Chapter 91: I'm Here to Bargain? No, I'm Here to Collect Rent!
Planet Ego should now be called "Homelander Planet."
Beneath a massive golden statue.
Arthur held a cup of iced Americano that had just been teleported from Earth, the straw making a sizzling sound as he chewed on it.
He looked at the group of new lackeys before him—the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Star-Lord was teaching the Sentinel how to dance disco; although the tall golden man looked completely bewildered, his limbs were as stiff as a robot fresh out of the factory.
Rocket Raccoon was riding on Groot's neck, pointing and gesturing at the metal floor Magneto had just laid down:
"Hey! Old man! The alloy ratio here is wrong!"
"Add some Vibranium! Otherwise, this is just a pile of scrap iron!"
Veins bulged on Magneto's forehead, and the surrounding magnetic field crackled.
But he held back.
Because the boss was watching.
"Quite lively, isn't it?"
Arthur smiled and casually tossed the empty cup to Wesley, who was standing nearby.
"This is what a big company should look like."
"However..."
Arthur stood up, his red cape swaying slightly under the artificial gravity.
"This place may be large."
"But it's still not dark enough."
"Not... profound enough."
He looked up toward the distant depths of the starry sky.
"Wesley."
"Yes, Boss!"
Wesley immediately pulled out a small notebook, a professional fake smile on his face.
"The company's business now covers physical Planets."
"But when it comes to dimensional development, it's still a blank space."
"I heard there's a fellow named Dormammu who holds a large piece of real estate."
"Called the Dark Dimension?"
Arthur rubbed his chin:
"I think it would be quite suitable to turn into our 'themed haunted house' or 'private cinema'."
Wesley's hand trembled.
The Dark Dimension?
That legendary nightmare land that devours countless Worlds?
The boss is taking the real estate business into another dimension!
"Boss, that Dormammu..."
Wesley reminded him cautiously:
"It's said he is a pure energy being, and physical attacks are ineffective against him..."
"Ineffective?"
Arthur scoffed.
He raised his left hand.
On his bracer, the six Infinity Stones shimmered with a light that made the Universe tremble under the radiance of the star.
"In front of me."
"There is no such thing as 'ineffective'."
"Boys!"
Arthur clapped his hands.
The group, who had been fooling around, instantly fell silent and looked in unison at the god-like man.
"Pack up."
"We're going back to Earth."
"To see that Bald Magician."
"Have her open a door for us."
...
Himalayas, Kamar-Taj.
Snow was still falling heavily here.
Ancient One was sitting in the tea room, holding a cup of hot tea, staring blankly at the falling snow outside the window.
"Sigh..."
She sighed.
Ever since that man took the Time Stone.
She felt like her retirement had started early.
No need to guard the timeline, no need to worry about the future.
Because the future was already a mess.
Just then.
"Boom—!!!"
A loud explosion.
The magical barrier over Kamar-Taj was crudely punctured like a soap bubble.
A golden stream of light, bringing a group of strange-looking people, descended from the sky.
Landing steadily in the courtyard.
The accumulated snow was instantly vaporized by the high temperature, rising in a cloud of white mist.
Arthur stepped out from the white mist.
Still with that same arrogant appearance.
"Yo, Magician."
"Still drinking tea?"
"Life seems quite comfortable."
Ancient One put down her teacup and shook her head helplessly.
"I knew you would come."
"After all, the small things on Earth can no longer satisfy your appetite."
She glanced at the group behind Arthur.
Magneto, Wolverine, Phoenix... and now a few more aliens.
This lineup was more than enough to dismantle Kamar-Taj.
"Speak."
Ancient One stood up:
"Where are we going this time?"
"Is it Hell? Or Heaven?"
"No, no, no."
Arthur wagged his finger:
"Those places are too cliché."
"I want to go to the Dark Dimension."
"To have a chat with that big face."
"And while I'm at it..."
Arthur pointed to the Infinity Stones on his wrist:
"Collect some rent."
Ancient One's movements paused.
The Dark Dimension.
That was the place she had fought against for centuries.
It was also the source of the power she drew upon.
"Are you serious?"
Ancient One looked at Arthur:
"Dormammu and the physical laws of this dimension are completely different."
"There, time has no meaning, and space folds infinitely."
"I know."
Arthur interrupted her.
He walked up to Ancient One and looked down at the Sorcerer Supreme.
"That's why I came to you to open the door."
"After all, you're the professional."
"And..."
A wild and arrogant smile curled on Arthur's lips:
"Don't you think it would be interesting to turn that guy, who thinks about devouring Earth all day, into my employee?"
"Is it quite an interesting thing?"
Ancient One was silent for a moment.
Finally.
She smiled.
It was a smile of liberation.
"Alright."
Ancient One raised her hand, and complex magical sigils appeared in the air.
"Since you want to go."
"Then go."
"However..."
Ancient One reminded him:
"Don't break the dimensional barrier."
"It's a real hassle to fix."
"Don't worry."
Arthur straightened his cape:
"I'm going to collect rent."
"Not to perform a demolition."
"Open the door!"
Hum—!!!
Space shattered.
A giant opening leading to endless darkness, emitting an eerie purple light, slowly opened in the center of the courtyard.
That evil, oppressive aura instantly gushed out.
"Whoa..."
Rocket Raccoon gripped Groot's branch tightly, his large gun already loaded:
"This place is as dark as Groot's butt hole."
"Is there really going to be anything valuable here?"
"I am Groot." (I think it's scary.)
Star-Lord put on his mask; though his legs were shaking a bit, his mouth remained stubborn:
"What's there to be afraid of!"
"We are the Guardians of the Galaxy!"
"At worst, we'll just dance for that big face!"
Arthur ignored this bunch of jokers.
He took the lead and flew directly into the dark opening.
"Keep up!"
"Don't fall behind!"
...
The Dark Dimension.
There was no sky here, no Earth.
Only endless, colorful yet twisted flows of energy.
Giant planetary wreckage floated in the void.
Countless Mindless Ones wandered in the darkness, letting out hair-raising roars.
"Boom!"
A golden light burst into this dead World.
Arthur hovered in the void.
The red cape behind him flapped loudly in the energy turbulence.
Behind him were The Seven and the Guardians of the Galaxy, standing ready.
"Dormammu!"
Arthur's voice was infinitely amplified through the Mind Stone.
In this airless dimension, it exploded like thunder!
"I am Homelander!"
"I'm here to—"
"Collect rent!"
The voice echoed.
The entire Dark Dimension seemed to be enraged.
The originally calm energy flows began to churn wildly.
A giant face composed of pure dark energy, occupying half the dimension,
slowly emerged in the void.
Dormammu.
Those eyes burning with purple magical fire were larger than stars,
staring intently at the group of intruders as tiny as ants.
"Mortal..."
Dormammu's voice sounded like countless souls wailing at once:
"You dare to intrude upon my domain."
"Do you wish to die?"
"I wish to die?"
Arthur laughed.
He stood with his hands on his hips, looking at that face larger than Earth.
There was no trace of fear on his face, only that kind of arrogance that made one want to punch him.
"Dormammu."
"Have you stayed in this Underground Room for too long that your brain has gone moldy?"
"Look at me."
Arthur pointed at himself:
"I am a god."
"A god more advanced than you."
"And you..."
"At best, you're just a somewhat ugly landlord."
"Presumptuous!!!"
Dormammu was furious.
The entire dimension trembled.
Countless dark energies turned into spikes, stabbing toward Arthur.
"I will devour your soul!"
"And let you live forever in endless pain!"
"Devour?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Too slow."
He raised his left hand.
On his bracer, the red Reality Stone suddenly lit up.
"In this dimension."
"You have the final say?"
"No."
Arthur snapped his fingers:
"I have the final say!"
Hum—!!!
A red wave of reality instantly swept out.
Those dark spikes that were stabbing forward,
the moment they touched the red light,
actually all turned into...
pink balloons!
"Pop pop pop..."
Countless balloons burst in the air, scattering streamers everywhere.
The originally grim and terrifying Dark Dimension
instantly turned into the opening scene of Disneyland.
"What?!"
On Dormammu's giant face, an extremely human-like bewildered expression appeared.
His dark magic?
Turned into balloons?
"Infinity Stones..."
Dormammu finally noticed the things on Arthur's wrist.
"How can you possibly use Infinity Stones in my dimension?!"
"Because I'm strong."
Arthur said as if it were a matter of course.
What the Silver Superman high-grade template gave him was not just physical invincibility,
but absolute control over the laws of the Universe.
Coupled with the amplification of the Infinity Stones,
in this Marvel Multiverse, except for those few true Supreme Gods,
he was a walking BUG.
"Alright, stop playing."
Arthur's eyes turned cold.
"Eric! Logan! Jean!"
"Teach this big face a lesson!"
"Yes! Boss!"
Magneto had been unable to hold back for a long time.
Although there was no metal here,
he brought some with him!
With a wave of his hand,
from the subspace equipment he carried (sponsored by Tony), he released tens of thousands of tons of Vibranium fragments!
"Magnetic Storm!"
