Collector's Treasure

"Ah, Nebula, it's been so long—look what you've brought me! A creature I've never seen before!"

The Collector couldn't help but show a hint of joy when he saw Nebula walk in.

He liked hunters like Nebula, who were skilled, knowledgeable, and often brought him rare and valuable treasures, unlike some hunters who would come to him with scrap metal to try their luck.

Just like now, the Collector's eyes are practically glued to Ben's body, and his two lecherous hands are already itching to touch every inch of the Big Chill to check its authenticity.

However, he found nothing. Ben placed his body directly into another phase space. At this moment, he was just a projection without a physical body, and the Collector passed right through him.

At the same time, Ben also began to observe the appearance of this Cosmic Elder.

With white hair and a human-like face, he didn't look old, but you couldn't sense any particular power he possessed.

However, Ben wouldn't underestimate him.

A long lifespan may be a racial trait, but living so long, collecting so many treasures, and still being so carefree is enough to prove his strength.

"Another dimension, this is amazing!"

The fact that he wasn't Ben didn't annoy him; on the contrary, the Collector was even more excited.

He excitedly told Nebula, "You know, I used to collect those special races because your father wanted to destroy the universe and carry out a Carnage of life. But now that he's dead, I don't have to do that anymore, or at least I don't have to rush to do it."

He seemed to be trying to negotiate a lower price, but then his gaze towards Ben filled with eagerness. "However, this is an exception. I've never seen a creature like this before. He might be the only one in the universe. I'm willing to pay a high price!"

"Sorry, I'm not for sale."

Ben was speechless, and said in a hoarse voice.

The Collector doesn't seem aggressive, but he's overly obsessed with his collection.

"Not a prisoner?" He was surprised, and when he found that Ben was indeed not wearing any restraints, he realized that this "rare species" was also one of Nebula's companions. But he did not give up. Instead, he came closer and started to negotiate with Ben.

"Sorry, I made a mistake. I thought you were Nebula's prisoner. But it doesn't matter anyway, sir..."

Just call me Big Chill.

"Alright, Big Chill, would you be interested in becoming one of my collectibles? Don't worry, I'm offering a high price, and I highly respect the autonomy and rights of my collectibles. You're free to move around as you please, and I'll collect your body after you die. How about that? It should be a good deal for you?"

The Collector tempted him.

"..."

Ben paused for a moment, then suddenly realized it was indeed a good deal.

As long as he doesn't die, wouldn't it be as if this never happened, and he could get a large sum of money or something else from the Collector for free?

Seeing that he seemed to be thinking, the Collector said, "You see, not long ago someone made this deal with me. That person was called Beta Ray Bill, a Korbin People. He traded his body after death for Giant Battleship Korbin People warship."

"I didn't restrain him at all. Later, he brought Giant Battleship to join the Galactic Plumbers and became the famous Galactic Plumbers Security Officer, making a name for himself! Why don't you exchange something with me and then go out and make your own way?"

Bill traded the Giant Battleship for the possession of his corpse by Collector after his death?

Ben only learned of this when his gaze towards the Collector became slightly hostile.

You're going a bit too far, old man, to plot against the corpses of your own men?

Of course, he didn't intend to clash with the Collector right now, but in any case, even if Bill died for various reasons in the future, his body would not be sent here for the Collector to use as a specimen.

Even if Bill didn't think it was a big deal, Ben wouldn't agree.

Nebula frowned, took two steps forward, and stood in front of Ben, blocking the Collector's view, interrupting, "We're here to find someone."

"Gamora must have contacted you, right?"

"That's true." The Collector nodded. His trading services didn't include confidentiality for clients, and besides, Gamora hadn't left yet. If Nebula went a little further in, the two of them would run into each other.

What does she want from you?

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" The Collector pointed to the inside of the house, where two alien maids with strange eyeshadow and makeup led them in. However, Eunice didn't follow; she was more interested in the Collector's collection.

The Collector also appreciated the customer who could appreciate his collection, so he accompanied her on a tour.

You collect small animals?

Eunice found a dog wearing a spacesuit and a duck wearing a suit among a collection of artifacts.

"I welcome all comers," the Collector said, waving his hands in delight.

He collects things not only for their monetary value, but sometimes he is also willing to pay high prices for junk or spend time acquiring it.

In reality, he wasn't truly obsessed with collecting; it's just that his lifespan was too long, and without cultivating some hobbies, he would probably go completely mad before long.

"This dog comes from Earth, a backward little place. Can you believe they only started exploring space decades ago and even sent a dog into space? This duck is something else entirely; it comes from another world, possesses the thinking abilities of a higher being, and is very dangerous!"

"Why don't you take a look at this? The Veldora ' reproductive organs!"

The Collector led Eunice around, and the two arrived at a counter with metal hooks.

Showing a girl a specimen of genitalia? That's something else!

"The key point is that it's very precious. The Veldora went extinct before I decided to become a Collector. I finally found a completely rotten corpse two hundred thousand years ago, but I never expected that this is the only one that's still relatively well-preserved," the Collector said with a look of nostalgia.

"I thought you were interested in my collection!"

"Not all..." Eunice said helplessly, "You should have those ores mined from the Knowhere, right?"

"You mean that? Of course! I knew they would eventually suck the marrow dry here." The Collector led Eunice to another location after wandering around.

That display case contains minerals, or rather, the genes of the Celestials.

It looks like a piece of metal.

Eunice's goal was to help Ben get this.

"How much?"

"Money? No, I'm just showing you!"

The Collector immediately blocked Eunice's view, glaring at her with a hint of displeasure. "This isn't a department store, young lady!"

