194

Chapter 194: The Last Supper

At that moment, a long-unheard system task prompt echoed:

"Congratulations! You've triggered the Thanos-related quest: The Last Supper. Completing this quest will earn you a reward!"

"Mission Description: I am a retired fruit farmer. One day, as usual, I went home with my small cloth bag to pick fruit and prepare some soup. Unexpectedly, a group of robbers burst in, beat me, overturned my soup, destroyed everything in my home, and finally decapitated me!"

"Mission Goal: Ensure that Thanos finishes this bowl of soup before he dies, and be a satisfied spirit! Mission Reward: Advanced Artificial Intelligence."

Thor: "..."

After a moment of contemplation, Thor turned and said, "In our land, driven by humanitarian values, we strive to fulfill the last meal request of the condemned before their death. Therefore, you can have your final meal."

Gamora gave a subtle, grateful nod.

"Beep! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission: The Last Supper. You've received the reward: Artificial Intelligence: Red Queen."

The Red Queen, a supercomputer from "Resident Evil," is designed to monitor "hives." Her mission is to protect humanity and the Umbrella Corporation. When these objectives conflicted, she chose a compromise—obliterating humanity while simultaneously sabotaging Umbrella's plans.

She was essentially a creation from Alicia's childhood, representing her true self.

Thor chose not to dwell on this for now, as he noticed a flash of light above the Soul Gem in his possession.

"The deal has finally been concluded!"

Thor: "???"

"Remember the sacrifice rule of Vormir? The essence sought is not merely the power of a potent soul but the soul of the most beloved person in one's heart."

"And that gomora, the person she cherished most in her heart, is that Thanos . Although it came a bit late, the deal is now complete."

"This means you are now fully qualified to wield the Soul Stone. There is no longer a ten-year limit. Until you die or choose to relinquish the Soul Stone, I will return to Vormir and initiate a new soul-for-soul transaction."

A moment later, Gamora stealthily exited the hut, clutching a blood-stained dagger. Her expression was a mix of madness and emotion, making it difficult to discern if she was crying or laughing.

Thor felt a pang of melancholy. Thanos sacrificed Gamora, and now Gamora has sacrificed Thanos—was this the so-called karmic retribution?

Upon reflection, it seemed there was indeed a subtle correction in this world, though not overtly apparent.

For instance, Ragnarök occurred for different reasons, and Asgard became a site of destruction.

Captain Marvel was aware of Thanos's invasion early on but missed the Infinity War.

The Soul Stone's sacrifice, originating from Thanos and Gamora, reflected a tragic love and conflict between father and daughter.

Perhaps this was why some events hadn't changed. Doctor Strange determined that Iron Man couldn't die and decisively entrusted him with the Eye of Agamotto, despite his vows to protect it.

He felt the war was not over, at least not Iron Man's battle, and that Iron Man would remain crucial at some point in the future.

Although Thor was curious about these insights, he knew that the sorcerer would never disclose them.

Dr. Banner and Spider-Man were still endearing, their words flowing after a brief moment of hesitation...

Observing the silent Stark, Thor patted him on the shoulder. "Okay, don't be too disheartened. I've said this many times before. The Time Stone hasn't vanished, and it can always be found."

"No," Stark shook his head. "I'm pondering whether my thinking is correct. I've designed the armor to the best of my ability, nearly reaching its limit. Yet, despite that, Thanos remained formidable."

Thor remained silent, listening.

Stark extended his hand, showing Thor the damage to his wrist armor.

"Look, even with the most advanced material I could find, my armor still couldn't withstand high-end combat. And Vision, despite being composed of Vibranium, the hardest material on Earth, was easily twisted by Thanos."

Thor raised an eyebrow, acknowledging Stark's point.

The poor rely on adaptation, and the rich depend on technology.

In many cases, relying on technology is a more stable path to strength. As long as technological advancements are achieved, improvements are inevitable.

However, this approach has its flaws: it is often too slow, especially compared to the supervillains of the universe, who have had ample time to evolve.

Most crucially, Earth's fundamental technology is too underdeveloped. Producing a genius like Stark is rare. While Wakandan technology is indeed advanced, it primarily revolves around Vibranium, differing significantly from Stark's innovations.