Under the reinforcement of magnetic force, the Vibranium fragments turned into a silver tornado and drilled directly into Dormammu's nostrils!
"Achoo—!!!"
Dormammu let out an Earth-shattering sneeze.
The entire dimension shook.
"Damned insects!"
He was just about to counterattack.
A red figure had already rushed in front of him.
Jean Grey!
Phoenix Force fully unleashed!
A giant fire Phoenix phantom emerged behind her.
"Burn to death!"
Jean pushed forward with both hands.
Destructive Phoenix flames were plastered directly onto Dormammu's face!
Sizzle sizzle!
That power from the primordial Universe actually managed to burn Dormammu's energy body!
"Ahhh!"
Dormammu screamed in pain.
Before he could recover,
Logan was also thrown over by Arthur.
"Off you go!"
Wolverine was like a cannonball, plunging directly into Dormammu's eyeball.
"Pfft!"
Steel claws stabbed in fiercely.
Logan stirred frantically inside.
"Have a taste of my foot-washing water!"
Dormammu was going crazy.
As a dignified dimensional lord, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Being attacked on his face by a group of ants?
"I will kill you! I will kill all of you!"
Dormammu began to frantically mobilize the power of the Dark Dimension.
The entire space began to collapse, and countless dark vortexes appeared.
"That's about enough."
Arthur nodded as he watched this scene.
Time to close the net.
He slowly rose into the air, flying directly in front of Dormammu.
Within his eyes,
two clusters of golden light, brighter than the Sun, suddenly lit up.
Silver Superman full power!
Plus the dual amplification of the Power Stone and Mind Stone!
"Dormammu."
"I'm not here to bargain."
"I'm here to—"
"Make you shut up!"
Zzz—!!!
Two thick Heat Visions, enough to pierce through a galaxy, instantly gushed out!
This time,
it wasn't just a physical attack.
It was a conceptual erasure!
Boom!!!
The Heat Vision blasted directly into Dormammu's large mouth,
piercing through his core!
"No—!!!"
Dormammu let out one last unwilling roar.
Then,
his body began to disintegrate.
The endless dark energy was forcibly dispersed.
That giant face, like a punctured balloon, quickly deflated.
Finally,
it turned into a basketball-sized, trembling black flame,
hovering in Arthur's palm.
"Now it's quiet."
Arthur looked at the "Dormammu core" in his hand,
a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"Wesley."
"Yes, Boss!"
"Go find a bottle and put it inside."
"Place it on my office desk."
"As a desk lamp."
"Yes!"
[Ding! Detected that the host has defeated the Dimensional Demon God Dormammu! And turned him into a desk lamp!]
[Ding! Detected that the worldviews of observers throughout the Universe and the Multiverse have collapsed!][Ding! popularity points +50,000,000!][Ding! popularity points +80,000,000...]
Arthur listened to the frantically jumping numbers.
He took a deep breath.
"Refreshing."
He looked around at the Dark Dimension, which had now lost its Master.
"This place is not bad."
"No need to pay electricity bills."
"From now on,"
"this will be the Homelander Group's—"
"Interstellar Great Prison."
"Take those Mindless Ones who aren't dead yet,"
"capture them all for me."
"Go mine for ore!"
In Arthur's eyes, the unique light of a capitalist flickered.
"A new era"
"has thoroughly begun."
Chapter 92: The So-Called God-King is Nothing More Than the Universe's Biggest Capitalist
The battleship "homelander one," the bridge.
Arthur sat on the throne that once belonged to Thanos and now belonged to him.
His left hand lightly tapped the armrest, which was forged from some unknown rare cosmic metal, producing a crisp and rhythmic "tap, tap" sound.
On his gauntlet, the light of the six Infinity Stones had receded, becoming dull and lusterless, as if they were just a few ordinary colored glass beads.
"Boring."
Arthur sighed.
He looked at the brilliant Nebula outside the window, but it felt like looking at a screensaver wallpaper he had seen hundreds of times.
Thanos was dead.
That Purple Potato Spirit, who had once managed to pique his interest slightly, hadn't even used a decent second-stage transformation before being snuffed out by a snap of his fingers.
"Is that it? Game over?"
Arthur complained in his heart:
"Was the difficulty set too low?"
"System, your dungeon design is unreasonable; the BOSS was too squishy, and there wasn't even a hidden stage?"
[Ding! Detected that the host is in a state of extreme emptiness!]
[Warm Reminder: Your journey is the sea of stars; a single Universe is just the beginner's village!]
[Current popularity points: 215,000,000!]
Two hundred and fifteen million.
Looking at this number, Arthur's mood improved slightly.
This was real, solid "money power."
"Wesley."
Arthur called out.
"Here, Boss!"
Wesley still maintained that professional quality of being available at a moment's notice; even in deep space tens of thousands of light-years away, his suit was still crisp and his hairstyle was still meticulous.
It was just that in his eyes, that fanatical light was even more intense than before.
He had personally witnessed his boss kick the cosmic overlord around like a ball and treat the infinity stones like toys.
Now, Wesley was more than just loyal.
He was practically Arthur's number one fanatic.
"Tally up the spoils."
Arthur said lazily:
"That old geezer Thanos saved up his family fortune for hundreds of years; it shouldn't just be this pile of scrap metal, right?"
"Yes, Boss!"
Wesley immediately pulled up a holographic list, his fingers sliding rapidly:
"After a preliminary inventory, we have obtained..."
"Three thousand tons of ultra-rare metal deposits, enough to support the construction of ten Homelander Group headquarters."
"Fifty thousand sets of various alien technology blueprints, including FTL engines, energy shields, gene modification technology..."
"And..."
Wesley's voice trembled slightly as he pointed to a string of data on the screen:
"In Thanos's private collection vault, there are coordinates and ownership deeds for a full one hundred habitable Planets!"
"A hundred Planets?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Tsk, that old boy really was a big landlord."
"Alright, fold all of these into the company assets."
"Pick a few of those Planets with good scenery and develop them into tourist resorts."
"As for the rest..."
A glint unique to a capitalist flashed in Arthur's eyes:
"Rent them out."
"Rent them to those displaced alien refugees."
"Or sell them to the wealthy on Earth who want to experience 'interstellar migration.'"
"Remember, we'll accept US dollars, we'll accept gold, but more importantly, we'll accept—"
"Faith."
"Understand?"
"Understood! Completely understood!"
Wesley's face turned red with excitement.
Now this was a grand vision!
This was a commercial empire on a cosmic scale!
Compared to the boss, the previous Kingpin, who only knew how to fight for territory in New York, was practically a giant infant playing with mud in a sandbox!
"Alright, back to Earth."
Arthur waved his hand.
"That guest from the 31st century (Kang) should have been settled in by now, right?"
"Tony, that tin man, is probably itching to dissect his brain."
"And..."
Arthur touched the Space Stone on his wrist.
"I haven't tried what it feels like to perform a space jump with an entire fleet."
"I hope it's a bit more exciting than a roller coaster."
...
Earth, New York.
Stark Tower (now the Homelander Group R&D Center).
Eighteenth floor underground, top-secret laboratory.
This was originally the place where Tony used to store his precious armors.
Now, it had become a giant cage.
Or—
A mad scientific research center.
"Ahhh!!!"
A scream came from deep within the laboratory.
Kang the Conqueror, the overlord who was once invincible on that sacred timeline.
At this moment, he was tied to a special metal table.
His body was covered in various tubes and electrodes.
That pink ballet tutu had been stripped off (it was too painful to look at) and replaced with a set of gray prison clothes.
And before him.
Tony Stark was wearing goggles, holding an instrument that looked like an electric drill, making gestures toward Kang's head.
"Stop screaming."
Tony looked impatient and even rolled his eyes:
"I just want to read the neuron data in your cerebral cortex."
"It's not like I'm giving you a lobotomy."
"Though I think your current IQ is about the same as if you'd had one."
"You... this is abuse!"
Kang roared hysterically:
"I am the Conqueror! I am the end of time! You cannot do this to me!"
"I am doing this for the balance of the Universe..."
"Shut up, future man."
Tony flipped a switch, and the instrument emitted a buzzing electrical sound.
"Save your theories to explain to God."
"Right now, I'm only interested in the principle of your 'Time-Space Displacement Shield.'"
"And that technology that can turn a spaceship into a toilet."
"To be honest..."
Tony stopped his movements and looked at Kang, his eyes shining with a thirst for knowledge (and madness):
"That technology is too cool."
"If it could be applied to my armor..."
"Even that blonde bastard would probably be startled, right?"
Just then.
"Voom—"
The space in the laboratory suddenly distorted.
Immediately after.
A blue portal opened out of thin air.
Arthur walked out with elegant steps.
In his hand, he still held an unknown alien fruit he had plucked from Thanos's throne, partially eaten.
"Yo, Tony."
"Keeping busy?"
"It seems our guest is quite cooperative."
Arthur chewed the fruit while glancing at Kang, who was tied to the table.
That look was like looking at a lab rat.
"Cooperative, my foot."
Tony took off his goggles and tossed them aside:
"This guy's mouth is harder than his bones."
