone?" Chu Hang asked.
Red Skull raised his hand, pointing toward the edge of the cliff. "Down there," he said. "But not everyone can obtain it. The Soul Stone has its own criteria for selection; it demands a sacrifice."
Chu Hang walked to the edge of the cliff.
He looked down.
The black abyss was bottomless, with mist swirling like an entrance to another World. He could sense something waiting in the abyss—not a physical presence, but a concept, a law regarding the essence of the Soul.
"What kind of sacrifice?" Chu Hang turned and asked.
"A Soul for a Soul," Red Skull said. "You must lose the one you love. Only when you give up the Soul you cherish most will the Universe grant you the Soul Stone. This is an eternal exchange, a rule that cannot be bypassed."
Chu Hang looked at Red Skull.
"Everyone has to do this?"
"Everyone."
Chu Hang was silent for a few seconds.
"And what about me?" he asked. "You say you cannot see my past, so can you see who I love?"
Red Skull stared at Chu Hang, his black eye sockets like two hollow voids.
"I cannot," he finally said. "Your Soul is obscured by something; I cannot probe it. But the rules will not change because of that. You must sacrifice the one you love, or you will not get the stone."
Chu Hang turned and looked into the abyss.
The wind blew even harder.
He thought of Wanda. That red-haired girl, whose eyes were always a bit lost, yet who was so firm when casting Chaos Magic. She had vanished in the snap, turning into drifting ash. He had promised to protect her, but he had failed.
He also thought of Steve, Tony, and Natasha. Those comrades he had fought alongside.
If the rule was to sacrifice the one you loved, then who should he sacrifice?
Chu Hang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then he opened them and turned to look at Red Skull.
"I will not sacrifice anyone," he said.
Red Skull did not speak.
"I will obtain the stone another way," Chu Hang said. "I will speak directly to the Soul Stone and let it choose whether or not to give itself to me."
A trace of mockery entered Red Skull's voice.
"Who do you think you are? The Soul Stone is a creation of the Universe; its rules have existed for eons. Countless powerful beings have come here, and countless Skyfather level entities have tried to bypass the rules, but none have succeeded. Why do you think you can?"
Chu Hang did not answer.
He walked to the edge of the cliff, placed his right foot on the brink, and leaned half his body forward.
The black abyss churned beneath his feet. He let go, and his whole body plummeted.
The wind whistled in his ears.
Chu Hang fell quickly, the surrounding mist scraping against his skin like knives. He did not struggle, nor did he use any abilities to slow down. His body fell straight down like a stone.
The abyss was bottomless.
He had been falling for thirty seconds, and it was still pitch black all around. The mist grew thicker, making it almost impossible to see ahead. Yet he could feel that force of law drawing closer—the power regarding the essence of the Soul, waiting for him somewhere in the abyss.
He deployed the Law of Spirit.
His consciousness extended like a probe into the surroundings, attempting to find the location of the SoulStone. But the mist in the abyss was not just a physical presence; it also interfered with spiritual perception. His consciousness would be repelled upon touching the mist, detecting nothing.
Chu Hang changed his approach.
He channeled the Law of Death within him.
Black energy surged from his right hand, condensing into a flame in his palm. The flame was not hot; instead, it was cold, like a chill that could freeze the Soul. He pushed the flame forward, and the black light tore through a portion of the mist.
A platform was revealed behind the mist.
It was made of stone, floating in the center of the abyss. There was nothing on the platform, save for a glowing object floating in mid-air. An orange light. The Soul Stone.
Chu Hang adjusted his posture, using Space Law to alter his trajectory. His body traced an arc in the air, flying toward the platform. He landed on the edge of the platform, steadying himself on the stone with the tips of his toes.
The platform was small, less than ten meters in diameter.
The Soul Stone was in the center, encased in a transparent barrier. Complex runes flowed across the surface of the barrier, each one radiating ancient fluctuations of law.
Chu Hang walked up to the barrier.
He reached out, his fingertips touching the surface of the barrier.
