American comic book: My Father is Superman, am I just an NPC?

Chapter 102 The Omnipotent Sentinel, That Snap! [12k]

Ian remembered the way to the base.

And he doesn't need Gwen's beat-up bicycle.

As a multi-millionaire from another world, Ian bought the book "What Rich People Should Know," so he knew that boys like himself needed to be wary of others.

"Gwen dared to lend me her bicycle today, and tomorrow she'll ask me to be the new Spider-Man... She's really dreaming." Ian wouldn't give others the opportunity to do him a favor so easily.

He needed to guard against any possibility of being taken advantage of for his kindness. Bearing in mind the lessons Zhang Wuji's mother taught time travelers, Ian repeatedly used a "bouncing" motion to reach the familiar alleyway.

Open the drain cover.

Ian jumped down as if in freefall.

Perhaps due to muscle memory, he subconsciously wanted to jump in the low and wide sewer, but after jumping, he realized that his head almost pierced through the concrete above.

“Stark Industries’ products are really high quality; they might even be more resistant to bombing than planes from Curry Country.” Ian dug his hands firmly into the concrete ceiling above his head.

He saw a thick metal pipe with the Stark Industries logo on it. He tried to scratch it off with his fingernail and write "Happy End of the World" on it, but he couldn't.

therefore.

The identity of the ancestors has come online.

A golden light would naturally rise in the midst of exasperation.

"The heat rays are still the best~" The gold in Ian's eyes slowly disappeared as he landed back on the ground.

After engraving a few letters on the metal pipe and drawing a stick figure with a perky butt, he realized that the metal material used in this place might actually be quite special.

It is absolutely perfect for intercepting missiles.

“Teacher Tony definitely knows the recipe.” Ian ran through the damp sewers, where the absence of rats made the place seem perfectly clean.

soon.

The familiar steel gate appeared.

The base gate recognized Ian's face, then beeped and turned on with a green light, slowly opening to reveal an empty room—or rather, not a single living person inside.

The busy researchers have all disappeared.

It seems that he, along with other soldiers and the printed people, went to study the planet devourer.

The entire base was very quiet.

Only the core of the base remained inside its massive mainframe, with a holographic projection of Tony Stark facing away from the entrance, seemingly lost in thought as he stared at a display screen.

The video displayed on the screen was not a surveillance video.

Instead, it was just a meaningless snowflake.

To Ian, the snowflakes were meaningless, like the static you see when you turn on your TV after forgetting to pay the bill.

"Hey Tony, have you eaten?" Ian waved, the water stains on his boots leaving muddy marks on the floor, but they were quickly absorbed by the floor, which seemed to have a self-cleaning function.

Tony's projection didn't turn around.

"Do I look like I can still eat?" He seemed to have known all along that Ian would come at this time, and might even have calculated the most precise time.

There was no surprise whatsoever.

"It's alright, I brought you some electronic viruses, they might taste good?" Ian knew the saying "it's never wrong to be polite," so he took out a USB drive that he had copied from his own computer.

There's nothing else inside.

There are just a lot of viruses.

When you need something from someone, you should always carry a suitable gift with you.

"..."

Digital Tony caught the real gift with his illusory body, then turned around and threw it into the trash can, seemingly not very fond of Ian's customized gift.

but.

The number god didn't correct Ian's way of addressing him. This made Ian think that Tony would definitely like his gift, and maybe Tony would even rummage through the trash after he left.

Teachers who like to put on airs are all like that.

Ian had already sensed the unspoken understanding between teacher and student. Just as Ian could taste the deliciousness of a demon, he didn't believe that any intelligent life form could resist a tasty electronic virus.

"Teacher, what are you looking at?"

Ian, taking advantage of the situation, moved closer.

He tried hard to piece together the shape of the "gentleman's pursuit" from the snowflakes on the screen, but he didn't know if it was a problem with his imagination or if Digital Tony had just hidden the electronic girl too well.

The boy strained his eyes trying to piece something together, but he still couldn't manage to do so.

"This is a video recording."

Digital Tony spoke softly, “A radio wave recording from before the universe collapsed—you know, as the universe expands, the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is stretched while its energy gradually decreases.”

"They eventually form the radio waves that we are familiar with, and when these radio waves are captured by human instruments, this is the kind of image that appears on the screen."

Digital Tony began to speak slowly and deliberately.

