Duval witnessed the entire birth of the DC version of the zombie virus and couldn't help but praise Darkseid profusely.
"Zombie virus? What is that? Do you have a similar power in your world?" Darkseid said coldly. "I've once again improved my understanding of your native world. Tell me how to get there, and I'll let you go before I change my mind."
"No need for such low-brow rhetoric. If you can defeat Thanoside in time and analyze Thanoside's godhead, you'll gain a wealth of crucial knowledge. Isn't that what you're thinking?"
Duval gazed at the new creation in Darkseid's hands. "Let me see if this thing is as powerful as I expected."
Darkseid snorted and threw the zombie virus without hesitation—"The term 'virus' isn't quite right, as it can spread through rules and other means, making it infinitely more terrifying than conventional viruses that need to be spread through air, blood, and other media.
Of course, its destructive power is also infinitely greater."
Two Doomsdays rushed forward, blocking Darkseid's path. They were the first to be infected by the virus, and in an instant, they were infected, howling shrilly as large clumps of rotting flesh began to form on their bodies.
Even though the Doomsdays could evolve rapidly, their rate of evolution was ultimately limited, insufficient to counteract the virus's erosion.
"Foolish and arrogant, you are finished! This power will follow your concept and kill all of you in one swoop." Darkseid watched with apathy, wishing to see all aliens suffer endless despair.
The two Doomsdays quickly succumbed, their bodies decaying, bones exposed in places. They became mindless, gluttonous beasts, howling meaninglessly and instinctively attacking any healthy living creature.
"Interesting, this zombie is very interesting,"
Duvall observed carefully, assessing the characteristics of the DC Zombies.
Indeed, this very scene was exactly what Duval had hoped for. Even if the New 52 Darkseid hadn't done so, Duval, already aware of the potential for creating a zombie virus, would have devised a way to utilize the Anti-Life Equation and the Dark Walker's Reaper gene to create a zombie virus capable of spreading via network signals.
Marvel's zombie virus and the significantly weakened Quantum Zombie Virus both required physical transmission, while DC's zombie virus, driven by the Anti-Life Equation, had become practically a conceptual virus, capable of infecting any living being.
This was excellent, and Duval was optimistic about this possibility.
"You will immediately become overwhelmed with regret, and then sink into a deep abyss of remorse, hating your own boundless arrogance..." Darkseid said coldly.
Duva interrupted again, "This virus is indeed powerful and is killing me quickly, but you should look at yourself first. Before I was infected with the virus, you were in the same space-time dimension as me. As the creator of the virus, you had already been infected by the virus."
"What? How is this possible? I clearly used the Omega effect to guide the Anti-Life Equation, and I have never personally come into contact with the Anti-Life Equation and the Death Gene!"
"You all know that the Omega Effect is related to the Anti-Life Equation, so these two forces can be used to connect and influence each other, then why can't the Anti-Life Equation affect you through the Omega Effect?"
Duva shook his head coldly: "The Anti-Life Equation is not a living thing, but it is naturally good at calculating various possibilities of killing powerful life forms. You are so close, it is impossible not to be calculated by this formula."
"No, such a thing..."
Darkseid raged, staring at his rapidly decaying hand. His once mighty divine power now rotted, as if drawn from the most foul, dark, and ugly reaches of the multiverse, even more filthy than the redundancy of the Dark Multiverse's eons.
This was the crucial manifestation of the anti-life force.
"You, the Dark Lord, whose life is worse than death, are truly pathetic," Duvall declared.
"Hmph, what right do you have to mock me? I'm about to become an immortal monster, and your decline will only be even more severe!"
Darkseid growled in frustration!
Why had this happened? How could this happen? He had calculated everything, yet he was the first god to be struck and on the verge of losing himself?
This conceptual weapon was clearly designed to deal with and annihilate a conceptual god on a large scale, so why was it used on him?
"You are naive, Darkseid. Guess why I tried every means to stimulate the birth of the zombie virus? I have the ability to kill the Anti-Monitor and the Dark Walker. Even if the Dark Walker is a god on the side of death and it is difficult to really kill him, there is no problem in defeating and imprisoning him. Why should I keep him until you come?"
Duva looked at Darkseid, who was quickly losing his life and his consciousness was quickly blurred: "Just as I expected, you risked your life to create this excellent weapon for me. I will remember your contribution, but no one can truly understand your anger at this moment, because your godhead is about to be corrupted, and your original body will probably not even look at you twice." What
's more interesting is that the New 52 Darkseid, in the current multiverse, actually exists as the Darkseid of the main world. Unlike the Darkseid who came from the mirror universe in the Heroes of Death event, he used half of the anti-life equation for research and development, and developed the zombie virus with some accidental results.
It's well-known that whenever the main world is involved, whether human or divine, they inevitably possess extraordinary talents and are naturally capable of inciting change throughout the multiverse.
Therefore, the zombie virus developed by the New 52 Darkseid using the complete anti-life equation, with the goal of suppressing and destroying Duva, the conceptual god, is absolutely terrifying beyond imagination.
But the problem is, if this virus can even deal with conceptual gods, why can't it also affect the New 52 Darkseid?
The New 52 Darkseid is on the verge of collapse, becoming a monster devoid of self-awareness, possessing immense divine power.
Worse still, he is furious to discover that the virus he has contracted is rapidly corroding the fragments of his godhood within him and is also beginning to erode Darkseids in other worlds.
Although this erosion is less intense due to the immense distance, it is nonetheless real.
"I am an independent individual. If I die, the me in other worlds won't be greatly affected. They will immediately find a way to deal with this virus. But you, on the other hand, will soon die. Your concepts are unified, unlike my godhead, which is fragmented. This means that your concepts will eventually die."
Darkseid glanced at Duval one last time, but he still couldn't see what he wanted to see.
Because the infection brought by the two Doomsdays had caused Duval to decisively sever a portion of his own concepts.
It was painful, but not impossible. Aliens, emitting a powerful aura, retreated at Dewar's command.
As the virus spread, infecting weaker aliens and driving them mad in droves, Dewar decisively destroyed more of himself, even immediately eradicating the alien larvae within Superman and others, conceptually abandoning them.
"I'm free?" Superman observed his state numbly. Endless combat had dulled his mental senses, reducing him to a mere machine carrying out his orders. But now, he found he could control his body—though moments later, he was invaded by concepts again. The part
of himself that belonged to Dewar was rapidly dying, not from the virus, but from suicide.
Dewar's decisiveness and ferocity were beyond Darkseid's imagination. At least Darkseid wouldn't massacre his other clones to save himself.
Normally, Dewar's rate of suicide and being killed far exceeded the rate at which his concepts spread and expanded.
But Duvall cared nothing about this loss. As he perished en masse, aliens from other universes immediately flooded into the DC Multiverse.
To put it bluntly, Duvall was using his kryptonian life to slow the zombie virus's progress.
If the need arose, even if all the DC aliens were corrupted and Duvall "died," he could still introduce entirely new concepts into the DC Universe.
