Chapter 79: The Gods in the Shadows, a New Anchor Point for the Twilight of the Gods
There were many like Skurge.
Crushed by Du Wa's great conquest, shaken by his awesome power, and worshipping the might of the Xenomorph, they unhesitatingly chose to join Du Wa's faction and be parasitized by Xenomorphs.
It turned out that at any time, victors would always attract a group of fanatics who would give their all to follow them.
When Skurge stood on the continent of Asgard once more, full of vigor, he looked down at his surroundings. He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that the way every Asgardian looked at him had changed, their gazes now filled with respect.
In fact, many Asgardians recognized this undersized giant. He was a former captive who had been rescued by Queen Frigga and her people.
But now, Skurge had a new identity—a Xenomorph.
Skurge felt an unprecedented pride, a feeling he had never experienced as a Frost Giant.
"Hmph, the so-called strongest divine race of the World Tree is nothing special after all. Strip away their sacred veneer, and they're just a bunch of lowly cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong, no different from those Giants in Jotunheim."
Skurge had seen through it all. He brainwashed himself over and over, firmly believing that he had chosen the most correct path in his life thus far.
Heart surging, Skurge glanced around, looking for an axe to hack a few Giants to death for sport. As Jotunheim's rising "Bushwacker," cruelly torturing and dismembering enemies was his favorite pastime.
Unfortunately, his weapon was long lost somewhere in the godforsaken depths of Jotunheim. As a new Xenomorph, Skurge searched all over and finally found two M16s in Asgard's treasury.
That's right. Some eccentric Asgardian or another had collected these two firearms from the world of Midgard and enchanted them to have infinite bullets.
"Hahahahaha, this thing is way better than an axe!"
Skurge wildly fired the two M16s into the sky, then aimed at a Giant captive with a bloodthirsty grin. He longed to see this tall, powerful Giant turned into a pile of pulp before him, but in the next second, several Xenomorphs tackled and pinned him.
Against an ordinary fellow, one Xenomorph would have been enough. But Skurge was too strong; it took several Dracula Xenomorphs working in concert to barely restrain him.
"What are you doing? Dammit, we are one brood now! Your kinsman wants to kill a captive to hone his skills. Is that forbidden?" Skurge struggled, making it incredibly difficult for the Xenomorphs to restrain him. It wouldn't be long before he broke free from their grasp.
"Every captive is Du Wa's property, not yours. Know your place, newcomer."
Druig had also made a special trip from Earth. His eyes immediately fell upon the rebellious Skurge, paying particular attention to the two M16s the man had chosen.
"There were so many suitable things for you in Asgard's treasury. Why did you choose *these* two?" Druig asked coldly.
"No special reason. These things are from Midgard. By doing this, I can be a little closer to Du Wa," Skurge replied.
Evidently, Druig was very satisfied with this answer. "You should feel fortunate. Not everyone gets the opportunity for Xenomorph parasitism after being defeated on the battlefield. You are one of the lucky few. I can feel the immense energy contained within your body. From now on, I will be in charge of your training."
Skurge was clearly unwilling. He'd rather just be one of Du Wa's guards. But with a single glance from Druig, his mind was forcibly invaded. Coupled with the Xenomorph compulsion, Skurge, whose strength had not yet fully matured, realized he had no choice.
*Perhaps in the future,* Skurge thought. He could feel his strength growing rapidly these last few years. In a little while, he believed he could defeat Druig in a single move.
As they walked across the Asgardian continent, Skurge had no interest in observing the customs of the natives. He quickly asked, "So, what's my first mission after joining the Xenomorphs? Who do I have to kill?"
"You're good at killing?"
"Of course. Just give me a target, and I can kill anyone, even you." Skurge gave a cold smile, stuck out his tongue, and licked the muzzle of his M16. He was quite fond of this novel weapon; the two of them were like crossbows with a high rate of fire.
Every moment, Skurge could clearly feel the throbbing from his chest. He carefully savored his new self, a product of his fusion with the Xenomorph genes: stronger senses, terrifyingly lethal blood, and an even more astonishing self-healing ability. The fusion of three bloodlines within his single body caused his potential to skyrocket again, making Skurge eager for action.
He knew he was strong and getting stronger every minute, every second. But he didn't know just how strong he would become. That would require him to constantly hunt and take risks to determine his position on the food chain.
But Druig, who had rushed to Asgard, had no interest in his thoughts. If Du Wa hadn't sent him a command to pay attention to Skurge, he couldn't be bothered with this bloodthirsty madman.
"We are going to pay our respects to one of the deceased. He was once my companion. We fought together for nearly seven thousand years. That's a very long time... perhaps."
