The avatar of Faltin was watching him, a face without features in the bright light, truly fitting the human conception of extraterrestrial beings.
In 1895, Herbert George Wells published the science fiction novel "World War", the very book that described the invasion of Mars People on Earth, leading to an increased fear of outer space among humans.
Ordinary people haven't seen an alien, but precisely because of this, the unknown is more frightening.
Since then, various science fiction works emerged, and the aliens described gradually became similar—round bald heads, big eyes, resembling Little Grey Men or Little Green Men.
However, the most famous rumor isn't this; in the current year 1956, the most popular tale is about aliens abducting humans for experimentation. Many 'experiencers' narrated everything vividly, filling people with panic.
The legend says that kidnapped Earthlings are drawn into flying discs, their minds in a blurred state, lying on cold surgical tables, only able to see faceless aliens and the bright light above.
Next, these aliens are said to insert oversized high-tech probes into the abductees' bottoms, as if searching for something...
Of course, this is just folklore; wise individuals on Earth actually know clearly that whether it be the Kree, Skrulls, or Xi'a, they have no interest in the human digestive tract's structure.
And those so-called experiencers were, in reality, in the same state during the incident, known as—a hangover.
Su Ming held the Nightfall Greatsword, calmly confronted Faltin. He possessed the Time Gem, while only a few Demon Gods had mastery of Time System abilities, and Faltin was clearly not among them.
Since he couldn't die, why not discuss terms happily?
Seeing the fearless, evidently prepared Deathstroke, Faltin remained silent for a long time. She controlled the flames mid-air to form several new words: "If we want freedom, what do we need to sacrifice?"
"Sign a contract allowing me to use your power without charge afterward; of course, within certain limits every Earth year, not too much. Also, your dimension needs to trade with the Main Dimension."
Su Ming instantly set his sights on the energy, lifting up the contract that was already half written.
If he could replicate the Inverted Man's contract from Marvel next door, then with contracts from both Omar and Faltin, he might barely be considered a Caster, though the magic of the Dark Dimension and Faltin was unconventional, it was still magic after all.
Yet according to 'future' situations, it's clear that those who know he's Deathstroke claim he's never released magic. Did something happen here?
Set it aside for now, grab the benefits first and consider later. Issues with time can only be addressed one step at a time.
It's not that he didn't want to use the Time Gem to inspect the timeline, but dealing with the Alien Celestial Gods Group had left him thrown into the future, with numerous timelines' memories yet to be digested.
Upon hearing his terms, Faltin tilted her head as if pondering, once again lost in thought for quite a while.
"What do you plan to do?" Faltin did not agree to sign, first cautiously inquiring about Deathstroke's plan.
Actually, upon hearing about negotiation for the first time, she was against it, because Deathstroke couldn't make her negotiate just like that — first, she had to inquire.
Because she wasn't willing to add extra conditions after negotiating, the Dark Dimension "duang" became bright and gentle, making Faltin People curse her for producing no such effects, proving the previous was false.
Su Ming flexed his jaw slightly, placing the Great Sword horizontally in front, touching the silver points on it: "I, along with you, will find a way to release Omar, making her confront Dormammu. With our assistance, a three-to-one scenario is a definite win."
"That's impossible! Omar and Dormammu are alike, both insidious and despicable entities, they betrayed Faltin People, pursuing material existence." Faltin recoiled tactically as if stung by a scorpion; though her expression was unseen, the speed at which words appeared mid-air clearly showed her displeasure.
Su Ming tapped the Great Sword, producing a crisp sound: "Wrong! Omar now pursues material existence, Dormammu has returned to his true nature. Do you think the Dark Dimension is material? It's not; although humans call parts of the Dark Dimension 'Dark Matter', its essence is Element Zero, a solidified energy, just like you!"
"..." Faltin pondered again.
"If you continue pursuing energy existence, your future self will also become a devourer like Dormammu, propelling your dimension to devour planets and other dimensions to enhance yourself. Energy in the Cosmos is constant, merely transforming from one form to another, regardless of your recognition of those forms."
Su Ming instantly began promoting his ideas; the words mid-air wobbled a bit, becoming fragmented, yet Faltin remained silent.
He laid down his weapon, quietly awaiting her response, recalling intelligence within his mind.
In the Marvel Universe, numerous different dimensions exist, ranging from inner to outer, categorized into Inner Layer Dimensions (Inner Planes), Outer Layer Dimensions (Outer Planes), Split Domain, Far Realms, Unknown Domains, these five types encasing the Universe like layers of an eggshell, over 80% of which exist materially.
Slightly knowledgeable Dimensional Demon Gods all pursue material existence, while Earth, being the origin of Magic, possessing both matter and energy, remains one of the targets for many Demon Gods.
In truth, these are just the dimensions accessible to the Magic Realm, equivalent to half of a large tree, with the other half belonging to technology, representing the divergent paths of technology and magic in the binary world.
