The vast majority of symbiotes chose to surrender, with only a handful unwilling to lose their freedom frantically fleeing in all directions.
Duval expressed understanding for these few symbiotes who refused to surrender, and praised their noble integrity in not bowing to the powerful gods. He then issued an order to all aliens: from now on, any alien not under his command must be killed.
"There are at least 18 million symbiotes that have escaped, not counting the scattered symbiotes in other parts of the universe. If we really hunt them all across the universe, it will cost a huge amount of manpower," Moira asked in confusion.
Duval showed great patience to Moira. "The vast majority of symbiotes belong to the righteous camp, pursuing noble qualities like kindness, bravery, and sacrifice. This is why they refuse to accept Knull's dictates and betray him. But there are also a very small number of symbiotes whose evil is ingrained in their bones, and they will not miss any opportunity to kill or destroy."
Duval extended his gaze to the symbiotes fleeing through the void. "I cannot confirm the true nature of the symbiotes that rejected me, but since they have rejected me, they must be prepared to pay the price. I will assume they are evil symbiotes and destroy them."
Crucially, the alien army did not waste energy chasing these symbiotes across the universe, because these fleeing creatures had no way of escaping the World Tree.
The World Tree's Supreme True God is only one, and that is Duval.
The terrifying divine power surged once again, easily shaking the nine worlds and trembling countless stars.
Chains of divine power swept through, annihilating every symbiote.
At this moment, even if any symbiotes had returned and immediately surrendered to Duva, it was too late;
they were all killed by Duva. This caused great panic among the symbiotes who had pledged allegiance to Duva from the beginning.
However, after this act, Duva's immense divine power began to dissipate.
Duva refused to acknowledge his identity as the God of the World Tree, merely utilizing the divine power provided to him by the Shadow Gods to facilitate his transition.
The gods who closely monitored Duva's movements immediately noticed his rapid weakening.
"This... what is he doing? Taking the initiative to strip the divine power of the World Tree? Giving up the rank of god?"
"Is he crazy? He just defeated a powerful enemy and established his position in the entire universe, but now he is taking the initiative to downgrade himself? Is he afraid that the enemy will not come to him?"
"There is also a possibility that he is doing it on purpose, just waiting for other cosmic gods to lose their patience and come to him, so that he can take down another cosmic god..."
"Well, maybe there is a problem with the power obtained from the World Tree. I don't know what Nar discovered, but there must be a reason why Duwa can become the unprecedented World Tree God in one go."
Eyes stared carefully. The beings standing at the top of the universe all wanted to see what was going on with Duwa who was promoted to the rank of Cosmic God. And was Duwa's decision to give up his divine power out of helplessness due to some unknown cost, or was there some other reason?
If Duwa was really forced to lose his divine power and fall from the rank of a single universe, then it might give some crazy cosmic gods the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
Everyone was interested in Duva and the aliens, especially the one that could only seal Knull. Even gods were willing to explore the unknown.
But the most excited and thrilled were undoubtedly the Shadow Gods.
They were truly overjoyed, praising Duva's noble character and devotion, declaring him truly remarkable.
He had bravely stood up, receiving the power of the World Tree they had given him, repelling Knull and saving the World Tree, and then, after defeating the formidable enemy, proudly discarded this power.
"Duva is truly noble. You're right. He was so assertive when he spoke to us earlier because he never intended to possess this divine power from the beginning; he was truly merely borrowing it."
"I was worried that after he took our power and defeated Gnar, not only would he refuse to return it, but he would use it against us, wresting control of the World Tree. It turns out we were overthinking it."
"Although it might seem foolish, it's undoubtedly the best outcome for us."
The shadow gods praised Duva fervently, watching eagerly as he ripped the boundless divine power from his body, eager to see him toss it all to them like trash.
But Duva didn't do it.
He stripped it away, but not completely. He still held it tightly in his hand, even calling one of his subordinates to join him.
Jane Foster, the female god of thunder.
Wielding Thor's hammer, this female god of thunder was filled with admiration and excitement.
The being before her was a god, a deity at the pinnacle of the universe, the master of its laws. His might, capable of sweeping countless galaxies and shattering spacetime, was truly dizzying.
Had Foster been a mere mortal, while she might have admired Duva, she would have lacked a clear understanding of Duva's true strength.
It was precisely because she had become the female god of thunder, a god of thunder dependent upon the World Tree system, that she could better grasp Duva's power.
Foster could even claim to have witnessed Duva's rise to cosmic godhood.
"What do you need me for?"
Jane Foster glanced at Duva, bathed in boundless divine light, then quickly bowed her head and spoke respectfully.
"Foster, of all my subordinates pursuing divine power, you're at the forefront. From now on, you're a true god. I'll grant you a portion of the World Tree's authority."
"Ah, this... you're going to give me the power you wield. Doesn't that mean you'll..."
"Don't worry about me. I can use the same power you possess. But conversely, you may not always have access to the power I possess. My strength has never been based on any particular power."
The divine light emanating from Duwa gradually faded, making him seem like an ordinary human again. However, even the most powerful gods in the universe recognized the terrifying wisdom and power within Duwa. Even if he wasn't a cosmic god, no cosmic god could underestimate him.
"Besides, you underestimate me. I don't place such external power on my mind, much less consider it the core strength of my existence."
What was it like to be a cosmic god? Duwa himself would admit it was intoxicating. The feeling of instantly deciphering billions of pieces of information and penetrating the layers of the endless world was truly captivating.
Stepping into the level of a single universe and competing against the entire universe alone, one can imagine how terrifying the implications are.
But Duva will not indulge in it. He has bigger goals and higher ambitions. Even if it is the rank of cosmic god that is within his reach, Duva can peel it off and use it on an alien. When he needs it, he will send this alien that carries the power to fight, or simply use the art of astral projection to transfer his soul and play on behalf of others. After all, it's a single cosmic force. We can discard it, but we can't waste it, and certainly not give it to those with ulterior motives.
Jane Foster's divine forces have always been severely outmatched by Reynolds's superhuman forces, but now they no longer have to worry about that.
Foster, Laufey, Skorchi... if the individuals wielding the power of the World Tree could enjoy the divine authority granted by Duval, it would be an explosive improvement, instantly entering a whole new realm.
"This is the best outcome. If another unscrupulous individual emerges, I can concentrate all their power on myself and harness it... I can be a cosmic god at any time if I choose. As for someone executing a decapitation tactic against me, directly attacking my true form..."
Duval shook his head, laughing his head off; he wasn't afraid of being beheaded.
Ultimately, whatever the aliens possessed would belong to Duval.
But the shadow gods were stunned, their expectations high. Unexpectedly, Duva made a feint, seemingly giving up, yet not giving up at all. The power Duva didn't want was simply passed on to his subordinates, with no chance of returning it to them.
