Generally speaking, there are two types of cosmic gods. One is a single cosmic being, a true cosmic god. A full-scale unleashing of power is enough to shake the entire universe. Furthermore, they can interfere with the constants and parameters of the universe, bending its very laws.
The other type is more mediocre, like Ego, an absurdly ancient being. At most, he is a father figure, but due to his immense antiquity and vastness, he is also referred to by many as a "god" or "the god clan."
But now, both Nar and Dua have reached the level of cosmic gods, meaning that their every move can directly interfere with the underlying structure of the universe, exerting a significant impact on its stability.
Being single cosmic beings, they can rival an entire universe with their own strength. This terrifying magnitude means that wherever they go, whatever they do, they will become the center of the universe, the focus of billions of eyes.
"Is there a fight going on outside? Even through the magic circle, I can feel the immense pressure coming from outside... but you didn't take action, which means you didn't use the Infinity Stones of this universe."
The three Mephistos opened their eyes simultaneously. One of them pinched his chin with his palm. At this moment, if you ignore his sharp claws and blood-red skin, he could almost be a human.
The demon looked at the magic circle with subtle energy chaos and said to the Ancient One standing outside: "Such a fierce battle has broken out outside. As the Guardian of Earth, you are not going to fight, but instead you are guarding me here. Is this really okay?"
"With my current strength, it is difficult for me to directly participate in a battle of this magnitude. Besides, just an hour ago, I was no longer the Guardian of Earth. Strange's talent is beyond imagination, and he has won the favor of Vishanti." The Ancient One said.
Mephisto, dressed in a hippie-like manner, couldn't help but let out a sinister laugh. "That's right, that's how Strange is. Stranges in most universes are very good at pleasing Vishanti. Coupled with his own magical talents, he can also draw some power from other gods..."
"Demon, I know your plans for Strange are still ongoing. After my death, you will definitely find a way to seduce Strange. Duval knows this too."
The Ancient One spoke calmly, the Eye of Agamotto on his chest radiating a green light. Mephisto's eyelids fluttered, and fear flashed in his eyes.
The Infinity Stones were truly troublesome, existing in countless universes. This was not a pleasant situation for an outsider like Mephisto, who had traveled through so many universes.
Anyone who could perfectly harness the power of an Infinity Stone could rival the gods of the universe.
And the Ancient One before him was precisely the one who could wield the Infinity Stones.
"So, you used the Time Stone on Strange, granting him ample time for cultivation? That's a truly bold move. In other universes, the Ancient One, possessing the Time Stone, would never do this. It's not a good strategy."
"But it's good for you. When Strange uses it to rescue his beloved, it'll be your chance to deceive him."
The Ancient One, in his calm words, pointed out Mephisto's plan, causing him to fall into a brief silence.
"What did you see in the Time Stone? Using the Time Stone to see the consequences of using it?"
"That's what Duval told me. He's deduced over 173,600 possible actions from you, and has devised numerous countermeasures for each one."
"What a terrible opponent! Why does my favorite human possess the most cunning mind? Even if he were a cosmic god, I wouldn't be suffering so much."
Mephisto was deeply annoyed.
He disliked resolving problems with fists like other demons. He preferred to use tactics, subjugating proud humans to his knees and obedience before this evil demon.
Mephisto always strikes with precision when a favored client is in trouble, tempting them to sacrifice their souls in exchange for his aid.
But against Duval, no matter how far-reaching Mephisto's schemes are, Duval always seems to anticipate them and secretly devise a plan to thwart them.
"Your reaction is correct. In fact, from your perspective, you shouldn't have come to our world," said the Ancient One.
"What a joke! You understand nothing. Soon you'll be traveling to other universes and interacting with many Ancient Ones. Then you'll understand why I'm so fixated on Duval. The more you observe, the more you'll understand the significance of this new concept."
Despite his gloomy mood, Mephisto shook his head, maintaining the elegance of a human aristocrat. "Perhaps my biggest mistake was summoning Kul from Universe 616. I had already devised a meticulous plan for this great serpent. The crisis caused by Kul in Universe 616 should have been a golden opportunity for me to establish my superiority over the other great demons."
Mephisto lamented. Now, a powerful Father like Kul had fallen to this unnumbered universe, defeated and imprisoned by Duval, a figure so unknown in the entire multiverse.
Many in the main universe were probably stunned and shocked by the defeat of Kul and Mephisto.
At this moment, the magic circle flickered violently, as if it would collapse at any moment.
Mephisto remained motionless, watching the Ancient One's precise strikes stabilize the magic circle in time, maintaining his airtight containment.
"The battle has already begun outside. You have to maintain the blockade against me while activating the magic circle to protect Earth... The one fighting outside is Duval, right? He hasn't even taken your Time Stone to face a powerful foe. Overconfidence isn't a good habit," Mephisto sneered.
The demon sensed the extraordinary and terrifying fluctuations outside, knowing that this was a battle between Cosmic Gods, and instead felt a little anxious.
Mephisto was shocked by Duval's insane growth rate. He didn't even know how Duval had ascended to the level of Cosmic God. If the power reduction brought on by the different world rules was not taken into account, Duval at this moment could even compete with his original form.
But he was even more infuriated by the unknown Cosmic God who had attacked Duval.
What if they actually captured Duval? Wouldn't that mean they had taken away his coveted prey? This was someone He had lost countless clones, abandoned the invasion of the Kongsu Era Universe, and lost the precious pawn Kul, yet still failed to capture.
Even if they failed to capture Duva, the other outcome would be even more devastating if this cosmic god were defeated by Duva. Wouldn't that mean Duva would once again be exposed to a wave of explosive power?
"Who is fighting Duva? Is he a god of rules? Does he have a body?" Mephisto questioned the Ancient One, his expression growing increasingly grim.
"With your wisdom, you should have guessed long ago that your opponent was Knull, the God of Symbiotes. Of course, this evil god has a body, a pristine one, imprisoned by a host of symbiotes for over a thousand years." The Ancient One didn't bother playing dumb with Mephisto. Conversations between intelligent people didn't require much deduction.
This meant that if Knull were defeated, even a shattered body would be enough for Duval to exploit and nurture into a terrifying alien.
Mephisto pondered this. Even if the new alien relied on a broken body, without enslaving Knull's soul to ensure its advancement, it might not rival Knull's full power, but at the very least, it would still be a step closer to the status of a Cosmic God.
This was a serious problem.
Among the elite Cosmic Gods, the majority possessed bodies. For example, the Celestials, defined solely by the Colored Celestials represented by Arithm, are divided into two groups: the Ancient Celestials, who are all flesh and blood, clad in heavy armor; and the most numerous and common, the robotic bodies, capable of being transformed into Celestial armor by Tony Stark.
If Knull were defeated by Duva, even his body would belong to Duva... just the thought of that scene made Mephisto restless.
