Chapter 101: Your Vision Is Still Too Small
"Done."
Arthur casually tossed Mephisto onto the ground.
"Wesley!"
"Present! Boss!"
Wesley, who had been watching the battle from a helicopter in the distance, was already trembling with excitement.
He responded loudly through the communicator.
"Bring the contract over!"
"We're signing a new employee!"
"Also..."
Arthur pointed at the little demons scurrying around the area.
"Let the newcomers (the X-Men) get to work!"
"Consider this their induction test."
"Clean up all this filth for me."
"I don't want to see a single fly in my city."
"Yes, sir!!!"
In the sky.
The young Magneto looked down at that domineering figure, and the defiance in his eyes finally vanished completely.
It was replaced by deep awe.
He can even recruit a Demon Lord?
Now this is a true big shot!
"Move out!"
The old Magneto (MCU version) patted his younger self on the shoulder.
"Don't just stand there, kid."
"Put on a good show."
"The Boss's bonuses are very generous."
Rumble!
Countless pieces of metallic debris soared into the sky under the control of the two Magnetos, turning into a meat grinder that began to purge the hellish creatures.
Storm summoned thunder.
Psylocke brandished her light blades.
Even Professor X tried to use telepathy to control the minds of the low-level demons (though the effect was average, it was better than nothing).
A slaughter against the Legions of Hell officially began.
...
In a corner of the ruins.
Nick Fury watched it all.
The last spark of madness in his single eye finally died out completely.
"Lost..."
"Completely lost..."
The trump card he was so proud of.
The demon god he had summoned by selling his soul.
Before that man.
It was actually just a new... hireling?
"Why..."
Fury slumped to the ground, his body rapidly breaking down.
That was the price demanded by the darkhold.
"Why would this World..."
"...tolerate the existence of such a monster?"
"Because the World needs order."
A voice rang out above his head.
Fury struggled to lift his head.
He saw Arthur standing before him at some unknown moment.
His deep blue suit was still spotless.
On that face was that smile he hated to his core.
"Nick."
Arthur crouched down, looking at this former King of Spies.
"Your biggest mistake..."
"...was thinking you could represent this World."
"In truth."
"You are just a self-righteous ant."
"Vainly attempting to block the rising Sun."
Arthur reached out and gently pressed his hand against Fury's forehead.
"Originally, I wanted to make you die miserably."
"But..."
"Seeing as you've delivered such a grand gift (referring to Hell and Mephisto) to me."
"I will show some mercy."
"And give you a quick end."
Arthur's fingers applied a slight pressure.
"In your next life."
"Remember to be an ordinary person."
"Stop thinking about saving the World."
"That's my job."
Sizzle—!
A faint flash of Heat Vision flickered.
Nick Fury's head was instantly pierced through.
This King of Spies, who had stirred up trouble in this World for decades...
...met his end right here.
No last words.
No plot twists.
He died like a stray dog.
[Ding! Detected Host has killed a key plot character, Nick Fury!]
[Ding! Detected Host has subdued the Hell Lord, Mephisto!]
[Ding! Detected that the global populace's faith in the Host has reached the pinnacle of fanatical worship!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +100,000,000...]
[Current popularity points: 480,000,000!]
Arthur stood up.
He looked at the constantly ticking numbers.
Four hundred and eighty million!
This is power!
This is authority!
He turned around, looking at his subordinates who were fighting hard.
He looked at the city being reborn amidst the flames of war.
The corner of his mouth curled into an arrogant arc.
"Earth..."
"...has no more opponents."
"Even Hell has become my back garden."
"So next..."
Arthur looked up.
His gaze pierced through the firmament.
He looked toward the even more distant and mysterious depths of the Multiverse.
"System."
"The next Universe."
"Find me something more challenging."
"Ideally the kind of place..."
"...where gods walk the Earth and heroes are as common as dogs."
"I'm going there..."
"...to stock up!"
Boom!!!
Arthur soared into the sky.
His golden figure hovered above the peak of New York.
The Stars and Stripes cape behind him, reflected in the morning Sun, was as red as blood.
"I am Homelander."
"I am—"
"The only King of this World!"
(Cheers, screams, and sounds of worship resounded through the clouds.)
...
In the distant cracks of the Multiverse.
Three giants with golden heads (The Watchers) were silently observing all of this.
"An anomaly..."
"This anomaly is growing larger and larger."
"He is devouring everything."
"He must be stopped..."
"Or..."
"Observed."
"Until... the end of the Universe."
...
The smoke dissipated.
Above the ruins of Manhattan, the lava had begun to cool, solidifying into ugly black scars.
But the suffocating sense of pressure in the air was even heavier than before.
Arthur hovered in mid-air, his Stars and Stripes cape fluttering slightly in the heat waves.
The infinity bracer on his left wrist was currently emitting a six-colored intertwined shimmer, as if it were breathing; every flicker caused the surrounding space to warp visibly to the naked eye.
And beneath his feet.
That once-arrogant Hell Lord who viewed human souls as mere grass—Mephisto.
He was currently maintaining his form as an old gentleman in a red suit, and in a perfectly standard manner...
...was kneeling on the ground.
Not only was he kneeling, but his head was bowed low, almost touching the scalding rock.
"Boss."
Mephisto's voice was no longer raspy and terrifying, but had become fawning and humble instead.
"Your power... transcends dimensions."
"Hell submits to you."
"I... Little Meph, am willing to serve you."
"Little Meph?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He slowly descended, his boots clicking crisply against the rock in front of Mephisto.
"You certainly know how to name yourself."
"However..."
Arthur reached out and gently patted Mephisto's slicked-back hair (or some kind of disguised chitinous layer).
"Simply kneeling isn't enough."
"You know, I'm a man who values practical benefits."
"Empty words of loyalty are the cheapest things in this Universe."
Mephisto trembled all over.
As the progenitor of playing with contracts, he naturally understood what Arthur meant.
Without any hesitation.
He suddenly reached out and plunged his hand into his own chest!
Psh!
No blood flowed out, only dark red lava surged.
Grit his teeth, Mephisto forcibly pulled a clump of matter burning with pitch-black flames from the position of his heart.
That wasn't a heart.
That was—
The Core Essence of the Hell Dimension!
It was also his lifeblood as a Dimensional Lord!
"This... this is the Key to Hell."
Mephisto held the clump of black fire in both hands, raising it high above his head like he was offering up the most precious treasure.
"As long as you possess it."
"You are the new Master of Hell."
"You can modify Hell's rules at will; you can decide the destination of every fallen soul."
"Even..."
Mephisto looked up, his cunning eyes flashing with a pleasing light.
"You can extract Hell's magic as... well, a type of clean energy?"
"I imagine Mr. Tony Stark would be very interested in this kind of infinite energy."
Arthur looked at the black fire, the red light in his eyes flickering slightly.
"Smart."
"I like dealing with smart people."
He reached out and grabbed it.
The Space Stone and Reality Stone on the infinity bracer lit up simultaneously.
That clump of black fire, representing the highest authority of a dimension, was instantly compressed and sealed, finally turning into a bead as black as ink.
Arthur casually tossed the bead into his system space.
"Very good."
"Since you're so sensible."
"Then the position of General Manager will still be yours to hold."
Arthur adjusted his collar, his tone becoming as if he were discussing a ten-billion-dollar merger.
"However, the business model needs to change."
"The previous method of simple soul torture was too low-level; there was no output."
"Wesley!"
"Present! Boss!"
Wesley, who had been on standby in a fighter jet in the distance, could feel the wild joy of a settled situation even through the screen.
