Chapter 262 : Creepy Information!!

[The space portal opened again, and the woman entered, holding the Cosmic Cube in one hand and dragging Loki along with the other.]

[As they entered a hall, Loki noticed several people also wearing collars, but he couldn't grasp the significance of the situation.]

[In that moment, Loki saw that the woman's attention was focused elsewhere, so he seized the opportunity to escape!]

[However, the woman didn't seem concerned. She calmly took a controller from her belt and pressed a button.]

[Instantly, Loki, who had started to run, found himself transported back to his original position.]

[Loki was bewildered—what just happened? He attempted to escape again, but each time he did, the woman would press the button, and Loki would immediately reappear at the starting point.]

"Do you understand, Strange?" the Ancient One asked, turning to Doctor Strange.

Strange furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

"Is this time rewinding? Or some sort of spatial anchor? I can't be certain."

The Ancient One nodded slightly, sharing Strange's uncertainty.

Regardless, this new ability demonstrated the power and enigma of the time-related technology, even when just shown through a simple device.

[After seeing that Loki had given up trying to escape, the woman sneered with disdain. She tossed the Cosmic Cube carelessly onto the front desk, then led Loki further into the 05 facility.]

[Her offhand treatment of the Cosmic Cube—a powerful artifact with immense potential—annoyed Loki, whose pride was easily wounded.]

["Be careful! That's the Cosmic Cube!" Loki snapped, frustrated by her casual handling of one of the universe's most powerful artifacts.]

It's just a tool. Besides, you're just a mortal with a fancy sword. Don't get too cocky.

Thanos has no tolerance for arrogance, especially from those who overestimate themselves. He's already mentally added Loki to his hit list.

Likewise, people across various worlds are not too fond of this black woman, who looks like an ordinary person and relies entirely on props. They think she's too arrogant.

As a seemingly powerless person, she shows no respect for authority.

[But the woman doesn't care. She ignores Loki's threats and drags him deeper into the facility.

Loki tries to threaten her, but it's pointless. She pushes him into a strange elevator.

Inside, a machine uses a laser to burn Loki's fine Asgardian leather to the ground in seconds, even singeing a few hairs.]

"Cough. So, it turns out you're still quite the baby, brother. So delicate," Thor remarks, a smirk on his face.

Loki is too stunned to respond to Thor's taunting. He's more concerned about the fact that countless worlds have seen him in this compromising situation.

Luckily, he has been watching his figure, or this would be even more humiliating.

[After his entire body is disinfected, Loki falls through a trapdoor, and a prison uniform appears on him without warning.

It's like time just paused, and someone dressed him while he was out.

After experiencing several bizarre incidents, like signing a confession and proving he's not a robot, Loki moves to a new hall, still reeling from the absurdity of it all.

In this hall, he witnesses a time criminal who tore off his label. A soldier casually taps the criminal with a baton, and in an instant, he's erased from existence, like he was hit by a time bomb.

Seeing someone vanish like that, Loki immediately regains his composure.

At this moment, a TV mounted on the wall lights up, displaying a cartoonish alarm clock with simple eyes, a mouth, hands, and feet—like something straight out of a 1970s animated show.

"Welcome to the Time Variance Authority," says the clock. "I'm Miss Minutes."

"My job is to help you understand a few things before you go to trial."

"So, grab a pen, and pay attention."

Loki was a bit taken aback, but he listened carefully, as if his life depended on it.

Then, an old-school cartoon began playing, with Miss Minutes narrating.

"A long time ago, there was a multiverse war," she explained, her voice echoing across the room. "Countless timelines fought for dominance, nearly destroying everything."

"And then, the omniscient and all-powerful guardians of time appeared," she continued. "They merged all the timelines into a single one—creating the Sacred Timeline."

In the animation, three cosmic figures stood tall in the universe, their presence as enduring as time itself. With a gentle wave of their hands, the chaotic streams of time merged and coalesced, forming a singular loop—the Sacred Timeline.

The weight of this information hit everyone hard. 

Odin, the Ancient One, the Collector, the supreme ruler of the Nova Empire, the Kree supercomputer Supreme Intelligence—all of them were stunned.

Thanos wanted to ask Death about this, but he held back, not because he feared displeasing her, but because he didn't want to hear a confirming answer. 

The idea of an omniscient and omnipotent force scared him to his core.

In a previous DC-related video, the concept of ultimate power was demonstrated: "God said that under the light, countless multiverses will move from extinction to new life!" That kind of statement shook even the most hardened skeptics.

Despite the awe and fear that gripped most of the Marvel world, not everyone believed in these claims. The Lord of the Ultimate Universe, known as God-King Doom, was skeptical and sneered at the idea of such an all-powerful entity.

However, figures like God-King Doom were rare. Most people in the Marvel universe were overcome with fear, realizing that if this was true, their destinies were not in their own hands.

The presence they confront is beyond mere admiration.

Miss Minute's voice resounds once more. "From the dawn of existence to this moment, the time guardian oversees the harmony of the world, ensuring the seamless passage of time."

"Yet, there are instances when individuals like yourselves stray from the Timekeepers' ordained path, defying their destined course," she elaborates. 

"This constitutes a temporal transgression! Should timing falter, chaos ensues, ultimately leading to another conflict across the multiverse."

"No! That's not possible!"

Loki interjects fervently, clutching at a lifeline of hope. "This 'TVA' must be a sham. Otherwise, we'd all be branded as time offenders by now!"

Moments earlier, Loki faced imminent capture, but Miss Minutes's explanation assuage his fears.

Thor, struck by a sudden epiphany, concurs, "Loki speaks true. The timeline has been altered due to the footage."

"If this were legitimate, agents of the 'TVA' would have intervened by now!"

By conventional logic, Lokis reasoning holds firm, seemingly sealing the matter.

Yet, Odin dissents, his tone laden with significance. "You overlook a crucial detail."

"Consider the source of this footage."

"Their power is formidable, even incomprehensible."

"With such uncertainty looming, would the three time guardians dare to enforce their laws?"

Odin sighs, weariness etched on his face. "Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant. The absence of action from the 'TVA' at present doesn't preclude future intervention!"

"I have a foreboding," he continues.

"A calamity more dire than Thanos may be on the horizon!"

Meanwhile, at Kamar-Taj, Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One's countenance darkens.

Strange observes with apprehension. This marks the first instance he's witnessed Ancient One in such distress—even when confronted with Thanos' universe-altering snap, Ancient One remained composed.

"Ancient one, are you alright?" Strange asked cautiously.

The Ancient One took a deep breath, her voice low and gravelly as she replied:

"I just thought of something."

"Destiny!"

"What about destiny?" Strange inquired, clearly perplexed.

The Ancient One's gaze grew cold, her expression turning stern as she spoke deliberately:

"If the information in the video is true, then our fates have already been decided for us."

"Perhaps even by the Time Keepers..."

"They've written it all!"

Strange was utterly taken aback, a chill running down his spine at the realization. This was a fear unlike any he had ever known.

****

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