Chapter 81: Parasitic race, you say? Who can't copy homework!
Ever since Gloria gave up the Daily Bugle and chose to join Weyland Corporation, her objective had been clear: she absolutely refused to die a baffling and muddle-headed death like Peter Parker.
According to the police investigation, no one could figure out how Peter Parker had died or who had killed him.
This terrified Gloria, making her desperate for a sense of security. As long as she had power and influential backing, she certainly wouldn't end up like her friend Peter.
Moreover, if she could join Weyland Corporation, she would also have the chance to use Du Wa's power to investigate the true culprit behind Peter Parker's murder.
Gloria did indeed find some clues. Having been rapidly promoted to the point where she was unofficially the chief assistant in Weyland Tower, she had access to higher-level secret information. She had now figured out that Peter Parker's death was no accident, but a meticulously planned murder.
But as for who the murderer was, Gloria wasn't yet qualified to investigate. This, in turn, made her realize that the other party was an extremely powerful super-powered individual.
But just how strong were they? Could they be like Dormammu or Laufey? A legendary Deity?
"I will not question the Boss's decisions, and likewise, you absolutely cannot either. You just need to accept the command and execute it. This is what you should do. Giving it your all is a matter of attitude; whether you can do it is a matter of ability. You are an intelligent person."
Gloria stared straight at Foster, her gaze occasionally falling on Mjolnir. If there was any chance, she too would want to lift this divine weapon and become a Thunder God, but alas, she lacked the qualification.
What would it feel like to wield divine power? Gloria didn't know.
Foster wore a look of utter disbelief, yet her face still showed a craving for the unknown. This scientist, full of adventurous spirit, reached out and gripped Mjolnir.
"Only a person with an extremely pure mind and a divine nature is qualified to lift this hammer," Gloria said suddenly.
Foster began to chant silently in her heart, then pulled with all her might.
*Hum!*
After a soft ringing sound, Mjolnir was pulled up by her with incredible ease. This seemingly heavy hammer felt just right in Foster's hands.
"This... I... I succeeded? Didn't they say this hammer couldn't be lifted by anyone other than Thor? I actually succeeded on my first try! Does this mean I am now a Thunder God?"
Foster's mind first went blank, stunned by this reality, and was then enveloped by immense joy. After all, who wouldn't want to become a God? Even if it happened somewhat inexplicably, it didn't matter. Becoming a God first and then exploring the reasons for her success was the best choice.
Gloria was also dumbfounded, completely aghast. She even reached out a hand to grab it, refusing to believe it, only to confirm that she still couldn't move Mjolnir an inch. This left her thoroughly deflated.
"Facts have once again proven that Du Wa was right. You possess the qualification to become a Thunder God. Although I don't understand the principle behind it. Could it be that an ordinary physicist like you also possesses a divine nature?" Gloria quickly composed herself.
It was the first time Foster had ever heard of this "divine nature" thing.
But Foster could at least be certain that she wasn't some kind of demigod offspring, because both her parents were ordinary humans.
"I probably don't need to get a paternity test with my parents..." Foster muttered subconsciously, feeling the endless stream of power flowing from Mjolnir. It made her body incredibly strong, as if she had inexhaustible energy.
Foster could even feel the free-floating electrons in the surrounding air. If she wished, she could instantly manipulate them to create astonishing lightning.
Mjolnir, which ordinary people could hardly touch, was like a well-behaved child in her hands.
"Divine nature has nothing to do with bloodline, only with qualification. You are a God now. Look at the lightning on your body," Gloria said, her face revealing deep envy.
She didn't understand, but she was greatly shaken.
Sparks and electricity trailed in Foster's wake, the divine lightning she now carried scorching deep marks into the ground with every step.
"I can't quite control my power. This feeling is very strange. I hope you guys won't blame me for this..." Foster whispered.
But perhaps because of the Xenomorph larva in her chest, Foster was always able, with astonishing instinct and within her limited understanding, to mobilize every minute unit in her body to take relatively rational actions, trying her best to control the divine power.
Foster met Du Wa. This was the first time she had seen him in person; before, she had only seen reports about him on television and the internet at most.
A throb from her chest sent a signal through every nerve in her body, forcing her into an instinctive posture of utmost reverence toward Du Wa.
*How terrifying. No wonder he can control all the Xenomorphs,* Foster thought, feeling that perhaps she should study neurology. Then, her body began to tremble uncontrollably, and she bent over excitedly.
