A strange gurgling sound echoed inside Malrick's inner world as hundreds of devoured monsters' genetic data flowed into him. Their matter and energy were broken down by the Blacklight Virus, reduced to raw information. It was like a massive biological factory: pulverizing and extracting only the highest-grade nutrients.
Thousands of tendrils funneled this essence into Malrick's clone. He could see the process clearly—foreign genes were dissected, optimized, and then stitched seamlessly into his own DNA. With every integration came understanding. New instincts, new capabilities.
The torrent of information pressed against his consciousness, but the virus filtered it with remarkable precision. Malrick didn't just inherit power—he comprehended it.
His secondary body activated one of its innate functions, Creation, channeling genetic potential into matter. The crimson sea within the inner world swirled violently, mist rising into the air like a blood-red veil. From the fog came distant roars, echoing like the cries of life itself struggling to be born.
Time passed differently here. What felt like moments outside stretched into years within. After three long years in the inner world, the mist finally cleared, revealing hundreds of small embryos floating above the sea.
Within seconds, they grew. Two-headed wolves, hulking mammoths, giant octopuses—all the monsters Malrick had once consumed were recreated by his clone's ability.
With a wave of telekinesis, Malrick released them into the land and sea of this inner dimension. The beasts ran, swam, and hunted as if they had never been erased in the first place.
"It worked," Malrick murmured, his two-headed wolf form standing at the shore. "The Blacklight Clone isn't just about raw evolution—it's a tool for unraveling the genetic code of life itself."
His thoughts sharpened. "In this universe, with so many superhuman bloodlines, the possibilities are limitless. As long as I keep devouring and experimenting, I can reach levels beyond imagination."
His body rippled, veins of black and crimson crawling beneath his skin before retreating. Moments later, his form stabilized—now appearing as a striking Siberian Husky, his bright blue eyes glimmering with intelligence. He glanced at his reflection and smirked.
"Not bad. Time to collect some premium genes."
On the floating island above Kamar-Taj, Malrick's main body continued enchanting building materials. Dozens of sorcerers, alongside Wong, labored nearby to establish a defensive array. Spells carved stone, reshaped metal, and stitched magic into the island's foundations.
Wong paused to wipe sweat from his brow when he noticed something odd: a brief shimmer on Malrick's body, then the flicker of a black-and-white figure slipping through a portal.
"Hm?" Wong blinked, suspicious. "Did something just… run out of you?"
"You're seeing things," Malrick replied evenly without looking up.
"No, I swear I saw it. Black and white. Like… a flash of fur." Wong squinted. "You're not smuggling pandas in here, are you?"
Malrick finally looked up, raising a brow. "Smuggling pandas?"
"Yes! People sneak them into sanctuaries all the time. Release them into forests to, you know, improve biodiversity—"
"Wong," Malrick cut him off, suppressing a laugh. "You've clearly been thinking about this illegal scheme for far too long. Get back to work before your imagination drifts further."
Wong frowned, muttering as he returned to the construction. "I know what I saw…"
Elsewhere, the Husky-shaped Blacklight Clone padded quietly across Wong's desk inside the library. Malrick, through the clone, shook his furry head.
"That man really needs to focus."
With a thought, he vanished, teleporting to his next destination.
Moments later, he arrived on the far side of the Moon, within the hidden city of Attilan—the capital of the Inhumans.
The city gleamed with strange architecture, blending alien technology with regal design. Malrick strolled down its streets in his canine disguise, marveling at the scenery while releasing near-invisible filaments from his body. The threads brushed against the skin of passing Inhumans, drawing out tiny samples of blood.
For the Blacklight Virus, a single drop was enough to extract genetic information. Consuming entire bodies was unnecessary unless he sought raw energy or memories. Since Malrick's clone had the Space Stone as an energy source, efficiency was all that mattered.
To the casual eye, it looked like a Husky enjoying a walk. But with every step, he quietly absorbed the genetic codes of those around him.
Then, a shadow fell across him.
Malrick looked up to see a massive Shar-Pei dog, easily over a meter tall, with a head nearly as wide as Malrick's entire body. Recognition flickered instantly.
"Lockjaw," he muttered.
The Inhumans' loyal protector. Capable of teleportation across galaxies, and gifted with telepathy.
The dog tilted its head, staring curiously. Its eyes widened when it realized the Husky before it had spoken aloud.
"You… can talk?" Lockjaw's voice echoed telepathically, startled.
Malrick narrowed his blue eyes. "And why are you looking at me like that?"
Before Lockjaw could react, Malrick lunged. His paw-turned-blade slammed into the dog, knocking the giant beast unconscious in one clean strike.
"I'm not here for conversation," Malrick said coldly.
When Lockjaw eventually regained consciousness, he was dazed and confused. Around him, the Inhuman Royal Family lay scattered and unconscious—Black Bolt, Medusa, Maximus, and their guards, all defeated with terrifying ease.
The dog whimpered softly. What just happened?
Later, the Royals pieced together fragments of the encounter.
Maximus rubbed his jaw. "That creature… it asked me if we intended to move our people to Earth. When I answered, it knocked me out on the spot."
Medusa frowned. "It told me the same thing. Then said, 'If you dare set foot on Earth, I'll break your legs,' before striking me down."
Black Bolt's hands moved in sharp sign language. His meaning was grimly clear.
He believed the strange Husky was not just any beast, but a messenger—a warning from Earth's mightiest. Perhaps even Superman's dog.
The room fell silent.
The Inhumans, who had long debated relocating to Earth, no longer dared to raise the subject. The memory of the Skrulls' downfall lingered too strongly.
One warning had been enough.
____
Send Power stones.