"So, what secrets about aliens are hidden in these snowflakes?" It has to be said that Ian was quite influenced by the book "Unsolved Mysteries of the World".

Tony glanced at him.

Do you think I'd be that boring?

He sounded helpless.

It felt like Ian was trying to fool him by portraying himself as an illiterate person who hadn't even earned a PhD.

“They’re not snowflakes, they’re the afterglow of the universe’s birth… You little brat can’t understand their beauty.” Tony’s voice was exceptionally gentle.

It even seemed incomprehensible to some outsiders.

But Ian can understand.

Who can blame him for having such extraordinary intelligence?

"So that's it?"

Ian could roughly understand what Tony meant, but he didn't care about such romance. He only knew that he was right; Tony had indeed changed in every way after becoming a cyborg.

Even her sexual orientation was affected.

It's even more serious than the kind of cyborg he had previously guessed—the kind where a cyborg falls in love with a cyborg woman.

Girl?

There are absolutely no girls left! Tony seems to have gone from a playboy who only slept with the prettiest women to someone who seems to only want to sleep with the most beautiful radio waves!
Yes.

Such a poignant turn of events.

It seems like you really shouldn't become a digital human.

“I admit the radio waves you’re eyeing are indeed beautiful, and perhaps they’re quite unique, enough to successfully pique your domineering CEO interest. But actually, the corpses of Omniknight and Sentry aren’t bad either?” Ian gave Tony a frantic and awkward hint, though he certainly remembered what he had come to the base to do.

Ian winked and made faces.

Tony did not choose to pretend he didn't see it.

He turned his gaze away from the display screen and stared intently and seriously at the boy beside him. The facial details of the holographic image suddenly became so clear that even pores could be seen.

“I can let you touch their bodies, but you have to promise me one thing.” Clearly, Digital Tony wanted to negotiate some terms with Ian.

“Equivalent exchange, that’s reasonable, but don’t treat me like Dormammu.” Ian nodded, not surprised, but he still emphasized to Tony not to go too far.

“This is a very simple thing for you.”

Tony nodded and spoke softly.

"Do you want me to snap your fingers for you?" This was something Ian had already guessed. He wasn't really averse to using his brain; all the information he had gathered beforehand had allowed him to anticipate this.

as predicted.

"Yes, you need to help us rebuild the order of the universe. This is the last chance, and we cannot afford any failure. Otherwise, we will fall into the abyss and be shattered and lost."

"Ultimately, we will become part of those cancerous growths that spread to other universes." Tony's words were very informative; he clearly knew many secrets that were unknown to others.

"You trust me that much?"

Ian's eyes flickered slightly.

He thought again about the information Miss Death had given him. Parasitism and fusion with the universe were two methods of invasion, but Ian's feelings these past few days led him to suspect that he was encountering a third. The people here seemed only interested in rebuilding their homes, showing no intention of seeking new ones.

Could it be a disguise?
Can't tell.

However, one thing is almost certain—it's impossible for anything in this world to invade DC; the Infinity Stones only work within the Marvel Universe.

Can I still trust others?

When Tony was questioned by Ian, he simply countered with a series of questions: "I carry not only a soul, but also the remaining laws of the universe, which are dwindling little by little."

"An individual that is too powerful is beyond the capacity of my remaining resources. You can't expect a crippled body like mine to have the right to unleash the power of the Infinity Stones, can you?"

This seems like an attempt to elicit sympathy, yet it also carries an unspoken sense of helplessness.

"Last chance...so you didn't just try once, but many times? How many times?" Ian was still pondering the information Tony had revealed earlier.

Hear the words.

Digital Tony did not give a definitive answer.

"How many times? I'll give you a hint, you can guess." He simply raised his hand, held up one index finger, and made a gesture that seemed a bit off-topic.

"Huh? I've become Iron Man?" Ian went around behind the virtual image and glanced at the digital Tony's backside. He didn't have the Sorcerer Supreme's cloak either.

"Only you can do this one thing."

Digital Tony spoke seriously.

“No, I don’t think I can do it. You should have already been monitoring this by now.” Ian seized the opportunity and walked towards the equipment cabinet displaying weapons.

Tony cooperated and helped him open the cabinet.

"Zizzizi~"

Ian fired dozens of shots into his own temple.

