Chapter 137

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Upon giving the name "Time Variance Authority" further thought, and taking into account the spoilers from my diary, I've gained a more concrete and advanced understanding of the style of this imposing organization. Clearly, even though the criteria for determining the "Sacred Timeline" are unknown to me, the TVA treats any deviations from it as "time variant events." They manage these time variant events, just like Loki's escape!

As for the Avengers, who also disrupted the timeline but were deemed to be in line with the Sacred Timeline, they seem to be off the hook. Now, Iron Man gets it—what's considered a variant or not has nothing to do with actual changes in time. 

It's all up to the TVA. If they think you're fine, you could disrupt time and cause a substantial time variant event with no consequences. However, if they think you've got an issue, even if you haven't meddled with the timeline, they'll still go after you. In an instant, Tony Stark, became utterly disgusted with this so-called TVA. While the diary suggests they appear friendly to the Avengers, his loathing is unchanged. What do the Avengers do that needs the TVA's approval or allowance? Who do they think they are?

If the Sacred Timeline truly exists, it implies that the lives of everyone, including Tony Stark's, might be dictated by the TVA. Must everyone adhere to this predetermined script to avoid being labeled as time variants, similar to Loki, and subsequently apprehended by the TVA? The notion of such control deeply unsettles Tony Stark, Iron Man himself. If feasible, he would suit up and obliterate the so-called Time Variance Authority. However, this remains a fantasy. Although the diary lacks details on the TVA's power hierarchy, their capability to capture Loki, manipulate him, and even force him into their service is telling. After all, Loki is no ordinary figure; he is a god—Odin's adoptive son, the Prince of Jotunheim, and the notorious God of Mischief. If Loki stands humbled before the TVA, their power must be formidable.

The appearance of Female Loki immediately draws Iron Man's attention. Clearly, being targeted by the TVA indicates her significant influence. While the specifics of her relationship with Loki are unclear, there is evidently more to their connection than just a shared name.

Conversely, the Avengers had traveled back in time but strictly followed "time travel protocols." They refrained from deliberately altering history or causing chaos in the past, which presumably contributed to the TVA's tolerance of their actions. However, the universe of the corrupted Doctor Strange presents an indefensible scenario. To save a loved one, he repeatedly traveled through time, sought to alter history, and desperately harnessed power from the Dark Dimension, resulting in his total corruption. Despite the destruction of an entire universe by this corrupted Doctor Strange, the TVA conspicuously absented themselves. Their focus on Loki, while ignoring this catastrophe, is perplexing.

The fact that the Avengers' past travels were undertaken without the intention to change history aligns with the existence of the TVA and the Sacred Timeline. It seems that whimsical alterations to history are likely prohibited and could lead to apprehension by the TVA. Yet, if history cannot be changed, what is the purpose of time travel? The classic movie cliché of time travel is to alter the past and correct regrets or unfortunate events. If not for these reasons, why bother traveling back in time at all?

Without an in-depth exploration of time travel, Tony Stark admits his grasp of Marvel's time rules remains incomplete. This time-travel dilemma continues to perplex him. With insufficient context, he struggles to understand the purpose behind the Avengers' time traveling. Instead, his focus shifts to the corrupted Doctor Strange, revealing yet another darkened superhero. Following Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange emerges as another magic-wielding figure, pointing to a striking similarity in their styles.

Just as the dark Scarlet Witch tore through the multiverse, one wonders what the corrupted Doctor Strange might have done. Although he did not ravage the multiverse, he destroyed an entire universe—an act immeasurable by simple terms. While the commonly accepted science estimates the universe's size at 46.5 billion light-years, even with extensive knowledge, that figure remains an estimation. Thus, the true size of the universe is an infinite expanse beyond precise comprehension.

Endless time and space!

Damn it.

How is it possible to destroy an endless universe?

Just thinking about it makes your scalp tingle!

Is this really a power that a person can possess?

One could say that the shock caused to Tony Stark by destroying universes was far greater than Thanos wiping out half the universe's population.

Compared to the latter, the former is simply not on the same level.

"Doctor Strange!"

The expression of the man in front of another diary became extremely grave.

While the tone of the diary suggests that this may have happened in a parallel universe and not in the 199999 universe.

But the key question is, Nick Fury couldn't be sure if his universe was indeed Universe 199999!

Considering the high degree of similarity between the parallel universes, how could Nick Fury ignore such matters?

If that corrupted Doctor Strange truly belonged to his universe, then things would really be screwed!