"I'm not like the conceptual gods you understand, even the higher conceptual gods of the Infinite Family. My concepts are embodied in physical form and confined to the aliens. As long as I'm ruthless and self-destruct faster than the virus spreads, I can effectively curb the infection."
But if the aliens carrying the virus were all dead, how could the virus infect more?
As long as he died quickly enough, even the most powerful zombie virus wouldn't be able to transform him into a zombie.
An alien crossed the sonic boom tunnel and arrived in Universe 3. After a moment of distortion, it emanated the power of a cosmic god and transformed into a completely new Duvall.
"More importantly, I don't care how much I lose in this world. Even if I die countless times, I can reappear unscathed... My immortality surpasses all other gods of death, at least at this stage."
Duva glanced at Dark Walker, who was being dragged to the edge of the universe like a dead dog by the Mephisto alien's grip around his neck.
Dark Walker, Black Death Emperor, and the newly joined Death are the three major gods of death in DC's death-side.
Of course, these three gods of death are divided into different levels. The weakest is Dark Walker. The zombie virus created by Dark Walker's death gene can exterminate life within a single universe, but it won't cause much of a stir in the realm of gods.
Let alone infecting Duva's part of the Marvel Multiverse.
It's unknown how long it would take to cover Universe 3, and even more so for it to spread to the DCEU.
Darkseid's sanity crumbled. As the Darkseid of the Main World, filled with endless frustration and remorse, he completely degenerated into a mad beast, intent on slaughtering and infecting all living things. He was ultimately swiftly slain by Duval, his godhood stripped away and sealed away.
With Darkseid's death, Darkseid regained his self-awareness.
"All things must die, and death is the most merciful release."
Darkseid looked down at Darkseid's tragic condition and said gravely, "But he has been trapped in this state of neither life nor death. How pathetic... What is your purpose? To watch and even promote the birth of the 'zombie' species? Do you wish to become the God of the Zombies?"
"The God of the Zombies... That's an interesting suggestion, but I'm already the Alien God and have no interest in expanding my own concepts."
"But you have indeed been partially infected with the zombie virus. Now, you are simply relying on the constant influx of new concepts from the outside world to sustain your existence." Feeling his own weakness, Darkseid looked at the zombies spreading across the planets, a deep sense of bewilderment evident beneath his mask.
He was, after all, a god of death, possessing speeds that crushed most speedsters. He had traversed countless universes, bringing death to countless lives, yet he still couldn't grasp what Duval was planning.
Was he using this anti-life virus to expand his own concept? Was he allowing the concept of aliens to spread rapidly across the universes, fueled by the zombie virus? After all, the zombie virus's spread was far more rapid than Duval's method of bestowing alien forms upon all living things.
The Dark Walker pondered silently, reaching a conclusion he believed to be correct.
At the same time, in the realm of the gods,
Death and Sandman also vanished beyond Apokolips.
"Just let those guys go like this? The Infinity Family... Hey!" Steppenwolf was very dissatisfied, and said, "But I didn't expect the result to be like this. The Darkseid of the New 52 Universe is dead. It can be said that he died in the calculation of the Anti-Life Equation."
Darkseid said indifferently: "His death is worth it. It proves the uncontrollability of the Anti-Life Equation. The gods born from the Life Equation cannot control the Anti-Life Equation. All those who rashly come into contact with the Anti-Life Equation must pay the price of death. The Anti-Monitor is like this, and so is my clone..." "
And the conceptual god who should have died too... the Alien God." Desaad came out, his hoarse voice full of curiosity, "Although he is dying, he is still not dead, great Darkseid, I don't know what you and your clone are planning, but it's best to get rid of him immediately."
"It can't be solved. Even if I were to kill him myself, risking the destruction of the multiverse, I still couldn't do it. Sandman is right on this point. It's not unreasonable for Death to personally stand up for Sandman."
Darkseid stood there coldly. Even Desaad couldn't have predicted that, at this moment, the strongest Darkseid would quietly begin to develop a zombie virus within his godhead.
Although this level of zombie virus couldn't affect the multiverse-level Darkseid in any way, it did cause a tiny bit of "dust" to taint his godhead.
Chapter 216: The herds aren't necessarily just cattle and sheep; there are zombies
too. Even Darkseid can't do anything about that strange alien god?
Desaad lowered his head, rapidly considering the possibilities. This was unbelievable to him.
Darkseid could look upon Death and Sandman with indifference, but facing a single cosmic god, he openly admitted that he was helpless?
"That's very interesting. I imagine there's something about the alien god that you're concerned about... or perhaps a brand-new power you desire?" Desaad observed Darkseid's condition, unable to discern any useful information, and lowered his head once more. After
all, he was only Darkseid's assistant, not Darkseid himself. He couldn't do what Darkseid could do; he didn't have the strength.
"If necessary, I can defeat that fellow for you. A god of his caliber shouldn't make you, the Lord of Apokolips, so cautious. Of course, most importantly, I will recover the Anti-Life Equation for you! Only you, Darkseid, are qualified to wield this weapon,"
Steppenwolf said in a low voice, never mentioning killing Duval. He excelled at using his loyalty to coax Darkseid into inappropriate actions, even if they proved futile.
Darkseid paid no attention to his uncle, not even bothering to decipher Steppenwolf's plans. His primary focus was on his own godhood, examining the encroaching zombie virus.
This level of power couldn't materially affect him, but its maggot-like properties and bizarre transmission method intrigued Darkseid. It could almost be described as a wonderful creation on the anti-life side, opposing all living things, yet not truly siding with death. Instead, it transformed living things into half-dead zombies.
It's already at this level, enough to infect a single cosmic god. If it evolves further in the future, wouldn't it mean even the gods of the multiverse could succumb to this virus?
Darkseid, focused on his godhood, said without looking up, "Shut up! My best advice to you is to offer no suggestions. Your best fate is to serve as my weapon."
"But the Anti-Life Equation..."
"The Anti-Monitor and Darkseid can't use the Anti-Life Equation, so that guy can't use it either!" Desaad said.
"No, the Alien God can. He might be able to truly harness the Anti-Life Equation, rather than using it for mutual destruction like the Anti-Monitor and my clones do," Darkseid said.
Desaad and Steppenwolf certainly couldn't understand, but Darkseid, having learned a great deal from the New 52 Darkseid, understood that, for now, Dewar was probably the only one who could fully unleash the power of the Anti-Life Equation.
All life forms within the walled world, whether native or assimilated, essentially follow the rules of the Life Equation; it's just a matter of degree.
Within the confines of the Life Equation, how could they avoid the counteractions of the Anti-Life Equation?
But Duva was different. He had only brought a portion of his concept with him, his true form remaining in his distant native world. He hadn't fully assimilated into the world like the Endless Family or the Black Death Emperor from countless multiverses before.
This meant that Duva didn't follow the Life Equation, making him largely immune to the negative effects of the Anti-Life Equation. Perhaps the aliens he'd infested carried a greater portion of the Life Equation, indirectly affecting him.
However, Duva was able to abandon these aliens, even throwing some of himself aside as human shields when necessary, so any impact would be minimal.