As Druig spoke, he entered a grand hall. This was a place specifically for the remains of fallen warriors. At this moment, it also contained the corpses of some Xenomorphs that hadn't been transported back to Earth yet.
Druig's expression changed, shifting from endless indifference to extreme excitement.
"I don't get it. Am I seeing things? You're actually happy? Our kinsmen are dead, and you're happy?"
Skurge, who had slung the two M16s over his back, rubbed his bald head, pondering if it would be more appropriate to draw his weapons and cripple this even crazier guy.
"No, you don't understand. Every species has a different interpretation of Death. Look at these Asgardians around us. They pray for the deceased, sincerely wishing for the souls of these fallen warriors to enter the so-called Valhalla. I don't even know if Valhalla truly exists; perhaps it's been nothing but a clumsy lie from the very beginning."
Druig obsessively reached out, caressing the dead Xenomorphs as he passed. Finally, he stopped in front of a Xenomorph that, by the looks of it, had been very strong in life but was now reduced to a few large chunks of flesh.
"I know this one. I saw him get killed by Laufey from a distance," said Skurge. Even from these remains, he could vaguely feel a strong sense of power.
"Yes, this is a great transformation. Gilgamesh must be happy. His body became a Xenomorph, but only at this very moment has his soul finally attained true salvation. He will become a part of hope in a place that is forever beautiful, bright, and warm—until Eternity. Truly an enviable outcome."
"?"
*As expected, this guy's a madman, even crazier than I am,* Skurge thought silently. But whenever he wanted to do something, Druig's mind-control ability would forcefully invade his brain, interfering with every thought that arose.
"Once I get used to your intensity, my mind will be strong enough to resist your control," Skurge growled in a low voice.
"I didn't understand why Du Wa took an interest in your type, but now I'm beginning to see why." Druig's face was stern. "I will absolutely not allow you to waste your talent in the wrong direction. You should squeeze out every ounce of your potential and throw yourself entirely into the great cause. Whatever Du Wa wants, we must be willing to give our lives to accomplish it."
The surrounding Asgardians had walked in with mournful expressions to pay respects to their deceased kindred. But upon seeing these two, their expressions turned strange. As they listened, their faces filled with terror.
"This is terrifying. Listen to what they're talking about. A complete disregard for death and a fanatical pursuit of it... is that this species' vow? It's utterly insane."
"Do the Xenomorphs have their own Valhalla?"
While Druig was instructing Skurge, Du Wa slowly retracted his gaze.
That's right, Du Wa was also monitoring Skurge with his full focus.
"Bushwacker. To think he would join me by chance in this manner before his true rise to power. Destiny is truly a wondrous thing."
Du Wa revealed a gratified smile and nodded. He could feel Skurge's changes. With the passage of time, this reckless man with considerable potential would gradually be dyed in Du Wa's colors.
Du Wa clearly remembered that Bushwacker was strong enough to arm-wrestle Thor. Normally, he would eventually become one of Thor's strongest rivals.
At least in this Universe, Skurge would belong to Du Wa from now on.
Du Wa deeply looked forward to Skurge's rapid growth under the influence of the Xenomorph gene, hoping he would exhibit even greater power in less time and stand before him.
He would value Skurge's every choice, whether active or passive, and reward it with a look of approval and words of spiritual encouragement.
This didn't just apply to Skurge, but to the Skyfather-level Xenomorph as well.
"Laufey, embrace the Truth, and become the Truth."
Du Wa immediately began the process of parasitizing Laufey.
To be honest, it was extremely difficult. He failed several times in a row, leading to the miserable deaths of several Facehuggers.
"A bit harder than I imagined. A Skyfather-level God-King... even if only a few muscles remain under his control, his instinct will subconsciously resist the invasion of foreign genetic material."
Du Wa frowned and acted again, meticulously severing every connecting nerve pathway in Laufey's body, and even brutally tearing the muscles apart from each other.
After much effort, the parasitism was finally successful. Soon, a Xenomorph with Skyfather-level potential would chestburst its way out.
Du Wa could also feel that this Xenomorph larva was the most formidable one he had ever seen.
He was also well aware that it was unrealistic for this Xenomorph to possess strength comparable to a Skyfather right after its chestburst.
"Divine power... I think, on the day I truly decipher the mystery of divine power and master the World Tree, if I were to subject a divine race to parasitism, I could not only plunder them on a genetic level but also inherit and replace their divine power on the level of the World Tree."
Du Wa pondered. He had accumulated over two thousand divine Xenomorphs, and more were on the way. Moreover, with a leading Skyfather-potential divine Xenomorph like the Laufey Xenomorph, it was time to try and extend some perception toward the World Tree.
