Many gods in the universe were aware of Duva's actions.
It was widely speculated that Duva had truly abandoned his position as the God of the World Tree, attempting to achieve godhood with even greater power.
Kronos was aware of this, but he never imagined Duva's astonishing speed in this incredibly difficult task.
Initially, many, including Kronos, were stunned by Duva's boldness and mastery as they watched him disperse his consciousness into countless aliens, completing his cosmic invasion. They marveled at his creativity, as no god had ever done such a thing.
However, many believed Duva would fail. This was a conceptual attempt to become a god, something no one in this universe had achieved in over ten billion years.
Well, even if it succeeds, it will take a long time. After all, this is the most difficult yet powerful method of advancement. Once successful, concepts become gods. At least within this universe, concepts fighting concepts, perhaps only a few creator gods can rival Duva. The other cosmic gods may be as powerful as Duva, but in terms of rank, they have no advantage over him.
But gradually, Kronos was the first to realize that things were not simple. In just a short time, Duva's progress was already shockingly fast and smooth.
Kronos, a descendant of the Eternals, Thanos' grandfather, and the God of Time, could influence and observe time throughout the universe. Even the slightest changes, if carefully sought and explored, would yield some results.
Of course, as the God of Time, he still stood beneath the true entity of time, Eternity, also one of the creator gods.
In essence, Kronos, the God of Time, was a subordinate deity of the Eternals.
Although he was also a cosmic deity, gods were divided into different ranks. He couldn't compare to Eternity, but he was still a very important and powerful being in the entire universe.
The problem was that he couldn't match Eternity, and he was a lower-level deity than Eternity. This meant that conceptual gods and creator gods like Eternity could largely ignore Duva's actions. Whether Duva became a deity or not, as long as he didn't madly seek to destroy the entire universe, it wouldn't affect Eternity's status.
But Kronos couldn't do that. If Duva became a being on Eternity's level, the direct consequence would be a severe squeeze on him.
The universe was so vast, with so many rules and so much authority. Now, a conceptual being comparable to the creator god was suddenly about to emerge. How much of the universe would it occupy? It would be strange if Kronos could resist.
Most importantly, everyone wanted to be like the creator god. If Duva could achieve it, then those with greater age and experience might also have a strong chance of achieving it using the same method.
But if Duva succeeded in using this method to ascend to a concept god, they would never have the chance to become similar concept gods using this method. Duva had already reached the end of his concept on this path. Anyone who attempted to replicate him would essentially be moving from the conceptual sphere of other creator gods to the conceptual sphere Duva represents, remaining subordinate gods with no change in status.
In fact, if this were to happen, their status might even decline.
Kronos harbored a dangerous thought: to do something to Duva, or at least to prevent his ascension to godhood. That's why he turned to his grandson, Thanos, and the two of them planned to take action.
But now it seemed a little too late. But decisive action now might still offer a chance for recovery.
Each individual gradually realized the changes taking place in the universe.
"This isn't real light, it's more like a manifestation of rules, and it's being transmitted from the aliens... Did Duva succeed?"
Tony sat in his Celestial Armor. Though a mere mortal, with the help of this armor and his super-brain, which surpassed that of most gods, he could fully interpret what was happening.
Carol also stopped chasing the Marauders, her face growing even more anxious, but she turned and stared straight ahead, gazing at Thanos's flagship. She wanted to charge in and destroy the Marauders, Thanos, and the aliens, but in the end, she chose to do nothing and just observe quietly.
Thanos himself was incredibly powerful, and he also had powerful warriors like the Black Order. Even if Carol was confident in her own strength, rushing in would be a horrible death.
"What is this? I feel like I see countless stars, but it's obviously not."
Thanos stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of surprise on his cold face.
"It's Duval. You could almost say he's close to success. He's on the verge of becoming the new High God." Kronos's face was filled with deep resentment. "If you want to do something, there's still time."
But Thanos simply nodded, seemingly unfazed by the appearance of a new god.
Thanos showed no particular respect for his grandfather, Kronos; any familial affection was completely absent.
Thanos considered himself a vassal of the Death Realm, lacking much in common with Kronos, a god of the Eternal Realm. Their respective priorities were completely different.
This time, he agreed to join forces with Kronos against Duval because, frankly, he felt Duval's aliens were too aggressive, having already invaded his Dark Quadrant and their numbers were rapidly increasing.
In the coming years, if he were to embark on another frenzied killing spree to appease Death, he would likely only have the readily available aliens to slay. On the other hand, if the aliens expanded too much and accumulated too many high-end combatants, this would hinder his widespread slaughter. After all, the aliens were not a fragmented group, making it easier for him to defeat them one by one.
Thanos glanced back at the battered Predator ship ahead and ordered the Black Order to attack.
After disabling the Predator's defenses, Thanos, still with his hands behind his back, strolled aboard the ship.
He immediately spotted the alert Marauders and the aliens mingling with them.
"Lord Thanos, I never thought a figure like you would be so oblivious to the cosmic changes that you would actually come to us in person. It's truly an honor." Yondu had no choice but to force a smile.
Secretly, he prepared to whistle and attack Thanos at any moment.
True, Thanos's presence would indeed bring about a new change, potentially helping them escape the clutches of that madwoman Carol. But that didn't mean they were safe. If they fell into Thanos's hands, their fate wouldn't necessarily be much better than being killed by Carol.
Their best chance would be to escape during the chaos.
But Thanos had no interest in these ant-like Marauders. From the very beginning, his eyes were fixed on the alien.
With a whoosh!
Thanos moved. His impossibly powerful body seemed to shatter space, instantly reaching in front of the alien. He extended his massive arm and gently pressed forward.
The alien exploded on the spot, and a large amount of blood splattered all around. Many unlucky plunderers were splashed with blood and died on the spot with screams, leaving behind incomplete corpses. The entire interior of the ship was corroded, leaving numerous cracks and crackling sounds. Fortunately, during the upgrade, they had specially added a high-strength, corrosion-resistant alloy to prevent the alien blood from destroying the entire ship.
"So this is an alien! This is the first time I've killed one of these creatures myself. This ordinary alien isn't anything to worry about. If the future universe is full of them, it's not unacceptable... huh?"
Thanos commented. He had mentally prepared himself for a future filled with aliens, but suddenly a frown crossed his face, a look of astonishment. For him, few things in the universe could cause such a drastic change of emotions.
Thanos even thought he was mistaken. When faced with the aliens that immediately surrounded and attacked him, he immediately attacked.
Undoubtedly, the aliens that managed to infiltrate the Marauders were mostly ordinary. Even those with extraordinary genes were no match for a butcher like Thanos.
At the very least, an Alien capable of confronting Thanos's level wouldn't stay in a group like the Predators.
After killing several Aliens, Thanos finally confirmed something, his face twisting in a rage.