"Don't worry, there's no point in rushing. We just need to quietly await the outcome of this battle. My mission is to keep an eye on you, to prevent you from making any more unruly moves from Hell that could affect our world," the Ancient One offered, his words of comfort devoid of any reassurance.
Elsewhere, Kull, imprisoned and dismembered by numerous aliens, became even more aware of the confrontation between the two powerful gods.
Kull, his hair disheveled and his body shattered into hundreds of pieces, still sought a way to escape.
As he felt the immense power of a cosmic god, the serpent remained speechless for a long time.
"That bastard Mephisto has truly ruined me. My luck is truly awful. I just happened to come to a random universe and find myself facing the gods of my own."
Kul's face twisted.
Although, as someone from the main universe, he held other parallel universes in low regard, it depended on the situation. As a powerful Celestial Father, he naturally looked down on the Celestial Fathers of other universes. But if he were to go to another universe and face the local cosmic gods... Kul knew he would never be able to match them.
He didn't mind bowing his head a little, maintaining a basic level of respect for the cosmic gods of other universes.
But now! The human who had once defeated him had, through some unknown means, become a cosmic god! This was the most unacceptable outcome for Kul, and the stark contrast drove the snake nearly insane.
But the surrounding aliens would not listen to his thoughts. If he had even a sliver of hope to recover and regain his strength, they would immediately attack, shredding his body further, leaving only Kul's head largely intact.
A terrifying roar suddenly erupted, echoing throughout the universe.
This wasn't just a clash of energies; it was the physical tremors of the pressure exerted on the very fabric of the universe.
Duval formally engaged Knull, personally initiating a battle that captivated the gazes of the universe's foremost beings.
This was a truly high-level encounter.
Duval, holding the Necrosword high, spearheaded the writhing symbiote, striking Knull with a single blow.
All the symbiotes protecting Knull spontaneously began to disintegrate, howling shrilly, their chaotic thoughts suffused with instinctive awe of the Necrosword.
All symbiotes were born from the Necrosword, and Knull's constant use of high-temperature flames and the resulting pounding noises during the forging process had imbued all symbiotes born from it with these weaknesses.
Now, with their ancestors in Duval's hands, battling the very gods they now worshipped, the symbiotes instinctively panicked.
"It seems your control over the symbiotes isn't as strong as I imagined. You're actually affected by the Necromancer." Duval thrust his sword forward.
Knull made no move to dodge. He raised his skeletal hand, brewing an endless darkness, and grasped the longsword fiercely, his face grim.
Duval didn't pause. Strange runes surged around him, densely swirling around his form. The next second, a surge of divine power suddenly erupted, attaching itself to the Necromancer's sword, slicing through the darkness and wounding Knull's hand.
"I understand this weapon better than you do. Don't think you can use it to defeat me just because you've cheated and stolen it."
Knull looked down at the wound on his palm, feeling the divine runes invading him, frantically destroying his body structure through the wound.
Knull's attention was no longer on the Necromancer's sword.
"You actually have this method... You've got the entire World Tree on your side. How did you do it? The World Tree doesn't have a unified will. How did you get it to side with you?"
"I promise to kill you, sacrifice your soul to the World Tree, and I'll take your body. It's that simple. Evil God Nar, you may respectfully call me... the Rune God!"
Duva continued his attacks. The surging rays of divine light were naturally connected to the massive branches of the World Tree.
This meant that every time he used his divine power, he was mobilizing the vast area covered by the World Tree, using the power of the world to suppress Nar alone.
Rules manifested in the form of divine runes, transforming into heavy shackles that pressed down on Nar.
The eerie runes penetrated every pore, as if alive, madly corroding the darkness that Nar represented.
Nar was unfamiliar with Duva's state, but he was very familiar with his method of mobilizing the World Tree. He himself possessed a world called the Abyss, and wherever he went, he could naturally harness the power of the Abyss.
And now, Duva possessed an even greater world.
The two figures, in a trance, seemed to expand infinitely, becoming comparable to the galaxy. Their battle spanned time and space, their surging figures reaching the edge of the universe, encompassing both the inner and outer worlds.
"This is the first time I've seen the power of the World Tree expressed in this kind of textual form... You can stand before me because you have obtained the power of the World Tree. On the other hand, if someone else also came from the World Tree and could share the power of the World Tree, it would mean that you would become weak..."
Nar's eyes became more serious, at least no longer the crazy and reckless instincts that followed his will.
He was about to activate the race that had secretly surrendered to Him.
Chapter 126: Knull's reinforcements turned out to be...
The entire solar system was already in chaos.
An incalculable number of symbiotes, each transformed into a hideous form, descended upon Earth in a continuous stream.
This was a terrifying scale ten or even a hundred times greater than the last symbiote invasion.
The entire planet's metahumans unleashed their greatest forces into battle.
Tony, controlling the Celestial Armor, led the charge out of the atmosphere, carefully avoiding the magical arrays and charging directly into the forefront.
"It's only at this point that S.H.I.E.L.D. is willing to unlock the Celestial Armor. I don't know if I should call them calm or ridiculously foolish,"
Tony exclaimed, his mind fully engaged, controlling the armor, which had been transformed from the remains of the Celestials. He constantly absorbed an incredible amount of information, synthesizing and calculating it in a split second, then directly issuing commands through his brain signals to control the armor.
Energy blasts blasted from the Celestial Armor, each instant blasting vast swathes of symbiotes into a void.
But for the vast symbiote army, this loss was acceptable.
Tony wasn't the only one charging forward from Earth.
Reynolds, gleaming with golden light, quickly overtook Tony. He was like a brilliant golden sun, generously radiating his afterglow, immersing the dark starry sky in a radiant glow of hope.
Humans across Earth cheered Reynolds' name, lauding him with accolades.
"Did you hear that? Everyone admires me!"
Reynolds exulted, his spirits rising even higher. Like a star, he charged through the symbiote black tide. A casual swing of his fist could blast golden energy tens of kilometers across, a single heated glance could pierce planets.
More alien heroes also joined in, employing various means to build a defensive line.
Similarly, the alien army, nearly every member armed with a symbiote, now entered outer space, engaging in a fierce battle with the symbiotes.
Beyond Earth, as far as the eye could see, the supposedly boundless depths were now rife with brutal carnage.
At first glance, it looked like the symbiotes were slaughtering each other, with strong individuals like Tony and Reynolds intervening.
"Tony, how's it going over there? Do you need me to transform into the Hulk and help you?" Banner signaled Tony.
"Don't be silly, buddy. Even if you became the Hulk, could you still fight in the gravity-free world of outer space? You're better suited to the surface. When we can't stop them, you can destroy the symbiotes that have intruded
." "Okay, actually, you can give me the Hulkbuster armor."
Dr. Banner hated the Hulk, but he wasn't opposed to controlling a controllable technological armor as a human.
