Leon watched the children playing in front of him with a smile. Their laughter and chatter made the house feel alive and warm.
He sipped juice on the sofa, occasionally glancing at the tablet on his lap, scrolling through news or some amusing American dramas.
These small anchors of family affection kept Leon in a good mood. He knew that at his current level, his understanding far surpassed that of ordinary humans. Yet he deliberately maintained his perception at a normal, human level.
It was like an emperor disguising himself as a commoner to travel along the southern Yangtze, preserving his humanity and his appreciation for life. He didn't want to become detached from desire—because such a life would be unbearably dull.
But these were trivial thoughts. Leon's mind was really on Thanos. The three Golden Saints of Salina had surrounded him, along with three first-tier powers of the Father of Heaven. Thanos, a mere sub-Father of Heaven, should have had no chance of survival—even with the help of the Infinity Gems.
Infinity Gems were powerful but not omnipotent. Even with perfect control, they could not bridge the immense gap that existed between him and his enemies.
Yet Thanos had defied death itself. Like a protagonist in a novel, he had broken through his limits, and by sheer luck created a black hole that sucked him away to safety.
Would Thanos survive after escaping?
Leon was certain he would. Without intervention, Thanos would have died at Basang's hands. But something—or someone—had interfered, allowing Thanos to survive, giving him the air of a destined protagonist, constantly breaking through limits in desperate circumstances.
The higher the level, the less likely such breakthroughs occur.
Salina and the others had surrounded and attempted to kill Thanos, but neither she nor Lisa noticed the subtle fluctuations in his power. Only Basang sensed a minor difference—but Leon immediately recognized a higher-dimensional interference.
From this, Leon confirmed what he suspected: Death, one of the Five Gods of Creation, was behind Thanos' survival.
Death had clearly interfered in his life and death, and Leon had attempted to manipulate time and space to bring Thanos back, but failed. Even at his level, a mere Father could not resist such a force.
At the edge of it all, Leon thought he heard a faint, indescribable laughter, as if the gods of creation themselves were curious about him.
What does it mean to be noticed by a God of Creation?
It was… expectation.
Leon had already planned to alter the sacred timeline. Ancient One and Odin could sense it—so higher-dimensional beings surely could as well.
For years, Leon had quietly grown stronger without interference. He did not know whether the gods tacitly allowed his changes or if his presence made the universe's future better than it had been in the original timeline. Whatever the reason, he needed a test.
The fantasy crystal had been the foundation for his previous growth. Without it, he could still ascend, surpassing single-universe limits and eventually reaching multi-universal levels—but it would take far longer.
During this time, he expected crises of cosmic scale to arise. While he was confident in handling most, some events would reveal terrifying beings he could not underestimate.
Though Leon had no obligation to protect all life in the universe, his faith required him to bless those who believed. If these crises threatened universal order, he would have to intervene. His divine power of faith transformation was both his confidence and his bottom line—anyone threatening it risked cutting off his future path.
Naturally, gods and demons behind these major events would eventually confront him. This was an irreconcilable contradiction. As he grew in strength, his reputation would attract powerful attention—some benevolent, some destructive. He had to prepare.
Contacting higher-dimensional beings in advance was part of that preparation. Leon could reach Death and other cosmic devourers. Drawing Death's attention was a deliberate choice—not a risk, but the safest path.
Now, he wondered if the goddess of Death would make contact.
"Life Court, God Group, Under All Things, OAA…"
The names flashed through his mind, giving him a headache. There were still far too many formidable beings in this universe.
Fortunately, he had a chance to reach their level. Leon's eyes were deep and resolute.
In a specially constructed building at the Avengers' headquarters, walls made of advanced composite metal embedded with lasers and ramming devices surrounded Bucky. Though confined, he lacked nothing—kitchen, bathroom, furniture, computer, even a private cinema. Living standards were astonishingly high.
Bucky lay on the bed, eyes closed, bored but aware of the world. Though brainwashed into a Winter Soldier, he had learned much during his missions, and he did not need to adapt to modern society. What he missed were his past, his friends, his family.
Dong!
Bucky opened his eyes at the sound of the door sliding open. Natasha Romanoff stood outside the reinforced glass, smiling.
"So… do I still need to test my brain?" Bucky asked, raising an eyebrow.
Natasha shook her head and placed her palm on the glass. As the recognition system verified her identity, the window slid open. She smiled warmly.
"We don't intend to detain you, Bucky. We just need to confirm your allegiance cognitively," she said. "No threat, no reason to hold you."
Bucky was pleasantly surprised. The Avengers' procedures were strict, but fair.
He stood, following Natasha out of the secured room.
The Avengers' headquarters was massive: a three-story building packed with weapons, equipment, servers, and logistics personnel to support the small but elite team. The lobby was sleek, with marble floors, bulletproof glass, and recreational spaces including lounges, KTV, bars, billiards, dormitories, and even a swimming pool.
Bucky followed Natasha to the light bar, where melodic music played. Agents were resting, some enjoying games or drinks. Ghost Ava sat at the bar with wine, Psylocke mixed cocktails, and Barton played billiards with Tony Stark, sipping wine casually.
Hulk, in a stretchy bodysuit, played gently with two golden retrievers.
Natasha and Bucky's arrival drew everyone's attention.
Tony Stark abandoned the game and walked over. "Look, our macho man finally stepped out of his prison. Those bruises… see a doctor, or I can recommend something to heal them."
Bucky and Tony exchanged playful glares. Natasha rolled her eyes, filled Psylocke's glasses, and handed one to Bucky.
"Go out and fight again—I want to see who loses limbs this time," she joked.
The tension broke. Tony laughed, clinking glasses with Bucky. "I didn't want to get knocked out, but your armor was incredible. I could barely touch you."
Bucky laughed in return, surprised by how durable Tony's armor was.
"Alright, Mr. Barnes, let's have a proper talk," Natasha said, leading Bucky and Tony to a small round table. Psylocke, Ava, and Barton joined, while Hulk settled with his two golden retrievers in a reinforced chair.
"You invited me here first?" Bucky asked, taking his seat. He already sensed the underlying purpose.
"Yes, you are very special, Mr. Barnes," Natasha said, nodding.
End of Chapter)
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