"Duva, we lent you this power."
"This is the authority of the World Tree, not your personal property. You should return it to us."
The shadow gods, unwilling to give up, tried to salvage it.
But Duva responded with astonishment: "Power? What power?"
"We lent you divine power."
"What divine power? That's Foster's power, and the power of the many aliens under my command who wield divine power. What does it have to do with you? Why should we return a reward earned through our abilities?"
The shadow gods fell silent. Duva refused to return, and they were helpless. After all, they could no longer create a single cosmic-level god. Even if they did, they wouldn't necessarily be able to defeat Duva. The worst-case scenario would be Duva's counterattack, transforming them into aliens on the spot.
The giant figures within the shadows twisted, helpless to do anything but watch as Duval's subordinates, led by Foster, recklessly swiped the divine power that rightfully belonged to them.
"Asgard is about to enter Ragnarok. You should be the driving force behind Asgard's end. This is your mission," a shadow god said, attempting to woo Duval to the shadow side.
But Duval paid them no attention.
Ragnarok? Even if Duval could devour all the apocalyptic energy unleashed by Ragnarok, so what? He simply considered the tiny gain and instantly lost interest in such a frivolous undertaking.
The hearts of the shadow gods bled, the shadows agitated, but eventually calmed.
Aside from Duval, no one knew of their existence.
As for the impending Ragnarok, how these shadow gods would bring it about was not Duval's concern.
The entire World Tree gradually calmed down.
The Protoss armies of each world began returning to their respective worlds, afraid to venture forth at this critical juncture to attract Duva's attention.
"What an interesting fellow! He refuses to be the God of the World Tree? It must be because he possesses a stronger, more reliable path." Queen Sind watched Duva's retreating figure with her flaming eyes, observing the countless symbiotes that followed him like a tide.
It was truly bizarre that such a figure could emerge from Midgard, a world dominated by mortals. Such a thing had never occurred within the World
Tree. But one thing was certain: from now on, within the World Tree, a being infinitely more brutal than Odin had been. Should Duva so desire, he could destroy humanity and worlds alike.
...
Earth.
Duva returned to his quarters. The tumult of the outside world, the stream of thoughts crisscrossing the universe, were insufficient to capture his attention.
"Well, it seems we can finally have a serious conversation, Evil God Knull... Throughout the universe, I'm the only one willing to call you a god." Duva closed his eyes, sensing the movements of the Abyssal World.
Under Moira's control, Knull was trapped in a cycle of impotence and rage, unable to find a way out, completely trapped.
"How long has it been in the outside world? Damn it! This damn place doesn't even have a concept of time; everything keeps restarting!"
"Don't be angry. At least your cognition and memories haven't been reset. That's thanks to you being a cosmic god. But then again, if you weren't, I wouldn't be sending Moira to eliminate you."
A single-universe-level god wouldn't be easily controlled by a force that affected an entire universe, but escaping was impossible. If even the universe could be affected, how could a cosmic god, on par with the universe itself, remain unaffected?
Duval observed the struggling Nar: "According to the universe's real dimension, only a few minutes have passed since your defeat and sealing. I've granted you this much 'freedom,' and now I need you to sacrifice yourself for me."
Duval began to act, wielding a vast multitude of consciousnesses to completely occupy the entire Abyssal dimension, ensuring that even the most remote corners could never escape Duval's influence.
As for Nar? He would simply continue to cycle through Moira's unmatched mechanism.
"Is this why you captured me? To transform my Abyss into your spiritual world?" Nar roared, his memory etched with countless reboots, after yet another reboot.
"Rest assured, I have a place for you here. As a fusion of the Abyss, you will forever wallow in agony. Even countless years from now, my servants will still hear your curses and screams. They are the perfect seasoning."
Duval, through the lens of his consciousness, surveyed the countless aliens scattered across the Abyss.
Not only the living aliens, but also the traces left behind by those who had died, at this moment, began to slowly revive in this world that Duva firmly controlled. Even
after death, one can still live, bypassing death and circumventing the eternity of time itself.
Chapter 131: Divine Arrival!
Strange has become taciturn.
After observing from afar, as a sorcerer, a momentous event that shook the World Tree and even the world's elite, Strange has become even more silent. He's become noticeably insensitive to external stimuli, maintaining a cold and indifferent demeanor no matter what he encounters.
This is not a good sign; it suggests Strange will increasingly isolate himself from the outside world and lose touch with the times.
Mordo and Wong are deeply concerned. They don't even have time to admire Duval's astonishing victory over Knull; their full attention is focused on the future of Kamar-Taj. By
now, even if the Ancient One hadn't publicly announced it, her choice of Strange as her successor was no secret; everyone could guess.
"I simply cannot understand what it is about this Doctor Strange that the Sorcerer Supreme chose him over me. Even if I'm not very good, I'm still no match for a doctor."
"Enough, Dumdum Bullet. What's your talent? You can clone yourself endlessly? But S.H.I.E.L.D. is on the brink of collapse. We lack the funds and space to continuously clone you like we used to." The Wong shouted. Questioning Strange's actions was, in a sense, questioning the Sorcerer Supreme, and the Wong would never allow such a thing to happen.
Everyone within Kamar-Taj, even the apprentices, was expected to respect the Sorcerer Supreme.
Although the Wong harbored doubts about Strange, he would strictly follow the Sorcerer Supreme's orders.
The few remaining Dumdum Bullets within Kamar-Taj froze in silence.
By now, these Dumdum Bullets, possessing the ability to share memories, had realized the true reason for their entry into Kamar-Taj.
It turned out to be consumables, to be consumed by the Sorcerer Supreme during battle.
This was a significant discovery: magic actually required sacrifice. Although Dumdum Bullet hadn't yet fully grasped the underlying principles, if they could report this to S.H.I.E.L.D., and recruit a group of third-rate mages from around the world for experimentation, they'd eventually figure it out.
Unfortunately, time flies. In just a short time, S.H.I.E.L.D. has gone from a world-leading organization to a moribund state. Its survival hinges on Duvall's recollection of S.H.I.E.L.D. It's truly tragic that the once-global organization now relies on Duvall's neglect to survive.
Dumdum Bullet, however, refused to resign himself to his fate and constantly sought ways to change things, such as becoming a true magician, rather than a consumable pawn of the Sorcerer Supreme, destined for destruction in a war.
As for returning to S.H.I.E.L.D. and seeking revenge against Duvall as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent... that was simply impossible. Even the most insane Dumdum Bullet wouldn't entertain such a thought.
Duvall's current power was far beyond the reach of mortals. Even if the dum-dum bullets didn't understand the divine realm, they knew the unfathomable power that instantly enveloped the boundless starry sky.
It was a power that even the Sorcerer Supreme kept secret.
The dum-dum bullets stopped arguing and turned to look at the Ancient One and Strange, who were slowly walking down the corridor.
