Natasha coughed awake, casually wiping water droplets from her face. "Tony?! What are you doing here? Where'd that cow you threw down come from?"
Iron Man tossed the Soul Stone to Natasha. "Long story. You two head back first. I still need to return the ship to Star-Lord. Hope he hasn't woken up yet."
After arranging everything, Iron Man finally activated his device with relief, choosing to return.
Next second, eyes opened. Everyone appeared at the Avengers base. Not one missing.
After Iron Man's explanation, everyone was curious about that parallel world with magic. Decided after everyone returned, they'd have Ant-Man find Dr. Pym. See if they could get more Pym Particles. They wanted to see their parallel selves too.
Small talk finished. Everyone prepared. Big guy Banner put on that mechanical gauntlet, snapped his fingers. No one noticed—Nebula wasn't in this room.
Ant-Man stood by the open window, hearing birds outside. Before he could say anything, missiles attacked.
What happened after—no surprises. Except Natasha survived. Iron Man's funeral proceeded as scheduled.
Standing on the small outdoor transmission platform, Captain America held paper filled with times and locations. Plus things everyone brought for their parallel selves. Under big guy Banner's gaze, he vanished from the platform.
In 2014 New York, Tony and Gemini vigilantly watched outside. The war ended. Search parties everywhere.
Soon, a figure appeared abruptly in the ruins. Tony directly Apparated over, bringing the person back.
"God, what the hell is this?" Captain America dry heaved, covering his head.
"Sorry. Outside's a bit chaotic right now." Tony apologized insincerely.
Captain America recovered, waving his hand. "Here's Time, Space, and Mind. Take them. I'll wait here. Just return them to me. I'll deliver them back."
Tony looked at him steadily. "Then we'll borrow this room. Rest a bit. I'll set the time 30 minutes after this point. After all, looks like you still have quite a journey."
Captain America remembered Gemini's earlier words. Smiled at Tony. "Okay, I'll wait for you to return the stones. Right, here are letters from my teammates to themselves. Can you deliver them?"
Gemini reached out, carefully observing Captain America's expression. Her brow furrowed involuntarily. Why did he look at Tony with... nostalgia?
Before Gemini could think more, they began returning.
When consciousness recovered, they saw surrounding companions. From everyone's expressions, all succeeded.
"What?! Parallel world?" Barton looked at Tony's group in surprise. "Wow, amazing! Why didn't Nat and I encounter that? Vormir was quiet for us. We had to throw Daisy and Liz down together."
At everyone's questioning looks, Natasha shrugged. "Daisy was the piglet. Liz was the lamb."
Everyone laughed. Watched Tony mechanically place all stones on a gauntlet he made himself.
"Now the question—who snaps? Let me say first—Gemini and I, two frail humans, can't participate!" Tony looked at the finished gauntlet, immediately stepping back. Pulling Gemini back too.
Looking at eager Thor and interested Banner, everyone finally decided—the two would draw lots.
Banner cheerfully reached out. Tony and others shouted to stop him. "Hey hey hey! You're not calling Hulk out?!"
Banner smiled good-naturedly. "No need. If fatally injured, Hulk will come out himself. If I let Hulk out directly, I'm afraid he'll suddenly change his mind. The consequences would be unpredictable."
Thor sourly hugged his Stormbreaker. "I said it should be me!"
No one paid attention. All stared at Banner putting on the gauntlet. The stones' power began traveling up his arm. Banner constantly fought Hulk's instinct to emerge, comforting Hulk mentally. After barely adapting, he raised his hand. Snapped.
Banner instantly vanished. Became wailing Hulk. Everyone rushed forward for emergency treatment. Hulk's right hand had turned black.
Looking at the conference room with no changes, Tony asked blankly: "Why no reaction?"
The phone on the table started vibrating. Barton excitedly lunged over. Seeing who called, his hand shook—almost hung up. After connecting, that familiar voice came through. Barton couldn't help crying.
Gemini pulled out the constantly heating two-way mirror. Seeing Harry identical to before disappearing—even grass bits still on his head—she couldn't help laughing and crying.
Next moment, violent shaking came. Tony only had time to cast protective spells on everyone. His faceplate automatically closed. Relying on the suit, he withstood it.
No one knew what happened. Gemini climbed from a puddle in disarray, loudly calling companions who'd been beside her. After a while, finally heard Rhodes buried under debris calling for help.
Dragging Rhodes from rubble, Gemini sighed in relief. Began finding others. Their position wasn't good. Water flow kept increasing. Probably wouldn't be long before they drowned.
Finally found everyone. The instant water broke through underground, Gemini dragged everyone onto the flying carpet. Flew straight out of the shattered building.
Looking at that huge ship outside, Gemini blanked out. "This is... where'd it come from?"
"Look there! Gemini!" Rocket pointed at open ground below. Tony, Steve, and Thor were fighting someone.
Gemini's eyes focused. "Thanos!"
No time to say more. Gemini controlled the carpet, diving down. Of course she wasn't that stupid. She knew her physical condition clearly. Could only use various spells from afar to assist the three main attackers.
But Thanos was Thanos. Even taking an Imperius Curse, he only blanked a moment before resisting. Gemini could only use strange curses to cause small problems. Let the three main attack.
The distant ship slowly landed. Tides of bio-soldiers plus masses of Chitauri and Leviathans rushed this way.
Gemini looked at the three fighting in a tangle. Looked at the injured and disabled beside her. Resolutely reached the front line.
Using all her magic, she summoned the largest Fiendfyre phoenix ever. It flew at those minions.
