Chapter 241: Captain America is in Bad Shape: Red Skull Alive?

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"Swish, swish, swish!" Quentin Beck appeared again, emitting green energy beams from his hands and attacking Peter Parker.

Peter Parker jumped around in the air, evading the attacks.

However, as soon as he landed, he saw a massive statue arm descending from above, swinging down to strike him.

Instinctively, he raised his arm to block, and as the colossal arm struck, it generated a cloud of green smoke.

"If you truly had the ability, Tony wouldn't be dead." Quentin Beck's voice continued as Peter Parker looked up and saw a grave in front of him, the tombstone bearing the name Tony Stark.

As he stared at the tombstone, a steel arm suddenly extended from the ground, followed by Iron Man, armored and crawling out of the earth.

This version of Iron Man was different from the powerful one before. His armor was rusty, his head decayed, resembling the zombified Iron Man from the world of the undead.

"Deep down, you know I'm right." Quentin Beck's speech continued, and orderly rows of him marched forward like disciplined soldiers.

Peter Parker turned and ran, but with a loud "crash," he collided with an invisible wall.

Boom, boom, boom!

In the next moment, buildings rose from the ground, trapping Peter Parker within a crystal sphere.

"You made your choice. Originally, you just needed to stand aside, but now..."

A gunshot rang out, and the surroundings returned to normal. Quentin Beck lay on the ground, and Nick Fury stumbled over, holding a gun.

Boom, boom, boom! Cars arrived, and armed agents surrounded Quentin Beck on the ground.

"Fury!" Seeing this scene, Peter Parker breathed a sigh of relief. Quentin Beck was finally captured.

"Beck's associates are seeking out everyone who knows his true identity." Nick Fury walked over to Peter Parker and asked, "Who did you tell? I know you told someone. Tell me quickly, who did you tell?"

"Only my classmates MJ and Ned. Ned might have told his girlfriend Betty, but that's it." Peter Parker replied.

"Hahaha..." Upon hearing this, Nick Fury burst into laughter, clutching his sides.

"What's so funny?" At this point, Peter Parker hadn't realized something was wrong.

"You're quite a character." Nick Fury said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're smart, just a bit foolish." Light began to emanate from Nick Fury's body, and in the next moment, he "revealed" himself. It turned out that the person who appeared as Nick Fury wasn't Nick Fury at all, but Quentin Beck.

Just as Peter Parker had witnessed, the scene of Nick Fury shooting down Quentin Beck and all the events that followed were also fake. They had never happened.

"Now your friends are dead." Quentin Beck said.

Then, the environment around Peter Parker turned into darkness once again, with objects continually falling from the sky with loud "crash" sounds.

Despite knowing it was all fake, the realism was overwhelming. Peter Parker kept retreating, dodging the objects falling from the sky.

"It's easy to deceive someone who deceives themselves." Quentin Beck continued to advance step by step. "In any case, Peter, I'm truly sorry."

The illusions surrounding Peter Parker disappeared, but before he could react, a train roared forward, swallowing his figure.

The space darkened, and the video ended.

"Well, I underestimated this mysterious guest." As the video concluded, Scott Lang spoke. "This person is incredibly tough to deal with."

"It's unimaginable how he can deceive people to such an extent using technology." Thor said. "Even though it's not a superpower or magic, the effect is practically indistinguishable from superpowers."

"I never thought his technology could achieve this level. He can present virtually any image before your eyes." Steve Rogers said. "He not only manipulates your vision but also your hearing. The true reality in front of you, you can't see or hear it; you only see and hear what he wants you to."

"In front of the mysterious guest, vision and hearing are utterly useless and instead become weapons he uses to defeat you." Bruce Banner said.

"This Mysterious Guest is Just Picking on Peter." Tony Stark spoke up. "If he came across me, I'd have him dealt with in minutes."

This statement wasn't entirely false. Quentin Beck's methods were simply based on advanced holographic projection technology, which might work on others, but would holograms really deceive J.A.R.V.I.S. when faced with Tony Stark?

"Why not just close your eyes?" Bucky Barnes asked. "If you close your eyes, the holographic projections wouldn't work, right?"