Instantly, a massive repulsive force erupted. He was blasted away, his body slamming into a stone pillar at the edge of the platform, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.
Chu Hang steadied himself against the stone pillar and stood up.
The barrier had not changed at all, still quietly encasing the Soul Stone.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared at the barrier.
"Not a physical defense," Chu Hang muttered to himself. "It's a repulsion at the level of law. It's testing whether I have the qualifications for a sacrifice."
He walked toward the barrier again.
This time, he did not touch it directly but channeled the eight forces of law within him. Space, Power, Life, Spirit, Time, Reality, Death, Life—lights of eight colors appeared around his body, forming a complex web of woven laws.
He placed his hand on the barrier.
The eight forces of law flooded in simultaneously.
The barrier vibrated.
The runes began to scramble, the light flickering uncertainly. Chu Hang could feel the barrier resisting, trying to push his power out. But he did not stop, continuing to pour the forces of law inside.
Cracks appeared on the barrier.
A very thin line, extending outward from the position of his palm. Chu Hang gritted his teeth and increased the output. The forces of law within him were being consumed crazily; he could feel his Life force draining away. But the cracks continued to expand, having already spread to a third of the barrier.
Then, he heard a voice.
It was not heard with his ears, but resonated directly in his consciousness.
"You want me?"
The voice was ethereal, genderless, and devoid of emotion. It was as if the Universe itself were speaking.
Chu Hang stopped his actions and stared at the Soul Stone inside the barrier.
"I need you," he said.
"Why?" the voice asked.
"To reverse Thanos's snap and save those who vanished," Chu Hang said. "I need to collect all six Infinity Stones."
The voice was silent for a few seconds.
"You have no sacrifice," it said. "The rules require a sacrifice—a Soul for a Soul. You have not paid the price; by what right do you take me?"
Chu Hang took a deep breath.
"Because I am not within the rules," he said. "I do not belong to this timeline, nor to any timeline. I am a foreign object forced into this Universe, with no past and no future. Therefore, your rules do not apply to me."
"An interesting argument," the voice said. "But it is not enough. Rules are the laws of the Universe; they will not change because you are special."
Chu Hang clenched his fists.
"Then let me rephrase," he said. "What is the essence of sacrifice? It is to prove that you understand the value of a Soul, to prove that you are willing to give up the most precious thing for your goal. Is that not correct?"
The voice did not answer, but Chu Hang could feel it listening.
"I have paid the price," Chu Hang continued. "To become stronger, I fused eight kinds of laws. Every breakthrough was a struggle on the edge of Death. I was eroded by Void Power and nearly lost my entire right arm. I was hunted by the Time Variance Authority, targeted by the Anti-Monitor, and treated as an anomaly by the entire Multiverse."
He raised his right hand, the black markings on his palm clearly visible.
"This is the price I paid," Chu Hang said. "I did not sacrifice someone else's Soul, but I sacrificed myself. Every one of my breakthroughs was a sacrifice of my humanity, my safety, and my future. Therefore, I am qualified to take you."
The cracks on the barrier stopped expanding.
The voice was silent for a long time again.
Chu Hang could feel the Soul Stone thinking, weighing his words. He did not know if this method would work, but it was his only choice. He would not sacrifice anyone, nor was it possible for him to do so.
"Your argument has some merit," the voice finally said. "But it is not enough to convince me."
Chu Hang frowned.
"Then what do you want?"
"Proof," the voice said. "Proof that you truly understand the essence of the Soul. Not through sacrifice, but through demonstration. Let me see what your Soul is like; let me judge whether you are worthy of possessing me."
Chu Hang was stunned for a moment.
"How do I demonstrate it?"
"Open your consciousness," the voice said. "Let me in."
Chu Hang felt a moment of hesitation.
Opening his consciousness meant exposing himself completely. The Soul Stone would see all his memories, all his secrets, all his weaknesses. Including his identity as a transmigrator, the System he possessed, and his foreknowledge of the plot.
But he had no choice.