He must find Doctor Strange as soon as possible!

Nick Fury decided this in his heart.

Of course, Doctor Strange's lover must also be regarded as a highly attention-worthy individual.

After all, it was made very clear in the diary that Doctor Strange turned dark in order to save his lover!

In other words, his lover is in danger!

Hence, SHIELD must prevent such an event from happening.

To extinguish such a tremendous threat at its source!

There's no question about that.

[But then again, for Loki, being captured by the TVA could actually be considered a good thing, right?]

[At the very least, it saves him from the tragic fate of being strangled to death by Thanos, wouldn't you agree?]

[Looking at it this way, it's not just Thor, Loki's fate is quite tragic too, the two are truly brothers in misfortune.]

[Regardless of the involvement of the TVA, Loki's end is never a good one.]

[Even not just within a single universe, this is the case across the entire multiverse.]

[Keep in mind that within the TVA, there are countless Lokis imprisoned, who knows how many!]

Ah, this!

Tony Stark didn't even know what to say.

As the diary states, it seems Loki really is quite tragic.

Getting caught by the TVA and being forced to work for them is humiliating enough for a god.

Yet, compared to this humiliating experience, Loki's other fate was to be strangled alive by Thanos!

So a very clear timeline emerges here: If Loki hadn't been captured by the TVA, he would have ended up dead at the hands of Thanos!

So this timeline is considered the Sacred Timeline by the TVA?

The events that were supposed to happen?

So, does the TVA believe that Loki deserves to die?

Why!

Even though he already knew that Loki was the initiator of the Battle of New York and did not have a good impression of him, Tony Stark couldn't help feeling indignant for Loki at this moment.

What a joke, why should Loki be destined to die?

Who gave the TVA the right to make such a decision?

If they can decide Loki's life and death, doesn't that mean they can determine the fate of anyone else?

Including himself, Tony!

Ridiculous!

However, Loki was fooled by Thanos into invading New York, and strictly speaking, the two were accomplices.

In the end, Loki ended up being killed by Thanos himself?

And to be killed in such a way.

Such a method is not only highly insulting but also spotlights the immense strength of Thanos.

Being able to strangle Loki to death shows that Thanos' power is well above Loki's.

Deserving of the title of cosmic overlord at the pinnacle of the entire galaxy!

"Multiverse?"

When Iron Man's gaze fell on this term, he was utterly dumbfounded.

So this TVA is not only an organization governing time but also a damn institution that transcends the multiverse!

That's going against the heavens!

Gulp!

Even for Tony Stark, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

On the very first day with the diary, Iron Man learned of the multiverse's existence.

But after so much time, he couldn't have imagined an organization that transcended the multiverse!

This is much more incredible than just observing the multiverse and assigning numbers to it.

So, who is behind the TVA?

What kind of deity is capable of creating an organization like the TVA?

Someone like the five creators of the universe, the Eternals?

It's hard to fathom!

But Tony Stark had an epiphany about one thing.

The female Loki mentioned in the diary certainly seems like Loki from another universe.

Earlier, because his mind was not open, Iron Man subconsciously thought everything happened in the same universe, but now it has suddenly become clear.

And within those countless multiverses, "a whole bunch" of Lokis have been taken by the TVA, which made Tony Stark sigh.

Tragic!

As the diary said, it's too tragic!

Poor Loki, who did he offend?

[And among that large group of Lokis, only the Loki from Universe 199999 and the female Loki managed to turn the tables.]

[The pair teamed up, penetrated the false visage of the Time-Keepers, and met the real Time-Keepers.]

[And they even escaped the control of the Time Variance Authority!]

[No matter how you look at it, this qualifies as a tremendous achievement.]

[But for the rest of that large group of Lokis, they could only be imprisoned in that extremely dangerous place.]

Time-Keepers?

Tony Stark's gaze sharpened, and he couldn't help but let out a scoff.

What arrogance!

Does time need guardians?

This "Time-Keepers" with a righteous facade, are they actually guarding the Sacred Timeline?

Or, more bluntly, are they guarding the events that occur on the Sacred Timeline?

After all, from all the spoilers in the diary, the TVA's job seems to be ensuring that events in the multiverse unfold according to the script of the Sacred Timeline?

Are these Time-Keepers bored with nothing better to do, or is there another reason for this conduct?

Could the operations of the multiverse be bound by some rules that one cannot know or touch?

This question is not something Tony Stark at his current level can grasp.