"As for compensation, don't worry about it. I'm not that petty. A company this large is meant to serve people like us, not for us to serve the company. That order must not be reversed."
Du Wa sized up the woman before him, his face showing no surprise, only satisfaction.
Thor, the Female Thor, and Beta Ray Bill. Of these three types of Thunder Gods, looking across the entire Multiverse, they could always lift Mjolnir.
"You have not disappointed me, nor have you become one of the rare exceptions. This pleases me greatly. From now on, you are the new Thunder God. This hammer—Mjolnir—will be your exclusive weapon. Besides me, no one can take it from you," Du Wa said.
His tone was casual, as if he were dividing chips at a poker table, and he had just given the largest share to the newcomer, Foster.
"This... I... ah, thank you, but I still don't quite understand. Why were you so certain I could lift Mjolnir? Did you never consider that I might fail?" Foster's words were jumbled, finding it difficult to adapt to Du Wa's blunt, direct style.
"If you had failed, you could have served me as a physicist. It's that simple. I welcome all kinds of talent," Du Wa said. "I believe you can do it, so you can do it."
Du Wa was satisfied that his team had gained another formidable combatant.
But on Nidavellir, Thor went from satisfied to not-so-satisfied.
He had also obtained his brand-new weapon—Stormbreaker. This thing was far more powerful than Mjolnir, and its size was immense. Just holding it in both hands filled Thor with a great sense of satisfaction.
"It would be nice if the handle of this thing were made of wood. Perhaps the texture would feel more comfortable," Thor said, swinging it around. A casual flick could unleash a beam of divine power tens of kilometers in diameter from the axe's blade, giving the impression it could split a planet.
This was just the result of a casual swing. If he were to cleave with all his might, it was impossible to imagine what terrifying devastation it would create.
Not to mention, Stormbreaker could also summon the Rainbow Bridge, allowing Thor to teleport anytime, anywhere.
"A wooden handle? What's so good about that? It's not like we don't have enough Uru Metal. A one-piece axe like this is the best weapon."
Eitri the Dwarf King was unimpressed by Thor's aesthetic sense, even a bit disdainful. "Unless you can bring me a branch from the World Tree, then I'll attach it to the axe for you. But it's too late to talk about that now."
Thor flashed a confident smile. He was just speaking casually. In reality, he couldn't be more satisfied with this weapon.
Through this divine weapon, his command over the power of thunder had surged several times over, amplifying at a visible rate. Explosive divine power swirled around Thor's body, endlessly spreading outwards.
It was foreseeable that this current growth was far from the end. As long as Thor honed his skills, he would continue to grow stronger in a short period of time.
"Thor the mortal is a thing of the past. From now on, I am still Thor, and I am even stronger!"
Thor's face was ecstatic, but then he seemed to sense something. The blade of Stormbreaker in his hand suddenly shifted, aiming far away toward a certain direction in deep space.
"You feel it too, my new partner? It seems our minds are one..."
"What's wrong?" the dwarf king asked.
"Someone has lifted Mjolnir and also grasped the power of the Thunder God. If I'm not mistaken, that person should be on Midgard. They're a subordinate of Du Wa's, I'm just not sure who it is." The joy on Thor's face dissipated quite a bit. "The fourth-generation Thunder God has really appeared. I knew Du Wa wasn't one to make empty boasts."
Thor desperately wanted to activate the Rainbow Bridge and go to Midgard immediately to find the fourth-generation Thunder God and issue a challenge.
Only he should be the strongest Thunder God, no one else. But in the end, he didn't do it.
Now, Thor was the successor to the throne of Asgard. His every move represented all of Asgard; he could no longer be as willful as he was in the past.
"You can actually perceive divine power fluctuations worlds away?" The dwarf king was very surprised. That was truly remarkable; who knew how many galaxies separated them.
"There will be an opportunity to meet that person. When the time comes, I'll use my Stormbreaker to fight against the Mjolnir in their hands..." Thor said in a low voice, then immediately activated the Rainbow Bridge and returned to Asgard.
Next, he would undergo arduous training in preparation to receive Odin's Odinforce.
By that time, Thor was confident he would be the strongest in the Nine Realms. If an event like the Dormammu invasion were to happen again, Thor felt he wouldn't need anyone else; he could repel the enemy all by himself.
"And the Celestials... Father actually suffered a loss at their hands..." As Thor's figure disappeared into the Rainbow Bridge, he vaguely recalled this battle, which was now unknown to most. He had only learned of it from Odin a short time ago.