"Everyone has high expectations of you, but there are also many skeptics," the Ancient One said.
Strange was silent for a long moment before speaking in a low voice, "I don't care whether they like me or hate me. This can't bring me any benefit or harm. Wasting time on meaningless external things is simply a waste of life."
"It's a good theory, but I don't know how well you can put it into practice."
The Ancient One led Strange into a magical chamber. What was coming had to come. She removed the Eye of Agamotto from her chest and handed it to Strange.
"During this period of time, you have been studying in the library, and your concentration is comparable to those aliens. Considering the time, you have mastered enough knowledge. You should know what this is. I hope you can use it well." Ancient One said gently.
Strange stared at the Eye of Agamotto, a hint of desire flashing deep in his eyes, but he quickly restrained it. He said cautiously, "I don't understand. You should have guessed what I would do after I got the Time Stone, right? And you always say that destroying time will bring retribution. Your actions give me a very contradictory feeling."
"If it were in the past, I would definitely hesitate for a long time. At least I would train you to a high enough level and train your willpower to a high enough level before I would hand the thing over to you, but there is no need now."
Ancient One said lightly, "The power of time is not only possessed by the Time Stone. Now Duval also possesses it. He used the power of time to deal with an ancient cosmic evil god. This means that whether I hand the Time Stone over to you now or give it to you after training you for a period of time, there is no essential difference."
Strange said slowly, "A god of his level, to use the descriptive language in the library... a god? Since the god can control the power of time, then I can totally ask him..."
"Don't even think about it. He won't help you," the Ancient One interrupted. "There's no way he can help. Christina's death is a pivotal moment in this universe. The process can be altered, whether it was Mephisto who caused Christina's death or some other factor, but Christina's death is a foregone conclusion. It cannot be changed unless you possess the power to suppress the entire universe."
Even if you possess the Time Stone, it won't work. The Time Stone is a product of the universe. At most, it can interfere with the timeline of the entire universe. At best, it's barely on the same level as the universe, but it can't transcend the universe itself.
"What if I'm willing to pay the price?" Strange stared into the Ancient One's eyes. This was an extremely dangerous thought.
"A price? What price could you pay to sacrifice yourself and become an alien? To serve Duval's purposes from now on? If he wants to control you, you have no chance of resistance. Whether you like it or not, the outcome will be the same. So think about it: why didn't he attack you? Why didn't he seize the Time Stone? Because he didn't need to. Such power wasn't worth his time, the effort, and the effort of developing a plan."
"Ha, what a depressing answer, but I'm not disappointed at all. On the contrary, I take it for granted. I've really changed a lot." Strange's lip curled in a sarcastic expression, revealing a complex complexity.
He also understood the meaning of the term "cosmic node."
"You can also consider this a sign of maturity, a sign that you are qualified to become the Sorcerer Supreme."
The Ancient One placed the Time Stone in Strange's hand.
"I've taken over, but what about you? What are you going to do? Retire right here and travel the universe?" Strange asked with a frown. He didn't want the Ancient One to suddenly appear and stop him in the middle of something in the future.
He even wondered if the Ancient One had secretly placed a secret spell on the Eye of Agamotto, waiting for him to use the Time Stone for personal gain one day, so it would suddenly activate.
"I will retire, but not necessarily to travel the universe, at least not this one."
"You're going to a parallel universe? What a bold plan! I envy you! I can't kidnap a complete stranger, Christina, from a parallel universe. That's not the person I want to save." Strange calmly hung the Eye of Agamotto on his chest.
Soon, the entire Kamar-Taj, and indeed the entire mystical world of Earth, knew that the Sorcerer Supreme had been replaced by a relatively unknown figure named Stephen Strange.
This sparked a flurry of discussion, but that was all that remained. Everyone knew that by now, the identity of the Sorcerer Supreme, or even his existence, no longer mattered.
Earth had gained an unprecedented superpower, one who had established his position by trampling upon countless cosmic god-level opponents.
Nothing spoke louder than concrete evidence of victory.
As for the resigned Ancient One, his silent death had gone even further.
Perhaps only someone like Duval would occasionally glance toward the Himalayas, observing the soul that had abandoned its body, radiating a faint glow as it prepared to journey into the depths of the universe.
As he departed Earth, the Ancient One glanced in Duval's direction and left a message.
Duval unhesitatingly refused the Ancient One's first posthumous request.
"Is he finally dead? I have a feeling this guy will be incredibly comfortable once he enters the multiverse,"
the Ancient One told Duval, hoping to borrow a final bit of his power before departing. It would be even better if he could take a portion of the World Tree's divine power with him.
Duval knew, of course, that this was a waste of resources. He was out of his mind to give divine power to someone like the Ancient One. It
would be better to give it to his subordinates, who were more inclined towards divine power. He knew the Ancient One's quirks, but few in other universes knew much about them.
Duval truly anticipated the kind of impact this universe's Ancient One would create in the vast pool of the multiverse.
Of course, it was also possible that one day, while entering the multiverse and gathering information, he would stumble upon the story of this Ancient One's death in some major event in another universe. This was perfectly normal.
Crisis was the defining theme of the multiverse. To venture into the multiverse without sufficient strength was simply courting death. Who knew you could be targeted by some dangerous individual in another universe and end up dead?
For Duval, there was no need to dwell on this for now. He needed a little time to digest his victory before he immediately sent aliens into the parallel universe and expanded recklessly.
"As for entering other parallel universes, I do have some ideas..."
Duval pondered silently, his mind suddenly flooded with numbered universes.
Some of these universes offer immense dangers, but also great rewards.
Duva quickly gathered his thoughts and focused on the Sky Father before him.
The defeated warrior from the Prime Universe, the Great God Kul.
"It seems you've defeated your formidable foe, finally freeing up your hands to deal with me,"
Kul said with difficulty, his head alone remaining intact.
Kul, having endured a million years of suffering in an eternal prison by Odin of the Prime Universe, naturally couldn't be defeated by such torture.
"I was thinking of using you to see if I could trick a few fools from the Prime Universe, but I didn't expect your popularity to be so poor. No one wanted to cross the cosmic barrier to rescue you," Duva said with regret. "Even your eight proud Sky Hammer subordinates didn't show up."
"Of course they won't come. Even I find it difficult to open a spaceway to the parallel universe, let alone them." Kul's face was filled with regret. He had completely resigned himself to his fate. There was no other way. Facing Duva, who wielded the power of the World Tree, he could do nothing.
Offending a cosmic god was not a good idea.
Duval simply stood before him, and even without doing anything, Kul could sense the traces of the World Tree's authority within him. Even the particles of divine power within his own body were faintly reacting to Duval's.
