The Conspiracy of the Great Overlord

Authors Note-

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Thanos and Darkseid didn't become overly angry when they received news that the mission had failed. Instead, they immediately ordered a retreat. They had been prepared for this outcome. Ivan's ability to secure the Cosmic Spirit Orb in advance caught them off guard, highlighting a workforce shortage when they tried to retrieve it.

Thanos fared better with the Black Order at his disposal. On the other hand, Darkseid could not summon his most strongest subordinate, Steppenwolf, and missed a critical opportunity.

Thanos stared intently at Ivan and said, "You won this time, but that doesn't mean you'll win every time. One day, you'll taste failure. Your luck is impressive; we didn't expect you to find someone who could harness the energy of the Power Gem. Though it was just a trace of its power, it was enough to disrupt our plans. I hope your luck holds out."

Ivan smiled in response. "I've always been lucky. Since you've decided to withdraw, I'll take my leave. Thanks for the game."

"Wait!" Thanos interrupted as Ivan began to leave. "I've just received word that your people captured my daughters, Nebula and Gamora. I want to negotiate their release. What do you want in exchange?"

"Gomorrah and Nebula?" Ivan mused. "There's no need for a ransom. You know they hate you and might even turn against you someday. They can't harm you significantly, but I relish the thought of causing you trouble. Not only will I not hurt them, but I'll also empower them with small gifts. Be careful."

Ivan stood up and left, heading to his spacecraft. He set course for the coordinates provided by the Cosmic Walker.

Even after Ivan's spaceship disappeared into the cosmos, Thanos and Darkseid remained seated, unmoving.

Thanos, feeling a rare sense of loss, sighed inwardly. He knew the depth of Nebula and Gamora's hatred for him. While Nebula's animosity was manageable, his feelings for Gamora were genuine. He didn't want to alienate his daughter.

After a moment, Thanos composed himself and addressed Darkseid. "You see, the gap between us and Ivan is widening. The longer we delay, the worse our position becomes. It's time to implement the backup plan."

Darkseid hesitated. "Even if I agree, convincing those old beings is nearly impossible. Do you have any leverage to make them act?"

"Not yet, but they are ancient beings with their pride. They won't want to be overshadowed by the upstart Ivan. I can promise you that they'll be yours to distribute after I use the Infinity Stones."

Darkseid's eyes narrowed, but he agreed through gritted teeth. "Fine. I'll contact those old monsters, but remember your promise. You must hand over the Infinity Stones once you're done with them."

"Don't worry," Thanos replied. "You know my goal. The Infinity Stones are just a means to an end. After I've achieved my wish, they belong to you. Besides, if I reneged, you'd all band together against me. I wouldn't stand a chance even with all six Infinity Stones."

Darkseid glared at Thanos, annoyed by his knowledge of Apokolips' secrets, but knew the plan was sound.

"You know the plan well. Please leave it to me to contact those powerful figures, but don't sit idle. There are Space and Time Gems on Earth. Could you try to find a way to get them? Ivan Shaw already has the Power and Reality Gems, and your Mind Gem is insufficient."

"I've already considered this and started making arrangements. Due to the interference of Asgard, led by Odin, it's not easy to attack Earth. But now, we have a suitable leader who will proactively request troops from us. This isn't an invasion issue anymore," Thanos said, extending his hand to reveal an image of a handsome and cunning figure—the long-lost second Prince of Asgard, Loki.

"You want to use him to spearhead an attack on Earth and seize the Infinity Gems, but he won't easily submit to anyone. His ambitions are vast. Is he willing to be your pawn?"

"It's not about his willingness. Remember, the Mind Gem is in my possession. Even with his expertise in illusions and strong spiritual power, he can't resist the Mind Gem's control. If necessary, we can dispose of this piece."

Thanos and Darksied discussed this further and finally reached an agreement. After that, they parted ways, and the universe returned to tranquility.

Meanwhile, Ivan had returned to the Space Walker. He saw a group of busy mutants inside the spaceship, occasionally spotting mercenaries carrying sentry robots to the repair shop. Although today's battle resulted in minimal casualties, the sentry robots, used as cannon fodder, were significantly damaged and needed repairs.