His voice came down through the loudspeaker.
"Take this down."
Arthur pointed at Mephisto kneeling on the ground.
"We are going to establish—"
"Homelander Group: Hell Resources Development Subsidiary."
"The main business includes but is not limited to:"
"First, the conversion and export of Hellfire Energy."
"Second, 'life imprisonment' services for special criminals (with extremely high fees)."
"Third..."
The corner of Arthur's mouth curled into a cruel smile.
"Develop 'Horror Tourism' projects."
"Let those thrill-seeking rich people personally go down to Hell to see and experience what a true—"
"—afterlife is like."
Mephisto listened, dumbstruck.
He had lived for countless eons and seen countless civilizations.
But he had never seen anyone who could develop Hell into a... tourist attraction?!
This is even more devilish than a demon!
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"
Mephisto immediately offered up his flattery.
"The Boss's wisdom truly illuminates the abyss!"
"I'll go and reorganize right away! I'll clear out that layer... oh no, those few layers of the most terrifying Purgatory and renovate them into VIP guest rooms!"
...
Having dealt with this old fox.
Arthur turned around.
His gaze fell upon the nearby corpse that had already grown cold.
Nick Fury.
This former King of Spies who, for the sake of so-called 'righteousness,' did not hesitate to sell his soul.
He was now lying quietly in the ruins.
There was a charred hole in his chest, the mark of being pierced by Heat Vision.
His single eye was still open, frozen in the moment of despair and unwillingness before Death.
"Dead?"
Arthur walked to the corpse and nudged Fury's head with the tip of his boot.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Nick, oh Nick."
"Did you think Death would bring relief?"
"Did you think that by dying, you could escape my judgment?"
Arthur shook his head.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
"You are too naive."
He raised his left hand.
On the infinity bracer, that orange Soul Stone suddenly erupted with blinding light!
"Give me—"
"Come out!"
Hum!!!
A terrifying suction force targeting the soul instantly acted upon Fury's corpse.
The next second.
A translucent, twisted, resentful phantom.
Was forcibly dragged out of the corpse!
That was Nick Fury's soul!
"Let me go... let me go..."
Fury in his soul state let out a silent roar, struggling desperately in the air, trying to escape the devil's control.
But the power of the Soul Stone was a rule he simply could not contend with.
"Want to run?"
Arthur grabbed the neck of Fury's soul.
The sensation was strange—cold, ethereal, yet real.
"Welcome to your new position, Director."
Arthur looked at the palm-sized soul in his hand, a terrifyingly friendly smile on his face:
"Since Hell is now my property as well."
"As my old friend, I naturally have to arrange a good job for you."
He turned to look at Mephisto, who was still kneeling.
"Little Mo."
"Here! Boss!" Mephisto hurriedly looked up.
"This thing is for you."
Arthur casually tossed Fury's soul to Mephisto.
"Arrange a position as 'Lobby Manager' for him."
"Hang him in the most conspicuous place at the gates of Hell."
"Let him watch how every fallen soul screams."
"And..."
A flash of red light glinted in Arthur's eyes:
"Cast a'Sobriety Curse' on him."
"Let him remain sane forever, never able to go mad, forever... feeling pain."
"I want him to watch how I rule this World he tried so desperately to 'protect'."
"I want him to watch how ridiculous his resistance was."
Mephisto caught Fury's soul, looking at the "contractor" who had once summoned him.
A cruel smile appeared on his face.
As a demon, he loved torturing such self-righteous souls the most.
"As you command, Boss."
"I will make sure he enjoys... royal treatment."
"No—!!!"
Fury's soul let out a desperate wail.
But soon, he was stuffed into a lantern burning with green ghost fire by Mephisto.
Completely sealed.
Never to be reincarnated for eternity.
...
"Alright."
Arthur clapped his hands, as if he had just finished a trivial chore.
He looked up.
Looking at the surrounding superheroes who were stunned.
Captain America, Natasha, Barton...
This group of former Avengers was looking at him with extremely complex expressions right now.
It was an expression of fear, awe, mixed with a hint of relief.
Fortunately.
They had signed the retirement agreement.
Fortunately.
They hadn't followed the same path as Fury, blindly opposing this madman to the bitter end.
"Everyone."
Arthur adjusted his cape and put that sunny smile back on his face:
"Today's show is over."
"Thank you all for your support."
"Now."
"Go back home."
"Remember to watch my press conference on time tomorrow."
"I have good news to announce."
After saying this.
Boom!!!
A sonic boom.
Arthur shot into the sky, a golden streak of light cutting through the night sky and disappearing into the horizon.
...
The next day.
Homelander Group Building, press conference hall.
It was more crowded than ever before.
Not only were there media from Earth, but there were also representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations connected via quantum communication (such as a projection of the Nova Corps).
The entire Universe was watching the movements of this new overlord.
Arthur, wearing his suit, stood on the podium.
Behind him, the holographic screen displayed a brand new, grand business blueprint.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and friends throughout the Universe."
Arthur's voice was transmitted to every corner via signal:
"Yesterday, we not only repelled the invasion from Hell."
"We also completed a great—acquisition!"
"Yes, you heard that right."
"The Hell dimension is now officially a wholly-owned subsidiary of Homelander Group!"
The audience was in an uproar.
Everyone felt they had misheard.
Acquiring Hell?
Is this something a carbon-based lifeform can actually do?
But looking at Mephisto on the screen (albeit a projection), displaying the contract with a fawning expression.
Everyone had to believe it.
This man.
Really turned the devil into an employee.
"To celebrate this acquisition."
Arthur opened his arms:
"I announce."
"Homelander Group will launch a brand new financial product—"
"'Indulgences'!"
"As long as you purchase our Indulgences, you can receive VIP treatment at our Hell branch!"
"Exempt from the suffering of the oil cauldron! Enjoy air-conditioned torture rooms!"
"You can even accumulate points to redeem reincarnation spots!"
"This is not just an investment, it is a guarantee for your own soul!"
Crazy.
The World had gone completely crazy.
But it was also completely boiling over.
Countless tycoons, politicians, and even ordinary people began frantically dialing the order hotline.
Who doesn't want to live comfortably after Death?
Who doesn't want to buy insurance for their own soul?
[Ding! Crazy purchasing detected across the entire Universe!]
[Ding! Host's business territory expanded to high-dimensional realms!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +80,000,000!]
...
Looking at the skyrocketing numbers.
Arthur smiled with satisfaction.
That's right.
Only by turning fear into a commodity and faith into currency.
Is this true rule.
However...
Arthur's gaze shifted slightly downward.
Looking at Tony Stark sitting in the first row.
Tony's complexion was very poor today, with dark circles under his eyes like a panda.
Obviously, he pulled an all-nighter again last night.
"Tony."
After the press conference, Arthur called out to Iron Man, who was about to leave.
"What's up?"
Tony responded listlessly:
"If you want me to buy Indulgences, forget it. I think I'll definitely go to heaven after I die, after all, I've saved the World."
"No, no, no."
Arthur put his arm around Tony's shoulder, walking towards the backstage while whispering:
"I wanted to ask you."
"About that Zombie Sentry research."
"How is it going?"
Mentioning this.
Tony's eyes instantly became sharp.
He stopped, looked around, and after confirming no one was there, lowered his voice and said:
"John."
"That thing..."
"Is even more dangerous than I imagined."
"I extracted a special viral sequence from his cells."
"It's not as simple as just turning people into zombies."
"It can also..."