"Interesting! A true outsider, though still weak at present, will profoundly change this dull world."
Darkseid sat on his throne, overlooking the vast, dark-red star beneath him. He listened to the desperate wails of billions of lives, and suddenly let out a terrifying laugh.
He had had enough of this damned tedium. The endless cycle of his clones playing superhero tricks in various universes was too boring, and it offered him absolutely no fresh knowledge or information.
The world within the wall would only become interesting if it continued to revolve around, until it completely lost its mysteries and everything was clear.
"Even someone of my father's power couldn't breach the Wall of Origin. I must find another way." Darkseid's gaze fell on Universe 3.
Not long after,
Kalibak, the Crown Prince of Apokolips, learned that his great father had lost his most important clone and was devastated.
Kalibak is the offspring of the sorceress Sully and Darkseid, Darkseid's eldest son and his most loyal warrior—at least far more loyal than Steppenwolf.
Sully died young, killed by Heggla, the wife of Yuga Khan and Darkseid's mother. This led to the events that culminated in Darkseid sending Desaad, the sharp blade, to overthrow Heggla's rule over Apokolips and ascend to the throne of Lord Apokolips.
"Desaad, tell me what happened. You know I have no clones in the multiverse! Why did my father in the Main World lose to a mysterious alien god? He even lost the Anti-Life Equation!"
Kalibak immediately approached Desaad, but Desaad was focused on the machine in front of him. Upon hearing this, he gave Kalibak a cold look. "Darkseid certainly has his reasons for doing this. Instead of obsessing over Duval and the Anti-Life Equation, you should be caring about your foolish brother Orion. He's completely devoted to the Father and is a disgrace to Apokolips." "Orion
? If Father gives the order, I'll kill him now!" Kalibak said.
Orion was one of the hostages exchanged between Apokolips and New Genesis to build trust and avoid war. But the outcome was unfortunate. Darkseid raised a descendant of the Father, and even as he grew up, he still wholeheartedly believed in the Father. Darkseid's youngest son, Orion, who was sent to New Genesis as a hostage, also believed in the Father.
"Orion has been carefully nurtured by the Father, and his strength is no less than yours. Don't be impulsive. It's not time to go to war with New Genesis Star yet." Desaad was a little annoyed. He didn't want to waste time on Kalibak.
"You should go to the Endless Corridor to conduct research. That's the base camp of the liches. Aside from your race not being a lich, you're no different from those disgusting creatures in every other way!"
Kalibak left the laboratory in anger, intending to do something on his own, to kill the enemy and reclaim the Anti-Life Equation.
"Father has been searching for this formula for countless years. If I can get it back, I will definitely gain his attention." Kalibak didn't even think about possessing the Anti-Life Equation and overthrowing Darkseid's rule. His mind was filled with loyalty.
...
"You're dead."
"Yes, you don't need to remind me, but I'm resurrected."
"Yes, I don't know how many times you've been resurrected. But what surprised me was that this time, you chose to abandon everything in the multiverse and choose to be resurrected from me as a six-dimensional life form. It's truly rare and not like you at all." In the sixth dimension, World Forger Alpheus was unimpressed by his brother, but neither was he wary. He simply looked on indifferently at the Anti-Monitor Mobius, who had resurrected from this place.
"Let me correct you. This isn't your territory. It's ours, the three of us. It's also the headquarters for our future rebellion against Him, once Mother is free." The Anti-Monitor sensed the various signs of his own six-dimensional life, and powerful forces surged forth.
A mass capable of destroying countless universes and crushing the multiverse with a single wave of his hand. This was the Anti-Monitor's true form, its most powerful form. He said, "Don't you wish to ask why?"
"There's no need to inquire. I only need to read the information circulating within the multiverse to understand what you've experienced in this third generation: Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Sinestro War, Blackest Night, and this incident. I originally considered calling this the Darkseid War, but now I think 'Alien Epic' is more appropriate... In short, you've been attacked by a succession of gods, heroes, and villains, dying and resurrecting, resurrecting and dying again. You've always shown me ways to die I never imagined. It's truly fascinating."
The World Forger spoke coldly, still meticulously weaving the multiverse he had created within the sixth dimension.
Once the Goddess of Creation escaped and began to destroy the world with her boundless might, the sixth-dimensional multiverse he had created and maintained would be the final utopia, sealed off from the dead silence and despair of the outside world.
"You, you still disgust me. When will you ever learn the art of language?" The Anti-Monitor's defenses were broken.
Ever since he descended into the multiverse, he's been truly disgraceful, dying in a variety of ways, completely lacking the dignity and prestige of a DC Old God.
The World Forger said, "The art of language is something only mortals need to study. I don't need it, and it won't transform into power against Mother."
"You can hide in the sixth-dimensional multiverse to avoid Mother's pursuit?"
"At least it's a hope. It may be crude, but it's the only way I can think of to survive. I'm trying to provide a possible refuge for the lives trapped in this closed and hopeless cage," said the World Forger. "I'm not like you, who simply wants to use the Anti-Life Equation to kill all life."
"You have to admit, this is a good idea. If everyone dies, Mother will escape the Origin Wall, and there will be no one left to kill. He won't have enough high-quality raw materials to create soldiers, let alone counterattack the Omniverse. Besides, we now have death, true death." The Anti-Monitor plopped down next to the World Forger.
The World Forger somewhat agreed with this argument.
Indeed, since the arrival of the Endless Family, the sealed world within its walls has possessed its own kind of death, a death that transcends the Dark Walkers and the Black Death Emperor, a truly universal death.
All life must perish, ultimately returning to death, leaving the Goddess of Creation without a single slayer, without a single soldier to fight. If you
have the guts, seek death's revenge.
"Unfortunately, you can't control the Anti-Life Equation. Perhaps you could try to manipulate it using this form, but if you do, regardless of success, some treacherous god will discover you're a six-dimensional being and lead you to the sixth dimension—you know, this is the heart of the multiverse, and we can't afford to lose it," the World Forger sarcastically retorted.
The Anti-Monitor snorted, but didn't move.
"Duva..."
"He's very special. I originally thought he'd be the next Dark Lord, stumbling upon the world within the walls, breaking in, and becoming a part of it. But that's not the case. He seems to have other agendas in his arrival in our world. Now he's using Darkseid to create a strange virus... I don't know what he's up to."
The World Forger had some interest in Duva, but at most, he saw him as a god with the potential to enhance the diversity of the world within the walls. In the future, when they fight against the Goddess of Creation, a new and unfamiliar power system will undoubtedly be the greatest counter to the Goddess's influence over this world and its gods.
The Anti-Monitor was silent for a long moment, then asked, "What about the other guy? What's he doing?"
"Marnovo is negotiating with the Monitors and seems to have made a significant discovery," the World Forger said.
"Huh, the Monitors and the Monitors themselves? It's ridiculous. That guy's power has been split off..." The Anti-Monitor sneered. He and the Monitors were at loggerheads; antimatter and matter were naturally mortal enemies.
But he also sincerely hoped that the Positive Monitor could find something useful from the Monitors. In the fight against the Goddess of Creation, all three of them would have to give their all.