"How's Mephisto?" Kul asked. "I assume you haven't completely killed him yet, but if you decide to attack Hell, I'll be the first to attack Mephisto. That bastard has done me so much harm, and he must pay."
"Are you negotiating with me? To me, your existence is meaningless, except that you're from the Prime Universe, which can serve as a springboard for my future entry into the Prime Universe."
Duval directly parasitized Kul.
He was now incredibly familiar with divine power. Even without the authority of the World Tree, he was more than capable of completely destroying the divine power within Kul and creating favorable conditions for the invading aliens to thrive.
Kul couldn't die yet. If it were any other being, regardless of strength, Duval would have killed him long ago. But Kul's origins in the Prime Universe ensured his worth.
There was no other way. Being from the Prime Universe had its perks. Even if he died, it wouldn't be a painless death. Duval would surely destroy all his usefulness.
"I don't understand. You have the coordinates of the Prime Universe, so what do you need me for?" Kul scowled after waking up. This was humiliating.
"You? Of course you're useful. I need that amazing trick of yours. You can give me some ideas. Let me see your brain... I've got it."
Duval reviewed Kul's methods for forging the Eight Divine Hammers and creating the Eight Sky Hammer Lords.
It was fascinating. Kul could transcend immense distances, channeling a portion of his power—the eight hammers—into finding those he desired.
"That's it. I've mastered the art of projecting power through the mind. Combined with Nar's abyssal world and the countless magical knowledge I've accumulated in Kamar-Taj, I can now remotely summon alien embryos within a certain range for anyone who prays to me. This spell is called... Divine Arrival!"
Chapter 132: Captain America Slaughters S.H.I.E.L.D.
Developing a unique and exclusive magic had always been Duval's dream.
He first had this idea a long time ago—perhaps over a year ago?
Considering Duval's growth, a year or so was a very long time. In that time, he had already accomplished a great deal.
Magic was a supernatural power that was universal throughout the universe, even the multiverse. It was relatively easy to master, requiring no divine bloodline or genetic manipulation.
If one could inherit the magical heritage and borrow magical power from the great beings in the universe to elevate one's life, it would be a very good option and very cost-effective, especially for individuals of lower skill. Borrowing power for combat was a very cost-effective option. For a
low-level magician, no matter how much magic they used, they wouldn't end up in debt. The low-level magic they possessed consumed minimal energy, and the damage to their bodies when paying the price to the multiverse-level beings was minimal.
Duval was naturally fascinated by magic; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent a multitude of aliens into the library of Kamar-Taj, where they studied frantically for so long.
But Duval wasn't prepared to borrow power from some multiverse-bound deity, like other magicians.
Even if he couldn't become a true magical entity for a long time, he should at least develop a form of magic on his own:
the release of aliens.
Within the universe, anyone who recited Duval's true name would be rewarded with an alien.
Duval didn't speak of this "spell," but he'd been tossing it in his mind for a long time. Now, through various means, he'd finally gathered the necessary prerequisites for developing it.
"Well, let's see who will be the first lucky person to serve as my experimental subject... It's you, Steve."
Duval glanced around, instantly locking onto a target.
...
Captain America hadn't given up on returning to S.H.I.E.L.D. Ever since Knull's defeat at Duval's hands, he'd finally regained consciousness and begun plotting to reclaim his identity.
Captain America should have stood on the side of justice. Although, no matter how one looked at it, Duval was the ultimate righteous man, having saved Earth and protected humanity once again, Captain America hesitated, unable to tolerate the demise of S.H.I.E.L.D. at Duval's handicap.
Was there something wrong with S.H.I.E.L.D.? Of course there was, as Captain America well knew. This massive, global organization had its fair share of internal corruption, but at least it had maintained Earth's stability and its contributions were undeniable.
Such a valuable and necessary official institution should not be eliminated by unrivaled force. This world shouldn't be ruled by force; that would be a disaster. Civility and law should govern human social order.
"I'm back, when S.H.I.E.L.D. is in danger of extinction,"
Captain America said, his face full of righteousness as he looked at the few S.H.I.E.L.D. leaders present.
He instinctively extended his hand. Those familiar with him, like Hill, knew he was trying to grasp the shield, a symbol of his status, and hold it across his body to make his stance clear.
Current Director Hill opened her mouth. Unsure how much of Captain America's past memories still remained, she subconsciously wanted to remind him: "Your shield has been shredded by Hyperion."
But the next moment, Hill shut her mouth.
A blue beam of energy suddenly appeared in Captain America's hand, instantly condensing into a translucent energy shield.
"This is the power of the Cosmic Cube, Captain. It seems you still have the ability to use the Cube fragments." Hill's face was relieved.
Blade next to him was even more blunt: "I propose that we simply hand over the entire Cosmic Cube to him. This may be our last chance to turn the tables. We still haven't figured out the Cosmic Cube's limit, right? Perhaps it's a formidable artifact."
Everyone nodded. This was indeed a good idea, but the next second, Blade's tone changed.
"But before that, we must conduct a thorough examination of Captain's mind. Otherwise, there's no explanation for why Duval spared you, Captain, despite sparing so many other symbiotes! Furthermore, even if he spared you for some unknown reason, after being held captive and controlled by Gnar for so long, are you truly the same you we know?"
Blade's red eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, stared intently at Captain America.
He appeared relaxed, but his muscles were tense. He would instantly draw his two katanas and strike fiercely at
the slightest sign of trouble. Captain America looked at Blade calmly. "Good idea! Even on the brink of annihilation, you haven't lost your vigilance. I like your fighting spirit. As for why Duval spared me... That's a good question. I also have a question: why did Duval spare you?"
Blade fell silent. He was, after all, half-vampire.
There weren't many vampires left on Earth.
"Duva is treating us almost like a toy. We're not sure if he, now a god, is paying attention to our movements and conversations. But no matter the outcome, we must give it our all and never surrender."
"He feels like someone who casually picks up a stick, pokes it into an anthill, crushes a few ants, and then watches with gusto as the rest flee... That's right, S.H.I.E.L.D. is the anthill, and we are the ants."
Everyone present exchanged bewilderment, the thought of facing a self-made god like Duva, commanding an endless array of aliens, and even more terrifying, a terrifying foe of every level, from mortal to celestial.
This terrifying enemy, both in numbers and quality, and spread across numerous planets, meant that even if they mastered some means, it would be difficult to truly eliminate Duva. The best outcome would be to watch him return time and again.
"This is a war of unprecedented difficulty. Perhaps we will never stand a chance of victory, but one thing is certain: no matter how dire the situation, no matter how slim the odds, we will persevere, until death."
Captain America gazed at everyone with righteous indignation, a blue light surging around him. He expertly harnessed the power of the Cosmic Cube fragment, bringing a slight sense of security to those present. If
a single Cosmic Cube fragment could create a super Captain America, what would happen if all the energy stored within the Cosmic Cube were unleashed? Could it also create a god?
