This is the most crucial place in the entire multiverse, a region of concern to the gods. It boasts the largest number of superheroes, the most complete timelines, and, at the same time, the most frequent disasters.
Every major event that shakes the universe here is ultimately replicated by the multiverse's own laws, ultimately imprinted upon countless other parallel universes.
Within the multiverse, new parallel universes are constantly being born, while countless universes also perish for various reasons.
These newly born universes are often imitations of the old ones, and naturally, they bear the shadow of the 616 Main Universe.
Every ambitious individual seeks a place in the 616 Universe.
Even multiverse-level gods cannot ignore the 616 Universe, as events there can truly impact the stability of the multiverse, directly impacting the multiverse gods themselves.
The Earth of the 616 Main Universe is in turmoil.
Wars of varying magnitudes are erupting across the globe.
Armies from various nations mobilized massive quantities of heavy weaponry for a relentless bombardment, while heroic teams launched attacks
across the globe to suppress the newly emerged, formidable enemy. Not long ago, a powerful god named Kul appeared. He used his power to create eight divine hammers, which he scattered across Earth, selecting eight individuals to serve as his apostles:
Sin, Juggernaut, Hulk, Diamond, Thing, Poseidon, Absorbing Man, and Gargoyle.
The eight great hammer masters seized the hammers that fell from the sky and became Kul's servants. They unleashed a frenzied slaughter across the globe, spreading Kul's name with all their might and instilling fear through bloody tactics.
It stands to reason that within a few days, Kul, fueled by the offerings of billions of Earthlings, would quickly regain his strength and become the god of terror that once dominated the World Tree.
If it weren't for this, Odin of the Prime Universe wouldn't have sought to annihilate all of Earth's inhabitants in order to stop Kul.
However, the eight hammer masters' efforts proved fruitless, as Kul mysteriously disappeared for a time.
The numerous heroes and villains closely monitoring the Great Snake's movements, many of them skilled in spacetime observation, knew that Kul had left this universe and traveled to another world.
"It must be Mephisto's doing. I sense the presence of that great demon. I'll never forget the stench of sulfur emanating from him."
The Ghost Rider, ablaze with hellfire and usually taciturn, volunteered his opinion at this moment.
This successfully alerted the heroes.
"Mephisto? Why is this cunning demon involved?"
"Why did Mephisto leave Hell? Is he connected to the mastermind behind these Sky Hammers? Perhaps this is a plot to plunder human souls en masse."
"Don't forget, according to our monitoring, the Mariana Trench has seen unusually high energy levels. If nothing unexpected happens, those are the coordinates where Kul arrived on Earth. He's either imprisoned there, or there's a portal there. Does this have anything to do with Mephisto?"
The powerful heroes of the main universe were apprehensive. Simply dealing with eight Sky Hammer Lords was exhausting.
Those who wielded Kul's eight hammers had their minds more or less altered by him. For example, the Hulk, already lacking intelligence to begin with, had become a bloodthirsty lunatic, nearly wiping out the vampire lair, causing endless headaches for Dracula and his companions.
Not to mention, above the eight Skyhammer Lords stood the mysterious and powerful God of Fear, Kul. This already put immense pressure on these heroes, and now the scheming Mephisto had to contend with him.
"Guys, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"
Tony Stark shouted, then quickly returned to his own thoughts. "The good news is, I think I've spotted Kul. Satellites show a 200-meter-wide rift in the sky, and we can see numerous figures lurking within it. The bad news is, if the rift is allowed to expand, it could engulf New York City. If we leave now, we can reach it in minutes."
"Avengers assemble!"
Captain America stepped forward and shouted.
He had no time for Tony's witticisms. If he could expose Mephisto's scheme and quickly defeat Kul, the unrest would be over.
The heroes braced themselves for a fierce battle, even conjuring up memories of Kul's terrifying presence. Even if Kul stood there motionless, he would be like the collective terror of billions of lives, bearing a heavy weight upon all life. This was the oppressive presence of an ancient god-king.
But when they looked up and saw Kul's gradually becoming clearer amidst the dimness and chaos of the spatial rift, they stared at each other in disbelief.
This figure before them, with ragged clothes and disheveled hair, resembling a medieval vagabond, was this the former Kul?
The source of countless disasters across the Earth?
Looking at this destitute figure, were it not for the chaotic yet terrifying divine power surging from him, no one would have believed he was the culprit.
How could this be? Wasn't Kul summoned away by Mephisto? How had he become like this in just a short time?
"Looks like he's suffered a defeat, which is good news for us. I take back what I said before. This way, we have two pieces of good news at once." Tony was ecstatic, immediately raising his hands to the sky.
He desperately hoped that with one volley, this major incident would be over.
Nearby, Doctor Strange prepared his spatial magic, pondering how best to repair this dimensional passageway to an unknown world.
Kul was in a state of disarray, his skin, tougher than a planet, now covered in scars. He raised his head, his eyes brimming with murderous intent, his gaze piercing through his tangled hair as he fiercely gazed at the Earth in the Prime Universe.
"Asshole, asshole, why is this happening? Why am I losing to a species born from an inferior universe? This is impossible, it's unrealistic!"
Kul, seemingly slowly but in reality swiftly moving his coordinates, repeatedly retrace his steps towards the Prime Universe. As he neared the Prime Universe, the moment his foot touched the ground, he unleashed a hysterical roar.
The maniacal nature hidden in his genes was now fully revealed.
Before becoming the God-King of Asgard, Kul was a very capable prince. However, after ascending the throne and gaining the authority of the God of Terror, he went down a path of madness and never returned, his personality changing drastically.
This change confused even the Prime Universe's Odin, who ultimately backstabbed Kul, seized the throne of God-King, and imprisoned him in an eternal prison.
Crushingly defeated, Kul returned with a frenzied fury. Soaring divine power sent his long, tangled hair flying high. Far from improving his strength by bullying the weaker opponents in the parallel universe, as Mephisto had promised, he had suffered a crushing defeat, his wounds difficult to heal. He harvested very little fear power, yet expended far more in battle.