"I've tried three types of truth serum, and besides reciting his 'Conqueror's Manifesto,' he hasn't said anything useful."
"Oh?"
Arthur smiled.
He walked up to Kang.
He reached out and lightly patted Kang's cheek.
"Kang."
"I heard you're being difficult?"
"Do you think that now that we're back on Earth, I won't dare to kill you?"
"Or..."
Arthur's eyes suddenly lit up, and two crimson flames rose instantly:
"Do you want to try my new trick?"
"For example—"
"Using the Mind Stone to trap your consciousness in this body for ten thousand years?"
"Leaving you in a box with no time, no space, and only endless darkness."
"To slowly contemplate life?"
Kang trembled all over.
He looked at the yellow-glowing stone flickering on Arthur's wrist.
That fear from the depths of his soul instantly shattered his final line of defense.
He knew.
This man could do it.
And he definitely would!
"No... don't..."
Kang broke down:
"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
"Time-space technology, the Quantum Realm, Multiverse Navigation Maps..."
"I'll tell you everything I know!"
"Just don't torture me!"
"That's more like it."
Arthur nodded with satisfaction, the red light in his eyes dissipating.
He turned around and looked at Tony.
"Hear that?"
"I don't need to teach you what to do next, do I?"
Tony looked at the instantly cowering Kang, then at the calm and collected Arthur.
His mouth twitched.
"Are you a devil?"
"No."
Arthur took a bite of the fruit, juice spraying everywhere.
He gave Tony a brilliant smile:
"I'm the boss."
"And you, Tony."
"Are my Chief Technology Officer."
"Work hard."
"Once we've fully mastered these technologies."
"We'll go to—"
Arthur pointed to the ceiling, or perhaps toward a higher dimension:
"Other Universes."
"For some team building."
Tony was stunned.
"Other... Universes?"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
Arthur swallowed the fruit, his eyes becoming deep and fanatical:
"The leeks of this Universe... oh no, I mean the fans."
"I've pretty much harvested them all."
"It's time to open up new markets."
"For example..."
"I heard there's a Universe where everyone is a zombie?"
"And another Universe where all the heroes are female?"
"Tony."
Arthur leaned in a bit closer and whispered enticingly:
"Don't you want to go see?"
"To see if the you of that World is also as..."
"Short?"
"Get out!!!"
Tony directly picked up a wrench and threw it.
"Clang!"
The wrench hit Arthur's chest and bounced back, nearly hitting Tony's own foot.
"Hahaha!"
Arthur laughed and turned to leave.
His red cape traced an arrogant arc behind him.
"Hurry up, Tony."
"There's not much time left for you."
"A new journey..."
"Is about to begin."
...
At the same time.
In an abandoned air-raid shelter under New York.
It was dark, damp, and smelled of mold.
But this was currently the only blind spot on Earth not monitored by the "Homelander Network."
Around a dilapidated wooden table.
Sat several people in ragged clothes and haggard expressions.
Nick Fury.
Steve Rogers.
Natasha Romanoff.
Barton.
This was all that remained of the once-glorious S.H.I.E.L.D. and Avengers—the last sparks of hope.
"Is the intelligence confirmed?"
Fury's voice was raspy, his single eye bloodshot.
"Confirmed."
Natasha placed a blurry photo on the table.
It was a frame Eddie Brock had accidentally captured while live-streaming the battle with Thanos.
In the image.
On Arthur's wrist gauntlet, all six stones were gathered.
The light was dazzling.
"Six..."
Captain America looked at the photo, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his shield:
"He really did collect them all."
"Now, he is God."
"Do we... still have hope?"
Barton kept his head down, wiping the only arrow he had left.
It was made of Antarctic Vibranium and was the only weapon they had that might possibly break through his defense.
But against the Infinity Stones...
This arrow seemed so laughable.
"Yes."
Fury took a deep breath.
He pulled that old pager from his coat.
The red-and-blue one with the star emblem.
"Carol has already received the signal."
"She's on her way back."
"But..."
Fury paused, his gaze becoming fierce:
"She alone isn't enough."
"We need more power."
"More... power that doesn't belong to these rules."
"What do you mean?" Captain America looked up, staring at Fury in confusion.
Fury didn't speak.
He simply pulled an ancient book from his pocket that emitted an eerie aura.
The cover seemed to be made of some kind of human skin.
Distorted runes were carved upon it.
The darkhold.
"I found this in the ruins of a Witch."
Fury's fingers stroked the cover:
"It's said that this book records secrets leading to the Multiverse."
"It also records..."
"Methods to summon demons."
"Fury!"
Captain America stood up abruptly, his face full of shock and anger:
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"That's black magic! That's corruption!"
"You want to use demons to fight a devil?"
"Then what's the difference between us and Arthur?!"
"The difference is!"
Fury slammed the table, a manic light flashing in his single eye:
"He wants to rule us."
"But I."
"I only want him dead."
"For that goal."
"I don't mind selling my soul to the devil."
"As long as I can kill him."
"Even if it means the World goes down with him..."
"I won't hesitate!"
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone looked at this former King of Spies in horror.
They realized.
In this desperate confrontation.
It wasn't just Homelander who had fallen.
It was also those who once called themselves the Guardians of Justice.
In that endless darkness.
A new storm.
Was brewing.
And all of this.
To Arthur, sitting on his throne in the clouds.
Was nothing more than...
An upcoming show to pass the time—
A mere side show.
"Bring it on."
Arthur sat in his office at the White House.
Looking at the moon outside the window.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
"The crazier, the better."
"The more desperate, the better."
"Only then."
"Will the harvest be more pleasurable."
[Ding! Detected a subtle change in the host's mindset!]
[System Evaluation: You are becoming more and more like a qualified villain... oh no, a leader.]
[Current popularity points: 230,000,000!]
"Villain?"
Arthur shook his head.
"No."
"I am a God."
"A God cannot be wrong."
Chapter 93: Zombie Universe? That's Called a Buffet!
Stark Tower, eighteen levels underground.
The air here was thick with the smell of machine oil, ozone, and... despair.
On the massive holographic projection screen, dense streams of data poured down like a waterfall. Those complex formulas and geometric shapes were enough to give the top physicists of this era a brain hemorrhage at a single glance.
But here, they were merely discarded drafts.
"Zzzzt—"
Tony Stark wore a pair of specialized magnifying goggles, holding a laser micro-carving knife in his hand, carefully cutting a thumb-sized blue crystal.
His hair was as messy as a bird's nest, his beard was stubbly, and his eyes were sunken; he looked like a beggar who had just escaped from a refugee camp.
But in those large caramel eyes, there flickered a nearly pathological fanaticism.
It was a thirst for unknown technology.
"Damn it! How can the quantum entanglement rate of this dimension be negative? What kind of mush is inside that bastard Kang's head?!"
Tony cursed as his hand twitched.
"Bang!"
The blue crystal instantly exploded into a cloud of smoke.
"Fuck!"
Tony slammed the laser knife onto the table and grabbed his hair in agony:
"Jarvis! Tell me, how many failures is this?!"
"Sir, this is the 742nd time."
Jarvis's voice remained calm, but in this environment, it sounded exceptionally cold:
"Additionally, according to my calculations, Mr. Arthur's patience index has dropped to the critical point."
"Shut up!"
Tony roared irritably.
Just then.
"Vroom—"
The space in the laboratory suddenly rippled like water.
That familiar, suffocating sense of pressure made Tony's heart skip a beat even before anyone appeared.
A flash of blue light.
Arthur stepped out of the spatial portal with a light pace.
He was still holding that ever-present fruit (or some other snack), his red cape spotless, looking completely out of place in this messy, cramped laboratory.
"Yo, Tony."
Arthur took a bite of the fruit, juice splattering everywhere.
He glanced at the mess on the floor, then at Kang the Conqueror, who was tied in a corner and had been beaten beyond recognition.
"It seems progress isn't very ideal?"
Arthur walked up to Tony, reached out, and helped him flick some dust off his shoulder (though it only got dirtier with every flick):
"I heard you've blown up quite a lot of my good materials?"
"I painstakingly brought those back from tens of thousands of light-years away."
"Do you think..."
Arthur lowered his head slightly, two small flames faintly flickering in his eyes:
"My temper has improved?"
Tony's body stiffened for a moment.
But he didn't kneel, nor did he beg for mercy.
He just took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to vomit (a physiological fear of absolute power).
Then, he looked up, revealing a signature, sarcastic fake smile.
"The big boss finally deigned to come down from his throne in the clouds to inspect the slums?"
Tony picked up a rag to wipe his hands, his tone sharp:
"If you're here to rush the progress, the door is over there; if you're here to kill me, be my guest."
"I've had enough of this godforsaken place anyway, and this..."
Tony pointed at Kang in the corner:
"This broken record that only recites 'I am Eternity'."
In the corner.
The once-arrogant Kang the Conqueror was now curled up on the floor.
His eyes were vacant, and he kept muttering nonsense about "timelines," "closed loops," and "unobservables."
Clearly, Tony's "interrogation" methods had left a deep psychological scar on him.
"Heh."
Arthur laughed.
He wasn't angry.