Furthermore, if we could confirm that Captain America's brain was intact, could we use all the Cosmic Cube's energy on him alone? Could he also become a god, standing against Duval?
In that case, everything would change.
"Duval is amazing. He's saved the world many times, but that doesn't mean he can dictate life and death to us like a tyrant."
"Duva has made contributions to the world, but he has also committed countless sins..."
Everyone listened to Captain America's speech seriously, but as they listened, they found that Captain America's passionate words came to an abrupt end. "What's wrong with you?"
"Is it true, is there something wrong with your brain? Is this a side effect of being controlled by Gnar or the symbiote?"
Blade was the most alert, his vampire instinct telling him that something wasn't right with Captain America.
He tilted his head slightly.
The ghosts, mummies, zombies, and other members of the Howling Commandos, who had been hiding around him, appeared one after another, silently surrounding Captain America.
Gradually, everyone's expression changed. They could clearly see that Captain America's body, the originally blue energy field, was now distorting.
It was as if some powerful external force was breaking through the energy defenses of the Tesseract fragments.
"Damn it! Something is invading me through mysterious means!!"
Captain America finally realized what was happening, his face filled with horror and endless confusion.
He could sense a deep crack in his energy field, and then a terrifying object, imperceptible to ordinary people, crawled in.
A few seconds later, Captain America felt his body inexplicably sink, as if something had moved within him. But upon closer inspection, it felt as if something had happened, yet nothing had happened.
Captain America's face darkened. "Someone's speaking to me. The voice has entered my head."
Hill made a quick decision: "Speak frankly. Is it Duva, or is it Knull, who's still alive?"
"Speak my true name, and reward the alien... Duva! It's Duva! That guy somehow managed to send an alien into my body!! How is that even possible?!"
Captain America cried out in disbelief. This was too insane, and it even overturned his understanding of power.
He was no longer the man he once was, completely ignorant of high-level powers. After coming into contact with the Cosmic Cube and being captured and controlled by Knull, he had personally participated in Knull's attack on Earth, witnessing the clash between two cosmic gods.
His understanding of high-level power made Captain America even more aware of the sheer strangeness and unimaginable horror of what was happening.
"I just said Duva's name a few more times than everyone else here, and he took over?!"
Could anything be more magical than this? This wasn't science or magic. Captain America felt like he'd jumped from one story into another, his worldview shattered.
The expressions of those around him changed drastically, their eyes widening in horror as they stared at the sudden bulge on Captain America's chest.
Anyone familiar with the Xenomorphs knew this was a sign of a successful Xenomorph larvae, mature and ready to burst through his chest at any moment.
Hill's face completely changed, a look of despair on his face. "The strange method of infestation, and the even more terrifying growth rate... That person has become even more unpredictable. He doesn't even need to resort to violence to kill us; it's enough to make us suffer."
Faced with absolute force, they could still struggle. Even if they would still be crushed like ants on the ground, at least they kept fighting, searching for that tiny glimmer of hope.
But now, a glorious death in battle was a luxury, and a painful existence was the eternal melody. Their bodies would be controlled by Duva—as long as Duva was interested and willing to do so.
Was this a god? The legendary cosmic god?
But even if they were gods, Dormammu and Gnar had never demonstrated such abilities? Just by calling Duva's name a few times, they became Duva's subjects?
Captain America's face darkened with pain, and he could clearly feel himself losing control of his body.
"Why is this happening? How did he do that... With my current strength, only Duva and a few of the most advanced aliens could cripple me before they could parasitize me. Ordinary aliens simply couldn't parasitize me."
But now? He couldn't even resist. He just muttered a name a few times, and out of nowhere, an alien appeared within him, successfully parasitizing him at lightning speed. Crucially, in just a few seconds, the alien grew at an incredible rate, seizing control of his body with incredible efficiency.
If there was any real chance of resistance, it would be the moment Captain America felt his energy field being torn apart by an unknown force... But how could he have known this parasitic method beforehand, or taken precautions? He had no prophetic powers!
Even if he had reacted, whether he could withstand Duval's attack was another matter.
"Monster, this guy truly is a monster, more terrifying than a demon... Perhaps his actions were largely motivated by today..."
Hill muttered to himself, his face hollow. "I have a feeling the age of Duval's dominance has arrived, manipulating both behavior and thought. I can't even pronounce his name now."
Captain America suddenly raised his head and spoke in a cold voice: "No, it's the age of light that has arrived. You ridiculous reptiles are nothing but dust on the new era."
"No!"
"Attack! He's no longer Captain, he's that man."
Civil war immediately erupted in the S.H.I.E.L.D. base. Captain America, who was supposed to be leading the charge, now turned his guns on the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. forces.
When the other agents, including some from Hydra, arrived, they were stunned to see Captain America slaughtering S.H.I.E.L.D.
...
"However, it seems the initial experiment was successful, confirming the strength of my new 'spell.'"
Duval retracted his gaze, very satisfied with Captain America's brilliant performance.
The newly developed God's Descendant Technique was certainly not invincible, and Duval himself was far from reaching the level of "single-unit omnipotence," able to arbitrarily change all matter, energy, time and space, and death within a single universe.
But through this spell, Duval could accomplish many things that ordinary single-unit universe-level gods could not, and when necessary, he could rapidly expand his footprint.
Chapter 133: The Age of God's Descent, Praise Duva!
Soon, more and more people noticed the civil war that had broken out within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Initially, judging it solely from the perspective of the internal turmoil within S.H.I.E.L.D., it wouldn't have been a surprise.
Under Duva's prolonged pressure, S.H.I.E.L.D. was already rapidly collapsing. Its outposts around the world were successively discovered and destroyed by the roaming alien army.
World-renowned top agents met their tragic deaths.
Countless confidential documents were stolen by the aliens.
The behemoths that nations around the world had invested countless years and millions in building were completely shattered by Duva's casual attacks.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was becoming increasingly ruined, and internal strife was natural. Under the terrifying pressure, some would choose to leave the S.H.I.E.L.D. ranks, or even launch a rebellion and reap the rewards.
But when the various figures learned the instigator of this civil unrest, they were stunned, unable to believe their eyes.
"What did you say? The guy who rebelled was none other than Captain America?"
"You told me that a guy like him started a rebellion?! This is simply the biggest joke of the year. I'm already shocked that Duva could become a legendary god and kill another god, but not as shocking as what you told me."
"Steve Rogers, he is a symbol of justice and the conscience of mankind. Anyone can betray S.H.I.E.L.D. and join Duva, but how could it be him?" "
What about Iron Man? Did Tony Stark join the war? Was it Captain America who started the rebellion alone, or was it a joint action of the entire Avengers? Are there any superheroes or super criminals in the world who are so desperate that they want to try Duva's iron-fisted methods?" The
high-ranking dignitaries who got the news were agitated. They had finally recovered from the major event of Duva defeating the powerful enemy and countless symbiotes being pacified again, and then they heard this incredibly absurd thing.