"Why don't Aliens have souls after death?! They clearly have souls when they're alive, but they're gone after they die? Where do their souls go?!" Thanos erupted in fury.
The universe was now overrun with Aliens, proliferating at an alarming rate. Thanos himself admitted that in a few years, the Alien population might be as vast as those one or two top-tier groups, though perhaps even more so in terms of numbers.
Previously, Thanos hadn't paid much attention. Regardless of their enemy, as long as they were alive, their souls returned to the dead after death, and he'd kill them all.
But now, the Aliens were dead, and their souls vanished with them?
Thanos was furious.
He absolutely would not allow the damned Alien race to expand recklessly. If he had known this would happen, he would have crushed them on Earth from the very beginning, ideally wiping them out entirely.
There was no way they would have had the chance to multiply to their current size!
The others stared at the rampaging Thanos in fear and bewilderment, wondering what this volatile tyrant had in mind, suddenly broaching such bizarre topics as souls.
Little did they know that Thanos was a devoted servant of Death. With the exception of Yondu, the other Reavers, including Quill, were probably completely unaware that in this world, "death" is not only the final state of life, but also a true deity that represents the concept of death.
"When an Alien dies, their soul doesn't return to death. Why didn't you idiots tell me something so important sooner?"
Thanos turned and furiously roared at the Black Order.
Everyone present exchanged bewildered glances. Corvus Glaive, leader of the Black Order, cursed inwardly, feigning humility and fear. "Sir, we had no idea you were so concerned with matters of the soul... With all due respect, upon the death of the aliens, their souls were most likely taken by Dewar through unknown means. Even so, that doesn't seem to change the fact they're already dead..."
Boom!
Thanos punched Corvus Glaive through his body, blasting him and his weapon into the starry sky.
A massive hole immediately ripped through the spaceship, creating a terrifying suction force that instantly sucked the weaker Marauders into the vacuum of space. But this level of suction was nothing to anyone with even a modicum of strength; Yondu and the others had already donned oxygen devices.
Thanos's face twisted. Whether Corvus Glaive, his capable general, lived or died, no longer concerned him. If Corvus Glaive had the guts, he should have found a way to get back.
"Give me the Orb." Thanos' eyes gleamed with blood. He drew the Mind Staff from his waist with one hand and held out his other.
Yondu and Quill exchanged glances, forced to surrender the Orb. They were certain of one thing: this wasn't the right time to negotiate business with Thanos. If they spoke, the mad Thanos would surely kill them on the spot.
Thanos violently twisted the Orb open and gazed at the Power Stone within.
A shimmering purple light illuminated his features, making them even more sinister.
The immense power emanating from the Power Stone soothed Thanos's nerves slightly.
"It seems you've made up your mind. Joining forces with me is the right choice. However, this time, it's not me who comes to you, but you who beg me. You seem even more resentful and impatient about what's happening now," Kronos said
coldly, appearing beside Thanos.
He and Thanos seemed to have switched places, trying to see who was more anxious.
To other mortals, Kronos was just a black, humanoid shadow; they couldn't discern his true form at all.
"You said there was still a chance," Thanos said, looking down at the Power Stone and then at the Mind Scepter. With two Infinity Stones in hand, he possessed the power to kill any opponent, no matter what rank they were.
"Yes, there was still a chance, but now, it's dwindling. He could complete the final move at any moment."
Kronos eyed the two Infinity Stones in Thanos's hands with trepidation. In Thanos's hands, this power could even pose a serious threat.
Fortunately, however, Kronos had long recognized Thanos's exceptional adaptability to the Infinity Stones and, secretly on guard, had created a weapon specifically designed to counter Thanos. This was to prevent a mad Thanos, driven by his desire to please Death, from doing anything mad after gaining power.
Recommending a friend's book:
"What Bad Could Batman Have Intentions?"
Chen Tao never imagined that he would not only travel through time, but also become Batman himself.
Everyone knows Batman is incredibly intelligent, incredibly wise, and a master of combat. But—what does all this have to do with me, a time traveler?
Oh! It's okay, I can inherit Batman's powers and memories...?!? Wait, why are they all parallel universe versions?Chapter 161: The Day of Re-Apotheosis, the Birth of the Alien Universe.
No one could comprehend the shock and rage Thanos felt at that moment.
Even Kronos, a cosmic god, could not comprehend.
It was a crushing emotional blow, the taint of his supreme faith and lifelong aspirations.
Indeed, it was unprecedented.
Since his birth, Thanos had faced countless powerful enemies and endured countless dangers, but none of those combined could have shocked him more than this moment.
Death, souls returning to Duval, rather than death?
For a devout believer and admirer of death like Thanos, such a scenario was unacceptable; it was the ultimate desecration of death.
"That Duval guy somehow took the souls of all the deceased Aliens. He must have a world dedicated to souls, but I'm not sure how he did it." Kronos took one look and understood the situation.
"Then find a way to destroy his soul world and return the Alien to the realm of death," Thanos said coldly.
Chronos stared at his grandson, wanting to say that even if Duval had taken the Alien's soul, the Alien would still theoretically be in the Death Order, for the soul itself is mortal, and its ultimate destination is still death.
Duval's actions had merely intervened between the Alien and Death, artificially creating an intermediary, inserting himself to prevent Death from directly reaping the Alien's soul.
Perhaps Duval had prepared for this moment. If he could become a conceptual god comparable to Death, then the Alien's soul, at least in this universe, would be able to minimize Death's influence on the Alien.
Thanos departed, taking the two Infinity Stones and returning to retrieve the Infinity Gauntlet. He then departed with his Dark Quadrant army aboard Sanctuary II.
The tyrant showed no interest in the lives of the Reavers or anyone else.
Chronos vanished quietly.
"This should be good news. We've escaped the Space Butcher unscathed. Once their warships are some distance away, we'll immediately flee in another direction. We have a good chance of escaping that crazy woman." Quill forced a smile.
Yondu's face was stiff, and he gestured towards the surrounding structures, ravaged by the alien blood. "This should also be bad news. Do you hear that corrosion? Our ship has suffered the most severe damage. The loss of speed is a minor issue. The most terrifying thing is that we can't be sure when it will disintegrate. Perhaps we won't even need that woman to do anything before we're finished."
The Marauders present all had grim expressions. Even the most ruthless villains would be terrified when facing Thanos, the universe's ultimate villain. Having finally saved their lives, they felt despair at their current dire situation.
"My magic has returned, and now I can create a portal successfully,"
Kruger suddenly said, a look of joy on his face. "I understand. It must be that strange being who stands with Thanos, whose true form is hard to discern, who's secretly preventing me from using magic. He wants Thanos to recognize the true nature of the aliens and lure him into challenging Duval!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Open the portal quickly so we can escape!"
"When we escape, when we buy a new ship, make sure it's lined with the finest metal, corrosion-resistant!"