[You attempted to learn how to catch bullets by hand. Although the practical learning failed, you did learn some dangerous techniques. [Student] Professional Experience +1]

[You attempted to learn how to catch bullets by hand. Although the practical learning failed, you did learn some dangerous techniques. [Student] Professional Experience +1]

[You attempted to learn how to catch bullets by hand. Although the practical learning failed, you did learn some dangerous techniques. [Student] Professional Experience +1]

……

He still failed to catch the laser bullet.

It's so hard.

What bothered Ian even more was that as his physical abilities improved, his experience in using this reasonable mechanism to score points decreased, and he no longer had the same overwhelming feeling of improvement as before.

of course.

This time there were some gains as well.
[Student level 8 [1/1280]]

Ian's "Student" career has been upgraded.

Another general skill point has been accumulated there. To be honest, Ian has been hesitating lately about whether to invest in the general skill [Learning] or improve his [Ian Kent Defense] skill.

Both skills have a conceptual feel to them. The former has a higher growth benefit, while the latter is a noble percentage. Both skills can have a stronger positive impact on Ian once they are upgraded.

Beginner, Basic, Excellent, Elite – these are the skill level classifications Ian already knows about. Beginner to Basic requires 1 general skill point, Basic to Excellent requires 2 general skill points, Excellent to Elite requires 4, and Elite and above requires a full 8 general skill points.

With the emergence and upgrade of the profession of "Writer," and now with the upgrade of the "Student" profession, Ian has accumulated a total of nine general skill points.

Ian has indeed accumulated enough general skill points to upgrade the [Learning] skill. However, because of the appearance of [Writer], he feels that it might be able to create a unique skill after upgrading a few more levels.

This is just speculation and intuition.

I have never had a similar experience.

Ian was also unable to make a definitive judgment.

Anyway, I'm a little conflicted.

"Zizzizi~"

Of course, despite his hesitation, Ian didn't stop leveling up. He gained another fifty or sixty experience points, intending to make good use of the resources, but Tony stopped him. Tony simply deactivated all weapon systems, and Ian saw his gun turn into a toy-like model.

"Don't be so stingy..."

Ian was slightly disappointed.

“Like I said, our resources are dwindling,” Tony sighed. “This also means that the physical laws I’ve preserved are running out.”

"Haven't you noticed that you've only been able to move around in this city all along?" His words startled Ian slightly; this truth was indeed somewhat contrary to Ian's original expectations.

"So, there is no universe outside of Earth?"

Ian's eyes widened.

He realized that even the Earth might no longer be whole.

“It is the universe, but also a chaotic void. Now, my existence here is my last remaining strength—but even so, we are already on the countdown to the end.” Tony’s projection flickered. “We have been able to hold on for so long, thanks in large part to the help provided by the friend you were about to desecrate his body.”

"Otherwise..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: without the Sentinels' help, the world would probably have lost its current spark long ago.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely thank him nine times." Ian didn't know how to respond, so he could only make a solemn promise.

The third time is to emphasize it.

Nine times signifies three times the importance, and the flower's meaning is gratitude beyond mere gratitude.

"..."

Tony was able to understand Ian's logic.

That's why he remained silent.

And at this time.

"Click~"

The base gates slowly opened, and Gwen escorted in a large crate. She looked travel-worn and filthy, clearly having just experienced an unpleasant gem retrieval operation.

"Gwen! Want some peanuts?"

Ian's attention was drawn to Gwen's seemingly unchanging leather pants.

With the rustling sound of plastic bags, he pulled a bag of peanuts printed with "Quinn Foods" from his pocket. The golden-brown kernels glistened enticingly under the cold white light of the base.

Gwen's nose twitched.

She could smell the fragrance of natural foods.

Unlike the synthetic snacks and food in the base, her fingers reacted before her brain could process them, and by the time she came to her senses, she had mechanically taken the three peanuts.

Gwen's peeling movements were pitifully clumsy.

"Thank you."

As the peanuts crackled between her teeth, Gwen had a fleeting vision of a sunlit cornfield. She quickly dismissed this weak association and thanked the boy for sharing his precious natural food.

it is necessary.

Gwen already knew what would happen if she didn't thank him after their last encounter.

"It's alright, eat more." Ian stuffed the whole bag of peanuts into Gwen's hands, making Gwen a little uncomfortable with his enthusiastic attitude.