The few who knew that Captain America was abducted by a group of symbiotes during the last symbiote attack on Earth seriously suspected that this so-called Captain America had actually been brainwashed, transformed from a confused lunatic to a maniac.
This was the only explanation that made sense.
But when Tony Stark publicly denied any alliance with Captain America, everyone was at a loss for words.
This was wrong, utterly bizarre.
Tony Stark, one of Earth's most intelligent men, felt incredibly utterly devastated.
Yes, he had indeed contacted Captain America.
Initially, Tony genuinely believed that this Captain America had been brainwashed by Gnarl, or at least that his personality had changed drastically due to the period of possession by the symbiote. If that were the case, it was perfectly normal, and Tony could fully understand it.
The information Jarvis had gathered showed that all the elite soldiers who participated in the symbiote program in the 1970s eventually became madmen, their brains transformed and their minds deteriorated.
Not to mention now, with even the gods of the symbiotes launching attacks on Earth one after another, it would be logical to say that replacing Captain America's brain and changing his personality would be a logical shift.
But right now, Tony couldn't comprehend the logic of what was happening to Captain America.
"So, what Steve told me could be true? He didn't want to do this, but he was forced to do it because an alien had inexplicably appeared within him?"
Tony stared at the holographic image of Captain America on the virtual screen before him.
A massive amount of data was flowing rapidly, the result of Jarvis mobilizing all the surveillance equipment in the world to monitor Captain America's every move and rapidly analyze it.
But the combined results were difficult for Tony to accept.
"Since Knull was defeated by Duval, shouldn't he have returned to normal? And then searched all the way back to S.H.I.E.L.D.? That's the correct answer. But based on the messages he sent me and his behavior, he's actually become Duval's man? An alien?"
Tony held his glass, feeling the flavor of his fine wine fade.
"But how did he do it?" Tony was extremely puzzled. "Jarvis, have you discovered anything?"
"Nothing at all, sir. Based on the intelligence we've been gathering from our constant contact with the agents who managed to survive, Cap suddenly became an alien. To put it in unscientific terms, it's as if he's been struck by a curse called the alien." "
Really? I believe in science, but I'm not superstitious about it. Perhaps Duvall has mastered some brand-new technology. He's always like this. After every victory, he'll come up with something new for the next one. This makes me certain he's gaining new insights and discoveries with every incident." Tony shrugged and downed his glass of wine.
Otherwise, he really didn't know what to do. Would he stand up for the mad Cap and break with Duvall?
No kidding. He's Tony Stark, a brilliant man. He's not the leader of some global organization, needing to pay for his actions.
While losing Captain America was undoubtedly disheartening, it had briefly left Tony bewildered. No matter how he looked at it, leaving a teammate with issues unchecked wasn't a good idea.
But what could he do?
With that in mind, he poured himself another drink.
"Sir, Ms. Pepper specifically told me not to drink too much. The data shows your alcohol consumption is increasing. If you don't control it, you might become addicted."
"Come on, Jarvis, I'm very aware of my physical condition."
Tony swiped his finger across the virtual screen, his gaze fixed on the satellite image of Captain America's figure. He fell silent.
He set down his drink and turned to studying the Celestial Armor. Since S.H.I.E.L.D. was no longer reliable, he decided to devote all his time to the Celestial Armor, hoping to create a super-suit that could unleash its full potential.
"Jarvis, keep pushing forward with the cracking of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s control rights. I need to get full control of the Celestial Armor before S.H.I.E.L.D. is completely destroyed by Steve and the aliens. Instead of asking S.H.I.E.L.D. for permission every time I use the Celestial Armor to save the world, it's like I'm robbing a bank instead of fighting an enemy, and I have to negotiate profit sharing with the other villains first."
Tony complained loudly, "Contact Wakanda. I need to buy some vibranium from them. I have a feeling that if the Celestial Armor can be completely repaired, or even upgraded in some aspects, this giant won't be much worse than those so-called gods." Tony's face was filled with deep sorrow. He didn't know when it started, but he felt like he was no longer worthy of his superhero title. Even just over two years ago, he could still fight off super criminals, but now? He'd lost even that job. He wasn't called upon to handle major incidents, and even minor ones weren't needed.
The world was swarming with aliens, and no matter how mad a criminal, they couldn't escape their relentless pursuit and hunting.
Without mastering Duva's level of power, few villains dared to roam freely.
...
As Duva began selecting a few lucky individuals around the world and using his divine presence, terrifying rumors of aliens began to spread quietly through the underworld.
It was like the vampire and werewolf legends and ominous witch stories that were prevalent in Europe during the Middle Ages, becoming a modern version of dark mythology.
But this terror was real. Anyone who spoke Duva's name risked feeling his gaze and, in turn, a new alien within them.
Initially, most people scoffed at this outrageous rumor. Even some who had been fooled by Burbank and unwittingly joined the Alien Cult remained silent.
But as more and more vivid examples emerged, others, out of curiosity, began to compile their recent whereabouts and were shocked to discover that there might be some truth to it. Some
even connected Captain America's bizarre massacre of S.H.I.E.L.D. officers to this rumor, realizing something.
The news quickly spread, and even if it was limited to a small circle for a while, it still caused an extraordinary sensation.
"What? Such a thing would happen? It's so funny. It seems that some brain-dead believers don't know how to worship Duva, so they came up with such a terrible idea. This is just a pious delusion. Only the most naive people would believe it..."
"Yes, don't believe it, leave all the opportunities to me. The fewer times you call him, rounded up, doesn't it mean that I will call more times? Then the chance of an alien growing out of thin air in my body is greater!"
"Well said, you are really a math genius. In this case, I have an idea: I will put a hundred loudspeakers at home, record my voice in all of them, and then play them in a loop 24 hours a day. Isn't it equivalent to one hundred and one of me calling Duva's name at the same time?"
"The First Mental Hospital in New York has been rebuilt and will provide the most complete services to all patients admitted..."
"No matter whether it is a mental illness or not, as long as it succeeds, once parasitized by the alien, even if it is mentally retarded, it can be cured instantly."
"My Lord, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I used to worry about whether I could earn his favor and become a superhuman before my death, but now it seems entirely possible."
"Joining his team means nothing more than gaining an extra alien larva within your body, but what's the reward? Super strength, super speed, super healing, super hearing, extended lifespan, and a supreme backer... a divine backer! With so many benefits, isn't it worth risking your life to join Duwa?"
Countless people were driven crazy, ready to sacrifice everything to join Duwa.
A few years ago, many might have hesitated.
But now, with the devastating events that have erupted, countless lives have been lost worldwide.
