Chapter 28 Suppressing the darkhold! The Complete Progenitor's Ruling — — Chthon, You Can't Control Me!
At the bottom of the deep-sea trench.
Purple-black energy surged from the cracks of the seal like a breached flood, and the original manuscript of the darkhold trembled violently within the sealed space. Its pages flipped frantically, and the twisted text on every page let out a silent shrieking.
That line of purple-black text — — "Progenitor — — Are you willing to become my new host?" — — burned on Li Heng's retina, attempting to pierce directly into the depths of his consciousness.
Chthon's shadow expanded within the purple-black mist — — although it lacked a face, Li Heng could "see" that faint silhouette grinning hideously.
An Old Gods from three billion years ago — — the source of Black Magic — — one of the most terrifying dimension lords in the Marvel Universe — —
At this moment, across the dimensional barrier, he was extending an olive branch to a vampire Progenitor.
"Become my host — — you will acquire the most powerful Black Magic in the Universe — — enough to make you a god — —"
"Your girl — — that vessel of Chaos Magic — — she will also be safe — — no power can harm her — —"
"You only need to — — open the door."
Chthon's voice was like millions of snakes whispering simultaneously, every syllable carrying a fatal temptation — —
He understood human hearts far too well.
He knew what Li Heng cared about the most — — Wanda— —
Therefore, he used Wanda as a bargaining chip.
"Heh — —"
Li Heng smiled.
Within his dark gold and silver-white vertical pupils, there was not the slightest wavering — — only — —
An intent to kill that was freezing to the extreme.
"Chthon — — you have made a mistake."
His voice echoed in the trench, calm and clear — —
"You used Wanda to tempt me — — which shows that you don't understand me at all — —"
"If I truly became your host to protect her — — she would never be safe — —"
"Because your host — — is merely a vessel for your descent — — the moment I am devoured by you — — the first one you kill — — will be her."
"You trade her safety for her death — —"
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Chthon's shadow paused slightly — —
"Clever — — but being clever is useless — — you have no choice — —"
"The seal has already loosened — — the original manuscript is about to emerge — — whether you are willing or not — — it will choose the nearest super-human as its host — —"
"And in this deep sea — — there is only you — —"
"Either you are my host — — or you are my enemy — —"
"It has to be one of the two — —"
"Boom — —!"
The seal fractured once again — — the purple-black energy completely broke through the final line of defense of the magic array — —
The darkhold original manuscript flew out from the sealed space — — suspending right in the center of the trench — —
The pages unfolded — —
The text on every page was writhing, leaping, and screaming — — like millions of wronged souls trapped in the book wailing simultaneously — —
These texts began to detach from the pages — — transforming into streaks of purple-black tentacles — —
Heading straight for Li Heng — —
"Come on — — become me — —!"
Chthon's voice roared — —
"Hum — — — —!"
Silver light surged explosively within Li Heng's dark gold and silver-white vertical pupils — —
"Ancestor Soul — — activate!"
The mental shield condensed into an indestructible barrier around the periphery of his consciousness — — the purple-black tentacles crashed into the barrier — —
"Sizzling — —!"
Sparks emitted from the mental shield amidst intense friction — — but — — it did not shatter!
Ancestor Soul — — immune to all mental attacks!
Chthon's conscious erosion was blocked outside!
"What — —!" Surprise appeared in Chthon's voice for the first time — — "How can your mind — — possibly be so strong — — didn't you only awaken 2.5% — —"
"2.5% is just a number — —" Li Heng stepped forward — —
"My will — — cannot be measured by numbers — —"
"You have seen my inner self in the Mirror Dimension — — you should know — —"
"I am a madman — — who even fears himself — —"
He extended his right hand — —
"But what you don't know is — —"
"When I go mad — — I dare to bite even the Old Gods — —!"
"Ancestor Domain · Dual Radiance of the Dark Moon — — expand!!"
"Hum hum hum hum hum — — — —!!!!!"
The deep-sea space within a radius of one kilometer suddenly froze — —
Light intertwined with dark gold and silver-white erupted from within Li Heng's body — — forming a massive spherical domain — —
Within the domain — — the dark attribute and the light attribute took effect simultaneously — —
The dark golden Ancestor Power suppressed all Black Magic like a tide — —
The silver-white moonlight energy purified all corrosion like moonlight — —
The overlapping effect of the two powers — — caused Chthon's purple-black tentacles to be like snow exposed to sunlight within the domain — —
"Sizzling — —!"
The tentacles were rapidly dissolving!
"Impossible — —!" Chthon's voice became sharp — — "The dark attribute and the light attribute cannot exist simultaneously — — what kind of monster are you anyway — —!"
"I am not a monster — —" Li Heng walked step by step toward the suspended darkhold original manuscript — —
"I am the Complete Progenitor — —"
"Varna spent twenty thousand years preparing for this moment — — the inherited bloodline and the ancestor core merged into one — — dark and light coexist within my body — —"
"All of this — — was precisely for today — —"
"To — — suppress you."
He stood in front of the original manuscript — —
Reaching out his hand — —
"Don't touch it — —!" Chthon roared frantically — — "You will be corrupted — — the original manuscript contains my primal will — — anyone who touches it will — —"
"shell of the sea god — — activate!"