He carefully estimated the number of symbiotes beyond Earth and was stunned
. Every Earthling watched helplessly as countless symbiotes expanded madly, enveloping the Earth and enveloping the magical circle that protected it.
The entire Earth was sealed off by countless symbiotes, shutting out the sun and plunging it into endless darkness.
Instantly, chaos reigned, and everyone was in panic. Where had they ever seen such a scene?
Such a vast planet, enveloped by symbiotes, preventing even a ray of sunlight from entering—what a horrific outcome! In the long run, deprived of sunlight, the Earth would gradually cool, forcing them to rely on geothermal heat for warmth, a paltry supply.
Everyone realized that the war must end quickly. The longer it dragged on, the exponential rise in human casualties would be exponential. If Earth remained sealed off by the symbiotes for even a few months... it would be hell.
Thor, holding Stormbreaker aloft, erupted with endless lightning, violently tearing countless gaps in the black symbiote barrier.
But new symbiotes would always fill the void.
"I won't let you succeed. As long as the King of Asgard stands here, you outsiders will never gain a foothold in the World Tree!"
Thor roared. The power of Thor and Odin merged within him, providing him with a constant flow of divine strength.
Truth be told, Thor alone had repeatedly overwhelmed the vast ranks of the symbiotes, and he had become incredibly powerful.
"Long time no see, Thor. Your ability to possess your father's power proves he recognized you before his death. Otherwise, a proud old man like him would have taken his own power with him rather than pass it on to an heir he disdained, like me."
A voice entered Thor's mind, and Thor's eyes widened as he looked in one direction.
Loki, protected by a host of symbiote dragons, looked at Thor with a complex expression.
"Loki!"
Thor shouted in astonishment, ready to forcibly destroy all obstacles and retrieve Loki.
But the next moment, a figure radiating blue energy blocked his path.
"Are you the guy named Captain America? I don't care if you've truly betrayed Earth or been controlled by Knull. Get out of here right now, or I can't guarantee I'll stop in time."
Thor was furious, but Captain America, completely controlled by Knull, fully activated the fragments of the Cosmic Cube within his body. He was like Captain Marvel, continuously emitting blue energy beams that collided with Thor's divine lightning.
"Loki, I don't care what you're planning. Find a way to turn back now, or even I can't protect you. You know the consequences of angering Dewar!" Thor roared anxiously, and with a single blow of his axe, he sent Captain America flying. "Dewar is no longer the same. He must have mastered the power of the World Tree and become its god!"
Loki remained calm on the surface, but his heart was filled with helplessness.
"Although he's become a bit smarter, it doesn't seem to have changed my opinion of him... I shouldn't have had such high expectations of his intelligence. With his brain, he'll probably never figure it out. If Knull wins, I'll completely lose hope. If Duva wins, he might even be generous enough to spare his life..."
After all, not everyone can bring Duva a massive reserve of troops all at once.
At least the last time the symbiote army attacked Earth, Loki had made a significant contribution. The fact that the tens of millions of aliens now have symbiote equipment is partly due to Loki's handiwork—though that's also because Duva was strong enough to withstand the last battle, otherwise he would have perished long ago.
Loki's cold voice echoed: "Thor, you are still far inferior to your father now. You don't have the ability to change the tide of war. If I were you, I would immediately retreat and wait out this war." "Don't be ridiculous. The King of Asgard will never retreat, let alone allow outsiders to tamper with anything within the World Tree."
"Really? Big words, you're always like that, words that get people's blood boiling but, on closer inspection, have no practical use... You're the King of Asgard, not the King of the World Tree. The King of the World Tree is the one Knull is fighting." Loki sneered.
Thor calmed down a bit. "You can't win. Duval has many powerful men under his command. If I don't capture you immediately, you might be killed by them in a second. Look, they're coming."
Loki watched as Sunspot transformed into a ball of flame. From afar, it looked like a blazing sun, radiating light and heat.
As the vice-captain of the Superhuman Corps, the mutant Sunspot could store the sunlight he receives daily and use it when necessary.
Behind him were two superhuman aliens, Hyperion and Ikaris, as well as several other aliens with similar superhuman abilities.
This made Loki frown, but he quickly shifted his gaze, carefully observing the battlefield. Even at this moment, a steady stream of powerful symbiote-clad aliens continued to emerge from Earth.
Both their quality and quantity were astonishing.
"I'm completely missing the old aliens that burst from the chests of ordinary animals... Of course, that's understandable; the aliens that can acquire symbiotes must be at least elite, but this number... Maybe, as I'm thinking, the aliens with extraordinary powers have been transformed into queens en masse? They've begun to breed en masse?"
That would explain it.
The number of symbiotes that survived the last invasion of Earth, after being defeated by Duval, was not as high as it is now. It's obvious that after being captured by Duval, they've rapidly reproduced within their ranks, expanding their population and distributing them to the surging number of extraordinary aliens.
Honestly, not only Loki, but even Gnar would be astonished by the overall strength of the alien army. The average level is simply too high; any single one is a superhuman-level special alien.
Even some of the alien heroes probably didn't anticipate their alien armies would expand to this extent.
Duva was the only one in the world who had such a clear understanding of his own military's growth.
Therefore, on this vast battlefield, despite being outnumbered by the symbiotes, the alien army remained undeterred, silently strangling them frantically. And
that was just for now. If Gnar had held back for a while, giving Duva more opportunities to grow, perhaps Duva's army would have caught up in numbers.
Loki felt a shudder of fear. Duva's power snowballed with each advance, making it impossible to determine his ultimate limit.
Relying on the World Tree and achieving godhood through unknown means was one thing, but even the alien army under his command had quietly amassed such a terrifying size.
The problem was, Gnar, the god of symbiotes, was no fool.
"I don't know what Duval did to allow the entire World Tree's power to be integrated into him. This completely shatters my understanding of the World Tree, but within its boundaries, Knull also has his own helpers."
Loki looked at Thor, who rushed over impatiently, seemingly murderous and ferocious. He wanted to defeat him first and prevent others from killing him.
"What are you talking about, my brother? I don't believe any race on any world would submit to a god like Knull."
"Yes, although I don't understand why they are so paranoid... Knull hasn't told me much."
Loki pointed in another direction.
As expected, a large number of spaceships crossed the wormhole and entered the solar system.
"The structure of these warships seems familiar. I think I've seen them in the library. Which chapter did they mention them in?"
Thor quickly remembered, his eyes filled with horror.
"Dark Elves? Are they those exiled gods?!"
...
Duval had a clear understanding of the situation on Earth; all the aliens were extensions of his senses.
Duval's face betrayed no surprise at the symbiote blockade of Earth.
When the Prime Universe's Knull attacked Earth, he easily defeated the Sentinel, devouring his dark personality, Nihilism, and unleashing a swarm of symbiotes to envelop the Prime Universe's Earth.
