Marvel: Awakening the Universe.

The universe itself has no physical form.

But He can also have a physical form, just like right now, this universe is presented to Hawke as a projection of a frail version of Gwen, who opened her mouth upon hearing Hawke's words.

"This was not my intention; we share the same origin."

"Bah!"

Hawke scoffed, ignoring the pitiful expression on the face of the weak version of Gwen, which the universe itself was using to try to disturb its own Dao heart.

He loves Gwen.

No matter which universe it is in.

But as I said before, he loved the Gwen who existed in his own timeline, not the imposter in front of him who was just a pretty face deliberately presenting herself as Gwen.

The most important thing.

“It’s not that you have no options, it’s just that you feel the advantage lies with him, not me.”

"So you chose him."

"I made him throw in the corpses of the Celestials I had killed."

"And enable his fighting machine, Icarus, to descend upon your universe at full power."

"Don't tell me that my full power would hurt you, so you stopped me, but Icarus's full power won't hurt you."

"His power will also weaken your cosmic barrier."

"so--"

"You are not helpless, but have already made a choice and paid the corresponding price for it, using your cosmic primordial barrier as a price to exchange for Icarus killing me and then joining the feast that devours me."

"How about it."

Hawke spoke softly, his gaze fixed on the universe before him: "Tell me, am I wrong?"

The universe itself opened its mouth, but finally lowered its gaze under Hawke's watchful eyes.

"Feel sorry!"

"If apologies were enough, why would I need to come to you?"

"What do you want?"

"It's very simple."

Hawke smiled slightly upon hearing this: "You can start the war, but when it ends is up to me. And war has always been a game where only the winners can take all. As for the losers, what they need to do is admit their mistakes and stand at attention when they are beaten."

Speaking of it.

Hawke glanced at the universe itself standing before him and stated his purpose directly: "I want your submission!"

The universe itself, presented as a delicate version of Gwen, changed its expression upon hearing Hawke's words, appearing somewhat pale.

"Surrender?"

"Yes!"

Hawke said expressionlessly, “The winner-takes-all principle means winning everything from the losers. Since you’ve chosen to enter the game, then that ‘everything’ naturally includes you.”

Come here and ask the universe itself to hand over the god Thiam to him?
Ah.

He wants not only the god Thiam, but also this universe.

The fate of the Celestials this time conveniently gave him an excuse to plunder this universe.

Although the Celestials didn't personally participate this time, they still chose to use a spokesperson.

But it is well known.

You need chips to be eligible to play at the table.

Hawke's stake is his own life, while the Celestials' stake, since they chose to run away after Icarus died, is clearly this universe.

If he dies, the Celestials will acquire everything he has, including his microcosmic cultivation method.

But now that he's alive, the chips the Celestials have staked on the table—this universe—naturally belong to him and are at his disposal.

In other words.

"You've been betrayed by the Celestials."

Hawke looked at the universe itself with some curiosity as he said this: "So there's a reason why you're considered low-end."

This universe is constantly revolving in a cycle of resets and reincarnations; clearly, it lacks a linear progression of time.

Although Hawke often says that time is a cycle.

But the time here refers to life, and the timeline of life is a circle, a closed loop.

But the timeline of the universe shouldn't be a closed loop; it should be a straight line, a long timeline leading to an infinite future.

and so!
The timeline of this universe is not set up correctly, and as the Celestials responsible for maintaining the timeline of the main multiverse, do they not know this?

If they know this, why do they still allow this universe to keep resetting and repeating itself?

The answer is unknown.

But it doesn't matter anymore, because the answer was already known the moment the Celestials used this universe as a stake in this game.

"Submitting to me is not a bad thing."

Hawke looked at the universe whose expression was changing and said in a low voice, "At the very least, I will preserve you, and I will also give this universe new life, so that your time will no longer be closed and will return to the path that leads to eternity."

Upon hearing this, the universe itself, with a whoosh, changed its pitiful expression to one of disbelief as it stared directly at Hawke.

"You really will do this?"

"Do not believe?"

Hawke smiled slightly: "Take a look at Mephisto."

The universe itself was slightly taken aback.

next second.

