Fury, who'd just emerged from a portal holding a gun, cursed quietly. Finally returned. Why'd they get snapped again right away?
Waiting to vanish—nothing happened.
He immediately scanned the battlefield. His magic eye spotted something wrong.
"Look there!" Fury shouted, pointing at a Chitauri near Thanos.
Everyone looked. That Chitauri was frantically fleeing, holding a strange branch. Kept picking fruit from the branch.
"Wait, something's off!" Gemini sensed weak magical fluctuations. "Who's that?"
Thanos snapped. No changes at all. After sensing carefully, he furiously smashed the gauntlet in his hand. That gauntlet shattered to dust in one blow. Couldn't see its original form at all.
Everyone looked at that strange Chitauri again. The branch in his hand had become a gauntlet studded with stones. That Chitauri wasn't picking fruit—he was picking stones!
Tony looked confused. "What's happening? Thanos's subordinate betrayed him?"
"Impossible! Chitauri could never betray. They're semi-mechanical life!" Thor directly refuted. "But this method looks familiar somehow."
"Loki!" Fury yanked off his eyepatch. The magic eye spun in his socket.
The entire battlefield paused a moment. Loki also sensed something wrong. Everyone's eyes on him.
He looked up blankly. Seeing delighted Thor and everyone's complex expressions, he smiled awkwardly. Raised the gauntlet. "Surprise!"
Thor laughed, charging toward Loki. Thanos reacted too. Everyone started rushing Loki's direction. Made Loki flee with his head covered.
Thanos without stones—with Captain Marvel joining—was no match. He could only charge toward Loki again and again. Still couldn't stop Loki from bringing the gauntlet back to their side.
"So what now? Who snaps?" Gemini looked at the gauntlet with a headache.
Stephen frowned too. This was different from any future he'd seen. The futures he saw—no Loki.
Looking at Thor fighting happily, Banner raised his left hand. "I'll do it!"
"No no no! I think I should!" Loki hugged the gauntlet, not letting go. "After all, I'm a god. Can withstand much more than you!"
Gemini rolled her eyes. "Stop it. Let you snap? Might as well give the gauntlet to Thanos. At least that way we'd die quick."
"Hey! How can you say that?!" Loki looked incredulous. "Saying that hurts me! After all, I grabbed this back!"
Gemini ignored Loki's expression. Slapped away his hand. Snatched the gauntlet from him. Carefully checked the stones. "You sure you didn't swap these stones?"
Loki looked wronged. "Am I that kind of person? You don't trust me at all!"
Gemini took a deep breath. "Stop it. Everyone saw what you were doing just now!"
Loki scanned the surrounding people watching like tigers. Immediately shut his mouth awkwardly. Okay, he had a record. Better stay quiet.
Carefully sensing the gauntlet's aura, having Stephen confirm—Loki didn't pick off stones. That was the best news now. The only problem—who snaps.
Among everyone present except Thor and Banner, Gemini's gaze began turning to those restored. After weighing for a while, Gemini's eyes suddenly lit up. Called Rocket. "Rocket! Bring Groot over!"
Groot's species' characteristics—having him snap was perfect! She swore she'd provide the new Groot the best nutrients! Even dragon dung fertilizer she could get!
Plus their physique was much stronger than humans. Might not even need rebirth. Missing a part or two—for Groot, eat something and it'd grow back. Best candidate!
The battlefield began changing. Everyone stopped charging forward. Pulled back. Protected Groot who'd run to the front line. Let him quickly return to the rear. Thanos stopped charging where people gathered too. The battlefield's center instantly began moving toward Groot.
Just as Rocket led Groot fleeing, a blade appeared abruptly. Directly severed one of Groot's legs. Made him stop in place. Couldn't advance.
Gemini looked over. Ebony Maw!
Thanos's Black Order! Gemini groaned inwardly. Originally thought they hadn't come. Who knew they were all hiding in the shadows. At this critical moment suddenly emerged. Cut off their hope!
Four shadows stood behind Ebony Maw. Gemini recognized Black Dwarf and the Proxima Midnight couple. Plus one she didn't know.
"Careful! She's Supergiant! She can mind control!" Nebula's voice sounded. Everyone turned sharply.
Nebula, missing a hand, appeared behind them supported by Gamora. "Nebula? Where'd you go?" Rhodes asked worriedly.
"Careful! Who knows if she's impersonated again!" Stephen said warily.
Rhodes shook his head. "Her hand—injured getting stones. I saw that wound. The imposter's hand was fine."
"Sorry for troubling everyone. I didn't know this would happen!" Nebula said guiltily.
Gemini and others shook their heads. "No need. Even if not you, we'd face other tests. At least we've dealt with Thanos before!"
Gemini immediately spread the news. The Guardians already engaged the Black Order. If someone accidentally got caught, that'd be bad.
The battlefield situation changed again. Most combatants were tied up by the Black Order. Thanos's side entangled Captain Marvel, Thor, and other high-level fighters. Gemini's rear was gloomy. Suitable snappers were all on the battlefield.
Looking at the battlefield, Gemini steeled herself. "If not, I'll do it!"
"You're crazy! This will kill you!" Everyone was shocked. Quickly dissuaded her.
Banner awkwardly moved his body, blocking Gemini. "I'll do it! Just a hand, right? Tony's craftsmanship is great! If not, I'll use a fake hand like Bucky!"
"Enough!" Gemini frowned. "I've decided. I'll do it!" She stared hard at Stephen. Stephen still frowned, thinking about something.
Seeing he didn't object, Gemini understood. They had to sacrifice one this time. Either Tony or her. Even if others got the gauntlet, they'd lose the chance to snap for various reasons. Like Groot's leg.
Just as Gemini resolved to put on the gauntlet, surprised shouts sounded around.