While this universe's Knull was certainly not as formidable as the Prime Universe's Knull, commanding a swarm of symbiotes to create an impenetrable Earth proved no problem.
"It seems I was right to act immediately. Against a strange creature like you, I can't afford to give you too many chances."
The battle between Knull and Duval reached a fever pitch, leaving both with scars.
Even more alarming, as the battle deepened to the level of principles, Knull realized with horror that his own wounds were deepening. The darkness he represented was being gradually eroded and shredded by Duval, empowered by the World Tree.
The sheer size of the World Tree was staggering, and the overall concept it embodied was immense. Now, this power fell entirely into Duva's hands. Duva not only could mobilize the World Tree's divine power, but also commanded an immense mass of divine energy, as if it had been stored for years and then unleashed all at once.
This was unacceptable to Nar. Even after countless years of conquering the universe, challenging countless gods, and suffering countless defeats, he had never encountered a foe like Duva. Not long ago, he was an ant whom he could easily crush, but now, he was able to suppress him.
Duva struck with his sword, mobilizing various types of pure divine power, imprinting divine runes onto the Sword of Death, piercing the darkness before him.
The newly crowned Rune God gazed into the distance.
"So that's how it is. These are the helpers you've found, the Dark Elves? They're also pursuing darkness, so at least their ideologies don't conflict with yours. But relying on this Protoss alone isn't enough to change the situation."
The Elves, like the Giants, are also divided into many branches, such as the Light Elves and the Dark Elves.
Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves, is at best a veteran Skyfather.
Chapter 127: The Time Ace That Ends Gnar. The
arrival of the Dark Elves drew a brief second of attention from Duval, but that was all.
"You're trying to use the Dark Elves to influence the connection between me and the World Tree, to achieve your goal? Do you think I simply acquired the World Tree's power? Even if you help those elves, you won't achieve your goal."
Duval's expression was remarkably calm, which infuriated Gnar.
He hated gods who acted confidently when facing him. This was both arrogance and the ultimate form of contempt.
Furthermore, Gnar simply refused to acknowledge that Duval, who had only recently been an ant, had now, at the speed of light, become a god capable of confronting him head-on.
If anything, Gnar was born a cosmic god, while Duval achieved his godhood through various means. The fact that he could even compete with Gnar only underscored Gnar's "failure."
Nar, venting his fury, swatted Duva's Necromancer sword with his sharp claws, attempting to wrest the weapon back. However, he discovered that the blade was already covered in strange divine runes, bearing Duva's mark from head to toe. The Necromancer
sword refused to obey him and struggled desperately.
Furious, Nar attacked, unleashing a darkness as deep as a black hole. He simultaneously attacked the World Tree, attempting to sever the connection between it and Duva.
"I've seen many who relied on dimensional power to become gods, and I've slain many with my own hands! You're no different from them!"
Nar's eyes widened with evil, taking in the World Tree, radiating endless divine light, as if constructed from countless points of light.
He watched as nearly every tiniest branch extended an incredibly strong chain of divine power, anchoring directly to Duva.
Even an ancient being like Knull couldn't fathom the underlying principle. It was as if the World Tree itself had suddenly developed self-awareness, purposefully channeling its vast reserves of divine power into Dua.
But how could this be possible? The World Tree couldn't possibly possess self-awareness. It would be as absurd as if an entire universe had suddenly sprung to life.
Knull's actions were certainly not intended to destroy the World Tree.
Even for a Cosmic God as powerful as himself, destroying the vast World Tree would require immense energy. Furthermore, the other Cosmic Gods might intervene, unwilling to tolerate such a mad act that would destroy a portion of the cosmic framework.
Knull intended to disrupt the connection between the World Tree and Dua, creating an opportunity for the Dark Elves.
As Dua had anticipated, Knull couldn't completely sever the unknown link between Dua and the World Tree, but he would attempt to send the Dark Elves, a branch of the gods, to divert some of the World Tree's divine power.
The Dark Elves mobilized their entire race, mobilizing their entire force and charging in with all their warships.
"I'm back, finally back. The World Tree, the cradle that gave birth to us... Too bad it's too bright, and doesn't belong to us, like the exclusive world of the Light Elves."
Malekith, the father of the Dark Elves, gazed expressionlessly at the massive object that loomed before him.
The World Tree, due to the frenzied battle between the two Cosmic Gods, had never been so clearly visible.
You see, the World Tree is both a physical object and a composite of laws and divine energy. Even for the Father, it would have been extremely difficult to fully grasp its entirety.
But now Malekith had seen it, though not through his own strength.
"The Cosmic Gods... I thought Odin was dead, the greatest obstacle standing in our way was gone, and all that remained was to return to the World Tree and reclaim what was rightfully ours. But I never expected a God to emerge from within the World Tree."
Even Malekith felt a sense of utter despair at the thought.
Even peak-level Odin had no chance of reaching the rank of Cosmic God. At best, he could rely on various means, such as donning the Destroyer Armor blessed by the God Kings of the major Protoss, to challenge the Cosmic Gods.
But Odin was ultimately only a powerful Father, unable to break through the supreme barrier of rank.
But Duval did. With human origins, he united a terrifying race unheard of in previous years, participated in one massive war, and rapidly grew in strength.
"Those who can cause Dormammu and Gnar to suffer consecutive defeats are too dangerous. Fortunately, I contacted Gnar in advance this time, and he paved the way for us. If we had to rely on ourselves, we would have wanted to return to the World Tree..."
Malekith watched from afar as the solar system and surrounding star systems violently trembled.
The terrifying brightness, comparable to supernova explosions, demonstrated the brutality of each clash between the two Cosmic Gods.
Fortunately, the battle took place within the World Tree, and in the most resilient terrain of Midgard, the world at the heart of the World Tree.
In other regions of the universe, this would have shattered stars and annihilated life.
Malekith immediately ordered all spacecraft to invade the solar system and slay all who stood in his way, especially the Asgardians.
Although he and Knull had a mutually beneficial relationship, when Knull gave the order, Malekith had no choice but to lead the entire Dark Elf race to the brink of death, for he had no power to refuse the Cosmic God's demands.
The World Tree, with its influence on countless planets, rippled with the fluctuations of space and time.
Under Knull's brutal interference, the chains of divine power began to show signs of instability, creating an opportunity for Malekith.
"Does He want me to disrupt Dua's connection with the World Tree? No, to be more precise, He wants to use me to observe Dua's control over the World Tree. Even the slightest oversight will allow Knull to decipher the underlying principles."
Malekith, a cunning man, saw Knull's purpose at a glance.
The Cosmic God was incredibly terrifying, his control over information far exceeding even the Heavenly Father's reach.
"It's the Dark Elves!"
"These paranoid lunatics actually followed Knull and betrayed the World Tree?"
