It was an indescribable throb, not originating from sound, but acting directly upon the most fundamental rules of the Universe.
In the center of that dead Universe, utterly corrupted by the Great Old Ones' power, the colossal gate constructed from the remains of gods, demons, and suffering, welcomed its final guests.
The gate did not fully open; only a crack appeared.
However, just beyond that crack, some entity merely glanced at this world.
Rumble! ! !
A terrifying roar, unexplainable by the laws of physics, echoed throughout the entire Universe; the space around the gate, like shattered glass, instantly filled with countless dark cracks, spreading wildly in all directions.
The squirming flesh-like earth, the wailing distorted creatures, and even the dark red sky made of putrid blood, all violently boiled, evaporated, and disintegrated at this moment.
A pure energy storm swept over everything, as if the Universe itself could not bear the slightest manifestation of this entity, and was heading towards complete collapse!
The Lord of the Yellow Robe Hastur, Taviel, and Ysogtha, these three Great Old Ones capable of making countless civilizations tremble, were now like candles in the wind.
The moment that indescribable pressure descended, they were forcibly subdued by an absolute power, involuntarily prostrating themselves on the ground.
Their avatars trembled violently, and from the depths of their origins came the most primal fear and reverence; it was not a difference in the strength of power, but an absolute crush in the level of life!
That entity was one of the oldest and most powerful sources among the Great Old Ones, one of the first madnesses born from the blind and idiotic cosmic origin.
To call it a Creator-level monster would not be an exaggeration.
A thought, imbued with endless tyranny, ancientness, and a cold will, pierced into the consciousness of Hastur and the other two like billions of ice needles.
"...Too slow..."
Just three words of reprimand caused Hastur and the other two to almost disintegrate.
They prostrated themselves on the ground, unable to even conjure a single thought of resistance or explanation, only able to endure this terrifying pressure.
The thought continued, carrying a cruel, cat-and-mouse-like amusement.
"...That Universe...that bug...I remember him..."
He was referring to Mark of Universe 9.
On that day, at the moment the gate was about to close, a fleeting glimpse across dimensions—those molten-gold eyes, filled with resolute will—had actually left an impression on this most ancient Great Old One.
"...Obstruction...meaningless...expansion...will inevitably devour all..."
"...You..."
The thought swept over Hastur and the other two.
"Go...to other corners...devour...grow..."
"...As for him..."
A hint of pleasure emerged in the will of the ancient entity.
"...I will personally...entertain everything he cherishes...before his eyes...it will turn to naught...that wail...will surely be a beautiful symphony..."
As the words fell, a subtle, almost imperceptible, dim stream of light peeled away from the massive gate's crack, ignoring the collapsing space and energy storm around it, instantly vanishing, its target directly aimed at the Universe 9 plane.
And that most ancient Great Old One, seemingly satisfied with this trivial interaction, its suffocating presence slowly receded from behind the gate, and the crack gradually mended.
Leaving behind a Universe almost completely ruined and chaotic in its rules, and three Great Old Ones, still in shock, unable to rise for a long time.
...
Universe 9, Alliance.
The night air carried the fragrance of grass; a breeze brought the faint neon lights of the distant city. Behind the Alliance headquarters was a tranquil grassy slope, where a giant ancient tree stood like a silent guard.
Mark leaned against the thick tree trunk, while Rui Jia relaxed in his arms, her head resting on his steel-hard chest.
She had shed her usual sharpness and strength as a battle leader; her tall, athletic body now appeared much softer, and there was even a rare blush on her cheeks, revealing her feminine grace under the hazy moonlight.
They were together.
There were no grand ceremonies, no noisy celebrations, only a natural progression that came to fruition during lulls in battle.
She was the former leader of the Alliance, fierce in battle, strong-willed, second only to the warlike White Lion, but by Mark's side, she was willing to put away all her sharpness.
"...So, Mom might be a little surprised, but I think she'll like you."
Mark whispered, his fingers unconsciously caressing Rui Jia's cheek. He was describing to her his plan to tell his mother, Debbie, about their relationship tomorrow.
Rui Jia hummed softly, her voice much softer than usual.
"I hope I don't scare her. Honestly, Mark, sometimes I feel that meeting the parents is even more nerve-wracking than dealing with the Great Old Ones."
She made a small joke, trying to ease her inner shyness.
They talked a lot.