Before long, news that Thor had a new divine weapon, rumored to be no less powerful than Gungnir, spread rapidly through the various worlds. This was big news, as everyone knew Thor was the designated next king of Asgard, who would receive Odin's full support and inherit his power.
Considering that Odin had even resorted to faking his death, it was clear he didn't have much time left. All eyes were on Thor, each with their own thoughts.
...
"Is that so? My foolish brother has a new weapon and has grown stronger? With Father's careful cultivation, he will only become more powerful. Perhaps one day he can grow to Father's level."
Loki opened his eyes, dispelling the magic on himself. Since arriving on Earth, he had been busy with his own affairs, diligently searching and scheming, thinking about how to make good use of that mysterious Black Dragon.
In fact, even now, Loki knew almost nothing about what that Black Dragon was, its origins, or where it came from. But he could be sure of one thing: as long as he controlled this Black Dragon, he could create an endless supply of mass-produced soldiers.
Loki believed that by controlling these soldiers, he would be able to rapidly expand his own power base.
That's right, just like Du Wa had done. Faced with Du Wa's series of unimaginable feats, even someone as proud as Loki was now willing to lower his head slightly, to study Du Wa's growth and operational psychology as a reference for himself.
"Those Midgardians call the parasites extracted from the giant dragon 'Symbiotes'... what a fitting name."
Loki maintained his invisible state, a strange smile on his face, as he quietly followed several serious-looking personnel down an elevator deep underground.
Du Wa had used the parasitic ability of the Xenomorphs to continuously acquire powerful hosts, exponentially increasing his own strength.
Now, Loki had delightedly found the Symbiote on Midgard, a creature that also strengthened itself through parasitism. This was simply a gift from fate.
Loki had to admit that he had truly underestimated Midgard in the past. This world had many strange characters and even more bizarre things that could bring him immense surprises.
"These Midgardians think just like me. They also want to replicate Du Wa's miracle, so they decided to use the power of this Black Dragon? But unfortunately for them, it's useless, because I've taken a fancy to it!"
Loki's face was full of a wicked smile. After facing reality and being beaten down by Du Wa until he gradually abandoned his conceit and arrogance, he found that his mind could think more clearly.
In other words, Loki felt he had evolved. He had entered version 2.0, more difficult to deal with than his former self.
Once he seized the source of the Symbiote, the unknown Black Dragon that had broken in from beyond the Nine Realms, he would leap forward to version 3.0.
"My foolish brother, although I have given up the throne, that doesn't mean I will admit that I am inferior to you. The competition between us has only just begun. And then there's Du Wa..."
Loki walked into the deep underground, full of ambition. He looked up at the behemoth frozen before him, feeling the extremely dangerous aura emanating from it.
The feeling was strange, almost a bizarre, natural deterrence of a higher lifeform over a lower one. This made Loki both suspicious and on the verge of laughing out loud.
"Attention all personnel, cease freezing Target E7. We need to extract a portion of the Symbiote!"
A giant loudspeaker boomed, and all the busy scientists immediately stopped their work.
Normally, they needed to constantly generate cold air to maintain the ice layer restraining the Black Dragon, preventing it from melting and thinning, which could allow the Black Dragon—whose state of life or death was unknown—to escape.
This practice had been ongoing for decades, ever since the Symbiote super-soldier program was terminated in the 1970s.
Furthermore, before they had discovered the Black Dragon, it had already been frozen in an iceberg for a very long time.
Immediately, several shrewd and capable engineers operated massive machinery, drilling through the thick ice layer and creating a frozen channel leading directly to the Black Dragon.
They would extract the squirming substance from its surface.
Just as they had done in the 1970s.
But this time, a slip-up occurred.
Because Loki had arrived.
"Mortals, your task is complete. Leave the rest to me. The God of Mischief will take over all your work. If you are willing to kneel and serve me, I would be happy to bestow a Symbiote upon each of you!"
Yes, just like how Du Wa would grant each of his subordinates a Facehugger.
By copying Du Wa's homework, there was no way he could go wrong.
"Who's there? Damn it, how did he suddenly appear? Why didn't our detection instruments react at all?"
"Loki! He's Loki, the Asgardian!"
"Loki, your unauthorized intrusion here is a serious violation of Earth's law! Are you trying to provoke a conflict between two worlds?"
The people present instantly fell into chaos. A large number of heavily armed soldiers raised their standard-issue weapons and aimed them at Loki.