Tony swallowed hard:
"It can also infect other parallel Universes through quantum entanglement."
"What do you mean?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"It means."
Tony took a deep breath:
"The virus from that zombie Universe is conscious."
"It is a Hive mind."
"And..."
"It is calling out to something."
"Calling out?"
"Yes."
Tony took out a tablet and pulled up a set of complex data waveforms:
"Last night, I detected a signal response from an unknown dimension."
"The source of that signal..."
"If my calculations are correct."
"It comes from—"
"The core of the Marvel zombie Universe."
"There, it seems there is a group..."
Tony paused, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes:
"That ate Galactus and even obtained cosmic energy—"
"Zombie gods."
Arthur was stunned for a moment.
Immediately.
His mouth slowly curled into an extremely fanatical smile.
"Zombie gods?"
"Ate Galactus?"
"That means..."
"They have cosmic energy in their bodies?"
Arthur licked his lips.
In those blue eyes, the flames of greed were instantly ignited.
"Tony."
"How is this dangerous?"
"This is clearly—"
"A great supplement!"
"Get ready."
Arthur patted Tony's stiff shoulder:
"Have Wesley clear the schedule."
"We are going to..."
"Time to feast!"
...
Homelander Group Building, underground laboratory.
The huge quantum ring device was emitting a low hum, blue electric arcs dancing wildly on the metal coils.
The air was filled with the smell of ozone, and... the smell of anxiety on Tony Stark, who hadn't bathed in a few days.
"John, are you sure you don't need to check it again?"
Tony was wearing a heavy, fully enclosed biohazard suit similar to a spacesuit, holding a data pad, his voice coming through the speaker, sounding slightly distorted and muffled:
"The virus from that Universe... Jarvis's simulation shows that its infection rate is 100%."
"Even the divine bodies of Asgardians, or even Hulk's gamma-ray cells, cannot be immune."
"Once you are bitten over there, or even just inhale a mouthful of poisoned air..."
Tony pointed to the members of "The Seven" behind him who were also wearing bulky protective suits:
"These precious employees of yours will become walking corpses that only know how to eat meat."
"At that time, I don't want to personally blow my old friend Logan's head off."
Logan replied muffledly from inside the protective suit:
"Cut it out, Tin Man."
"My healing factor can even withstand nuclear radiation, you think I'm afraid of this little virus?"
Although he said that, he still obediently tightened the seal of his helmet.
After all.
The salary the boss gives is too high, and he doesn't want to turn into that kind of drooling monster.
"Tsk."
Arthur stood in front of the portal.
He was not wearing any protective suit.
Still wearing that deep blue suit, red cape, and golden epaulets.
Even holding a hot latte he had just swiped from upstairs.
"Tony, oh Tony."
Arthur shook his head, looking disappointed:
"Your vision is still too small."
Chapter 102: I'll Be Back
"Who do you think I am?"
"I'm taking you on a tour, not to your deaths."
"A virus?"
Arthur chuckled softly.
He raised his left hand.
On his gauntlet, the red Reality Stone and the orange Soul Stone lit up simultaneously.
Hum—!!!
A strange ripple instantly swept across the field.
In that instant, the heavy protective suits covering The Seven...
...actually all transformed into...
...transparent membranes emitting a faint golden light?
"This... what is this?"
Magneto touched the invisible film on his body and was surprised to find that although it felt light as air, it gave him an indestructible sense of security.
"This is 'God's Protection'."
Arthur took a sip of coffee and casually made up a name.
"I've modified the rules of reality around you."
"Within this membrane, any virus, bacteria, or even bad breath..."
...will be defined as—"
"Invalid."
"So."
Arthur walked over and tapped Tony's heavy helmet like he was knocking on a watermelon.
"Take off this piece of junk that makes you look like a diver."
"It's too ugly."
"It seriously damages our company's image."
Tony: "..."
He glanced at his data panel.
The external environment scan showed: Absolutely Safe.
"Fuck."
Tony cursed and unlatched his helmet.
"You should have said you could do this earlier! I stayed up for three whole nights just to make these suits!"
"That's because you're stupid."
Arthur turned around.
He faced the Dimensional Gate that was about to open.
The playfulness in his eyes vanished, replaced by the excitement and greed of a hunter spotting its prey.
"Alright."
"Listen up, boys."
"Don't keep our friends on the other side waiting."
"I hear they're very hungry."
"Good."
"We're hungry too."
"Open the door!"
Boom!!!
The Quantum Tunnel roared to life at full power!
A sickly green vortex slowly opened in front of everyone.
The depths of the vortex seemed to lead to a bottomless abyss, with countless hungry roars faintly echoing from within.
"Let's go!"
Arthur took the lead.
Transforming into a streak of golden light, he charged directly into the vortex!
"For the bonus!"
"For the boss!"
The Seven followed closely behind.
Even Tony sighed, activated his thrusters, and followed.
"I hope the me over there isn't as unlucky as the me here..."
...
Earth-2149, New York.
If the New York of the Main Universe was a bustling paradise...
...then here...
...was an absolute hell.
The sky was gloomy, and the air was filled with particles of ash and rotting flesh.
The once-soaring skyscrapers had mostly been reduced to rubble.
The streets were deserted.
Only the sound of the wind whimpering through the ruins remained.
"Boom—!!!"
A pillar of golden light descended from the sky.
It slammed violently into the center of Times Square.
The Impact sent dozens of abandoned cars flying.
The dust settled.
Arthur hovered in mid-air.
Behind him followed his "Divine Guard."
"So this is the Zombie Universe?"
Hela frowned and waved her hand in front of her nose (even with the membrane blocking it, the psychological disgust was hard to shake):
"This place is filthy."
"Even Hel is a hundred times cleaner than this."
"It is a bit of a mess."
Arthur nodded.
His Super Vision instantly swept across the entire city.
No heartbeats.
No breathing.
Except for...
...those 'things' hiding in the dark corners, peering at them.
"Come out."
Arthur's voice was calm, yet it permeated the entire ruined city.
"I know you're there."
"Stop hiding like rats."
"Guests have arrived."
"Aren't you going to come out and welcome us?"
Silence.
A deathly silence.
A few seconds passed.
"Hehehe..."
A chilling, low laugh echoed from all directions.
Then.
Countless figures emerged from the shadows of buildings, from beneath manhole covers, and from abandoned subway stations...
They stumbled out, swaying.
Leading them...
...was a figure in a red and blue skin-tight suit, but half of his mask was torn away, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth and rotten gums.
Zombie Spider-Man.
And behind him...
...were Zombie Captain America (still missing a piece of his skull), Zombie Iron Man (lower body gone, floating via thrusters), Zombie Black Widow...
...even Zombie Wolverine and Zombie Thor.
This was the Avengers of this Universe.
Or rather...
...the Avengers Ghoul Alliance.
"Meat..."
"Fresh meat..."
Zombie Spider-Man tilted his head, his cloudy eyes fixed on Arthur, saliva dripping from his rotten jaw.
"It smells so good..."
"Even better than Aunt May's meatloaf..."
"Peter!"
Zombie Captain America raised his shield; although his brain was rotten, his tactical instincts remained.
"Don't be impulsive."
"These guys... don't look easy to deal with."
"Especially the one in the cape..."
"The energy on him..."
Zombie Iron Man took a greedy breath.
"That energy..."
"It's more delicious than Galactus!"
"If we eat him..."
"We can go to even more Universes!"
"Eat more meat!"
Listening to these former heroes now driven only by appetite...
...Tony Stark couldn't help but gag inside his faceplate.
