Chapter 187: A Portal, A Fragment
A few minutes later, nearly every Superhero on Earth 9602 had received the news.
The existence of a parallel universe was confirmed. They were not alone, but figuring out who the outsiders were and what their purpose was remained the top priority.
Of course, if possible, it would be best to get their hands on the technology for inter-universal travel.
"I hope the outsiders have come for communication, not invasion. Maybe, like us, they were also unable to detect the existence of other parallel universes until now."
"Hahaha, pinning your hopes on the enemy's intentions is good, but not good enough. Their intentions can change at any moment depending on our condition—if they see we're too weak, friendly communication might turn into enslavement and conquest."
Many heroes gathered, discussing this event that was destined to shake the entire universe, their tension at its absolute peak.
In the history of this universe, there had never been an incident involving outsiders. Even though these Superheroes had resolved many disasters, they still felt uneasy and anxious when facing such an unprecedented situation.
"So this is Universe 9602? It's indeed vastly different from other universes."
The moment Du Wa entered with two Guards, he rapidly began acquiring a massive amount of information from the entire universe.
In an instant, the information carried within every ray of light in the universe was deciphered by Du Wa. In this way, he learned the history of this world at the fastest possible speed.
This was it, the world he had been searching for.
A transition world formed from the fusion of Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
The operating rules within this Single Universe alone were different from any single Marvel Universe he had ever seen.
Du Wa knew that the vastly different part came from the DC Side.
Especially when he saw the numerous Superheroes on this world, already prepared, as well as the many Cosmic Gods observing silently—looking at the seemingly familiar yet different traces on these guys, Du Wa immediately smiled.
He headed for Earth first.
He made no attempt to conceal his immense strength, nor did he deliberately restrain himself. As a result, the closer he got to Earth, carrying his vast Concept, the more the planet's natives could feel a terrifying, suffocating pressure, as if a mountain was crashing down on them.
Various pieces of high-tech equipment failed one after another, a series of magic formations collapsed, and even on the level of fate, the many prophecies began to teeter on the brink of collapse as Du Wa approached, as if being twisted by a greater power.
It was as if the Power Du Wa inadvertently leaked was enough to directly impact the supernatural system that Earth had already established.
Du Wa was also using this method to make as much contact as possible with the concepts of the DC Multiverse.
Universe 9602 was just a springboard. Using this springboard to smoothly jump to the DC Multiverse was what Du Wa needed to do.
"Everyone, attention. The enemy is here. It looks like they don't come in peace."
The Super-Soldier made a gesture, holding the pentagonal shield on his arm in front of him, clearly ready for battle.
"To this day, I still don't get why you carry a shield when you have an indestructible body." Dark Claw also revealed his Vibranium claws, all while complaining relentlessly.
"That's not important, Logan. It's like you not needing to wear a uniform, since it gets destroyed in every battle anyway. So why not just run around naked from the start? It's more convenient, isn't it? At least it saves you money on new clothes."
"That's a brilliant suggestion. I actually think you have a point. If it weren't for the occasion, I'd damn well offer you a cigar," said Dark Claw.
A man wearing a strange knight helmet and a red cloak spoke up: "If necessary, I can teleport whatever you want here right now. However, you'll need to pay the bill afterward, otherwise, it would be an act of theft—not theft of money, but theft of time and fate, changing what was supposed to happen into something else."
"Is that so? The great Doctor Strangefate is a law-abiding Sorcerer? To be honest, none of us know you very well. You only ever appeared during that one incident concerning Apokolips."
Dark Claw, while spouting trash talk, used the cold gaze from under his mask to repeatedly size up everyone present.
The others were used to it. They knew this was just how Dark Claw was—possessing the fighting talent of a rabid dog, yet as cunning as a fox, always observing everyone with absolute rationality.
But one thing was universally acknowledged: Doctor Strangefate was indeed the most incomprehensible person on Earth, the most mysterious figure on the Mystical Side.