"Hum — —!"
The seashell ornament given to him by Namo lit up with a blue-white light on his chest — — Atlantis's divine artifact released its sole mental immunity — —
Completely shattering Chthon's final mental trap — —!
"Puff — —!"
Far across the dimensional end — — Chthon's true body let out a muffled groan — — his conscious projection was directly bounced back by the immunity effect of the shell of the sea god — —
"You — —!"
Li Heng's fingers touched the darkhold original manuscript — —
"Hum — — — —!!!!!"
The entire original manuscript struggled violently in his hands — — the pages flipped frantically — — the text screamed attempting to burrow into his skin — —
But — —
"white moon scroll · Moonlight Purification of the world — —!"
He unfolded the white moon scroll with his left hand — — silver-white moonlight poured out from the scroll — — pouring into the original manuscript — —
"Sizzling sizzling sizzling — —!"
The purple-black energy within the original manuscript let out a shrill screech under the washing of the moonlight — — like millions of maggots being roasted by the blazing sun — —
Chthon's will — — was being purified!
"No — — don't — —!" Chthon's voice became hysterical — — "That is my book — — my power — — you cannot — —"
"Why can't I?" Li Heng's dark gold and silver-white vertical pupils stared straight at the original manuscript — —
"Varna tore the original manuscript into two halves twenty thousand years ago — — one half sealed here — — the other half thrown into the mortal world — —"
"Why did he do that? Because he knew — — when the original manuscript is complete — — you are in your complete form — —"
"But after the original manuscript was separated — — your power has always remained in an incomplete state — —"
"Now — — I am going to make this incompleteness — — permanent — —!"
He pushed the power of the white moon scroll to the extreme — — silver-white moonlight like a galaxy — — washed out Chthon's purple-black residue from every page of the original manuscript — —
Those purple-black energies twisted, screamed, and evaporated in the moonlight — —
Chthon's conscious projection grew increasingly faint — —
"You will regret this — — Complete Progenitor — — you have sealed me — — there will still be other dimension lords coming — — Dormammu — — Set — — Mephisto — —"
"Earth has never lacked enemies — —"
"I know — —" Li Heng's voice was calm — —
"But that is a matter for the future — — right now — —"
"Get out of my sight — —!"
"Boom — — — —!!!!!"
Silver-white light exploded — —
Chthon's conscious projection was completely purified — — dissipating from the trench — —
The purple-black mist receded — —
The dimensional crack slowly closed — —
The darkhold original manuscript — —
Stopped struggling.
It suspended quietly in Li Heng's hands — — the purple-black patterns on the cover turned into interwoven colors of dark gold and silver-white — —
Chthon's will was cleared — —
But the power of the original manuscript itself — — was preserved.
[Ding!!!! The darkhold original manuscript — — Suppression successful!!!!!]
[Event Evaluation — — SSS+ Rank (Epic Achievement)!!]
[The host used the quadruple blessings of the Complete Progenitor's body + the power of the white moon scroll + the shell of the sea god + the Ancestor Soul — — successfully suppressing the strongest Black Magic carrier left on Earth by the Old Gods Chthon from three billion years ago! This is the first time in the history of the Marvel Universe that someone has controlled the original manuscript without being corrupted!]
[Original manuscript status update — — "darkhold · Purified Version": Chthon's primal will has been cleared! The original manuscript no longer has mental erosion effects! The host can safely browse and use the Black Magic within it!]
[Notice —— Although the purified draft is safe —— the Black Magic within it still possesses powerful destructive force —— Host, please use it with caution —— to avoid accidentally injuring friendly forces! ]
[Bloodline awakening degree increased —— 2.5% → 3.0%!!!!! Broke through the 3.0% milestone!!!!! ]
[All attributes increased —— 1200%!!!! ]
[New title unlocked —— 'Old Gods Slayer': The Host deals an additional 30% damage to all dimensional lords and their creations! Chthon, Dormammu, Mephisto —— all of them take thirty percent more! ]
[Ultimate ability unlocked —— 'Dark Moon Seal' (Ultimate Active): Consuming the Black Magic energy in the draft + the moonlight energy of the white moon scroll—— can establish a permanent dimensional seal at any location! This seal can completely close the descent path of any dimensional lord —— including Chthon's true form! Once the seal is built —— unless the Host actively removes it —— it can never be broken from the inside! ]
[System shocking evaluation —— Host! You now possess two things —— the darkhold draft (purified version) gave you the 'materials' for the seal —— the white moon scrollgave you the 'method' for the seal —— and your own Complete Progenitor Ancestor Power is the 'key' to the seal —— the three in one —— you are now the only person on Earth who can permanently seal Chthon's descent path! Varna's layout waiting for twenty thousand years —— in your hands —— is completed!! ]
Li Heng looked at the densely packed information on the system panel ——
letting out a long breath.
3.0% ——
The awakening degree broke through yet another milestone ——
Combat power directly crossed from the peak of A+-Rank ——
to S-Rank early stage.