Chu Hang closed his eyes and withdrew the defenses of the Law of Spirit.
The gates of his consciousness opened.
Orange light flooded into his mind like a torrent. Chu Hangfelt his memories being opened, page by page, from the very beginning to the present.
He saw himself working overtime in the office, saw himself open his eyes to find himself on the battlefield of World War II.
He saw himself copying Logan's Healing Factor, saw himself struggling to survive in the artillery fire of Normandy.
He saw himself fighting side-by-side with Steve Rogers, saw himself frozen for seventy years.
He saw himself fighting Ronan on Xandar, saw himself defeating Ego, saw himself breaking through to the Skyfather level on Sakaar.
He saw himself copying Superman's abilities in the DC Universe, saw himself confronting the projection of the Anti-Monitor.
He saw Wanda vanish in the snap, saw himself clenching his fists in the ruins, vowing to reverse everything.
All his memories were seen through by the Soul Stone. Chu Hang did not resist, letting it browse through them.
The orange light lingered in his mind for a long time, then slowly withdrew. Chu Hang opened his eyes again, feeling a wave of mental weakness.
"I have seen it," the voice said. "Your Soul is complex. Greed, fear, guilt, determination—all mixed together. You are not a hero, nor are you a villain. You are just a person who wants to survive, who wants to protect those around you."
Chu Hang did not speak.
"But precisely because of that, you are qualified," the voice said. "A true Soul is not pure good or evil, but a mixture of all emotions. You understand this, and therefore you understand my essence."
The cracks on the barrier suddenly expanded, instantly covering the entire surface.
With a crack, the barrier shattered.
Orange light erupted, and the Soul Stone fell from mid-air. Chu Hang reached out and caught it, a warm sensation coming to his palm. It was neither hot nor cold, like holding a living stone.
A system notification sounded in his mind.
[Detected SSS-Rank Law: Soul Stone]
Chu Hang looked at the notification without hesitation.
"Copy."
Instantly, a sharp pain erupted from his chest.
He felt his Soul being torn in two; half remained in his body, while the other half was extracted and fused into a brand new force of law. Orange energy coursed wildly within his body, colliding, fusing, and conflicting with the other eight forces of law.
Chu Hang knelt on one knee on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Nine laws.
Space, Power, Life, Spirit, Time, Reality, Death, Life, Soul—lights of nine colors formed a massive vortex within him, devouring each other, repelling each other, yet forced together by his will.
He could feel himself breaking through.
The bottleneck of the high-stage Skyfather level was shattered, and his Law Domain expanded crazily. One thousand meters, three thousand meters, ten thousand meters—the range of his domain grew larger, and the weaving of laws within became increasingly complex.
The nine forces of law were no longer a simple accumulation but began to permeate each other, forming brand new combinations.
Space and time fused, giving birth to the prototype of the Spacetime Law. Life and Death clashed, creating the concept of reincarnation. Soul and Spirit intertwined, elevating his understanding of the essence of consciousness to a new level.
Chu Hang's body began to glow.
Not a single color, but a light interwoven with nine colors. He was like a star, burning on the platform in the abyss.
Finally, all the light converged.
Chu Hang stood up and opened his eyes.
Nine colors flowed deep within his pupils, like a condensed galaxy. He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body.
Peak Skyfather level.
All nine major laws mastered, his Law Domain expanded to a diameter of ten kilometers. In this domain, he was the only god, capable of defining all rules.
Chu Hang put away the Soul Stone and pressed the time-space gps. Blue light enveloped him, preparing to teleport back to 2023. But at the very moment the teleportation initiated, he felt a gaze.
Not from Vormir, but from somewhere much further away. Outside the Multiverse, from a dimension he could not reach. Something was watching him.
Chu Hang raised his head and stared into the void.
Then, the teleportation completed, and he vanished from the platform in the abyss.
Chapter 190: Reversing the Snap
On the quantum tunnel platform at the Avengers Base, blue beams of light lit up one after another.