"Damn it, they want to use Knull to gain the power of the World Tree! Malekith has already taken action!"
The Heavenly Fathers from other worlds were shocked. After so many years, they saw the long-lost Dark Elves again. This was simply a depth bomb that shocked many people.
Thor roared, and planned to rush out and shoot down several Dark Elves' space battleships.
But these battleships plunged into the black tide of symbiotes, and were wrapped and covered by a large number of symbiotes, gaining a powerful barrier out of thin air.
Malekith completely ignored Thor and others. Under Knull's deliberate guidance, he grabbed the divine power surging from the World Tree.
"Finally, after so long, I finally caught you again."
Malekith's face showed intense excitement. He felt the majestic divine power that he had never experienced before, let alone heard of. He was astonished at Dua's ability to manipulate the World Tree to such a degree. He
was also envious of such a young Midgardian, who had achieved something countless other Sky Fathers had failed to achieve.
However, since Dua could wield such immense divine power, Malekith could also gain a portion.
"Malekith has touched the World Tree."
"That's perfectly normal. With Knull paving the way for him, if it were me, I'd also consider whether I could become the next cosmic god. In terms of origin, we, Dua, are more suited to bear the power of the World Tree than humans or aliens."
Many Sky Fathers across the board were paying attention, and ambitious individuals were eager to act.
"Prepare! If Malekith makes progress, we will also send our troops."
Queen Sind, daughter of Surtur, commanded from Muspelheim, the world of fire.
Numerous fire giants, rock giants, fire elves, and other gods gathered.
But the powerful of each race hesitated.
"Dua is resisting Nar and the Dark Elves. If we attack him now, Nar's side will prevail..."
"Idiots, what are you thinking? Our mortal enemy is Asgard, not Midgard. How could I lead Muspelheim to attack Midgard's forces and benefit Nar? This madman is infamous throughout the universe. If he controls the World Tree, how can we survive?"
Queen Sind's body burned fiercely. She drew out her whip and lashed it furiously. "If Malekith can obtain the power of the World Tree, we will attack the Dark Elves first. At the same time, I will also draw divine power from the World Tree and surpass my father."
The many fathers of the World Tree may say they hate and fear Nar, but to say they are not at all envious of Duua's authority is a lie.
Naturally, some would wonder if Duua, a non-God, can do it, then they, the orthodox Fathers of the World Tree, can do it even better? It's simply because they don't understand the method and principle of controlling the World Tree.
Muspelheim's actions rippled through other worlds.
The Light Elves of Vanaheim were the most active, following the Vanir in a fearless attack on the Dark Elves' spaceships.
Looking at the situation within the World Tree, it's almost safe to say that, aside from the battle in which Odin led the God Kings against the Celestials and suffered a crushing defeat, no war could rival the scale of the present.
Everyone was watching Malekith's actions, even Gnar was watching closely.
Boom!
Duval split the darkness, clearing a path with massive runes, carving terrifying lines into Gnar's form.
"Distraction in my presence is not a good habit. No matter how ancient you are, you will die if you are killed. You are not death itself."
Duval was completely unfazed by Gnar's actions. He remained calm and composed, unwavering, even if the world shattered and the universe re-started, his heart would not waver.
He would seize every opportunity to achieve his goal, constantly killing and wounding Gnar.
"Even a cosmic god needs to accumulate experience. You, relying on the World Tree, suddenly entered this realm, completely unaware of the true omnipotence of a true cosmic god." Nar looked at the rapidly flashing runes on his body.
The more runes struck him, the more clearly he could feel the World Tree's suppression growing, each rune draining and weakening him.
But it didn't matter; the situation would soon be reversed.
"The World Tree couldn't have become your greatest support for no reason. You're not a god. Even if it was, it must have employed some method. I only need to take one look to understand how you did it."
Nar's fury intensified, his surging fury quickly transforming into a bitter chill. He stared intently at Malekith, hoping this ant would lead him to explore the path and bring him some unprecedented new discovery. "
I can do it too," Malekith thought, and so did Nar. No one would be dissatisfied with possessing too much cosmic power.
Malekith made contact with the World Tree and began to seek more divine power.
Normally, there's a limit to the divine support the Skyfather can receive from the World Tree. Malekith's goal was to break this limit, relying on Knull's help to seize even more divine power, thereby creating a vulnerability on Dua's side.
But just as Malekith was about to receive further divine power, risking physical damage,
the World Tree suddenly and forcefully severed its connection with him, suppressing even the portion of divine power that once belonged to him.
Malekith, feeling the sudden loss of divine power, froze in shock, his face a look of intense disbelief. He exclaimed, "This is impossible! How could the World Tree, like a living being, specifically reject a Skyfather like me?"
"I'll tell you why. This proves you're not worthy!"
Queen Sind brought her army and charged directly at Malekith.
But Malekith's actions were enough to reveal something crucial to Knull.
"I understand. Sure enough, something is secretly helping you... I saw those sneaky creatures hiding in the darkness, though I couldn't see clearly..."
Nar was also astonished. Amidst the shadows of the World Tree, where even he didn't bother to glance, a group of strange rats could actually hide.
But no matter how hidden they were, they couldn't escape the sight of him, an ancient evil god of darkness.
"If I kill those rats, they won't be able to use the World Tree to transmit divine power to you. Even if you remain a cosmic god, without the World Tree's supply, you'll be no match for me."
Nar let out a frenzied laugh, a laugh that cracked the surrounding cosmic vacuum.
The evil god was ready to throw off Dua, risking even more power being drained by him, but he himself would plunge into the shadows. He could snatch those rats out in an instant and crush them one by one.
Duval remained unfazed. He spoke calmly, "You're terribly wrong. My true means of dealing with you isn't the World Tree. This is merely a means of weakening you, laying the foundation for my next plan. The most important point is... even if I succeed in killing you in this form, what good will it do? I disdain to become a cosmic god backed by the World Tree. I simply don't care for that level of power."
At this moment, after weakening Nar, Duval finally unleashed the tactics he had meticulously prepared for Nar.
"Moira, it's your turn."
Chapter 128: The God of Symbiotes Burns Himself to Save the World.
Within the shadows of the World Tree, the gods hiding there were in a state of panic.
They had lived in seclusion for years, but they were not without their own emotions.
Suddenly, the dark god, Knull, had discovered them, their birthplaces from the shadows, and they were inevitably terrified.
"Damn it! Knull discovered us."
"How could this be? Knull only observed us indirectly, and yet he discovered our existence? What kind of monster could be so capable!"
"This is the level of power an ancient cosmic god could achieve... Now the question is, what should we do?"
"Of course, do nothing. Wait for him to come knocking on our door. Are we going to leave the shadows and attack him? When have we ever done such a thing?"
Several shadow gods engaged in a heated debate.
