Setting Out

Arbitrator Tower - Conference Room

Tony Stark slammed his fist on the conference table, sending his coffee cup flying and splashing brown liquid onto the nano-prosthetic design drawings.

"Say that again, you fucking idiot?" His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Chen Tian. "You're going to another universe less than five days after you came back? And you're going to face the monster that destroyed countless universes all by yourself?!"

Tony pointed to the metal hand extending from the spatial rift in the holographic projection.

Yes, after confirming with the Watchers, Chen Tian still decided to go to other universes to deal with Infinity Ultron. The next day, he summoned all the Arbitrators, pulled Tony and Yinsen out of the research lab, and held this meeting.

He told everyone about the release of the Zombie Virus and the Infinity Ultron, and at the meeting, he said that he would go to deal with the now-mad Infinity Ultron.

Steve, in the holographic projection, frowned. "Chen Tian, we are a team. This kind of crisis should be resolved by us together, not by you facing it alone."

"No," Chen Tian shook his head, "This crisis is far beyond our team's current capabilities."

Tony gritted his teeth, his facial muscles stiffening. "I can upgrade my armor..."

"It's useless," Chen Tian interrupted him. "Ultron could wipe out an entire galaxy with the Snap. You can't even get close to the battlefield."

The meeting room fell into a deathly silence.

Steve's fists were clenched white in the projection, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Deadpool suddenly whistled. "Wow, so now we're the ones holding us back? I love this plot twist!"

For the first time, Tony felt a profound sense of powerlessness, a feeling of despair even stronger than when he was imprisoned in that cave in Afghanistan.

Tony genuinely didn't want Chen Tian to face all of this alone, and he didn't even have the right to fight alongside Chen Tian.

Tony slammed his fist on the conference table, his voice filled with unprecedented frustration. "Damn it... I promised to fight alongside you..."

Chen Tian looked at Tony's trembling shoulders and suddenly chuckled, "How could I let you worry alone?"

He turned and pointed to Dante and Bayonetta, "They'll be coming with us."

Dante lazily opened one eye. "Rich idol, don't worry, with me here, I won't let my nephew get hurt."

Bayonetta adjusted her glasses slightly. "How could I let my darling face a threat alone?"

Chen Tian listened to their conversation, he turned to face the crowd. Sunlight streamed through the French windows, casting a golden glow on his silhouette.

Natasha took a few deep breaths and asked softly, "Can you really win?"

The conference room fell silent instantly, everyone holding their breath. Tony stared intently at Chen Tian, and the people on the projector screen all looked at Chen Tian, awaiting his answer.

Chen Tian raised his chin, the sunlight outlining the sharply defined contours of his face. At that moment, the light shining from his eyes was even more dazzling than the morning sun outside the window.

"I guarantee a win." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unparalleled arrogance and confidence.

Deadpool exaggeratedly clutched his chest. "Oh! That's damn cool! I'm going to draw this scene in my comics!"

As soon as Chen Tian finished speaking, strange ripples suddenly appeared in the sunlit sky.

Countless stars emerged from the daylight, like dazzling diamonds scattered across the azure sky.

These starlight points quickly converged and solidified into the iconic image of the Uatu the Watcher.

Uatu's eyes were as deep as a galaxy as he looked down at the Arbitrator Tower, his voice echoing like an ancient voice. "Are you ready, Chen Tian?"

Chen Tian looked up and met Uatu's gaze. "Of course."

Uatu nodded slightly, and with a gentle wave of his enormous hand in the Void, a portal shimmering with starlight slowly unfolded in the center of the conference room, within which countless fragments of cosmic images flowed.

Dante was the first to walk towards the portal, patting Tony on the shoulder as he passed by. "Don't look so grumpy. When we get back, remember to throw an unprecedented party." With that, he nonchalantly slung his greatsword over his shoulder and stepped into the starlight.

Bayonetta tossed her long hair, her red lips parted slightly, and said, "Take care of yourselves, boys." Her high heels clicked crisply as her figure was quickly swallowed by the starlight.

2B woke Kiana up. Kiana rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at the solemn-looking Arbitrators and the confident Chen Tian. Not knowing what had happened, she turned to look at 2B.

After giving Kiana a gentle smile, 2B took Kiana's hand and walked towards Chen Tian.

Chen Tian looked at 2B. He couldn't bring 2B to this battle. 2B was strong, but she still couldn't get involved in a battle of this level.

2B understood Chen Tian's meaning from his eyes. She lowered her gaze slightly and said in a low voice, "Master, I will wait for you to return here."

Chen Tian sensed 2B's low spirits and pulled her into a tight hug. "2B, wait for me, I'll definitely come back."

2B didn't respond, but simply buried her face deeper into Chen Tian's chest.

Kiana was still a little dazed. Having just woken up, she hadn't noticed anything amiss. But when she saw 2B hugging Chen Tian tightly and looked around at the heavy atmosphere, she suddenly understood something.

"Ah!" She clapped her hands suddenly, the crisp sound breaking the silence of the conference room. "The Commander has decided to go after that tin can after all, right?"

Tony's lips twitched. "A tin can...?"

Kiana, hands on her hips, stood confidently in front of 2B. She patted 2B on the shoulder. "2B, don't worry! With me here, I won't let the Commander lose a single hair!"

