The moment Leo left, the door to the archives room was violently smashed open.
The Black female Captain didn't hesitate—she swung her baton straight at Loki.
But the mischievous god was quicker. Loki opened a portal with the Time Controller and slipped away, returning to the screening room in an instant.
Of course, none of that had anything to do with Leo.
He had already left that universe—though he had no clue which one he'd landed in this time.
Still, since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. He knew the Time Variance Authority would eventually come after him, but he wasn't too worried.
Those guys were just ordinary humans with fancy tech. As long as they didn't catch him off guard, he'd be fine.
Once he got a little stronger, how could he end up captured like Loki?
What kind of "powerful beings" had the TVA ever caught anyway? The Five Great Creator Gods? The Living Tribunal? The Beyonder? Molecule Man? Yeah, right.
They only bullied the weak. He had been one of those weaklings before—no wonder he got caught.
"What the hell... where is this place? Can I be any unluckier?"
Leo looked around and saw nothing but endless desert. Rolling dunes of yellow sand stretched in every direction.
"Damn it. Guess I'll just pick a direction and walk. Maybe I'll run into some desert enthusiasts or something…"
Muttering to himself, Leo started trudging forward through the heat.
"What kind of hellhole is this? Why does it feel so damn uncomfortable?"
[Ding! Replying to host: You have fused with the Frost Giant royal bloodline. While you are not harmed by this environment, you will always feel unaccustomed to it.]
"Yeah, yeah, I figured as much," Leo said helplessly. His suspicion was confirmed the moment the Destroyer System spoke.
"System, why haven't these Infinity Stones changed yet?"
As he walked, Leo pulled out six gleaming stones, casually rolling them in his palm.
They really were beautiful—definitely something that could fetch a ridiculous price at auction.
At least five billion Universe coins, easy. Enough to buy a few hundred planets.
Thanos, my big purple friend, you've been chasing these for years… and I've got dozens of them?
How about I let you borrow one—after I play with it for a few months?
Leo snickered. He wondered what would happen if he threw these at the Mad Titan. Maybe have a "snap contest"?
"Hey, yours are female Stones, mine are male Stones!"
Leo burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that echoed in the empty desert and made him sound completely unhinged.
Cough, cough. Low-key, low-key.
Just then, the Destroyer System finished its analysis.
[Ding! Replying to host: Because these Infinity Stones come from other universes, and this universe already has its own set, they cannot currently link with the local universal laws.]
Leo frowned. "So, they're like… fake tenants in someone else's house?"
Exactly that. This universe already had its Infinity Stones and didn't need his. It wouldn't let them take over its laws.
Leo sighed. "So, I went through all that trouble just to grab some glass beads?"
Suddenly, the Stones in his hand didn't look quite as impressive anymore.
["Host, your conclusion is incorrect," the system responded flatly. "An Infinity Stone remains an Infinity Stone. Even if it is temporarily useless, it retains immense value."]
"What do you mean?"
[When Infinity Stones from different universes meet their counterparts, they can fuse, strengthening this universe's laws. As a result, the universe itself becomes stronger—capable of sustaining more powerful beings, such as the host.]
[The host's ultimate mission is to recreate the ultimate timeline—recreate the ultimate Marvel Universe.]
Leo stopped walking, eyes widening.
"What?!"
The Destroyer System's ambition stunned him. Recreate the ultimate timeline? The ultimate universe?
"Are you serious?" he asked in disbelief.
[Of course. Does the host wish to live in a universe that can be erased by a higher being at any time? To be wiped out without resistance?]
Leo clenched his fists. "Hell no."
[Ding! Host has accepted the ultimate mission: Recreate the ultimate timeline. Recreate the ultimate universe.]
There was no turning back now.
Leo had had enough of being an insignificant ant. He wanted to become someone so powerful that even gods and cosmic beings would fear his name.
Of course, he wasn't delusional—this mission wouldn't be completed in decades, centuries, or even millennia. It would take eons.
But he had time.
He wouldn't die of thirst or hunger. With his godlike physique, this desert couldn't harm him.
"Hmm. I'm a bit thirsty though… too dry."
He flipped his hand, and a block of pure ice appeared in his palm.
He popped it into his mouth and crunched down.
"Mmm. Not bad. The Frost Giant royal physique really is impressive. I can naturally control water and ice."
Now that he'd left the TVA's suppression field, his elemental powers flowed freely.
He wasn't at Iceman's level—Bobby Drake was an Omega-level mutant who could freeze time and space itself—but Leo could still control the elements well enough.
Loki's Frost Giant bloodline had been sealed by Odin. But Leo's? His was complete.
He condensed the moisture in the air, forming icy chunks to chew on as he walked. The freezing taste against the desert heat was pure satisfaction.
After walking for what felt like three hours, Leo finally spotted movement.
"Hmm? Troops? Mercenaries?"
He climbed a dune and looked down—rows of tents, trucks, off-roaders, and armed men.
He didn't know who they were, but that didn't matter.
A little "friendly negotiation," and he'd have a ride out of here.
Grinning, he sped up—his figure darting down the dune like lightning.
Finally, a way out!
"F*ck! Who the hell is that?!"
"Hey! Stop right there!"
"This kid's weird—he's too damn clean for the middle of a desert!"
The patrolling soldiers quickly noticed the lone figure charging toward them, sand flying everywhere.
Such a dramatic entrance—it was impossible to ignore.
"Cocky bastard doesn't even see us as people!" one shouted, pulling out his rifle.
But before they could act, Leo yelled first—voice loud and confident:
"Hey! You're surrounded by me! Surrender, and I'll let half of you live!"
Charging down the dune, Leo looked completely unhinged, his grin wild.
To the soldiers, this lunatic was either suicidal… or unstoppable.