Blue flames looked beautiful. Touch even a bit—they'd burn endlessly. Gemini collapsed on the ground, gasping at the phoenix's rampage. With Harry and them around, they'd come support soon. She wasn't afraid this would burn to ruins. Already ruins anyway!
Forcing down splitting headache, Gemini pulled out the last Qi-Restoring Pill from the Heavenly Court, stuffing it in her mouth. Pain from magic depletion cleared instantly. Struggling to stand, looking at minions untouched by Fiendfyre, she gritted her teeth. About to do it again when a hand touched Gemini's shoulder.
"You've worked hard. Leave the rest to us." A gentle voice sounded.
Gemini turned in surprise. Harry, still with grass bits on his head, looked at her gently.
How so fast? Before Gemini could ask, she saw golden spark portals lighting up nearby.
Massive reinforcements kept emerging. Those long-vanished figures appeared one by one. Gemini saw Sun Xiaoxiao on a flying sword in the sky, triggering thunder magic. Lightning descended in masses.
Saw ordinary soldiers shouting, charging the battlefield with weapons. Gemini couldn't help crying. But still smiled.
"Welcome back!" Gemini said.
Harry nodded. Patted Gemini's shoulder again. Drew his wand, waving sharply. Spells flew everywhere. Each triggered chain reactions. Rapidly clearing those tide-like enemies.
Gemini finally relaxed. Stepped back. Focused on recovering magic. The war wasn't over!
Seeing Stephen in the distance, Gemini's heart moved. Immediately rushed over.
"Is this what you saw too?" Gemini knocked away a nearby bio-soldier, asking vaguely.
Stephen looked at her steadily. "What did you encounter?"
"Should be the legendary parallel world." Gemini said.
Stephen was shocked. "What did you learn?!"
Gemini shook her head. "Not what we learned. What I sensed. The future you saw—it's about Tony, right?"
Stephen nodded with difficulty. "Our only chance of winning. Does he know?"
Gemini changed direction, throwing out a string of spells before answering: "He doesn't know. Maybe."
Stephen relaxed slightly. Silent for a while before he couldn't help speaking. "I'm sorry. But this is our only chance."
Gemini's face was expressionless. "No other way? Must it be him?"
Stephen shook his head with difficulty. "I looked at over fourteen million. Only one victory."
Gemini vented by drawing her magic again. Threw a dozen spells toward Thanos.
"There must be another way! I absolutely won't watch my friend fall before victory!" Gemini said decisively.
Stephen's face changed drastically. "What are you doing? If we fail!"
"No failure!" Gemini looked at Stephen coldly. "Even if I do it myself. Slytherins stop at nothing to protect their family. Tony's long been my family!"
Stephen tried to stop Gemini. She easily dodged.
Gemini activated her ring, forming clouds. Looking at the battlefield below, she sneered. Fingers brushed her bracelet.
Talismans she'd been reluctant to use—all thrown at places with most enemies. Lightning, wind, fire, earth piles, etc. Soon affected the entire battlefield.
With just these talismans, Gemini briefly controlled that tide-like offensive. But talismans were gone after use. After throwing talismans, Gemini started throwing magical artifacts. Those treasures sufficient to be Daoist sect heirlooms—all thrown by Gemini as disposables. Forcibly bombed Thanos's ship down a huge section.
"Guys, what do I do with this hot potato?!" Barton's gasping voice came through the earpiece.
Everyone looked distractedly. Barton held the gauntlet, frantically fleeing across the battlefield. Behind him, masses of bio-soldiers pursued.
"Bring it here! I'll snap again to send them away!" Banner looked at his nearly dead right hand. Firmly raised his left. "I still have one!"
"Buddy, leave yourself something to eat with! My turn this time!" Thor roared, charging Thanos. Following Thanos's momentum, flew directly toward Barton.
"Help quick!" Barton could barely hold on. Bio-soldiers behind almost biting his butt!
"Above!" A shout. Barton threw the gauntlet up without thinking.
A web strand stuck to the gauntlet. "Ned! Run!"
Ned's massive body controlled a flying sword, nimbly dodging attacks in the sky. A web hung from his sword hilt. Peter dangled below. "Easy for you to say! I'm carrying two people! What did you eat?! Why so heavy!"
Peter glared at Ned above indignantly. "You're the heavy one!"
Next second, a laser hit the web. Peter screamed, falling. Ned quickly controlled the sword that suddenly lost downward pressure. Turned toward Peter.
Peter, halfway down, was firmly caught by Valkyrie's pegasus. "Where to?"
She asked concisely. "Should be that way!" Peter pointed at Thor running this way.
Having lost his hammer, Thor could only hop along like a monkey.
Next moment, Peter flew in that direction. Ned helplessly could only turn. Keep chasing. "Wait for me!"
Finally, Peter still fell into the bio-soldier pile. And that ship—actually started gathering fire toward the ground, preparing to launch.
A familiar stream of light pierced through that ship. Back and forth several times. All gun barrels drooped powerlessly.
Carol cleared bio-soldiers around Peter and Ned. Looking at the two covered in wounds, she smiled. "Leave the rest to me."
Peter carefully handed over the gauntlet. Carol just took it when Thanos rushed over, punching her away. The gauntlet fell into Thanos's hands again.
"No!" Watching Thanos easily put on the gauntlet, everyone around frantically rushed forward.
Gemini glared at Stephen. "What's going on?!"
Snap!
A light sound. Thanos easily snapped.
Everyone's expressions turned desperate. Were they really destined to fail?!
Gemini stood blankly on clouds in midair. Instantly made up her mind. So what if they did it again! This time, eliminate Thanos first! Then find everyone!
"Wait, something's wrong!" Tony suddenly reacted. "Why didn't anyone disappear this time? What did he do?!"
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