S-Rank —— the threshold of top-tier combat power in the Marvel Universe —— Thor, Hulk, the awakened Doctor Strange —— these people are at different levels of S-Rank——
And he now —— has officially stepped into this ranks.
From a transmigrator who just wanted to slack off —— to a Complete Progenitor —— to an Old Gods Slayer ——
He only used ——
Forget it, I won't count, counting just makes me angry.
He looked down at the darkhold draft in his hand —— The purified draft no longer emitted sickening purplish-black mist —— replaced by a steady dark golden luster ——
The text on the cover had stopped —— no longer writhing —— no longer whispering ——
They quietly waited —— waiting for him to read ——
Like an obedient reference book.
"Alright —— put it away first ——"
He put the draft into the inner space of the Ancestor Domain —— then looked up towards the top of the trench ——
The dark blue seawater was crystal clear in the perception of the Moonlight Body ——
At the top of the trench —— Namo was bringing the Atlantis guard watching from afar —— They didn't get close —— but their eyes were filled with shock ——
A Complete Progenitor who had just conquered the darkhold draft ——
They didn't dare to provoke.
Li Heng couldn't be bothered to pay attention to them ——
"Hum ——"
The telepathy of the Soul Contract automatically connected ——
"Wanda ——"
"Li Heng ——!" Wanda's voice replied almost in a second —— with obvious anxiety and relief —— "I felt it —— a huge energy fluctuation —— Are you alright ——?"
"I'm fine —— The draft is done —— Chthon's consciousness was bounced back by me —— The seal is also stabilized ——"
"Really ——?!" Wanda's voice was filled with pleasant surprise ——
"Really —— My combat power is now S-Rank early stage —— stronger than your husband was before by I don't know how many times ——"
"Who —— Whose husband ——!" Wanda's voice instantly became flustered —— The emotions transmitted from the soul link were like a pot of boiling water —— shyness, annoyance, and undisguised sweetness ——
"You —— Hurry up and come up —— Don't stay in the water for too long —— Although you have the Moonlight Body —— the deep-sea pressure is not good for your body either ——"
"Alright alright alright —— Coming ——"
Li Heng cut off the telepathy —— A smile curved the corner of his mouth ——
Then ——
He leaped forward ——
A dark golden light trail carved a straight line in the seawater —— The Moonlight Body made him like a shooting star in the water ——
The speed was more than three times faster than when he came —— The S-Rank strength made water pressure no longer an obstacle ——
Ten minutes later ——
He rushed out of the sea surface ——
"Splash ——!"
On the sea surface of the Atlantic Ocean in the middle of the night —— Moonlight was like silver ——
Li Heng stood on the sea surface —— The Moonlight Bodyallowed him to walk on the water surface —— The seawater under his feet rippled with silver in his steps ——
In the distance —— on the coastline —— a slender figure stood on a reef ——
Scarlet energy leaped slightly at her fingertips —— Green eyes flickered in the sea breeze ——
Wanda.
She just stood there like that —— waiting for him ——
From beginning to end ——
Li Heng walked towards the coast step by step —— His footsteps trod on the water surface —— Every step stepped out a silver splash of water ——
Wanda watched him approach —— Her eye sockets turned red again ——
"Idiot —— Next time you are not allowed to go to such a dangerous place alone ——"
"Next time might not happen ——"
"Liars —— You always say there is no next time —— but every time there is ——"
"That's because I'm too popular —— The Old Gods all want to find me as a host ——"
"You're still smiling ——!" Wanda reached out wanting to punch him —— but her hand stopped halfway ——
Because she saw ——
The hole on Li Heng's hoodie —— the wounds on his arm that hadn't completely healed —— and ——
That trace of exhaustion deep in his eyes.
S-Rank powerhouses will also be tired ——
Not physical tiredness —— but ——
Mental tiredness.
Every time he risked his life —— it was to protect her —— Every time he became stronger —— it was forced upon him ——
She wanted to say something —— but in the end said nothing ——
She just stepped forward ——
and hugged him tightly.
"It's good that you're back ——"
"Mn —— I'm back."
Li Heng hugged her —— resting his chin on the top of her head —— listening to the sound of the waves —— smelling the faint fragrance from her hair ——
At this moment —— all the battles, all the injuries, all the system panels ——
were no longer important ——
What was important was ——
she was in his arms.
They stood like this under the moonlight for a long time ——
Until ——
"Hum ——!"
A golden portal opened beside them ——
Ancient One's face poked out from behind the portal ——
Her expression —— was not congratulations ——
but ——
unprecedented solemnity.
"Li Heng —— Wanda ——"
"You did very well —— The draft suppression was successful —— Chthon's channel was closed —— Earth is temporarily safe ——"
"However ——"
Her purple eyes looked at Wanda ——
"Chthon's failure —— made his attention in other dimensions shift ——"
"He is no longer trying to descend through the draft ——"
"He chose —— another path."
Wanda's pupils S-Rank abruptly ——
"What —— do you mean ——?"
Ancient One took a deep breath ——
"Chthon's true target —— was never the draft —— The draft was just a tool ——"
"His true target —— has always been —— you."