Loki found it all very amusing. He swept his gaze over them and was surprised to find that these agents were actually using energy weapons, not the more common kinetic ones.
"The speed of your technological progress is astonishing, but I imagine this technology was not acquired through normal means. But no matter. If you are willing to surrender, I will generously share some of Asgard's advanced technology with you. However, if you choose to resist me, I will grant you death."
Loki revealed a sinister smile. "Although I am not the god of the underworld, killing all of you is no problem for me."
"Your Excellency Loki, by acting on your own on Earth, are you not afraid that the Sorcerer Supreme and Du Wa will come looking for you? Or could it be that your actions have Lord Odin's approval?" a man in a white lab coat shouted through a loudspeaker.
Loki's expression paused, and his gaze pierced through the glass wall. "Tell me your name."
"You can call me Dr. Cliff. I am currently the chief scientist of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the man replied.
"Cliff, let me guess. As the chief scientist, you must have researched the Xenomorph and failed. So what makes you think you can succeed with the Symbiote? Just with the backward technology of Midgard that you currently possess?"
Loki felt that his patience had greatly improved. In the past, he would have stabbed this guy who provoked him to death long ago.
Listen to this guy's nonsense. What did he mean, wasn't he afraid of the Ancient One and Du Wa coming after him?
If those two really wanted to deal with him, they would have done so already. Why wait until now?
Besides, since his first arrival on Midgard, Loki had killed almost no humans—the ordinary people who were unluckily caught in the crossfire during the battle with Kaecilius and the others, dying tragically on the spot, didn't count.
Moreover, with Odin having given a heads-up, as long as he didn't create a major event that threatened Midgard before he had accumulated enough power, what reason would the Ancient One and Du Wa have to trouble him?
Loki had no desire to stay in this place of the World Tree that brought him pain. He now wanted to quickly complete his initial accumulation and then enter the vast, endless cosmos.
Loki stopped wasting words and immediately snatched the batch of Symbiotes that had just been extracted. He looked down at the large, sticky, black substance that was constantly squirming.
"So this is a Symbiote? As long as I break this mass into many pieces, each piece will be an independent entity with parasitic abilities, capable of greatly enhancing the host's combat power."
Loki couldn't help but look up at the massive Black Dragon. What was this thing then? Was it really just the source of the Symbiote?
He immediately raised his hand and created a blast of magic that struck the ice. Visible cracks began to spread rapidly across the ice layer.
The agents instantly panicked. Some called for help, some sent signals, and another group immediately opened fire on Loki. But it was all useless. Loki held a strange casket in his hands, and an icy divine power surged around him, easily blocking all the energy attacks.
"Loki!! The origin and strength of this giant dragon are unknown! You're insane to release it like this!" Dr. Cliff shouted angrily.
Loki, annoyed, waved his hand, sending a blast of magic through the glass wall, engulfing everyone in the laboratory.
So what if he released the Black Dragon? Since this thing could be sealed by the mortals of Midgard using low temperatures, then Loki, who possessed the Casket of Ancient Winters, was only more confident.
He just needed to gently open the divine artifact in his hand, and in an instant, he could freeze this strange Black Dragon again, just like before.
The top priority was to figure out the Black Dragon's strength and origin. That was the more important matter.
Soon, the ice layer collapsed. The Black Dragon spread its massive wings, which spanned tens of meters, and with terrifying force, it easily shattered the surrounding rock formations.
A terrifying low roar erupted from the Black Dragon's mouth. As if waking from a long dream, after an initial moment of confusion, it immediately brewed a towering rage.
"Are you angry? Rightly so. In your perception, after much difficulty, you broke into the World Tree, found Midgard, and just as you were about to act, you were defeated by my foolish brother, fell to Midgard, and slumbered for a thousand years. And now you've been imprisoned and used by these mortals."
Loki had a smile on his face. He was happy, of course, because he already considered this Black Dragon his property. He was mulling over how great it would be to use this dragon as a mount; it would be a fine display of his status.
Just imagine, riding a Black Dragon and traveling between the major planets of the universe.
But this strange Black Dragon clearly did not think so.
"@#%%&￥%&@#￥..."
The Black Dragon sent out a piece of information. Normally, Loki should have been able to understand it, as it was a language on the mental plane.
But in reality, Loki couldn't understand a single word. He was completely unable to comprehend what the Black Dragon was trying to say.
"What's going on? A very unfamiliar language, but a few characters give me a sense of déjà vu. I think I saw it once in the library. It's an extremely ancient divine language... No, I must be mistaken. This Black Dragon doesn't seem that strong, so why does it always give off this powerful, ancient, and out-of-place feeling?"