On the contrary, he appreciated Tony's stubbornness.
After all, if he lost even that bit of arrogance, would he still be Iron Man? He'd just be a salted fish.
"Don't be so hot-headed, Tony."
Arthur walked to the workbench and looked at the complex instrument model.
"I came here this time with good news for you."
"I've found a more interesting place."
"A..."
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Arthur's eyes:
"A Universe full of 'vitality'."
"I think you'll definitely like it."
Tony was stunned for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
"It means—"
Arthur snapped his fingers.
On his bracer, the Reality Stone and Space Stone lit up simultaneously.
Vroom!
The instrument on the workbench suddenly began to operate automatically.
The previously chaotic data stream was instantly smoothed out, and countless beams of light intertwined in the air, forming a 3D holographic projection.
It was a blue Planet that looked exactly like Earth.
However.
If one looked closely, they would notice.
Outside the Planet's atmosphere, a layer of grey, deathly aura floated.
Moreover, most of the cities there were burning.
"This is..." Tony's pupils shrank suddenly.
"Earth-2149."
Arthur's voice was full of temptation:
"Or, we can call it—"
"The Zombie Universe."
"The people there are very enthusiastic and very 'thirsty'."
"Especially the Avengers there."
Arthur turned his head to look at Tony, his smile so bright it was hair-raising:
"Tony, don't you want to go see?"
"Whether the you of that World is also like you are now..."
"Hard and smelly?"
Tony's hand trembled.
Zombie Universe?
An Earth full of zombies?
The Avengers turned into zombies?
Just thinking about that image made Tony's stomach churn.
"You... what do you want to do?"
Tony's voice was a bit dry:
"Do you want to bring the virus from that Universe back?"
"If that's the case, I'll die right now in front of you!"
Tony grabbed a screwdriver from the table and pressed it against his own neck.
He would never allow this madman to destroy his World (even though this World was already nearly destroyed).
"Tsk."
Arthur shook his head with a face full of disdain.
"Put the knife down, Tony."
"Am I that kind of person?"
"I am Homelander, the savior, a god."
"How could I do something so tasteless?"
Arthur reached out and gave a light flick.
Clang!
The screwdriver in Tony's hand flew out, embedding itself deep into the concrete wall.
"What I want to do..."
"Is to save."
Arthur spread his arms, his (self-proclaimed) divine radiance instantly reaching its peak:
"The people of that World are living in misery."
"They are tortured by hunger and devoured by their own kind."
"As the lighthouse of the Multiverse, how can I sit idly by?"
"I'm going there."
"I'm going to bring them—"
"Deliverance."
"And while I'm at it..."
Arthur added silently in his heart:
"I'll put on an epic livestream."
"I've already thought of the name—"
"'Homelander: Zombie Siege'!"
"Won't the popularity points just explode?"
Looking at Arthur's hypocritical face of 'I'm doing this for cosmic peace,' Tony just wanted to puke.
But he held it in.
Because he knew he had no choice.
"What do you need me to do?" Tony asked coldly.
"It's simple."
Arthur pointed at the instrument:
"Stabilize this cross-dimensional portal for me."
"Kang has the coordinates and technology in his head."
"I want to see this door open within three days."
"I want to take The Seven."
"To that World—"
"For a buffet!"
...
Meanwhile.
Underground in New York, in an abandoned air-raid shelter that even rats wouldn't visit.
Darkness.
Dampness.
The air here didn't just smell of mold; there was also a nauseating scent of blood and... sulfur.
On a dilapidated wooden table.
The darkhold, bound in human skin, was emitting a faint red glow.
Nick Fury sat at the table.
His one eye had now turned completely pitch black, with no white, only an endless abyss.
His skin was covered in black vascular patterns, as if something living was wriggling under the surface.
"Fury..."
Steve Rogers stood in the shadows, looking at his former comrade-in-arms, now a... monster.
Captain America's voice was filled with pain and reluctance:
"Stop this."
"You are no longer yourself."
"This book... it's eating you."
"Eating me?"
Fury looked up.
That face covered in black patterns pulled into a gruesome smile.
"No, Captain."
"It is... feeding me."
Fury reached out and stroked the evil book.
His fingertips brushed the pages, making a "sizzling" sound as if he were touching a red-hot iron plate.
But he felt no pain.
Only power.
An endless stream of power.
"I've already seen it..."
Fury's voice became raspy and layered, as if countless voices were speaking together:
"The fissures in the Multiverse."
"Those exiled ancient beings."
"With just a small price..."
"With just a few sacrifices..."
"I can summon that thing."
"The thing that can devour Superman."
"What price?" Natasha couldn't help but ask, her hand gripping her pistol so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Fury looked at her.
That gaze made Natasha feel as though she were being stared at by a venomous snake.
"Souls."
Fury said flatly:
"Not just mine."
"It also needs..."
He didn't finish.
But his pitch-black eye slowly swept over everyone present.
Captain America, Natasha, Barton...
Everyone felt a chill.
"You're crazy."
Barton drew his bowstring, the arrow aimed at the center of Fury's forehead:
"You want to sacrifice us?"
"To kill that bastard, you're going to turn us into food for demons?"
"For the greater good."
Fury didn't dodge.
He just looked at Barton calmly:
"Agent Barton."
"Think of your family."
"Think of the people deceived and enslaved by Homelander."
"If our deaths can bring about his destruction."
"Isn't it worth it?"
"Worth my ass!"
Barton roared and released his fingers.
Whoosh!
A specialized Adamantium arrow shot toward the center of Fury's forehead with the sound of breaking air.
However.
Ding!
The arrow suddenly stopped a centimeter away from Fury's forehead.
A cloud of black smoke surged from Fury's body, acting like a hand to catch the arrow.
*Crack.*
The arrow was crushed into powder.
"You are too weak."
Fury slowly stood up.
At this moment, the aura emanating from him was even more evil and powerful than Odin's had been.
That wasn't divine power.
That was black magic from Chthon!
"Physical attacks are useless against me now."
Fury looked at the terrified crowd:
"Don't worry."
"I won't kill you."
"At least not yet."
"You're still useful."
"Carol is about to return."
"When the time comes..."
Fury glanced at the darkhold:
"With the power of this book."
"And Captain Marvel."
"We will have a chance to pull that false god..."
"Down from his altar!"
...
Three days later.
New York, Central Park.
This place had been transformed into "Homelander Plaza."
A massive holographic screen was counting down.
[Time until Multiverse Exploration Livestream begins: 00:05:00]
The eyes of the entire World were focused here.
All work had stopped, and all schools were on holiday.
Because a divine decree had been issued:
Today, everyone watches TV together!
Atop the high platform.
Arthur stood in his battle suit, looking radiant.
Behind him stood The Seven, ready to go.
Magneto Erik had changed into a more stylish set of black metal armor (forged from the wreckage of the dark aster).
Logan sharpened his claws, his gaze fierce.
Jean Grey's red hair fluttered in the energy field.
Even Tony Stark, who had been dragged along as forced labor, was forced to wear a specialized engineering suit, standing in the corner responsible for equipment tuning.
"My subjects!"
Arthur's voice echoed through the heavens:
"Today is a great day!"
"We have not only conquered Earth and our own Universe."
"Now."
"We are going to conquer—"
"The Multiverse!"
"We will spread the light of justice to every dark corner!"
"Cheer!"
"Shout!"
"For Homelander!"
"Homelander! Homelander!"
Below the stage, millions of people (including those forced to be there) let out mountain-shaking roars.
[Ding! popularity points +5,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +8,000,000!]
Watching the numbers continuously rise, Arthur nodded with satisfaction.
"Tony!"
"Open the door!"
"Yes... boss."
Tony gritted his teeth and pressed the start button.
Rumble—!!!
In the center of the plaza.
That massive quantum tunnel device, composed of countless complex instruments, suddenly erupted with blinding light.
Space began to warp.
A deep, swirling green vortex emitting a rotten stench slowly opened.
Behind that vortex.
A dilapidated city could be vaguely seen.
And...
Countless swaying figures.
"Is that... the new World?"
Magneto looked at the vortex, his brow furrowing slightly:
"Why do I smell... the scent of dead people?"
"Those are dead people."
Arthur laughed.
His feet left the ground as he hovered in mid-air.
"But they aren't ordinary dead people."
"They are—"
"Dead people that bite."
"Boys!"
Arthur waved his hand:
"Let's go!"
"Let's go teach the zombies of that World..."
"What is called—"
"True terror!"
Boom!!!
Arthur took the lead, turning into a streak of golden light and charging directly into the green vortex!
The Seven followed closely behind.
Tony sighed as he watched the disappearing figure.
"Good luck to you all."
"I hope the zombies over there have good teeth."
...
Earth-2149 (Zombie Universe).
New York.
This was no longer a bustling metropolis.
It was a wasteland.
Smoke filled the air, and corpses were strewn everywhere.
On the streets, countless hideous zombies wandered.
And at the top of Stark Tower (of this World).
Several figures were sitting together, gnawing on something.
Zombie Captain America.
Zombie Iron Man.
Zombie Thor.
Zombie Hulk.
"Hungry..."