About how the Alliance should more effectively integrate its forces in the future, how to establish a Multiverse early warning network, and about the heavy pressure brought by the omnipresent Great Old Ones threat.
They even talked about the more distant future, such as whether to hold a simple wedding at headquarters, or what names to give their children if they had any...
These ordinary, even trivial, conversations were like warm spring water, gradually soothing Mark's nerves, which had been stretched to their limit by successive major battles.
He looked down at Rui Jia in his arms, who had rarely shown such a girlish demeanor, and a soft light flickered in his molten-gold pupils.
This peace and warmth were the core of everything he swore to protect.
However, at this very moment, an extremely sudden, indescribable sense of suffocation abruptly seized his heart!
It was not physical suffocation, but a shiver from the depths of his soul, as if he had been casually brushed by some unimaginably vast malice!
It came quickly and left just as quickly, as if it were just an illusion.
Mark's body stiffened for a moment, and his brow furrowed subconsciously.
"What's wrong?"
Rui Jia keenly sensed his change, looked up, and asked with concern.
"...Nothing."
Mark shook his head, trying to dispel the bad premonition, but a hint of gloom had already enveloped his heart.
"Maybe I'm just too tired."
He held Rui Jia tighter, as if to firmly keep this warmth.
...
The next morning, Mark was about to contact his mother to invite her to lunch and tell her about his relationship with Rui Jia when—
Woo—! ! ! !
An extremely piercing alarm blared throughout the entire Alliance headquarters without warning—not the usual warning level, but the highest level, a shrill scream signifying a Multiverse-level invasion!
At the same time, the Titan Clan technology equipment Mark carried close to him vibrated violently, radiating a scorching heat, and a clear, hostile spatial fluctuation coordinate was directly projected onto his retina, located in the industrial district on the city's edge!
"Damn it!"
Mark cursed under his breath; all his warm plans were instantly shattered. He didn't even have time to say another word to Rui Jia, and battle fire instantly ignited in his molten-gold pupils.
"All combat personnel! Maximum readiness! Follow me!"
His voice echoed through the entire headquarters via his biokinetic field.
The next second, he had already broken the sound barrier, transforming into a streak of light and shooting towards the coordinates.
Rui Jia's reaction was equally swift; the tenderness on her face was instantly replaced by battle-hardened resolve. She grabbed the special long-handled weapon placed beside her, energy erupting around her, and followed closely behind!
The White Lion let out an excited roar, rushing out like lightning; the other elite combat forces of the Alliance also ascended, forming a battle formation, and followed!
Above the industrial district, space split open like a shattered mirror, forming an irregular large hole, inside which was a twisted, swirling colorful vortex.
More than a dozen figures radiating terrifying aura slowly descended from it, landing steadily on the empty factory square.
They varied in form and combat attire, but all possessed faces similar to Mark's, and violent energy fluctuations far exceeding those of ordinary superhumans.
Leading them was Bearded Mark, wearing a white Viltrum battle suit, with a look of intrigued scrutiny on his face.
Standing slightly behind him was the Mark shrouded in ominous shadows, with turbid yellow swirling eyes, corrupted and enhanced by Hastur; the aura he emanated was the coldest and most sinister.
They had just arrived and were surveying this target world.
Just then, a piercing sonic boom came from the sky!
Mark descended like a god, crashing onto the concrete ground not far in front of them, cracks spreading outward from him.
He slowly stood up, his molten-gold pupils coldly sweeping over the uninvited guests, finally locking onto the Shadow Mark; that familiar, nauseating Great Old Ones aura instantly made him understand the identity and purpose of the newcomers.
Immediately after, Rui Jia, the White Lion, and the elite warriors of the Alliance arrived, landing behind Mark, assuming battle stances, and forming a standoff with this group of Multiverse invaders!
The atmosphere instantly tightened to the extreme; the air was thick with volatile energy and cold killing intent.
"Heh..."
The Mark in the white battle suit chuckled softly, stepped forward, and stared intently at Mark.
"Looks like the main event has arrived. And he...doesn't seem as formidable as Hastur made him out to be. I hope you can make this fun for me."
The Shadow Mark let out an inhuman, overlapping, hoarse laugh.
"Destruction...has begun..."
Mark took a deep breath; the last trace of warmth faded from his face, replaced by absolute calm and resolve.
He stepped forward, shielding all his companions, his voice like the Arctic ice.
"You want to destroy my world?"
"Then you'll have to step over my dead body."
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