"Uh, the last Infinity Stone is being received, and Betty is ready." Gwen was stunned for a moment before reporting the situation outside to Digital Tony.

"There won't be any problems, I've already made all the arrangements."

Digital Tony nodded slightly and looked at the snow screen again. "Whether it's a success or a failure depends on whether our initial idea was built on the right path."

His sigh was somewhat inexplicable.

Gwen walked toward the testing laboratory at the back.

"So, since things sound this urgent, why are only Betty and Gwen involved... I'm not looking down on them, but according to my theory, these kinds of things require the participation of some truly influential people, right? Besides you, what other important figures in this world are involved?"

Ian felt that if it were him, even if he could only choose from ordinary people, he would definitely resurrect a regular version of Captain America. After all, Gwen and Betty were at best plot-level NPCs, and they didn't have the same noble status as him as an independent NPC. They didn't seem like they could handle this kind of event.

"When the multiverse merged, the consciousness of most heroes became a hodgepodge, but these two girls... their pure souls are the clearest in my records."

Tony gave Ian the answer that had been troubling him for a long time.

Ian suddenly realized.

"Oh, I see! I was wondering why you liked Peter Parker so much in one of the universes I remember... Tsk tsk, so that's the reason."

“Looks like being Peter Parker’s godson isn’t so comfortable after all—by the way, does Pepper know you’re into this?” Ian seemed to have really figured it out.

He doesn't need to hide the fact that he's not a local and knows a lot about Marvel "stories." That's normal, because trying to hide it would just be for his own amusement.

Tony is now the all-powerful Tony the God; there's no way he wouldn't see through Ian's oddities. After all, Ian is just an independent NPC, and he believes that what happened to a [Peerless NPC] won't happen to him.

I understand everything I understand.

Despite facing powerful figures described as incredibly formidable and ancient monsters of unparalleled wisdom, these arrogant protagonists still manage to deceive their opponents with slightly foolish tricks.

After finishing.

There are even wise men in his own camp who are praising this method of reducing intelligence—it can only be said that Ian has also tried it and was badly beaten by reality, so he chose the method that best suits him.

I don't keep secrets at all.

How can you then try to uncover my secrets?
Say something.

This move combines the fact that Ian has already verified that his soul and memories cannot be seen through by the big shots, so he can really be a pesky nuisance that will not be judged as an extraterrestrial demon.

Regarding self-positioning.

Ian was exceptionally clear.

How can this not be considered a form of wisdom?

"????"

Tony was already feeling the power emanating from Ian; he was clearly experiencing emotional fluctuations that didn't seem like simulated or fake emotions at all.

"It's just because they weren't completely integrated with other multiverse entities, so I could easily separate them. You devil, what kind of monstrosity is in your head?!"

Tony's projection rippled, frantically gesturing and pointing at Ian. He was really gesturing; if he could have easily subdued Ian, he probably would have charged in and started a chaotic brawl.

"My mind is certainly full of super intelligence."

Ian looked at Tony suspiciously. How could Tony not see something so simple? He began to doubt whether Tony was as smart as others said.

"Shut up, don't insult intelligence."

Digital Tony looked up to the sky and sighed.

"Heh...Teacher Tony, you seem to have become more emotional?" Ian didn't intend to convince Tony to believe him; he had keenly noticed some changes in Teacher Tony.

"The time is just coming."

Tony returned to his silent state.

"The body you wanted is over there."

He seemed unwilling to continue the conversation with Ian, and pointed to a room on the left side of the base's main hall, where the tightly closed door slowly opened.

The cold mist spread out like dry ice.

Ian went inside.

It was as if they had entered a morgue. In the center of the room, two corpses lay on an anti-gravity levitation bed, their eyelashes covered in frost, their chests showing no rise or fall.

He is the All-Round Hero and the Sentry.

The two bodies looked so lifelike, as if they had just died, or perhaps they had never died at all—Ian went up and pinched their noses for a few minutes.

"Looks like there's no happy April Fool's Day."

Ian still remembered seeing the Marvel timeline on the electronic calendar outside.

He always liked to keep a close eye on things.

So I listened to their heartbeats again—there was no sound.

"Let me see how to start." Ian was about to look for tools to cut open the corpses when he discovered that his thoughtful hairdresser, Tony, had already made a small incision between the two of them.

It's really small.

It looks similar to a mosquito bite.

However, very fine blood still clumped on the surface of Omniknight and Sentry's foreheads.