A group of predators immediately shouted, practically weeping with joy.
"Escape, the farther the better. We'd better hide on a remote planet, out of sight of those dangerous beings."
Yondu's expression remained solemn. This only meant they were safe for now. If Thanos and that unknown being attacked Duval...
it was obvious that another terrifying battle would ripple across the entire universe, the devastation likely no less devastating than when Duval defeated Knull.
Considering Duval might be fighting two alone, the devastation would be even greater.
A single careless move, caught in the terrifying aftermath, would be wiped out instantly, along with countless other planets, exploding.
Carol rushed aboard the ship, seeing it deserted, a place ravaged by corrosion, and immediately blew it up.
"This is Kamar-Taj magic. It seems there's a skilled magician among the Reavers,"
Tony flew over in the Celestial Armor, his massive form towering over the starry sky, confronting Carol.
His voice reached Carol's mind, "But I find it strange. If one of them could teleport, why weren't they so afraid to escape from the start? Instead, you've been chasing them for so long? And they were even blocked by Thanos and his men, as if it were all designed."
"Earthling?"
Carol surveyed the super-suit before her with a look of astonishment. She could see that its construction bore a striking resemblance to that of the legendary Celestials.
Moreover, this extremely powerful sense of oppression, and the energy density it inadvertently emitted, far exceeded hers.
"I don't believe there are any normal people on Earth now. Perhaps there's an alien in you too." Carol distanced herself and observed cautiously.
Based on the information she had, and the message Fury sent her before his death, Carol was completely certain that Earth had completely become Duval's playground, and every living person on Earth was an alien.
Carol briefly wanted to rush back to Earth to deal with Duval and his aliens. Such terrifying creatures would seriously undermine the stability of a planet and should not be allowed to continue and expand.
Unfortunately, by the time she successfully received the news and set off for Earth, the situation had changed too quickly. Duval had even killed more than one god. That was no longer a field she could tamper with, and even returning to Earth to fight them would be suicide.
"In reality, the vast majority of people on Earth are normal humans, and of course animals are normal too. You're deeply prejudiced, Ms. Danvers."
"Oh? What you mean by normal is based on the fact that that person could transform all of Earth's inhabitants into aliens at any moment, but simply hasn't done so. Don't think I don't know. Anyone with a modicum of status and power in the universe knows he possesses the ability to remotely deploy aliens. His 'gift' has played a significant role in the rapid expansion of the alien population throughout the universe." Carol sneered.
Fury's death, at most, had anger and resentment in Carol, but it wouldn't have driven her to such paranoia.
However, Duval's development of the divine descent technique, which allowed anyone who chanted his name to possess an alien within their body, instantly transforming them from ordinary humans into superhumans, capable of using their corrosive blood to eliminate far more powerful foes, even destroying vital components of a spacecraft, was terrifying, and the destructive potential was immeasurable. Combined with the Marauders and other villains, who used magic and spaceships to frantically transport aliens across the universe, the alien population rapidly overran.
Carol, who prided herself on being a guardian of the universe and had spent years pacifying and pacifying various planets, was overwhelmed and unable to cope.
All planets conquered by the aliens eventually reached a strange harmony: once the aliens reached a certain size and established global dominance, they would naturally cease reproduction, ensuring the balance and stability of the planet's ecosystem, and then seek to relocate to other worlds, repeating the cycle.
It was also thanks to Duva that the aliens, after being transported remotely to his followers, did not immediately rupture their chests and transform into queens, reproducing profusely. Otherwise, the universe would have been completely overrun with aliens.
"Sad news, ma'am. Before long, you too will be coexisting with the aliens, instead of being able to prevent them from inserting them into your body through sheer strength like you are now."
A giant lightbulb flickered on Tony's armor. "Have you seen the changes in the universe? If you tell me you haven't felt anything, that's perfectly normal. Only those who have reached a certain level can realize that the universe is undergoing a radically new evolution. This change originates from Earth. I suspect Duval is sprinting towards a new position as a cosmic god. Although he was already a god, perhaps he's now aiming for dual status."
A god from the divine side, truly becoming a unique deity? Tony couldn't imagine any other possibility that would cause Duval to cause such a commotion.
Tony also considered Thanos's appearance and the Ravager's strange inability to teleport, and immediately realized that there must be someone equally formidable, unable to restrain himself and quietly taking action. There were
undoubtedly more than one god as ferocious as Knull, the God of Symbiotes, in the universe, so one of them would surely take action against Duval.
If Duva were defeated, not only would the aliens suffer, but Earth would also face a disastrous fate. All of humanity would be in danger of extinction. Even Duva couldn't defeat them, let alone the rest of humanity.
If Duva succeeded...
the entire universe would become a hell in the eyes of some.
A more powerful being, Duva's power would surpass all previous ones. As a cosmic god, his will could easily encompass the vast expanse of the galaxy, pressing down with pinpoint precision upon every living being.
At that point, every living thing in the universe would become a potential host for Duva. If Duva so desired, the universe would become a world of aliens.
"This is his final piece..." Carol felt a chill run down her spine, as if she were plunging into an icy cave, just imagining that future.
"Yes, everyone knows it, but so what? Are you going to stop him? Start a war with him? That's pointless suicide."
Tony acted nonchalant.
Tony knew that if Duval wanted to attack him and implant an alien within him, it would happen in a matter of minutes. After all, he was just a mortal, with no chance of resistance.
Unless he ate, drank, defecated, and urinated entirely within the Celestial Armor 24/7, that approach would be too contrived. Tony reasoned that doing so would only draw Duval's attention and backfire. It would be better to keep
it as it is now, where Tony could call Duval's name anytime, anywhere, without worrying about a sudden alien larva emerging from his body. This situation would likely remain unchanged even after Duval became a god. If Duval truly wanted to do something to him, he could have done it long ago, why wait until the future?
This meant that Duval had no desire to take control of Tony or the Celestial Armor.
...
As the changes in the universe intensified, any being with a certain perspective realized that Duval was incredibly close to success.
Various actions erupted across the universe, and those attempting to take action were not limited to the God of Time and Thanos.
A small number of races quietly intensified their efforts to suppress the aliens. Suddenly, wars raged across many planets, and countless weapons and equipment were manufactured and rapidly deployed.
But everyone knew that even if they wiped out every alien in the universe, their efforts would be in vain if they couldn't stop Duva himself.
However, the rulers of certain planets and the pantheon believed that since Duva was using these aliens to aid his ascension to a higher rank, eliminating some of them would undoubtedly disrupt Duva.
In recent years, the rapid emergence of aliens has led to numerous wars across the universe. Those whose interests have been damaged and whose power has been forced to decline hold a deep hatred for the aliens.
However, the majority remained on the sidelines, mired in a sullen silence.