Seeing another version of himself in such a ghoulish state...
...was a greater shock than seeing Thanos snap his fingers.
"Disgusting."
Logan spat out his cigar, his adamantium claws snapping out.
"Boss, can we start yet?"
"I want to slice that guy who looks like me into sashimi."
"Don't be in a hurry."
Arthur raised his hand.
He looked at the zombies.
There was no fear in his eyes, only the excitement of someone looking at a buffet.
"You want to eat me?"
Arthur smiled.
He slowly descended, landing less than ten meters in front of the zombie horde.
"What a coincidence."
"I want to eat you too."
"Especially..."
Arthur's gaze bypassed the cannon fodder in front.
He looked toward the very back of the group.
There...
...were several figures emitting an aura completely different from the other zombies.
It was a...
...cosmic-level energy signature!
Those were the zombie heroes who had gained cosmic power after devouring Galactus!
Zombie Hulk!
Zombie Luke Cage!
And...
...the one radiating a silver glow—Zombie Silver Surfer (though only half of him remained)!
"Cosmic energy."
Arthur licked his lips.
"That's some high-quality nourishment."
"Since you ate Galactus..."
...then I'll..."
...eat you."
"Roar—!!!"
As if sensing Arthur's predatory gaze...
...Zombie Hulk could no longer contain his hunger.
He let out a roar.
His originally green skin had turned a grayish-green, covered in festering wounds.
But the cosmic energy within him made him even more berserk than before!
Boom!
Zombie Hulk lunged off the ground.
Like a green meteorite carrying World-ending momentum, he pounced straight at Arthur!
"Meat! Hulk wants meat!!!"
"Watch out!"
Tony cried out in alarm.
He had detected the terrifying energy reaction within Hulk.
That was power enough to destroy a Planet!
However.
Arthur didn't even move.
He just slightly raised an eyebrow.
Looking at the green monster lunging at him.
"No manners."
"You have to wait in line to eat."
"Understand?"
Arthur raised his right hand.
It seemed slow, but was actually incredibly fast.
Snap!
A crisp sound rang out.
That green giant fist, capable of crushing mountains...
...was caught by Arthur with one hand!
Steady and firm.
Motionless.
Not even the dust beneath Arthur's feet was stirred.
"Wha... what?!"
Zombie Hulk was stunned.
His shriveled brain couldn't comprehend.
Why could this small person catch a punch from a Hulk powered by cosmic energy?
"Is that all the strength you have?"
Arthur shook his head with a look of disappointment.
"It seems the meat of that old fellow Galactus isn't very nutritious."
"Since you're so hungry..."
...then I'll treat you to something good."
Arthur's palm suddenly tightened.
Crack!
Hulk's knuckles were instantly crushed!
Then.
Arthur's eyes lit up.
Not with red light.
But with...
...yellow light!
The Mind Stone!
"For me—"
"Kneel!"
Hum!!!
A terrifying Psychic Storm instantly surged into Hulk's brain.
Even as a zombie, even with nothing left but appetite...
...before the absolute rules of the Mind Stone...
...that fear originating from the depths of the soul was still effective!
"Awooo..."
Hulk let out a whimper, like a puppy that had been beaten.
His massive body trembled uncontrollably, and then...
Thud!
He fell to his knees!
He just knelt there before Arthur, shaking all over, not even daring to lift his head.
The entire field was dead silent.
The zombie heroes who were originally prepared to swarm forward...
...were all frozen in place as if a binding spell had been cast on them.
They were hungry.
But their biological instincts told them...
...that the man before them...
...was not food.
He was a natural predator!
"What?"
"Not eating anymore?"
Arthur let go of Hulk's hand (and casually wiped his hand on Hulk in disgust).
He looked around.
"Since you're not making a move..."
...then it's my turn."
"Wesley!"
"Here, Boss!"
Although Wesley hadn't come, he was monitoring everything through Eddie's camera.
Arthur's voice was transmitted back via cross-Universe communication.
"Prepare the containers."
"I'm going to start—"
"—packing things up."
"Boys!"
Arthur flicked his cape.
"The buffet has started!"
"The black man who shoots electricity goes to Electro!"
"The one with the shield goes to Captain America—oh wait, Cap didn't come—he goes to Logan!"
"As for those with cosmic energy..."
The red light in Arthur's eyes flared.
Like two burning Suns.
"Those are my main course!"
"Nobody touch them!"
"Kill!!!"
Boom!!!
With Arthur's command...
...The Seven, who had long been unable to restrain themselves, charged out like tigers descending a mountain!
Magneto Erik raised both hands.
This was what you called the right man for the job.
This ruined New York was filled with scrap metal!
"Rise!"
Rumble!
Countless steel bars, cars, and even subway trains from underground...
...transformed into dragons of steel, whistling as they coiled toward the zombie horde!
"Want to eat me?"
"I'll break your teeth first!"
Jean Grey's Phoenix Force erupted.
Red energy waves washed over the ground like a tide.
Ordinary zombies were instantly incinerated into ash.
As for Arthur...
...his figure flashed.
He instantly appeared in front of the Zombie Iron Man who was trying to flee.
"Tony."
Arthur looked at that rotting face and smiled.
"Don't run."
"Let me borrow your reactor."
"And that pitiful bit of cosmic energy in your body."
Squeltch!
Arthur's hand plunged directly into Zombie Tony's chest.
He ripped out the still-glowing reactor, along with the surrounding rotten flesh containing cosmic energy!
"Ah—!!!"
Zombie Tony screamed.
But Arthur didn't care at all.
He held the bloody, mangled mass.
On his gauntlet...
...the Power Stone flashed with purple light.
"Refine."
Sizzle!
Impurities were purged.
Leaving only a sphere of pure energy emitting a faint blue light.
Arthur opened his mouth.
He swallowed the ball of energy directly!
"Gulp."
The energy entered his stomach.
A warm current instantly surged through his entire body.
It was different from solar radiation—a more violent, more primitive cosmic energy!
[Ding! Detected host devouring trace amounts of cosmic energy!]
[Ding! Silver Superman template proficiency +0.1%!]
[Ding! Although the taste is a bit strange, the nutritional value is extremely high!]
"Tsk."
Arthur smacked his lips.
"It tastes a bit like... spoiled blueberry?"
"But..."
He felt the slight increase in power within his body.
The greed in his eyes grew even stronger.
This was just one Zombie Iron Man.
Here...
...there was an entire Avengers Alliance of zombies!
And there was also that Zombie Hulk who had eaten more than half of Galactus!
"How is this a virus?"
Arthur looked at the zombies running all over the streets.
It was like looking at a full-course Manchu-Han Imperial Feast.
"This is clearly—"
"—seasoning sauce!"
"Keep the music playing!"
"Keep eating!"
Boom!
Arthur charged out again.
This time.
His target was the silver-gleaming guy.
"Silver Surfer?"
"I heard your board tastes pretty good?"
"Hand it over!"
An unprecedented, cross-Universe "eating broadcast"...
...on this wasteland...
...officially began!
...
Above the ruins, smoke permeated the air.
Arthur stood beside the remains of Zombie Iron Man, still clutching that refined sphere of cosmic energy emitting a faint blue light.
He opened his mouth and tossed the energy in like he was eating a grape.
"Gulp."
His Adam's apple bobbed.
A cool sensation instantly flooded his body, then transformed into a surging heat that nourished every Kryptonian cell.
[Ding! Detected host devouring high-purity cosmic energy!]
[Silver Superman template proficiency +0.5%!]
[Taste Evaluation: A bit like expired blueberry, but very chewy.]