They were filled with anger, anxiety, fear, rage, and even the desire to fight Knull.
No one could understand the complex emotions they felt after eons of hiding, suddenly discovered by a terrifying cosmic god.
"It's all Duva's fault. Why couldn't he stop that guy Nar? We clearly fulfilled our promise and gave him the power of the World Tree, but he didn't do it well."
"Yes, Duva didn't do it well. So what have you decided to do? Want to take back the power of the World Tree? You know that's impossible! Nar is still guarding outside. If Duva is defeated, our fate will not be much better. We have sent most of the divine power to Duva."
"Then urge Duva to kill Nar! The current power is not enough, so give him more divine power and let him work harder."
"The divine power we gave is already huge enough. If we give more, our own strength will be weakened, and then we will not be able to survive from Nar."
"We can't put all our hopes on Duva. Besides, Duva gives me a very sinister feeling. He is no less dangerous than Nar."
Nar said what he wanted to do directly, but no one knows what Duva wants to do until the last minute. Maybe Duva has already acted in secret.
The Shadow Gods knew they were manually creating a dangerous Cosmic God to counter a seemingly more threatening Cosmic God.
But they had no choice. No matter how rubbish this tactic was, it was still a thousand times better than having them emerge from the shadows and fight the enemy themselves.
The Shadow Gods began to contact Duva.
"Duva, what are you doing? Kill Nar!"
"That evil god has sensed our presence. We must stop him and not let him enter the Shadow World."
"Our existence must never be exposed to the other beings of the World Tree. That's the bottom line."
From the divine power chain, a flood of obscure whispers entered Duva's mind.
"It's so noisy! I don't need you to teach me how to do this. Otherwise, do it yourself instead of hiding and making noise."
Duva couldn't even block out the damned whispers, as they were transmitted through divine power, transforming into mysterious runes that Duva controlled.
He felt another surge of divine power. Although it was not much, he knew it was the last strength the Shadow Gods could muster.
Very good, the power of the Shadow Gods has been squeezed once again.
But far from finding them considerate, Duval found them somewhat cumbersome.
But rightly so, he couldn't expect too much from these beings, whose birth and future death were woven within the shadows.
The evil god Knull, born from darkness, could wreak havoc across the universe with the Sword of Death; he had no lingering attachment to darkness.
But the Shadow Gods, on the other hand, refused to leave the shadows that had spawned them.
But that didn't matter. Duval had never placed high hopes on them anyway. His real hope lay in his long-held trump card—Moira.
From a distance, he gave Moira his orders.
"Charles, still haven't found Destiny? Where has she gone? Why is she refusing to contact us at this critical moment?"
Magneto was terrified. As one of the four great powers of the universe, he felt the brutality of the conflict more vividly than most. The universe itself was like a sailboat on the ocean, tossed and turned violently by the wind and waves.
Professor X once again removed the electroencephalogram, his expression relatively calm. "She hasn't contacted us in a long time. Perhaps she's made a more important discovery. Mutants who can manipulate fate are beyond our comprehension. I only hope she makes the choice that ultimately proves her course correct."
"If the outcome is destined for destruction, then right or wrong is meaningless. That's why I wanted to ask her what she foresaw in her destiny."
This time, Professor X remained silent, silently awaiting the outcome.
Unexpectedly, it wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. or the anti-mutant forces that posed the greatest threat to mutantkind. Even Duval, who needed metahumans as hosts for his alien forms, showed little concern for the mutant race.
Instead, it was the evil deity that arrived from the depths of the universe, relying solely on the aftermath of its attack, that posed a serious threat to the survival of mutants and, ultimately, humanity.
"Fortune, I hope you've once again accurately sided with fate..." Professor X sighed softly.
Fortune had indeed taken action, months earlier.
Hiding in Earth's oceans, blending in with countless other ordinary aliens, a seemingly unremarkable alien suddenly raised its head.
Its slender skull broke through the turbulent waters.
"It's finally my turn... no, it's our turn."
Moira's heart sank. She had never participated in a war of this magnitude.
In past crises, including those during her two previous rebirths, she had never faced an adversary like a cosmic god.
Now, with Duva at the forefront, Moira had created a wide gap, creating the perfect conditions for her to perform.
"Don't be nervous. We've been preparing for this moment for all this time, haven't we? Rather than running from fate, we should seize it."
The Destiny watched Moira from the surface of the sea. Beneath her mask, her thoughts, searing like magma, were hidden. The day had finally arrived. Fate had been preparing for it for so long.
Soon, she would no longer be a mutant who could only see fragments of fate, but would become a part of it.
Right in front of Moira, Fate struck her own neck fiercely, blood splattering all over her.
"We will become destiny, based on the fragments of fate I can decipher and your ability to restart the universe,"
Fate declared. "We've worked so hard for so long, and we're just one step away. I believe Duval is eager to see what you can do."
"Is it really worth it? Although we've tried many times in private, the moment you truly succeed, you'll die, sacrificing your life to fulfill my destiny." Moira was puzzled.
"In the concept of fate, life and death are ambiguous, without strict boundaries or distinctions; they're all part of destiny."
Moira ultimately remained silent and began to activate her abilities.
The next moment, a powerful divine force descended, transforming into a giant hand that grasped Moira and instantly shattered time and space, bringing her to Duval's presence.
"Moira, it's your turn. Don't let me down," Duva said flatly, as if he were discussing what he was going to eat. "I've clearly seen your efforts. I understand your thoughts. I know you can possess the power to control fate that you and the Fate Girl envision. Once you succeed, Nar will become our toy, and the thing I envision will soon become a reality."
Moira didn't know what "that thing" Duva was talking about, but that didn't matter. As long as Duva had a plan, she only needed to obey orders strictly.
Under Duva's watchful eye, Moira prepared to act.
Nar saw Moira, a plain alien, lacking either powerful magical auras or impressive divine powers. She lacked even the most basic, immense energy.
"Is this your last resort? An ordinary alien? Even if you brought a queen, I'd still pay more attention to it, but this thing isn't even a queen!"
Nar sneered. Even if he, the God of the Universe, were to calculate, he couldn't understand Duva's actions.
Intuition told him what Duval was about to do was extremely dangerous, but reason told him that an ordinary alien was useless.
Knull moved to destroy Moira, but Duval stepped forward, blocking Knull's attack and firmly protecting Moira behind him.
"A vulgar god, no matter how ancient or powerful, is ultimately vulgar. For such wretch, I usually have a comprehensive plan for their demise... Knull, you should feel honored to be personally designed to make your life worse than death. Perhaps countless years from now, even if the universe collapses and the multiverse is destroyed, you will be worthy of witnessing it as part of my life."
"What a joke! With you and this alien beside you?"
"You'll find out soon."
Moira began to activate her abilities.
Amidst countless curious and doubtful gazes, time began to flow in strange ways, mingled with the power of fate.