Not to mention the several creator gods, they are the universe itself. To put it bluntly, even if Duva were to ascend to the conceptual godhood of this universe, it would have no impact on them. Ultimately, they are merely the gods of this unnumbered universe, and they are completely indifferent.
Furthermore, the other Creator Gods, besides Galactus, were in constant communication with their avatars, aware that Duval had also deployed aliens in other universes. He might fail, but he would never perish.
Amidst this almost unprecedented upheaval,
Kronos and Thanos headed straight for Earth.
Many more gods were also secretly taking action, watching Earth's every move with fear and greed, ready to strike at any moment as the situation unfolded.
Given the opportunity to become a conceptual god comparable in existence to the Creator Gods, who would want to be a vassal?
While Kronos, directly subordinate to the Eternal God of Time, sat at the pinnacle of the cosmic pyramid, the envy and awe of countless beings, the opportunity to break free from vassal status and forge his own conceptual system would tempt anyone.
Earth, at the center of the storm.
Duval slowly opened his eyes, clearly sensing the gaze of the entire universe. Far from feeling any uneasiness or anxiety, he instead revealed a dangerous smile.
"Very good. Everything that has happened has satisfied me... The moment I become a god again, this universe will completely transform into an alien universe. It will be one of the more special universes in the entire multiverse."
Chapter 162: The End of Three Cosmic Gods.
Everything was proceeding smoothly and methodically.
Duva's vision, through countless alien forms, stretched across most of the universe. He looked down indifferently, listening to everything, like a god from afar.
In reality, Duva was about to become one.
Power from the entire universe was constantly converging upon him.
The entire universe, from its underlying structure to the countless cosmological constants and parameters, was gradually changing for Duva, like a delicious pastry being forcibly seasoned with his own unique flavoring.
The newly born Concept God was bound to use the concepts he controlled to forcibly alter the universe and distort its existing rules.
Before he could completely transform the universe, he still had to overcome one final obstacle.
"Are they here? Those two guys... No, it should be said that once these two make progress on me, more will come and try to devour my flesh and blood."
Duva's lips curled into a sarcastic smile.
Even the ancient gods, faced with enormous gains, would not fare much better than mortals.
Especially when faced with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of becoming a concept god.
Countless gods in countless universes have gone their entire lives without ever encountering a newly ascended concept god.
A concept god doesn't "rely" on a single concept to become a god, but rather embraces all aspects of that concept and its derivatives as part of itself.
Take zombies, for example. Looking at the entire multiverse, zombies aren't truly a high-end species, their influence limited to a handful of universes, and they're not yet capable of triggering a major event that threatens the multiverse.
Of course, there are many powerful zombies, such as Devouring Star, who, taken individually, is a single-universe god.
However, this doesn't mean Devouring Star is the zombie god. He simply descended into the broad concept of zombies, possessing the power of a single universe, without transforming all zombies and their derivatives into part of himself.
Devouring Star is a zombie, but zombies are not Devouring Star.
Therefore, in the ever-evolving multiverse, it's not uncommon for gods to become gods by relying on newly emerged concepts.
But what Duval is doing now, unifying a single concept in its entirety and absorbing everything within its reach as a part of himself, is rare.
At least in this universe, in the more than ten billion years since the Big Bang, no one has ever attempted to ascend to the status of a conceptual god, on par with the Creator God, as Duval has.
This is an unprecedented opportunity, and any ambitious being would certainly not miss it, flocking to it, salivating.
Kronos, the God of Time, arrived,
followed shortly after by Thanos.
These two made no secret of their actions.
"Thanos, this is our goal. We've entered the World Tree unimpeded, but Duval hasn't responded."
Kronos pointed in a direction. Amidst countless stars, that was the location of the solar system.
"The moment I succeed in killing them, everything here will be destroyed."
Thanos showed his right hand. On its golden glove, different Infinity Stones shone with varying radiance.
But Thanos now possesses more power than just the Infinity Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones. He has discovered a new power, one no less powerful than the previous two.
Kronos fears Thanos, knowing full well that his grandson is a madman whose obsession with death allows him to recklessly pursue it.
In every sense of the word.
If, one day, Thanos were to suddenly realize that killing several gods might be an amusing attempt to please death, Kronos has no doubt he would be Thanos's target.
As for the charade of family affection, it simply doesn't exist.
"Thanos, I believe that before we officially begin the battle with Duval, you should inform me of your newfound power. Let me, your grandfather, analyze it and formulate your strategy," Kronos stated coldly, as if speaking matter-of-factly. "I am the God of Time, and I see the entire universe. No matter how powerful it may be, I will undoubtedly be more familiar with it and understand it better than you."
"That's odd. Since you control all of time, you naturally know everything. Why don't you know what power I possess?"
Thanos smiled grimly, his white teeth gnawing like a black hole. He displayed his Infinity Gauntlet. "I wield this power. It's the power of Infinity."
Infinity?
Infinity, one of the creator gods representing all of space, billions of dimensions, and the existence of all things, wouldn't know you possessed its power, Kronos thought.
As the battle approached, Kronos couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety, inevitably making negative associations and calculating them. Because He didn't know Duval's true strength, even if He ultimately prevented Duval's ascension, how much power would He gain from such a victory? Could He possibly escape his eternal vassal status, abandon the God of Time, and become a new conceptual god?
Meanwhile, Kronos only vaguely understood the power of his comrade and grandson, Thanos.
He was currently preparing for a war that could determine the fate of the universe, yet He knew nothing. The God of Time couldn't see beyond time.
"So, if Duval is defeated, I must ensure Thanos's immediate expulsion, lest he hinder me or even gain power beyond my control... Allowing Thanos to become stronger could be even worse than allowing Duval to become a god."
Kronos folded his arms, appearing unfazed, yet a deep cloud of gloom settled within him. If
Duval became a god, everyone, willing to bow their heads, could still survive. At best, they would submit to his orders, or at worst, become parasites and subordinate gods of Duval.
Just as the God of Time, no matter how powerful, will always be inferior to the Supreme God of Time, Eternity.
But if Thanos were to seize everything... this madman might actually slaughter the gods en masse to see if he could impress Death. If not, Thanos would devise even more schemes.
"Just a greeting,"
Kronos said, extending a finger and suddenly pointing towards the distant solar system.
In a split second, before the power of time he had summoned could truly take effect, the entire World Tree shook. Streams of divine power surged frantically from various branches, coalescing into chains that blocked all time and space, forcibly piercing through all change and binding it firmly in place.
"Such harsh measures, destroying all external changes,"
Kronos muttered in a low voice. "I've seen that before Duval even made a move, his subordinates have already rushed out..."
A figure, imbued with a brew of divine power, slowly emerged from nothing, blocking Kronos and Thanos.
Foster's golden hair flowed, and upon closer inspection, every ray of divine power emanating from her was closely connected to the World Tree.