"Even though you can't see anything when your eyes are closed, it's still better than being ensnared by the illusions the enemy creates." Steve Rogers said. "If he can't see those illusions, the confusion caused by the sound would also be minimized. Peter should be able to use sound to locate the Mysterious Guest."

"The Mysterious Guest himself isn't physically threatening. Once his true location is revealed, it means he has failed." Bruce Banner said.

"Coulson, are you interested in the Mysterious Guest's technology?" Nick Fury suddenly asked.

"Sir, what do you mean?" Phil Coulson asked.

"The Mysterious Guest's technology is quite powerful, actually. While Tony and Captain may not think much of it, it's still very effective against ordinary people. It would be a waste to just discard it." Nick Fury said. "I'm thinking of making you the new Mysterious Guest and giving you my Green Goblin hoverboard. With the Mysterious Guest's 'getup' and the Green Goblin hoverboard, even the present superheroes would find it a headache."

"Am I becoming a superhero too?" Phil Coulson was a bit surprised.

"Yes, Coulson, you're becoming a superhero too." Nick Fury asked, "What do you think?"

"Thank you, sir." Phil Coulson didn't refuse.

[Start of the third question. Be prepared.]

[Among the following characters, who hasn't seen Red Skull with their own eyes?]

[A: Hawkeye Clint Barton]

[B: Black Widow Natasha Romanoff]

[C: Gamora]

[D: Nebula]

[If you answer correctly, you will receive the "Enhanced Arrow Technique," which can empower arrows with special abilities. If you answer incorrectly, one year will be deducted from your lifespan.]

"What does this mean? Red Skull is still alive?" Steve Rogers looked at this question, his expression changing. He had always believed that Red Skull had been eradicated, but was that not the case?

"Red Skull is alive?" Nick Fury's brow furrowed as well. "If he's alive, was HYDRA really eliminated?"

"I haven't seen any information about Red Skull in any of the HYDRA minds, including Alexander Pierce." Wanda Maximoff said.

"If Red Skull is associated with HYDRA, then it's not just a snake..." Nick Fury pondered. "Alexander Pierce is one snake, Red Skull is another snake. The two snakes have no intersection, so you couldn't see it."

"Are you certain there's another snake?" Pietro Maximoff asked. "Maybe Red Skull and HYDRA are no longer connected?"

"Even if there's no HYDRA, there still must be a Hydra or an Octo-hydra." Steve Rogers said. "That guy isn't content with mediocrity; as long as he's alive, he'll definitely cause trouble."

"But up until now, there has been no sign that Red Skull is alive." Phil Coulson said. "Could it be that the question refers to the future? Perhaps Red Skull did die, but he's resurrected in the future."

"Why would that guy also come back to life?" Steve Rogers felt a bit of a headache. Among those present, he was the one who understood Red Skull the most. Similar to him, Red Skull was also a super-soldier: meticulous, clear-minded, and strategic. He could easily be called Steve's most vexing enemy.

"Just a Red Skull." Tony Stark, however, didn't seem to care much. Compared to cosmic-level enemies like Thanos or Hela, Red Skull was rather "insignificant."

"Among the options, Gamora and Nebula appear. Both are daughters of Thanos. This indicates that at least one of them has encountered Red Skull." Stephen Strange said. "Could it be that Red Skull and Thanos are working together?"

"Unlikely, right? Teaming up with Thanos? Although Red Skull is considered a super-villain, his 'rank' wouldn't be sufficient for that, would it?" Stephen Strange said.

"The likelihood of Thanos and Red Skull joining forces is slim." Thor said. "We've seen a lot regarding Thanos' future, and there's never been any sign that he has teammates."

"With Thanos' power, he doesn't really need teammates." Stephen Strange said. "Even if he did have them, Red Skull wouldn't be one of them."

"It's unlikely to be teammates; maybe there's some intersection in certain situations." Bruce Banner said.

"Intersection?" Natasha Romanoff said. "Thanos' goal is quite clear: collect the Infinity Stones, snap his fingers! Almost all his actions revolve around the Infinity Stones. How could he have any intersection with Red Skull?"

"As you said, there was an intersection during the collection of the Infinity Stones." Bruce Banner said. "Red Skull knew the location of a certain Infinity Stone, or he possessed one of them."

"That's likely the case, and it could explain why the individuals in the options would come into contact with Red Skull." Clint Barton said. "After all, everyone is searching for the Infinity Stones."