"So hungry..."
Zombie Captain America tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth (even though half of his skull was missing):
"Meat... all gone..."
"We need... new food..."
Zombie Iron Man's armor was tattered, revealing the rotting ribs underneath:
"On this Planet... there are no more living people..."
"Maybe... we need to... find a way... to go to other Planets..."
Just then.
"Boom—!!!"
The sky suddenly split open with a large hole.
A dazzling golden light descended from the heavens!
That massive aura of life energy instantly spread through all of New York.
All the zombies stopped their movements.
They looked up.
In those cloudy, greedy eyes, an unprecedented thirst instantly erupted.
"Meat!!!"
"Fresh... meat!!!"
Zombie Captain America threw away the bone in his hand.
Zombie Thor raised his hammer.
Zombie Hulk let out an excited roar.
"Food... has come to our door..."
And within that golden light.
Arthur hovered in mid-air, looking down at the dense, salivating zombie heroes below.
He revealed a brilliant smile.
"Hello, everyone."
"I am Homelander."
"I'm here—"
"To give you all a little extra meal."
"However..."
Arthur's eyes flashed with red light:
"Be careful not to break your teeth."
Chapter 94: The Head is Yours, the Body is Mine!
Earth-2149, New York.
The air was thick with the foul stench of fermenting carrion; it was the smell of Death.
The once-bustling Times Square had now turned into a massive morgue. Abandoned vehicles were piled high like mountains, and broken billboards still showed flickering images of past prosperity, but they were now stained with dried blood.
"Roar—!!!"
Waves of bone-chilling growls echoed through the empty streets.
The superheroes who once protected this city had now become man-eating demons.
Atop Stark Tower.
The Zombie Avengers stared greedily at the golden figure descending from the sky.
The hunger originating from the depths of their cells was infinitely magnified at this moment.
That was the flesh and blood of a god!
That was a top-tier ingredient containing infinite energy!
"So fragrant..."
Zombie Captain America Steve Rogers raised his head, of which only half the skull remained, green light flickering in his murky eyes.
He raised the shield in his hand—still indestructible, yet covered in bits of shredded meat:
"Guys..."
"Dinner time..."
"The one in the cape... is mine..."
"The head is yours, the body is mine!"
Zombie Iron Man Tony Stark's chest reactor was still lit, but his armor was tattered, revealing decaying ribs and wriggling maggots inside.
He raised his palm cannon; though low on energy, his craving for food allowed him to burst forth with a momentary surge of strength.
"Roar!"
Zombie Hulk was even more direct; his green skin was covered in corpse spots, and he was chewing on half a femur from someone unknown.
He suddenly kicked off the ground like a green cannonball, pouncing directly toward Arthur in the air!
"Meat!!!"
"Eat meat!!!"
...
In mid-air.
Arthur watched this scene without the slightest bit of fear.
He even felt like laughing a little.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"These are the Avengers of this World?"
"Quite... unique, indeed."
Arthur pinched his nose with a look of disgust:
"How long has it been since you guys took a bath?"
"This smell is even more pungent than the sewers of Hells Kitchen."
He watched Zombie Hulk pouncing toward him.
The once incredibly powerful and rage-filled Green Giant now looked like a clump of moldy broccoli.
"Scram!"
Arthur didn't even bother to lift a hand.
Only a red light flashed in his eyes.
Sizzle—!!!
Two beams of Heat Vision shot out instantly, accurately hitting Zombie Hulk's chest.
"Puchi!"
A dull thud.
Zombie Hulk's incredibly tough skin was like butter meeting a hot knife before Silver Superman's Heat Vision.
It was pierced instantly!
The terrifyingly high temperature directly ignited the decaying fat and gases inside his body.
"Boom—!!!"
Zombie Hulk exploded in mid-air!
He turned into a ball of green fire, screaming as he fell back onto the roof.
"Roar... pain... hungry..."
Even after being charred to a crisp, Zombie Hulk still wasn't dead; he rolled on the ground, still mumbling about eating.
This tenacious vitality (or rather, curse) made Arthur raise an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
"Is this the zombie virus?"
"It can even infect Hulk and keep him from dying?"
Arthur turned his head to look at The Seven behind him.
At this moment.
Magneto, Wolverine, Phoenix, and the others were looking at the scene below with solemn expressions.
Even though they were used to big scenes, seeing these once-familiar heroes turned into such ghostly forms made them feel a bit uneasy.
Especially the Magneto of this World; heard he was eaten until only his helmet remained?
"Boss."
Magneto Erik frowned, his magnetic field barrier pushed to its maximum:
"These things... are disgusting."
"And I can feel that the magnetic field of this World is filled with the aura of Death."
"Scared?"
Arthur gave him a playful glance.
"How could I be."
Magneto snorted coldly and waved his hands.
Rumble!
The steel bars in the surrounding buildings were instantly pulled out, transforming into countless sharp spears in the air.
"I just feel that killing such things would dirty my hands."
"Then don't use your hands."
Arthur snapped his fingers.
"Boys."
"Don't just stand there dazed."
"Is this a buffet? No."
A cruel light flashed in Arthur's eyes:
"This is—"
"A slaughterhouse!"
"Kill them for me!"
"Clean up all these disgusting things!"
"For America... oh no, for the hygiene of the Multiverse!"
"Yes! Boss!"
Logan was the first to charge down.
"As long as it can be killed, I don't care what kind of damn thing it is!"
Wolverine roared, his steel claws flashing with a cold light as he jumped directly into the zombie crowd.
"Puchi!"
A Zombie Spider-Man trying to launch a sneak attack had just shot a web when Logan sliced off half his head with a claw.
"Peter? Sorry about that!"
Logan kicked the corpse away and turned to hack at another zombie.
The Logan here didn't have that much psychological baggage.
In his view, becoming a zombie meant being dead.
Since they were dead, they might as well be dead more thoroughly!
"Zzzzt—"
Electro Max turned into lightning, weaving through the zombie horde.
High-voltage electricity was practically the natural enemy of these zombies.
He shocked a huge area at once, charring them all.
"Hahaha! Come on! Come and eat me!"
Max laughed wildly, as if he had found a new source of fun.
Meanwhile, Jean Grey hovered in mid-air.
She looked at the zombie version of "herself" below (if there was one), a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.
But it was quickly replaced by the indifference of the Phoenix Force.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
Jean reached out her hand.
Buzz!
The Phoenix Force erupted!
The zombies trying to fly up (like Zombie Iron Man and Zombie Thor) were decomposed into atoms by an invisible force before they could even get close.
Not even a speck was left.
This was a one-sided slaughter.
Although the zombie heroes retained their abilities, their resistance seemed laughable in the face of absolute power suppression.
Furthermore.
They were facing a Cosmic Team that was fully armed and led by the cheat-like Arthur.
...
Arthur was in no hurry to act.
He was like a leader inspecting work, hovering directly above the battlefield.
Eddie Brock (via a special protective suit and drones) was conducting a cross-Universe live stream.
Although the signal was a bit unstable, it didn't stop the audience in the Main Universe from seeing this scene.
Earth (Main Universe).
Countless people sat before their screens, watching that hellish World; each one was pale with fright, yet they couldn't help but watch.
"My god... is that Captain America?"
"That guy who's missing half his brain?"
"So disgusting! So terrifying!"
"Thank goodness we have Homelander! Thank goodness we have The Seven!"
"Long live Homelander! Whatever you do, don't let those monsters come over here!"
[Ding! Detected extreme panic and dependence from the Main Universe populace!]
[Ding! popularity points +1,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +2,000,000...]
Seeing the steadily rising popularity points, Arthur smiled with satisfaction.
"As expected."
"Fear is the best catalyst."
"Only by letting them see what hell looks like will they cherish me, the gatekeeper of heaven, even more."
Just then.
"Whoosh—"
A silver light suddenly shot out from the ruins.
It was incredibly fast!
Even Quicksilver Pietro didn't have time to react.
That silver light charged directly at Magneto, who was slaughtering everyone!
"Clang!"
A crisp sound.
Magneto's magnetic shield was actually pierced!
That silver figure bit down on Magneto's arm!
"Ah!!!"
Magneto let out a scream of pain.
He swung his hand violently, and countless steel bars sent the attacker flying.
It was a silver-bodied zombie riding a surfboard...!
Zombie Silver Surfer!
"Is that... Silver Surfer?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"It seems the herald of Galactus in this Universe has also met a grim fate."
"However..."
Arthur glanced at Magneto's bitten arm.
At the wound, the black virus was rapidly spreading.
Magneto's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Boss! I... I've been bitten!"
Magneto shouted in terror.
He could feel the hunger eroding his sanity.
He wanted to eat meat.
He wanted to eat... the flesh of Logan beside him!
"Erik!"
Seeing this, Logan held his steel claws ready to strike.
"Don't move!"
Arthur's voice suddenly rang out.
The next second.
He appeared beside Magneto.
Looking at the rapidly blackening wound, Arthur did not panic.
"What's the panic?"
"It's just a minor virus."
"Scared you this much?"
Arthur reached out and grabbed Magneto's arm.
On his bracer.