Ever since Foster had slain all the Shadow Gods, she had been able to wield the power of the World Tree at will.
Especially at this moment, Foster had reclaimed the scattered World Tree power from the powerful aliens, such as Laufey and Skorki, and channeled it directly into herself to withstand this formidable attack.
"The World Tree God... there's no doubt about it. For now, this woman of humble origin is truly the World Tree God."
"Hmph, what a crazy move! Is becoming a Concept God such a price, or risk, that? Duva has already abandoned his throne before even achieving it."
"Impossible. Duva was able to decisively abandon the World Tree's power because he could control his subordinates who wielded it. In other words, if one of us had the same confidence, we could also attack the Concept God in this way. We just need to wait for Duva's death and seize the concepts he controls. For us, this first step would be extremely difficult." "
But there's only one World Tree God, and he's a subordinate deity who can't truly and perfectly control the full power of the World Tree. He can't handle the God of Time and Thanos."
The constant whispers echoed throughout the dimensions of the universe.
Eyes brewing with complex emotions kept shifting. It was feared that until the very last moment, even they themselves wouldn't know whether the changing situation would lead them to take some risky action, perhaps one they hadn't taken in billions of years.
Is this universe about to erupt in a massive war among the gods? This will inevitably happen once Duval dies. Not every god is as radical as Kronos, but all of them wouldn't mind taking advantage of the opportunity.
However, the gods are certain that Jane Foster is no match for the Eternals.
Not to mention Kronos, the God of Time. While he's only a subordinate god of the Eternals, he's undoubtedly one of the universe's top gods.
As for Thanos... he's at best a sub-godfather, but with multiple Infinity Stones in his possession, he must be formidable.
No one has ever fought with multiple Infinity Stones before, so no one can be sure of Thanos's current strength.
"You deal with this woman, and I'll kill Duval. He must die—and so must all the aliens, unless Duval's death will cause their souls to return to death."
Thanos's only concern is this. If Duval hadn't retrieved the aliens' souls, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to challenge them.
Kronos gave Thanos a cold look, then paused for a moment before unleashing the power of time, pressing against Foster.
This was the first and most likely the last clash between the God of Time and the God of the World Tree in cosmic history. If it weren't for the precious opportunity to compete for the throne of the Concept God, these two gods would likely have avoided a war, even until the end of the universe.
But now, driven by divergent objectives, they engaged in a desperate battle. The moment these two single-universe-level beings' powers collided, they easily shattered countless stars.
The shackles of time and the chains of divine power intertwined, the drastic changes brewing a crisis that threatened to tear the world apart.
"If you think you've seized your opportunity, you're gravely mistaken. Duval wouldn't make such a mistake. Even if you were a god who mastered time, you would be of little use in the face of greater wisdom,"
Foster shouted coldly, brandishing Thor's hammer with all his might.
But a weapon of this caliber was completely inadequate on a single-universe-level battlefield.
Kronos fixed his gaze on the hammer, splitting the endless lightning with his bare hands. Unleashing a sudden force, the terrifying force instantly shattered Thor's hammer's fundamental structure, destroying it from the very particles to the very principles of its composition.
Mjolnir was reduced to dust.
But Foster's expression remained unchanged. She simply opened her hand and reached out to the space before her.
Space suddenly shattered, and a superior Storm Axe flew in.
Foster tilted her head again, and a branch from the vast World Tree snapped off. This branch should have been able to support countless planets, but now, seemingly unremarkable, it fell into Foster's hands and she pressed it directly onto the Storm Axe.
In a flash, Foster forcibly attached the Storm Axe, made entirely of urugin, to a handle crafted from World Tree branches. The power surging from the axe exploded, instantly rivaling the combined energy of countless stars, its radiance blazing brighter than a supernova.
Everyone was stunned by the feat, marveling at Foster's skill in breaking off branches from the World Tree to create a weapon, and awed by the Stormbreaker's sudden resurgence.
Only Thor, the god of thunder, whose axe had inexplicably vanished, stood on Asgard, silently gazing up at the sky, watching the storm of divine power erupting from the endlessly distant edge of the World Tree.
The good news: the gods invading the World Tree had been stopped once again.
The bad news: his axe had flown away of its own accord, having been summoned by his immediate superior and then fled.
Thor felt his weapon was plagued by misfortunes, always being inexplicably taken. He wondered if Stormbreaker would return on its own after the battle was over.
"What a frivolous trick,"
Thanos observed, glancing back ahead, intending to challenge Duval directly. He wondered if the death of Duval, a conceptual god—or, if he were to slay him during his ascension, a demi-god—could bring a smile to Death's face.
He hated Death for being like a piece of wood, motionless, ignoring him, and not talking.
Just when Thanos was about to go deeper into the World Tree.
"Reynolds, I leave it to you. Don't underestimate the enemy. Thanos is more dangerous than you think. Just do your best. If you really can't stop him
, let him in." Duval just glanced at him and gave the order casually.
He had to deal with more than just these two guys. Other gods were also ready to make a move. Dormammu,
who had a grudge against Duval but had kept a low profile for a while, hiding in the dark dimension to study the alien, was now full of confidence and struck out with a heavy punch.
Chapter 163: This is the game!
Dormammu has been lurking for some time.
"Living" seems a bit inappropriate to describe an ancient, single-minded cosmic being.
Even Dormammu himself feels that this is not the attitude of a normal cosmic god, let alone one that is so cautiously watching Earth.
After all, over the past few hundred years, he has clashed with the Ancient One in various ways. Even though he couldn't gain any advantage over the Ancient One, he remained the same formidable cosmic god, forcing the Ancient One to passively defend, fighting tooth and nail to hold Earth and the tiny area surrounding it.
But a few hundred years, a mere nap for Dormammu, passed. He outlasted the Ancient One and waited until the new Sorcerer Supreme ascended to power, only to see times change.
Earth's leader was no longer the Sorcerer Supreme, but a completely new entity—
an even more formidable villain.
Dormammu didn't even need to listen to the cosmic voice; even if he only guessed, he knew what the outsiders were saying about Duval:
This Earthling had defeated Dormammu and slain Knull, the God of Symbiotes. What a feat.
"That fool Knull was indeed slain, and he indeed lost. Who could have imagined that Duval could become the god of the World Tree? Before this, Dormammu didn't even know that there were several shadowy fathers hidden behind the World Tree. These fools were so mad as to give the World Tree's power to Duval, only to be slain by Duval's men."
Dormammu uttered a mortal curse: "The reason I didn't succeed was because I tried to confront both the Ancient One and Duval simultaneously, but when I realized it was futile, I captured a group of aliens and retreated. Were they not defeated by Duval? Were those fools blind?"
Dormammu should have swallowed all the planets emitting the noise into the Dark Dimension, transforming them into Death Stars.
But now, after waiting for so long, he had more important things to do.