Ignoring these trivial matters, Ivan went straight to the conference room. Upon entering, he saw the four leaders of the shadow mercenary group—conversing with future Guardians of the Galaxy members. Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Drax, and Gamora were present, appearing to get along well.

Seeing Ivan's return, everyone greeted him. After exchanging pleasantries, Ivan said, "Nice to meet you, Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, Drax, and Gamora."

Gamora spoke first, "No need for small talk. You know what we want. We've returned the cosmic orb to you intact. You've got what you wanted, so now give us what we want."

"Of course. I keep my promises. However, the body-strengthening process is rigorous and leaves no room for error. You've just experienced a battle and are undoubtedly exhausted. It's best to rest and recuperate to ensure a successful strengthening process. We can begin tomorrow morning when you're in optimal condition. I can't guarantee 100% success if you insist on starting now. Don't blame me if it fails."

"In that case, we can wait," Star-Lord interjected, trying to ease the tension. Whether Ivan was serious or trying to scare them, they couldn't afford to offend him now.

Gamora and the others thought it over and agreed. Ivan's reasoning made sense. They decided to rest before undergoing the strengthening process.

"That's right! You've waited this long; a little more time won't hurt. You must be hungry after a long day. I've had a sumptuous meal prepared. Let's celebrate."

Ivan finally breathed a sigh of relief. There was another reason why he refused to strengthen them immediately: Ivan needed to study the Power Gem first.

Regarding the enhancement plan, most were straightforward, but Star-Lord's enhancement was unique. Stimulating the power of the Celestial gene within him would consume an unimaginable amount of energy. Ivan intended to use the Power Gem to aid in this process.

Ivan understood the characteristics of the Power Gem well. Its use threshold was the lowest among the Infinity Gems—anyone could theoretically use it. However, if someone's strength was too weak, the massive power influx could overwhelm and destroy them. It was the most dangerous but also the most versatile.

To address this, Ivan planned to control the power influx by reducing the speed at which the Power Gem's energy entered the body. This required finding a material that could contain the gem's energy, creating a regulated energy channel, and adjusting it as needed.

For this, Ivan focused on the bones of the Celestials. Previously, he had crafted an energy converter from Celestial bones to absorb and strengthen his body. However, even pure Celestial energy diminished its effectiveness over time for him, necessitating a more potent energy source. The Power Gem became his new target.

A few days ago, Ivan had conceptualized the device for extracting gem energy. He carved a sphere from Celestial bones, perforated with pinhole-sized openings, each connected to a gold energy transmission channel. The more openings, the faster the energy transmission. Adjustments could be made based on specific needs. With the arrival of the Power Gem, Ivan needed time to test and calibrate the device.

Ivan tasked Shaw and the other leaders with managing the mercenary group while he took Star-Lord and the others to the restaurant. Hundreds of mutant masters were eating and drinking. Ivan never spared expenses on food, providing the best delicacies from across the universe. However, the large number of people made the place crowded.

Star-Lord and his companions enjoyed special privileges and were soon seated in an exclusive area for guests. Tables were laden with various foods, mostly Earth cuisine, reflecting Ivan's roots. He encouraged everyone to choose their favorite dishes.

Initially, Gamora, Rocket, and the others hesitated, unfamiliar with Earth food. But when Star-Lord eagerly cut into a steak and savored it, the others couldn't resist. They soon found themselves enchanted by Earth's flavors.

Drax the Destroyer particularly enjoyed pig's trotters, devouring them with gusto. Rocket Raccoon darted around, occasionally grabbing a chicken and stuffing it into his mouth. Seeing Star-Lord's enjoyment, Gamora opted for steak, eating more elegantly and sipping red wine. Groot, unsurprisingly, chose fruits—apples, peaches, pears, and tomatoes—which he consumed in his unique manner, directly absorbing them.

The only one not partaking was Nebula. She watched silently, her robotic enhancements preventing her from tasting food. The sight deepened her sadness and hatred for Thanos.