The orange Soul Stone and the red Reality Stone lit up simultaneously.
"For me—"
"Reverse!"
Buzz!
A strange energy wave instantly enveloped Magneto's wound.
Reality was modified.
The soul was purified.
Those frantic zombie viruses, before the power of the Infinity Stones' laws, were like snow meeting the sun.
They rapidly melted and receded.
In the blink of an eye.
Magneto's arm was restored to its original state, without even a tooth mark left.
"This..."
Magneto stared blankly at his arm, then at Arthur.
That feeling of surviving a disaster almost made him kneel.
"Thank you, Boss! Thank you, Boss, for saving my life!"
"That's enough."
Arthur patted his shoulder (and wiped his hand while he was at it):
"Don't embarrass me."
"Remember, you are my employees."
"Without my permission, no one is allowed to die, let alone turn into such a disgusting thing."
"Understood?"
"Understood! Understood!" Magneto nodded repeatedly.
This move not only saved Magneto but also completely awed everyone present.
He could even casually cure the zombie virus?
Is he still human?
This is simply a true god!
"Alright."
Arthur turned around and looked at the Zombie Silver Surfer that had been sent flying.
That guy was now lying on the ground, half his body impaled by steel bars, yet he was still struggling to get up and bite someone.
"The herald of Galactus..."
Arthur narrowed his eyes:
"Since you are here."
"That means..."
"Your master, that big guy Galactus, should be arriving soon, right?"
As if to confirm Arthur's guess.
Suddenly.
The sky darkened once more.
It wasn't dark clouds.
But a massive, sky-blotting shadow.
A giant wearing a purple helmet, with a body as large as a mountain, poked his head through the clouds.
That was—
Zombie Galactus!
He had been infected.
The once-sacred cosmic deity now looked like a starving ghost who had been hungry for billions of years.
He opened his mouth, large enough to swallow a city, and let out a deafening roar toward New Yorkbelow:
"Hungry!!!"
"I want to... eat!!!"
The terrifying sound wave directly shattered all glass within a hundred-mile radius.
Even Arthur's red cape was blown straight.
"Wow."
Arthur looked up at the big guy.
Not only was there no fear on his face, but he even showed a hint of an excited smile.
"Now that's more like it."
"Only a boss of this level..."
...is worthy of my appearance fee."
He turned his head and adjusted his hairstyle for the camera.
"Dear audience."
"The following scenes may be a bit violent."
"Minors,"
"Do not close your eyes."
"Because..."
Arthur's feet slowly left the ground.
The six stones on his bracer began to flash wildly, erupting with unprecedented light!
"I'm going to perform a—"
"Galactus Tearing for everyone!"
Boom!!!
Arthur turned into a golden meteor and charged toward that giant mouth that could devour all things!
"Big guy!"
"You've got a good set of teeth."
"But I wonder..."
"Can they crush my fist?!"
Bang!!!
A loud crash, enough to spread throughout the entire zombie Universe,
exploded over New York!
Arthur's tiny figure actually—
punched Zombie Galactus's jaw out of alignment!
Massive teeth mixed with decaying divine blood rained down like a meteor shower.
"Roar—!!!"
Zombie Galactus let out a wail of agony.
But this was just the beginning.
"It's not over yet!"
Arthur hovered in front of Galactus's nose.
Red light surged in his eyes!
"I see you must have quite a lot of good stuff in your stomach."
"Now—"
"Spit it out!"
Sizzle—!!!
Two ultimate Heat Vision beams merged with the energy of the Infinity Stones
shot directly into Galactus's nostrils!
Straight to the brain!
"Rumble—!!!"
It was as if a supernova had been detonated inside Zombie Galactus's head.
Fire spewed from his seven orifices!
That massive body began to tremble violently, and then—
collapsed!
Like a mountain crumbling, it crushed half of New York City.
Dust flew everywhere.
Arthur hovered in mid-air, looking at the results of his battle.
He clapped his hands.
"Done."
"Done."
"This buffet..."
"The portions were quite generous."
Chapter 95: Zombie Galactus Has Fallen
Zombie Galactus has fallen.
The purple giant that once made the entire Universe tremble was now like a collapsed mountain of trash, lying across the ruins of Manhattan.
Rotting divine blood pooled into a river, emitting a nauseating stench.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Arthur hovered in mid-air, pinching his nose and looking down at the tragic scene with a face full of disgust.
"This smell is even more pungent than those homeless people who haven't bathed for days."
"System, can you block my sense of smell?"
[Ding! Olfactory block activated.]
[Ding! Detected the host has killed Zombie Galactus! Caused a Multiverse-level shock!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +80,000,000...]
Hearing the wonderful notification sounds in his mind, Arthur's mood instantly improved quite a bit.
Although this place was filthy and chaotic, these leeks...
Were truly fat!
"Boss!"
Magneto Erik flew over, his face still somewhat pale (though his wounds had healed, the psychological shadow remained):
"Are we... continuing?"
"This place is full of nothing but dead people; there's really no point in staying."
"Don't be in such a hurry, Eric."
Arthur patted Magneto's shoulder:
"It wasn't easy to get here, how can we return empty-handed?"
He turned his head and looked at the zombie heroes shivering in the shadows of the ruins.
That punch just now hadn't just blown up Galactus.
It had shattered the courage of this group of zombies.
Although they were hungry, they weren't stupid.
Facing a monster that could crush a god like an ant, going up would just be offering themselves as a meal.
"Come out."
Arthur beckoned with his finger, his voice exploding directly in the minds of every zombie via the Mind Stone:
"Stop hiding."
"I can smell the stench of death on you."
"Roar..."
Zombie Captain America, dragging a body that was only half-intact, crawled out from a pile of rubble.
His shield was gone (possibly eaten), and a piece of his skull was missing, revealing the grayish-white brain inside.
"You... what do you want?"
Zombie Captain America's voice was raspy, like two rusty pieces of iron rubbing together:
"We... surrender..."
"Meat... for you..."
He pointed at the corpse of Galactus lying on the ground.
For a zombie, this was the ultimate concession.
Giving up food was equivalent to surrendering.
"Meat?"
Arthur laughed.
He slowly descended and stepped on Zombie Captain America's head.
Applying a little pressure.
*Crack.*
The sound of a skull fracturing rang out.
"This kind of trash is worthy of being called meat?"
"I'm here to—"
Arthur scanned the zombies that were crawling out one after another:
Zombie Iron Man, Zombie Spider-Man, Zombie Thor, Zombie Black Widow...
This was practically an Avengers Halloween cosplay party.
Except the props were a bit too realistic.
"I'm here to stock up."
A glint of greed flashed in Arthur's eyes:
"Wesley!"
"Here, Boss!"
Although Wesley hadn't come along (he was still a mortal and afraid of death), his voice came through the Cross-Universe Communicator.
"Activate that 'Zombie Containment Program' for me!"
"These guys."
Arthur pointed at the group of former heroes:
"They might be a bit ugly."
"But with a little packaging."
"Even if they're just put in a museum as specimens."
"Or if we open a 'Doomsday Theme Park'."
"Won't the ticket money just roll in?"
"Understood, Boss!"
Wesley's voice was filled with excitement.
As expected of the Boss!
He can even use zombies to make money!
This business sense is simply incredible!
"Boys!"
Arthur waved his hand:
"Get to work!"
"Don't kill them (though they're already dead)."
"As long as they have a breath left... oh wait, just as long as you keep their heads."
"The rest, dismantle as you please!"
"Roar—!!!"
Logan, who had been holding back for a long time, was the first to charge.
"That kid in the red and blue spandex is mine!"
Wolverine set his sights on Zombie Spider-Man.
In the main Universe, Peter Parker was a good kid, and he felt bad attacking him.
But here...
*Squelch!*
Steel claws instantly pierced through Zombie Spider-Man's chest.
"Sorry, kid."
Logan grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth:
"In your next life, remember not to spray webs everywhere."
"Zzzzt—"
Electro Max was not to be outdone.
He went after Zombie Thor.
"Playing with electricity, are we?"
"Let's see whose electricity is stronger!"
Two bolts of lightning collided in the air.
But clearly, Zombie Thor's divine power was depleted, while Max...
He had Arthur, the massive power bank, backing him up!
Boom!
Zombie Thor was instantly electrocuted into charcoal, and his hammer fell to the ground.
Magneto Erik was even more ruthless.
He looked at the Zombie Iron Man, who was already rotten beyond recognition.
A flash of disgust crossed his eyes.
"Tony Stark."
"No matter which Universe's version of you it is."
"You're always so annoying."
Magneto waved his hand.
The battered armor on Zombie Iron Man instantly tightened.
Like an Iron Maiden.
"Argh!!!"
Zombie Tony let out a scream.
His body was forcibly crushed into a pulp by his own armor.
Only a head remained, held aloft by Magneto's magnetic force, floating before Arthur.
"Boss, all packed up."
"Great job."
Arthur nodded with satisfaction.
He casually opened a spatial portal.
He tossed these "trophies" in one by one.
The Tony Stark over there (of the main Universe) would probably have nightmares seeing these things, right?
"Hahaha!"