"When we were searching for the Infinity Stones, we traveled back in time after Thanos snapped his fingers. For Thanos, the purpose was to find the Infinity Stones to snap his fingers, whereas for us, it was before he snapped his fingers." Scott Lang said. "But we have no way of knowing the exact time frame, whether it's before or after the snap, and we also don't know which Stone. So, analyzing this question might be impossible?"

"No, I think we can still speculate." Steve Rogers said. "Though there's no evidence, it's a possibility."

"What possibility?" Scott Lang asked.

"Among the options, Gamora appears. When did Thanos, Gamora, and the Infinity Stones all appear together?" Steve Rogers asked.

"The Soul Stone!" Tony Stark recalled. "The previous videos mentioned it. Thanos sacrificed Gamora to obtain the Soul Stone. So, this question should be about finding the Soul Stone, right?"

"That's a possibility, but what does that have to do with this question?" Loki asked, "Knowing that, can we deduce the correct answer?"

"Seems like it wouldn't help much." Steve Rogers said.

"The specific Stone doesn't matter. What's important is that when the Avengers were looking for the Infinity Stones, they wouldn't act individually." Clint Barton thought for a moment. "When we went back in time to find the Stones, this was such an important mission that each Stone wouldn't be retrieved by a single Avenger. At the very least, there should have been two. And if it's a team effort, Natasha and I are likely to be a team."

"Meaning that if either you or Natasha encountered Red Skull while searching for the Stone, then it's likely both of you encountered him, because you two were teamed up." Stephen Strange said.

"Exactly, that's what I mean." Clint Barton said.

"If that's the case, this question becomes quite simple." Natasha Romanoff said. "We already know that Gamora died while searching for the Stones, so she likely encountered Red Skull. Although these are just speculations without evidence, Nebula should be the most likely correct answer."

"This reward isn't really useful for anyone else." Nick Fury said. "Barton, why don't you answer the question."

"Sure." Clint Barton didn't refuse. "I choose D!"

[Correct answer! Reward distributed!]

A golden light flashed briefly between Clint Barton's hands.

"This reward is great. With this ability, I won't need to craft specially powered arrows anymore." Clint Barton chuckled.

Soon, the video started playing.

The scene began with a desolate and uninhabited planet, a massive blood-red sun hung low in the sky, resembling a monstrous beast devouring the world.

A portal opened in this ruined world, and the figures of Thanos and Gamora appeared.

This was Vormir, the location of the Soul Stone.

"For your sister's life, the Stone demands a sacrifice." Thanos looked at the blood-red sun and spoke to Gamora.

The two walked through thick mist, crossed ruined paths, and reached a cliff under the crimson sun.

"Welcome, Thanos, son of Eros, and Gamora, daughter of Thanos." Suddenly, a voice echoed, and a figure hovered in the air, appearing before Thanos and Gamora.

"Do you recognize us?" Thanos asked in surprise.

"My curse is to know whoever arrives here." Red Skull said.

"Where is the Soul Stone?" Thanos asked.

"You should know the price for using it." Red Skull said.

"I'm prepared." Thanos stepped forward.

"Everyone says that at first." Red Skull descended from the air, revealing his red, hideous face. "But in the end, everyone is wrong."

"How do you know this place so well?" Thanos followed behind Red Skull and asked.

"Before I was transported here, I too was seeking the Infinity Stones." Red Skull led the way for Thanos and Gamora. "Just as I was about to obtain one, it rejected me, and I was exiled here. Here, I encountered the Soul Stone."

"What you desire is here." Red Skull led Thanos and Gamora to a cliffside. "It will make you regret it."

"Why do you say that?" Gamora looked down the cliff and asked.

"The price." Red Skull explained. "The reason the Soul Stone holds such a lofty status among the Infinity Stones is due to its certain wisdom."

"Tell me, what does it require?" Thanos asked.

"To ensure that the one who obtains it understands its power, the Stone demands a sacrifice." Red Skull revealed, "Sacrifice what you love most. Trade a soul for a soul."

Hearing this, Thanos fell silent.

Gamora burst into laughter.

Love?

You're talking about love with Thanos, a butcher?

Isn't this ridiculous?

How could there be any love in Thanos' heart?