His voice was thick with anger and horror, and even more incomprehensible. Wasn't the Prime Universe the absolute core of the multiverse? Didn't its natives naturally enjoy the favor and protection of the entire multiverse?
Yet, why, why had he been defeated by a species from a lesser universe?
"Mephisto! Where are you?! This is all a conspiracy!" Kul glared bloodshot, determined to settle his score with Mephisto first.
"You villain, there's no place on Earth for you to vent your anger. You've caused such devastation worldwide. You will be severely punished by all of humanity,"
Captain America declared, brandishing his shield and hurling it fiercely, hoping to prevent Kul from safely escaping the dimensional rift and returning to this world.
By any measure, Kul was at his weakest. Perhaps with just a little effort, they could eliminate this madman wreaking havoc on the world with minimal effort.
Whatever terrible events had befallen Kul in the unknown lands to cause his transformation from awe-inspiring to such a stately state, and no matter what collusion Mephisto and Kul had engaged in, or what transpired between them, defeating one would alleviate some of the pressure.
Bang!
Kul, still thrashing his head wildly, lost in the weight of his unprecedented defeat, instinctively reached out and grabbed Captain America's shield. As the heroes stared in bewilderment, Kul tore the shield to shreds.
Just as Kul refocused his attention, about to exit the dimensional tunnel and return to the main universe, the heroes saw a host of strange creatures looming from behind him. Each
possessed exquisitely sculpted figures, radiating a chilling murderous aura, their primal killing instincts unabashedly on display.
Some were even missing limbs, yet they still attacked Kul with all their might. Though clearly living beings, they were like machines, their utter coldness, their determination to complete their mission regardless of the cost, a terrifying sight.
The heroes of the main universe even witnessed the body of a strange creature severed by the shifting edge of a dimensional rift, half of it falling to Earth in the main universe, while the other half remained on the other side.
Yet, still alive, with a strange sizzling sound, the fallen creature's wounds rapidly healed, its mutilated body rapidly growing back.
This utterly ruthless nature, unwavering bloodlust, and incredible self-healing abilities shocked the heroes of the Prime Universe, as if they had seen Wolverine. But with so many of these creatures, if every one possessed this healing ability, it would be truly terrifying.
"Alien! You bastards, how dare you chase me all the way to the Prime Universe..."
Kull raged, turning abruptly.
"Stop them! Neither Kull nor these creatures of unknown origin can make it to our world!" Tony shouted furiously.
Numerous heroes, those with flight and ranged attacks, launched their attacks, aiming at the dimensional rift.
But the next second, more figures appeared from the depths of the deep rift, unleashing a lethal attack on Kull.
Vast swathes of flesh and blood began to scatter across the void of the two universes.
Kull, having caused the Prime Universe's Earth to suffer a heavy loss, was besieged by several powerful beings of unknown origin, his blood spilling into the void before everyone's eyes.
Everyone could see that Kul's attempt to escape back to the Prime Universe had failed. He encountered an unknown enemy of unimaginable power. Even a god of his caliber couldn't even flee.
Everyone had assumed that Kul, having left the Prime Universe, would hatch a terrible plot and return even stronger, but no one had anticipated this outcome.
The scene unfolding within the vast spatial rift shocked the entire Prime Universe's Earthlings.
"What on earth just happened? The enemy we fought so hard to defeat, collapsed right before our eyes?"
"It was the Sentinel! I thought I saw the Sentinel in that rift! Look, he punched Kul through the chest. Isn't that him?"
"Not just the Sentinels, there are other powerful entities, but also strange creatures. They give me a sense of extreme danger." "
It seems that Kul was tricked by Mephisto and transported to a very terrifying world."
"That universe also has Sentinels, and some strange beings that can fight alongside them."
The heroes were both delighted with Kul's defeat and filled with anxiety about the completely unknown outcome.
At that moment, Doctor Strange carefully sensed the situation with his magic and slowly opened his eyes. "Bad news! That Sentinel isn't the human we understand. He possesses the same mental vibrations as those monsters. Perhaps he's been parasitized." The
heroes' expressions changed.
They knew the Sentinel's formidable strength all too well; he was Earth's most powerful superhero.
But how could such a powerful Sentinel, in this unknown universe, have merged with such a strange lifeform?
"Am I the only one who associates Kul with the eight Hammer Lords? If I'm not mistaken, there must be a master controlling everything behind these terrifying creatures." Tony's mind raced.
Everyone knew Tony was right.
The heroes were on full alert, deploying every possible means, both high-tech and magical, ready to erupt at any moment. They watched helplessly as the majestic Kul grappled with a fierce battle in the space tunnel, his body torn apart bit by bit, only to be dragged back by numerous bizarre creatures.
The scene was bloody and brutal, completely beyond the heroes' expectations.
Even Odin of the Prime Universe was alarmed, rushing across the Rainbow Bridge from Asgard to witness his brother's tragic plight.
"Perhaps this is for the best," Odin told Thor, who was beside him.
Thor disagreed, but Odin, reflecting on the solution he had received from the World Tree after sacrificing an eye to deal with Kul, only to have his son Thor and brother Kul perish together, felt that
this outcome was far too good to be true. Odin hoped Kul would never return, and of course, the monsters who had defeated and pursued Kul across the realms would also be best served by avoiding any entry into the Prime Universe.
"Outsider, tell me your name!" Odin shouted, his voice, accompanied by divine power, shattering space and piercing the cosmic barrier.
Undoubtedly, Odin was fully capable of this. The Prime Universe Odin could even pull a target from a timeline and transport them to any point along it. Shattering entire universes was no big deal for him.
"Interesting! It seems Odin and Odin share a commonality. They employ similar rhetoric when questioning outsiders."
Each of the unknown creatures emanated a strange mental wave.
The numerous waves converged, forming a single, resonant note audible to all. This countless repetitions even carried a hint of mockery.