Arthur couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Just then.
"Hum—"
A faint but extremely eerie energy fluctuation suddenly came from deep within the ruins.
Arthur's laughter stopped abruptly.
He turned his head.
His Super Vision, enhanced by the Infinity Stones, instantly penetrated through layers of rubble.
Deep underground.
In a secret Underground Room.
There was something.
Or rather, a person.
Sitting there quietly.
He wore a golden bodysuit with a large "S" on the chest.
But he wasn't Superman.
His skin was a sickly grayish-white, his eyes were hollow, and a weird smile hung on the corners of his mouth.
In front of him.
Lay a corpse.
A corpse that had been gnawed down to its skeleton.
That was...
The Sentinel of this Universe!
"Oh?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Zombie Sentry?"
"This is a rare find."
In the original comics, the source of the zombie virus was the Sentinel (though versions vary).
And this guy...
Seemed to have retained more power than the other zombies.
Even...
That "Void" power within him seemed to have become even more uncontrollable due to the virus infection.
"Interesting."
Arthur licked his lips.
"This Figure."
"I'll take it."
Boom!
Arthur's Figure blurred.
He charged straight into the ground!
"Bang!"
The ceiling of the Underground Room was blown away.
Arthur hovered in mid-air, looking at the Zombie Sentry who was preparing to "feed."
"Hey, buddy."
"Eating?"
"Mind if I join you?"
Zombie Sentry snapped his head up.
From those hollow eyes, two beams of black light suddenly erupted!
It wasn't Heat Vision.
It was—
Void Ray!
"Zzzzz—!!!"
The black beam, carrying an aura that corroded everything, came straight for Arthur.
"Whoa."
"Quite a temper."
Arthur was unfazed.
He raised his left hand.
On his gauntlet, the yellow Mind Stone and the purple Power Stone lit up simultaneously.
"Get—"
"Down!"
Boom!!!
The two energies collided in the small Underground Room.
All of New York shook for a moment.
But the outcome was certain.
Although Zombie Sentry was strong, before a Silver Superman with six Infinity Stones.
He was still just a little brother.
Bang!
Zombie Sentry was blown back, slamming hard into the wall.
"Roar..."
He let out a Beast-like low growl, trying to struggle.
But Arthur was already in front of him.
With one hand, he pinned his head down firmly.
"Be good."
Arthur's voice was full of allure:
"Don't move."
"From today on."
"You are my number one collectible."
"I'll find you the best cage."
"So you can eat the freshest... well, synthetic meat every day."
Zombie Sentry seemed to understand (or was controlled by the Mind Stone).
The black light in his eyes gradually faded.
His body stopped struggling.
Like a tamed vicious dog.
"Very good."
Arthur patted his face satisfied (though it was a bit dirty).
"Wrap it up!"
...
Earth (Main Universe).
Homelander Group Building, Underground Laboratory.
Tony Stark, with dark circles under his eyes, was calibrating a new generation of "Anti-Superman Armor" (though he knew it was likely useless).
Suddenly.
"Hum—"
A portal opened.
Tied-up zombie heroes, some even reduced to just heads, were tossed out like garbage.
"Clang! Clang!"
Looking at the Zombie Iron Man head that rolled to his feet.
Tony froze completely.
Although the head was rotting, he could still recognize it.
That was himself!
Those cloudy eyes were still staring at him, mouth opening and closing:
"Meat... I want meat..."
"Blegh—!!!"
Tony couldn't hold it in any longer.
He leaned against the wall and started vomiting.
"What... what the hell are these things?!"
"These are gifts, Tony."
Arthur walked out of the portal.
Carrying the now-docile Zombie Sentry in his hand.
"So?"
"Surprised?"
"Unexpected?"
Arthur tossed Zombie Sentry to a nearby robot assistant:
"Lock all these guys up."
"Especially this golden one."
"This is the crown jewel of the collection."
"As for the others..."
Arthur glanced at Tony, who was still vomiting:
"You can study them."
"Maybe you can extract some sort of immortality serum from this virus?"
"Or..."
"Develop a zombie virus vaccine to sell to other Universes later?"
"This is a huge business opportunity!"
Tony wiped the filth from the corner of his mouth.
Looking at Arthur's excited face.
He only felt a chill run through his whole body.
This man.
Had gone completely insane.
He didn't just want to rule the living.
He wouldn't even let the dead go!
...
While Arthur was busy counting his spoils.
New York, Hells Kitchen.
In that abandoned Air-Raid Shelter.
Nick Fury snapped his eyes open.
In that pitch-black single eye, a flash of red light appeared.
"He's back..."
"He's back..."
Fury's voice was raspy, carrying a hair-raising excitement.
In front of him.
The darkhold had been flipped to the final page.
And behind him.
A woman wearing a red and blue suit, her whole body emitting a golden light, floated quietly in mid-air.
Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers.
She was back.
But her gaze was somewhat off.
Hollow.
Cold.
Without a trace of emotion.
Just like...
She was being controlled.
"Carol."
Fury turned around and looked at this comrade he once trusted most.
"Are you ready?"
"We are going to..."
"Kill a god."
Captain Marvel didn't speak.
She only gave a slight nod.
On her body, within the golden light, there was a faint mix of...
Black demonic energy.
That was the power of the darkhold!
Fury hadn't just summoned Captain Marvel.
He had used black magic to transform her into a—
Ultimate Weapon that knew only how to kill!
"Arthur..."
Fury clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm:
"You think you're invincible?"
"You think you're in control of everything?"
"Heh."
"The show..."
"Is just beginning."
Chapter 96: Welcome to Hell, Captain Marvel!
New York, Homelander Group Building.
Level B30, Special Biological Containment Facility.
The temperature here was kept at a constant minus fifty degrees. The walls were constructed with half-meter-thick Vibranium layers and even inscribed with magic runes brought from Asgard.
"Blegh—!!!"
Tony Stark leaned over a trash can, letting out heart-wrenching sounds of dry heaving.
He felt like he was about to vomit up the cheeseburger he'd eaten last week.
In front of him.
Inside a massive tank of specialized transparent glass.
The man who once possessed the power of a million exploding suns—the Zombie Sentry.
Currently, he looked like a dead pig bloated by formalin, floating quietly in a green suppression fluid.
His grayish-white skin was covered in cadaveric spots, and his originally golden hair was now plastered to his scalp like withered grass.
The most disgusting part was...
Even within the suppression fluid...
His mouth was still opening and closing unconsciously, and those murky eyes were fixed intently on Tony outside the glass.
As if saying: "Meat... I want meat..."
"John! You pervert!"
Tony wiped the acidic bile from the corner of his mouth, took off his goggles, and slammed them onto the floor.
"Why did you bring this thing back?!"
"If even a tiny bit of the virus carried by this thing leaks out, the entire Earth is finished!"
"By then, your Arthurland will turn into a zombie kingdom!"
"Tsk."
Arthur leaned against the laboratory doorway, still holding that cup of iced cola.
He looked at the reacting Tony and shook his head.
"Tony, your perspective is too small."
"Virus?"
"That's called a biological weapon."
Arthur walked forward, extending the hand wearing the infinity bracer, and lightly tapped on the glass wall of the tank.
Thump, thump.
Inside, the Zombie Sentry seemed to sense its Master's presence. It immediately stopped its greedy staring and instead curled into a ball, shivering uncontrollably.
"See that?"
"Even a zombie knows who the boss is."
Arthur took a sip of cola, a greedy smile characteristic of a capitalist appearing on his face.
"Besides, this is a rare research specimen."
"Think about it."
"If we can extract this virus and refine it..."
"To create a controllable serum that can vastly enhance physical strength without losing sanity..."
"Selling it to those wealthy elites who crave power, or alien civilizations looking to build super armies."
"How much would one vial sell for?"
"Ten billion? Or maybe a hundred billion?"
Tony listened, dumbfounded.
He looked at Arthur as if he were looking at a demon wearing human skin.
"You're crazy..."
"You've completely lost it."
"You don't just want to rule the living, you want to traffic viruses too?"
"Let me correct you."
Arthur held up a finger.
"It's trafficking 'hope'."
"Alright, enough talk."
Arthur's expression turned cold.
"I'll give you three days."
"I want you to analyze this thing's genetic sequence, as well as that mutated 'Void' energy inside him."
"If you can't do it..."
Arthur lowered his head slightly, red light flashing in his eyes.
"I'll throw you in there."
"Let him see if Iron Man tastes crunchy."
Tony's whole body stiffened.
He looked at the drooling Zombie Sentry.
Gritting his teeth, he picked up his goggles again.
"Fuck you, Homelander."
"Fuck you."
...
Leaving the lab.
Arthur returned to the top-floor office.
Wesley had already been waiting for a long time.
"Boss."
Wesley handed over a report, his face beaming with uncontrollable excitement.
"The livestream revenue from the Zombie Universe has been calculated."
"It's an astronomical figure!"
"Also, the trailer we edited, 'Homelander: Zombie Siege,' just went live on YouTube."
"In ten minutes, the views broke a hundred million!"
"The comment section is exploding!"