As for the Alien God Duva? He was a strange creature, and annoyed the Anti-Monitor, but that was all...
"The zombie virus has begun to spread rapidly in Universe 3, and Darkseid in other universes has also shown signs of infection," the World Forger suddenly said.
The Anti-Monitor also observed the three-dimensional multiverse from the sixth dimension.
...
The entire Universe 3 began to fall, and more and more zombies appeared.
This universe was in dire straits. It was originally a reversed universe, where ruthless and evil beings dominated, wantonly slaughtering all life forms. Survival in this universe was impossible for anyone without madness.
Now, the situation was even more difficult, as the incredibly contagious virus spread, transforming a large number of healthy beings into zombies.
Soon, hordes of zombies formed a terrifying tide, spreading out to other planets in search of fresh flesh to devour, seeking healthy, uninfected hosts.
"What a magnificent sight! Darkseid has truly crafted something remarkable."
Duvall, meticulously calculating the Anti-Life Equation, occasionally glanced up to observe the changes in Universe 3.
Such a world would surely attract the attention of a special being...
Chapter 217: Lantern Number One, the Desperate Universe 3 Needs You to Step Up.
Duvall does have some confidence in controlling the Anti-Life Equation, as he's not yet a living being in the DC Universe; at most, he's using DC natives as a shell.
However, Duvall isn't interested in this. No matter how powerful this formula is, it's ultimately subject to death.
Even if he slaughters utterly, wiping out all living things in the DC Universe, reaching the level of the Dark Lord would be a feat, let alone Death.
Death now is only multiverse-wide. In the years to come, with more accumulated power, Death will become Omniverse-wide, able to freely traverse the Origin Wall and claim to be at one with God.
Furthermore, controlling the Anti-Life Equation, to some extent, is tantamount to positioning oneself as "anti-life," a limitation in itself.
"Someday, when I have a level of power that surpasses this equation, I can give this thing to one of my subordinates and have him use it."
Duval toyed with the formula absentmindedly, his interest having faded.
"If you don't want it, you can give it to me. Perhaps it can combine with my Omega Effect to form a new force, at least giving me the ability to fight the zombie virus."
Sanoside approached.
He already knew what had happened. As a vessel for Duval's careless consumption, his vitality had been severely damaged, his godhood damaged, and he was on the verge of collapse. Worse still, the terrifying power of the zombie virus hung like a sword of Damocles over his head.
Sanoside could see that Duval cared nothing about the zombie virus threat, preferring to fight it out with his own life rather than take further action.
He also showed no concern for the Anti-Life Equation.
"Asking for rewards isn't your style, Thanoside. Have you had a change of heart? But you haven't been infected with the zombie virus."
Duval glanced at Thanoside. "Even without you, I'll have more vessels to use. Don't be so complacent. Also, your plan to rebel against me has already failed."
"Sure enough, you knew it from the beginning! I deliberately didn't think about it, strictly controlling my mind, but you still knew—you really can read my thoughts, even those I deliberately didn't think deeply about!" Thanoside's face darkened, but facing the truth, he felt strangely relieved.
"Your plan still works, as long as your efficiency in hunting other Darkseids exceeds my continuous growth," Duval said.
If Thanoside can devour enough godhead fragments and eventually ascend to the multiverse, it's entirely possible that he can break free from Duval's control. But then again, if he has the opportunity to hunt and devour countless Darkseids, he must first obtain Duval's permission. This is an unsolvable deadlock.
"Or, when you've reached a size barely comparable to mine, and can manipulate life forms through the Omega Effect, you could attack me directly."
Duval was fully aware of Thanoside's plan and the methods he could employ.
"Darkseid of the Main World is right. You're a supremely conceited god. You both annoy me and... terrify me." Standing before Duval, Thanoside's hands had fallen from their backs.
"Don't fear me, Thanoside. I'm not a true tyrant. I don't derive petty pleasure from killing my subordinates. Compared to that, I'd find greater pleasure in you slaying more enemies for me."
"So, Darkseid?"
"Go for it. Seeking opportunities to become stronger is completely unrelated to whether you'll betray me. That's how I see it." Duval displayed a warm and gentle presence, but Thanoside felt none of that warmth. A deep chill settled within him.
He believed Duva's words were genuine, but it only made him even more terrified.
What kind of freak could possess such a terrifying mindset?
"That's just how he is. This indifference is perhaps why he became your master, and why he's able to bring creatures like the Alien to such extraordinary heights."
Alexander Luthor approached, constantly wielding the power of his six gods, wary of the zombie virus that might spread from nowhere. With his brilliant mind and formidable strength against the Superpower, he naturally understood the terrifying nature of a god like Duva.
It could almost be said that he had no weaknesses.
And this all-encompassing nature allowed Duva to face catastrophic disasters with greater composure.
"The zombies are heading for Earth. We must be prepared for battle," Luthor declared to the others. "According to my calculations, gods from other worlds must have noticed Duval and the Alien and are secretly observing us."
"According to my calculations, they're already here, and on their way to strike," another Luthor—the DCEU's Lex Luthor—interposed in a strange tone.
Alexander Luthor glared at his impotent self. "Why haven't you died yet, a piece of trash like you? Even with a powerful Alien larva within you, it can't save your poor intelligence and even worse strength."
The two Luthors erupted in an argument, then glanced at each other, noticing that Duval was completely oblivious to their little antics.
"What a tragedy! I always feel like I should do something, but none of my plans have a satisfactory success rate..." Alexander Luthor lamented, missing the Super Queen, who had survived the battle for the Anti-Life Equation only to be succumbed to the zombie virus.
He devised a brilliant plan: to create a child with immense potential, then inject a powerful force—perhaps the Anti-Life Equation, or even better, Dewar's entire concept—into its body, transforming it into a powerful superweapon.
All he had to do was shout "Zansha" to channel the immense power into the child...
Unfortunately, the Super Queen was dead. Even if she hadn't, the plan would have been fraught with uncertainty, leaving a very low chance of success.
Furthermore, he lacked reliable allies. The Crime Syndicate's ragtag group, the most powerful Superpower, would gradually become a self-pitying waste after donning the Ring of Authority. How pathetic!
At that moment, in the madness and chaos of Universe 3, a white light appeared out of nowhere. A god sat solemnly in a spacious chair, reading the entire history of the universe in a single instant.
Numerous wandering zombies noticed his presence, and the few capable of moving in the vacuum of space quickly rushed towards him, attempting to bite him.
"Zombies... they're not entirely new. They largely contain elements of the anti-life equation."
He changed direction and headed for Earth.
"You two possess considerable intelligence, but it's not enough. In front of me, your schemes are nothing but child's play."
The god sitting on the chair first appeared in front of the two Luthers, tapping the handle of the chair with his fingers. The chair instantly burst out with a strong light, forcibly separating the two Luthers. Although this gesture was meaningless, it carried a deliberate display of power, as the two Luthers had no intention of engaging in combat.
His sudden appearance alarmed many.
Several aliens immediately surrounded Metron, ready to attack.