"Kronos and Thanos... well, those two have their own agendas, but thanks to them, they've cleared the way for me to face Dewar."
Dormammu watched as Kronos was held back by Foster.
Thanos, armed with the Infinity Stones, was also desperately resisted by the exploding Reynolds. He marveled at the Sentinel's formidable performance. The combined power of millions of stars, combined with his full might, could he actually hold off a Cosmic God-level foe?
Last time, Dewar had controlled Reynolds' body and, in tandem with the Ancient One, forced him back.
This impressed Dormammu.
But judging by his performance that time, Dormammu was certain Reynolds wasn't as powerful as he is now.
Had he grown stronger over the years? Accumulated more power? Developed new powers?
This was truly magnificent.
A breach suddenly opened in the vast dark dimension, and a continuous stream of black matter began to spread wildly, eroding real spacetime.
Eyes as vast as planets peered down from within the dark dimension, gazing upon the bustling Earth.
Another Cosmic God had fallen.
Seeing Dormammu taking the initiative, everyone's emotions quickly subsided.
If anyone truly desired to destroy everything connected to Earth, it would be Dormammu. He had suffered so much on Earth.
But this was the third individual cosmic being to attack Duval. How would Duval respond?
He didn't have a third capable subordinate, right? At this juncture, could we finally see Duval taking action himself?
"Does Duval still have a way to stop Dormammu now?"
"It's hard to say. Duval defeated Dormammu last time by likely using the power of Reynolds. By killing Knull, he gained the throne of the World Tree God, and now he's giving it to the former female thunder god. Without those two things, what power does he have left?"
"Even if Duval really does take action himself, even miraculously defeating Dormammu, I wouldn't be too concerned. I'm concerned about whether this will interrupt Duval's ascension to the Concept God."
"No one knows. Except for those few creator gods who are constantly missing, no one has a clear understanding of the Concept God."
Everyone wants to see Dormammu succeed, yet they also don't want to see him succeed.
Faced with the endlessly expanding darkness, the azure Earth remained motionless, a deathly silence, allowing the darkness to surge forward.
Even Kronos observed it, suddenly compressing time to fill it with Foster in order to escape.
"Your master is about to be conquered by Dormammu, and you're still pestering me? Ha, I get it. You too want to seize this opportunity to escape Duva's control, right? Whether Duva becomes a god or not, your status as a vassal won't change. But if you could become a god in turn, everything would be different."
A vassal who doesn't seek to advance further isn't a good vassal.
Kronos himself sought to escape the Eternal Sequence, so he suspected that one or two powerful aliens might attempt to escape Duva's conceptual sequence.
Kronos was struck by a blow from Foster's axe, a blow that shattered all the overlapping layers of time.
"Since you're so confident, why don't you deal with me and go straight to Duva? Do you look down on yourself or Duva?" Foster hefted the Storm Axe onto his shoulder.
The previous exchange was a chaotic interweaving of time and divine power. From a realistic perspective, it seemed as if the two had only just begun fighting, but in reality, both Kronos and Foster knew they had clashed countless times.
Based solely on the previous encounter, Foster realized she couldn't defeat Kronos on her own.
The God of Time was, after all, a supreme deity in the universe, incredibly powerful.
Unable to quickly defeat Kronos and free up her forces to help Duval fend off the others, Foster immediately shifted her strategy. She didn't need to defeat Kronos; she simply needed to hold the God of Time back.
This was the best she could achieve; the rest depended on Duval.
Foster deeply believed Duval had a solution to the current predicament, even more than she believed in herself.
In the past, no matter what crisis, Duval had always come up with a reliable solution.
On Earth...
"...This is a dire situation! I can't recall a more perilous time."
Duval sat on Earth, his figure constantly radiating endless points of light. They were the materialization of rules, the manifestation of concepts, and the universe's response to Duval's encroachment and assimilation.
Dua, a god undergoing a drastic transformation, sighed softly as he faced the aggressive Dormammu.
Even a cosmic god couldn't solve all the problems.
Duwa was helpless. What a bunch of gods! Why were they always so stubborn?
He would become the first conceptual god ever born in this universe.
Those creator gods didn't count; they were already part of the universe, having existed since its inception. But after becoming a god, Duval wouldn't exterminate all life in the universe, nor would he turn every living thing into his host, or even simply rip his chest open to become an alien.
"But the future those guys worry about will definitely come true. This universe will largely be mine. When the multiverse opens, more and more gods from parallel universes will refer to this place as the Alien Universe."
Duval looked at the endless darkness that obscured the sky, and the dark dimension that continued to break open more gaps.
"Every single individual in this universe, every single one, whether god or human, will eventually become a potential host for the Alien. This will not change, no matter what the future holds. Unless a cosmic war breaks out, requiring an endless supply of troops, the vast majority of people will be safe and enjoy peace and stability." "
However, there are certain individuals who cannot be spared, no matter what. They truly annoy me, like flies that can get in through every pore."
Duval finally glanced up at the visibly agitated Dormammu.
Speaking of which, this demon god abducted a group of xenos upon his defeat a few years ago, and he's likely already thoroughly studied their secrets.
"Dua, we finally meet again. I've finally seized my chance. The Ancient One is dead. What other tricks do I have this time?"
Dormammu exclaimed in excitement. His roar, like the world itself, shook the entire Earth.
Against the vastness of the dimensions, Earth seemed dwarfed, like a grain of sand.
Even the best teeth can be broken by a grain of sand.
"The previous Sorcerer Supreme is gone, but there will be two next ones,"
Duua said casually, ignoring Dormammu and focusing on his transformation and distortion of the universe.
Two?
Dormammu was stunned.
The next second, two incredibly powerful spells suddenly erupted from somewhere on Earth, carrying a torrent of particles that fiercely bombarded the endlessly spreading darkness.
The power of these two spells was comparable to that of the Ancient One, and the destructive power of one spell even surpassed that of the Ancient One.
But what puzzled Dormammu was that the mere presence of two powerful sorcerers was not enough; the magic they wielded was utterly different from the magic of Kamar-Taj he knew.
One was filled with unspeakable darkness, sin, screams, and wails, as if magic had been distilled from countless hideous souls.
The other was even more bizarre; Dormammu could clearly smell the scent of demons.
The moment the faces of the two Sorcerers Supreme came into view, Dormammu was stunned.
What the hell?
One, with dark circles under his eyes, pale complexion, and gaunt figure, resembled a Strange who had indulged himself in excessive sexual activity. The other was blood-red with horns, but upon closer inspection, was he also a Strange?
Each of them wore a Time Stone around their necks.
"The Sorcerer Supreme can possess two Infinity Stones simultaneously. Humph, I see. It seems one of you is an outsider."
Dormammu immediately realized the truth. However, no matter how he looked at it, he felt that neither of the two Doctors Stranges was truly compatible with the Ancient One. No matter which he chose as his successor, Dormammu could not understand the Ancient One's thinking.
