Blake stared intently at Kang, silent and unmoving.
In his mind, however, he was rapidly recalling the limited information he had about Loki's TV series and all the fan theories he'd read online.
But as everyone knows, Marvel trailers are often more like tricksters than teasers, full of misdirection. Marvel has been infamous for its anti-spoiler tactics. Rumor has it that when they filmed Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, they shot seven different endings for the Hulk. Some had him die, some didn't, leaving Mark Ruffalo, the actor, nearly on the brink of a mental breakdown.
So, after considering countless possibilities, Blake decisively chose to let it go.
Overanalyzing was pointless. The Kang before him didn't seem interested in fighting, nor had Blake's greatest secret been exposed. All he needed to do was grow stronger. Eventually, he would uncover all the answers himself. Conquerors, Eternals, Celestials—who cared? He'd deal with them all the same way:
Punch them into oblivion.
Taking a deep breath, Blake's expression relaxed. He looked at Kang the Conqueror and said calmly, "So, it seems we have a common goal. Let's talk—what can I offer you? Or, perhaps more importantly, what will you offer me?"
"I'm glad we've reached an understanding!" Kang replied with genuine enthusiasm.
"What I can do for you is ensure that the Time Variance Authority won't interfere with you. In return, you will slowly build your strength and follow the timeline. When the time comes, I will open the timeline and end the cycle. Your task will be to kill the version of me that exists a thousand years from now and bring all of this to an end."
No discussions of parallel universes or time paradoxes—just one simple truth: to end the time loop, no new Kangs could be allowed to arise or grow. Otherwise, these Kangs would once again start endlessly creating parallel timelines and waging war.
"I'm exhausted. Every few thousand years, I have to watch these dreadful plots unfold all over again. And I'm stuck here, unable to return to the timeline. I'm sick of living like this. End this, and I'll find a place to live out my life peacefully, no longer hiding in this cursed fortress like a rat."
"Deal!"
Blake extended his right hand, gripping Kang's firmly.
The two, both harboring their own schemes and unwilling to reveal their true intentions, exchanged an awkward laugh.
But at least, for now, the immediate problem was resolved. Blake could return with Baby Groot anytime.
As for Mandela, an ordinary human, he wasn't so lucky. Kang stated that he would return Mandela to the time and place he disappeared from, but his memories of this place would have to be erased.
Mandela agreed without hesitation. A man who had devoted his life to fighting racial oppression and had led South Africa into becoming a modern state, he deserved Blake's respect. Before leaving, Blake gave him a slight bow of acknowledgment.
...
Using the passage Kang opened, Blake returned directly to the Rainbow Bridge's grand hall. This choice also helped him conceal the secret of his ability to return directly to the timeline.
To avoid being too conspicuous, Blake chose to reappear shortly after his disappearance in the Dark World.
That moment coincided with Thor assembling the Avengers and announcing Blake's disappearance.
The announcement had barely been made, and Heimdall's golden eyes were still scanning the cosmos when a portal opened in the grand hall of the Rainbow Bridge. Blake stepped through, with Baby Groot perched on his shoulder.
The timing was so perfect that no one had even had time to process their worry about his disappearance before he casually strolled out from the side.
"Hi!"
Blake winked at Natasha, who was the closest to him. Perched on his shoulder, Baby Groot mimicked Blake's expression and chirped a cheerful "Hi!" as well.
"Groot? You found a talking Groot?"
Seeing that Blake was safe, the group was momentarily stunned. But their attention quickly shifted to the little guy on his shoulder.
Before anyone could speak, Thor was the first to ask, as he had specifically studied the Groot language during his childhood.
"I am Groot!"
The little guy, upon seeing Thor, immediately leaped from Blake's shoulder onto Thor's, naturally greeting him in his native tongue.
"Oh, I feel a strange sense of kinship with you as well. Which planet did you come from to follow Blake here?"
The two shared a similar source of power, which naturally fostered a subtle sense of connection. Everyone's attention was now fixed on Baby Groot.
The little guy clearly enjoyed being the center of such friendly attention and began recounting his adventures with Blake when prompted by the group.
Only Heimdall seemed to harbor a hint of suspicion. He cast a questioning look at Blake.
"The place you just came from—what is that? I sensed it doesn't belong to any known location within the universe."
Recalling his recent experiences in the Void and everything he had seen there, Blake shrugged and replied half-jokingly:
"Yeah, you could say I was... out of town."
...
Avengers Sky Base
Blake chose to keep the details about the two worlds secret. However, he shared everything else with the team, including the Void, the Time Variance Authority, and the concept of time branches.
"So, you're saying our entire lives have been scripted? A pre-written play? Including all the crap I've been through? You should've just snapped that bastard's neck!"
Though it was Tony who spoke, his words resonated with nearly everyone present.
The truth was, whether hero or villain, each of them had extraordinary resolve, intelligence, or some unique quality. And those qualities often came from the pain and hardships of their lives.
"I thought the same," Blake replied. "But the reality is, as you all know, we don't currently have a chance of winning this war—not yet, anyway. Whatever Kang's intentions may be, our timeline has slipped out of his control, for now. That gives us time to build our strength and break this cycle."
Blake's tone was serious as he addressed the group.
He chose not to reveal what the original future would have held—it would only make things more unpredictable and complicated.
"A time loop, the TVA, and a mad scientist from a thousand years in the future named Kang. Damn it. I miss the days of World War II when I was the most advanced monster on Earth!"
Blake shrugged. "Actually, you weren't even back then."
He pointed at himself, reminding Steve of Isaiah Bradley's existence. Compared to Isaiah, Steve wasn't the first true Captain America in any meaningful sense.
"Well, at least I was one of the most advanced!" Steve shot back. "And that's still better than now. Back then, I was defending the country. Then I started protecting the planet with you guys. And now, you're telling me we're preparing to fight for the entire universe? This whole thing just feels so…"
He hesitated, refraining from using any curse words.
"Shit!"
Blake finished the thought for him, completing the sentiment.
*******************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on.
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is S_Pandey_0170