"Friday, initiate defensive protocols!" Tony commanded, and the entire base hummed with the sound of machinery.
Moments later, the base transformed into an impenetrable fortress of steel. The small cabin where they were gathered became a completely sealed space. Everyone's expression grew grim as they assumed defensive stances, uncertain of the exact consequences of the snap.
Seeing that everyone was ready, Bruce no longer hesitated and slowly put on the gauntlet…
The instant the gauntlet fit, the six Infinity Stones emitted a resonant hum. Multicolored energy surged across the gauntlet's surface, then coursed through Bruce's veins towards his heart. Bruce's arm, ravaged by the energy, began to crumble. His outer skin turned brittle, like charred wood, losing its vitality. An immense wave of pain washed over him, and Bruce endured it with great difficulty, collapsing to his knees with a pained cry.
The others watched this scene with trembling hearts, witnessing once again the terrifying power of six Infinity Stones united. Fighting against the turbulent energy, Bruce struggled to stand. This was an opportunity bought with everyone's sacrifice; Natasha, in particular, had given her life for one of the stones. He would not waste it!
Veins bulged on his forehead, his immense willpower prevailing. Bruce's fingers slowly moved to clasp together. In his mind, he whispered: "Bring everyone back!"
*Snap!*
With a crisp sound, he unleashed the snap. Instantly, a wave of indescribable power emanated from Bruce, spreading rapidly outwards. It burst beyond Earth and expanded throughout the universe, carrying an inaudible echo.
After the snap, Bruce's strength was completely depleted. His massive body fell backward, caught by Steve. The Infinity Gauntlet slipped from his arm and clattered to the ground, emitting wisps of smoke.
No one paid attention to the gauntlet. They rushed to check on Bruce's injuries. Bruce's left arm was now like charred charcoal, a horrific sight.
"Don't touch him!" Tony shouted, then knelt down, his suit emitting a steady stream of coolant. Judging by his arm, it would likely be bandaged for some time.
Without time to assess his own injuries, Bruce gasped for breath and weakly asked the others, "Did it work? Did I succeed?"
They exchanged glances, unsure how to answer.
A phone on the table suddenly vibrated. It was Hawkeye's. His heart skipped a beat as he slowly walked towards it under everyone's gaze. The caller ID on the screen instantly brought tears to his eyes. It was Laura, whose call he hadn't received in five years. Hawkeye picked up the phone with a tremor. From the receiver came the voice he had longed to hear for five years.
"Honey…" Hawkeye's voice choked, his throat feeling impossibly constricted, unable to speak…
Looking at the chirping birds outside the window, a profound sense of mystery arose in everyone's hearts. Bruce's snap had seemingly been effective… Steve patted Bruce's uninjured arm, a wave of relief washing over him. "It looks like it worked…"
Tony slumped to the floor, wiping the sweat from his brow as if he had just endured a fierce battle. Their efforts had paid off. He would see that chatty Spider-kid again… At that moment, a sense of profound peace settled over them, a faint joy blooming in their hearts.
However, they were unaware that the true disaster of their journey through time had just begun. Lin Feng stepped forward, his eyes narrowed as he looked out the window, interrupting their elation. "Everyone, trouble has arrived."
Still recovering, the group froze. Confused, they followed Lin Feng's gaze and looked out. Instantly, their pupils contracted, and their hearts pounded with alarm. Outside the window, a colossal spacecraft hovered above the base, and several missiles, trailing red fire, streaked towards them!
*Boom!*
A massive explosion erupted about ten meters from the base. Flames shot into the sky, yet the base remained astonishingly unharmed! The missiles seemed to have been stopped by an immense, transparent shield. Lin Feng raised his left hand. The yellow and blue raw stones on his wristguard pulsed with light, their biological field engulfing the entire Avengers base. The missiles exploded like fireworks but posed no threat to them.
Although not hit, they couldn't find joy in the spectacle. Captain America, holding his shield, frowned. "What's going on?" Tony's expression beneath his helmet was grim. "You play with time, and time will play with you!" The others mused, their gazes fixed on the scene outside.
As the fireworks of explosions dissipated in the air, the colossal spacecraft was revealed once more. Lin Feng retracted his energy, dismissing the biological field. With his protection, the Avengers base had not been reduced to ruins as in the original timeline.
"Let's go, everyone, the guests have arrived!" Lin Feng said, then stepped out of the base and walked towards the spacecraft. The others exchanged glances, saying nothing, but their weapons were held tight as they followed Lin Feng out, their faces grim as they stared at the spaceship.
The spacecraft hovered in the air, no longer firing missiles. Instead, a beam of light suddenly appeared at its underside, descending towards the ground. A figure, accompanying the light, landed on the surface. As the beam dissipated, a purple, colossal head appeared before them, a sight that was both unexpected and yet felt entirely plausible.
Thanos! The Titan who had wiped out half of all life in the universe with a single snap. However, unlike their memory of him, the Thanos before them wore a helmet, donned golden armor, and wielded a massive double-bladed sword, exuding an even greater aura of oppression than five years prior.
"What is this situation…" Seeing their former foe, whose head they had once severed, reappear before them, the group felt a sense of disorientation.
"It's Thanos from another timeline…" Lin Feng stated slowly. "Tony was right, you play with time, and time will play with you!" Hearing this, their faces grew even more somber. Steve's expression was grave as he raised his shield. "We can't let him get the Infinity Stones again!" Tony's brow furrowed, his helmet sealing shut, his gaze locked onto Thanos. Thor roared, dark clouds rapidly gathering above his head, crackling with lightning. A bolt of lightning struck down, and Thor, his eyes blazing with white energy, spread his arms. *Hum!* A hammer and an axe flew through the air, landing in Thor's hands. The electric light faded as he donned a new suit of armor. "It's just another beheading. This time, I won't miss!"
The group stared at Thanos, slowly creating distance between them and forming a battle line in front of the base, awaiting Thanos's move. However, Thanos did not seem eager to fight immediately. He planted his great sword into the ground, casually scanning them all, his gaze lingering on Lin Feng for a second longer. "It seems you are unwilling to accept defeat. What then?" "You still have to face me."