Shadow of the Beautiful World

Earth has Earth's rules.

Outside the solar system, a small group of remaining Chitauri are guarding the wheel-shaped spaceship of Ebony Maw, maintaining a high-speed cruising attitude, bypassing the battlefield at the edge of the galaxy, trying to enter the solar system from another direction.

Behind the dimly lit control panel of the wheel-shaped spaceship, in a cabin similar to a lounge, Loki, who was eating a green apple, was giving instructions to Ebony Throat.

She leaned on the mechanical chair and said to the Ebony Maw who was listening to her:

You have lived on the other side of the galaxy for a long time, and it is normal for you not to understand the situation on Earth, but believe me, this place is completely different from the civilizations you have passed through and destroyed before.

I have traveled the earth for a long time, and I am well aware of the complexity of that world, and the truth about it is like a knot in layers.

Loki chewed the juicy sweet and sour apple, she said softly:

Every time you think you're going to unravel it, it expands and becomes more complicated, and it's going to surprise you a lot of the time.

There are three infinity gems in that world, and the time gem is in the hands of the supreme mage. It is a powerful man who repelled the three heavenly fathers by himself. He has maintained the magical order of the earth for thousands of years.

She won't care if you go to the earth to make small troubles. Her eyes are on a higher level, but once it comes to matters related to infinite gems, she will never be able to get around it.

Supreme Master, Ancient One.

Ebony Maw waved its fingers, and it whispered:

Master Thanos has told us not to provoke the Supreme One until necessary. In the plan of Lord Thanos, he will personally fetch the Stone of Time.

Our goals this time are the Stone of Power and the Stone of Space, let's talk about them.

That would be worse.

Loki put the half-eaten apple on the table. She picked up the handkerchief and wiped her fingers. She said in a strange tone:

The holder of the Power Stone is a more dangerous guy than the Supreme Sorcerer, a meddling hell lord. Believe me, my friend, it is no more difficult for you to get the gem from him than it is for you to get the gem from the Supreme Sorcerer. It's easier to grab the Time Stone there.

The space gem seems to be the easiest to get, but it's more likely to be a trap. I don't think people on Earth still know the truth about that cosmic Rubik's Cube.

That thing is something that the Raven and the Supreme Mage are paying attention to at the same time. The reason why they haven't taken it away is probably because they want to fish, waiting for someone with ulterior motives like you to find it, step into the trap, and be caught. Catch them all.

Loki brushed the long black hair from the back of her head. She stared at the thoughtful Ebony Throat. She took something out of her pocket and threw it on the table.

The clear and crisp sound when the two collided made Ebony Throat's eyes fall on the thing that rolled in front of his eyes.

It stretched out its hand, picked up the thing, and placed it in front of its eyes.

That's a badge.

Carved with three-eyed runes, it looks quite mysterious.

This is my plan, Lord Ebonmaw.

Loki picked up the half-eaten green apple, put it in his mouth and bit off a piece fiercely, splashing the juice from the bite.

She slowly raised her legs and said to Ebony Maw:

I think we can change the order. The Stone of Time is the hardest to get under normal circumstances, but now we have a godsend opportunity.

The current supreme mage Gu Yi has entered the twilight years of her life. Since a few months ago, she has been choosing her successor. A battle for the supreme seat is about to begin, and I

Loki pointed to herself, and she proudly said:

I am honored to introduce myself. I am one of the candidates. If I can defeat the other competitors, I will be able to obtain the throne of the Supreme Mage, and the Stone of Time will also fall into my hands.

Ah, I see.

There was light in Ebony Maw's eyes. It raised its head and played with the badge in its hand. It said to Loki:

That's why you traveled thousands of miles to the edge of the galaxy to find Lord Thanos. I guess you also used this to convince him, right?

Ebony Maw looked at the silver staff in Loki's hand, it said:

You 'borrowed' the Soul Gem from Lord Thanos also for this battle, and all of this is for your private purpose!

Yes, I have my purpose.

Loki admitted generously, she said:

But this does not affect the agreement between me and Thanos. I sit on the position of Supreme Mage, just like he lent me the Soul Stone. When he needs it, I will also generously give the Time Stone 'Lend' it to him.

Having said that, Loki couldn't help but shrugged, she looked at Ebony Mew, and she complained:

This is the correct rule of conduct. Take it in a dignified way, not in a sneaky way.

Thanos has a far-sighted vision than you followers. He doesn't care about the gain or loss of a gem, and he will never hesitate when it's time to pay. He is a full-fledged hero.

You guys are too far behind. It's not bad to describe you with short-sightedness.

But I am not deliberately ridiculing you, my friends. Now that Your Excellency Black Dwarf died in battle, I think you should all think about the problem with a more wise thinking.

Loki put the last bits of the green apple into her mouth, and she said in a vague tone:

Instead of risking your life to snatch the Stone of Space or the Stone of Power, why not help me win the battle for the Supreme Mage first and ensure the ownership of the Stone of Time.

When I become the Supreme Mage, I will not forget Your Excellency Thanos' generous help. I will continue to help you complete the task of collecting other gems.

There was silence in the control room, and Loki didn't believe a single punctuation mark of the future Ebony Maw that Loki had described with rhetoric.

It doesn't believe that Loki will continue to do his best to help the dark order collect infinite gems after becoming the supreme mage, but it doesn't recklessly and directly expose Loki's tricks.

For two guys who are good at intrigue, speaking directly and without thinking is more like a humiliation.