Thor walked out of the beam of light, holding the container with the Reality Stone. He still gripped his stormbreaker, and his armor was stained with snow. He looked very exhausted, but his eyes were firm.
Rocket Raccoon followed closely behind, carrying a metal sphere in his hand; it was the Cosmic Orb containing the Power Stone. Groot followed behind him, his branches-made arms swaying gently.
Chu Hang was the last one to return. When he walked out of the beam of light, everyone looked at him.
He held the Soul Stone in his glove, and orange light flowed between his fingers.
Steve stepped forward and stared at Chu Hang's face. There was a question in his eyes, but he didn't speak. He was checking to see if Chu Hang was injured or if he had paid any price.
Chu Hang shook his head to indicate he was fine.
Natasha breathed a sigh of relief, and Clint also lowered his bow. The two of them had been standing by the edge of the platform waiting, ready to rush into the quantum tunnel to provide backup at any moment.
Tony walked out of the laboratory and took off his goggles. He swept a glance at the people who had returned and counted the stones.
"Did you get them all?"
"We got them all," Steve said.
Tony nodded and turned back toward the laboratory.
"Then let's begin."
Everyone followed behind him. Everything was ready in the laboratory.
In the center of the workbench sat a massive metal gauntlet, designed for the right hand, with energy conduction slots embedded in every knuckle.
It was designed by Tony and Banner, using nanomaterials combined with Asgardian Balder alloy, specifically to carry the energy impact of the Infinity Stones.
Chu Hang placed the Soul Stone on the workbench. Thorset down the container for the Reality Stone, and Rockethanded over the Cosmic Orb as well.
The six stones were laid out together.
The Space Stone, Power Stone, Time Stone, Mind Stone, Reality Stone, and Soul Stone—blue, purple, green, yellow, red, and orange—their six kinds of light intertwined on the workbench, emitting energy fluctuations that made people feel palpitations.
Tony picked up a pair of tweezers and began to set the stones into the gauntlet.
With each stone set, the energy conduction slot on the gauntlet would light up with the corresponding color.
The process was slow and careful; there couldn't be a single mistake.
Chu Hang stood by and watched. He could feel the resonance between the six stones and the Law Powerfluctuations generated when they converged.
This fluctuation was too strong, so strong that the surrounding space began to distort.
Banner adjusted the instruments on the workbench, monitoring the energy output values. His forehead was covered in sweat, but his hands were steady.
The last stone was set.
The Power Stone clicked into the thumb position with a snap. All six slots on the gauntlet glowed, and the energy conduction circuits lit up one by one, finally converging at the core on the wrist.
Tony stepped back and took off his gloves.
"It's done."
Everyone stared at the gauntlet.
The thing lay quietly on the workbench, looking unremarkable. But everyone present knew its weight—a gauntlet with all six Infinity Stones could allow the user to change the state of existence of the entire Universe with a single snap.
Steve looked at Chu Hang.
"You want to do it?"
Chu Hang nodded.
He was the strongest person present and the only one with the confidence to withstand the backlash of the six stones.
At the peak of the Skyfather level, with nine types of Law Power upon him, he could definitely hold on.
Chu Hang walked to the workbench and reached out his right hand.
The gauntlet was not the right size; it was made for Thanos's hand, but the nanomaterials adjusted automatically, shrinking the moment he inserted his hand, tightly wrapping around his entire right arm.
A cold sensation came from his fingertips.
Then came the energy.
All six Infinity Stones activated simultaneously, and a massive amount of Law Power surged into Chu Hang's body.
Space, Power, Time, Mind, Reality, Soul—six types of Law Power exploded inside him, colliding violently with the nine types of laws he had already mastered.
Chu Hang gritted his teeth.
He could feel the six stones resisting. Compared to Thanos, a single-law Skyfather, he faced greater resistance because he possessed the power of nine laws.
They were not inanimate objects; each one had its own will.
The Space Stone wanted to tear apart his body structure, the Power Stone tried to crush his bones, and the Time Stone was disrupting his Life process.
