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Back at his underground lab beneath Kamar-Taj, Nolan stood before the restrained form of Bast the ancient goddess now reduced to a regenerating husk of divine flesh.
After repeated dissections, suppressions, and power extractions, she was no longer a god. Just a husk. A post-transcendent body with lingering power.
"Sir," came the cool, precise voice of his AI assistant, E.L.L. "Mr. Stark and Dr. Richards are waiting for you in the conference room."
"Got it. Begin sequencing the Hive genome while I'm out."
"As you wish."
---
In the sleek fusion-tech conference room, Tony Stark and Reed Richards rose as Nolan entered.
Even Reed, the ever-curious scientist, looked momentarily respectful. The footage Tony had shown him of Nolan dissecting a deity left an impression.
"What's on the table?" Nolan asked as he took a seat.
Tony projected a translucent display into the air: The Illuminati Charter an elite oversight alliance for global threats.
"We want you in," Tony said. "We could use your insight. And your reach."
Nolan's gaze skimmed the clauses. He spoke flatly. "I'll join but only for threats that endanger Earth or breach this dimension. I'm not playing superhuman babysitter."
Tony frowned. "You know that's not how this works. Oversight helps prevent—"
"No," Nolan cut in. "Oversight opens the door to political compromise. You want order? Fine. But who writes the rules? Whose justice do we enforce? Superhumans aren't soldiers, and this isn't a clean game of chess."
Reed tried to interject. "We can draft ethical codes. Mutually binding protocols—"
"I don't have time for philosophical sandboxing," Nolan replied sharply.
Tony looked deflated. Reed looked thoughtful.
Turning to Reed, Nolan asked, "So? Joining Oscorp or not?"
"I'm… still thinking." Reed hesitated. "Sue's not thrilled. She thinks you're volatile."
Tony gave a small smirk. "You kinda are."
Nolan shrugged. "Greatness and volatility aren't mutually exclusive."
Tony sighed. "Fine. We'll coordinate intelligence and resource exchange. At least give us that."
Nolan nodded. "You'll get access. Norman will handle the interface."
"Oh, and—" Tony added quickly, "Vibranium?"
"Give Norman your wishlist. Whatever you bring to trade, he'll match."
And with that, Nolan was gone.
---
In the main lab, the real work resumed.
To Nolan, Earth's daily dramas were trivial. Mutants, Sokovia, Westview, even Thanos manageable. But beyond Earth? Beyond reality itself?
That's where the true threats lived.
Standing in front of a massive rotating DNA helix display, he studied the modified Hive genome something alien, parasitic, and beautifully adaptable.
"E.L.L.," Nolan called. "Begin cellular simulations. Target application: autonomous regenerative combat form."
"Simulation engaged," E.L.L. responded.
Nolan began to move across the lab, his mind processing formulas, neural blueprints, magical matrices, and soul-fracture protocols all at once.
He wasn't just building a failsafe.
He was designing immortality.
Project: Bloodborne Resurrection.
---
"My regeneration is already unmatched," Nolan murmured. "But what happens when celestial-tier entities suppress that? I need to evolve beyond conventional healing."
He narrowed his eyes. "I need to anchor my soul across multiple dimensions."
He tapped into a projection: a theoretical construct built atop Bast's divine biology and Hive's genetic templates. Soul-anchored cellular cores. Self-replicating consciousness. Autonomous backups.
"Once I split my soul and anchor each piece to a different dimension… I won't exist in just one place. I'll be unerasable."
"Begin multi-layered simulations," Nolan instructed.
E.L.L. responded immediately "Simulation initiated. You are now modifying Hive DNA… Engaging time-travel protocols… Projecting soul-split anchoring and dimensional branding…"
A glowing model of Nolan appeared, undergoing gene fusion, soul division, temporal displacement, and simultaneous dimensional imprinting.
Two souls.
Two dimensionally branded cores.
Re-merging through Bast's divine fusion method.
"Warning," E.L.L. chimed. "High risk: Temporal fragmentation and alternate timeline splintering."
"Ignore it."
"Second warning: Soul division may result in separate consciousness forming independence."
"Ignore that too."
"Estimated success rate 83.7%, assuming all risks are ignored."
Nolan's lips curled into a rare smile.
He had it.
The path to Celestial ascension was open.
Not borrowed from gods. Not stolen from Titans.
Built. Engineered. Earned.
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