"So the sacrifice required by the Soul Stone, Thanos cannot fulfill it!"

"Thanos can't obtain the Soul Stone!" 

"I've been waiting for this moment all my life, wanting to see you face the consequences of your actions. Now you're finally facing the retribution." Gamora paced in front of Thanos, "Look at you, you've slaughtered innocents and yet claimed to be merciful? Now you're facing punishment, right? The Stone you desired the most is telling you it's not possible, you've failed. Do you know why? Because you don't have love in your heart, you don't love anyone at all!"

"No." Thanos suddenly turned around, tears streaming from his eyes. 

"Really? Did I make you cry?" Gamora mocked.

"He's not crying for himself." Red Skull chimed in.

"No, this isn't love at all." The smile vanished from Gamora's face; she understood the implication of Red Skull's words.

"I've never cared about fate before, but now I have to care." Thanos looked at Gamora, "Even if it means losing you."

Gamora, being bold, immediately drew a dagger and attempted to stab herself in the abdomen upon realizing that she might become a tool for Thanos to obtain the Soul Stone.

But her stab hit air, and her weapon turned into foam.

In front of Thanos, she couldn't even end her own life.

"I'm sorry, my daughter." With tears in his eyes, Thanos grabbed Gamora's arm and hurled her off the cliff.

"So, this is how Gamora died." Peter Quill spoke up upon seeing this.

"That's why the question rewarded you with a cell regeneration card." Steve Rogers said, "It was to prevent the events in the video from happening."

"Those events won't happen now." Peter Quill said, "Now that we know where the Soul Stone is and how to obtain it, we can get it beforehand."

"The method to obtain the Soul Stone is by trading a soul for a soul, a sacrifice is required to get the Stone. Even if it's not Gamora, if someone wants the Soul Stone, there will still be a sacrifice." Steve Rogers said, "Whoever sacrifices, I can resurrect that person."

"There's no need to waste this revival card on this." Nick Fury chimed in, "You can find people who are terminally ill and close to death, let their loved ones obtain the Soul Stone for them."

"Fury, what you're doing is essentially murder." Bruce Banner said.

"No, this is a trade. I won't deceive or force them into it. I'll make a deal with them, using their already hopeless lives to exchange for their family's prosperity. I think many would be willing." Nick Fury said.

"Right now, it's not the time to argue about this. Let's find the Soul Stone first." Tony Stark said.

"In fact, ever since we learned that the Soul Stone is on Vormir, I've been searching for it." Thor spoke up, "It's just that I haven't found it yet."

"It hasn't been that long since the question hinted that Thanos obtained the Stone on Vormir. You still haven't found it?" Tony Stark asked.

"The scene in the video was just a small portion, and Vormir is quite large." Thor said, "Trying to find a small stone on a planet is harder than finding a needle in a haystack."

"But now that we know the Stone is on that specific mountain from the video, it should be much easier." Steve Rogers said.

"Right, knowing the mountain, I think we'll find it soon." Thor said.

"And the Power Stone, I've already had Yondu helping to search for it. I believe we'll find it soon." Peter Quill spoke up again, "If it really is in Ronan's possession, I'll need everyone's help."

Although he was the one who killed Ronan in the video, having roamed the galaxy for so long, he knew how dangerous Ronan was and wouldn't underestimate him because of a potential future.

"Feel free to ask, we'll be there." Steve Rogers said.

"Compared to the whereabouts of the Soul Stone, what surprises me is that Thanos truly loves Gamora. That's what caught me off guard." Clint Barton said.

"Yeah, I always thought someone like Thanos, a universal executioner, was heartless." Scott Lang found it absurd, "Yet he genuinely loves his daughter."

"Thanos shedding tears is something I couldn't have imagined." Thor said.

"His goal was universal balance, and he does have genuine love within him. I have to say, this guy Thanos is different from the villains we've encountered before." Tony Stark said, "In certain aspects, he's even more noble than us superheroes."

"Yeah, if it wasn't for his plan to wipe out half of the universe, I'd actually consider being friends with him." T'Challa said.

"You can be friends with him now." Clint Barton quickly added, "Just like your parallel universe self, go convince Thanos, become buddies with him!"

*Vote Stones  Plz*

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[END OF CHAPTER]