I have finished translating this fanfic, IMUC (I Am In Marvel With Unlimited Cards) and have posted all the advanced chapters on Patreon (Last Chapter -- 706). (https://www.patreon.com/c/marvel6395). You can read all the advanced chapters there.
Planet Sakaar, Grandmaster Tower, Top Floor Hall.
If the aliens outside witnessed the current scene within the hall, they'd be utterly dumbfounded. The two individuals who had been locked in a bitter feud just a day prior— Tyrant Kyle and the Grandmaster— now sat calmly together, engaged in a surprisingly harmonious conversation.
Where were the threats of "I'll kill you"? The vows of "You'll kneel before me"?
This unexpected turn of events was a result of several factors. For the Grandmaster, everything had been a game. The destruction of his warship fleet, the fate of Planet Sakaar itself— these were mere amusements to him. He hadn't displayed genuine anger or frustration throughout the ordeal.
Now that Sakaar's forces had proven incapable of stopping Kyle, extending an olive branch was inconsequential. After all, he was immortal and had found genuine amusement in the entire affair.
Kyle, on the other hand, was intrigued by the Grandmaster's secrets and sought to uncover them. Furthermore, killing the immortal Grandmaster, a unique and powerful being, seemed pointless. So, he sat calmly, observing the Grandmaster while patiently listening to his stories.
"You are truly fascinating," The Grandmaster remarked, admiring Kyle's composure. "You possess the power and poise befitting one of the universe's elite. In my entire existence, I've encountered only five others as intriguing as you. You're the sixth."
"Who are the others?" Kyle inquired, playing along.
"The first was the universe's very first Celestial. If he's still alive, he'd be roughly my age now," The Grandmaster chuckled, then sighed. "Unfortunately, I've been confined to this planet for millions of years, unable to explore the cosmos. I have no idea if he still exists."
"Why don't you leave?" Kyle asked curiously.
If, as the Grandmaster claimed, he found life monotonous and had created Sakaar's civilization and gladiatorial arenas purely for entertainment, why remain on this desolate planet for eons?
A glint of reminiscence flickered in his eyes as the Grandmaster fell silent for a moment. Then, he spoke vaguely, "I enjoy gambling. Throughout my existence, I've made countless wagers. My vast knowledge has granted me near-constant victories. I've acquired immense wealth, but I've bestowed it all upon my brother."
"What does that have to do with staying on Sakaar?" Kyle frowned.
"It's simple," The Grandmaster shrugged, gesturing with his hands. "Millions of years ago, I lost a wager. As part of the agreement, I am forbidden from leaving Planet Sakaar."
"That's it?" Kyle's gaze sharpened. How deeply could someone be addicted to gambling?
The Grandmaster snorted lightly. "I am a man of my word. If I lose, I must honor the terms."
"Is the individual you gambled with deceased?" Kyle inquired.
The Grandmaster shook his head. "I don't know. But I hope they are still alive. I'd relish the opportunity to gamble with them again."
"That seems unlikely," Kyle muttered, shaking his head. Few beings possessed the Grandmaster's long life, let alone his seemingly invincible resilience.
Card Details:
[Transcendent Lifeform] (Rare Gold Ability Card):
A lifeform born from the very fabric of the universe. Natural lifespan: 100 Billion years.
[Logical Immunity] (Rare Gold Ability Card):
Conventional physical and natural attacks below the cosmic scale are theoretically ineffective against this lifeform!
…
Yes, these are two of the five golden Ability Cards possessed by the Grandmaster. These two alone would grant him the freedom to traverse the cosmos without fear of harm.
"Was the individual you gambled with the second 'intriguing' person you mentioned?" Kyle asked curiously.
"Indeed," The Grandmaster nodded. "He was quite remarkable."
"And who are the other three?" Kyle continued, subtly extracting a golden Ability Card from the Grandmaster.
Without hesitation, Kyle began extracting the other cards, prioritizing the highest levels. After all, more skills meant greater potential.
"The others," The Grandmaster said, his eyes tinged with nostalgia. He looked up and said, "One is Odin of Asgard. A powerful and charismatic king of the stars, someone the universe encounters only once in a billion years. He was the architect of the current cosmic order."
Kyle pondered this. "Even now, the universe beyond is plagued by conflict."
"Those are nothing more than minor skirmishes between civilizations," The Grandmaster dismissed. "If you had witnessed the universe millions of years ago, you'd understand that the current Nine Realms are an era of peace and prosperity."
Kyle, lacking that experience, refrained from commenting. Instead, he stated calmly, "Odin is dead."
"I am aware. I realized that upon encountering his son," The Grandmaster replied indifferently. He had lived longer than most stars, witnessing countless farewells and departures.
"And the other two 'intriguing' individuals?" Kyle pressed.
"One is Odin's daughter, the true ruler of Asgard, Hela. The other is Dormammu, the Lord of the Dark Dimension," The Grandmaster said, his eyes narrowing with seriousness. "They are the most ambitious and ruthless beings I have ever encountered."
"They are also, to my knowledge, still alive," Kyle added opportunely.
Kyle had crossed paths with both Hela and Dormammu. In fact, he had even clashed with Dormammu twice, albeit from across dimensions.
The Grandmaster offered a solemn warning: "If you ever confront them, exercise extreme caution. Both are vengeful and will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives."
Kyle fell silent. Should he admit that he had already made enemies of both?
Meanwhile, he continued extracting cards, uncertain of how many he had already acquired. A seemingly endless stream of cards flooded into his Card Space.
"It has been eons since anyone has engaged me in such a conversation," the Grandmaster remarked with a sigh, looking at Kyle and smiling. "You've won. This planet is yours. Do as you wish— destroy its civilization or attempt to kill me. The choice is entirely yours."
"There's no need for that," Kyle shook his head. The animosity between him and the Grandmaster wasn't deeply rooted. It was a grudge born from the Symbiote massacres long ago.
Now that he had annihilated the warship fleet, their grievances could be considered settled.
"I'm leaving," Kyle said as he rose from his chair. Having acquired all the valuable and extractable cards, he saw no reason to linger. He turned and moved towards the opening in the floor-to-ceiling window.
Transforming into a streak of light, Kyle swiftly departed the Grandmaster Tower.
Watching Kyle's retreating figure, the Grandmaster sat silently in his chair for a long while, lost in contemplation.
It wasn't until the captain of the guards entered the hall and reported, "Grandmaster, the interstellar spaceships are prepared."
"Very well. Let us depart this planet," the Grandmaster said with a relieved smile, exhaling deeply as if a great weight had been lifted. "The wager is finally over."
(End of Chapter)