However, he quickly changed his tone, revealing his true colors. "If that Mr. Big Chill changes his mind, I wouldn't mind exchanging my collection."

"No need."

Eunice walked away without looking back.

On the other side.

Ben and Nebula had already entered another room. As soon as they opened the door, they saw Gamora sitting on the floor, meditating. Her greatsword was placed on the ground beside her. The fluctuations of her meditation made her float in mid-air, her expression pained.

More importantly, however, the flowing Aether Particle surrounded her like a river of blood, forming a realm that was difficult to approach.

"You'd better not touch those things, or you might get hurt."

A maid gave a heartfelt warning.

"This is?"

"It seems the Aether Particle have entered her body," Ben said seriously.

It is said that the energy of the Infinity Stones is so powerful that mortals cannot directly touch them, but that is not entirely true in reality.

The energies of gems vary, with the most violent being the Power Stone. Any mortal who touches it will die, and even planets cannot withstand its Power Stone.

However, there are also Aether Particle, which not only do not harm the user's body, but can also become one with the user.

This may also be due to Malekith's modifications to the Aether Particle.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the current challenge is how to safely extract the ether from the other person's body.

"The Asgard magic I've learned should work, provided she's willing to cooperate."

"Don't even think about it!"

Gamora suddenly opened her eyes, the energy of the Aether Particle filling them with a blood-red power!

"The Reality Stone belongs to me!"

The energy of the ether instantly began to spread like a circulatory current, rushing towards Ben and Nebula. At that moment, Ben's Spider-Sense activated, warning him not to touch the overflowing Aether Particle.

In less than a second, Ben realized how he should react.

He swiftly grabbed Nebula and the maid's arms, then unleashed his Big Chill ability, instantly transporting them both into another phase.

The energy of the Aether Particle passed through their bodies, startling the maid—if her smoky makeup could be considered a sign of fright—before the energy slammed into the wall, causing a violent explosion.

Boom!!!

The walls of the room collapsed instantly, but the Aether Particle continued to spread.

"Hey!"

The Collector outside screamed in panic, his eyes rolling back as he unleashed a powerful Spiritual Power to Aether Particle and guide them to slowly recede.

"Don't cause trouble here! You almost destroyed my Collection Hall, Requiem!"

Gamora seemed to snap out of her daze, and the energy of the Aether Particle dissipated.

"Excuse me... You are... Nebula? What are you doing here?"

Ben returned from another phase with Nebula and the maid. The maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground. The Collector marveled and looked at Ben with increasing envy.

"For the Reality Stone within you," Nebula said. "But you, Gamora, why did you collect the Infinity Stones, and even renamed them Requiem?"

"Well... that's a long story."

Gamora sighed and, without hiding anything, recounted her entire experience.

"Sakaar King didn't actually kill my father; he's immortal. To completely destroy him, I had to take his body to Vormir. I learned of the Soul Stone Soul Stone's location a long time ago, and at that time I thought it might be able to destroy my father's Soul Stone."

"But I miscalculated. Not only did he not die, but he also merged with the Soul Stone, appearing in my ear day and night to torment me." Gamora covered her face sadly, tears streaming down her face.

During this time, she was very resistant to Thanos's Soul Stone, but in reality, she was suffering greatly inside.

Thanos was indeed the murderer who killed her family in her hometown, but he was also the father who raised her.

Upon meeting Nebula, who is also her sister, Gamora could no longer control herself.

"Is that so? No wonder Thor and Coulson said you seemed to have mental problems," Ben said in surprise.

Although his nickname is the Big Chill, he is not a real ghost, and therefore cannot see what problems Gamora has with her Soul Stone at this moment.

"Those two Plumbers... Father kept trying to persuade me to kill them, but I didn't." She shook her head and said wearily.

Nebula felt a pang of sympathy when she saw the usually strong Gamora in this state. She also understood Gamora's feelings; Thanos was an enemy, but also a family member, and it would take a great deal of resolve to kill him.

She went up to Gamora, gave her a hug, and asked reassuringly, "Is he still there? I mean, Father..."

I am everywhere.

Thanos's voice rang in Gamora's ears. He stroked his striped purple chin, looked at Nebula, and showed an expression that was half guilty and half happy.

"It seems she's doing well at the Galactic Plumbers. Ben Parker actually restored her body. Tell her, Gamora, tell her I'm sorry, tell her she looks great now."

He tried to reach out and grasp the Nebula, but his illusory body couldn't hold onto anything.

"He's stroking your face, apologizing, and saying you're better than before," Gamora said. "He's so gentle now, almost unrecognizable, but still as crazy as ever."

"That's truly unbelievable!" Nebula and Gamora exchanged a glance and laughed simultaneously.

Thanos remained silent for a moment. He looked at Gamora, thinking, "I also want to apologize to you, my daughter."

The atmosphere eased considerably.

To be honest, Ben initially thought they were going to fight.

Nebula didn't forget the important matter. "So, it was him who asked you to collect the gems? He hasn't given up on that crazy idea yet?"

"No."

Gamora shook her head, saying painfully, "It's me. He's a little better than before, but he's still himself. He craves me to kill everyone I meet. I really can't take it anymore."

"I thought I could destroy him using the power of the gem, but I failed again."

Camona said helplessly that she had concealed a little detail—when she tried to destroy Thanos's Soul Stone with the Reality Stone, not only did she fail, but her own Soul Stone was also injured, leaving a gap.

"In that case, you should just leave the gems to me to handle," Nebula said.

Gamora shook her head and said, "No!"

"The Infinity Stones cannot be gathered together for an extended period of time, or something terrible will happen."