With his single remaining eye, Odin stared coldly at the monsters known as xenomorphs, a deep fear in his eyes.
He completely failed to grasp the master of these xenomorphs.
"I have memorized the coordinates of your universe. We will meet again in the near future, and you will know clearly who I am."
To those of his level, Dua's words were a greeting. However, given his posture and the current scene, they sounded like the terrifying declaration of a demonic god from another world, poised to unleash a cataclysmic event.
Finally, the dimensional rifts that had torn through vast swathes of space, seemingly enough to swallow an entire continent, gradually vanished.
Thor, the God of Thunder, clenched his hammer, his face full of anger: "Who is that guy? He is at most a demon god from another world. Why is he so arrogant? Just because he defeated Kul? If he hadn't intervened, we could have defeated Kul ourselves!"
"Shut up, Kul is more powerful than you think. These unknown races that defeated Kul will only be more dangerous. We can't determine what their purpose is."
In Odin's eyes, this mysterious race from another world indirectly prolonged Thor's life-as long as Kul is not sent back to the main universe.
The prophecy of the main universe might not be valid in a parallel universe...right?
Then his son Thor wouldn't have to die.
The appearance of the aliens cast a heavy shadow over the hearts of the people on Earth in the main universe. It was like a huge rock pressing on their chests or choking their throats, but they were powerless to solve the problem and could only passively wait for the moment when the problem would break out.
Similarly, there were also many guys with deep thoughts and ambitions who deeply remembered this alien race that caused Kul to overturn.
According to the level of chaos in the main universe, I'm afraid that a group of villains are already trying to contact the aliens and summon their arrival.
Chapter 117: The Hall of Avoiding Death
"The Prime Universe is truly a wonderful place. Despite being the epicenter of chaos, it's teeming with vitality, with both order and chaos coexisting."
Duva retracted his gaze, sighing with emotion.
He hadn't yet grasped the power of time and fate, but as a celestial being, he possessed a basic understanding of the laws of the universe.
Even observing from a distance of billions through a space tunnel, Duva was astonished by the Prime Universe's uniqueness.
Unfortunately, now wasn't the time to enter the Prime Universe en masse.
He was primarily using Kul to send a brief greeting.
Through this operation, Duva successfully sent an alien into the Prime Universe as a sting.
That was the alien that had seemingly been ripped in half by the spatial rift, its upper body falling into the Prime Universe and then quickly healing itself. It had now burrowed into the oceans of Prime Earth and taken refuge.
However, Duva wasn't planning on transferring his consciousness to the Prime Universe alien; such a move was too risky for the time being.
Looking across the multiverse, how many gods, supposedly of boundless power, have ultimately fallen because of trivial matters?
Facing the superheroes and supercriminals of every universe, even gods, if one flaw is exposed too much, will be targeted and humiliated.
As numerous aliens returned, capturing the battered Kul,
Odin, panting, had been waiting for a long time. Every second felt like hundreds or even thousands of years.
"You're in very poor condition. I can even see a large number of your epidermal cells rapidly dying. Are you really not going to save yourself?" Duva said.
"There's no need. I've lived long enough. Without becoming a cosmic god, even the most powerful Sky Father has its limits. Not every Sky Father enjoys the long lifespan of the Elders of the Universe, but living like them is pure torture."
Odin leaned on the Eternal Spear, stained with the blood of the serpent. He only relied on this artifact to stay afloat.
But his tone was still filled with disdain for the Elders of the Universe.
Every one of those celestial elders relies on their obsessive hobbies to keep their souls from collapsing over time. However, even the most minimalistic of these so-called "hobbies" will inevitably lead to alienation, rendering them no longer their original selves. Even a
proud Odin would not approve of such a celestial father, no matter how long his life span was.
"You went to that giant snake's world. Where did he come from?" Odin asked Duva, looking at Kul, who was being held captive by a swarm of aliens.
Kul was indeed in a state of misery. Not only were his arms and legs missing, but every muscle in his body was separated by the alien claws that had penetrated him.
"It's a place called Universe 616. I was lucky enough to see you there. He's in much better shape than you, and doesn't look like he's nearing the end of his life. Of course, his strength is far greater than yours," Duva said.
Odin remained silent.
To be related to a being like Kul, it would be unusual for the Odin of that universe to be weak.
As for his far superior health… honestly, a few years ago, he might have explored the cause and found some effective remedy, but that was no longer necessary.
"As for Thor, I haven't seen him on the battlefield. That's unusual," Duval changed the subject.
"I've placed a spell on his Stormbreaker. Without my permission, or before my death, that spell will prevent him from summoning the Bifrost."
As expected of Odin, while not as bloodthirsty and brutal as the Prime Universe's Odin, he's fully qualified to be the God King of this universe.
To be more precise, few Odins in this universe could rival the Prime Universe's brutality.
"I will bring Kul back to Earth, Lord Odin. You won't fight for the spoils, will you? Although you risked your life to help me defeat Kul… I imagine you'll try to get me to repay you in some other way." Duval
's gaze was reflected in the numerous aliens and alien heroes present.
Odin raised his head wearily. "You're very clever. You're adept at exchanging limited resources, using things of little value to obtain something of great significance."
"Well, it seems the deal is done. You won't regret it, and I won't deceive you with false information... No matter which universe, information is crucial. I can give you the information you need most."
Duva knew exactly what Odin wanted. "The World Tree is more than just the visible part. Beyond the world's radiance, there are countless shadows. Those beings seemed to want to achieve something through Kul, but ultimately didn't, perhaps because the time wasn't right."
"What time?"
"You know."
Odin fell silent. Could there be dangerous beings in the World Tree's shadows? Planning something dangerous?
Based on past experience, Odin would have dismissed this as nonsense. He'd battled within the World Tree for millions of years. He hadn't traveled to every planet, but at least he had some understanding of every world. The World Tree's shadow? What the hell?
