Checking in with the Soul! The Pulse of the Universe!

The instant that mass of soul energy plunged into the abyss, the entire world fell silent.

The furious pressure from the origin of the universe, meant to punish a cheater, quietly receded like an ebbing tide.

In the sky, the blood-red clouds rapidly dispersed, and the pitch-black cracks slowly healed, as though nothing had happened.

Link had won his staggering gamble.

Through a method no one had ever used or would ever use again, he had exploited a loophole in the universe's rules. And the universe—or rather, some higher being governing soul law—had actually accepted this heretical "trade."

Harley Quinn stood behind him, her mouth hanging open, her face filled with the adoration of someone thinking, My man is fucking incredible.

Link panted softly. Forcing the Omega Effect into action had taken an enormous toll on him as well.

Just then, another change occurred.

Below the bottomless cliff, the darkness that devoured everything was gone. In its place, a warm, soft point of orange light appeared.

The light rapidly expanded like the rising sun, bathing all of gloomy Vormir in a warm glow.

Then a Stone radiating an orange halo slowly rose from the abyss.

It lacked the Power Stone's violence, the Reality Stone's distortion, the Time Stone's mystery, and the Space Stone's unfathomable depth. All it exuded was warmth and acceptance, as though it held the origin and end of every life in the universe.

[The Soul Stone].

It had accepted the trade.

The Stone slowly flew before Link and hovered silently, waiting for its new master.

Link suppressed his excitement, extended his left hand, and firmly took the Stone into his palm.

There was no resistance, no surge of energy. That warmth flowed from his palm through his entire body, as though soothing the soul that had grown