"Wanda Maximoff —— On the night you were born —— Chthon once touched you on Mount Wundagore —— He left a mark in your Chaos Magic ——"
"That mark —— is the true channel for his descent ——"
"And just now —— the moment his descent through the draft failed —— that mark ——"
Ancient One's voice sank ——
"was activated."
"Wanda —— Chthon's mark inside your body —— is awakening ——"
"And you ——"
She looked at Li Heng ——
"You must take her to a place ——"
"Mount Wundagore."
"That is the place where Chthon's mark was planted —— and also the only place where it can be uprooted ——"
"But ——"
Ancient One's voice suddenly became extremely solemn ——
"Mount Wundagore —— is not an ordinary place —— It is one of the oldest magic nodes on Earth —— Living on it is a person ——"
"A person —— you definitely won't want to see ——"
Li Heng's dark gold and white slit pupils contracted slightly ——
"Who?"
Ancient One looked at him —— A trace of complex emotion flashed in her purple eyes ——
"High Evolutionary."
"Herbert Wyndham."
"A madman who tried to use science and magic to create a 'perfect race' ——"
"And ——"
"The creator —— of Wanda and Pietro."
Wanda's pupils ——
suddenly dilated ——
Chapter 29: The Shadow of Mount Wundagore! High Evolutionary — — You Created Only a Nightmare!
Kamar-Taj, Library.
Ancient One's words were like a heavy bomb, exploding in the silent hall.
"High Evolutionary — — Herbert Wyndham?" Li Hengrepeated the name, his dark, gold-and-silver slit pupils contracting slightly, "A scientist?"
"Not just a scientist." Ancient One's voice was calm yet heavy, "He is a — — Creator."
She unfolded a golden magical projection — — the image showed a middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat, with a thin face, a half-balding head, and sunken eye sockets, but those eyes burned with an obsession bordering on madness.
"Herbert Wyndham, a genius in biology, a pioneer in genetics — — in the eyes of ordinary people, he is one of the greatest scientists of the last century. But in the underworld, he is — — High Evolutionary."
"He believes that humanity has reached the end of evolution and needs external forces to break the shackles of nature to create a new, perfect race."
"He used illegal human experiments, genetic modification, and even cross-species fusion — — trying to create the 'perfect existence' in his mind."
"And Wanda and Pietro — — " Ancient One looked at Wanda, a trace of pity flashing in her purple eyes, "are one of his creations."
Wanda's complexion turned as pale as paper at that moment.
Her lips trembled, her hands instinctively clenched the corners of her clothes, and various emotions surged violently in her green eyes — — shock, denial, anger, fear — — all finally turning into a single word:
"No."
Her voice was very soft, but exceptionally firm — —
"I am not anyone's creation. I am a girl who grew up on Mount Wundagore, I have a father, a mother, a younger brother — —"
"Pietro is my own younger brother — — we grew up together — —"
"What you said — — impossible — — impossible — —"
"Wanda — —" Pietro rushed out from the corner, his silver hair glittering in the magical light of the library, his complexion equally pale, but as he supported Wanda's shoulders, his voice was surprisingly calm — —
"Sis — — you listen to her finish first — —"
"I won't listen!" Wanda abruptly shook off his hand, a flash of scarlet light passing through her green eyes — — Chaos Magic overflowed uncontrollably under the fluctuation of her emotions — — several ancient books in the library were blown away by this energy — —
"Wanda." Li Heng's voice sounded — — without scolding, without lecturing — — just calling her name very calmly — —
Then he walked in front of her — — his dark, gold-and-silver slit pupils gazing straight into her green eyes — —
"No matter what the truth is — — you are still you. You are Wanda Maximoff. You are not anyone's creation, not anyone's tool, not anyone's chess piece."
"You are you — — that is enough."
Wanda looked at him — — in those tri-color interwoven slit pupils, there was no pity, no sympathy — — only an extremely pure, unquestionable affirmation.
Her violently heaving chest slowly calmed down.
The glow of Chaos Magic also dissipated at her fingertips.
She took a deep breath — — long and deep — — as if to press all the fear and unease deep into the depths of her lung cavity — —
Then she looked at Ancient One — —
"Continue. Tell me everything you know — —"
Ancient One nodded slightly — —
"About twenty years ago — — Herbert Wyndhamestablished an underground laboratory on Mount Wundagore in Sokovia. He obtained a large amount of experimental materials and financial support through illegal channels — — the funder is unknown — — but the shadow of Hydra is the thickest."
"He conducted genetic modification experiments there for several years — — trying to create a pair of twin siblings with superpowers — — as the starting point of the 'perfect race'."
"And Wanda and Pietro — — are that pair of twins."
Ancient One's voice paused — —
"The father and mother in your memory — — were disguised researchers arranged by Wyndham. The childhood you spent on Mount Wundagore — — most of it was real — — but that mountain itself was a laboratory. Your life — — your growth — — every milestone of yours — — was under his surveillance."
"Until one day — — an accident happened with the experiment — — Chaos Magic awakened early — — destroying most of the laboratory's facilities. Wyndhamwent missing in that accident — — and was presumed dead. And you were found by local residents — — and sent to an orphanage in Sokovia."
"This is the truth of your background."
The library fell into a dead silence.