It was as if it had been extracted from something.

"Praise be to Tony the Multiverse." Ian glanced at the monitor in front of him, a situation that once again proved that Tony had indeed analyzed a great deal of information about Ian.

They might have even calculated how much blood Ian would need to trigger a special mechanism.

As Ian touched the object, the system notification sounded again, but it was somewhat unexpected. Omniknight and Sentinel hadn't unlocked any new classes; his current unlockable class was still only [Entropy Lord]—the corpses of the two superheroes had unlocked new system features.

[Intermediate correction data obtained.]

[Advanced correction data obtained.]

[Basic information for the "Savage Tyrant" has been updated.]

[Entry of occupational characteristics in progress...]

No severe pain.

There was no coldness or shivering.

Ian felt as if he had unlocked a new profession or leveled up, experiencing a sudden change within himself, with his physical abilities increasing rapidly. [Strength: 26-44]

[Physical fitness: 44.3-60]

Intelligence: 3.5-4.2

[Spirit: 21-31]

……

Ian didn't know what "obtaining corrected data" meant. He only knew that his physical attributes were like he had learned some kind of super passive ability, and he directly gained a significant boost in value.

They slowly came to their senses after being shocked.

Ian then discovered the reason.

The main reason was that he was still confused when he heard the system's notification.

[Host successfully entered new data. [Iron Body] has been corrected to [Perfect Divine Body]. Please check.] This was the message the system displayed in Ian's ear.

This is also why Ian's attribute values ​​increased so much.

[Iron Body: Your body surface will be greatly strengthened, significantly increasing your strength and constitution attributes.] The original [Savage Tyrant] exclusive skill has changed at this moment.

【Perfect Divine Body: This skill will automatically grow and improve based on your level. How can a mortal body be worthy of bearing divine glory? This perfect body is your ultimate weapon to crush all living beings!】
Your physical abilities will undergo a qualitative leap, enabling you to effectively resist any form of physical attack, and you will also have significant resistance to magic, poison, and mental attacks.

When you fully activate the "Perfect Divine Body," your body will undergo a complete transformation, entering a completely new state and reaching a peak where all stats are doubled.

have to say.

The [Perfect Divine Body] evolved from the [Iron Body] was indeed a significant improvement. However, looking at this incredibly powerful skill effect, Ian was unsure whether to be happy or sad.

"All the negative effects I've painstakingly accumulated!"

The nightmare of the hamster party has returned. Ian watched as the icons for his leveling buffs, such as [Slow Poisoning] and [Nerve Damage], slowly disappeared, leaving only negative effects like [Fel Corruption] and [Slow Corruption], which are of a higher level and therefore difficult to remove.

"How am I supposed to level up now?"

Ian was naturally happy to have access to powerful skills, but losing a lot of ways to level up was undoubtedly a significant loss for him.

Just as Ian was lamenting that if he wanted to level up quickly in the future, he might only be able to increase the strength of his body, a sudden itching sensation in his eyes interrupted his thoughts.

The system hasn't issued any notification yet.

Ian had roughly realized what had happened.

Name: Ian Kent

【普通职业：学生lv8〔56/1280〕【作家LV2〔1/20〕】】

【超凡职业：狂战士LV4〔75/80〕野蛮暴君lv3〔9/40〕】

[Global Recognition: Independent NPC]

[Talent Skill: Reverse Blood Forge, Perfect Divinity]

[Professional Skills: Self-Healing Frenzy, Perfect Divine Body, Eyes of Eternal Day.]

……

There has been no change in occupational information.

but.

The skills for [Savage Tyrant] have changed again; [Eye of the Sun] has been changed to [Eternal Daylight Eye], which is clearly related to the data correction mentioned by the system.

[Host successfully entered new data. [Eye of the Blazing Sun] has been corrected to [Eye of Eternal Day]. Please check your inbox.] The system notification was a little late, but it arrived nonetheless.

"Hiss, there are ants crawling inside." Ian covered his eyes. He didn't want to cause the world pain like the Uchiha clan, but his eyes were indeed undergoing extremely strong changes.

【Eternal Daylight Eye: The Spirit attribute will affect the effect of this skill together with the Constitution attribute. When your eyes become the sun, all things will submit to this eternally burning light and heat!】
Your eyes have merged with the power of the laws of the "Sun's Core," your pupils transforming into two miniature stars, allowing you to freely manipulate cosmic forces such as light, heat, and plasma.