Earth's Ancient One was the first to notice the anomaly, drawing out the Time Stone and carefully sensing the changes in the flow of time.
Mephisto also sensed something was amiss. Coming from the Hell dimension, his life form differed from that of the multiverse's inhabitants. Generally speaking, his true form wasn't affected by the time of a single universe.
"Time is changing."
"It's not simply speeding up or reversing, but a partial severing? No, it's the removal of a region,"
Ancient One and Mephisto replied, each face filled with astonishment.
They soon realized the sheer magnitude of Moira's abilities.
Localized time had begun to connect, effectively slicing off a tiny fragment of the universe's predetermined fate, forcing time to revolve within it, like an Ouroboros that has eaten its own tail, beginning an endless cycle.
Gnar, already severely slashed by Duval, was at the heart of this cycle.
He was bound by this localized time, reduced to a fragment.
Gnar's face was filled with utter horror, and an endless rage erupted.
The evil god struggled, but was met with a resounding blow from Duval. A continuous stream of divine runes bombarded Gnar, thwarting his repeated attempts to break free from the shackles of time.
"How could this happen? I'm a cosmic god. Not even the Creator God or the Celestials can kill me. How could you use this alien to do this to me?!"
Nar was in disbelief. This defied common sense. Precisely because he was a cosmic god, he couldn't comprehend what was happening.
Duva said, "It's normal for you not to understand. It would be abnormal if you could. Moira is the most special of all my aliens. She wasn't the strongest before, but maybe now."
Just how powerful is Moira? It can be explained in one sentence: she can reboot the universe, or what's called reincarnation.
Moira's ability is to be reborn over and over again, returning to the point in time when her life began, causing the universe itself to rewind time as well.
Regardless of how Moira dies, whether she lives to old age and dies young, or suffers a tragic and untimely death, the entire cost is borne by the universe itself. Countless planets and countless lives, abducted by Moira, will be reborn with her rebirth.
If one takes a long-term view, one will see that Moira's power is a terrifying curse upon the entire universe. The universe's survival depends entirely on Moira's own longevity.
Even a cosmic god, unless they have reached the multiverse and transcended a single universe, cannot escape Moira's reboots.
Duval couldn't determine whether Moira was an Omega-level mutant, possessing boundless potential and an immortal soul. However, her seemingly unremarkable powers made her a nightmare to most beings.
Of course, the creator gods would undoubtedly remain unaffected by Moira, as they already have their original bodies, even multiverse-scale ones. Even the turmoil in a single universe would only affect their clones within that universe.
Now, through Fate Girl and Duval, Moira has truly developed her power, using it solely against Knull, the cosmic god, to surprisingly good effect.
Duval suspected that some who could perceive Moira's true nature would even welcome it, hoping that Moira would create an infinite loop of her own abilities and use them on Knull.
Letting Knull, the evil god, bear Moira's fate would be a boon for the entire universe, a crucial act of redemption.
Knull, the god of symbiotes, was truly a great god. He burned himself to save the world and restore normalcy to the universe.
Chapter 129: Duva's New World
. Nar fell miserably.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, he felt his own fall firsthand, like a moth caught in a spider's web. No matter how hard he struggled, he could only watch as the web tightened around him.
The scene before him was clearly beyond Nar's comprehension. The evil god's face was filled with disbelief.
"What's with that alien? What's with this strange power? Why could she separate me from this universe and imprison me? That alien isn't even a god!!"
Nar racked his brains, but he couldn't figure out what Duva had done to allow an ordinary alien to possess the power to imprison a cosmic god.
Nar had always overestimated the aliens, but now, even his three views were about to be shattered.
Is this reasonable?
"Although we haven't figured out the reason, since this was a trap Duval had set for Knull ahead of time, it all makes sense."
"This is terrifying! That alien isn't normal at all. It's so weak, yet it possesses a special ability capable of taking out Knull? If it were to recklessly use this ability, wouldn't the effect spread throughout the universe?"
"The aliens are even more terrifying than we imagined. Duval quietly mastered a powerful unit of force capable of taking out a Cosmic God, yet he's never used it. How insidious!"
"Dormammu was lucky. He was defeated too early and too quickly, avoiding Knull's fate."
At this moment, all the top-level Celestials across the universe shared expressions of horror.
Dormammu was even more thankful. Fortunately, Duval had joined forces with the Ancient One, rather than taking on him alone. Otherwise, he might have suffered the same fate.
Duval's ability to defeat Knull with such a strange method suggests he could also defeat many other Cosmic Gods.
At this moment, even the most aloof of beings were forced to lower their heads and gaze at Duva and his aliens, their gazes searching.
With the exception of a few, such as the Creator Gods, who were aware of Moira's characteristics and could appear indifferent, all other gods, to some degree, harbored a strong fear of Duva.
It was at this moment that Duva truly established his reputation among the cosmic elite.
Trampling upon Gnar, he paved the way for his quest to reach the limits of a single universe.
Yet, Duva's expression remained remarkably calm.
"Is this all you can do? Gnar, you're even weaker than I thought. Perhaps I don't need to exert such tremendous effort to weaken you... I haven't even used many of my methods, and you've already fallen." Duva observed Gnar's struggles closely, as if he were watching a small fish thrashing around in a small aquarium, repeatedly bumping against the walls.
Gnar's current state of disarray, frantically searching for a breakthrough in a small cosmic region, was repeatedly reactivated by strange forces, forcing him back to square one. He was a madly trapped beast.
"Don't be too complacent, bastard. There's no unstoppable power in this world. Your inability to kill me immediately proves you lack cosmic power, so you can only resort to these contrived tactics to restrain me. I'll soon find a loophole and escape from here," Nar roared furiously. His dark eyes fixed on Duwa, seemingly within reach, yet in reality, the distance between them felt like an entire universe.
"I can't kill you? Perhaps. After all, many gods have exhausted all means, only to banish you or send you to eternal sleep. But I never intended to kill you from the beginning."
"What did you say?"
Nar glared fiercely at the unreachable Duwa, a sense of foreboding welling up in his heart.
At that moment, Nar, who dared to challenge anyone, perhaps felt a strong fear of this young, unbelievable human. He was completely unlike any opponent he had ever faced.
"Moira, compress Knull's fragments. The Abyss within him is a valuable asset. It's the essence of darkness, an independent dimension, the origin of countless symbiotes, and a world that naturally belongs to us," Duval ordered.
Indeed, he wanted to capture Knull alive and transform him into a living world core.
In the Marvel multiverse, many gods aren't the type of beings whose immense power is inherently theirs. Aside from groups like the Mages, who rely on debt to maintain their supernatural systems, even among gods, many rely on external forces.
The vast majority of gods are essentially dimensional gods. Their displayed power is achieved by mobilizing the forces of entire dimensional worlds.