Wanda lowered her head — — her bangs covering her expression — — but Li Heng could feel the tsunami churning inside her heart through the Soul Contract.
Pietro stood beside her — — equally silent — — beneath his silver hair, those blue eyes flickered with complex emotions.
"So — —" Pietro finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "we really don't have parents? We really were — — created in a laboratory?"
"You have parents," Ancient One said — — but this time, there was a trace of warmth in her voice — —
"Wyndham only provided the technology of genetic modification — — the source of your lives — — are two ordinary Sokovians. They lost their child because of war — — Wyndham used their grief — — to make them play the role of 'experimental parents'."
"They are not researchers — — they are real human beings — — they love you."
"It's just that — — in the end — — they also had to leave."
Wanda's shoulders trembled slightly — —
Then — — she raised her head — —
In her green eyes — — tear stains still wet — — but her gaze — — was surprisingly clear — —
"I remember."
"That laboratory — — underground on Mount Wundagore— — I went there when I was little — — I always thought it was a dream — — but it wasn't — — that was real — —"
"Chaos Magic — — awakened in that accident — — that night — — Wyndham was giving us the last injection — —"
She clenched her fists — —
"If Wyndham is still alive — — the Chthon Mark on him — — is the key to removing the remaining Mark in my body — —"
"He created us — — and he also owes us an answer."
Li Heng looked at her — — watching her go from shock to denial to anger to acceptance — — in just a few minutes — — her heart experienced a violent impact like a volcanic eruption — — but she did not collapse.
She is growing.
"Then we will go to Mount Wundagore." He said — — not asking her if she wanted to go — — because he knew she would definitely go — —
"Go find Wyndham — — settle Chthon's old scores — — and his own old scores — — together."
Ancient One crossed her arms: "I will open a portal to Sokovia for you — — but it can only send you to the foot of Mount Wundagore. The magical barrier on the mountain — — is constructed by fragments of Chaos Magic — — Kamar-Taj's spells cannot penetrate it."
"The rules there — — are controlled by him."
"When you enter his territory — — you have to play by his rules of the game."
"No problem." Li Heng moved his neck — — a cold light flashed in his dark, gold-and-silver slit pupils — —
"What I am best at — — is smashing other people's game rules — — to pieces."
[ Ding! Main storyline advanced — — 'Mount Wundagore: The Creator's Cage'! ]
[ Target Location: Sokovia · Mount Wundagore ]
[ Primary Threat: High Evolutionary · Herbert Wyndham(Combat power unknown — — estimated between S-Rankand A-Rank) + Chthon Mark residue (Inside Wanda's body — — can be utilized by Wyndham!) ]
[ Special Environment: Mount Wundagore Magical Barrier — — Kamar-Taj spells cannot penetrate — — spatial teleportation is blocked — — all electronic equipment fails — — combat will completely rely on physical strength and primitive magic! ]
[ System Reminder — — Host, this is a battle that cannot be crushed by sheer power. Wyndham has operated on Mount Wundagore for twenty years — — his control over that land far exceeds your imagination. Your only advantage is — — he doesn't know you have already subdued the ancestor core — — he thinks you are just a new Progenitor with an awakening degree of less than 1%. ]
[ Utilize the information gap — — catch him off guard! ]
Li Heng finished reading the system panel — — the corners of his mouth curved into an arc.
"The stronger the opponent — — the more satisfying the face-slapping."
"Let's go — — go meet this 'Creator'."
He held Wanda's hand, feeling the chill and slight tremor at her fingertips — — but her hand did not let go.
Pietro stood on Wanda's other side, silently holding his sister's other hand.
The three stood shoulder to shoulder.
Ancient One waved her hands, and a golden portal slowly opened in front of the three — — on the other side of the door — — was the night sky of Sokovia — — and the silent, mysterious Mount Wundagore covered in snow.
"Remember — —" Ancient One's voice came from behind the three — —
"Wyndham's most powerful weapon is not his power — — but his words."
"He will hurt you with the truth — — seduce you with your deepest desires — — and destroy you with your fears."
"Do not believe a single word he says — — unless — — that is the truth you have confirmed yourselves."
Li Heng stood in front of the portal — — looked back at Ancient One — —
"Rest assured — — I understand human nature best in the lying-flat world."
"That mouth of his — — is far worse than Chthon."
"Let's go."
He stepped into the portal — —
Dark golden light tracks flashed and disappeared under his feet — — Wanda and Pietro followed closely behind — —
The portal closed behind them.
Ancient One stood in the empty library — — looking at the traces of the golden light finally dissipating — — and whispered a sentence — —
"May Vishanti protect you — — because what you are about to face — —"
"Is far darker than you imagine — —"
...
Sokovia, Mount Wundagore.
Late at night.
This mountain was inconspicuous on the map of Sokovia — — with an altitude of just over a thousand meters, the mountain body was covered by dense coniferous forests, and the peak was covered in snow year-round. Seen from a distance, it was almost indistinguishable from the surrounding mountains — — but Li Heng's dimensional perception began to frantically sound the alarm the very first second he stepped into the foot of the mountain.
"Hum — — humming — —"
The ancestor core on his left chest was beating violently — — not resonance — — but — — repulsion.