But then again, Dormammu had always been fascinated by the Ancient One's thinking. After all, what Sorcerer Supreme would default on his debts? And now, even the Ancient One's choice of successor was completely baffling to him.
The two Doctors Stranges joined forces to confront Dormammu.
The very first blow startled Dormammu.
Strange, with his dark circles under his eyes, wielded terrifying magic, occasionally incorporating a few signature Kamar-Taj spells. His power rivaled his own.
Furthermore, the chaotic energy, as if haphazardly concocted from countless monsters, further amplified the magic's destructive power.
Where did this guy learn his magic? Not even the Ancient One could claim such bizarre and powerful magic!
The other, Strange, a demon-human hybrid, was noticeably weaker, but possessed the Time Stone, allowing all manner of time spells to flow uncontrollably from his hands.
For a moment, the mighty Dormammu was practically at a disadvantage, unable to advance or retreat. Clashing with these two powerful Doctors Strange, he had no advantage at all, and it looked as if he would never be able to make a difference. The
man who should have been most likely to seize everything from Duval had ended up in such an awkward position, a truly unexpected outcome.
"Where did those two, who I don't know if they're human or not, come from? When did Duval have such powerful men under his command?"
"One of them seems to have demonic blood, a hybrid of demon and human? That's strange. Our universe has never had much contact with Hell."
"I remember last time, I seemed to vaguely sense that an unknown force had opened the cosmic barrier. Perhaps it was some demon who did it. Without us knowing, Duval had already completed contact with the demons of Hell."
Eyes scanned the scene, seeing Dormammu becoming increasingly passive, overwhelmed by the two Doctors Strange, so much so that even the Dark Dimension was shrinking.
But Duval remained completely unmoved by what was happening, as if it were all routine, a natural progression.
Such composure made even the gods frown.
Who else was going to take action? If this continued, Duval would truly become a god. He could complete the final step at any moment.
But in the universe, excluding those who claimed to be cosmic gods but were in reality mere imitations of the Ancient Fathers, there were very few single cosmic gods.
Three powerful single-universe-level warriors were defeated in succession, and all were easily dealt with by Duva. Who
else can he rely on? Who else is willing to risk becoming Duva's mortal enemy and test Duva's unfathomable hand?
There really is one.
Duva also stood up and looked in another direction.
Large-scale destruction appeared in space, indicating that there are visitors from another world of astonishing size, breaking into this universe and squeezing the structural framework of the universe.
"Hehehe, that's great, this universe should not have its own number, with so many hard-working gods, and they have created a wonderful opportunity for me... My patience has not been in vain."
Mephisto has arrived, and He has finally waited for the opportunity.
Chapter 164: Becoming a God from Now
He came, speaking similar words as when Dormammu attacked, and hurried over.
But Mephisto did not think that he would follow in Dormammu's footsteps.
He waited patiently, and finally waited for the moment when the two Doctor Stranges besieged Dormammu.
One of the Doctor Stranges also possessed part of His bloodline, which was also the result of His intentional guidance.
"Mephisto!!!"
The demon Strange felt the agitation of his bloodline, and then immediately noticed the demonic aura coming towards him. He immediately shifted his gaze. At a glance, his face suddenly changed, and he let out a roar filled with endless hatred.
Subconsciously, the demon Strange wanted to shake off Dormammu, holding the Time Stone in his chest, and desperately wanted to deal with Mephisto.
"Calm down, that guy did it on purpose! Do you really have the confidence to take on a demon of Mephisto's caliber right now? Don't forget, Mephisto isn't a native god of this universe. The extent to which your Time Stone will affect him is completely unknown! If he were to take the Time Stone by mistake, it would be a disaster, and would only put us all in even greater danger!"
Black Qiyi, swift-witted and quick-handed, reached out and pressed firmly on the demon's shoulder. Using this physical contact, he cast a binding spell on him.
Binding wasn't the goal in itself; it was simply to hinder him for a moment.
"Besides, how can you be sure that your attack on him isn't what he wants? Mephisto's cunning is renowned far and wide," Black Qiyi said gravely.
Dormammu originally wanted to take advantage of the distraction of the two Doctor Stranges to brew powerful magic to kill one of them in one go. Unfortunately, even the relatively weak demon Strange would not make such a low-level mistake. He had already used the Time Stone to drag Dormammu into a time loop at the first opportunity, making Dormammu's attempt in vain and he could only watch the precious opportunity pass by.
The devil Qiyi hesitated: "But if I don't attack Mephisto, maybe that's what the devil wants to see, so that he can concentrate his strength to deal with Duva."
"Yes, of course there is such a possibility, but I don't believe Duva is really helpless. Don't underestimate the plan in the head of a person who is attacking the concept god. Compared to this, our side is most likely to have a breakthrough in the entire battlefield. As long as the two of us join forces and defeat Dormammu as soon as possible, we can free up our hands to help others and turn the situation back bit by bit."
An evil smile appeared on the thin face of Hei Qiyi: "I have read countless books and know countless knowledge, but I have never witnessed the birth of the concept god with my own eyes. I will not let go of this opportunity. Whoever hinders my curiosity, I will kill Him, even if the other party is a god!"
Dormammu is very strong? Well, he's certainly strong. In a pure battle of brute force, Dormammu is slightly stronger than Black Strange—it's true that Black Strange destroyed a universe, but that was because he miscalculated the timing, causing the universe to collapse. The gods of that universe had no chance of resistance and were destroyed along with the universe.
Black Strange didn't achieve
this feat by slaying every god in the universe. "Are you threatening me, human from some unknown universe?" Dormammu said in a foul mood. Honestly, even though their fight was brief, he harbored a deep fear of Doctor Strange.
As both archmages of a single universe, Dormammu mastered the Dark Dimension, constantly drawing upon its power. Logically, he should have the upper hand no matter how they fought.
But for some reason, Dormammu always perceived a sense of utter chaos and sin in Black Strange, the negative legacy left by the countless lives tragically lost to this human mage.
"Hmm, it seems he's been persuaded..."
Mephisto took a second to glance at Strange, the demon he had nurtured. His expression grew even more intriguing.
He had single-handedly facilitated the creation of Doctor Strange, and
that wasn't a random act. Placing such a nail in the universe, allowing him to sense its vast changes, was enough to prompt Mephisto to arrive immediately. Mephisto looked at Duval, feeling he couldn't miss this opportunity. If he missed it, he would lash out.
"I underestimated you again. I thought you were just a significant new concept, capable of bringing me unexpected advancements. But I never imagined you would one day transform into a Concept God..."
Mephisto impatiently rushed towards Duval, his long tongue jutting out from his hideous mouth, salivating over Duval. The
difference between devouring an ordinary concept and devouring a Concept God was immense.