There wasn't much detailed description, but even this brief description horrified Ian; his eyes seemed to be transformed into two miniature stellar reactors.
This is no longer a question of whether or not one can take the civil service exam!
Am I a source of radiation?

"And my beautiful blue eyes are gone too! Damn it! Is it too late for me to reset my skill points and start over?!" Ian turned his head to look at the glass next to him in a hurry.

His itchy eyes reflected a striking luster on the glass.

Panic.

Ian was genuinely panicked.

"Quick, turn me into a super high-definition mirror!" Ian pulled a magical book from his pants; its title had now changed to "[Ian's Beloved Magic Book That He Can't Bear to Eat]." Perhaps sensing Ian's urgency, the lettering on the book's cover distorted once more.

[Ian's Magic Mirror User Guide]

It still retained the stubbornness of a book, but among the combined elements on the cover, a small round mirror did indeed appear, its high-definition surface allowing Ian to clearly see the capillaries on his face. At this moment, Ian's eyes seemed to be filled with golden light, his pupils having completely turned into a molten gold color.

It seemed to be studded with stardust-like fragments of light.

"Huh~ He's kind of handsome?" Ian, who was a little flustered before, calmed down immediately. He didn't care about the nuclear reactor or not, as long as it didn't affect his stunning good looks, there was no problem.

This was his last asset.

His good classmate Madison had taught him this broad road before.

"Even so, the system should apologize to me. It didn't even ask me if I wanted to upgrade my skills." Ian seriously criticized his system companion in his mind.

However, this didn't stop him from eagerly opening the [Savage Tyrant] skill tree. The class name hadn't changed, but the skill tree for this class had been completely overturned.

First of all.

Two dividing lines appeared on the skill tree, dividing the skills into three levels. Each level had a different background. The first level featured a dark figure with bloodshot eyes laughing maniacally.

Its name is "Savage Tyrant".

On the second level, expressionless black figures are slaughtering.

It's called "The Merciless Conqueror".

You need to reach level 45 to advance, and the description says you'll gain a significant increase in attribute values ​​after advancing. As for the third level, which can only be reached at level 90, there's a dark figure with its back to everyone.

It is located at the very top of the entire skill tree.

It is called "The Void God".

This is the highest level of advanced profession in this field, and the description says that you will gain incredible power.

How incredible could it be?

Ian blinked.

"Did this guy really make it look like he's playing a game in the real world?"

He couldn't help but sigh.

Looking at the first tier, the skills belonging to the [Savage Tyrant] class, even though it still has the same name, all the original skills have been completely replaced.

[Fear Vision: Actively releases mental pressure, causing enemies within range to panic. The effect is weakened against targets with extremely strong willpower; enemies who have completely lost the will to resist will die.]

[Combat Intuition: Refined and mastered killing techniques allow you to instantly analyze enemy weaknesses and employ the most effective method of elimination; your body may react even before your brain.]

[Absolute Levitation: You will gain a bio-field for flight. Above the sky, you are the tyrant who rules over all, and looking down upon all living beings is your innate privilege.]

……

bad news.

The skill "Super Flight" is no longer available.

good news.

[Absolute Levitation] seems to also come with a tiny bit of bio-force field.

"It can only be used for flying, so this must be a biofield shipped from Pinduoduo..." Ian felt he should be happy, but his current mood was somewhat complicated.

Just as Ian was staring at the two heroes' corpses and began to express his gratitude nine times as promised.

"Brother, you've been standing here by yourself for twenty minutes. I saw on the monitor that you kept smiling every now and then. The last smile even reminded me of Stephen Hawking."

Gwen's voice rang out from the doorway.

The tone was confused.

“You don’t understand. Things don’t go as planned, but they do go in a good way, so you should respond with a wry smile.” Ian sighed and stuffed his magic book back into his crotch.

"wry smile……"

Gwen still couldn't understand some of Ian's statements. Apart from seeing that kind of smile on Hawking's face, she had never heard of a bitter smile in her life.

“Yes, along with that, there’s a wicked smile, and a faint smile.” Ian stepped forward, took out a still-warm bag of soy milk from the long pocket of his clothes, and handed it over.

It is still natural food.

The packaging bag made an enticing "rustling" sound.

How can Gwen resist?

