Knowhere, Knowhere, the Collector Tanya·Tivan is deep in the palace.
Carina's failure report and the heart-stopping red light image of destruction failed to extinguish the fanatical fire of collecting in Tanya Tivan's eyes. Instead, it was like pouring a bucket of hot oil on it, making it burn even more twisted and stubborn.
"Inaccessible... unobservable... even thoughts may be perceived..." the Collector was walking in a hall decorated with walls of ever-changing colors. He was stroking a Nebula creature that was constantly moaning and sealed in an energy shield. His eyes were obsessed and paranoid. "How perfect! How unique! This is definitely the most dazzling and dangerous crown in my collection! Without it, my life will be meaningless!"
But he was not completely crazy. Carina's report and the "taboo" warnings quietly circulating in the universe made him understand that conventional means had completely failed. Obtaining it by force was tantamount to self-destruction.
You must find another way.
His eyes swept across the dazzling array of collections in the hall - shrunk stars, frozen time fragments, weeping angel statues, thinking mechanical planets... Finally, he landed in an inconspicuous corner.
There is a seemingly ordinary metal chessboard with several strange-shaped chess pieces scattered on it. This is not an ordinary chess piece, but "Cosmic Reality Chess". The chess pieces are weakly connected to some specific "concepts" or "probabilities" of the real universe, and can affect the "luck" or "possibility" of the real world in a very small way through changes in the chess game.
An extremely insidious and hidden plan took shape in his brain full of collecting desires.
He does not need to directly confront that existence, that is impossible. He only needs to... slightly, extremely slightly, pluck the "probability string" of the world around him.
Let some "accidents" happen around him. Some accidents that are not big or small enough to directly irritate him, but can continue to produce "noise" and destroy his comfort.
For example, when he was basking in the sun, the clouds coming from the sky always blocked the sun for how many minutes?
For example, the drinks he often drinks are occasionally out of stock due to extremely "accidental" supply chain problems?
For example, a certain part of his recliner would inexplicably suffer "fatigue damage" and make a squeaking sound?
For example, a few lost and particularly noisy seabirds would always "just happen to" choose to hover above his head?
These trivial "misfortunes" will be like sand in shoes, constantly wearing down his patience.
And when his patience is worn to a certain extent, when he feels that the planet is becoming more and more "troublesome" and "noisy"...
Will he have thoughts of leaving?
And when he starts looking for a new home, will the coordinates of a quiet and peaceful "garden planet" that "perfectly meets" his requirements that the Collector has prepared through other channels "just happen" to appear in the place he may search for?
Of course, that planet has long been transformed into a beautiful trap by the Collector - the most gorgeous cage in the universe that can slowly release a special energy field and subtly weaken the target's will, or at least trap it.
The key to the plan is: absolute concealment, using the probability rules of the universe itself, and never actively applying any form of energy or observation. Let everything look like a natural coincidence.
"Perfect!" The Collector was intoxicated with his plan. He walked to the Cosmic Reality Chess board, stretched out his carefully manicured fingers, and very slightly and carefully... moved a chess piece that represented "trivial troubles".
The moment the chess piece fell, a faint light flashed on the chessboard. It seemed that nothing had changed, but there seemed to be some extremely subtle, invisible ripples that penetrated the dimensions and spread towards the distant earth.
After doing all this, the Collector clapped his hands with satisfaction, turned around and walked towards another cage containing a singing black boulder, as if he had just played an insignificant game.
Malibu Beach.
Xiao Han frowned slightly.
There seemed to be an extremely weak and unpleasant "wave" sweeping past just now, but it disappeared in an instant, leaving no trace. It didn't look like energy or a spiritual attack, but more like a feeling of... bad luck?
He didn't pay much attention and continued to absorb the sunlight.
However, from this day on, some insignificant but constant little troubles began to appear quietly.
For three consecutive days, every afternoon when he enjoyed the sunshine the most, there would always be a few medium-sized clouds that "happened" to drift by, blocking the sun for a few minutes. Although it dispersed quickly, the feeling of interrupted energy absorption made him very uncomfortable.
Tony ordered one of his favorite brands of ice cream, but the supply was cut off twice due to "port delays" and "transportation cold chain failure."
One of the adjustment gears on his beach chair suddenly broke off a tooth without warning. Although the robot immediately replaced it, the brief, subtle mechanical noise during the replacement made him glance at it.
Several cormorants that were originally perched on the cliffs in the distance began to frequently swoop for fish in the sea above his head for some reason, making unpleasant squawking sounds.
On their own, these little things seem insignificant, and can even be said to be nitpicking.
But for Xiao Han, who is extremely sensitive and has extreme requirements for "comfort" and "quietness", these continuous and trivial "imperfections" are like an invisible person tickling his ear with a feather.
Not painful, but extremely annoying.
His brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and the air pressure around him continued to be low. The thought of moving, which Tony had just suppressed with "ambient sounds" and ice cream, began to stir again.