"Tsk."
Arthur smacked his lips, a look of lingering desire on his face.
"Only 0.5%?"
"Tony's meat was too lean; not much fat on it."
He looked up, his eyes glowing with a red light, scanning the ruins like radar.
Finally,
his gaze locked onto a shimmering silver figure standing on a surfboard in mid-air.
Zombie Silver Surfer!
The Silver Surfer at this moment, though mostly decayed, still had silver skin that shimmered with the unique radiance of the cosmos.
This was the herald of Galactus, and within his body resided the purest Power Cosmic!
"Found you."
A greedy smile curled at the corner of Arthur's mouth.
"The main course."
...
In mid-air.
Although Zombie Silver Surfer had lost his sanity, his instincts as a cosmic powerhouse remained.
He looked down at the man who had just "eaten" Iron Man.
A sense of dread originating from the depths of his soul made him instinctively want to flee.
"This... this creature..."
"Is more dangerous than Galactus!"
"Run!"
With a movement of his feet, the silver surfboard erupted with brilliant light, turning into a silver streak of light as it charged toward the outer atmosphere!
He was incredibly fast!
He broke the sound barrier almost in the blink of an eye!
"Trying to run?"
Arthur scoffed.
He didn't even bend his legs to build power.
With just a thought,
the blue Space Stone on his bracer suddenly lit up.
"Get—"
"Back here!"
Hum!!!
The space in the sky folded instantly.
The Silver Surfer, flying at high speed, felt the scenery before him blur.
The next second,
he discovered to his horror
that he had actually teleported back to the ground!
And...
he had stopped right in front of that man!
Less than half a meter away!
"Hi."
Arthur waved at the bewildered Silver Surfer, revealing that signature benevolent smile:
"Why are you in such a rush to leave?"
"You haven't paid the bill yet."
Roar!!!
Zombie Silver Surfer let out a beastly roar.
Since he couldn't escape, he would fight to the death!
He thrust both hands forward violently.
Boom!
A beam of cosmic energy sufficient to destroy a Planet's surface erupted at close range, blasting directly toward Arthur's face!
Zzzzzz—!!!
The terrifying energy instantly ionized the surrounding air.
The Seven on the ground retreated one after another, and even Magneto had to raise a magnetic shield to withstand the aftershocks.
However,
as the beam dissipated,
Arthur was still standing in the same spot.
Not even a hair on his head was out of place.
His deep blue suit, after being bathed in cosmic energy, appeared even more lustrous.
"That's it?"
Arthur patted his chest with a look of disdain:
"It's not even as hot as a microwave."
"This is the Power Cosmic?"
"How disappointing."
He reached out
and grabbed Silver Surfer by the neck.
He held him up like he was lifting a little silver chick.
"But..."
Arthur's gaze fell on the silver surfboard still floating nearby.
"This board looks pretty good."
Crack!
His other hand grabbed the edge of the surfboard.
With a bit of force,
that indestructible silver surfboard, forged from unknown cosmic metal,
actually snapped like a crisp cracker.
He broke off a corner with his bare hands!
Crunch.
Arthur stuffed that corner of the surfboard into his mouth.
He chewed.
"Hmm..."
His eyes lit up instantly.
"Tastes like chicken, and it's so crunchy!"
"Now this is a real energy bar!"
[Ding! Detected that the host has devoured a fragment of the silver surfboard!]
[Energy purity is extremely high!]
[Silver Superman template proficiency +2%!]
"Hahahaha!"
Arthur burst into wild laughter.
He threw the stunned Zombie Silver Surfer to the ground and pinned him down with one foot.
Holding the surfboard with both hands, he began to feast greedily.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
This scene
was broadcast across the entire Main Universe via Eddie Brock's cross-Universe live stream.
On Earth,
countless viewers watching the Homelander on their screens crouching on the ground "gnawing on a steel plate" were completely dumbfounded.
Everyone was stunned.
"Oh my God..."
"What is he eating? A surfboard?"
"That silver guy... he looks like an alien, right?"
"Homelander even eats alien equipment?"
"He's too strong! That bite force is second to none!"
[Ding! Detected a reshaping of the global audience's worldview! popularity points +1,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +2,000,000...]
While eating, Arthur didn't forget to give a thumbs-up to the camera:
"My dear viewers,"
"this stuff is high in calcium."
"I suggest everyone give it a try."
...
While Arthur was enjoying his "afternoon tea,"
on the other side of the battlefield,
a fateful duel was unfolding.
Sniff—
Wolverine Logan of the Main Universe twitched his nose.
He looked at the figure emerging from the ruins in front of him.
The same yellow spandex suit (though it had been shredded into rags).
The same disheveled hairstyle (though a piece of the scalp was missing).
And those eyes, which remained full of wildness even after becoming a zombie.
Zombie Wolverine!
Tsk.
Logan spat out the cigar in his mouth, his adamantium claws slowly extending:
"Even though I know I'm not much to look at,"
"your appearance..."
"is simply an insult to my aesthetics."
Zombie Wolverine bared his teeth, black saliva dripping from his mouth:
"Meat..."
"Fresh... myself..."
"Must... be delicious..."
"Eat your damn self!"
Logan roared, charging forward like an enraged bull!
Clang!!!
Two pairs of adamantium claws collided violently in the air!
Sparks flew everywhere!
This was a slaughter with no technique, only raw savagery.
Squelch!
Zombie Logan ignored defense and plunged his claws into the abdomen of Main Universe Logan.
"Hehe... meat..."
But before he could celebrate,
Main Universe Logan retaliated with a swipe, slicing off half of his ear.
"I've got a buff from the boss!"
Logan grinned savagely:
"My healing factor is ten times faster than yours!"
"And..."
He pointed to the faint golden light on his body (the protection of the Reality Stone):
"I'm using cheats!"
"How are you going to fight me?!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Main Universe Logan completely abandoned defense, relying on the invincible cheat Arthur had given him to pummel Zombie Logan into a pulp.
In just a few minutes,
Zombie Logan was sliced into dozens of pieces, which lay squirming on the ground.
Pah.
Logan retracted his claws and spat on the pile of shredded meat:
"Pathetic."
"To think you turned into a monster that only knows how to eat meat."
"If I ever turn out like this..."
Logan looked at Arthur, who was gnawing on the surfboard nearby:
"Boss, remember to just put me out of my misery."
Arthur didn't even look back, waving half of the surfboard in the air:
"Don't worry."
"I'll turn you into a cigar and smoke you."
...
Meanwhile, on another part of the ruins,
a figure in a tattered red and blue suit was curled up in a corner, weeping.
It was Zombie Spider-Man.
After he had eaten his fill, his sanity had briefly returned.
"Aunt May... Mary Jane..."
"I'm so sorry..."
"I didn't want to eat you..."
"But I was so hungry... so very hungry..."
His crying was tragic and full of despair,
making the surrounding air feel heavy.
"How touching."
A mocking voice sounded above his head.
Arthur had finished the surfboard and walked over, still wanting more.
He looked down at the weeping zombie, his eyes devoid of any pity.
There was only the mockery of someone watching a clown's performance.
"Peter Parker."
"The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."
Tsk tsk tsk.
Arthur shook his head:
"Look at you now."
"Is this what they call a superhero?"
"Eating your own family when you're hungry?"
"And then crying these fake tears once you're full?"
"Who are these crocodile tears for?"
Zombie Spider-Man looked up, his clouded eyes filled with pain:
"No... I couldn't control it..."
"That hunger... it was like a fire burning..."
