When Jason woke up, the day outside was already bright. His first night of sleep on Sakaar was exceptionally deep, likely due to his physical exhaustion. After dressing and stepping onto the terrace, a gentle breeze met him. He stretched his limbs and inhaled the fresh air, taking in the view.
Valkyrie had chosen a magnificent spot. The air here was far cleaner than the stench of the junkyards. Situated on a hillside, the villa offered a commanding view of the endless green grasslands, with the hazy outline of the City of Gambling visible on the horizon. It was a perfect sanctuary.
He headed downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. Though the alien ingredients were vastly different from those on Earth, the flavors surprisingly agreed with his human palate. After a simple meal, he sat at the bar, poured himself a drink, and sent a voice message to Valkyrie.
"Have you compiled the data on the Grandmaster and Sakaar?"
Valkyrie, clearly prepared and not letting alcohol cloud her duties, replied instantly: "Master! The information was ready last night. I am sending it to you immediately."
Ready since last night? A loyal slave indeed. Jason sipped his drink with a faint smile, waiting for the download to finish.
The data Valkyrie sent was incredibly detailed. It was clear she had written it word for word based on her years of experience on this planet, rather than just copying random network files. To her, Sakaar held no secrets.
The overview of the planet matched what the scavenger leader had said: a cosmic crossroads for the exiled. People came here for many reasons—criminals fleeing the law, drifters like Valkyrie escaping reality, or travelers who simply got lost. In short: no one here was ordinary.
The ruler of these misfits was the Grandmaster. According to the files, he was a mysterious man who rarely showcased his true combat potential. The available intel suggested he was obsessed with gambling and games of chance, particularly death matches in the Arena. He possessed near-infinite life, immunity to aging and disease, and high-speed regeneration. Most notably, he was said to be immune to physical attacks. While his direct combat abilities weren't documented, a legend persisted that he had once single-handedly suppressed a massive planetary rebellion.
After digesting the complex information, Jason let out a long sigh and fell into deep thought regarding his future.
By nature, Jason was stubborn and arrogant; he had no desire to live under anyone's thumb. Until last night, he had even considered starting a revolution to overthrow the Grandmaster and rule Sakaar himself. Though Sakaar had a space fleet, to a powerhouse of Jason's level, fodder was just fodder, regardless of the numbers.
But the data on the Grandmaster brought a sense of helpless melancholy. Infinite lifespan, immunity to disease, physical attack immunity... the guy was basically an Undead character with every survival skill point maxed out.
Jason knew his own strengths; his most powerful output was energy absorption. However, relying solely on that, he wasn't confident he could defeat such an entity. Therefore, his rebellion plans had to be shelved for now. At least until he fully absorbed the core energy of the Mind Stone, he had to keep a low profile and avoid a direct confrontation.
As the alcohol settled, his thoughts drifted further. He couldn't leave Sakaar in the short term, but long-term, he had to return to Earth. When that day came, a rematch with the Ancient One was inevitable. That battle had been a wake-up call; he finally realized that there were beings in the universe whose power dwarfed his own. Superpowers weren't a cure-all, and neither was energy absorption. Even if he became a hundred times stronger, he was still vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of magic.
He needed a higher level of offense—he needed the Core Energy.
Reading Valkyrie's memories had shown him the divine nature of cosmic treasures. Even a glimpse was enough to shock him. He was certain that once the core energy was fully integrated, even greater surprises awaited him.
There are six Infinity Stones in total. The Mind Stone was currently his power bank. The Time Stone was with the Ancient One on Earth. The Space Stone had been taken to Asgard by Thor. That left three unknown stones. If he could absorb all six, his power would undergo a qualitative transformation.
After a long silence, a clear plan formed in his mind. He sent another message to Valkyrie: "Find a suitable excuse. I want to meet the Grandmaster. Ideally, I want to stay close to him long-term."
Sakaar was less than a tenth the size of Earth—a tiny speck in the cosmos. If he stayed here long-term, he couldn't hide from the Grandmaster's eyes forever. It was better to seize the initiative and approach him rather than wait to be discovered. More importantly, the Grandmaster had lived for eons; the knowledge stored in his head was a treasure trove. If Jason could earn his trust, it wouldn't be hard to pry out information regarding the other Infinity Stones.
Valkyrie was surprised by the request. Yesterday, Jason had been so cautious he wouldn't even step foot in the city. Now, a sudden change of heart? She had her doubts, but in her position, there were questions she knew better than to ask.
"A meeting is no problem," She replied. "I am a warrior under his command and have always held his trust. I can introduce you as a fellow member of my race—a friend."
Their physical appearance was remarkably similar. Unless someone performed a blood test, being mistaken for the same race was perfectly logical. She continued: "As for staying by his side, that is also easy. The Grandmaster frequently watches the matches. If you showcase your skills in the Arena, you can earn his respect and trust."
Jason considered this. None of that would be difficult. His only fear was the Grandmaster developing ill intent and disrupting his long-term goals. "Is the Grandmaster friendly to his warriors?"
Valkyrie answered: "Yes. To be precise, he is very friendly and generous to warriors who are powerful and can provide him with entertainment. There have been many such warriors, but once they lose in the Arena, he is quick to discard the old for the new."
It seemed the data was correct. The Grandmaster loved gambling, excitement, and novelty. If he played to those interests, gaining trust shouldn't be too difficult.
"I understand. Start making the arrangements. Also, prepare a full profile on the Arena—the system, the rules, the fighters... and a separate file on the Grandmaster's personal likes and dislikes. The more detailed, the better."
"As you wish, Master!"
Cutting the connection, Jason drained his glass in one gulp. He was actually quite eager to meet this legendary figure.
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500 power stones.
Top 100. All time.