But when he remembered that Duva had spoken these words, the World Tree indeed began to vibrate strangely.
The thing in the shadows... who could it be?
"What will they do if Kul falls into your hands?" Odin asked.
"Either all-out war or wait for an opportunity. After all, I didn't kill Kul, did I? For them, time is never a question, it's timing," Duva said.
Odin immediately thought of Ragnarok, the most terrifying prophecy in the entire World Tree.
When a prophecy rises to a certain level, it becomes the destiny of the universe.
If the universe is seen as a vast story, even if you turn the pages many times, certain plot points are already destined to unfold. As long as you are in this story, you can only face it, not avoid it.
Duva observed Odin from the perspective of many aliens. Although most of his cells were dead, he still exuded the ferocity of an old lion.
Duva knew that although Odin was dying, the old man was definitely ready to strike. If Duva showed any dangerous tendencies, Odin would fight to the death and find a way to capture a group of aliens.
Duva ultimately did not attack Odin, but left with Kul, which made Odin feel relieved.
Then, the dying God King laughed at himself. It had only been a short time, but he had already developed such a strong fear of Duwa. If it had been two years ago, he would not have even looked at Duwa. "Times have changed. The time of youth has arrived. An old man like me should retire from this world forever."
But before that, there was one crucial thing to do.
Odin returned to Asgard and saw Thor waving Stormbreaker, attempting to open the Rainbow Bridge.
"Father! I'm so glad you're alright... but your body..." Thor strode forward.
"This is the king's fate. To die in battle is infinitely better than to die in your bed. My child, you should be happy for your father. What comforts me most is that I nurtured you before my death. You are only one step away from becoming a true king."
Thor realized what Odin was about to do. He watched as Odin's body, as if time had accelerated, began to shrink rapidly.
Under Odin's control, immense divine power began to gather and transfer to Thor.
Thor's eyes were red. He opened his mouth to speak, to do something, but his words were weak and powerless, and he could do nothing.
Only the surging power of Odin rapidly filled his strong body.
"Make good use of this power. Although it's not entirely your own skill and there's no guarantee it will make you a powerful God-King, it can at least help you weather some crises."
"You have to pay more attention to Duval. I haven't figured out what this young man is trying to do yet. At first, I thought he wanted to conquer the Nine Realms, enslave countless tribes, and become a God-King like I was. But now it seems that's not the case. His mind isn't on the World Tree at all. He's just using everything in the present as a springboard."
"He was fully capable of attacking me just now, but he didn't. Perhaps it was out of pity, or maybe a corrupted Sky Father was no longer a big deal in his eyes."
"Thor, you can learn from Duval, but you must not become like him. You are completely different from him... Your people are completely different from his people. They're on completely different paths of development."
"You must bring your brother back. I don't believe Loki will really succumb to Nar. He must be constantly calculating how to harm Nar."
"Finally, when you communicate with the World Tree in the future, be careful of the shadows beneath it. Perhaps something dangerous lurks within... Contact Dualdor; he seems to be plotting against whatever lies within these shadows."
Odin rambled on, perhaps never having spoken so much to Thor in a single breath. As he spoke, his body vanished. With
the last word, amidst Thor's bitter sobs, the mighty Sky Father vanished into thin air.
Countless points of light, like fireflies in the night sky, gracefully pierced into the depths of space, seemingly soaring across Asgard and covering the vast World Tree.
At that moment, the Sky Fathers perched on the branches of the World Tree sensed something. The
death of one powerful Sky Father could not be hidden from the others. They all relied on the World Tree for their strength. Suddenly realizing a missing link in their chain of power, how could they not investigate?
"It seems Odin is dead. The old man lived for millions of years, and finally died."
"If Odin were still alive, would you dare say such a thing publicly? But it's true. In his youth, the old man conquered countless races, and countless races hated him to the core. Some young people today still think Odin is so kind, but when he turned brutal, he was a nightmare for countless worlds."
"Why did Odin want to fight that otherworldly father before his death? Duva had already taken action, and I don't believe Duva's power could defeat him."
Some were puzzled, completely confused by this, completely unable to understand the point of this. Was he not satisfied with his own death? Even in such a poor state, he still insisted on fighting with the Spear of Eternity.
"Perhaps he reached some kind of agreement with Duva, or perhaps he deliberately wanted to use war to bring about his own death. After all, he is the strongest father of the World Tree, the king of the gods."
The entire World Tree fell silent. Whether those who respected Odin or those who madly cursed him, without exception, acknowledged Odin's power.
Fortunately, Odin died. Unfortunately, in the mortal world of Midgard, a race emerged—not gods, but seemingly even more dangerous.
No one knows the true intentions of Duval, who leads this race. Will he, like Odin, lead a vast army on campaigns, establishing his race's supreme status by conquering powerful enemies?
The aliens, a race that actually conquered Jotunheim, are secretly feared by the rulers of several other worlds.
They also fear that Duval might one day attack their worlds, just as he did with Jotunheim.
After all, Duval commands several Skyfather-level beings, and even more Sub-Skyfather-level beings. If a war to conquer the Nine Realms truly erupts, no single world can truly withstand it.
Unless it's Muspelheim at its peak, with Surtur and Queen Sind as its father and daughter, these two Skyfathers commanding a vast array of creatures, including Fire Giants and Rock Giants, who could stand up to Duval.
From various worlds, envoys continued to be sent to Asgard to offer their condolences.
Duval, of course, had his own envoys; he only needed to select an alien and complete the process of its consciousness descending.
"Your astral technique is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Sometimes I can't tell which one is the real you. Is the alien that speaks for you actually carrying your soul, or is it merely a conduit for your voice?"
Thor forced a smile, his communication with the alien beside him remarkably strained.
"In your 1,500 years, everything you've experienced now is merely the beginning of your encounter with this universe. Compared to your vast lifespan, it seems so insignificant. In the future, you will witness many more wonders of the universe, bringing your father's share with you."