The Dark Walker, like a ghost, silently prepared to bring death upon the newcomer. But upon recognizing his opponent, he froze, a look of astonishment on his face.
"The Mobius Chair... the so-called God of Knowledge?" Duval recognized the man's identity instantly.
After obtaining the Anti-Life Equation, the Anti-Monitor abandoned the Mobius Chair he had crafted.
Thus, Metron, descended from the New Gods, seized the opportunity to sit on it, rising from a third-rate deity to the immensely powerful God of Knowledge.
Of course, whether this so-called God of Knowledge more accurately refers to the Mobius Chair or the being who sits in it, yet is in reality constantly controlled by it, is a matter of opinion.
Duval's gaze didn't linger on Metron for long, though. He spent noticeably longer looking at the chair beneath him.
But that was all. He was interested in living beings, or more precisely, flesh-and-blood beings. He simply couldn't bring himself to attack a machine.
"Concept God Duval, I've been following you. After you killed the Anti-Monitor, my interest in you reached its peak. I've seen through your uniqueness, and I finally understand why the Sandman went to stop the New Gods of Apocalypse for you."
Metron sat upright, his large chair emitting rays of informational light, making his figure appear incredibly sacred.
"So that's how it is, that Sandman..." Duval pondered, feeling that this was truly something the Sandman would do. He adhered to his inner ideals, doing things even gods wouldn't do.
Perhaps he was afraid of sparking a war between the two multiverses. What the Sandman didn't know was that Duval would definitely try to bring the two multiverses together. Not necessarily to the point of war, but to create a situation that would benefit him further.
Metron observed Duval carefully, harnessing the power of the Möbius Chair to gather vast amounts of information and calculate Duval's thoughts.
He even factored in the elements of the anti-life equation, yet still failed to extract any useful information.
Metron, somewhat disappointed, asked, "Aren't you surprised at all?"
"You attempt to analyze Duval's mind to satisfy your own whims, but your wish is doomed to fail. He is the sum of countless aliens, and each alien's thoughts are part of his own, in a broader sense. How can you even calculate?" the Dark Walker said coldly.
He certainly knew the renowned and unpopular God of Knowledge, who spent his days perched on a tattered chair, wandering the multiverse and the divine realm. Wherever there was activity, he could be seen solemnly offering advice, as if to do so would fail to demonstrate his all-knowing wisdom as the God of Knowledge.
But everyone knew that the Möbius Chair, or even its creator, the Anti-Monitor, was the real deal, but few gods held Metron in such high esteem.
Pull Metron down, and whoever sits in his place will become the God of Knowledge.
"Does that include you?" Metron scrutinized Dark Walker. "First, you were a slave to Darkseid's incarnation, and now you've surrendered to Duval without a care in the world, offering your strength and body? And your mind?"
Dark Walker drew his weapon. "I have an idea. How about I chop you off the chair and take it myself? That way, at least you'll keep your mouth shut."
Metron ignored Dark Walker, staring at Duval with a frown.
Neither Dark Walker, nor that strange, powerful alien with suspected demonic ancestry, nor any other aliens could stop Metron when he was determined to escape, let alone steal his chair.
This gave Metron confidence.
"I'm fascinated by all unknown knowledge, especially in this vast, enclosed world. I long to know: what are you waiting for? Waiting for the zombie crisis to spread across the multiverse?"
Metron had studied zombies and confirmed that they were primarily appendages of the Anti-Life Equation.
"You'll know soon. Also, I don't like someone who flaunts his power with someone else's abandoned possessions. You'd better leave before this universe falls into chaos,"
Duvall said calmly, gazing at Metron.
Because soon, the entire Universe 3 will be convulsed by a turmoil of unprecedented proportions.
If nothing unexpected happens, someone who would delight even Duvall will appear here, triggering a devastating event that would shake countless worlds.
Especially since the DC Universe's main world is still in a brief hiatus from the New 52 Universe, there's plenty of room for maneuver.
Metron's expression was filled with surprise and confusion, but also with a surge of intense interest. He calculated frantically, but couldn't produce a convincing result.
Zombies? The Anti-Life Equation? Or some other force? Nothing was convincing.
Then, Duvall's gaze shifted from him, gazing directly at the deep starry sky. After a moment's silence, he beckoned Speedmaster over.
"Your loyal servant is willing to serve you."
The Superman, dressed in a green battle suit, was respectful and flattering. His former dominance seemed to have suddenly disappeared, and he was rapidly transforming into a different personality.
"Carl Lyle, I need your loyalty now. You have a man who interests me, and I need him to step forward."
Duval reached out and grabbed the ring of power in the Superman's hand!
Lantern No. 1, now is the time for this guy to show himself.
Chapter 218: You, go and kill the Black Death Emperor.
Speedmaster's face was filled with fear, yet also with deep confusion. He wondered what was so special about his ring that it garnered the attention of a god of Duval's caliber.
"Interesting, the Green Lantern Ring of Universe 3 is strange. Not only does it not choose those with strong willpower, but it instead singles out the timid."
The God of Knowledge watched with great interest. He maintained a keen enthusiasm for all things unexpected; it was his, or perhaps the chair beneath him, an instinctive pursuit of new knowledge.
Speedmaster, bent at the waist, his face filled with fawning obsequiousness, hurriedly reached for the ring on his finger. "I am willing to serve the great Alien God. Your will is the meaning of my existence..."
"I once considered this fellow my greatest enemy. Now it seems I was blind to recognize his true nature."
Alexander Luther's expression was grim. He watched Speedmaster, groveling and licking Duval with all his might, and it was a burning sensation.
This guy is the de facto leader of Earth-3, the most powerful villain, ruthlessly ruling the world. Yet, facing an unprecedentedly powerful otherworldly god, he's so reckless.
"Is it the influence of that ring? Doesn't Iron Lantern also wear a green ring? He even dyed his armor green. What terrible aesthetics... I remember a similar guy appearing in my native universe, but he quickly disappeared... It must be related to the wearer's willpower?" The
DCEU's Luthor patted his head, pondering. Before Duval's invasion of the DCEU, he remembered seeing information about space warriors wearing green lantern rings, but it was rare.
"The Green Lantern Rings are the power wielded by a cosmic group called the Green Lantern Corps. With sufficient willpower, one can freely harness the energy within them to create a variety of weapons, even enabling faster-than-light travel."
The DCEU's Diana whispered, "I learned about the Green Lantern Corps in history class on Themyscira, but I never imagined I'd use it in this universe."
She was willing to share this because it made little difference. Duval clearly knew the rings intimately, and his request for the Speedmaster's ring was highly suggestive.
"As someone with immense power yet such a coward, I'm so obedient to Duval's orders. It's best to eliminate him before it's too late."
The DCEU's Superman's expression darkened. He had never given up on resisting Duval. After witnessing the tragic deaths of the Super Soldier and the infection of two Doomsdays by the zombie virus, he even considered transforming into a zombie. Wouldn't that be enough to free him from Duval?
After all, the zombie virus was something even Duval had to constantly "kill" himself to combat.
