Who can decide what is good and what is bad? What is to be kept and what is to be discarded?
This is ridiculous. If such a thing exists, it means whether a timeline is abandoned or preserved is not a natural choice—not a choice of the universe—but an artificial intervention.
A concept that transcends the timeline—could it be a man?
Or a god?
Is it a person?
Or an organization?
They know nothing!
So Nick Fury was inclined to believe such a thing didn't exist at first. After all, he knew giants like Captain Marvel but had never heard of such a timeline control. It seemed unrealistic.
But now he deeply understood the meaning behind the phrase "frog in a well": what one thinks does not exist, or what one thinks impossible, may in some dimensions be utterly ordinary.
This is the difference in cognitive level—and Rowan undoubtedly has a very high level of cognition, coming from a universe beyond the fourth wall, where he may have watched all my movies, TV series, and comics, knowing exactly where everything is heading.
A living prophet walking the world—that identity is far more significant than the street hero called Superman.
"If that's the case, I can probably understand!" Hawkeye Barton said. "But Rowan is much stronger than us, and he's afraid of this person or organization. What about us? Could we do something out of line and get pulled out?"
"How could we..." Agent Hill immediately retorted.
Though they might be big shots among ordinary people, in Rowan's eyes they were probably just common folk. How could they possibly influence the grand tide of history?
After all, their choices and actions were likely already part of history.
"No, it's possible!" Natasha Romanoff, the Widow, said.
"Don't forget, we have this diary now, and we know a lot about the future.
Can you be sure we won't affect the future or alter certain general trends? For example, the incident of the Purple Sweet Potato snapping his fingers—we want to stop it, right?
But let's not talk about whether we'll succeed. If we do succeed, wouldn't it immediately attract the attention of this organization, and then they would come after us?"
"That's right. For example, Thor definitely wants to change Ragnarök, but if he succeeds, won't that immediately trigger interference? The general trend is immutable!" Nick Fury said.
At this, everyone felt a bit defeated. If that's true, all their efforts would be in vain. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't change the grand trend—but the problem was, that's exactly what they wanted to do.
"At this point, we can watch Rowan's follow-up moves!" Phil Coulson said.
"He mentioned in his diary that no one can escape the Purple Sweet Potato snapping his fingers.
Like we analyzed last time, it might be some kind of causality weapon—an unstoppable killing force regardless of distance, time, or space. That means Rowan himself could be targeted.
I don't believe he's willing to die like a mortal at the snap of this Purple Sweet Potato's fingers.
So we only need to watch what he does next. Did he stop the Purple Sweet Potato from snapping his fingers?
Maybe then we'll know if our guess is correct: small things can be changed, but big things cannot!"
"That's right, no need to rush right now.
The one who should be most anxious to save himself is Rowan himself.
We just need to watch and wait.
Don't worry."
Nick Fury nodded. He had learned patience.
"But at the same time, we follow normal procedures and don't easily meddle with these so-called general trends. Otherwise, we'll become a thorn in someone's side—and we won't know when or how we'll be wiped out."
At the same time, Tony Stark also shared this view with Nick Fury.
Both were focused on whether they could change the established future.
"This established future—does it refer to what happened in original history? Or things that can't be changed in the past, present, or future? It's troubling—what he said is too vague!" Tony Stark complained.
Rowan's expression was too unclear, so he couldn't guess.
"But the king of this fishing village...
J.A.R.V.I.S., set up a reminder.
If there is such a day when Thor wants to hold the enthronement ceremony in this fishing village, remind me to participate.
After all, I've never been to a royal enthronement ceremony.
A ceremony in a fishing village!" Tony Stark said.
Since he couldn't figure out the concept and role of this established future, he might as well think about other fun things.
"But if they're all enthroned in a fishing village, it means Asgard is going to fall—and maybe all the big cities will be destroyed!" Tony Stark said.
"But is this fishing village in Asgard or on Earth?"
"Sir, according to data analysis, it's more likely on Earth, because there is no evidence of any fishing port in Asgard!" J.A.R.V.I.S. replied.
"Whether in Norse mythology or Rowan's diary, there's no record of fishing ports in Asgard.
Besides, Ragnarök happened, so I tend to believe Ragnarök will completely destroy Asgard physically, and Thor escaped it."
"What kind of crisis can destroy such a powerful Asgard?" Tony Stark also wondered.
But it was a pity he couldn't ask Rowan directly.
To him, no matter how Asgard fell, it was just a flashy product, much stronger than Earth currently.
If even Asgard can't stop it, the crisis must be enormous.
"If we follow Norse myth legends, Asgard will eventually be destroyed by the Flame Titan Surtur!" J.A.R.V.I.S. said.
"Then assuming this Ragnarök definitely happens, if the screenwriter outside the fourth wall sets Ragnarök in Asgard as the reference point, the final ending may not change much!"
Tony Stark stroked his chin and said, "That means I'm at least 70% sure the Flame Titan Surtur is the one who ultimately destroys Asgard.
After all, the sense of destiny must be fulfilled!"
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