Duval didn't offer a bouquet of flowers to Odin, whose body wasn't even there. Instead, he placed a finger on his shoulder.
It was Kul's finger, which he had cut off himself.
"Let me try to guess if Odin's soul has entered Valhalla?" Duval asked.
"Hall of Valor? Everyone says there's a place like this, specifically for the collection of heroic spirits, but I've never seen one." Thor hesitated.
"It should exist, but Odin's level is too high, and he can only return to death, not Hall of Valor..."
Duval decided to look for this place. In fact, he only needed to deconstruct the structure of Hall of Valor, and he might be able to build a Hall of Valor for the alien race.
You know, every alien or alien hero is his vassal at the level of soul consciousness, and naturally protects him.
Duval believed that he could easily build a special zone between reality and fantasy, just by transforming the abyss of consciousness in his mind.
Chapter 118: Seizing Shadow Authority.
Those bathed in sunlight, even the Heavenly Father, raised among the gods, held the World Tree in awe.
The World Tree generously radiated its radiance, providing divine power that easily enabled these gods to embark on a path of divine power unattainable by ordinary beings. Their starting point was truly too high.
But behind the light, there always remained a shadowy presence, ready to exact a price from those who enjoyed the sunlight.
Throughout the World Tree's various worlds, countless planets sent envoys to Asgard to pay tribute to Odin.
From the shadows cast by its massive branches, towering black figures gazed on impassively.
Standing in the darkness, they impassively observed everything unfolding within the boundless light, like a race of observers traversing the multiverse.
These shadow gods witnessed the strife of countless worlds, the birth and destruction of countless planets, and countless gods seeking divine power from the World Tree.
They were also excited by the sight of Kul's arrival, even considering using him to trigger Ragnarok.
When was the last time Ragnarok occurred? It was so long ago, so long ago that the shadow gods had forgotten the exquisite taste of it.
After all, the shadow gods draw immense energy from Ragnarok to sustain their lives and enhance their strength; it's also their sole source of food.
Unfortunately, the plan to use Kul to trigger Ragnarok has been shelved for now.
"This is terrible! I thought Kul could be a tool we could use to destroy Asgard, but judging by his attitude towards Odin, it's clear he's in conflict with the other Odin in his own universe."
"This great snake was the perfect first choice, but unfortunately, he was defeated by our second choice."
"What should we do now? We can't show up now. Only in the mysterious and unknown can the shadow gods become the masters of the world tree, feared by all gods."
Several shadow gods loomed in the darkness, conversing in an ancient language.
Anyone versed in the linguistics of the ancient gods would have discerned that the words these shadow gods spoke were remarkably similar to the ancient divine language used by Knull, cryptic and difficult to understand. Every syllable resonated with divine power, carrying an immense amount of information.
At the level of a Celestial Father, the amount of information a tiny individual could carry was already terrifying, let alone these shadow gods who could directly control the World Tree and moderately interfere with the distribution of divine power.
"I have a hunch that the human named Dua seemed to be aware of our presence."
"Don't worry about whether he noticed or not. It was all our fault. We were so impatient, eager to enjoy the delicacies brought by Ragnarok earlier, that we couldn't wait to act. Even the dying Odin noticed us."
Cold voices echoed, intentionally restraining them. Otherwise, these syllables would have spread throughout the World Tree, heard by every being who controlled the World Tree's divine power system.
The shadow gods observed Asgard with a cold eye.
With Odin's death, they've eliminated a major problem. Even more fortunate is the rise of Duaar, a highly aggressive human whose parasitic horde is fiercely belligerent. If harnessed effectively, they could become the ultimate weapon for Asgard's destruction.
Indeed, Duaar's powerful performance and rapid expansion are not cause for concern; rather, they welcome its success.
For Asgard is destined to be the world destined to endure Ragnarok, and the immediate priority is to destroy this world, the most powerful that once threatened to dominate the Nine Realms.
As for facing the even more powerful Duaar and his horde after Asgard's destruction... honestly, the Shadow Gods see no such problem. Putting aside the question of
whether they would choose Midgard as the site for the next Ragnarok after Asgard's destruction—generally speaking, no. Even if Asgard were destroyed, a new Asgard would be rebuilt over the course of countless ages, and a new generation of Asgardian gods would be born. At that point, they might still choose Asgard as the site for Ragnarok.
Even if they did, it would be millions of years from now. The energy released by Asgard's destruction would be enough for them to digest for a long time.
At worst, after absorbing this power, they could use their surge in strength to easily defeat Dua and the entire alien race.
The Shadow Gods' supremacy is based on their immense strength and unparalleled control over the World Tree.
"So, Duva has always been the actual first choice. The current King of Asgard, Thor, already possesses the power of Odin, Stormbreaker, and the Eternal Spear, as well as the Destroyer Armor blessed by the gods. With such a guy guarding Asgard..."
"Neither Surtur, Loki, Hela, nor Fenrir have the absolute power to suppress Thor and destroy Asgard. If we don't choose Duva, who else can we choose? Duva stole part of the power of the World Tree through the aliens. It won't be long before he will seize more, not to mention that he also has Kul, the father from another world, in his hands."
"Driving the giant snake to devour Asgard should have been the best script for this Ragnarok cycle, but since Kul fell into Duva's hands, then we should choose Duva."
"Malekith is also okay. This group of dark elves has been planning to return to the World Tree and take back their place."
"The Dark Elves... unless we have no other choice, we can observe. If necessary, we can strike from the shadows."
The Shadow Gods quickly reached a consensus. They were eager to obtain food and enjoy the long-awaited feast.
The wails of the gods, the fall of the Protoss, the destruction of the world... just thinking about it made the Shadow Gods' mouths water.
They all turned their gazes to Asgard, staring intently at Thor and Duval.
...
"I never like dealing with those with excessive appetites, because they focus too much energy on seizing food. The solution to such people is either to kill them or to satisfy them, but the problem is that they have an insatiable appetite."