This mountain — — was repelling all supernatural powers.
The barrier constructed by Chaos Magic was like a huge reverse magic circle — — suppressing all superpowered individuals except Wyndham himself to an extremely low level.
Li Heng's S-Rank combat power — — was directly suppressed to the early A-Rank at the foot of the mountain — — and it was still continuing to drop.
His dark golden slit pupils contracted slightly — — but he did not stop his footsteps — — because he knew that while his combat power was dropping, Wanda and Pietrowere similarly suppressed. Wanda's Chaos Magic was almost completely dormant — — the scarlet energy could only condense into weak points of light at her fingertips — — Pietro's supersonic speed was also shaved down to three times that of an ordinary person — — faster than ordinary people, but far inferior to his usual bullet-like extreme speed.
This mountain — — was like a huge cage — — weakening them — — while protecting the Creator at the top of the mountain.
"Be careful — — someone is here." Wanda's voice dropped to the lowest.
Li Heng also perceived it — — deep in the dense forest one hundred meters ahead — — there was someone.
No — — not an ordinary person — — that "person's" physical characteristics had exceeded the scope of human beings — — his heartbeat frequency was four times that of an ordinary person — — his body temperature was so low it was close to the ambient temperature — — his skin color showed a sickly greenish-gray under the moonlight — — like a corpse that had been frozen for a long time — — but his eyes were glowing.
Not dark golden — — not scarlet — — but a cold, mechanical blue fluorescence.
"Perfecter One — — on orders to greet guests."
"My Lord Wyndham has been waiting for a long time — — please follow me."
His voice had no emotional fluctuations — — like a programmed robot reciting lines.
Li Heng and Wanda looked at each other — — seeing the same judgment in each other's eyes — — this was not an object that could communicate — — this was a controlled puppet — — used to test them.
"Lead the way." Li Heng said, his voice as calm as if he were talking to an ordinary guide, "Just right — — I also want to see what kind of place a madman who created a 'perfect race' lives in."
Perfecter One turned mechanically — — took a stride, and walked up the mountain at an extremely uniform speed.
Li Heng walked in the front, Wanda closely followed, Pietro brought up the rear — — the three closely followed the greenish-gray figure, step by step penetrating into the darkness of Mount Wundagore.
And at the top of the mountain — —
In the center of a huge laboratory hidden inside the mountain body — —
Herbert Wyndham stood in front of a huge holographic screen — — on the screen, three figures marked as "intruders" were advancing along the mountain path.
The corners of his mouth hooked up slightly — —
"Li Heng — — Complete Progenitor — — suppressed the darkhold manuscript — — S-Rank combat power — —"
"Wanda Maximoff — — fully awakened body of the Chaos Vessel — — my best creation — —"
"Pietro Maximoff — — supersonic Mutant — — oh — — the accessory from back then actually survived to this day — —"
He stretched out a finger — — gently swiped across the holographic screen — —
Zoom in — — lock onto Li Heng — —
"You are indeed very strong — — Complete Progenitor — — stronger than Dracula — — higher in strength than Varna when he was young — —"
"But — — you have a fatal weakness — — you look very powerful — — but the people around you — — are all your soft ribs."
His gaze turned to Wanda — —
"And Wanda — — my child — — you are the most important chess piece in this game — —"
"Chthon's Mark has been dormant in your body for twenty years — — now it has awakened — — and you — — have returned to the place where it was born — —"
"Mount Wundagore — — you will here — — complete your true mission — — become the perfect vessel for Lord Chthon's descent."
The three figures on the holographic screen slowly moved in the shadows of the jungle — — walking step by step towards the exact center of the trap — —
Wyndham picked up a cup of long-cooled black tea — — took a sip — —
"Come on — — let me see — — whether the Complete Progenitor's will to protect a woman — — or Chthon's desire for return after twenty years of sleep — — which one is stronger."
Chapter 30: Up the Mountain! The Creator's Trap — — Siege of the Perfecters
Sokovia, Mount Wundagore.
Deep in the midnight dense forest, moonlight could hardly pierce through the overlapping conifer tree crowns.
Only occasional wisps of silvery-white light leaked through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting mottled light spots on the ground covered with pine needles and moss.
Perfecter One led the way in front, his footsteps as even as a metronome, the distance, strength, and frequency of every step being completely identical — — this was not a way of walking humans should have.
Li Heng followed behind him, his dark gold and silver-white vertical pupils glowing slightly in the dark, taking in every detail of the surroundings.
Although his dimensional perception was suppressed to the limit by the barrier, the instinct of an S-Rankpowerhouse still allowed him to detect things ordinary people could not detect — — for example, the scent emanating from that cyan-grey skinned guy was a strange smell mixed with formalin and metal, not a smell a living person should have.
"Your heartbeat." Li Heng spoke suddenly.
Perfecter One's footsteps paused slightly — — although it was only a pause of a fraction of a second, Li Hengcaptured it.
"What's wrong with my heartbeat?" Perfecter One's voice remained mechanical and bland.
"It's too slow." Li Heng said, "Only twenty-eight times per minute — — a normal person's resting heartbeat is sixty to one hundred times. You have less than a third."