Survivors only need to recall the terror that instantly enveloped the entire sky, covering the endless sea of stars, and shudder. They have never felt so insignificant and insignificant as they do now, their existing perspectives shattered.
Even the most foolish person can clearly understand that the future world belongs to gods and gods.
And one of those gods must be Duwa.
But they didn't know that, in terms of status, Dua was no longer a god. He had relinquished his throne as the God of the World Tree, generously dividing it among his subordinates.
But Dua himself clearly didn't care.
"Is this your purpose in capturing me alive and transforming me into your own? Truly a genius idea."
Nar, never one to miss an opportunity, communicated with Dua in an ancient language. Despite being suppressed by Dua, as an ancient evil god, how could he possibly pass up the chance to escape?
The lifespan of a cosmic god could essentially be considered equal to the lifespan of the universe itself. For Nar, no matter how dire his fate, as long as he survived, he still had a good chance, in theory.
"You are now essentially no different from the Sword of the Dead. You are both divine artifacts, and divine artifacts must possess divine awareness," Dua said.
Nar was about to say something when he was reactivated again, finally opening his mouth. "Use me as a vessel to hold your consciousness and the consciousness of countless aliens. Then, by studying the alien giant snake, you'll gain access to its methods for separating and reorganizing its power. You can then directly remove the alien consciousness from me and deploy it within a specific range..."
Nar had completely grasped Duva's tactics. In other words, Duva squeezed the value out of every enemy and utilized it to achieve his current results.
In this situation, defeating Duva might not be difficult, but killing him would be incredibly difficult.
Duva could transfer his soul consciousness into aliens. He previously teleported aliens from planet to planet to mitigate risk. Even if Earth were destroyed in a major event, Duva wouldn't die; he would simply change bodies and rise again on other planets in the vast universe.
But now, Duva could actively select targets, deploy aliens, and successfully parasitize them. This meant that Duva could now transfer his soul and change bodies at will, addressing a crucial shortcoming.
The combination of astral projection and divine descent, although neither of these is true magic, but merely abilities that mimic magic through various means, is enough to silence Nar.
At this rate, how long will it take for Him to seek revenge on Duval?
Now, He has lost the mighty power of his peak, is being completely suppressed by Duval, and has fallen into Moira's cycle of terror...
Duval ignored Nar's wild thoughts. After all, Nar wasn't the only one who wanted to backstab him, and he didn't bother wasting time on this.
"Well, Strange is finally making a move... Let me see what that Mephisto guy is going to do to you. This may affect which plan I will use when I attack the Hell dimension where Mephisto himself resides."
Chapter 134: Demonic Strange.
After Duval's observation, he confirmed that the Strange of this universe was a highly imaginative individual.
Regardless of what other parallel universes' Stranges might come up with, at least this one, after being trained by the equally bizarre Ancient One, had developed some rather bizarre ideas.
Of course, Mephisto also had a hand in this.
"It seems the Ancient One is truly dead, otherwise you wouldn't be standing before me so solemnly, all by yourself. It seems you've made your decision."
Mephisto, seated in a vacant position within the magic circle, slowly raised his head. His blood-red eyes casually glanced at Strange's chest.
As if reacting to his malevolent gaze, the Eye of Agamotto flashed a green light.
The Infinity Stones—these things were notoriously hostile to outsiders like Mephisto. At least, Mephisto had a strong distaste for them.
Having spawned countless clones that roamed the multiverse, spread across numerous universes, he naturally understood how formidable the Infinity Stones were.
By harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones through advanced technology and sorcery, a mortal could instantly attain extraordinary and terrifying strength.
Worse still, the Infinity Stones are incredibly common artifacts, found across countless universes within the multiverse.
For an invader like Mephisto, hailing from a netherworld beyond the multidimensional realm, the cheapness and abundance of these Infinity Stones constantly present an obstacle in his quest to harvest human souls during major events.
"You're deeply concerned about this. Indeed, even if you're a demon renowned across countless worlds, you must remain in awe of a power equal to yours."
Strange glared at him grimly. Ever since the Ancient One's suicide, his spirit wandering the universe, even Mordo and Wong were unsure of Strange's intentions.
During the Ancient One's reign, Kamar-Taj was peaceful. Mages who could cultivate within Kamar-Taj diligently studied and practiced daily, often traveling between the library and the training grounds.
But since Strange came to power, the atmosphere within Kamar-Taj has become much more oppressive.
Everyone wanted to hear the new Sorcerer Supreme's instructions to the other wizards, especially those who knew Strange well. They were all skeptical of him.
After all, Strange had only been in Kamar-Taj for a short time, having been promoted entirely by the Ancient One, despite all odds.
And yet, Strange simply stayed in the library, not even showing his face.
Who knew if he was secretly using the Time Stone to modify local time, doing something unspeakable?
After hearing Strange's extremely sinister words, Mephisto immediately knew what was going on. The cunning demon immediately showed a helpless expression, and even spread out his hands, saying innocently: "I never care whether you are strong or weak. Demons like me only care about how much benefit I can get."
"It is really good that you can say that. Even though I know that it is difficult for a guy like you to say what is in your heart, the more vicious you are, the more unscrupulous I will be, and I will only be more vicious than you."
Strange immediately raised his hand and cast an extremely powerful magic in an instant. Combined with the magic circle that had already trapped Mephisto, he immediately suppressed the three Mephistos in front of him.
"Such impressive magical attainments! You shouldn't have made such incredible progress..." Mephisto revealed a look of surprise. "I almost suspect you're the illegitimate child of the source of white magic."
"I'm a genius, that's why the Ancient One chose me. Any progress I've made is normal."
"Don't make me laugh, Strange. You know, I've entered many parallel universes and seen many different versions of you. I know exactly the extent of your talent. The you in this universe can't be superior to the you in some other universe—probability wise, the chance is vanishingly small."
A Mephisto scoffed loudly, winking and making faces, not concealing his disdain.
Having seen the scenery of many universes and understood the strengths of the heroes and villains within them, Mephisto was well-equipped to make a thorough assessment of the Strange before him.
"Strange, do you know why I chose you? It's not because of your astonishing talent, nor because you have a higher chance of gaining Vishanti's favor and gaining immense magical power from him. You're not much better than your parallel universe counterparts, and in fact, even worse than them."
The other Mephisto spoke eloquently, unable to move a single finger under the spell. "I chose you purely because your universe has Duval. If there weren't a new conceptual entity like Duval, I doubt he possessed anything of great value to me. I wouldn't even stay in this universe for long... Do you know what I mean by conceptual entity?"
"I know. I've spent decades reading countless books."
Strange walked up to the weakest Mephisto and unreservedly used the Time Stone.
He also unleashed a particularly vicious spell.