Upon initiating mental communication, this sense of contrast became even stronger.
Loki keenly realized that he seemed to have miscalculated something of critical importance.
The next moment, an extremely terrifying might emanated from the massive Black Dragon. The mental fluctuation alone materialized into a substantial force, instantly forming an immense storm that pulverized everything in the vicinity.
Many physically frail humans turned to ash on the spot. This meticulously crafted secret base of S.H.I.E.L.D. was now crumbling under the Black Dragon's attack, and everyone died a miserable death here.
Loki, clutching the Casket of Ancient Winters, watched as this big guy's eyes met his.
"&*#@￥%!...@#!"
Another string of words, but Loki still didn't understand.
The Black Dragon was enraged. It lunged forward but was forced back by the icy power emanating from the Casket of Ancient Winters, half of its body frozen.
But the next second, a terrifying divine power erupted from the Black Dragon, instantly shattering the mystical ice. It immediately abandoned Loki and charged straight through the Earth's crust.
The ground shook violently, as if an ancient beast had reawakened.
An extreme madness, mixed with a boundless mental wave, was unleashed wantonly upon the entire world.
Wherever its voice reached, all atoms and molecules were devoured, and all matter disintegrated on the spot.
No living being could escape the Black Dragon's suppressed fury, a hysteria that had been dormant for a thousand years, powerful enough to span half the universe.
No one knew what the Black Dragon had experienced, nor the unbearable impact its setback on this tiny planet had on it.
Wherever the rampaging Black Dragon passed, it left a scene of horrific carnage. Countless people and objects vanished into thin air, becoming sacrifices for the venting of its anger.
Soon, more and more people learned of a wildly slaughtering Black Dragon, and the number of victims was increasing at an alarming rate.
Major powers immediately took action, using various weapons to attack, but to little effect. They might have caused the Black Dragon some trivial annoyance, but they could never truly defeat it.
"What is that thing? How did a dragon just pop out of nowhere?"
"First, it was gods from ancient myths, then Demon Gods from another world, and now even dragons are showing up. What is wrong with this world? Why has everything suddenly become so chaotic!"
"Is there a possibility that the world was always like this, and it's just erupting now, and we're just unlucky enough to be here for it?"
"Even modern weapons can't do anything to this dragon. It just seems to make it angrier. Who is going to take this thing down?"
The uninformed were terrified, their hearts gripped by fear.
As the instigator, Nick Fury obviously had no time for fear. He too was dumbfounded.
"I thought Loki was so confident, that he must have had a complete plan. I never thought his method of getting the Symbiote was to just let this thing out! What on earth is Loki thinking? What is he trying to do!!"
Fury was practically fuming. The Black Dragon was no secret among the higher-ups. Anyone who saw this big guy would immediately know that a major problem had occurred on his end.
But it had already happened. What else could he do? He had no choice but to send The Avengers to confront it, to try and recapture the Black Dragon. If used properly, this thing could continuously produce super-soldiers; it could not be lost.
Thus, The Avengers assembled once again. This time, it was perhaps the first truly collective action in a meaningful sense.
"Well, at least this time we're not being sent to fight some unheard-of Demon God." Dr. Banner, in his human form, opened his mouth to taunt, smirking continuously.
"But this thing is also very troublesome. I don't know what Loki was thinking, but let's move quickly, guys. The good news is, we only need to deal with this Black Dragon and Loki. The bad news is, the only ones taking action are me and you few defective products."
Iron Man took the lead. The other heroes were helpless and could only follow quickly in their jet; after all, they couldn't fly.
But when the heroes arrived at the front lines of the battlefield, they immediately discovered that amidst the flashing lightning and rumbling thunder, someone had already arrived, almost at the same time as them, flying in at high speed.
"Jarvis, is it my imagination? This entrance feels very familiar, and this sudden rainy weather isn't normal," Tony's gaze sharpened.
"Sir, analyzing the shadow seen through the clouds, the other party is not Du Wa, nor is it Thor or Reynolds."
"Ha, it's the new Thunder God, right? Another person wielding Mjolnir? If I had known, I should have gone to Du Wa sooner to see if I could lift Mjolnir. Maybe I could have gone to Asgard to become a deity too."
Tony immediately gave chase. He saw a Female Thor forcibly land on the giant dragon's head, raise Mjolnir high, and smash it down fiercely.
(end of chapter)