Take Dormammu and Mephisto, for example; one relies on the Dark Dimension, the other on the Hell Dimension.
Away from their respective dimensional worlds, the longer they fight against powerful enemies, the weaker their power becomes, making them more vulnerable to slaying.
In Duval's eyes, Knull was also a different kind of dimensional god. While conventional dimensional gods exist within their own dimensions, Knull, on the other hand, possesses a dimension known as the Abyss within his body.
Capturing Knull alive would be equivalent to seizing the Abyss.
"This way, I can create my own dimensional world, using the living Abyss as a vessel for my vast sea of consciousness, and complete the process of possessing Knull."
Duval watched the struggling Knull, eager to try. He had long harbored the idea of creating a world similar to Asgard's Valhalla, a truly independent sea of consciousness, separate from reality.
Following Duval's command, Moira obeyed with all her might, exerting her abilities to gradually drag the ancient evil god along, like a puppy on a leash, and presented him to Duval.
Duval immediately launched a massive invasion of the Abyss. Duval
's own consciousness alone might not have been enough to shake Knull, but when Knull saw the countless, boundless, luminous points of consciousness, he was stunned.
The number was outrageous; Knull had never imagined that Duval had spawned such a staggering number of aliens across the universe. If it were just numbers, it would be fine; he could easily destroy any number. Yet, the alien entities each of these blips of consciousness symbolized naturally blended perfectly with Duva's consciousness, serving as guards and energy sources, driven by Duva.
Duva spared no effort, blasting them all into the abyss of Knull, completely devoid of skill, even deliberately engaging in attrition. As
Knull grew weaker, Duva gradually gained possession of what he possessed, corrupting him.
Amidst countless stunned gazes, Knull gradually became a part of Duva.
While Knull was unlikely to be completely annihilated by Duva's current power, he would live forever, witnessing Duva's powerful control. This was too cruel for a vain cosmic god.
Duva once again stunned everyone who watched.
Witnessing this, Malekith fled with his fleet, only to be met with an endless pursuit. While a Father-like power was no longer essential to Dua, he wouldn't refuse if it meant transforming Malekith into an alien.
It was the Shadow Gods who were most deeply moved.
They had initially prepared for the worst, ready to use their limited strength to fight Gnar in the shadows.
But an unexpected turn of events revealed Dua's ferocity. All the previous battles had been designed to consume Gnar as much as possible, ultimately devouring him completely.
The Shadow Gods watched helplessly as a cosmic deity, far superior to them, was utterly defeated. They didn't understand, but they were deeply shocked.
"What's going on? The ability of that alien seems to be related to time and fate."
"If we knew about this ability in advance, it's not impossible to deal with it. We just need to hide in a world that is clearly separated from the real universe."
"It's easy to say, how many cosmic gods have been bound to the real universe? How many can know in advance that the alien has this weird ability, and then escape from this universe in advance and hide outside?"
"According to our observation, Duva can use the abilities of all aliens, so the special abilities of that strange alien, Duva can also possess, that's why he can devour Nar without hindrance."
"If Duva uses this ability to deal with us, how long can we rely on the shadows?"
The shadow gods are worried, and have realized that the good days of hiding comfortably in the shadows, high above, overlooking the changes in the world tree are gone forever.
Having dealt with Gnar, they should have been thrilled. However, the thought of Gnar being tortured by Duva for eternity in this way terrified them. There was no joy at all, only relentless anxiety, terrified that Duva would turn around and kill them at any moment.
Naturally, the Shadow Gods attempted to negotiate with Duva, asking if they could reclaim some of the power they had entrusted to him.
Yes, some.
They didn't dare expect Duva to generously give up all his power. After all, he was a single cosmic god. As long as he remained within the realm of the World Tree, he could wield its immense power and face any formidable foe.
The World Tree itself was an immense super-dimension.
Duva observed the Shadow Gods' hesitation.
To him, everything within the World Tree, whether light or shadow, was unobstructed.
"Duva, we've fulfilled our promise and provided divine power for you to defeat Nar."
"Indeed, your performance has exceeded our expectations. We never imagined you could wield the power we granted you to this degree."
"Even if other Heavenly Fathers possessed this power, they wouldn't be able to wield it with such ease, but you wield it without any obscurity or hindrance."
"By accepting the power of the World Tree, you bear the corresponding fate and drive the events bound to occur within it. This is your mission. In return, you will receive a portion, no, most of the energy feedback."
Duva interrupted.
"A god? A god who relies on the power of the World Tree to ascend? You guys have misunderstood me again. From the beginning, I have never valued the World Tree's gift. Becoming a cosmic god, and therefore holding back, is the greatest waste of my potential."
Duva's voice surged with the divine power, piercing the shadows, causing them to twist wildly and stir up a turbulent sea.
"What? Do you want to hear what you're saying?"
"You're still so stubborn. You became a god with our help, and defeated Gnar because of it. At least you have to admit that a major reason you were able to annex Gnar was because you used our power to weaken him."
"But it's all over, and you're telling me you don't value the power we gave you?!"
The group was truly shocked. Perhaps they should be happy about this. If Duva could voluntarily give up these divine powers, they might have a chance to regain some of the authority of the World Tree.
Duva shook his head repeatedly.
World Tree?
Following the path of World Tree God, continue straight ahead? Becoming a single cosmic god is easy, but taking the next step, ascending to the multiverse, is impossible. Standing in the way are four multiverse-level, second-generation World Tree gods.
Oshutu, the God of White Magic, one of the Trinity of Vishanti; Sison, the God of Black Magic and Chaos; Set, the Serpent God; and Gaia, the Earth Mother.
These four are a mountain that stands in the way of all who attempt to climb the World Tree system, an insurmountable obstacle.
Thinking of using the power of a single World Tree in a single universe to overthrow these four multiverse-level World Tree Gods? What a joke!
If one simply wanted to secure a stable source of power and then lay low, then pursuing the World Tree system might be a good option.
But for Duval, that was absolutely impossible. He would rather abandon the World Tree God and take on the role of the Alien God, elevating the concept of the Alien until it became a completely new concept God.
After all, the Marvel multiverse is constantly merging concepts, absorbing foreign concept Gods like the Primordial Transcendent to expand its scope.
With Knull's death, the impact that had engulfed the World Tree slowly dissipated.
As for the countless symbiotes, the moment they lost Knull's control, their frantic actions ceased, and they stared at their surroundings in bewildered confusion, restless and uneasy.
"Surrender and become a part of me, or die!" Duval declared to the symbiotes. "You have no choice. Serve me as you once served Knull. Your god, your original symbiote, and the world that gave birth to you are all in my hands."
Duval brandished the Necromancer sword, overlooking the black tide.
He couldn't let these guys disperse. The more symbiotes, the better. The universe is so vast, and the number of aliens will only increase. By then, everyone will have a symbiote as a weapon.