Duval spoke to himself, Thor listening with a half-understood understanding. He subconsciously pondered every word, pondering the deeper meaning behind it.
Thor was now King of Asgard, and every word and action was borne of the consideration of the entire Protoss race and the many planets ruled by the Aesir.
"Is this related to the shadow my father mentioned? He must have discussed this with you before he died. Tell me what you have planned." Thor lowered his voice, though it was useless.
"It all depends on when those rats in the shadows make their move. I don't know what they think of Kul, but I can foresee their patience is short and will soon be exhausted... But don't worry. They are planning, and I am planning them too."
Duval and Thor spoke as they walked across Asgard.
Everyone who saw the two stopped and nodded, a look of respect on their faces.
Especially those from other worlds and planets, encountering the aliens for the first time, were filled with curiosity but also a deep-seated fear.
Thor was not so bad, though he most likely gained Odin's power and became even stronger, but his growth process was clear and distinct.
But Duval was a formidable figure. Commanding a powerful alien race, he had carved a formidable reputation throughout the World Tree, personally establishing a terrifying prestige.
One powerful enemy after another fell before him, as helpless and pitiful as wheat.
Jotunheim, one of the Nine Realms, had become a hunting ground for the aliens. The various giants who inhabited it had either become aliens by choice or joined them, leading to a life of suffering.
It was foreseeable that even if Jotunheim were to encounter great fortune and a powerful Sky Father rose in the future, Duval's unwavering rule would be impossible to shake. The best outcome would be for him to become the next Laufey.
Duval had carved out his place beneath the World Tree through his own unparalleled strength and endlessly creative tactics.
"Thor, as a friend, I want to remind you that you don't need to worry about the Shadow's affairs for now. If anything changes, I will take action before you do, and your real trouble will soon come," Duval said.
"What trouble? The Hall of Valor you just mentioned?" "You'll find out soon."
Meanwhile, in Helheim, the goddess of death, Hela, had successfully broken free from Odin's seal, a dark sneer gradually forming on her face.
"Is Odin finally dead? What a pity that old man won't be able to witness me reclaim the throne of Asgard."
Hela's mind was now preoccupied with revenge. She wanted to slaughter and bring death to Asgard, and conquer more worlds, especially Jotunheim and Muspelheim.
The more Odin forbad her, the more she insisted on doing it, proving the hypocritical Odin wrong.
Two thousand years of imprisonment in darkness had twisted Hela's heart, filling her with resentment.
"Two thousand years is too short. Who will be the new king? That old man imprisoned me in the deepest reaches of Helheim, preventing me from seeing him before my death. This forced me to personally uncover the truth."
Hela began to roam Helheim, capturing the undead.
But under intense questioning, Hela was stunned.
"What? Jotunheim was conquered by a race that wasn't even a god, and Laufey died in battle... dead, but not quite dead? What kind of nonsense is that? You lowly undead, a mindless creature, you can't even articulate a word."
Hela cleaved the undead in half with a single blow of her sword, and soon realized it was right.
A parasitic fighting race? They had repelled Knull, the god of symbiotes, and Dormammu, the lord of the dark dimension? They had actually occupied Jotunheim?
They were Odin's recognized friends of Asgard, Thor's good brothers, the world tree's most generous world lord, the supreme king of the fighting races, and Mephisto's own wisdom?
"What a mess! In such a short time, a place like Midgard had emerged with such a powerful new race?"
Hela was completely bewildered.
She knew of Midgard. Though called a mortal world, it harbored many dangerous entities. Earth, Midgard's core planet, had even attracted the attention of the Celestials, who had deployed numerous experiments there.
But this was completely different from the super-species that had emerged and risen so powerfully in just a few years.
In terms of sheer numbers of celestial-level warriors, the alien race led by the human named Duva could rival the countless years of development of Asgard.
This was outrageous, even counterintuitive.
Hela gazed at the vast mass of undead lying before her, silent for a long moment. She decided to return to Asgard.
At the very least, she had to defeat Thor and reclaim her throne.
In Hela's opinion, this brother, whom she had never met, had no impressive record. He had always suffered defeat in major battles, and he was often mentioned as a backdrop to Duva's own greatness.
"Even if the old man passed on Odin's power to Thor before his death, such a short time wouldn't be enough for that fool Thor to master much."
Hela clutched the Night Sky Sword, pondering how to reach Asgard.
...
Duval opened his eyes, no longer paying attention to Asgard's affairs.
He and the two kings of Asgard, Odin and Thor, had primarily supported and benefited each other. Duval felt he had done his best to this extent.
"If I'm not mistaken, Hela should be on her way to Asgard. I wonder when she'll reach her destination without the Rainbow Bridge."
Duval couldn't help but shake his head at the thought of a powerful father forced to travel through the dark starry sky.
Rather than worrying about the fight between Hela and Thor, Duval shifted his attention to his own situation, planning how to provoke the Old Gods of Shadow to intervene. Once they revealed a flaw, he could strike a decisive blow against the Shadow Gods, seize their power, and replenish his own branch of divine power.
He thought about the two most important trophies in his hands: the giant snake Kul in his hand, and Mephisto in the hands of the Ancient One.
The Ancient One came to meet him with a group of Mephisto.
"I originally thought you would go directly to Asgard to mourn Odin." Duva looked at her.
The Ancient One shook his head calmly: "There is absolutely no need for this. I am not familiar with him."
"Among those who went to Asgard from other planets to mourn Odin, few were familiar with Odin. Even I have not said a few words to Odin. To put it bluntly, you just think it is unnecessary. It seems that you have made up your mind?"
"Yes, it's time for me to withdraw. There is no place for me here."
"But you haven't trained Strange well yet. Without the threat of the black magician and temporarily lifting Dormammu's offensive, this should be the best time for you to train Strange."
Duval looked at the calm Ancient One in front of him strangely: "Let me guess, you don't intend to teach Strange at all, let him grow wildly?"
