"So many scorpions… Over there, it's scarabs. Here, it's scorpions. If the two ever fought, I wonder who'd win."
As Daniel Davis entered the pyramid and saw countless scorpions crawling in the corners of the walls, such a thought popped into his mind. He imagined a battle between an endless swarm of scorpions and a tide of scarabs. The scene would certainly be visually striking—though it would surely be horrifying for anyone with a fear of swarming creatures.
That said, the scorpions seemed far more practical than the scarabs. At least in the modern world, scorpions had value; they could even be sold at a decent price. The Scorpion King could likely become a billionaire in today's world if he used this ability commercially.
"Poor Imhotep."
Deep within the pyramid, Daniel came across the ancient Egyptian high priest Imhotep locked in fierce combat with the Scorpion King. Their battle raged violently, kicking up dust and causing significant damage to the pyramid's interior. However, Imhotep, seemingly drained of his magical power, was gradually losing ground to the Scorpion King.
This wasn't surprising. Imhotep had never been a warrior—he was a priest who relied on his sorcery. At the height of his power, Imhotep could summon towering waves or evaporate entire rivers, making him as powerful as Daniel had been during his early days. But without his magical abilities, he was barely stronger than an average human.
"Hasn't he learned yet? Physical fitness is the foundation of all revolutions." Watching Imhotep being relentlessly pursued and beaten by the Scorpion King, Daniel shook his head lightly. The battle grew increasingly dangerous as their clashes caused sections of the pyramid to collapse, revealing a horrifying sight below—a dense swarm of spirits writhing beneath the pyramid's foundations.
"Anubis's Underworld, huh."
As a high priest of ancient Egypt, Imhotep had the ability to resurrect himself, even after death. However, if he were to fall into Anubis's Underworld, he would have no chance of returning. In the Marvel Universe, many deities and demons held dominion over souls, such as Mephisto, Anubis, or Asgard's Hela. After all, Hela herself had once resurrected the Valkyries who had died long ago.
But compared to the likes of Hela or Anubis, these figures were still far from the power of Mistress Death, the true source of all death.
"Poor Imhotep. Reincarnation really isn't reliable."
As Imhotep faced mortal danger, the woman said to be the reincarnation of Anck-su-Namun—Imhotep's great love—did not step forward to help him. Instead, she turned and fled. Their supposed love, spanning thousands of years, crumbled in the face of danger. Seeing the woman run away, Imhotep's eyes filled with despair.
Daniel was not particularly surprised by this development. The original Anck-su-Namun would never have abandoned Imhotep, even in the direst of situations. But this reincarnation did not carry all of Anck-su-Namun's memories—only fragmented pieces. Without those memories, she was effectively a different person.
Reincarnation was a tricky thing. If a person retained the full memories of their past life, they might still act as their old self. Without those memories, however, they were nothing more than a new individual.
"What a pity."
If Imhotep and Anck-su-Namun's love had endured through this danger, Daniel might have intervened to help them. But now that their bond was broken, Daniel simply watched as Imhotep's body fell into Anubis's Underworld. The woman who had fled also met the same fate, as the pyramid's collapsing floors opened beneath her, sending her plunging into the depths.
"So, the Scorpion King is awakening? Unfortunately, you won't have the chance."
The Scorpion King's death, as per his pact with Anubis, served one purpose: to bring forth Anubis's army to harvest souls for the god of death. Many individuals over history had entered pacts with demons or death gods, believing they could outwit these entities. More often than not, such individuals underestimated their adversaries' cunning.
With a single strike, Daniel hurled the Spear of Judgment at the roaring Scorpion King, piercing his chest. The Scorpion King let out an agonized roar before his body disintegrated into ash.
"So, I was being greedy after all. Controlling Anubis's army isn't so easy."
After killing the Scorpion King and putting on the Bracelet of Anubis, Daniel temporarily gained control over Anubis's army. However, the price of this control was clear: his soul would belong to Anubis.
Daniel merely sneered at this stipulation. Forming a series of hand seals, he summoned a massive golden magic circle that appeared in the sky above the pyramid, bearing down with immense force.
"Stay in your Underworld where you belong."