"It's not my fault..."
"Not your fault?"
Arthur sneered.
He grabbed Zombie Spider-Man by the collar and lifted him up,
facing the live camera:
"Viewers,"
"did you hear that?"
"This is the excuse of the weak."
"Because you can't control your desires, you can hurt the ones you love?"
"Because of hunger, you can turn into a monster?"
"Trash!"
Arthur threw him aside violently.
Zombie Spider-Man slammed heavily against a wall.
"In this World,"
"only power is eternal."
"Only will can conquer desire."
"A waste like you who can't even control his own appetite"
"is just a waste of air."
Arthur raised his hand.
On his bracer, the Reality Stone flashed with red light.
"I said—"
"Change!"
Hum!
Zombie Spider-Man's body began to twist.
Under the modification of the power of reality,
he turned into a...
real spider.
A black spider the size of a palm,
scurrying across the ground in a panic.
"Since you're called Spider-Man,"
"then go back to your original job."
Arthur stepped down.
Splat.
Juices splattered everywhere.
"Done."
He wiped the sole of his shoe, looking disgusted.
[Ding! Detected the host's public execution of a zombie hero!]
[Ding! Live stream viewers are experiencing extreme psychological shock!]
[Ding! popularity points +3,000,000!]
...
Just then,
Hum—
a strange energy fluctuation suddenly came from a nearby building.
That was...
the fluctuation of a spatial teleportation!
"Hmm?"
Arthur turned his head.
His Super Vision instantly penetrated the walls.
He saw
in a secret laboratory,
the remaining few zombie heroes—
Zombie Ant-Man (Dr. Pym) with his super intelligence, Zombie Mr. Fantastic (Reed), and the Zombie Iron Man who only had half a body left.
They were gathered around a massive machine.
That was—
a cross-dimensional portal!
"Quick! Start it up!"
Zombie Ant-Man's only remaining hand hammered at the keyboard frantically:
"That monster is too strong! We can't beat him!"
"We have to go to another Universe!"
"To a Universe without him!"
"There's plenty of fresh meat there!"
"Trying to run?"
Arthur smiled.
It was an incredibly sinister smile.
"Did you ask me for permission?"
"That's my portal technology."
"Do you knock-offs even deserve to use it?"
Boom!!!
Arthur vanished from his spot instantly.
The next second,
Bang!
The laboratory ceiling was blown away.
A golden figure descended from the sky,
landing right on the machine that had just started up and hadn't yet opened the portal.
Crunch!
The precision instrument was instantly crushed into scrap metal.
Sparks flew.
"No!!!"
Zombie Mr. Fantastic shouted in despair:
"Our hope! Our food!"
"Food?"
Arthur stood on the ruins, his red cape fluttering amidst the electrical discharges.
He looked at the group of despairing zombie geniuses.
His face wore that familiar benevolent smile.
"No, no, no."
"You've got it all wrong."
"You aren't the diners."
He raised his hand, and the light of the Infinity Stones shone once more.
"You are—"
"the ingredients."
"Wesley!"
"Here, Boss!"
"Pack up these smart guys and take them away."
"That Dr. Pym seems to have some shrinking technology in his head?"
"That Mr. Fantastic seems to know a bit about dimensional theory?"
"Don't let them go to waste."
"Take them back."
"Have Tony slice up their brains for research."
"Squeeze out every last bit of value."
"Yes, sir!"
...
Half an hour later.
On the ruins of New York.
Arthur reopened the gate to the Main Universe.
Behind him,
The Seven returned fully laden.
Each of them carried several special containment canisters.
Inside were various specimens of zombie heroes.
As for Arthur himself,
he rubbed his stomach and let out a burp.
Burp—
"This meal"
"was passable."
He glanced at his system panel.
[Silver Superman template proficiency: 15%!]
[Current popularity points: 380,000,000!]
"Nearly four hundred million."
The corners of Arthur's mouth curled up slightly.
He took one last look at this completely desolate Zombie Universe.
"Goodbye, buffet restaurant."
"Maybe I'll come back when I'm hungry again."
Boom!
He stepped into the portal.
The golden figure disappeared into the vortex.
Leaving behind only a legend.
A legend about "the man who ate the gods."
On this wasteland,
it would be told forever.
Chapter 103: The Virus is the Ladder of Evolution
Homelander Group Building, Level 72 Underground.
This was the deepest, sturdiest, and most dangerous place on the entire Earth.
The air was filled with the scent of high-concentration disinfectant and a faint, nauseating stench of decay.
Inside a massive, transparent isolation chamber.
The monster that had once devoured countless lives and even feasted upon Gods in another Universe—the Zombie Sentry.
At this moment, it was pinned firmly to the operating table by thousands of Vibranium chains.
His skin was a sickly, ashen gray, covered in shocking bite marks and rotting gashes.
But even so.
Those cloudy eyeballs, showing only the whites, remained fixed on the people outside the glass wall.
Low, Beast-like growls emanated from his mouth.
"Hungry..."
"Meat..."
"Eat..."
That hunger, originating from the depths of the soul, seemed to pierce through the Vibranium glass, gnawing directly at the sanity of everyone present.
"Insane!"
"This is simply insane!"
In front of the laboratory's control console.
Tony Stark ripped off his goggles and slammed them onto the floor.
His hands were shaking violently, not from the cold, but from fear.
A fear that seeped into his very bones.
"John!"
Tony turned around; it was the first time he dared to speak to Arthur in a tone bordering on a roar:
"Do you have any idea that you're playing with fire?!"
"The viral load inside this thing—if even a single microgram leaks, all of New York will turn into hell within half an hour!"
"And..."
Tony pointed at the rows of petri dishes nearby containing the severed limbs of Zombie Heroes, his voice trembling:
"You actually want to turn this stuff... into a serum?"
"What are you trying to do?"
"Do you want to turn all of humanity into these man-eating monsters?"
"Tsk."
Arthur leaned against the laboratory doorway.
In his hand, he still held that cup of iced cola that seemed like it would never run out.
His deep blue suit shimmered under the cold laboratory lights.
Facing Tony's hysteria.
He simply took a casual sip of cola and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Hah—"
"Tony, Tony."
Arthur shook his head, looking disappointed:
"How many times have I told you?"
"Vision."
"Why is your vision always so limited?"
He stood up straight, his red cape swaying slightly behind him.
It was the posture of a God.
"A virus?"
Arthur sneered.
He walked up to the isolation chamber holding the Zombie Sentry.
He reached out and tapped gently on the glass.
"Thump, thump."
The monster inside instantly lunged, slamming frantically against the glass with loud thuds.
"Look at this vitality."
"Look at this life force."
Arthur pointed at the Zombie Sentry, greed glinting in his eyes:
"How is this a virus?"
"This is clearly—"
"The ladder of evolution."
"You call this evolution?!" Tony felt his worldview crumbling. "This is Death! Decay! The end!"
"No, no, no."
Arthur turned around, a strange red light flashing in his azure eyes:
"Death is only the end for the weak."
"But for the strong."
"This is just another form of—"
"Immortality."
He walked up to Tony.
The terrifying pressure of his Bio-electric Field made Tony instinctively take two steps back.
"Tony."
"You're a genius."
"You should be able to see the value behind this."
"This virus can reorganize dead cells, regenerate collapsed gene chains, and even give an ordinary person the power to devour Gods."
Arthur leaned in closer, his voice low like a devil's whisper:
"As long as we eliminate the side effect of 'hunger'."
"And retain the'strengthening' properties."
"Even just a little bit."