Gemini looked up. Thanos, ignoring Thor and Captain Marvel's attacks, charged straight at Gemini at full speed.
Everyone around went to intercept the approaching Thanos. No use at all.
Thanos was like a moving tank. Knocked away every obstacle he touched.
Even Loki muttered "this repays you one life," closed his eyes, and charged over. His illusions were completely useless to Thanos now. Thanos's eyes held only that gauntlet in Gemini's hand!
Gemini was about to mobilize magic to flee. Discovered she couldn't squeeze out any magic at all. Even drinking potions now—completely too late to wait for effects.
Helplessly, Gemini could only endure her headache, turn and run. While running, threw things from her bracelet behind her. Tried hard to block Thanos's steps.
Talismans were swatted away. Artifacts dodged. Food, drink, clothes—those things didn't block even one second.
Watching Thanos get closer and closer to Gemini, everyone stopped managing those minions. All surged this way. Hoped to stop him.
Gemini's backpack and bracelet were empty. No more things to throw. She gritted her teeth. Grabbed the Qiankun Bracelet the Jade Emperor gave her. Threw it hard at Thanos. Didn't even look. Prepared to put on the gauntlet directly.
"Huh?"
The instant Gemini was about to put on the gauntlet, light enveloped her.
Gemini looked up. Someone sat on clouds in the sky. The one she'd seen at the Heavenly Court—the Jade Emperor seated on the high platform!
"What's going on here?" The Jade Emperor looked curiously at Thanos blocked a few steps away. And the devastated battlefield.
"Jade Emperor? How'd you come?!" Gemini asked dumbfounded. This was truly an unexpected joy!
The Jade Emperor slowly descended from the clouds. "Didn't I tell you? I left a seal on that bracelet. If you encounter an irresistible enemy, just throw it out to summon one of my avatars."
Gemini looked at the Jade Emperor accusingly. "You didn't tell me!"
The Jade Emperor blinked. "Ah, I didn't say? Hahaha, so embarrassing!"
"So now, what danger did you encounter?" The Jade Emperor excitedly formed a hand seal. Everyone outside this light moved in slow motion.
"I think this should be quite a story. Relax, I just accelerated our speed. You can start talking!" The Jade Emperor pulled out a root-styled tea table. Set out several plates of snacks and a pot of hot tea. Pulled out a chair. Eyes shining at Gemini.
Gemini's mouth twitched. Was the Jade Emperor too stifled at the Heavenly Court? Last time they met, he wasn't this gossipy!
No other way. Gemini sighed. Sat on the stool the Jade Emperor handed her. Began narrating their war.
By the time Gemini finished, Thanos's fist had just touched the light barrier once.
"So that's it!" The Jade Emperor stroked his chin. Looked at the gauntlet in Gemini's hand. "These are the Infinity Stones?"
Gemini nodded. "Yes. You haven't heard of them before?"
The Jade Emperor took the gauntlet with interest. Sensed carefully. "Mm, I've heard. Just never seen them. For us, our own cultivation is most important. External objects are ultimately external."
"So, just put on this gauntlet and snap?" The Jade Emperor reached over. Easily put on the Infinity Gauntlet. Blinked at Gemini.
Gemini was dumbfounded again. The Jade Emperor wore the gauntlet like it was just an ordinary glove. Those reactions that tortured Banner didn't appear on him at all!
The Jade Emperor looked at Gemini's expression. Chuckled. "Don't look at me—just an avatar. But I have one-tenth of the main body's power. Just snapping—very easy."
After Gemini stammered through how to snap, she saw the Jade Emperor's avatar stand up eagerly. Waved to cancel the light barrier. Revealed himself before everyone.
Lightly waved his sleeve. Thanos was blown away by the wind. Wanting to come again wouldn't be so easy.
Everyone looked at the Jade Emperor like they'd seen a ghost. He didn't care. Showed the gauntlet on his hand. Pursed his lips. "Honestly, this gauntlet is really ugly. Right, if there's a chance later, I'll get you another bracelet. Just for hearing a good story this time. Plus those descendants of ours—they should thank you too!"
Finished speaking, he smiled. Pinched his fingers. Snap—a crisp snap sound seemed mysteriously amplified. Rang in everyone's ears.
Thanos, seeing things couldn't be done, sat dejectedly on a nearby stone. Expressionlessly watched his army slowly turn to ash. And himself—gradually dispersed with the wind.
The Jade Emperor looked satisfied at the resolved situation. Took off the gauntlet, tossed it to Gemini. Ignored his charred fingers.
Everyone froze for a long time before reacting. Thanos and his army—vanished. This war—they won!
Cheers instantly echoed through the sky. Before the Daoists could surround them, the Jade Emperor quickly used his remaining hand to pull Gemini away from their sight.
"Aiya, I'm just an avatar! What for! Besides, that snap was really something. I don't have much time left here. Quick, tell me—what delicacies are in the world now? Always eating the same things at the Heavenly Court. I'm sick of it. Quick, take this chance to change flavors!" The Jade Emperor excitedly pulled Gemini onto clouds. Floated in midair. Looking at the cheering crowd below. Couldn't wait to leave.
Gemini quickly stopped him. "Don't rush. My friends are still looking for me. Besides, why hide from the Daoists? In this world, for delicacies, it's still China. How about I contact a guide for you?"
The Jade Emperor hesitated for a while. Somewhat reluctant. "I'm afraid they'll be respectful and all."
Gemini's mouth twitched. "You're overthinking. It's a new society now. Very different from your era. I'll contact people. Have them bring things to cook for you. Save you running around wasting time."
"Then mortals running around won't waste time? They can't fly. At least my speed is faster." The Jade Emperor looked at Gemini suspiciously. Felt she was lying.
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