Someone quickly speculated that perhaps Duval had found a way to combat the zombie virus, and the key lay in the Lantern Ring. Otherwise, how could a ring so diametrically opposed to the Green Lanterns of other universes attract the attention of someone like Duval?
By manipulating Thanoside, Duval successfully defeated the Anti-Monitor, eliminated the New 52 Darkseid, and seized the Anti-Life Equation, indirectly leading to the transformation of Universe 3 into a zombie apocalypse. The truly terrifying thing was that, despite all this, no one truly understood Duval's full power; he was likely holding back.
"It's not that simple. His thoughts can't be so easily guessed."
Steel Lantern, a fusion of Marvel's Iron Man and DC's Green Lantern, remained silent under the half-hearted gaze of the others, offering no explanation.
Black Claw remained silent, too. Aside from the two Luthors and Steel Lantern, he was the most intelligent of the group, being half Batman.
Under the gaze of countless people, Duval received the Ring of Authority, a unique Green Lantern.
"The Emotional Spectrum... the ability to distort the Green of Will into this form, creating a ring that weakens will, is partly due to this universe existing as an inverted universe."
Of course, this was only part of the reason.
The most important factor was that he had personally crafted the Ring and hidden a portion of his consciousness within it, becoming the first human in the entire multiverse to encounter the mysterious and vast "Emotional Spectrum"... the First Lantern, Huo Rong!
"Duwa from Earth, you do not meet the requirements to wear it. Now, a replacement is being selected..."
The Ring emanated a faint green light, transmitting this message to Duwa's mind. Of course, Duwa ignored it. With a flick of his finger, he pierced the Ring's energy layer and launched a forceful invasion.
"Undergoing violent analysis, activating Emergency Mechanism 28... Failed, correction, no such clause..."
Before Duwa, the Ring's defenses crumbled.
Hidden within the Ring, the First Lantern was exposed to his view.
"How did you find me? This doesn't make sense!" Huo Rong, now a towering human, looked up in shock.
"In my opinion, even if you hide in the Lantern Ring, you won't be able to escape detection. Furthermore, you are essentially just an incomplete human soul." Duval was also observing the Voron of Universe 3.
It lacked the translucent spectral form of the original Lantern, nor did it have visible nerves radiating throughout its body.
The truly complete Voron was a 31st-century scientist from Earth-15. He and his mother were the first in the entire DC history to discover the emotional spectrum.
After his homeworld was destroyed by an alien invasion, he used the Lantern Furnace to travel through the histories of the 52 parallel universes, searching for a way to save Universe 15. He ultimately chose Universe 0, the DC Universe, as the destination of his journey. He believed that there, in Universe 0, he had found a superior race of people known as the Malthusians, characterized by high moral character, rich emotions, advanced technology, and a long lifespan.
The Voron excitedly shared the secrets of the emotional spectrum and collaborated with the Malthusians of the main universe to develop its power.
Later, to allow Huoron greater access to the emotional spectrum, the Malthusians decided to strip away all their own emotions and integrate them into an energy cell called the "Great Heart." From this, a remarkable lantern ring—the Ring of Origin—was born from the Great Heart.
At this point, everything should have been rosy. The Malthusians sincerely assisted Huoron, vigorously developing the emotional spectrum and seeking a way to save Universe 15's 31st-century Earth. They also sought to use the emotional spectrum to protect peace and stability in the main universe. Huoron,
implanted with the Great Heart and donning the Ring of Origin, instantly gained unparalleled power over the emotional spectrum. Through the Ring of Origin, he could manipulate the seven most accessible and abundant emotions on the emotional spectrum: the green light of will, the yellow light of fear, the red light of anger, the orange light of greed, the blue light of hope, the green light of compassion, and the purple light of love. But the problem lies here. The Horon is merely a special kind of human. Unlike the Malthusians, who possess immortality and can easily live for billions of years, the Horon is completely unable to withstand the emotions accumulated over billions of years by countless Malthusians.
As a result, the Horon becomes schizophrenic and is eventually attacked by the Malthusians, who have lost all emotion and think like machines. This is the optimal solution for the Malthusians, as the Horon is beyond saving, their mind and soul in disarray. Simply eliminating the Horon would address the problem at its source.
The dangerous emotional spectrum should be controlled by these emotionless beings with long lifespans, for the good of the primary universe.
If the primary universe destabilizes, or even collapses, the entire multiverse will be doomed, forcing a new reboot—not a soft reboot triggered by the Flashpoint event, but a true, multiverse-wide destruction and rebirth.
This rupture completely destroys the Horon's hopes of saving his home and his mother. Furious, the Horon searches for and slaughters the Malthusians throughout the universe. Ultimately, he is besieged by the Malthusians and the seven original Green Lanterns they created, defeated, and imprisoned.
The remaining Malthusians split in two: one entered the sealed area to guard Voron, while the other, wielding the emotional spectrum and choosing the most stable power of the Green Will, formed the Green Lantern Corps to protect the Prime Universe. This proved futile, ultimately leading to the Seven Lantern Wars and a series of brutal spectral wars.
According to the Prime Universe's timeline, a billion years had passed between Voron's imprisonment and the advent of the Justice League.
The Voron of Universe 3 was a fragment of his own soul, cut from the Voron's own body as he escaped Universe 15 and wandered across various timescales throughout the multiverse.
He had no memory of his journey to the Prime Universe, no fusion with the Great Heart, no Ring of Origin, no knowledge of the Malthusians, and even less of his own madness, sealed away for a full billion years.
The fragment of Voron's soul within the Ring of Power observed Duval anxiously. "I've observed the outside world through the Ring, and I already know what happened in this universe, but I still don't know how you discovered me... Perhaps a terrifying god like you has observed the history of this universe, and thus discovered my actions back then?"
After a moment's pause, seeing Duval remain silent, Voron grew even more uneasy, his entire soul curling up into a ball. "Then you should know that this evil ring wasn't entirely my creation. That wizard Modru used the emotional spectrum and a portion of my soul to create this Ring of Power..."
"Ring of Voron, I know its true name is the Ring of Voron." Duval reached out and grasped Voron's soul.
Given his current size, no matter how powerful the Ring of Power's negative power was, it would be completely powerless against his immense consciousness.
Duval had no interest in exploring the truth of the conflict between Voron and the blue people of the main universe. He simply needed to make good use of the Voron before him.
"Either you've observed the history of Universe 3—I hope that's the reason—or you've seen my true self, or know something of what another version of me has done."
Ho-Ron's face lit up with anticipation, and he demanded, "Tell me quickly, did my true self succeed? Did I save my home, Earth-15, and my mother?"
"...As far as I know, no. The other you has encountered many tragedies. You broke with your once trusted allies, were defeated and sealed, and now remain trapped for a billion years." Duva spoke casually, then began to invade Ho-Ron's soul with his own powerful will and concepts.
"Still failed... It seems he's gone through so much, spent countless years, and still failed... Even the emotional spectrum can't save my world and my mother?" Ho-Ron was furious. As the core of the Ring of Power, he experienced violent emotional fluctuations, and the Ring responded, spontaneously generating various green, deformed monsters, but they were shattered by Duva's palm.