"This will be—"
"A product called 'God's Blood'."
"Think about it."
"Those old billionaires who fear Death."
"The Military, hungry for power."
"What price would they pay for a single vial of this serum?"
"When that time comes..."
Arthur spread his arms as if seeing money and popularity points flying everywhere:
"The entire World."
"Will kneel at our feet."
"Begging for our charity."
Tony looked at the man before him.
For the first time, he felt it.
This man was ten thousand times more terrifying than those zombies.
Because zombies only wanted to eat meat.
But this man...
He wanted to devour the soul of the entire World.
"You... you demon..."
Tony muttered to himself.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Arthur laughed.
He smiled with immense kindness.
"Alright, complaining time is over."
"Now."
"Get back to work."
Arthur pointed at the console:
"I want you to take the energy inside this big guy."
"And for me, without leaving a single drop—"
"Squeeze it out!"
...
"Roar—!!!"
Inside the isolation chamber.
The Zombie Sentry seemed to sense its impending fate.
He let out a roar of despair and rage.
A terrifying aura, a mixture of 'The Void' and 'Cosmic Power,' instantly erupted!
Boom!
A crack actually appeared in the Vibranium glass!
"Alarm! Alarm!"
"Containment breach imminent!"
The laboratory's red lights flashed frantically.
Tony's expression changed drastically. "Damn it! I told you this thing couldn't be controlled! His energy readings are rising exponentially!"
"So noisy."
Arthur frowned.
He set down his cola.
A hint of impatience flashed in his eyes.
"In my presence."
"You dare to speak so loudly?"
Buzz—!!!
Arthur raised his left hand.
On his bracer.
The light of all six Infinity Stones lit up simultaneously!
This time.
It wasn't just a simple release of energy.
It was the suppression of rules!
"For me—"
"Kneel down!"
Boom!!!
An invisible, trans-dimensional crushing pressure instantly descended into the isolation chamber.
It was the amplification of the Power Stone, combined with the confinement of the Space Stone, and the modification of the Reality Stone!
"Crack!"
The Zombie Sentry's indestructible kneecaps shattered instantly!
That once-unbeatable golden zombie.
Was like a toad crushed by a hydraulic press.
His entire body was slammed violently onto the operating table!
He couldn't move an inch!
Even his roars were locked in his throat by the Space Stone, leaving him able only to let out muffled whimpers.
"Is... is this the power of the Infinity Stones..."
Tony watched this scene with a dull gaze.
The technology he took pride in was as laughable as a child's building blocks before this man.
"Now, that's much quieter."
Arthur clapped his hands.
He walked to the console and looked at the complex data.
"Tony."
"Don't just stand there."
"Insert that Energy Extraction Tube for me."
"Yes, right there."
"Stab it directly into his heart."
"Or his reactor."
"Whatever it is."
Arthur's eyes shimmered with a cold light:
"I want to drink it—"
"While it's warm."
"Yes... Boss."
Tony gritted his teeth and pushed the lever with a trembling hand.
Squelch—!!!
Several thick probes made of Adamantium.
Mercilessly pierced into the Zombie Sentry's body!
Not just the heart.
But also the brain, spine, dantian...
A full-scale extraction!
"Ugh—!!!"
The Zombie Sentry convulsed wildly.
It was a pain like having one's soul ripped away.
But he couldn't move.
He could only watch helplessly as the massive energy inside him, gained from devouring countless lives.
Flowed continuously through the tubes into the blonde man's bracer.
"Gulp."
Arthur watched the golden liquid—the manifestation of high-concentration energy—gathering through the transmission pipes.
He didn't hesitate.
The Mind Stone on his bracer flashed slightly.
Guiding the energy directly into his own body.
Boom!!!
A warm current instantly exploded!
It was energy purer and more violent than the core of the Sun!
[Ding! Host detected absorbing high-concentration Mutated Sentry energy!]
[Ding! Detected "The Void" power and "Cosmic Power" within!]
[Ding! System is purifying side effects...]
[Ding! Purification complete!]
[Silver Superman Template proficiency +5%!]
[Current proficiency: 20%!]
"Whew—"
Arthur let out a long breath.
A golden light flashed briefly in his eyes.
Refreshing!
So good!
This thrill of surging power was more addictive than any drug!
Just one Zombie Sentry provided 5% proficiency!
If all the remaining zombies were squeezed dry...
Arthur glanced at the "stock" in the petri dishes nearby.
A greedy smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
"It seems."
"This buffet."
"Can last for a long time."
...
Three days later.
New York, Homelander Square.
A grand "Multiverse Security Summit" was being held here.
The eyes of the entire World were focused here once again.
Everyone wanted to know what that God, who had been missing for three days, had brought back.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Wesley stood on the stage, his face beaming:
"Let us cheer!"
"For our Guardian God!"
"For—"
"Homelander!"
Boom!!!
Accompanied by a deafening sonic boom.
Arthur descended from the sky.
His complexion was exceptionally good today.
A faint golden light even seemed to flow over his skin.
It was a sign of energy overflowing.
"Good afternoon, America."
"Good afternoon, Earth."
Arthur stood before the microphone, flashing his trademark smile.
"I know everyone is very worried."
"Worried about those monsters from other Worlds, worried about those terrifying zombies."
"But."
Arthur spread his arms, his voice full of confidence and dominance:
"What I want to tell you is."
"In this Universe."
"There is nothing Homelander cannot solve."
"Those so-called monsters?"
Arthur snapped his fingers.
On the giant screen behind him.
A photo appeared.
It was the Zombie Sentry, locked in the isolation chamber like a dead dog.
"See this?"
"This is their fate."
"Before me."
"They are not monsters."
"They are merely—"
"Experimental materials."
The crowd erupted in a clamor.
Immediately following was even more frantic cheering.
"Homelander is invincible!"
"God bless Homelander!"
"[Ding! Detected global public sense of security bursting!]"
"[Ding! Detected blind worship of the host deepening!]"
"[Ding! popularity points +5,000,000!]"
"[Ding! popularity points +8,000,000...]"
Watching those ever-increasing numbers.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
Arthur nodded with satisfaction.
But he did not stop there.
"And,"
"I have another piece of good news to announce."
Arthur changed the subject, his tone becoming mysterious:
"Through research into these 'materials',"
"our Chief Scientist, Mr. Tony Stark (albeit forced),"
"has developed a brand new —"
"enhancement serum."
"It can allow ordinary people to possess power beyond their limits."
"It can keep diseases away and extend lifespan."
"This is a gift bestowed upon you by God."
"It is named —"
Arthur paused, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes:
"[Compound V] (Homelander Special Edition)."
"The first batch is limited to 10,000 doses."
"Exclusively for —"
"premium members of the Homelander Group to purchase."
"Want it?"
"Then show your loyalty!"
Boom!!!
The whole venue exploded!
The eyes of countless tycoons and politicians turned red instantly.
Enhancement serum?
Longevity?
Who the hell wouldn't want that?!
Even the common people showed expressions of desire.
This was Arthur's plan.
On one hand, suppress all dissent with force.
On the other hand, bind all the powerful with interests.
Coupled with that pervasive media brainwashing.
This World.
Had completely become his private territory.
...
After the press conference ended.
Arthur returned to the top-floor office.
He sat on the throne, watching the sunset outside the window.
He felt a bit bored.
"This Earth level can be considered cleared."
"The Zombie Universe has also been completely devoured by me."
"Next..."
Arthur rubbed his chin.
His gaze.
Was cast toward that corner he had always ignored.