It looked at the badge in its hand, and it was thinking about it.

The reason why Loki told it this was just to ensure that it would be her help in the next battle, even including letting the Chitauri and the Cree fall into a desperate situation before, it was also to weaken the power in the hands of Ebon Maw , forcing it to submit.

The Loki in front of it is undoubtedly a dangerous guy.

But about her plan, about the news she revealed, the upcoming battle for the supreme mage, the spellcaster competition with the time gem as the final reward, this is indeed very important information.

Ebony Maw squinted, and after the dark wisdom pondered for a few minutes, it threw the badge back to Loki, saying:

About that competition, can it find help? Who are your opponents?

The rules say nothing about that.

Loki put the finished apple core in the palm of his hand, and amidst the green light shining, the apple core was eroded by the magic power quickly and became pitted.

Like a child rubbing plasticine vigorously, while playing with the things in her hand, she explained to Ebony Throat:

Every contestant can have a helper. Generally speaking, it seems that each player depends on his means. In fact, when I went to find Thanos, I hoped that Thanos would become my off-court support.

But unfortunately, he is not willing to bully children.

As for my opponents, they are all earthlings and spellcasters, representing different factions. There are a few guys among them, which makes me feel quite tricky.

But none of the contestants surpassed the Heavenly Father, which means that there is not much difference between us in terms of absolute strength. With Lord Ebonmaw's spellcasting ability, if you are willing to help me, my chances of winning are pretty good. big.

Loki's fingers swayed, the three-eyed emblem bounced around her slender fingertips, and finally disappeared into her palm as if by magic.

She stood up and yawned. Under the golden light from the staff in her hand, she put her hands on her hips and said to Ebony Maw:

Then, Your Excellency Ebony Throat, I have told you all about my plan without reservation, what's your answer?

Ebony Maw raised its head, looked at Loki, and asked:

You are an Asgardian, and you are not considered a person on Earth, but you are also eligible to participate, which shows that this battle for the Supreme Mage seems to have no restrictions on the race of the participants.

But as you said, I am also a spellcaster.

Ebony Maw shrugged, with a strange light in his gray eyes, and said:

According to what you said, it was a battle for the crown of the most powerful spellcaster among the stars, and it was the most glorious war that a spellcaster could participate in. Compared with participating in the battle as your assistant, I am actually more inclined to be a player join the war

Loki's expression darkened immediately.

She said to Ebony Maw:

Why is this necessary? We can cooperate without distractions, and we are all serving Thanos anyway. Or do you not trust me?

No, Lord Loki, I trust you as much as you trust me.

Ebony Maw patted his black robe, stood up, with a sincere smile on his noseless face, and said to Loki:

As an assistant, what's the difference from being a player? We will still unite together to win. Are you still worried that I will abandon you and form an alliance with a group of earth spellcasters who have never seen their faces?

We want the time gem, and you want the supreme position. There is no conflict between our goals!

Ebony Maw spread his hands and said in a relaxed tone:

So, I would like to modify the way of cooperation between us a little bit. You help me qualify for the competition, and I help you beat others.

It looked at Loki with a gloomy expression, and his tone was more feminine, and he explained:

Your Excellency Loki, the two of us are actually very similar, both in the way we do things and in the way we think.

Because you are so similar, I understand you as I understand myself. I believe that you sincerely desire our help, but you are not a member of the Dark Order after all, and you have not devoted your allegiance to Lord Thanos.

Therefore, a small countermeasure is very necessary before cooperating.

So, what's your answer?

—

A few hours later, Loki left Ebony Maw's wheel-shaped spaceship in a small shuttle, and went to Earth first to obtain the right to participate in the Supreme Mage Contest for Ebony Maw.

The two have reached an agreement and even signed a contract.

In front of the command platform of the wheel-shaped spaceship, Ebony Maw watched as Loki's shuttle disappeared into the halo of the star sea. It stretched out its skinny fingers like claws, and entered a line of instructions on the console.

After a while, the inter-galaxy connection was connected.

Deadblade, Proxima Centauri, Superstar, my brothers and sisters.

Ebony Throat said to the three projections floating in front of him in obscure language:

I want to tell you an unfortunate news. The black dwarf died, and died on the earth. We underestimated that world, and we paid the price.

The death of a member of the Dark Order was reported to others, but it did not cause any expression from the remaining three, as if it was trivial news.

To be honest, Ebony Mewdaw himself didn't care too much.

It is a guy who uses his brain to eat, and he doesn't like guys like Black Dwarf who rely on brute force to fight. It is a very useful weapon of war, but that's all.

But all weapons will break one day, this is an inevitable fate, and there is no need to feel sad about it.

Ebony Mew waved his hands, and said to his three truly powerful brothers:

But this failure reminded us that we must take stronger actions in order to fulfill Lord Thanos' entrustment. Now, a wonderful opportunity is in front of us.

Deathblade, Proxima Centauri, I need you two to come to the solar system to meet me immediately, as my assistants, to participate in the competition for the time gem and the crown of the supreme mage.

As for you, superstar, my sister, I need you to use your powerful concealment ability to sneak into the earth first and collect more information for us.

Having said that, Ebony Maw narrowed its eyes, and said in a jerky tone:

Loki is not trustworthy. I believe she is telling the truth, but she must have concealed many important details and weaved these truths into even more terrifying lies.

We can't pin all our hopes on her, Lord Thanos' victory will be brought about by us!