Tony·Stark also noticed these anomalies. Clouds? Ice cream supply outage? Broken chairs? Seabirds? This all seems too... a coincidence? Especially when it happens around a being like Xiao Han?
"Friday, analyze the abnormal events around the villa in recent days and calculate the probability of natural occurrence."
"Analyzing... Comprehensive calculation shows that the natural probability of such a small probability event occurring in a concentrated manner is less than 0.00034%. It is suspected that there is unknown external intervention."
"External intervention?" Tony's heart was raised, "Can the source be traced?"
"Cannot be traced. The intervention method is non-energy, non-physical, and non-information, and is closer to... a weak perturbation at the probabilistic level or causal level. It cannot be understood at the technical level."
Probability level? Cause and effect level? Tony felt his scalp numb. What the hell is this method?! Is there an enemy who can control luck?
He immediately reported the discovery to Nick Fury.
After listening to Fury, his one-eyed expression was terrifyingly gloomy. He immediately thought of the legends about mysterious forces and Elders of the Universe in the universe.
"Immediately investigate all known organizations or individuals that may have similar abilities! Including those who practice voodoo magic on earth!" He issued the order, but he knew in his heart that if there were really beings at that level to take action, S.H.I.E.L.D. might not be able to do anything.
Wakanda's Shuri also sensed the extremely weak aura of "doom" that permeated Xiao Han through "Planetary Veins", but she was also unable to understand its source and mechanism, and could only label it as "unknown reality disturbance".
Everyone felt something was wrong, but they were helpless.
Xiao Han's irritability is increasing day by day. These small troubles are accumulating and are wearing away his little remaining patience.
He began to "search" the stars more frequently, looking for a possible new home. The idea of moving became more and more clear.
The Collector Tanlia·Tivan, through some secret channels (perhaps an enslaved prophecy creature), vaguely sensed the movement of the prey, and a proud smile appeared on his face.
"Yes... that's it... get tired of it gradually... you feel like this place is not worthy of you..." He murmured to himself, as if he was admiring a piece of art being carefully polished, "Then, you will see the... most perfect new home I have prepared for you..."
He once again walked to the Cosmic Reality Chess board, preparing to place the second chess piece and increase his "intensity".
However, the moment his fingers were about to touch the chess pieces--
A cold, indifferent "will", but containing supreme majesty, seemed to have spanned endless time and space and suddenly descended on this hall!
There is no sound, no light or shadow.
But the Collector Tanlia Tivan's Eternity's unchanging face with a crazy smile froze instantly! His whole body seemed to be frozen by invisible ice, and he couldn't even move his fingertips!
He felt an indescribable and vast "gaze" falling on him. That gaze was not directed at his body or soul, but directly locked on the subtle "connection" between him and the Cosmic Reality Chess disk!
It was as if there was a supreme being who lowered his head indifferently and saw him, this tiny insect playing with probability lines in the corner.
The next second, the extremely precious Cosmic Reality Chess disk, together with all the chess pieces on it, turned into the most primitive cosmic dust without any warning and sound, without even a trace of energy fluctuation escaping.
The "probability string" that was plucked by the Collector was forced back to its original position by an absolute force.
The aura of "bad luck" surrounding Xiao Han dissipated in an instant.
The feeling of oppression disappears.
The Collector Tanlia·Tivan took a few steps back suddenly, gasping for air, her gorgeous robe was soaked with cold sweat, and her eyes were filled with unprecedented fear and fear.
He understands.
That's not a warning.
That's just a simple "cleanup".
It's like a person brushing off a speck of dust on his clothes.
That being didn't even bother to do anything to him, the mastermind behind it, and just erased his tool for causing trouble.
Absolute disparity. Not even qualified to be taken seriously.
The Collector slumped on the ground and did not move for a long time. His fanatical desire to collect was, for the first time, covered by a deeper emotion called "awe".
He knew that he would probably never dare to think about that existence again in his life.
Malibu Beach.
Xiao Han I felt that the unpleasant "doom" feeling around me suddenly disappeared, and the world seemed to be back to "normal" (although it was still noisy).
He felt it with some confusion and found nothing unusual, so he stopped looking into it and continued to bask in the sun.
However, after such a fuss, his idea of moving seemed to have become firmer.
The Guardians people on Earth are still anxious in the fog, completely unaware that they have escaped another disaster just now.
Only the silent Watchers Council faithfully recorded all of this:
[Event]: A weak probabilistic level intervention on the target was detected. The source of the intervention has been marked (the Collector Tanlia·Tivan).
[Result]: The intervention was detected by the target in an unknown manner and terminated. The intervention tool was completely erased.
[Analysis]: The target's ability to perceive and maintain the stability of reality exceeds expectations. Any form of indirect interference is also intolerable.
**[Recommendation]: Include probability/causality manipulation as an absolutely prohibited observation item.]**
The eye of the storm is still moving slowly, looking for a truly peaceful habitat.