The one locked in the Underground Room, muttering to herself all day —
Hela.
"I heard."
"Over in Asgard."
"Ragnarok is coming?"
"That big fireball called Surtur."
"Seems like a pretty good energy source too."
Arthur licked his lips.
"And..."
"Is that old man Odin dead yet?"
"If he is dead."
"Should I go..."
"And collect the inheritance?"
"For example."
"That Eternal Spear?"
"Or..."
"The entire Nine Realms?"
"Wesley!"
Arthur shouted.
"Here! Boss!"
"Prepare yourself."
"We are going to —"
"Norway."
"I heard there's an old man there."
"Waiting to die."
"I'm going to see him off."
"And by the way..."
A red light flashed in Arthur's eyes:
"Tame his daughter."
"Completely."
...
Norway, Tønsberg.
This was a cliff forgotten by the World.
The biting sea wind, mixed with the humidity of the Atlantic Ocean, lashed against the white-haired old man dressed in casual clothes.
Odin.
The All-Father who once shook the Nine Realms and made the Frost Giants tremble with fear.
At this moment, he was like an ordinary old man in a nursing home waiting for the sunset.
Behind him stood two "sons" with complex expressions.
Thor wore a loose hoodie, his hand still tightly clutching that mjolnir which Arthur had already disdained.
Loki was wearing a black suit, his eyes flickering, looking up at the sky in terror from time to time.
"Father..."
Thor's voice was choked with emotion:
"We can go back to Asgard."
"We can use the Soul Forge to heal you..."
"It's useless, my child."
Odin looked at the surging sea, his voice old and calm:
"My time has come."
"Ragnarok... has already begun."
"And..."
Odin lifted his cloudy, single eye and looked at the clouds in the sky:
"The true destruction."
"Has already arrived."
"Boom —!!!"
Before he could finish speaking.
The clouds were instantly torn apart by a domineering golden streak of light.
The huge blast of air directly blew away the turf on the edge of the cliff.
Arthur.
He hovered in mid-air, his red cape flapping loudly in the sea breeze.
That deep blue suit reflected a radiance in the sunlight that people dared not look at directly.
And behind him.
Wesley brought a camera crew (of course, it was a must), as well as that Hela, who was wearing tattered green tights and had a sinister look on her face.
"Yo."
"Family reunion?"
Arthur descended slowly, his feet landing on the rocks at the edge of the cliff.
He looked at the old man who was at the end of his rope, a playful smile curling on the corner of his mouth:
"Old man."
"Looks like you're ready..."
"To hand over the inheritance?"
Thor stepped forward, shielding Odin behind him, glaring at Arthur:
"John!"
"This is my father's final moment!"
"Can't you show even a sliver of... respect?!"
"Respect?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
He walked up to Thor, extended a finger, and gently tapped on the God of Thunder's pectoral muscle.
"Thor."
"Did you get something wrong?"
"I'm letting him die in this scenic place, rather than dying under my Heat Vision."
"This is already..."
"The greatest respect."
"Step aside."
Odin patted Thor on the shoulder, signaling him to step aside.
The old king looked at Arthur, then looked at Hela, who was standing behind Arthur, her eyes filled with resentment and desire.
"You won, mortal."
"Or should I say..."
"New God."
Although Odin's voice was weak, it still carried a wisdom that saw through the ways of the World:
"You want Asgard."
"You want the Nine Realms."
"Take it."
"But..."
Odin's body began to turn into specks of golden light, drifting away like fireflies:
"Power has no end."
"When you gaze into the abyss..."
"The abyss also gazes into you."
"Tch."
Arthur curled his lip in disdain.
"Cliché line."
"The abyss?"
Arthur raised his hand, the six Infinity Stones on his wrist guard flickering slightly:
"If the abyss dares to gaze at me."
"I'll gouge its eyes out."
"And step on them like light bulbs."
"Whoosh —"
A gust of wind blew by.
The All-Father Odin.
Completely turned into golden specks of light, dissipating between heaven and Earth.
The Guardian of the Nine Realms had fallen.
"No!!!"
Thor knelt on the ground, letting out a roar of grief.
Even the usually cunning Loki had red eyes at this moment.
However.
Just at the moment Odin completely disappeared.
"Rumble —!!!"
A terrifying, dark pillar of green energy filled with the aura of Death suddenly erupted from behind Arthur!
That was —
Hela!
With the end of Odin's life, the final shackle sealing her had completely broken!
The source of Asgard's power, traversing countless light-years, poured directly into her body!
"Hahahaha!!!"
Hela let out a wild laugh.
The tattered tights on her body instantly repaired themselves, turning into that iconic black and green spiked armor.
Her originally messy hair was combed back, turning into that crown of thorns resembling antlers.
"Power!"
"This is power!"
Hela clenched her hands, and two giant nightsky swords condensed out of thin air.
She raised her head, staring fixedly at Arthur's back.
The fear in her eyes had disappeared.
Replacing it was the long-suppressed rage of revenge, and...
The blind self-confidence that came after a surge in power.
"Mortal!"
"Do you think you can really enslave the Goddess of Death?!"
"Now, Odin is dead!"
"I am the Queen of Asgard!"
"I am invincible!"
"Kneel —"
"Down!!!"
Boom!
Hela moved.
She turned into a black lightning bolt, the nightsky sword in her hand, carrying an edge capable of slicing through dimensions, thrusting directly at Arthur's heart!
This strike.
Gathered all her divine power!
Even the previous Odin would have to avoid its edge!
Thor and Loki watched this scene in horror.
"Sister?!"
Wesley was so scared he almost dropped the tablet in his hand.
"Boss! Look out!"
However.
Arthur didn't even turn his head.
Not even the cola in his hand shook a bit.
"Sigh."
He sighed.
His voice full of disappointment.
"Why..."
"Do some people always fail to recognize reality?"
Just at the moment Hela's sword tip was about to touch the red cape.
"Snap."
Arthur snapped his fingers.
Hum —!!!
Time stopped.
Not an adjective.
Real time stop.
On the wrist guard, the green Time Stone bloomed with dazzling light.
Hela's figure froze in mid-air, the ferocious, wild laughing expression on her face solidified, and the black sword in her hand hovered an inch behind Arthur.
Even the spittle flying in the air had stopped.
Arthur turned around slowly.
He looked at this "female employee" who was still in the sneak attack posture.
Shook his head.
"Hela, oh Hela."
"I originally wanted to give you a chance to be a pretty vase."
"But you insisted on..."
"Being a joke."
Arthur reached out and gently pinched the blade of the nightsky sword.
On the wrist guard, the purple Power Stone lit up.
"Crack!"
That divine artifact condensed from Death divine power was like a brittle cracker in Arthur's hand.
It was directly crushed into powder.
Then.
Arthur released the time stop.
"What?!"
Hela only felt a blur before her eyes.
The sword in her hand was gone.
Immediately after.
A large hand, carrying irresistible power, directly grabbed her by the throat!
"Bang!!!"
Arthur pressed Hela onto the ground with one hand!
The huge impact directly shattered the entire cliff.
Rocks cracked, seawater surged back.
"Cough, cough..."
Hela felt like her neck was about to break.
The divine power she was so proud of was like it had been drained in this man's hand; she couldn't mobilize a single bit of it.
"You... how is it possible..."
Hela looked at Arthur in terror.
She had clearly recovered all her power!
She should be invincible in Asgard!
Why?!
"Why?"
Arthur looked at her, his blue eyes full of playfulness:
"Because I am the setting."
"I am in this Universe..."
"The only cheater."