No matter how outsiders viewed the Alien Army, Du Wa himself was clear-headed. His Ascension Plan had never been interrupted. The idea of upgrading the Xenomorph, a planetary life form, into a cosmic one had never once wavered.
Swoosh!
In the unseen realm, the minds of over two thousand divine Xenomorphs were all unified and gathered by Du Wa.
In the world of the mind, countless points of light converged. At Du Wa's command, these divine Xenomorphs also began to frantically drive their respective powers, tapping into the channels of divine power, and using their spiritual will as a foundation to search for the origin of their own divine power in the unseen realm.
Of course, Skurge also quickly felt this call. He hadn't understood Druig before, but now, sensing his own state and the presence of the numerous divine Xenomorphs around him, he faintly began to understand.
"So, this is the real Du Wa? He's not an individual. I've misunderstood from the very beginning. In other words, I am now actually a part of him, and he is me..." Skurge's gaze burned, his body trembling as he felt Du Wa's focus lock onto him.
Thousands of divine Xenomorphs exerted their power in unison, using divine power as a nexus and the spiritual world as a vessel, following their unseen instincts.
"I can feel it. As expected, something Rune King Thor could do with this method, I also have a certain probability of achieving with the help of so many Xenomorphs..."
The World Tree was real; it wasn't an illusory spatial concept.
At least, that's how it was in this Universe.
When Du Wa, relying on the wholehearted devotion of several thousand "gods" and the numerous consciousnesses he had gathered, perceived that behemoth in the unseen realm.
He saw it clearly.
A tree that covered numerous dimensions, extending endlessly, its dense branches reaching into almost infinite domains. It put forth countless boughs, which ultimately split into nine larger branches, supporting nine worlds that encompassed innumerable planets.
Even more branches stretched into the distance. Du Wa guessed that perhaps these branches represented the worlds of divine races like Olympus.
"As long as I can secure a place on this World Tree, I can create a truly divine Xenomorph race that will naturally receive the transmission of divine power from the World Tree."
Du Wa didn't hesitate. He immediately pushed the consciousness of the Laufey Xenomorph to the forefront, and it began to rapidly climb the immense, seemingly illusory yet truly real World Tree.
With every passing moment, endless divine power surged. In every instant, it was as if Du Wa witnessed hundreds of millions of images.
If anyone else were to come into contact with this level of information, they would be crushed in an instant, their soul washed away into countless fragments.
But Du Wa, relying on the vast number of Xenomorphs to share the mental burden, managed to hang on for a few extra seconds.
Naturally, ancient beings also noticed Du Wa's appearance. In their perspective, Du Wa was the sum total of countless consciousnesses, clustered together, forming a river-like collective consciousness that wound around the thick trunk of the World Tree.
The light gradually faded. Hiding in the dark shadows behind the curtain of the World Tree, they extended their tentacles toward Du Wa.
"It's an outsider. I know it's a creature from Midgard called the Xenomorph, born not long ago."
"It's been a very, very long time since a new species has been qualified to enter our sight."
"These things actually use parasitism to obtain a divine status, thereby perceiving the existence of the World Tree. How interesting."
"Well then, if these creatures are willing to kneel at our feet, it's not impossible for us to bestow some trivial power upon them, just as we've done with the other divine races."
"The Twilight of the Gods has a new weapon. A new cycle can emerge..."
These behemoths within the shadows seemed to be the very will of the World Tree itself, communicating casually. Their inadvertent conversation was intermittently perceived by Du Wa in the unseen realm.
As if to confirm the words of these mysterious beings, their wills merely resonated slightly, and the entire World Tree immediately responded. An immense surge of divine power flowed into Du Wa for an instant, only to dissipate in the next second. It was like a deity's game, where power was easily trifled with and manipulated according to their wicked whims.
But this was clearly an intentional act, and it truly made Du Wa feel how terrifying these beings were.
"Are they deliberately using this nonchalant attitude to display their status? Trying to prove to me that the entire World Tree is merely their plaything? These Ancient Shadow Gods are truly interesting."
Du Wa sneered inwardly; he was crystal clear about everything.
The Ancient Shadow Gods. They truly exist in some universes, hiding in the shadows of the World Tree unknown to the world. They are the true masters of the World Tree. Over long ages, they have sustained their existence by creating the Twilight of the Gods—a cataclysm affecting all the World Tree's realms—to absorb vast amounts of energy.
Du Wa did not yet possess the strength to fight these Shadow Gods. His opponents had controlled the World Tree for an unknown number of years, looking down on the slaughter and warfare of countless divine races, including Odin's, as if watching a group of ants fighting fiercely to please them.