"Cuckoo~"

Gwen accepted the feeding, but she was puzzled by Ian's overtures. "Do you want something from me? Why are you keeping feeding me?"

The warm soy milk slid down my throat.

Gwen sensed a strange smell, not the sinister kind, but something like a mixture of various beans, with a hint of senna.

Although this body's sense of taste wasn't as good as before, it was still slightly different from ordinary people. For a moment, Gwen had an urge to stop eating.

But the aroma of natural food made her hesitate.

"I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity."

Ian spoke sincerely.

talking.

He took out some more sweet potatoes.

This time.

Gwen didn't dare answer.

She had already sensed something unusual.

"What are you curious about?"

Gwen held a mouthful of soy milk in her mouth, not daring to swallow it.

“You wear leather pants that only Black Widow would wear every day, I want to see if your farts make a bulge.” Ian remained honest, not even letting his eyes linger on Gwen’s butt for more than three seconds.

Very gentlemanly.

"Pfft~"

Gwen spat out a mouthful of soy milk.

Ian dodged in time.

"It looks like it's bulging. Bad review. You're using synthetic leather. I checked, good genuine leather doesn't bulge." He promptly observed the scientific phenomenon he wanted to observe.

"No! Can't you care about something truly important?" Gwen's expression was priceless. She threw down her soy milk and looked around as if searching for something.

What are you looking for?

Ian was still curious.

"Needle, and thread."

Gwen really hoped to find the tools to sew Ian's mouth shut.

Just at this time.

"Boom~"

The base suddenly began to shake violently.

Ian, however, was able to keep his balance.

However, the unlucky Gwen landed hard on her bottom, and because she was currently in a bulging state, her cheap leather pants finally gave way with a long, drawn-out sound.

It cracked.

The crack is located at the buttocks.

"..."

Gwen couldn't believe what she was seeing. She sat on the ground, too afraid to get up, staring intently ahead, her gaze fixed on Ian.

“That’s none of my business anymore—I’ll buy you a genuine leather one tomorrow, okay? Ian has plenty of money.” Ian cautiously took a half step back to protect his belt.

He seemed afraid that Gwen would snatch the pants away.

at this time.

The tremors continued.

Dust crumbled from the ceiling and fell in a soft patter, like a sudden gray drizzle.

"Is the time up?"

Gwen had no intention of seeking compensation. She looked up and saw the dome slowly unfolding, with the crack directly above her head.

This made her even more afraid to stand up.

It was too late to end my life and get a new body.

"What time has it come?"

Ian's inquiry went unanswered.

“Tony said you would snap your fingers for us.”

Gwen's gaze was fixed on Ian, her voice trembling slightly, as if she were extremely bewildered about what was to come, and her eyes held emotions that Ian had never seen before.

“I told him that I might not be able to transfer my will into the Infinity Stones.” Ian remembered his own situation; he could interact with this world, but it was difficult for this world to interact with him.

No, you can.

The voice that suddenly appeared came from Digital Tony.

"Teacher Tony, where are you?"

Ian turned his head to look.

The alloy walls peeled off like an eggshell.

His answer was a sudden burst of sunlight.

As the blinding sunlight streamed in, Ian discovered that the entire base had appeared on the ground. The researchers, soldiers, and engineers who had worked on Galactus's body were gathered outside.

The corpse of the planet devourer stood in the distance behind them. These people stood densely packed on the street, stretching as far as the eye could see, seemingly without end.

Sunlight filtered through the dilapidated buildings, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Everyone looked at Ian with a gaze he had never felt before, the same look Gwen had given him before.

hope?

expect?

Ian couldn't explain it.

"You don't need to convey your will or the goals you need to achieve; I've already recorded them in this glove... So, all you need to do is activate it."

Digital Tony stood at the very front of everyone.

Floating in mid-air.

He even donned silver armor for himself.

It is merely the shell of data.

However, this might be his way of showing seriousness.

A metal disc rose from the ruins, holding an Infinity Gauntlet inlaid with various gems, each gem shimmering with a mysterious light.

"Then give it a try?"

Ian walked up to the Infinity Gauntlet.

He had, after all, touched the body Tony had provided. One should be honest.

"But don't have too high hopes for me."

Ian's voice was calmer than expected as he reached out and grasped the glove floating on the disc. The moment the metal touched his palm, he felt an unfamiliar and immense power.