This instantly calmed Ho-Ron.
"My true self is sealed, but I'm still alive. Perhaps even my complete self wouldn't have anticipated that allowing Modru to extract my soul for the Lantern Ring for experimentation would leave behind a new hope."
Huo Rong looked at Duva. "You are powerful, extremely powerful, and you have countless powerful subordinates! Help me, lend me a strong enough army. I want to rescue my true self! There are more important things for him to do!"
"Your true self is no longer the person you knew. Even if you were you, would you still recognize yourself now? Look at you, guiding the Lanterns who wear the Ring into cowardly, mindless fools."
"I can't help it! This is determined by the rules of Universe 3. My complete self brought the power of the emotional spectrum to this universe. How could I have imagined that this world would be a reversed one?" Huo Rong argued.
After becoming part of the Ring, Huo Rong's thinking and cognition also shifted. But then again, Huo Rong was not a good guy to begin with.
"You didn't bring the emotional spectrum with you. It has always been there, existing everywhere in the multiverse." Duva said coldly, "I can lend you an army, which is enough to deal with the guys who imprisoned your body."
As for what Chudeng Huorong, who turned mad after being freed, would think of this part of his soul that was cut off countless years ago and made into a lantern ring, that is hard to say.
Duva pondered, either use the ring as a tool, or simply destroy it, and then integrate the cut-out soul back into his body to complete himself.
"There was once a guy who borrowed an army from me to counterattack his hometown. I helped him realize his long-cherished wish. Fulfilling your wish is also a piece of cake, but I need you to do something for me."
Duva looked at the extremely eager Huorong, and said slowly: "Huorong, go and kill the Black Death Emperor. This is very important to me."
"What did you say??"
Huorong suspected that he had heard it wrong, and was stunned on the spot.
Chapter 219: In the Dark Multiverse,
even the mad Huo Rong was stunned.
He suspected there was something wrong with his hearing. After being made into the core of the Ring of Power by Master Modru, was he unable to properly receive messages from the gods outside? Was he occasionally experiencing parsing errors?
"Black Death Emperor? Is this the Black Death Emperor you're talking about the one I understand?" Huo Rong looked up blankly, staring at Du Wa, who was looking down at him like a giant.
"There is only one Black Death Emperor in this world. Even if you haven't seen him, as the first person to encounter and master the emotional spectrum, you should know of his existence."
Du Wa was full of praise for Huo Rong's knowledge and clear understanding. At least this Huo Rong was much more intelligent than the Chudeng Huo Rong who had gone crazy after escaping to the main universe and being exposed to a huge amount of emotions. He could also communicate calmly.
Huo Rong murmured, "The Black Death Emperor... is he a Lantern Beast that controls the black spectrum of the emotional spectrum? I've vaguely sensed his existence, and I know of Lantern Beasts of other colors... but I've never actually seen one! Much less the incredibly mysterious Black Death Lantern Beast!"
He was completely bewildered. Was he about to take on such a difficult mission, pushing the boundaries of the universe, right from the start? Perhaps he shouldn't have asked Duva, the mysterious and terrifying god, for help?
"Don't doubt your abilities. You're no match for ordinary Lantern Beasts now."
"Has my sealed main body ever dealt with other Lantern Beasts?" Huo Rong asked hopefully.
"Not that I know of."
"...I thought you'd at least lie to me, saying he'd defeated them all."
Huo Rong's entire soul trembled. He truly thought Duva was mad, sending someone like him to deal with the Black Death Emperor!
Especially since his original body, which had fled to the main universe and seemingly caused such unrest, hadn't been able to accomplish such a feat, nor had it ever come into contact with a single Lantern Beast!
Duval assessed the Vorron before him. Indeed, in every way, he appeared to lack talent and confidence. The Ring's selection mechanism specifically selected cowards for Lantern service, even making its wearer even more cowardly.
As the Ring's core, it would be a miracle if this Vorron were to be fearless and courageous.
However, Duval truly had high hopes for him.
Under normal circumstances, Universe 0, while officially no longer the Prime Universe due to the Flashpoint soft reboot, would have been temporarily replaced by the New 52. However, after Duval defeated the Anti-Monitor and New 52 Darkseid, and the Anti-Life Equation fell into his hands, Universe 0 would gradually regain its Prime Universe status, existing as the core of the Multiverse, just as it had in the past. The
Prime Universe should have long since weathered the Spectrum War. The days of the Seven Lanterns frantically expanding their forces across the universe, the bloodbaths and the piles of corpses between them, were over.
During the Blackest Night, the Black Death Emperor scatters his rings across the Prime Universe, transforming billions of beings into Black Lantern zombies and leaving countless heroes in despair. Then, during the Brightest Day, he is instantly slain by the Spirit of Existence, a Lantern beast borne from the White Life Lantern Ring.
It was during the Blackest Night that the Anti-Monitor was controlled by a Black Lantern Ring, becoming a tool of the Black Death Emperor and losing all his authority.
This means that the true form of the Furion, sealed in the Prime Universe, is likely still trapped.
A First Lantern Furion, unleashed at full power, would completely crush the seven common forms of light, capable of controlling any part of the visible spectrum with ease.
Will, rage, greed, compassion... these powers are readily available to him, requiring no dedicated effort to acquire the corresponding colored rings; he can wield them spontaneously.
Theoretically, the incomplete Furion before him possesses this potential, despite lacking the Origin Lantern Ring, the Great Heart implanted within it, and a true fusion of the emotional spectrum.
Duva remembered that even under siege, and with his Great Heart plundered by the Malthusian Blues, the Prime Universe's Huorong could still freely harness the visible portion of the emotional spectrum.
More importantly, the Prime Universe's Huorong had achieved "immortality." Even if ultimately slain, he could still draw upon the emotional spectrum to slowly resurrect over the course of time.
"Your current limitations are immense, incomparable to your Prime Universe self. But that's alright. You're fortunate to have met me, the Alien God, who will generously grant you endless possibilities, allowing you to transcend your true form." Duva truly believed in Huorong's potential, and cultivating him was part of his plan.
"Even so, I can't deal with the Black Death Emperor. I don't know how much you know about him, but from what I've sensed from my emotional spectrum, the black portion is an absolute no-go zone." Huorong tried to struggle.
Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, black, and white, with the exception of ultraviolet, each color represents a different meaning and can exert distinct powers.
For example, a Red Lantern of Angry can transform their blood into various weapons by donning a Red Lantern ring, much like a Green Lantern uses green willpower to create gadgets. However, if the Red Lantern ring is removed, the wearer will instantly die.
A Black Lantern of Death, on the other hand, will instantly die if a living person dons a Black Lantern ring, their soul returning to the Dark Lord and becoming a zombie. As for the dead? No problem; the Black Lantern ring will actively seek out the deceased and "resurrect" them as zombies.
"I'm only the core program of the Power Ring now, not even a normal Will Lantern Ring. I can't possibly fight a terrifying Lantern beast like the Dark Lord!"
