CIATB Chapter 361 The Gem Shatters
Chapter 361 The Gem Shatters
Chapter 361 The Gem Shatters
Looking up at the overhead view, the cyborg Iron Man, watching another Earth getting closer and closer, felt a chill run down his spine.
Superman, meanwhile, was handling the glove like some kind of antique, constantly turning it from hand to hand, as if this power were some kind of harmful substance to him.
"Why don't you try wearing a condom first?"
The constant crises had driven Iron Man to his breaking point. Whether he faced danger or not, he was doomed. Even though Superman was corrupted by the power after putting on the gauntlet, he was willing to sacrifice all life in the universe.
Of course, this was just his internal grumbling amidst his dissatisfaction. Looking at Superman's attitude towards the six Infinity Stones, the cyborg Tony knew that the other was the kind of person who could control power rather than be controlled by it.
"With so many people yearning for these six treasures but unable to obtain them, can't you at least show a little more eagerness?"
Without any instructions, Joey had no choice but to put on the gloves. The gloves fit him perfectly, and lightning bolts of various colors surged from his wrists and traveled through his limbs.
Six powerful and unparalleled forces of creation converged within his body, scorching Joey's flesh and causing his skin to crack inch by inch. Joey even experienced a hallucination of being burned by karmic fire in hell.
The pain was so intense that even Joey, who had endured a level of suffering comparable to the dead, couldn't help but groan.
Even under these circumstances, Joey didn't forget to issue a disclaimer:
"I must reiterate beforehand that, according to my intelligence, these gems are essentially single-use; once used, they will be destroyed, so—"
If all six Infinity Stones are damaged, Tony Stark's universe will lose its last line of defense. With the collision crisis still ongoing, this is tantamount to losing the only resurrection coin.
If a cosmic collision occurs in the future, they will only be able to choose between the two Earths.
"Stop worrying about problems that will only arise in the future!"
The cyborg Iron Man had already been told this news, so repeating it again wouldn't stir any emotion in him.
"Just do what you're supposed to be doing now."
The Infinity Stones are gone, but at least for now, cyborg Tony doesn't have to engage in a nearly unwinnable battle with another universe that helped him, only to end up with everyone suffering a humiliating defeat.
As for the future, it's like the rock-paper-scissors question he asked Superman before. Even if parallel universes are infinite, in this situation of two against one, it won't be long before the final two are decided.
If they were to meet again at that time, then it would be up to each of them to rely on their own abilities.
Of course, it's more like a dream. Mechanical Tony doesn't think he can last until the final round in this collision battle that concerns all parallel universes.
On the other hand, the tearing sensation caused by the uncontrolled rampage of the six Infinity Stones within his body had been somewhat alleviated by Joey's special physique.
He began to tame the primordial energy born at the beginning of creation, using his own will and strength through the gloves.
The first to settle down was the Power Gem. The absolute power contained within this red gem was not absolute in front of Joey, and it quickly submitted quietly, no longer causing any backlash.
Then the riots of the Time and Space Stones were quelled, the faint illusions created by the Mind and Soul Stones disappeared, and the Reality Stone became real.
With all six gems gathered, Joey, wearing the glove, instantly gained the power to do whatever he wanted in this universe. Calling it "power" is even a bit inappropriate; this feeling of controlling everything is more like "authority" or "permission."
With such power, what is Joey thinking right now, who is almost omnipotent?
He looked at the six Infinity Stones on the glove, wondering, "Why are the Infinity Stones in this universe red?"
Not only the Power Stone, but the colors of the other stones also differ from those in the other universe.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Upon hearing this, the cyborg Tony immediately turned red.
"Stop worrying about this damn Bao Yan, let's quickly push our two universes apart!"
Why would someone who possesses divine power capable of kneading the entire universe be concerned about the color being wrong?!
Reminded as if waking from a dream, Joey quickly nodded:
"Oh, right, but before that—"
He then looked at the cyborg Iron Man, whose body was mutilated and who had survived to this day in a cybernetic form. He immediately pointed his finger, and a seven-colored energy ray shot out from the glove, hitting the opponent at the same time it was fired.
The cyborg Tony, bewildered, assumed Superman had become possessed by the power after donning the gauntlet and started acting erratically: "You're insane!"
But after that shout, an incredulous voice followed: "Are you—?"
As the light faded, the disfigured Iron Man, whose entire body was heavily cybernetically enhanced, removed his armor, revealing his once-intact face.
And beneath the armor lies a healthy, intact body.
The cyborg Tony stared in disbelief at his hands, which had regained their sense of touch:
"It seems you really learn very quickly!"
There were no scars, no implanted prostheses, and no torturous electrical neuron interfaces; all that remained was a complete body that had been separated from its owner for a long time.
"Real-world treasure can reshape reality. I'm curious why you haven't tried doing this before."
Joey didn't forget to quote what the cyborg Tony had said earlier: "Sorry, I'm confiscating your medals and credentials."
For Joey, a being from an outer universe, using the gems was not as difficult as he had imagined; in fact, it was so simple that it was something anyone could learn immediately. The six gems completely obeyed his will.
Although it's unclear whether this method is correct, at least Joey now knows how to separate the two universes.
Joey clenched his gloved fist, ready to unleash a rising dragon punch at the other universe that was still pressing down.
But then he thought of something else—something that could be extremely dangerous.
He looked at Earth-26111 Tony, whose body had been fully restored thanks to the gem's effect:
"The past and present of this universe are in my hands, which means that some things that happened in the past—"
With the Infinity Gauntlet, he is practically a god in this universe. At this moment, he could completely reverse everything with a single thought, allowing those who died in this universe due to Doctor Doom or some other reason to be reborn.
"You're being far too simplistic."
Within this healthy body, the former cyborg Tony felt his mind had become much sharper, and he believed that his current form was merely a temporary experience:
"The situation might not be as optimistic as you think. If the Infinity Stones are damaged, who will ensure that their effects won't disappear?"
If the Infinity Stones were to separate the two colliding universes and then be destroyed, it would not only be meaningless, but would also be another form of torment for both the living and the dead.
"Perhaps you are right."
Joey realized he had indeed been reckless. Bringing back a fallen hero seemed like a wonderful thing, but if the gem shattered and the situation Tony had described occurred, it would be a whole new hell: "I'm sorry."
Even something as simple as helping the cyborg Tony regain his body—if that too can't be solidified, then losing it again would be a new torment for him.
"No need to apologize, it's nothing to me."
Tony waved his hand. The reason he had kept his mechanical body was not only for technical reasons, but also because after experiencing the failure of losing his physical body, he felt that flesh and blood were not reliable enough.
This Superman recreation has given him a different perspective, and perhaps in the future he will reconsider whether mechanical forms are more reliable or flesh and blood are more comforting.
Of course, the most important thing right now is to make sure I have a future:
"Stop getting distracted by other things, Superman, just do what you're supposed to do."
Upon hearing this, Joey no longer hesitated. He clenched his fist, and the power of the six Infinity Stones coursed through his body, coalescing into a fist that rose into the sky and crashed into another universe.
As Joey gripped the Infinity Gauntlet and unleashed a punch that mobilized the power of the entire universe towards another universe, the image that resembled a reflection rapidly receded before his eyes, and the two universes that had begun to intersect separated once more.
At the same time, a tremendous force of creation exploded in the sky, and the roar could be heard in both universes.
Joey looked at the Infinity Gauntlet in his hand and noticed that five of the six gems embedded in it had begun to show obvious cracks.
The power of the laws representing space, strength, reality, mind, and soul dissipated from it, and it would soon no longer be able to maintain its current gem form.
They are about to fall apart.
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