It actually works!

The power of the Infinity Stones made Ian feel warm all over!
"Now I'm Thanos."

Ian exclaimed in amazement.

“No, you are our savior.” Digital Tony’s voice was unusually warm, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, paving a golden path beneath Ian’s feet.

"All-powerful strength is in your hands; only you can create something new for us. Furthermore, you can use this to achieve your desires; you will become a new source of power." Digital Tony seemed to be frantically showering emotional value upon me. He even calculated Ian's intentions for entering the Marvel Universe this time.

"Can I use this to become the source of magic?"

Ian was somewhat tempted.

"Greater than that."

Digital Tony responded softly.

“What you’re saying sounds like a seduction.” He glanced around, taking in everyone: Betty and Gwen, as well as Dr. Helen Zhao, the researcher who wouldn’t give him snacks.

The look in these people's eyes.

Ian recognized it because he had seen it before; after some bad things happened, the victims looked at Superman, who arrived just in time, with the same eyes and expressions.

When Superman descends from the sky, his cape billowing in the dust, the trapped, injured, and desperate people look up at that red and blue figure.

His eyes burned with an almost devout hope.

Like parched land yearning for rain, like searching for starlight in the darkness. Ian had never imagined he would step into that trembling, burning, hopeful gaze.

“I’ve never really trusted people’s praise, but today I’ll be your hero.” Ian’s fingers unconsciously traced the metallic surface of the Infinity Gauntlet.

The glimmer of the gemstone flowed between his fingers.

"I choose to trust my own judgment. You are not coveting the remnants of other worlds, but a group of respectable people who yearn for redemption and fought for it until the last moment of the world."

“When I encounter such a resilient group asking me for help, I am willing to give them a chance. Perhaps this is the influence my father had on me—I can’t let him down too much.”

Ian was unusually serious for once, and his tone was very calm.

talking.

He raised his hand, which was adorned with the Infinity Gauntlet.

"please."

Digital Tony also bowed slightly at this moment.

Tens of thousands of people stood amidst the ruins, holding their breath.

"This time, I am the saint of merit."

Feeling everyone's gaze fixed on him, including Gwen who still dared not get up, Ian felt a surge of emotions—complex emotions he had never experienced before.

"The focus of everyone's attention."

"It doesn't seem bad."

He gently rubbed his hands together.

"Remember to build me a golden toilet... never mind, you probably won't remember anyway. Mature little boys know they should steal gold from Stark's house to make their own toilets."

Ian reverted to his original personality.

The words fell.

He decisively pressed his thumb.

Then, a sound like shattering glass immediately rang out, the crisp sound particularly clear in the silence.

"Believe me, you are the final hero, and the Creator is with you at this moment." Digital Tony's sincere prayer echoed in Ian's ears at the end of this world.

He saw everything disappearing, the crowds on the street turning into tiny specks of light, their expressions frozen in that moment of hope and trust, not even having time to change.

Everything withers like sandstorms, shattering into firefly-like specks in the backlight. The world is like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser—skyscrapers, stars, even sunlight shattered into powder and scattered.

then.

The world falls silent.

The deathly silence and the void of darkness lasted for roughly three heartbeats. Until the first car horn pierced the silence, colors suddenly burst forth wildly from all directions.

Neon lights hissed and glowed with a magenta light, a coffee machine on the street corner steamed up milky white vapor, and a yellow and blue taxi screeched to a halt, splashing rainbow-colored water. Pedestrians appeared out of thin air like magic cards, a housewife carrying a shopping basket brushed past a skateboarding teenager, and the sound of a popcorn bucket being overturned mingled with the guitar strings of a street performer.

The electronic sounds from shop windows and the laughter of children chasing each other washed over the empty streets like a tide, and the frozen world seemed to be truly reshaped and reborn in the blink of an eye.

"Is the Creator here? If so, let out a sound."

Ian stood in the middle of the zebra crossing, a ginkgo leaf falling onto his shoulder.

"dududu~"

A loudspeaker sounded.

"Damn it, the Great Fortune Celestial Venerable."

Ian, looking up at the sky, was still feeling somewhat melancholy.

In an instant.

He became completely sober immediately.

I struggled with this chapter for several hours towards the end; the emotional delivery wasn't quite right, but I ran out of time. I'm very dissatisfied!! I might revise it later.
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(End of this chapter)