"Don't worry. Though their speed isn't as fast as yours, it's not slow either!" Gemini said, then went to meet Elder Sun who'd found them.
Looking at Elder Sun about to faint from excitement, Gemini was curious. "You know who he is?"
Elder Sun nodded excitedly, then shook his head. "Though I don't recognize him, this senior is definitely from the Heavenly Court! We recognize this special celestial energy!"
Since they recognized him, that made things easier. Gemini immediately handed this hot potato to Elder Sun. Instructed him several times to serve the guest well. Only then did she feel relieved to find Stephen. Completely ignored the Jade Emperor's resentful gaze.
"Is this the victory you saw?" Gemini asked with a smile.
Stephen sat cross-legged on a rock. Elbow on his knee, chin in hand. Stared blankly at the wizards organizing the battlefield. "You should've guessed. The victory I saw—Tony as the only sacrifice. We barely won. Reality? You summoned an incredible being. Made Thanos completely powerless. Though I'd like to see what actually happened, our Time Stone is gone. I need to adapt to days without the stone."
Seeing Stephen's somewhat lost expression, Gemini suddenly thought of something. "Right, the war you saw—was I there?"
Stephen froze. Right! Only now did he realize—the war he'd seen, where they won by sacrificing Tony—Gemini and others weren't there!
"Could what I saw be a parallel world?" Stephen said incredulously.
Gemini stroked her chin, looking at the sky. "Based on that Captain America's reaction, probably right."
After chatting briefly, Gemini said goodbye to Stephen. Many things still waited for her. Like returning Hogwarts.
Everyone dispersed. Each went to find their family and friends.
After solving everything, everyone remembered to gather at the newly built base. Prepare to return those stones.
Gemini was finally cornered by the nearly dissipating Jade Emperor. "I'm about to dissipate! After all, you summoned me. Can't you see me off?" The Jade Emperor looked very satisfied with the Daoists' hospitality. Though his words sounded sour, the smile on his face couldn't be hidden.
Gemini had no choice. The meeting to return the stones was about to start. She really had no time now. Could only bring the Jade Emperor's avatar—dropping light particles—toward the conference room.
The conference room was already in chaos. Everyone wanted to see the parallel world. Plus crying Wanda and lost George. Fred and Jarvis—now one had no body, one didn't know his status. If they returned the stones, what about them?
"I say, since it's a parallel world anyway, keeping the stones without returning them probably won't affect you." Loki half-reclined in his chair. Feet brazenly on the table. Said gleefully.
Even Thor thought Loki looked too punchable. Without a word, directly placed his Stormbreaker on Loki. He was immediately pinned to the floor. Couldn't say a word.
Everyone ignored them. Harry was already comforting George. Jarvis also softly consoled through the earpiece Wanda carried.
Gemini was troubled too. This mess—what should they do?
The Jade Emperor quietly poked Gemini. "Say, do you know a red-haired man? Looks just like that soulless one."
Gemini whipped around. Could almost hear her neck crack.
Rubbing her nearly twisted head, Gemini looked at George. Asked quietly: "Where'd you see him? You sure you didn't see George?"
The Jade Emperor looked insulted. "Where do I need to see? They stood together. My eyes aren't blurry. How could I not see!"
This commotion immediately drew everyone's attention. Gemini awkwardly tugged the Jade Emperor's sleeve. "Any way to let me see too?"
The Jade Emperor looked at Gemini disdainfully. "I don't have much power left. Find that kid who practices Maoshan techniques!"
Gemini looked around the conference room. Good. Ned wasn't here. This group thought this was adults' business. Kids shouldn't participate!
Had Jarvis contact Ned to come quickly. Gemini stood beside Harry. Whispered something.
Everyone looked at Gemini's actions puzzled. But without certainty, couldn't say. Otherwise giving George false hope—Gemini really feared he couldn't withstand it.
Soon, Ned appeared outside the window on his flying sword under Jarvis's urging. Gemini quickly went over. Opened the window to let him in.
"Can you let people see souls?" Gemini asked directly.
Ned looked confused. "Of course I can! That's our basic curriculum!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier?!" Gemini felt her hands itch.
"You didn't ask either?" Ned muttered aggrievedly.
"Do it for us." Gemini said. "Our comrade is here. You can see him, right? We need to see too!"
Ned scanned the conference room. Nodded toward George's side. Patted his chest. "No problem! Leave it to me!"
Pulled out cinnabar and yellow paper from his bag. Ned started working right at the conference table.
Everyone looked at Gemini and Ned's actions blankly. Had no idea what they were doing.
Soon, Ned drew a stack of talismans. The Jade Emperor stood behind, kept nodding. "This kid draws talismans well. Seems quite talented!"
Ned began jumping around the conference room posting talismans. Each stuck in unexpected places.
Like the very center under the table. Behind the camera in the corner. In the fire cabinet behind the door. Plus one under Tony's chair. Was told not to move the chair.
Finally, Ned finished posting talismans. Only the last one left in hand. Muttered strange incantations. Two fingers held the remaining talisman. Suddenly waved. The talisman burned without fire. Flames glowed eerie green.
The entire conference room abruptly darkened. Everyone looked up at the ceiling lights. Found no problems. Only then looked down.
"Ah!"
A scream suddenly rang out. Everyone looked over. George stared at the transparent figure beside him, both sad and happy. "Fred!"
"Wow, you can actually see me! Did that chubby kid just do it? Amazing!" Fred laughed, leaning back. Tried to sit in the chair. Passed right through.