"That is not normal."
Perfecter One was silent for a few seconds, then continued taking steps: "I am a Perfecter — — My Lord Wyndhamcreated us. We have surpassed human limitations — — a slow heartbeat means higher efficiency. Muscle density is three times that of humans, nerve conduction speed is five times that of humans, and pain nerves are severed — — we do not fear, do not hesitate, do not retreat."
"A perfect fighting machine."
"It doesn't sound like perfection — —" Wanda's voice came from behind, carrying a trace of emotion that was cold to the extreme, "It sounds like you have been stripped of everything human by him, turned into tools in his hands — — turned into hollow shells without souls."
Perfecter One did not answer — — but the rhythm of his walking showed a trace of imperceptible disorder.
Li Heng's dark gold vertical pupils narrowed slightly: A reaction? This Perfecter One might not have completely lost human emotions as he claimed — — or rather, Wyndham's "perfect modification" had not completely erased certain remnants in his heart.
The mountain road became steeper and steeper, the air became colder and colder, and the surrounding trees gradually changed from coniferous forests to low shrubs and exposed rocks — — they were already approaching the top of the mountain.
Suddenly — —
Perfecter One stopped his footsteps.
"We have arrived."
Li Heng and Wanda stopped at the same time.
Ahead was an open space — — no, not an open space, but a mountaintop platform artificially leveled.
In the center of the platform stood a huge building that was out of tune with the surrounding natural environment.
That was a bastion-style building constructed of steel and concrete, with no windows on the surface, and only a faint blue fluorescence leaking from the seams.
The front of the building was a five-meter-high alloy gate — — carved on the gate was a logo: a pattern of a DNA double helix embedded with an open eye in the center — — like some bizarre badge.
The High Evolutionary's laboratory.
On both sides of the gate — — stood two cyan-grey figures exactly identical to Perfecter One, and two creatures with silvery-white skin and vertical pupils — — like a hybrid of some reptile and human, with sharp claws at the ends of their fingers, flashing a metallic cold light under the moonlight.
"Four greeters?" Li Heng raised an eyebrow, "The hospitality of your My Lord Wyndham is quite grand."
Perfecter One did not answer his banter — — he walked toward the gate and pressed his palm onto a scanner by the door.
"Identity confirmed — — Perfecter One — — carrying three intruders — — requesting entry."
The blue light of the scanner flashed a few times — — and then — —
"Hum — —!"
The gate slowly opened.
Behind the gate was a long corridor, with dense culture tanks embedded in the walls on both sides of the corridor — — each culture tank was soaked with a bizarre creature — — some humanoid, some beast-shaped, and some distorted forms that could not be described in words at all — — they closed their eyes, floating in the pale green nutrient solution, like specimens sleeping in a nightmare.
Wanda's footsteps paused for a moment — — her gaze swept across the creatures in those culture tanks — — and then her breathing became rapid — —
She saw a culture tank — — soaked inside was the figure of a little girl of about seven or eight years old — — red hair — — pale face — — sleeping brows and eyes — —
Exactly the same as her childhood.
"Wanda — —" Li Heng followed her gaze and also saw that culture tank — — his dark gold and silver-white vertical pupils suddenly constricted — —
Perfecter One's voice echoed in the corridor: "That is the experimental subject of the early Chaos Magic — — the genetic prototype of Wanda Maximoff — — before the formal experiment, My Lord Wyndham cloned seven embryos using your gene sequence — — you are the seventh — — and the only one who survived."
"The remaining six — — are all here."
"He kept them — — as a reference frame for your growth — — and as proof of his proudest work."
Wanda's fingertips were trembling — — scarlet Chaos Magic uncontrollably leaped on the surface of her skin — — surging and boiling emotions came from the link of the Soul Contract — — anger, sadness, disgust — — and a trace of fear she herself was unwilling to admit.
"He used my genes to make seven clones?" Wanda's voice was very soft, but that softness was not weakness, but a tranquility before the storm.
"No — — it should be said — — he screened out the gene sequence most suitable for carrying Chaos Magic with seven clones — — and you are that optimal solution."
Perfecter One turned around and looked at Wanda, the dim blue mechanical light beating in his eyes: "You were never a 'natural' person — — you were designed — — from gene sequence to spiritual structure — — everything was the careful arrangement of My Lord Wyndham."
"Including — — Chthon's mark."
This remark was like stabbing a heavy knife into Wanda's chest.
But she did not retreat, did not collapse, did not let those selves in the culture tanks crush her — —
She took a deep breath, then raised her head, her green eyes staring straight into those dim blue mechanical eyes — —
"I was designed — — so what?"
"My genes come from Wyndham's experiments, my power comes from Chthon's curse, my life comes from one conspiracy and scheme after another — —"
"But the me now — — is my own choice."
"I chose to leave Hydra, chose to come to New York, chose to stand here, chose to — —"
She held Li Heng's hand tightly.
"Choose to believe him."
"These — — are not anyone's design — — they are my own choice."
Perfecter One was silent for a moment, his head slightly deflected in an unnatural arc — — as if receiving instructions from some higher authority — — then he turned around and continued to lead the way.
