Alex Ray was deeply satisfied with the growth of his partners. Not just them—Doctor Octopus, Deadpool, Spider-Man—every one of them had made impressive progress.
He believed that with enough time, they would each awaken to their own divine authority.
Of course, that didn't mean everyone, like Tony Stark—who had already begun to touch the fringes of power—would inevitably rise to become a demigod or true god.
The laws of the universe were strict and impartial. Every divine authority was unique and long occupied by ancient, formidable beings.
One throne, one ruler.
For Tony to ascend to the authority of wisdom, for instance, he'd have to face a brutal truth:
He would either need to surpass—and potentially defeat—ancient deities like Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and usurp their seat;
Or he would have to forge a new and original path, carving out a brand-new authority that resonated with his own soul.
But this was no simple feat. Deep within every being's soul, there existed only one or two types of authority that truly resonated—and this affinity couldn't be forced or altered.
This wasn't just Tony's challenge. It was the universal dilemma for anyone striving for higher realms of power.
There was a reason demigods were so rare.
Even the God Clan, after countless eras, numbered only slightly more than a thousand. The road was treacherous, full of unpredictability and peril. Only a microscopic few could endure to the end and seize control of their fate.
For Alex Ray, though, that wasn't much of a concern.
Worst case?
He could just kill all the gods.
Eventually, they'd find an authority that matched.
He still held four unused authorities in his grasp—each ripe for distribution.
They were: Machine, Buddha, Swamp, and Wolf.
Just as Alex was preparing to explain the mystery of these powers to his companions, a sudden and intense wave of destructive energy pierced the calm.
It came from Kingpin, who was seated not far away. His expression twisted into something savage and terrifying, as though his very soul were being corrupted by an overwhelming force.
Everyone nearby was instantly on alert. The Hell's Kitchen regulars exchanged worried glances. Was their usually composed and experienced elder under attack?
But just as panic began to peak, the destructive aura rapidly withdrew—like a tide receding. It vanished within three to five seconds.
Kingpin's face relaxed back into serenity. He calmly brushed dust from his coat, as if nothing had happened.
He picked up a cigar, lit it with ease, took a long, slow drag, and allowed a small smile to form. Clearly, this sort of thing no longer fazed him.
"It's fine. No need to worry," Kingpin said, his voice steady and resonant. "It's just Frieza making noise again. He always does—shouting into the void now and then."
Though he played it down, everyone understood how dangerous the situation really was.
"Uncle Kingpin, are you sure you don't want me to silence Frieza?" Alex asked casually, as if the galactic tyrant was nothing more than an annoying fly.
"No need, Alex." Kingpin exhaled a stream of smoke and smiled faintly, eyes gleaming with cold wisdom. "Let him speak. It's good mental training. I was once the emperor of the criminal underworld—why should a fallen cosmic despot intimidate me now? He'll be nothing but a stepping stone on my climb to true divinity."
Just as the words left his mouth, an angry and distorted voice echoed through his mind.
"You bastard! Unseal me if you dare, and I'll tear you apart with my own hands!"
Frieza's voice was venomous—dripping with hatred and humiliation. It cut like a dagger straight into Kingpin's soul.
Kingpin raised an amused eyebrow. "As you wish."
As he spoke, an invisible force surged through the air.
Then, before everyone's eyes, a shocking sight unfolded—
A pale, bald figure—barely five feet tall—materialized in midair. His spectral form glowed with a chilling light.
Frieza.
Or rather, what remained of his soul.
He opened his mouth immediately to unleash a torrent of threats—
"You… you have—" But his words froze mid-sentence.
In soul form, Frieza could sense every force around him with terrifying clarity.
And what he felt now?
It was nothing short of horror.
Each person in the room—whether standing casually or seated lazily—exuded an aura of terrifying pressure. Even at the peak of his reign, Frieza had never encountered anything like this.
Their expressions showed neither fear nor reverence.
Only cold indifference.
To them, he wasn't the former Emperor of the Universe.
He was an insect.
Frieza's eyes twitched. "Tch… I'm only in soul form. I won't lower myself to deal with ants like you."
But even as he spoke, his soul began to fray at the edges. He was trying to flee—desperately.
Too late.
Alex raised his hand, and with a slight motion, imprisoned Frieza's soul in place with invisible force.
Frieza screamed.
The agony seared into his soul, drawing out a cry he couldn't suppress.
"Silence. This isn't the place to throw tantrums," Alex said, his tone like steel. His eyes narrowed, projecting godlike authority.
"You dare posture here—when even Son Goku couldn't completely destroy you? I don't care who you were. Here, we have rules."
"This is Hell's Kitchen. My domain."
"I created you. And I can erase you at any time."
At his words, Frieza fell completely silent.
Not because of compliance—but because he could no longer speak at all.
Alex studied the soul in his hand. His expression grew thoughtful.
He had the right to be this confident.
After acquiring the Soul Stone, Alex had received a unique system reward—
Every template card in his possession could now generate its own soul body.
At first glance, this reward didn't seem especially powerful.
But Alex knew better.
It was incredibly overpowered.
It meant that every member of his inner circle essentially got their own guiding spirit.
A personal golden cheat.
With these soul bodies, his partners could master their template powers faster and more efficiently.
He smiled slightly, then raised his voice.
"So," he said calmly. "You've been watching long enough. Isn't it time you came out?"
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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