Didn't care. Climbed up. Patted nonexistent dust. "You know, I've been wandering around for 5 years!"
"You were always here?" Gemini asked in surprise.
Fred shrugged. "Of course. Thanos eliminated half the universe's life. But my state then didn't count as life. How could I vanish?"
Paused. Continued complaining. "You don't know how miserable I was. Can't eat, can't drink. Strong wind blows me away. Finally found Gemini. She dove straight into Hogwarts! I was blocked at the school gate!"
Fred got more indignant. "More infuriating—no one could communicate with me! I almost suffocated!"
After Fred finished complaining, Gemini was more troubled. How to bring up sending the stones away? But not sending them—the problems that'd cause weren't something they could handle.
"So what are you struggling with now?" The Jade Emperor asked curiously.
Gemini glumly explained the current problem. Two beings waiting for bodies.
The Jade Emperor looked at Fred's soul. "Where's the other one?"
Gemini pointed at the hidden speaker. "Electronic life. Developed emotions. Equivalent to having a soul. They had bodies before through the stones."
The Jade Emperor smacked his lips. "If my main body were here, this problem's easy to solve. Just two bodies? We can piece them together with lotus roots! Unfortunately, this world has no quality lotus roots. My power's insufficient too."
Gemini irritably scratched her hair. "Then why say anything?"
The Jade Emperor shrugged like Fred. "That red stone—can't it modify reality? Why not use it to create two suitable bodies?"
Gemini's eyes widened. Everyone in the conference room silently looked at that red stone.
"Why didn't we think of something so obvious?" Tony murmured. "Just use Reality to make suitable bodies. Then return the stone. Their bodies can last forever!"
Do it now. The strongest, Captain Marvel, immediately pried the red stone from the gauntlet. Held the stone, looked at everyone questioningly. "Who does it?"
Everyone looked at each other. No one present had used this stone alone. What if the created body had deviations?
Eager Tony and Gemini were first excluded. Plus those ordinary humans with average physiques—all excluded. After all, it was still an Infinity Stone. Don't look at Captain Marvel's relaxed appearance. In their hands, just picking it up would probably cost them half their lives.
Silent for a long time, the Jade Emperor reached out. Took the stone from Captain Marvel's hand. Said confidently: "I'll do it! I have experience with this!"
Like throwing out a hot potato, relieved sighs sounded throughout the conference room.
The Jade Emperor walked to George's side with the stone. Looked at Fred. "How about it? Make it the same as you?"
George nodded hard. "Of course! We're twins! Of course the same!"
The Jade Emperor looked at George thoughtfully. "Ear too?"
"No!"
"Sure!"
George loudly objected. At the same time, Fred's eyes lit up.
"Hey! How can you do this?!" George glared at Fred. "Your ear was originally fine!"
Fred grinned. "Creating a fake ear is easy. But making your own ear disappear isn't easy. Aren't we twins?"
George choked. Looked to Harry and Ron beside him for help.
Harry silently stepped back. Indicated not participating. Ron was grinning watching the show. Didn't expect the show to land on him. Immediately shocked. "Don't look at me! You decide! But I have to remind you! Mum's still waiting at home!"
Mentioning Molly, even Fred as a soul shuddered.
Reluctantly indicated he'd keep one ear.
The Jade Emperor just manipulated the stone. A body identical to George appeared before everyone. The only bad thing—stark naked.
Natasha couldn't help whistling. Threw Fred's soul a flirtatious look. Watched Fred frantically try to cover himself. Everyone laughed.
George, laughing hard, suddenly thought of something. Hurriedly covered Fred's body indignantly. They looked the same. This body was molded after him. Round it off—didn't that mean he'd been seen naked?!
The Jade Emperor reached out his other charred hand. Aimed at Fred's soul, grabbed hard. Then slapped it onto that body.
Next moment, he immediately withdrew his hand. Carefully blew on it. Looked distressedly at the ash that fell from too much force.
Fred only felt the Jade Emperor grab his chest and give him a slap. Then sank into endless darkness. Maybe an instant passed. Maybe a long time. Fred felt like he'd sunk to the bottom of water. Air in his lungs pressed out by endless water pressure.
If I don't breathe I'll die! Fred screamed internally. Kept struggling. Finally, light appeared ahead. Fred joyfully lunged toward that light.
"He's awake! He's awake!" Cheers all around.
Fred sat up abruptly. Grabbed the thin blanket. Looked around blankly. Still in that conference room. Lying on a transformed stretcher.
"I'm okay?" Fred touched his face. Breathed hard. "I came back to life?"
George laughed, handed him his wand. Fred took it. Red light flickered. No time to test anything else. Quickly transformed the blanket into clothes to wear. He was still naked!
"Amazing! Even magic's still there!" Gemini's eyes flickered. Wanted to study this. Just didn't know if this request was too much.
Over there, Wanda had already pushed everyone aside. Pulled the Jade Emperor to the side. Quietly stated her request. Jarvis good-naturedly agreed. What she wanted was what he wanted.
Wanda stammered out just one request. She wanted a home with him. A home with children.
The Jade Emperor said this was completely no problem. Now the only problem—Jarvis's soul existed in the network. He himself didn't know how to come out. This really gave the Jade Emperor a headache. How to stuff an electronic soul into a body.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📚 BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!📚
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
🔥 Full story available now
💎 Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
👉 Join my Patreon community today!
[✨patreon.com/DarkGolds]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━