Hawke said calmly, "Mephisto has betrayed me countless times, yet I still chose to forgive him and give him a new life. So, I can forgive Mephisto, who has betrayed me countless times, and as for you, it goes without saying." Even though he had once reduced Mephisto to ashes.

But what he said wasn't exactly a lie.

Well known.

There's no going back in this world.

But Hawke has Wanda.

Wanda was his way of undoing his mistakes, because she existed in every corner of his timeline. Therefore, Hawke killed Mephisto, but he also didn't actually kill Mephisto.

Therefore, what Hawke is saying to the universe itself right now is not a lie.

The universe itself, upon hearing that Hawke did not attempt to explain but instead brought up Mephisto as a living example, was already somewhat stirred.

Although He didn't say it, after seeing Icarus die and the Celestials run away so easily, He realized that He had been used as a pawn.

Moreover, He has indeed hoped more than once that the Celestials would come to his universe to correct the closed timeline that prevents him from progressing.

But every request went unanswered.

Right now, Hawke's promise has stirred something within Him.

Hawke will not take away His consciousness; on the contrary, He will help Him reshape the timeline of this universe. In return, the only price is His submission.

this--

awesome.

It doesn't matter who you work for.

Anyway, even if Hawke doesn't demand His submission, He is still being controlled by someone, and the timeline and such are no longer in His own hands.

In a word.

The lower-level universe has no rights.

and so--

It's just a change of leadership.

It's done!

The universe itself turned its thoughts, and then looked up at Hawke again.

Hawke came into view.

The universe itself, which was originally presented as the gentle Gwen, was now blurring in appearance. Then, with the appearance of an indescribable light, the truest form of this universe appeared in Hawke's eyes.

A gem.

A flawless white gemstone, no, a white gemstone with a tiny flaw, appeared before Hawke.

This subtle flaw was the price that this universe paid when Icarus arrived in its full glory.

To put it in classic terms.

The goddess that others can't bear to part with, some people can stand up and kick.

The voice of the universe itself emanates from the flawed white gemstone: "I am willing to offer everything I have, and my loyalty to you, in exchange for your protection."

Upon hearing this, Hawke extended his right hand toward the slightly flawed white gemstone before him, taking it into his palm: "I accept your submission, and I will protect you in the name of Phoenix!"

The words had barely left his lips!

Clang!
The phoenix cries in the sky, its song resounding.

A fire phoenix embracing the rootless universe soared into the sky from behind Hawke. The moment its wings spread, its claws seemed to transform into Hawke's arms, clamping down on the core white gem of this universe. Then, endless phoenix fire began to envelop the core white gem.

His Phoenix Universe is refining this universe.

The day the refinement is completed will be the day his Phoenix Universe is embedded into the main multiverse, although this will not allow Hawke to fully materialize his power before he awakens the Ninth Sense.

but!
After refining this universe, Hawke will no longer be subject to any restrictions when he travels to any Marvel multiverse.

Because that's the winner's reward.

It is also the price that losers must pay.

This time, the Celestials' attempt to steal a chicken ended up losing its rice instead.

Hawke stayed there for a while longer, watching the cosmic core, marked with his own imprint, being rapidly refined under the Phoenix Flame. He smiled slightly, then withdrew his gaze, turned around, and looked at Earth, far away in the remote corner of the universe.

When Hawke returned to 521A Palm Street, the house was quiet, as if no one was home.

Hawke's heart skipped a beat. He glanced in the direction of Brooklyn and saw a mother and daughter shopping in the mall. He smiled slightly and looked away.

As for why not go to downtown Manhattan...

Very simple.

Manhattan was destroyed. Although it is still being rebuilt, the reconstruction is not going very fast.

When Wanda and her daughter Jean returned from shopping, Hawke was sitting on the sofa, looking at a dozen or so photos on the table.

To be precise, it's a death photo.

It was delivered by Reed Stacy's assistant; the photos represented individuals who had participated in or were aware of the plan to hunt down the Demon King.

When Qin saw her father return home, her eyes lit up. She put down the shopping bags in her hands and ran over to him, saying, "Daddy, you're back!"

Wanda smiled slightly and said, "You've come back at just the right time. I had just finished explaining when you returned."

Hawke looked up at Wanda.

"Really? What a coincidence. I was just looking for a gift for you."

"what gift?"

"This universe!"

"..." (End of this chapter)