The Reality Stone wanted to rewrite his state of existence, the Mind Stone was eroding his consciousness, and the Soul Stone wanted to strip away his Soul.
All six forces erupted at the same time, but they were all suppressed by Chu Hang using his peak Skyfather levelLaw Power.
Tony stepped forward, but was stopped by Steve.
"Wait," Steve said, "he can handle it."
Chu Hang mobilized the nine types of laws within him.
The Space Law countered the Space Stone, the Law of Strength suppressed the Power Stone, and the Law of Time stabilized the Time Stone. He used the Law of Spiritto block the invasion of the Mind Stone, used Reality Warping to offset the rewriting of the Reality Stone, and used the Soul Law he had just acquired to soothe the Soul Stone.
With the assistance of the other laws, the nine types of laws wove into a massive defensive net, trapping the power of the six stones inside, slowly digesting and slowly merging them.
Chu Hang's breathing became heavy, and sweat dripped from his forehead onto the floor, making a sizzling sound. Those sweat droplets carried energy, burning through the alloy surface of the floor.
Natasha clenched her fists, and Clint placed his hand on his bow.
Thor raised his stormbreaker, ready to strike at any moment. If Chu Hang couldn't hold on, he would immediately split the gauntlet, even if it triggered an energy explosion.
But Chu Hang held on.
The light of the six stones began to stabilize.
They were no longer fighting on their own but gradually formed a whole. The six colors of light intertwined, flowing along Chu Hang's right arm, and finally converged at the core of the gauntlet.
Chu Hang felt it.
The six stones no longer resisted him; they accepted his existence and acknowledged that he was qualified to use this power.
He raised his right hand.
The six stones on the gauntlet glowed simultaneously, and the entire laboratory was illuminated.
Energy fluctuations spread out, the Avengers Base's alarms began to sound, and the light fixtures on the ceiling burst one after another.
Tony watched the soaring values on the dashboard, his pupils constricting.
"The energy output has exceeded the threshold. Chu Hang, hurry!"
Chu Hang closed his eyes.
He constructed the target of the snap in his mind. Not erasure, but reversal. Bring back all the lives that disappeared five years ago, let them return to the state they were in before they disappeared, and return to the places where they were supposed to be.
Wanda.
Peter Parker.
Bucky.
Sam.
Strange.
Everyone who turned to ashes in the snap.
He infused this thought into the gauntlet, into the six Infinity Stones.
Then, he snapped his fingers.
He brought his index finger and middle finger together and snapped them hard against his thumb.
Snap.
A crisp sound echoed in the laboratory.
In an instant, a blinding white light erupted from the gauntlet.
The light engulfed the entire Base, penetrating walls, penetrating the ground, and shooting into the sky. White energy ripples spread out from the Base as the center, covering New York, covering North America, and covering the entire Earth.
Then it continued to spread.
The Moon, Mars, Jupiter—the energy ripples traveled through space, through galaxies, and finally enveloped the entire Universe.
All the vanished lives returned at the same time.
In the desert, a teenager wearing a Spider-Man suit suddenly appeared, kneeling on the ground and gasping for air.
On the plains of Wakanda, a Soldier with a metal arm climbed up from the ground, looking around in bewilderment.
On the streets of New York, pedestrians appeared out of thin air one after another, looking in terror at the city that had changed.
In the depths of the Universe, Quill and Drax appeared on the milano, and Gamora was back too; she stared at her hands, not understanding what had happened.
Wanda opened her eyes.
She was lying in a pile of rubble, surrounded by collapsed buildings. Her memory was still stuck five years ago; she remembered the last sound of Chu Hang before he disappeared, and she remembered turning to ashes on the battlefield of Wakanda.
Then she stood up and saw light in the distance.
A golden beam of light rose from the horizon, shooting straight into the clouds. She knew what it was and knew who had done it.
In the Avengers Base, the white light dissipated.
Chu Hang smiled from the bottom of his heart, not only because he had successfully reversed Thanos's snap, but also because in the instant he snapped his fingers, he realized how he would ascend to the Cosmic Overlord level next.