Under the power of the golden magic circle, the pyramid was pushed deep into the earth. Simultaneously, the verdant oasis of Am Shere disappeared entirely, as though it had been a mirage. The army of wolf-headed soldiers battling the Medjai on the surface also disintegrated into black smoke, returning to Anubis's Underworld.
"It seems using Anubis's army to fight Thanos was just wishful thinking. I'll revisit the idea if it becomes absolutely necessary."
While Daniel had ways to bypass the Bracelet of Anubis to summon the army without paying the cost, it would be a last resort. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't summon Anubis's forces again.
For most people, Anubis's dominion over souls was absolute. However, as the current Sorcerer Supreme, Daniel had the protection of the three Sanctums' barriers. Even if Anubis were to personally intervene, Daniel would not back down.
For Daniel, the greatest reward from this expedition was securing the Book of the Living and the Book of the Dead. Stripped of its power to summon Anubis's army, the Bracelet of Anubis lost much of its value. However, as a magical artifact, it still had its uses.
"These guys are surprisingly loyal."
With the disappearance of Anubis's army, the descendants of the Pharaoh's protectors, the Medjai, breathed a collective sigh of relief. Despite suffering heavy casualties, they managed to prevent the enemy's schemes from succeeding.
When the Medjai regrouped with Rick O'Connell and his family, they were baffled to find that the family had no idea what had transpired. The Medjai were left wondering who had defeated the Scorpion King.
The most dissatisfied party in this entire affair was Rick's family—they had gained nothing from this expedition.
"The Eye of Shangri-La? So, that's surfaced too."
Back in his study, Daniel delved into the Book of the Living and the Book of the Dead, gaining profound magical knowledge. His research was interrupted by a news report: the Eye of Shangri-La, a legendary artifact said to lead to the Fountain of Youth, had been discovered.
The search for eternal life was a timeless obsession. Even Umbrella Corporation's founders had reportedly sought the Sunflower—the origin of the T-virus—in Africa to pursue immortality.
Of all people, Lara Croft probably had the most experience with such legends. Her superhuman physical capabilities alone proved she wasn't an ordinary person. Even many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents couldn't match her.
"Let's send a shadow clone this time."
Given his recent experiences, Daniel decided against going in person and sent a shadow clone to investigate instead. He wanted to focus on his research into the Book of the Dead, particularly its necromantic abilities.
Unlike Imhotep, who summoned mummies to fight, Daniel aimed to create something more elegant and powerful: skeletal warriors resembling the legendary Dragon Tooth Soldiers. The materials for these would come from dragon bones he had acquired from the Harry Potter world.
Using his mastery of the Ope Ope no Mi (Surgical Fruit), Daniel meticulously shaped dragon bones into humanoid skeletal warriors. While they resembled human skeletons, their strength far surpassed such appearances.
"Perhaps the Darkhold has surfaced by now."
As he delved into necromancy, Daniel's thoughts turned to the Darkhold, the legendary book of dark magic. Unlike the neutral forces of darkness found in nature, the Darkhold contained power that actively corrupted its users.
Each person who opened the Darkhold would see what they most desired—whether it was magical secrets or technological advancements. While the prospect was tempting, Daniel decided against pursuing it. The risks outweighed the benefits, especially given the Darkhold's rumored connections to ancient malevolent entities.
"Better to face Anubis or Mephisto than to deal with the Darkhold," Daniel muttered.
A few days later, his shadow clone returned with new information: during a battle over the Eye of Shangri-La, it had been stolen and used to locate the Dragon Emperor's tomb. An unexpected turn of events led to the Dragon Emperor's resurrection.
"Himalayas, huh? That's close by."
As the Sorcerer Supreme, Daniel inherited all of the Ancient One's properties, including a residence in Kathmandu, Nepal—right at the foot of the Himalayas.
Although Daniel no longer lived there, several senior sorcerers still maintained the property. Unlike the younger
sorcerers who had fallen during the Dormammu invasion, the elder sorcerers had survived the battle.
"Let's see this so-called Dragon Emperor."
Daniel decided to investigate the matter himself. While he doubted the Fountain of Youth could grant true immortality, it might hold secrets worth exploring.
Arriving in the Himalayas, Daniel once again encountered Rick O'Connell's family—proving that they truly were magnets for trouble.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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