"Hmph, if I'm not mistaken, this is the 'Mouth of Falter,' one of the signature spells of a wizard named Dormammu from the Falter clan."
Mephisto exclaimed, and then he was swallowed whole by Strange.
After devouring a Mephisto, Strange's body instantly transformed. His height suddenly increased by 10 centimeters, and his skin began to turn a bloody red. Amidst low growls of pain, two protuberances appeared on his head.
"So beautiful, a bud about to bloom,"
the other two Mephistos pointed at the protuberances on Strange's head and taunted him. After all, they were just clones; their deaths wouldn't affect the original.
Strange's face twisted as he forcibly absorbed the blood of the great demon.
"I've seen clearly that in this world, power dictates the rules of the game. Even cosmic gods, capable of shaking countless galaxies, must abide by these rules,"
Strange cried out in agony. He had suppressed his power for too long, and now, suddenly committing such a mad act, he would have to endure the intense impact of the demonic bloodline, which not only altered his genetic makeup but also weighed heavily on his soul and consciousness.
Swallowing one Mephisto wasn't enough; he immediately began absorbing a second Mephisto, seemingly intent on absorbing all of them.
Strange became even more demonic.
"As long as I'm powerful enough, I can change the universe's chronological order and save Christina! What the Time Stone can't do, I can do. What the gods can't change, I can change! As for you, you killed Christina, and you must pay the price," Strange said angrily.
"A brilliant speech, a favorite human tactic, is to set a lofty goal for yourself, and then create a ladder to follow for all your current actions and out-of-bounds thoughts."
The last remaining Mephisto clapped his hands as Strange devoured him bit by bit.
Having devoured two half-demons, Strange's bloodline had become infinitely closer to that of a true demon.
But the problem was, he was a bit overwhelmed. By the time he devoured the third demon, he seemed a bit overwhelmed. His strength had grown, but his devouring efficiency had slowed considerably.
Seeing himself about to be devoured, Mephisto remained unfazed. Instead, he praised, "So beautiful, Strange! Look at you now. You're practically cut from the same cloth as me. If it were just your appearance, that would be fine. But you know what surprises me most? You're almost the closest to me in terms of bloodline, surpassing all my other offspring."
"I'm not a demon's son. If I could, I would rush into your hell and slay every demon there is."
"Every one of my sons feels the same way. Working in my hell is agonizing. Even my sons endure horrific torture, a life worse than death. That's why every demon hates me so deeply."
Mephisto seized this last opportunity to introduce Strange to his world.
He hadn't lied, for the hell he ruled was like this. From low-level demons to high-level demons, suffering flames and whips, pleasing him with blood and screams, was a daily routine for every inhabitant.
Everyone hated Mephisto, everyone wanted to be him.
In the end, he was devoured by Strange.
Hell.
Mephisto's true form opened its eyes, a strange expression on its face.
"Father, what happened?" The Inner Demon immediately stepped forward to pledge his loyalty.
But both father and son knew this was nonsense.
"Inner Demon, from now on, you are no longer my most prized offspring."
"Huh?"
"Just now, in an unnumbered universe, I possessed a child even more remarkable than you."
"Huh?"
The Inner Demon, having never imagined such a thing, was caught off guard and deeply shocked.
Even a great demon would need time to cultivate an exceptionally powerful offspring, and more importantly, it required Mephisto's own power.
For a sinister and selfish demon, dividing his power to create a being constantly seeking to destroy him was a catastrophic act.
The Inner Demon was bewildered.
But Mephisto didn't intend to elaborate, simply giving the coordinates of that universe: "Haven't you always wanted your own hell?"
The Witch Heart Demon understood. As long as he satisfied Mephisto, he would be entitled to break away from him and control his own hell.
Perhaps this hell dimension wouldn't be very large, but at least it would be his own.
"Father, aren't you going to the main universe to plan how to control the giant serpent Kul?" The Witch Heart Demon, cunning as he was, didn't immediately make a promise.
"Kul is finished. He fell into the hands of a human in this universe," Mephisto said casually.
This shocked the Witch Heart Demon. That was the giant serpent Kul, born in the main universe. Looking across the countless hellish dimensions, few demons would be willing to confront such a ruthless being.
Yet, such a powerful Kul had been quietly lost in an unknown universe?
This was clearly closely related to Mephisto's sudden change of focus, traveling to that unknown universe and nurturing a progeny who was said to be even more powerful than the Witch Heart Demon.
The Wu Xin Mo wanted to inquire further, but he knew the old man wouldn't reveal too much information. This might be a massive trap, designed to achieve his goal while simultaneously exploiting his usefulness.
Amidst the scenes of affectionate father and filial son, the Wu Xin Mo retreated and secretly gathered a few of his subordinates. These men weren't particularly strong, but then again, if they were, they would have gone it alone or defected to the Great Demon. Why would they waste their time on the Wu Xin Mo?
...
The Wu Xin Mo gathered a group of men and secretly infiltrated this ordinary universe.
He was already wary, but when he stowed away on Earth in this universe, he was immediately shocked.
"Duwa? Never heard of him, but he defeated this universe's Nar head-on? Tsk, it seems this universe's Nar is also incomplete. The good news is, we don't have to worry about a cosmic god... What? Duwa killed the complete Nar?"
The Wu Xin Mo simply wandered around, captured a few humans to assess the situation, and was stunned.
What a joke! Knull's full form was definitely a cosmic god, and yet he was defeated by Duva?
Then again, who was Duva? Leading a group of unknown creatures called xenomorphs, he caused a tsunami in this universe. It was simply unbelievable.
"How come I've never heard of such a creature? Is it because we're too isolated from the news?"
"Or maybe it's because, for some reason, he only rose to prominence in this universe. The Duva's in other parallel universes are all mediocre, so we haven't heard of him."
The demons had originally had a vague understanding of Duva, but that was definitely not the case now. To defeat the infamous Knull head-on wasn't something that could be explained by luck. Even if it was good luck, the moment Duva became a god, it meant that the luck of this universe itself was Duva.
The Witch Heart Demon's expression grew serious. "Hmph, Duwa... I'll remember this guy. Although he completely despises the natives of ordinary universes, when it comes to the level of Cosmic Gods, even an old man has to take him seriously. We must be careful of Duwa. Judging from the memories of these human souls, Duwa seems to have increased his strength by absorbing the divine power of the World Tree..."
The Witch Heart Demon taught his subordinates that outstanding demons can despise humans, but they must never underestimate them, let alone the Cosmic Gods who emerged from among them.
"We must also be aware that Duwa's subordinates are followed by a group called Aliens, and many of them are parasitized humans..."
The Witch Heart Demon's voice suddenly stopped. He tilted his ears and heard a muffled voice explode in his ears.
"Reward one Alien."
He barely understood the words, and then felt a force descend from the sky, desperately drilling into his body, and his face was filled with questions.