The scientific half, ranging from small to large, includes the Microverse, Negative Zone, Nexus of All Realities, Overspace, Underspace, Exo Space, Hyperspace, and Unspace.
Among them, the Microverse is also known as the Quantum Realm, and it is called the Inner Layer Dimension, where technology and magic converge.
Scientists and mages can both enter it, using various physical means, and the Inner Layer Dimension can directly connect with the Main Dimension.
There, technology can achieve many things impossible on Earth, such as easier time travel, more convenient spatial teleportation, and a host of special effects.
However, using the Quantum Realm to manipulate time is considered trickery, and this method places time travelers in a quantum superposition state, where returning to the past might lead them to encounter their past selves.
The representatives of the Inner Layer Dimension kingdom are realms like Asgard among the Ten Realms Plane, where people can teleport there through magic, and spacecraft can also fly inside, showcasing the Inner Layer Dimension's characteristic of compatibility between technology and magic.
In the more outer Magic Dimension, magic isn't compatible with technology. No one has heard of anyone being able to fly a spacecraft into Setorak's 'Deep Red Universe', have they? The Deep Red Universe is situated within 'Outer Layer Planes', vast beyond measure, where Setorak's own Multiverse System even comes into being.
Of course, it's not a complete multiverse, more akin to a toy model, empty in form, because there are no laws of time, space, life, or death there—only deep red.
Conversely, outer Technology Dimensions aren't compatible with magic, where the energy forms can't be driven by spiritual power, like the 'Antimatter Universe' discovered by The Four Wonders in the 'Negative Zone'.
And these alternate dimensions, be they magic-sided or technology-sided, if they collide with Earth's Main Dimension, due to incompatible laws, will result in a forced binary choice, which triggers disaster in the world.
For example, if the Antimatter Universe collides with the Main Dimension full of positive matter, both would be annihilated. For example, if the Deep Red Universe or Dark Dimension wraps around Main Dimension Earth, Earth would be like a dot consumed by Pac-Man.
Thus, the Earth Defense Array at Kama Taiji not only has to block Demon God stowaways but also prevent other high dimensions from colliding directly with the Main Dimension.
Generally speaking, the dimensions closer to the Main Dimension are created earlier, and their inhabitants have deeper roots, but this doesn't mean that those in the Inner Layer are stronger, merely occupying a favorable position.
Dormammu's Dark Dimension is located in the third layer 'Split Domain', and his neighbors include clans under the East Star Goddess Oshtur of the Three Gods of Vishanti, guarded by the Asura Race and Sarafu Race in 'Safelos City'.
The existence of the Sephilos Dimension serves to defend against the expansion of the Dark Dimension towards the Main Dimension, ensuring Dormammu can't make grand moves, only secretly recruiting traitors on Earth.
In the same layer are two of Dormammu's arch-enemies: Fatallis, known as the 'Black Dragon', and Slorius, known as the 'Omnivore'. The demeanor of these Dimensional Demon Gods is unabashedly dark.
Fatallis is the Cosmic Black Dragon King, and Slorius is an Ancient Dominator, neither being good characters, both being immensely powerful, wanting nothing more than to eliminate Dormammu.
Also present are the Secret Guest's Hell Border Dimension, along with most Demon Lords' Hell Dimensions, also within this same layer.
Dormammu has considered expanding to the more outer 'Far Realms', but in his outer circle are territories of 'Spring of Reincarnation Magic' Jafaron, 'Moon Demon God' Mannipor, and 'Light Demon God' Cinnibus.
If you think it's unfair for the Three Gods of Vishanti to fight three-to-one, you don't know that it can get even more unfair.
Mannipor's subordinates include the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions of Moon Phase Demon Gods, who, although weaker than Dormammu individually, have strength in numbers.
Cinnibus is hailed as 'Undying Day', 'Light of Wisdom', and 'Enlightenment Demon God'. He has seven sons, all Dimensional Demon Gods living at home, known for fighting alongside their father.
Jafaron is very mysterious, his dimension resembling a gigantic multicolored labyrinth matrix. He uses a singular bizarre magic capable of sending enemies directly to the next life, possibly empowered by the combined concepts of time, death, and magic.
These three parties are all forces Dormammu cannot defeat, leaving him in quite a pickle with foes surrounding the Dark Dimension.
And being enveloped by the Dark Dimension inside, the Faltin Dimension naturally fares even worse, as enemies disregard whatever might exist within, targeting everything at once.
Thus, Faltin currently has no leeway for choice.
The mercenary offering services just happens to provide timely relief, while previously she acted high and mighty, dragging her feet, really only bluffing, trying to avoid paying too high a price.
However, Su Ming saw through all of this, directly offering a seemingly fair price.
And Faltin, seeking freedom, would only have this one path to take.