Mephisto believed he was about to receive what was arguably the greatest reward of his life.
All he had to do was rush over, absorb Duval in one go, and then, after that, take down all the aliens, ultimately wiping out all concepts.
At that point, Mephisto's power would undoubtedly surge. He might still be no match for Cyttorak, Marvel's greatest demon. Cyttorak, after all, was a multiverse-level demon, far too powerful for Mephisto to easily defeat
. But once he had everything Duval possessed, ruling over the other dimensions of Hell would surely be more than enough. But when Duval's face met Mephisto's malevolent eyes, and he saw the utter calmness, he was slightly startled.
"The long-awaited fruit has finally yielded its rich harvest. If I were you, I'd be happy too... I'm happy right now," Duval said.
"Because you're about to be devoured by me, all the concepts you've accumulated, becoming part of a demon like me, doesn't disgrace you."
"No, it's because from the moment you appeared, you, this demon, posed no danger to me. What I hate most is a sword that refuses to be unsheathed; it makes it difficult for me to grasp its true nature." Duva shook his head slightly. It wasn't time to take action personally.
If it weren't for that guy, Duva would have taken action himself.
"Kongsu, I leave it to you. According to the prophecy you've learned, the culprit for the destruction of your universe lies right here," Duva said.
Kongsu?
Mephisto looked stunned. Then, the demon saw a vast gap in the universe. From it rose a bright moon, emitting a pure, holy, and incomparably bright light.
While not as dazzling as it seemed to be, it easily overshadowed the light of a star, immersing the dark vacuum in a pure silvery white.
This universe was truly bustling. Another god from a parallel universe had intruded.
This was someone Mephisto hadn't expected. The moment he recognized who he was, he was stunned.
"You two, you actually crossed countless universes and came here..." Mephisto sneered.
"Yes, it's us. I was originally wondering why so many Mephistos, who were supposed to be invading our universe continuously, suddenly withdrew all at once. Is there really a conspiracy? Are they concentrating their forces to attack this universe? What do you think of the universe? You can invade it if you want, and destroy it if you want?!"
The Moon God Kongsu became extremely manic upon seeing Mephisto, and his emotions were also mixed with a lot of fear. "You want to destroy this place before destroying my universe! I will never allow you to do this. As long as I can get rid of you here, it means that I have saved my universe." The moon god Khonsu and the human who wields his power, Moon Knight Mark, form an extraordinary partnership. They are, in a sense, children of destiny, emanating from the universe of the grand event, the Khonsu Era.
This god-human duo has slain numerous Mephisto invaders.
Suddenly, however, they realize that the seemingly endless influx of Mephisto invaders has ceased and retreated.
Suspecting a more formidable enemy, forcing Mephisto to concentrate all his forces, Khonsu and Mark strike a chord, deciding not to passively defend and wait for the demons to attack. Instead, they should follow the demons' trail and search the vast universe for the one who can cause Mephisto to panic. Killing
more Mephistos won't save the universe, but finding the one who can kill them will save everything they hold dear. Khonsu and Mark firmly believe this,
and the outcome hasn't disappointed them.
After many twists and turns, they finally found their way to this universe. Just a glance from afar revealed that it was constantly emitting strange points of light, and its entire contours were shifting drastically, making it impossible to determine, as if some mysterious and unknown force was gestating.
They now knew that the person who had caused the cosmic upheaval, who had forced Mephisto to withdraw his power and, in a sense, indirectly saved their universe, was actually a single individual.
Crucially, this individual was currently at a critical juncture, and had issued a clear invitation to the two who had arrived but had been lingering outside the cosmic barrier for some time.
They were willing to do anything to embarrass Mephisto.
However, the combined forces of Moon Knight and Moon God Khonsu alone were insufficient to directly confront Mephisto's true form.
Mephisto's personal presence was a rare occurrence, and it also signaled his determination.
However, Duval didn't demand that these two defeat Mephisto; he simply wanted to give him a last, slight opportunity, saving him the trouble of personally taking action.
Mephisto's face was filled with rage, ready to annihilate Moon Knight and Moon Goddess who stood in his way.
As a demon lord, his power naturally imbued him with the strength of the Hell dimension he ruled, a fundamental imitation shared by Dormammu and Gnar.
However, the world of Hell contained countless dimensions within it, existing independently of the multiverse.
Mephisto couldn't transfer the entire Hell dimension he ruled into the multiverse.
His presence in the multiverse meant that his peak strength would only last for the moment he left Hell and entered the multiverse.
From that moment on, Mephisto's power diminished with each passing moment. The longer he remained separated from Hell, the weaker his power would be, until he returned to Hell, where his strength would gradually recover.
This was why Mephisto never risked his own life.
This time, he risked his own life for Duval, and in a sense, he also placed himself in danger.
Boom!
Mephisto glared, and endless flames erupted wildly, as if the entire world had ripped apart. With its utter ugliness, Mark and Khonsu plunged into despair.
But having slain numerous Mephistos, including some even at the level of the Father, Mark and Khonsu were all too familiar with his power. They had long anticipated and prepared for a frantic resistance.
"Mephisto, I know everything about you. I dream of killing you, even though you're now far more powerful than any Mephisto I've ever encountered!"
Khonsu was utterly terrified. He knew he was no match for Mephisto, but now, Moonlight Knight Mark was using his power to control this body, and he immediately faced Mephisto without hesitation.
Even at the first encounter, he was completely overwhelmed, even on the verge of death. Cracks appeared on his body, difficult to fully repair, and his soul slowly wore away.
Mark felt as if the universe's death was beckoning him, and Khonsu was trembling with fear, instinctively wanting to flee.
Undoubtedly, Khonsu, the Moon God of the Khonsu Era Universe, is like this. He utterly fears Mephisto, yet is willing to risk everything to ensure his universe is not destroyed by him. To this end, he is even hostile to the entire world, madly draining the primal power of heroes and villains to enhance his own strength.
In reality, Mark and Khonsu themselves knew they didn't need to defeat Mephisto; it was an impossible task.
After several rounds of fighting, the two figures seemed to be on the verge of victory.
"Enough, enough,"
Duva whispered suddenly.
As his words rang out, a gentle breeze swept through the universe, as if an invisible giant hand were sweeping from one end of the universe to the other.
This single act, in effect, smoothed out all the turmoil within the universe.
Eyes filled with shock, confusion, and fear fell on Duva.
Duva slowly stood up and, under the gaze of countless people, opened his arms.
The entire universe shook violently. Billions of points of light connected into an endless stream of light, ultimately forming a network that covered every corner of the universe. This network, permeated by countless laws, connected the constants and parameters of the universe, and inscribed Duval's mark on every piece of information within the universe.
Mephisto looked at Duval grimly: "You have..."
"Yes, I have succeeded. I have become a god like you," Duval replied.