"You...?!"
Loki pointed a trembling finger at Tony, his face frozen in a mask of absolute shock.
"How could you possibly guess the correct answer?"
"Wait, that answer is impossible!"
In his agitation, Loki's speech became incoherent.
"Why would I attack Thanos with a dagger? A dagger?"
"There must be a mistake!"
Loki had carried those daggers since childhood. To him, they were little more than toys.
When he was eight, he had famously stabbed Thor with one of them. The result? His thick-skinned oaf of a brother had healed almost instantly.
To use such a trivial weapon—one that couldn't even kill an eight-year-old Thor—against a Titan who crushed skulls with his bare hands?
It's a joke. It has to be.
Seeing Loki shouting and pointing aggressively at his master, Megatron's crimson eyes flashed with malice.
CLANK-WHIRR-CHUNK.
In a split second, the Decepticon Leader's right arm shifted, transforming into a massive fusion cannon. He leveled it directly at the God of Mischief.
"Insolent worm. Show disrespect to my Master again, and I will vaporize you where you stand."
As Megatron spoke, the fusion cannon began to charge. A blinding violet light gathered in the barrel, shining like a miniature sun within the white void.
"By the Norns..."
Feeling the terrifying energy build up in the cannon, Loki felt his soul leave his body. He was paralyzed with fear.
Asgardian physiology was durable, yes. But looking down the barrel of that weapon, Loki knew instantly: If that hits me, I am dust.
"Whoa, whoa! Megatron, stand down! No laser cannons!"
Tony jumped, startled by the sudden escalation. He hurriedly shouted the command.
Hearing the order, the mechanical giant hesitated, then lowered his weapon. The blinding light faded.
Tony let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. But then, his eyes widened as realization struck him.
Just now... this robot acted without a command.
It attacked to protect my honor.
That means...
"You... you're sentient!"
Tony looked up at Megatron, his voice filled with awe.
"Affirmative," Megatron replied, his voice deep and metallic. His red optics flickered with pride. "We Transformers are autonomous robotic lifeforms from the planet Cybertron. We possess our own sparks and consciousness. Do not compare us to your primitive drones."
"Planet Cybertron?"
"Transformers?"
Peter Parker and Stephen Strange exchanged a look. Both could see the shock mirrored in the other's eyes.
Strange had won Gungnir, but he was still a novice; he didn't fully grasp the spear's cosmic significance yet.
But as a modern man of science, Strange understood exactly what a "Sentient Alien Machine Lifeform" implied.
This is a life form completely different from carbon-based biology.
"Hahahaha! This is incredible! This reward is absolutely incredible!"
Tony was practically vibrating with excitement. His face flushed red as he walked up to Megatron, reaching out to touch the cold, alien metal of the giant's leg. His eyes shone with the obsessive focus of a visionary engineer.
One of Tony's life goals was to create true artificial intelligence. That was why he built JARVIS.
But he never dreamed he would win a fully realized alien mechanical lifeform from a quiz show.
And as one of Earth's greatest engineers, Tony could see it instantly: This robot is a masterpiece of war.
Every servo, every plate, every joint on Megatron was mechanical engineering perfection.
Tony knew, with absolute certainty, that studying this being would lead to technological breakthroughs that would change the world.
Suddenly, Megatron spoke again, his voice rumbling with authority.
"Master. I exist to serve your will."
"However... I suggest you construct a Mechanical Legion. And I shall lead them to conquer your enemies."
"A Mechanical Legion?"
Tony's brow furrowed in thought.
Before today, he might have dismissed the idea as overkill. But after watching the livestream—after seeing space titans, infinity stones, and the destruction of Asgard—Tony realized his worldview had been too small.
Aliens exist. Cosmic wars are real.
And they are coming.
Maybe... a legion of iron soldiers wasn't such a bad idea.
Then, another thought crossed his mind.
The System said Livestream Points can be used to view my own past and future.
Tony didn't care about the past. But as a futurist, the chance to see his own future? That was irresistible.
"You... you people!"
Watching Tony and his giant robot chat casually while ignoring him, Loki was fuming. Smoke was practically coming out of his ears.
But he didn't dare speak up.
Provoking that mechanical monster again? He wasn't suicidal.
Loki glanced at the glowing spear in Strange's hand, then at the towering robot behind Tony. A bitter taste filled his mouth.
I am a God of Asgard. I should be the strongest one here.
But now? Except for the kid with the glasses, I am the weakest link.
And it's all because I got the answers wrong.
Loki grit his teeth, his knuckles turning white.
Next time. I swear it.
I will get the right answer. I will claim the reward. I will not be humiliated again!
Asgard.
Through the picture-in-picture display, Odin watched the scene unfold. He sighed, shaking his head at Loki's flustered state.
My son... you still lack discipline.
Just then, the main screen flickered to life.
[VIDEO RESUMING]