"Worry about my problems after you survive this," said Doctor Strangefate. "This outsider's strength is immense, and there's more than one of them. I suspect any one of them is not someone we can easily deal with."
He also flew into the sky, joining Clark Kent and the others, watching Du Wa, who had crossed the universe, with a grave expression.
Countless cosmic radiations and terrifyingly low temperatures were completely ignored.
"Three people?"
"Strictly speaking, only one is a Human. The other two are humanoid monsters."
This group of Superheroes was observing Du Wa.
Du Wa was also observing these bizarre-looking fellows.
"This universe is just as interesting as I imagined. You native lifeforms are like two separate things, each split in half and thrown into a blender."
"Although I don't know why you'd say that, I'll take it as a compliment, person from an Otherworld." The Super-Soldier flew into the sky, using his Super Vision to carefully observe Du Wa.
But to his shock, he couldn't see through Du Wa at all. He couldn't even make sense of the two Xenomorphs behind Du Wa.
"Hal, you'd better find something," Dark Claw said in a low voice.
"Don't rush me, dammit."
Hal Stark, nicknamed "Steel Lantern," a man clad in green steel armor, grumbled, "You're not that much smarter than me, so stop talking to me with that arrogant attitude! Besides, I did find something, assuming the other party isn't lying."
Steel Lantern and Dark Claw were considered the Brains of Earth.
"It seems you are the leader of this planet. Very good. A... Superman with a heart of justice." Du Wa completely ignored the others, instead staring at the Super-Soldier and exclaiming in admiration, "This is excellent. To meet you as soon as I arrive is, in a sense, a stroke of luck."
"It seems you know our universe very well. This wasn't a spontaneous transmigration."
"Either you have already infiltrated our world, or you have observed our universe in advance from other universes! It's also possible you're lying, but I don't see the necessity."
Dark Claw and Steel Lantern questioned him simultaneously. They tried to fathom the inner thoughts of the visitor from another world, but they had too little intelligence. They had never even seen a Xenomorph and couldn't comprehend the nature of Du Wa and his two Xenomorphs, let alone decipher a completely unknown Concept God.
Doctor Strangefate was silent, already soaked in sweat.
Facing the questioning gazes from the other heroes, Doctor Strangefate felt as if needles were pricking his back. He felt he barely had the strength to open his mouth; even breathing felt like resisting the laws of nature.
He knew this was caused by the presence of that outsider, which meant the other party was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
"Perhaps... he is even more terrifying than Thanoseid..." Doctor Strangefate barely managed to utter this sentence.
This stunned all the heroes.
"Thanoseid... I know who that is. Thanos and Darkseid."
The moment Du Wa heard this name, he laughed. He even knew there was an Apokolips in this universe.
Thanos? Darkseid? Who are they? "Is it a Thanoseid from a parallel universe? But why would you say it's an amalgam? Could it be that different parallel universes have drastically different variants?"
One character, played by at least two people? If you count Thanoseid, that makes three. "Regardless of what's happening in other universes, I want to know what your purpose is. If you've come for peace, we are willing to communicate with you, and even offer our help. If you've come for war, we will show you that our universe is not to be trifled with," the Super-Soldier warned directly.
In fact, the heroes present were all battle-hardened veterans. They had already sensed that Du Wa's intentions were hostile, because no one with good intentions would so recklessly display power capable of shaking a planet, causing all kinds of destruction to Earth even from a great distance.
"You are strong, but not strong enough. I can find a decent opponent for you." Du Wa chuckled softly. As soon as his voice fell, the Hyperion Xenomorph behind him lunged forward.
The same Super Speed, the same Super Vision and Super Hearing, the same Super-Strength. The Super-Soldier was shocked to find that this monster before him possessed all the abilities he did.
In an instant, the two figures shot out of the Atmosphere.