"Everyone is saying that the scene where you ripped apart Zombie Galactus was more shocking than any special effects blockbuster!"
"Mm, not bad."
Arthur took the report and glanced at it casually.
The number was very long.
But he didn't care about money.
What he cared about was—
[Current popularity points: 245,000,000!]
Two hundred and forty-five million!
One step closer to the ten-billion Golden Superman template.
"It seems this cross-Universe 'reality show' has a huge market."
Arthur sat in his executive chair, propping his feet up on the desk.
"Since the audience likes to watch it."
"Then we'll do more of it."
"Wesley."
"Yes, Boss."
"Go and have that Kang fellow find me a few more coordinates."
"This time, I want something more challenging."
"For example..."
Arthur rubbed his chin, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Is there a Universe full of monsters?"
"Or..."
"A Universe full of gods?"
"I want to go have some fun with a 'Ragnarok'."
Wesley pushed up his glasses, recording rapidly.
"No problem, Boss."
"I'll arrange it right away."
Just then.
Arthur's Super Hearing suddenly captured a very faint yet extremely piercing sound.
It wasn't a normal sound.
It was...
The sound of space tearing.
And it carried a nauseating, decaying aura of dark magic.
The source—
New York, beneath Hells Kitchen.
"Hmm?"
Arthur's movements stopped.
He slowly turned his head to look out the window.
Inside his eyes, golden light flowed.
His Super Vision instantly penetrated hundreds of meters of soil and concrete.
Inside that abandoned air-raid shelter.
Nick Fury's face, terrifying like a dried corpse, came clearly into his view.
And that red-glowing darkhold.
And...
The woman who had just stepped out of the spatial rift, her body emitting golden light yet entwined with black energy.
Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers.
"Heh."
Arthur smiled.
Smiling incredibly happily.
Like he had discovered a little mouse still trying to resist.
"Nick Fury."
"My dear Director."
"You really didn't disappoint me."
"You actually called her back?"
Arthur lowered his legs and stood up.
The red cape swayed slightly behind him.
"And..."
"This aura..."
Chthon's dark magic?
"Interesting."
He looked at the Captain Marvel who had completely changed her appearance.
The female hero who used to be bursting with a sense of justice...
Now had hollow eyes, her whole body emitting a fallen aura.
Clearly.
She had been controlled.
Controlled by the power of the darkhold, or rather, by Fury, who had already become a dark magicpuppet.
"Boss?"
Wesley noticed Arthur's abnormality and asked cautiously.
"Has something happened?"
"Nothing."
Arthur straightened his tie and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Looking down at this bustling city.
"It's just that..."
"We have to add a temporary special segment to our program schedule."
"Special segment?" Wesley was taken aback.
"That's right."
Arthur turned around, a cruel smile on his face.
"I originally thought the plot on Earth's side had wrapped up."
"I didn't expect..."
"Someone would want to add more scenes for me."
"In that case..."
Arthur snapped his fingers.
"Notify Eddie."
"Mobilize all cameras, drones, and broadcast vans for me."
"Target—Hells Kitchen."
"Tell the audience across all of America."
"Homelander is about to—"
"Clean house!"
...
Hells Kitchen, underground air-raid shelter.
The smell of sulfur in the air was so thick it was suffocating.
Nick Fury stood before a worn wooden table.
Half of his body had already become transparent, a sign that his soul was being consumed by the darkhold.
But he didn't care.
He looked at the woman floating in mid-air in front of him.
Carol Danvers.
Once Earth's strongest Guardian.
Now.
She was a blade in Fury's hand.
A poisoned blade capable of slaying a god.
"Carol."
Fury's voice was raspy, as if two souls were speaking simultaneously.
"Do you hear it?"
"The heartbeat of that false god."
"He's up there."
"He's laughing at us."
Captain Marvel showed no expression.
Her eyes were pitch black like ink, and within her originally golden energy field, unsettling blood-colored lightning was mixed in.
"Kill."
She uttered only this single word.
Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotional color.
"Very good."
Fury grinned, revealing pitch-black teeth.
"Go."
"Kill him."
"Rip his heart out."
"For Earth."
"For... revenge."
Boom!!!
Captain Marvel's body instantly turned into a streak of black-gold light.
She crashed directly through the meters-thick concrete dome!
Soil and stone crumbled away.
She was like a missile fired from hell.
Carrying endless resentment and killing intent.
Soaring straight into the sky!
...
The top of the Homelander Group Building.
Arthur was standing on the helipad, enjoying the high-altitude breeze.
Suddenly.
The ground beneath his feet shook violently.
"Rumble—!!!"
A pillar of black-gold light pierced right through the streets of Manhattan.
Shooting straight out from underground!
That terrifying energy fluctuation instantly shattered all the glass in the surrounding blocks.
The light pillar dissipated.
A figure floated opposite the Homelander Group Building.
Facing Arthur from a distance.
Captain Marvel.
But this was no longer the Captain Marvel in people's memories.
The suit on her body had turned dark red, and her face was covered in black magical patterns.
That violent energy made the surrounding space emit a "sizzling" wail.
"Wow."
Arthur whistled.
He looked at this former "strongest female hero in Marvel."
There wasn't a trace of fear on his face.
Only the excitement of seeing a new toy.
"Look who it is?"
"Our Auntie Marvel... oh wait, Captain Marvel."
Arthur stood with hands on his hips, his voice echoing through the citywide broadcast.
"What?"
"Been wandering in outer space for too long and came back looking for a job?"
"Pity though."
Arthur shook his head, looking regretful.
"Your resume isn't quite up to par."
"And..."
"Your current look is too ugly."
"It doesn't fit our company's aesthetic standards."
"Die!!!"
Carol didn't pay any attention to Arthur's mockery at all.
She roared.
Her fists slammed together.
Boom!
A ripple of black-gold energy instantly erupted!
Photon Blast!
But this Photon Blast was mixed with corrosive magic from the darkhold.
The beam was like black lightning, crossing hundreds of meters in an instant.
Heading straight for Arthur's face!
"Starting already?"
"How rude."
Arthur stood in place, not moving an inch.
He simply raised his left hand slightly.
On the bracer.
The purple Power Stone suddenly lit up.
"For me—"
"Disperse!"
Arthur casually waved his hand.
Bang!!!
That energy blast, powerful enough to destroy a Kree warship...
Was like being slapped hard by an invisible palm.
It was directly shattered in mid-air!
Dissipating into a sky full of light specks.
"What?!"
Captain America and the others, hiding in the shadows and observing, felt their hearts go cold at this scene.
That was Captain Marvel's full-power strike!
It was actually blocked so casually?
"Too weak."
Arthur lowered his hand, looking bored.
"Carol."
"Did you not eat?"
"Or rather..."
Arthur pointed at the black energy on her body.
"Did that Black Braised Egg give you something that upset your stomach?"
"This kind of third-rate dark magic."
"You think you can hurt me with this?"
"Are you insulting a god?"
Arthur's eyes suddenly widened.
Two crimson flames instantly rose up.
"Since you like playing with energy so much."
"Then I'll let you witness..."
"What true—"
"Energy looks like!"
Sizzle—!!!
Two beams of Heat Vision instantly surged out!
This time.
Arthur added the power of the Reality Stone!
Within the red beams was the power of rules that could rewrite reality.
Everywhere they passed.
The air was directly "deleted"!
Turning into an absolute vacuum!
Carol felt a fatal threat.
She subconsciously wanted to activate Binary mode for defense.
But it was too late.
Boom!!!
The Heat Vision slammed heavily into her chest.
"Ah—!!!"
Carol let out a shrill scream.
The black energy on her body made a "sizzling" sound under the burning Heat Vision, as if being purified.
She was sent flying like a kite with its string cut!
Rumble!
She crashed through three buildings in succession.
Finally slamming into the lake in Central Park.
Sending water splashing everywhere.
Instakill!
Another instakill!
Even a blackened Captain Marvel, three times stronger than before...
Before a Silver Superman with Infinity Stones...
Was still unable to withstand a single blow!
"Tsk."
Arthur shook his head.
He didn't pursue her.
Instead, he turned around and spread his hands toward the helicopter cameras that were already in position.
"Dear audience."
"Did you see that?"
"This is the so-called 'Avengers' last trump card."
"A pathetic creature controlled by dark magic."
"To deal with me, they didn't hesitate to sell their souls, to side with demons."
"Is this the hero you once trusted?"
Arthur's voice was full of grief and indignation (acted out):
"I'm truly disappointed."
"Since they have already fallen..."
"Then let me—"
"End all of this with my own hands."
Arthur looked toward Central Park.
There, Carol was struggling to crawl out of the lake.
"Don't be in a hurry."
"The show..."
"Is just getting started."
A cruel arc curled at the corner of Arthur's mouth.
He didn't just want to kill people.
He wanted to destroy their hearts.
He wanted the whole World to see with their own eyes.
How the symbol of the old era was being...
Crushed under the feet of the new god!
"The Seven!"
"All members, move out!"
"Get over there and surround that blackened crazy woman..."
"And beat her down!"
"I want her to know..."
"What we call—"
"A righteous gang-beating!"