"Trying to use such a clumsy method to make me think I've discovered the World Tree's greatest secret, luring me in..."
Du Wa savored the memory. For a moment, he even felt that his power had surpassed the Skyfather level and he had the opportunity to become even stronger, just one step away. But this surging, almost illusory power quickly dissipated.
Du Wa carefully perceived everything.
"The Ancient Shadow Gods, the ones who personally created Rune King Thor in a parallel universe, also exist in this universe. Now this is interesting..."
Du Wa opened his eyes again. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream, and the memory was rapidly blurring with the passage of time. It was like an unseen law of existence that allowed him to perceive certain truths without remembering them clearly, yet he still subconsciously savored the memory of that explosive surge of power. This was perhaps one of the methods of the Shadow Gods.
Before Du Wa could think of his next move, he immediately sensed an impatient prayer crossing endless light-years, penetrating numerous spaces, and roughly locking onto his position, which he then heard.
"Oh, ancient and sacred Being, you are a great Deity, immortality itself. Your worshiper and follower has fallen into a predicament and wishes to borrow a measure of transcendent power from you to achieve... Ah, so it's you."
The Ancient One had come, attracted by the disturbance. She had used powerful magic to perform a high-level, solemn ritual, only to discover that the target of her prayer was actually Du Wa. She was instantly disappointed. "I originally thought my luck was great, encountering a newly born or newly awakened God. Why did it have to be you?"
Du Wa's expression was strange. For a moment, he had a bellyful of complaints he wanted to voice but didn't know what to say.
What could he say? That he was shocked by the Sorcerer Supreme's incredible perception? That she had sensed a change that hadn't even occurred on the physical plane, one whose very existence was uncertain?
Impressive. This was the first time Du Wa had felt such admiration for a person.
"So, when you normally listen to the sounds of the Universe and monitor the changes in countless surrounding dimensions, you're not just stopping those Demon Gods, but also... taking on magical debt from them?" Du Wa said after holding it in for a moment.
After a long while, the Ancient One's voice came through intermittently. Clearly, maintaining this long-distance magical ritual was also very difficult. "What else do you think I'm busy with? It's exhausting to simultaneously fend off Demon Gods from various dimensions. If there's an opportunity to turn some of them to my side, isn't that the best approach? A pity I didn't expect it to be you this time. And you're a fake one at that. So disappointing."
One could tell the Ancient One was genuinely regretful. It was the feeling of getting a stack of US dollars, only to find out they were counterfeits made by some malicious prankster.
In any case, the Ancient One didn't have the patience to spend these counterfeit bills one by one; it would waste too much of her time.
"However, for you to be able to cause an instantaneous change on the World Tree, it seems you've made a major discovery."
The Ancient One continued intermittently, "Next time you come to Kamar-Taj, tell me about it in detail. Maybe it'll give me some inspiration... I'm constantly searching for traces of Mephisto, but that demon hasn't come to this universe's Earth recently."
"Do you do this sort of thing all the time? Searching for new Gods?"
"Generally, yes. As long as it's not a God truly born of sin, one who naturally carries the authority of Destruction, I will attempt tentative communication. The moment I sense something is wrong, I immediately cut the connection and use the power of the magical ritual to block their reverse scrying. However, opportunities are rare. An individual on the level of a God isn't so easily born. Often, not a single one will appear for tens of thousands of years."
The Ancient One said, "The last time I tried to contact someone, it was a group of vampires from another universe. These guys, who can't even be considered Gods, quickly killed Peter Parker and wanted to stay in this world for a while to find other spiders. After hearing my words, they immediately retreated. If I had known, I should have just killed these Inheritors instead of holding onto wishful thinking."
*If it were me, I'd be scared too,* Du Wa thought. *Just arriving in this universe and immediately encountering a lunatic who tries to put you in magical debt at the slightest provocation. After successfully hunting Spider-Man, there was no need to clash with this universe's Ancient One.*
It seemed this universe's Ancient One knew a few things about the Inheritors. The deity above the Inheritors had some sort of connection to the Vishanti.
"By the way, Loki should have gone to Earth. No idea what kind of mischief he's plotting," Du Wa said casually.
"I know... Odin said..." The connection with the Ancient One was cut.
Who knows what Loki went to Earth to do.
...
Just as the entire World Tree was focusing on and discussing Du Wa.
Loki had already arrived on Earth and begun a blanket search for news of the Black Dragon from all those years ago.
Relying on the means of the God of Mischief, he soon made a discovery.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? So they hid the Black Dragon under an iceberg."
(end of chapter)