"My Lord Wyndham is waiting for you in the main laboratory."
The end of the corridor — — another door.
But after this door opened — — it was no longer culture tanks and cold corridors — —
Instead, it was a huge domed laboratory.
In the center of the laboratory — — a middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat was standing with his back to them in front of a huge holographic table.
Projected on the holographic table was a three-dimensional energy spectrum — — the structure of that spectrum Li Heng was extremely familiar with — — it was the complete deconstruction map of Chthon's dimensional mark!
Herbert Wyndham did not look back.
"Wanda Maximoff — — my proudest work — —"
His voice was old and calm, carrying a creator's appreciation and control over his own masterpiece — —
"You have finally come home."
A scarlet light flashed across Wanda's green eyes: "I am not your work — — I am a prisoner created by you — —"
"No — —" Wyndham slowly turned around, revealing that thin and old face, with a pair of odd-colored pupils embedded in his sunken eye sockets — — left eye blue, right eye dark red — —
"You are my masterpiece — — forged with twenty years of my painstaking efforts, enough to bear the descent of the Old Gods — — the most perfect vessel — —"
His gaze crossed over Wanda and fell on Li Heng — —
"And you are that Complete Progenitor — — who suppressed the original manuscript of the darkhold, swallowed the ancestor core — — S-Rank combat power — —"
The corners of his mouth slowly raised, revealing an ambiguous arc — —
"You think you are here to save her?"
Wyndham's voice echoed in the domed laboratory — —
"No — — you are here to send her off."
"Because — —"
He raised his right hand — — holding in his palm a small device emitting a purple-black glow — — the shape of that device — — was like a heart — —
"Chthon's mark — — as long as I press this switch — — it will be fully activated."
"At that time, Wanda Maximoff will no longer be the girl you know — —"
"Instead — —"
"The door for the descent of the Old Gods."
His thumb — — slowly moved to the button of the device — —
"Complete Progenitor — — how are you going to stop me?"
Li Heng looked at the button under Wyndham's thumb — — his dark gold and silver-white vertical pupils had no fluctuations at all — —
"You want me to beg you?"
Wyndham smiled: "No — — I don't need you to beg me. I need you to make a choice between Wanda and the entire world — — when she turns into the door — — will you kill her with your own hands to stop Chthon?"
"Or — —"
His voice became gloomy and seductive — —
"Will you indulge Chthon's descent — — and then challenge him?"
Wanda's breathing was rapid — — the light of Chaos Magic frantically beat on her body surface — — but her eyes — — always looked at Li Heng — — she wanted to know — — under the creator's coercion — — what his choice was.
Li Heng was silent for three seconds — —
Then he smiled.
"Wyndham — — you made a mistake."
"You believe in your design too much — — you think everything is under your control — — but you missed calculating one thing — —"
"She is no longer that container designed and controlled by you — —"
"She now — — is my person."
As soon as the words fell — — the dark gold ring on Wanda's left ring finger suddenly burst out a dazzling light — — blood pact ring — — Soul Contract — — at this moment — — was completely activated!
Wyndham's pupils S-Rank suddenly — — he frantically pressed the device in his hand — —
"Zz — —"
Purple-black current beat on the surface of the device — — but Wanda had no reaction at all — — she looked down at her hand — —
Chthon's mark was not activated.
"How is this possible — —!" Wyndham's voice showed a crack for the first time — — he pressed the button frantically again — —
Wanda still had no change.
"Because — — we were a step earlier than you." Li Heng's voice was calm and resolute — —
"Before leaving Kamar-Taj — — Ancient One used the Moonlight Power of the white moon scroll — — coupled with the Dark Moon Seal of the ancestor core — — added two layers of locks outside Chthon's mark — — your startup device — — is already useless."
Wanda raised her eyes to look at Wyndham — — the scarlet light in her green eyes burned calmly — —
"Creator My Lord — — your chess piece — — is disobedient."
Wyndham's expression went from shock to disbelief to final gloom in a few short seconds — — then he let out a sneer — —
"Interesting — — really interesting — — Complete Progenitor — — you are much more interesting than I imagined — —"
"But you think — — I only have this one trump card?"
He snapped his fingers — —
The walls around the laboratory — — flipped simultaneously — —
Behind the walls — — densely packed Perfecters — — about fifty of them — — were standing there uniformly — — their eyes — — all lit with dim blue mechanical light — —
At the same time — — in their hands — — held various weapons — — energy guns, stun batons, sharp cold weapons — —
Wyndham's voice echoed in the laboratory — —
"Complete Progenitor — — your S-Rank combat power was suppressed by the barrier of Mount Wundagore to around A-Rank — — and I — —"
He raised his head — — spread his arms — —
Under the lab coat on his chest — — a dark purple light lit up — —
"I am also S-Rank."
"Inaccurately speaking — — I am the first human who survived after being successfully implanted with Chthon's mark — — my body — — is the first chess piece left by Chthon in the human world — —"
Purple-black energy surged out from Wyndham's body like liquid — — condensing into a ferocious purple-black armor on the surface of his body — —
"Welcome to Mount Wundagore — —"
"Complete Progenitor — —"
"Your last stop."