"Do your best. I'll intervene when it matters most."
"I didn't travel through the Lantern Furnace. My original body took it to the main universe, making it impossible to travel across the universe to find the Dark Lord."
"I have a plan. That's why I came to you." Duval patiently laid out a detailed plan for Vorong.
"Great God, you are truly thoughtful and considerate. It's my good fortune to have met such a thoughtful, generous, and great being like you..."
Vorong felt as if the sky was falling. How could he fight the Dark Lord? I'm afraid there won't be a chance to borrow troops from Duva to attack the main universe and save my original body.
Outside.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Duva grasped the Ring of Power and studied it for a while.
"We have a new target for action."
Duva looked at his subordinates and casually gave them a batch of concepts. It couldn't be helped; he had to constantly fight the infection and encroachment of the zombie virus.
Constantly regenerating and committing suicide—this is what Duva has been doing all along. Even with the Anti-Life Equation, which theoretically allowed him to use it to create the ability to break the zombie virus, he still hasn't done it.
From beginning to end, Duva has never truly achieved anything with the Anti-Life Equation. "It seems you've found something crucial within the Ring," Superman said timidly, his face flattering. "It's an honor to serve you."
Duval glanced at him. He didn't care whether his subordinates were brave or cowardly. With his ideas, he could make them incredibly brave when necessary.
At this moment, Black Claw suddenly spoke: "You've reduced the entire Universe 3 to a zombie universe. Is there a connection between this and the actions you ordered us to take after taking the Ring?... I can't understand what you're planning, but other smart people should share my thoughts."
The vast Universe 3, teeming with villains, was now being transformed into zombies en masse. Faced with the regularly spreading zombie virus, the natives of each planet had no chance of resistance. After all, this was a terrifying virus that could infect even the gods of the universe.
"Death, I'm calling for death," Duval said calmly, leaving everyone puzzled.
Aside from a few who hadn't given up and were still trying to find ways to resist Duval, the others were already considering specific actions to better serve him.
As long as Duva maintained his strength and advantage, the vast majority of them wouldn't actively betray him, but would instead diligently work for him. However, should Duva show signs of weakness and find himself helpless, subtle thoughts would inevitably arise among them—this was perfectly normal, the thoughts of a normal, self-aware being.
The Dark Walker, silent as a shadow, spoke in a low voice, "Death... I understand. You're after that guy."
"Who?" the two Luthers demanded simultaneously.
"A Death God like me, a God of Death on the emotional spectrum. I've heard of his deeds during my hunting missions across various universes."
No matter how the two Luthers questioned, the Dark Walker remained silent.
The entire Earth was instantly enveloped in a profound atmosphere of despair.
Beyond the atmosphere, zombies from the depths of space, using various means, whether technology or magic, continuously arrived on Earth. They advanced in droves, intent on preying on Earth, a planet rich in carnivorous food, to satisfy their hunger for destruction, but Duva's power held them at bay.
Inside Earth, people occasionally contract the zombie virus and become zombies, but they're always killed instantly by the aliens.
Of course, the aliens that kill zombies are also infected with the virus, so they can only kill as many zombies as possible before becoming zombies, and then be dissipated by Dewar's destruction of concepts.
Survivors around the world gradually become aware of what's happening beyond Earth. Simply by looking into outer space with a telescope, they can often spot rotting zombies wandering around, trying to enter Earth, but being blocked by Dewar's power.
"Oh my God, those monsters keep popping up among us, and now they're everywhere outside Earth too?"
"The numbers are increasing... I'm afraid in a few years, a decade, outer space will be swarming with zombies!"
"So, thanks to the aliens, we're able to protect ourselves. Although people get infected and die periodically, overall, we're able to maintain stability..."
"Destroy this damn world! I spent the first half of my life ruled by the evil Crime Syndicate, living on a precarious footing. Recently, I faced a massive invasion of aliens. Do I have to accept their protection for the rest of my life, fighting an endless battle against zombies?"
The people of Earth already know that the aliens who rule the aliens have defeated the Crime Syndicate and become the new masters of Earth. It seems they're also waging a terrifying cosmic war in the depths of the distant universe. Who are they fighting? Could it be the Zombie God?
Thanks to the Crime Syndicate's constant rampage, the people of Earth-3 have become more receptive to all kinds of disasters.
Then, more people without superpowers chose to join Duval's team, becoming aliens, gaining immense strength to fight the zombies that emerged from nowhere. At the very least, while they slaughtered the zombies, they could be instantly eliminated by Duval should they mutate, thus protecting Earth to the greatest extent possible.
Earth has effectively become one of the few refuges in Universe 3.
Those who have survived to this day in the universe are all highly skilled. They naturally know of Duval's killings of the Anti-Monitor and Darkseid and closely monitor his movements.
They want to reach Earth, but the difficulty of crossing the universe is immense. They could easily encounter hordes of zombies. Furthermore, they are unsure of Duval's movements and intentions. If they go to Earth and bring the zombie virus with them, would they be killed by him?
It's better to hide on a remote planet, cut off from all contact with the outside world, and survive longer.
However, there are always those with unconventional ideas who take a different approach and notice the unusual developments.
"The Alien God Duval... If I'm not mistaken, he killed the Anti-Monitor and the two Darkseids to obtain the Anti-Life Equation. But why has he triggered a zombie crisis now? Has he gone too far?"
A strange figure emerged from the endless dust of a dead planet. Raising a hand, he swung a wave of magic, sweeping forward, obliterating several zombies attempting to attack him while simultaneously imbuing himself with magical defenses to minimize the zombie virus's bizarre infection methods.
He shouldn't have awakened, even if the Anti-Monitor had invaded Universe 3 and slain all life to increase his own power. However, Duval's fierce battles with the Anti-Monitor and Darkseid, with destructive power exceeding that of the universe itself, awakened him.
More importantly, from Earth, he sensed that the magic he had left behind when he crafted the Ring had been destroyed by the god Duval.
"What a brutal method! This is the arrogance of a god from another world." He, Modru, was the mage who had helped Huorong, upon his arrival in Universe 3, sever part of his soul and create the evil Ring of Power.
That event took place billions of years ago in Universe 3.
"But, the zombies and the Ring of Power... could that god's plan be related to the emotional spectrum? That damned Huorong refused to share more of the emotional spectrum with me, even the most basic knowledge. After all these years of research, I still barely grasp its power!" Modru's face was filled with
deep suspicion and fear. He felt that if he didn't awaken soon, he might have no chance, and perhaps even the entire universe would be destroyed.
However, after all these years, he hadn't made no progress. As a high-level mage proficient in soul severing and able to create a lantern ring like the Ring of Power, it was clear that he had some knowledge of the emotional spectrum, albeit a limited one.
"Let me think about it. The spectrum related to negative emotions, the one that causes death..." The more Modru thought about it, the more ominous the situation became.
The high-ranking mage's premonition was correct.
At this moment, in the Dark Multiverse,
the Black Death Emperor, having suffered greatly from the Main Universe, was wreaking havoc in a certain distorted universe within the Dark Multiverse.