"It can be said that Mordo and Wang are qualified enlightenment teachers. As for how high Strange can go, it all depends on whether Mordo and Wang can teach him."
Duval looked at the Ancient One thoughtfully, and suddenly asked: "What difficulties have you encountered?"
"When Mephisto opened the barriers of this universe, I, from the parallel universe, also sent a message. It's time for me to leave, to my proper place."
The Ancient One said this, gesturing to the Mephistos lying on the ground. "I've captured nine Mephistos. I'll give you six. I'll keep the remaining three, imprisoned in Kamar-Taj."
Mephisto watched as the humans before him divided him up like cargo.
No, perhaps becoming cargo was the best fate. The humans in this universe were each more deviant than the last, and their solutions to problems were more demonic than those of demons.
"You shouldn't be human. You should be born into some hell with your alien form. That way, you
too will become a formidable demon of Hell." Mephisto spoke these words with all his heart. But Duval dismissed Mephisto's words as nonsense. Don't think you can break Mephisto's trap by reversing his words. Mephisto would have expected such tactics, and they would only lead to more trouble.
"Lord of Hell? That's a good suggestion. I'll send a promising demonic alien to your Hell to replace you. But the biggest problem is, I don't even have one yet. How about starting with you?"
Duval looked down at the great demon, infamous across many universes.
"Mephisto, quickly offer me your precious body."
Hearing this, Mephisto's face darkened. In Kamar-Taj, a human had also said something similar.
Strange stared with bloodshot eyes at Mephisto, trapped in the magic circle.
Chapter 119: Duva felt it was a rare opportunity for him to take the initiative
. Everything was happening too fast.
Strange felt like he was in a dream, the world he knew transformed once again.
His lover had died tragically, and he had inexplicably joined a place called Kamar-Taj, apparently to become a sorcerer.
A few days ago, Strange might have been jubilant. He was proud and conceited, but he was no fool. In this madly advancing world, the old worldview had been shattered in just a few years. Anyone who clung to that old understanding was completely out of touch with the times and would perish without knowing why.
Various superhumans emerged one after another, and one terrifying god or demon after another emerged from the depths of the universe. Sometimes, after an operation, Strange would come home exhausted, reclining on an expensive sofa, sipping a glass of fine red wine, and philosophically pondering: What would the world be like without Duva?
For someone like him, barely considered half-upper class, the value of life was depreciating too quickly in this day and age.
But becoming a magician, embracing both the roles of doctor and wizard, straddling the secular and mystical realms, would be a truly wonderful experience.
But if this transformation came at the cost of his girlfriend's tragic death, Strange had to consider how to avoid this outcome.
Being a doctor was useless, and as for the role of wizard, he carefully questioned Mordo and Wong, only to receive stern warnings that resurrecting the dead was taboo and reversing time was a disaster.
But Strange didn't care. Their reactions suggested there was a way to remedy the situation, but the price was too high.
"Demon, it's all because of you that Christina died!"
Strange wished he could eat Mephisto alive.
These Mephistos showed malicious sneers on their faces: "Did I kill her? Maybe you did."
"Don't use such low-level tricks on me, I won't be fooled. If you hadn't caused that car accident, Christina wouldn't have died at all." "
So this is how you think about the problem, then why not think about it from another angle, Mr. Strange, if it weren't for you, how could Christina die?"
Mephisto stood up and looked at Strange viciously: "It was obviously you who killed your girlfriend. That night, if it weren't for you, she would have been safe. Christina would have returned home safely, cooked a delicious dinner, and waited for her lover to come home. But why was she the one who died in the end, not you? Because she had to make a deal with me."
"No, that's not the case! You are the culprit, it was you..." Strange held his head, his head full of the scene of Christina turning into a mummy. The picture was transmitted crazily in his brain, making him unable to help retching, and he couldn't help replaying it over and over again.
"You're the culprit. Think carefully about what happened that night. If I hadn't saved Christina, how could she have survived until Duval arrived?" Each Mephisto laughed maliciously. "What kind of deal did she make with me? Even though your girlfriend was dying, her first instinct was to save you with her own life... Besides, if Duval had arrived sooner, wouldn't Christina have been saved?"
Strange's eyes reddened as he rushed forward, but Mordo and Wang held him down firmly on either side.
"This isn't the right place for you. We're making an exception by bringing you here."
"Mephisto is trying to provoke you. You actually believe the words of a demon? We must reassess your abilities. You can't even remain calm in the face of verbal provocation. You'll never become a top magician."
Mordo and Wang exchanged glances, displeased with Strange's performance. They couldn't imagine that such a person could become the next Sorcerer Supreme to succeed the Ancient One.
Why would the Ancient One choose him?
"I had thought the Sorcerer Supreme would choose a successor from Duval..." the King muttered.
Mordo was horrified. "Are you kidding? Why would you have such a crazy idea?"
"I never joke."
"A man like Duval is a complete and utter danger!"
"That depends on how you define 'dangerous'. He's saved the Earth many times, we all know that."
Mordo and the King decided not to continue this fruitless conversation. They dragged Strange out of the magical prison.
This allowed Mephisto to sit back down comfortably. He wasn't afraid of human hatred, because hatred itself was a powerful driving force, giving demons like him an opportunity to exploit.
But Mephisto's mood quickly soured because Duval was seizing his other clones, transforming them into aliens.
"It's more like what I expected. They're all quite weak, nowhere near the level of a Celestial Father."
Duval looked at the aliens bursting out of Mephisto's chest.
It's only natural. If these clones possessed the potential to reach the level of a single universe, Mephisto would have devised his own methods to cultivate them, leaving no room for others to interfere.
But Mephisto's true form was only at the level of a single universe, and its strength grew weaker the longer it was away from Hell, without the support of the Hell dimension.
"Demons... I know what to do."
Duval directed these demonic aliens to Kamar-Taj.
He had been frantically absorbing magical knowledge from the numerous aliens within Kamar-Taj. His
long efforts were finally paying off.
