Who Will Make the Snap?

Banner looked up at Xiao Han, his expression complicated. "So it really was you?"

Xiao Han nodded. "That's right. I just went through the Battle of New York and took care of the Chitauri while I was at it."

Banner took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. "All right, assuming what you said is true, what are you planning to do now? We need the Stones to bring back the people who vanished."

"I can help you," Xiao Han said, "but I have conditions."

"What conditions?" Banner asked warily.

"The Stones from this universe. Space, Mind, and Time, for example. Once you're done using those three, they belong to me."

Banner hesitated, then looked toward the Ancient One.

The Ancient One smiled faintly. "Dr. Banner, his power is far beyond anything you can imagine. If he wishes to help you, perhaps this is the best choice."

Perhaps afraid Banner would not believe her, the Ancient One added, "His mastery of magic is extraordinary."

Banner fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "All right, I believe you. But we need to get back to 2023 as soon as possible. The others are still waiting for us."

The corner of Xiao Han's mouth lifted. "No problem. Tell me the coordinates of your universe."

Banner gave him the coordinates. Xiao Han then raised his hand, golden energy gathering in his palm as a massive portal slowly unfolded.

On the other side of the portal was the Avengers Compound in 2023.

Banner's eyes widened. "This... is this teleportation across time and space?!"

"Let's go." Xiao Han stepped through the portal first. "Your teammates are waiting."

Banner and the Ancient One exchanged glances before following him, while the Ancient One remained behind in 2012.

2023

Avengers Compound

Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Scott Lang, and the others were waiting anxiously.

Suddenly, a golden portal opened in the center of the compound, and Banner stepped out alongside an unfamiliar man.

"Doctor." Tony hurried forward.

"How did it go... and who is this?" His gaze settled on Xiao Han, his brow furrowing slightly.

Banner quickly introduced him. "This is Xiao Han. The Time, Space, and Mind Stones are all with him, but he's willing to help us."

"What?" Steve watched Xiao Han warily. "He has the Stones?"

Xiao Han did not waste words. He raised his hand, and three Stones appeared in his palm.

"The Stones are here."

He said calmly, "But I need to know whether you're willing."

"Willing to do what?" Steve asked.

"Once we're done using those three Stones, we have to give them to him," Banner hurriedly explained.

Tony stared at him, his expression complicated. "Who exactly are you?"

"A visitor from another universe." Xiao Han smiled faintly.

"Perhaps you can call me Superman."

"Superman?" Scott could not help interrupting. "Like the one from the comics?"

"More or less." Xiao Han shrugged.

"But I prefer solving problems with my fists."

Everyone looked at one another, unsure how to respond.

In the end, Tony sighed. "All right. Since you have the Stones and you're willing to help, we have no reason to refuse. But as for the snap..."

"I'll do it."

Xiao Han cut him off. "Your bodies can't withstand the Stones' energy, but I can."

Banner looked at him in surprise. "Are you sure? The power of all six Stones is enough to destroy any living being!"

Xiao Han smiled. "Trust me. I'm not like you."

A flicker of golden light passed through his eyes, and invisible power flowed around him.

Tony watched him for several seconds, then suddenly smiled. "Fine. It's not like we have any other choice. Welcome to the Avengers, Mr. Superman."

Xiao Han nodded. "Mm. It feels different."

"Where are Natasha and Clint?" Banner suddenly asked.

Just then,

Clint Barton staggered out of the Quantum Tunnel, clutching the orange Soul Stone in his hand, his face filled with grief.

"We got the Stone..." His voice was hoarse. "But Natasha... she..."

Everyone instantly understood what had happened.

Tony stepped forward and gently patted Clint's shoulder. "We'll remember her sacrifice."

Banner's face went deathly pale. He staggered back two steps, bracing himself against the lab table with his arm and making a harsh scraping sound.

"No... that's impossible..." His pupils dilated.

"We promised we'd come back together!"

Xiao Han keenly noticed the violent fluctuations of gamma energy within Banner.

Without drawing attention, he released his biofield, separating Banner from everyone else.

"Calm down, Doctor." His voice carried a strange soothing power. "Anger won't solve anything."

"Calm down?!" Banner spun around and slammed a fist into the wall.

The wall shattered like paper beneath Hulk's strength, but Xiao Han's field absorbed the shockwave in time, preventing it from reaching the laboratory equipment.

"She's dead! Because of that damned Stone!" Banner's roar had already taken on Hulk's characteristic rasp.

Steve stepped forward and gripped Banner's trembling shoulder. "We'll all miss her, but we need you now, Bruce. Fulfilling her wish is the best way to honor her."

Banner breathed heavily, green flickering in and out of his eyes.

Xiao Han suddenly reached out and pressed a hand against his temple, a faint golden glow shining from his fingertips.

Banner's whole body shook, and the rampaging gamma energy within him miraculously settled.

"What did you do to him?" Thor gripped his hammer warily.

"I just helped regulate his endocrine system." Xiao Han withdrew his hand.

"Now, shouldn't we get down to business?"

Tony gave the restored Banner a thoughtful look before turning to activate the holographic display.

"According to the calculations, we need to focus the energy of all six Stones into the Nano Gauntlet..."

Banner's emotions gradually calmed under Xiao Han's soothing influence, but his eyes remained dim.

"We have to finish this." He spoke quietly, clenching and loosening his fists. "For Natasha."

Everyone followed Tony to the room containing the Nano Gauntlet. As the glass case opened, a gauntlet rose out on a lift.

Everyone looked toward Xiao Han and watched him calmly walk up to the gauntlet. He slipped his right hand inside, and it automatically adjusted to fit him.

Then Xiao Han placed the Infinity Stones onto it one by one. In an instant, energy in six colors flowed through his body.

Everyone held their breath as they stared at the Nano Gauntlet on Xiao Han's hand, embedded with six Infinity Stones. Their brilliant glow reflected across every face.

Xiao Han could feel unprecedented power surging through him. Each Stone burned within the gauntlet like a star.

Power, Space, Reality, Soul, Time, and Mind.

The six primordial powers of the universe intertwined at his fingertips, as though the weight of the entire universe rested on his arm.

"This feeling..."

Xiao Han narrowed his eyes slightly. With his body, he could feel that a single punch could blow up Earth, or even tear space apart.

But he restrained that impulse and turned to look at the Avengers around him.