"You know my purpose?"
Lucien pulled out a cigarette and lit it. His expression was cold, with a faint trace of irritation. No one would feel comfortable knowing that their future had been observed, especially when it involved every possible outco.
"Not entirely, but I can make a rough guess. You have a sixty percent chance of winning. Whitebeard and the Sword God together hold thirty nine point nine percent, and we only have zero point one percent."
The Ancient One lowered her gaze to the teacup in her hand, a hint of helplessness lingering in her eyes.
"Zero point one percent, and you still refuse to gamble?"
Lucien narrowed his eyes, suspicion evident. In another world, defeating Thanos had only a one in ten thousand chance, yet they still gambled and succeeded. Whether it was zero point one percent or one in ten thousand, it was still worth the risk.
"It is possible to gamble, but the outco will not change. The final victors will always be you, Whitebeard, and the Sword God. Victory will never belong to us."
Her aning was clear. No matter how the future shifted, everything would ultimately revolve around Lucien, Theo, and Zhou Tianyu.
"Then I should thank you for choosing ."
Lucien rubbed his forehead. At least she had chosen him instead of Theo or Zhou Tianyu. But the question remained, why?
He intended to take everything, heroes and villains alike. Could it be that Theo and Zhou Tianyu beca even worse in the future? Worse than him?
Just how far could they fall to surpass soone like him?
"All three of you are monsters. The only reason I chose you is because there is a future where Earth becos more prosperous and peaceful under your influence. They do not have such a future. I simply chose the lesser evil."
The Ancient One spoke plainly, as if she had already seen through Lucien's thoughts.
"Interesting. A future where I bring peace and prosperity?"
Lucien almost laughed. He was the kind of man who devoured everything in his path, heroes and villains alike. The idea that the world could beco better because of him felt almost insulting.
"The Ti Stone is yours. I have only one request. Earth must not be destroyed. Everything else is your choice."
She did not intend to continue the discussion. The more she revealed, the more unpredictable the future would beco.
"Even if I kill you, or Doctor Strange?"
Lucien frowned, watching her carefully.
The Ancient One did not answer. She simply looked at him, her calm gaze unwavering.
That silence made him even more uneasy. It felt like a trap, though he could not see where it lay.
The room fell into complete silence, broken only by the faint sound of Lucien exhaling smoke.
"Deal."
Lucien made his decision. He preferred caution, but sotis risk was necessary. The cautious starve, the bold thrive. With the Space Stone already in his possession, he had little to fear.
The Ancient One did not hesitate. As soon as he agreed, the Eye of Agamotto opened. A green gem floated out and hovered in the air before embedding itself into Lucien's thumb.
In that instant, Lucien tilted his head slightly as a vast surge of energy flooded his body. A burning sensation spread through him, intense but manageable.
Just like with the Space Stone, knowledge of the Ti Stone flowed directly into his mind. Its abilities, its functions, its limitations, all beca clear.
Each use would cause a backlash of energy, but for now, it was nothing he could not handle.
He clenched his fist and looked at the two gems. Space and ti felt as though they were within his control. The sensation was intoxicating.
But in the end, it was still borrowed power.
"I hope you keep your promise."
"Of course."
In the next mont, Lucien vanished.
Only a pile of ashes remained on the ground, scattering in the wind.
Another life erased.
He did not store the Ancient One's soul in the vibranium gauntlet. Instead, he absorbed it himself.
A powerful nourishnt.
Elsewhere, within the Dark Dinsion, Zhou Tianyu and Dormammu were locked in battle. The Xuanyuan Sword radiated a sacred aura, naturally suppressing dark entities like Dormammu. His massive form was covered in deep wounds.
Zhou Tianyu was not in perfect condition either. His face had grown pale, his energy heavily drained.
"I am not your enemy. If you continue, I will kill you even if it costs everything."
Despite holding the advantage, Zhou Tianyu was anxious. He was trapped here, completely cut off from the outside world.
The worst possibility was already forming in his mind. Whitebeard and the so called savior might have already obtained the Infinity Stones.
He needed to leave.
With a powerful strike, he forced Dormammu back and stopped attacking.
"Are you not here to stop from invading reality?" Dormammu asked, his voice filled with suspicion.
"Idiot. The Ancient One is my enemy."
Zhou Tianyu's voice was cold. The Xuanyuan Sword floated in front of him as his presence sharpened. He seed to rge with the blade itself, preparing to cut through the dinsion and escape.
"Yo, long ti no see."
A third voice echoed through the dinsion.
Zhou Tianyu froze, his expression turning ugly as he looked upward.
Lucien descended from above, smiling as he looked at both Zhou Tianyu and Dormammu.
"Damn it."
Zhou Tianyu's gaze locked onto Lucien's vibranium armor, then shifted to the two glowing gems on his hand. His worst fear had co true.
Without hesitation, he moved.
His body rged with the sword, turning into a streak of light that tore through the dinsion as he fled.
There was no hesitation.
Lucien had already mastered the stones. There was no chance of winning in a direct fight. Only by gathering more stones could he hope to stand against him.
At this point, the Infinity Stones themselves were the greatest advantage. Whoever held more would dominate.
Seeing the colors of the gems, Zhou Tianyu's mood sank even further. Space and Ti. The worst possible combination.
"Trying to run?"
Lucien let out a cold laugh.
He had learned his lesson before. People like Zhou Tianyu always had thods to escape, items that could teleport them across worlds.
So this ti, he ca prepared.
Space and ti twisted.
The fleeing Zhou Tianyu suddenly slowed, then reversed.
His body rewound through space and ti, returning to his original position, frozen in the sa posture as before.
Lucien felt the backlash from using both stones at once, but it remained within his limits. He did not even need to reinforce himself with Armant Haki.
The combination of Space and Ti ant absolute control. Not just space, not just ti, but both together.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Tianyu's pupils shrank as fear gripped his heart.
Facing this situation, only a fully unsealed Xuanyuan Sword might have resisted. But unlocking it further required resources he no longer had.
There was only one option left.
Forcefully abandon the mission and return to the Main God Space.
It would cost him his lifespan, possibly more than he could afford, but it was still a chance.
Without hesitation, he attempted to activate it.
But sothing was wrong.
"How is this possible!"
Panic finally surfaced.
"Trying to escape again?"
Lucien clenched his fist.
The Space Stone and Ti Stone activated simultaneously, completely sealing the surrounding space ti.
Did Zhou Tianyu really think Lucien would leave such a loophole?
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