*Clang!*
The Super-Soldier blocked the Hyperion Xenomorph's claws with his shield, producing a piercing metallic sound. Scratches immediately appeared on the entire shield.
It was the first time he had ever seen anyone damage his shield.
"A bit stronger than me in terms of Power, but how will you handle this?"
The Super-Soldier's eyes turned red as he immediately fired his Heat Vision, but the Hyperion Xenomorph opened its mouth and spat out an equally terrifying red Energy Beam.
This was also "Heat Vision," and the moment they clashed, the Super-Soldier was at a disadvantage.
As he roared, the Hyperion Xenomorph had already appeared at his side. With a single slap, it smashed the Super-Soldier back into the Atmosphere. The incredibly fast descent caused astonishing friction, engulfing the Super-Soldier entirely in flames.
Although the flames couldn't harm him in the slightest, he immediately charged back, ramming his head into the Hyperion Xenomorph and swinging his fists viciously.
But the fact that the Super-Soldier couldn't gain the upper hand was enough to shock all the heroes.
"Impossible! Super-Soldier has never been like this!"
"Nothing is impossible. All of you with flight capabilities, follow me! The rest of you, stay on the ground with Dark Claw."
Steel Lantern made a swift decision. A mist-like green energy billowed from his green armor, propelling him into the sky straight toward Du Wa.
Doctor Strangefate also took action, crossing his hands to concentrate a dark red energy beam—the most powerful magic he could use.
This was a powerful spell he had secretly prepared for Thanoseid, and now he had no choice but to use it here.
"Each of you has unique skills, but what's the use? Confined to this universe, you have never experienced true Despair, never witnessed a scene like Hell."
Du Wa did nothing, but behind him, the truly terrifying monster stirred slightly. Its horrifying power, reaching the Single-Universe level, erupted from silence. At that moment, it wasn't just Earth—the entire universe suddenly trembled.
The strongest demon xenomorph, born from parasitizing Mephisto, was only now beginning to reveal its ferocity, and Universe 9602 was fortunate enough to witness this scene.
Its mass seemed to be that of the universe itself. In just an instant, it made the hair on every living being stand on end.
"Not good, there's something wrong with this guy! He's far stronger than Super-Soldier and his opponent!!"
Doctor Strangefate was about to go insane, roaring in disbelief, "I'm afraid only the legendary Cosmic Celestial could be at this level!!"
How is this possible??
The very first outsider in the history of the entire universe is a universe-level enemy??
And the universe is so vast, yet these guys didn't go to other planets? They violently broke into the universe, made no attempt to hide their presence, and charged straight for Earth??
Steel Lantern was subdued in an instant. The Mephisto Xenomorph, completely ignoring space-time, appeared before him in a flash and seized him by the throat.
His prized green armor was breached on the spot, more fragile than paper.
And Doctor Strangefate's spell was just as pathetic. A lash from the Mephisto Xenomorph's tail and it dissipated like a bubble.
All the heroes on Earth, even those who didn't know about the visitors from another world, knew that Earth was facing a terrifyingly powerful enemy and rushed to join the battle.
But just the Hyperion Xenomorph and the even more formidable Mephisto Xenomorph were enough to overwhelm them completely.
Du Wa's attention remained on the Super-Soldier.
Because within Universe 9602, there existed a portal.
It was a connection gate to the Marvel Universe and the DC Universe that existed before Universe 9602 was born.
And within the Super-Soldier's body was a Key Item that could bring about a major change in Universe 9602—a crucial Fragment.
"This is a battle I find utterly dull. What I have experienced far surpasses your imagination. Limited to a Single Universe, you cannot comprehend the magnificent spectacle of countless universes having the opportunity to interact with each other. Unfortunately, you probably won't get the chance to experience it."
Du Wa let out a sigh. "However, it seems someone disagrees with me."
"That's right. I disagree."
A strange channel suddenly opened, and a formidable figure with his hands behind his back stepped across countless galaxies.
(end of chapter)