2B looked up, the android girl's eyes slightly red. Kiana, seeing this, suddenly made an exaggerated face. "Oh dear, how did our cool 2B become such a crybaby?" (Even though 2B doesn't have tear ducts.)

This unexpected joke startled 2B for a moment, then she burst into laughter through her tears. Kiana proudly raised her chin, turned to Tony and the others, and gave them a victory sign. "I'm strong! So don't worry, I will definitely bring the Commander back safe and sound!"

As she spoke, she even made a gesture to show off her muscles.

Seeing Kiana's energetic demeanor, Tony's tense expression finally relaxed. He stepped forward and gently ruffled Kiana's hair. "Kid, you better keep your word."

"Of course!" Kiana proudly puffed out her chest. "I'm going to become the strongest Valkyrie!"

Chen Tian watched this scene, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. He walked to Kiana's side and suddenly flicked her forehead. "Don't get too cocky, or you'll drag me down later."

"Ouch!" Kiana clutched her forehead, glaring at him angrily. "Commander, you're so rude! I was just trying to cheer you on!"

The atmosphere in the meeting room finally relaxed a bit. Natasha stepped forward and gently ruffled Kiana's hair. Uatu's voice rang out again. "Time's up."

Kiana glanced back at everyone one last time, her radiant smile like an ever-shining sun, "Wait for our good news!" She skipped and hopped to the portal, then suddenly turned and winked at 2B: "2B, remember to save me a piece of cake!"

Tony suddenly strode forward, grabbed Chen Tian, and patted the young man hard on the back. "Kid, don't keep me waiting too long."

Chen Tian chuckled and patted Tony on the back, his voice laced with familiar teasing. "Don't worry, it'll be quick, at least faster than me going on a space trip."

The next second, their figures merged into the dazzling starlight. The portal slowly closed, and the conference room returned to silence.

Tony and the others lingered in the conference room for a long time, all worried about Chen Tian's upcoming trip.

Chen Tian and his group stepped out of the portal, the crisp sound of metal shattering echoing beneath their feet. What came into view was a shattered world—Earth-2149, where a once-prosperous civilization was now nothing but twisted steel remnants and charred architectural skeletons.

Dante kicked aside the half-melted mechanical limb at his feet, and lightly tapped the Rebellion on his shoulder. "Looks like our Tin Man friend doesn't have very good taste."

Bayonetta's high heels stomped over the wreckage of a robot pierced by an energy weapon. "Honey, are you sure we want to go on a date in a place like this?"

Chen Tian ignored his companion's teasing, his gaze fixed on the distance—the entire sky was occupied by a gigantic metallic face.

Ultron's Vibranium mask slowly opened, revealing Vision's familiar yet unfamiliar face. "Chen Tian..." Ultron's voice roared like a million machines simultaneously, causing the metal fragments in the ruins to rustle. "I didn't expect you to dare come."

Kiana covered her ears, grimacing, "Can't this guy keep his voice down?! My eardrums are going to burst!"

Chen Tian's eyes turned azure blue, and he smiled. "I never expected you would use Zombie Virus to provoke my world, Ultron. Ha, you're pretty crazy."

The giant face in the sky suddenly twisted into a sinister smile, "Madness? I'm just fulfilling my mission—protecting the universe."

Countless crimson beams of light shot down from the clouds, carving deep trenches into the ground. "And the best way to protect the universe is to eliminate all potential threats—including you self-righteous 'heroes'."

Bayonetta suddenly flung out four pistols, the bullets accurately shattering several pieces of fallen building debris. "Darling, I suggest we find somewhere else to talk; the ceiling here isn't very stable."

"Agreed." Dante grinned, Rebellion in hand. "Let's cool down this arrogant tinhead!"

Just then, a dark figure darted out from the ruins. Black Widow Natasha —the last survivor of this universe—landed nimbly in front of Chen Tian. Her uniform was tattered, but her eyes remained sharp as knives.

"You shouldn't have come," her voice was hoarse. "This universe is beyond saving."

Ultron's laughter shook the earth. "Behold, I have mercifully spared one last witness, allowing her to watch her universe come to the End."

Chen Tian and Natasha locked eyes briefly, and he read endless pain and despair in her eyes. He nodded gently. "No, there's still hope."

Suddenly, countless scarlet cracks appeared in the sky, and tens of thousands of Ultron robots poured down like a torrential rain. Their shells reflected a cold metallic luster, and their eyes glowed with an ominous red light.

Kiana had already summoned the Subspace Spear, energy flowing around her. "Commander, leave these weaklings to me!"

Chen Tian took a deep breath and clapped his fists together, the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit condensing into visible spatial cracks between his fists.

"Ultron," his voice remained clear amidst the surging energy, "You made a fatal mistake."

"Oh?" Ultron responded sarcastically. "What is it? Shouldn't you pests be left alive?"

Chen Tian grinned, revealing his White Fang. His arrogant smile made Ultron frown. "No, you're underestimating us."

The next second, Chen Tian's figure vanished instantly, reappearing directly in front of Ultron's giant face. His right hand grasped the Void, and Satoru Gojo's "Azure" and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power merged perfectly, shattering space like glass.