"Have you finally decided to activate these magically trained aliens? But as far as I know, you haven't sent any of them to ask for power from a god,"
the Ancient One said to Duval, closing the portal.
An alien nodded. "Dealing with gods is extremely dangerous, especially borrowing their power and manifesting it in the form of magic. This is already the most direct way of communicating, and I wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary."
"So now is the time? With your current strength, you're fully qualified to occupy a large star field as your own territory, not only on Earth, but even in the universe," said the Ancient One.
"You're quite right, but compared to establishing an alien empire, I can take this opportunity to spread more aliens throughout the universe."
"Establishing an alien universe? That's a crazy idea. A lot of cosmic gods will desperately try to stop you, but I'm afraid I won't see that day. I'm about to leave this world."
As the Ancient One spoke, he saw Mordo and Wong dragging Strange out. As soon as Strange saw these strange aliens with dark red skin, he immediately pleaded loudly: "Duva, you must have a way, right? You can even defeat God, so saving an ordinary human should be no problem for you! Please save Christina, just like you saved her from Mephisto in the car accident last time..."
"Strange, the car accident was caused by Mephisto, and Christina was deceived into giving away her soul. I don't need to think about it to know that she sacrificed herself to Mephisto in exchange for the chance to survive, but Mephisto never wanted you to die from the beginning, so Christina was deceived by Mephisto. This tragedy was a scam created by the devil from the beginning."
One of the aliens stopped: "I defeated the devil, but it doesn't mean I will save the people murdered by the devil."
"But you have a way! Please help me, what price do I need to pay? I can't afford it now, but I will in the future. I can sign a soul contract with you - you must have a way. In the future, I will learn a lot of powerful magic, and I will work for you. How about it? If you still don't believe it, you can also parasitize an alien for me..."
"Your weight is too light, not enough," Duval said.
The Ancient One helped Strange to his feet and said gently, "Everyone on Kamar-Taj has lost much. It's for this reason that they continue on the path of sorcery, protecting more innocent people from the encroachments of alien demons. Of course, learning magic comes at a price. Look, this is Master Hamill; he sacrificed his left hand."
Pointing to a disabled mage, the Ancient One said, "I hope you understand this: when your vision expands to countless dimensions and infinite time, your friends and family will become a thing of the past for you personally."
Having lived for hundreds of years, yet lost all their loved ones, the Ancient One had no right to say such words.
The people present left the distraught Strange alone, giving him time to think.
"Do you really have a way to resurrect Christina? Christina was consumed by Mephisto as material for Singersong's Exile. She's completely dead, unless you can retrieve her from Death's clutches." The Ancient One was intrigued by this.
Duval thought for a moment. "Strictly speaking, Christina hasn't truly died yet."
When people talk about death, they mean physical death.
But in the Marvel multiverse, death isn't just a state of life; it's the omnipresent creator deity itself.
Even if the body is gone and the soul dissipates, as long as it's not possessed by another multiverse god, it falls under the greater concept of death, governed by Death, one of the creator gods.
Otherwise, if only the death of the body constitutes death, then those who abandon their bodies and exist as souls would be able to resist the concept of death. Therefore
, normally, Christina, who was used as a consumable by Mephisto, had her soul also been consumed. A true rescue would require negotiation with Death.
However, that level of effort isn't practical, as Christina had an alien within her before her death...
"That's why I rushed here so quickly after acquiring the demon's alien. I've devised an amazing plan, one that can be implemented in a few simple steps. If successful, resurrecting Christina would be a piece of cake."
"A plan to become a cosmic god?"
The Ancient One knew, of course, that Death was a cosmic deity, both a real existence and a symbol of the final state of all things.
Is this a level capable of snatching someone from the clutches of death? And it only takes a few simple steps? If those words hadn't come from Duval, the Ancient One would have thought she'd encountered a ruthless demon.
"You haven't even dealt with the parallel universe's Kull."
"Kul is involved in a troubled world. He's already in my hands, and there's no escape. Now is not the time to execute him immediately."
"I hope you can win. While I don't care about the future of this universe, I can't just abandon my position as Sorcerer Supreme only to see Strange die because of your failure." The Ancient One was distressed. She wondered how many of her parallel universe selves would be so "lucky" to encounter someone like Duval.
"I won't fail. I'm just making the most of a problem I'm destined to solve. If I fail, Earth won't be saved."
Duval began brainstorming, mobilizing the countless consciousnesses in his head to share the burden of calculation, frantically calculating every possibility.
He now possessed demonic blood, though of lesser quality, forged by Mephisto. This was enough to bring Duval a crucial revelation. Furthermore, having diligently learned magical knowledge from so many aliens, now was the time to put it to use.
"Please don't let me down... Nar!"
Duval thought to himself, his hope deep in his heart. He addressed the Ancient One, "Lend me a few mages who have mastered ultra-long-range teleportation, such as the Wong."
"What do you want to do? The Wong is a great teacher; he should focus more on teaching Strange."
"I don't like to passively wait. Instead of waiting, I'd rather take the initiative and personally create favorable conditions for myself."
The Ancient One did not intervene. Her mindset was that of a retired cadre, ready to abandon this body and identity at any moment, depart this universe, and journey into the boundless multiverse.
Soon, with the Wong's intervention, a steady stream of portals appeared, sending a vast number of aliens beyond Earth.
Combined with the batch previously sent by Kruger, these aliens would rapidly transform into queens upon arriving at their new locations and begin to reproduce.
A massive net took shape in Duva's hands.
Duva never let any enemy go, but he dealt with them one by one according to his own needs, squeezing out the most value possible.
Now was the time for Gnar to sacrifice himself.
But hunting a cosmic evil god who had lived for countless billions of years was extremely difficult, especially since this evil god was rapidly recovering his peak strength.
"All the conditions are in place. No, if I must say, there's actually another point we can target. If we can do that, we can also weaken Gnar..."
The Black Death Sword, or the Sword of the Dead!