Chapter 88: I've decided to form a professional team composed entirely of Supermen, and you'll be the Captain.
Humanity is the master of the land, and Atlantis is the master of the ocean.
They possessed technology that surpassed that of the surface humans, and their average physical attributes also far exceeded those of ordinary humans.
But they also have weaknesses. Without the aid of high-tech equipment or magic, they cannot operate on land for extended periods.
Originally, the Atlanteans only needed to deal with the negative impact on the ocean caused by disputes among the Surface Dwellers, such as pollution, war, and the like.
But now, they had to face more troubles—namely the Xenomorphs that were rapidly reproducing and expanding in the ocean.
Anyone with a bit of foresight could predict that the ocean was a paradise for the Xenomorphs. There were countless fish and shrimp here, and depths that reached thousands or even tens of thousands of meters.
Just deploying a few Queens into the vast ocean would be enough for the entire Alien Species to run rampant in this blue expanse.
But the more high-profile the Xenomorphs became, the more the Atlanteans could not tolerate it.
A constant stream of intelligence about Xenomorph sightings converged on Atlantis. Their increasingly active movements and surging numbers were seriously challenging the Atlanteans' control over the ocean.
Of course, if these Xenomorphs were only hunting and reproducing moderately, there would be no problem. But it was obvious to anyone that once their numbers grew to an uncontrollable scale, the Kingdom of Atlantis would inevitably be impacted.
"In the last two weeks, our kinsmen have directly observed over twenty incidents of Xenomorph sightings. It's now impossible to estimate the total number of Xenomorphs in the ocean. Moreover, their headquarters is on land, a domain we cannot easily set foot in."
"We can't wait any longer. We must attack immediately and wipe out these Xenomorphs! Once they break a certain population threshold, they will seize the entire ocean with unrestrained exponential growth, destroying all living creatures! We all know that once the Xenomorphs occupy the ocean, the land will inevitably follow, and the entire Earth will become a planet of Xenomorphs."
In the royal palace of Atlantis, a group of Atlanteans held an important meeting, the atmosphere incredibly solemn.
Don't assume that a race like the Atlanteans, who have mastered technology and magic, possess high moral standards. On the contrary, they generally harbored great malice toward humanity.
And Namor, the Sea King of the Kingdom of Atlantis, was a notorious backstabber across the entire Multiverse, with an endless supply of shady maneuvers.
But maddeningly, this guy happened to be the recognized leader of the entire ocean. Because of this, he became the king who controlled seven-tenths of Earth's domain, making him impossible to ignore. In some universes, he would even become an elder of the Illuminati.
Namor, with his volatile personality and decisive ruthlessness, would of course not tolerate an invasion of his territory.
"I have always exercised restraint regarding the various disputes within humanity."
Namor, holding the trident that could control the ocean, sat high on his throne, looking down at the many high-ranking Atlanteans below.
"Humanity pollutes the environment and destroys the ocean, constantly squeezing our living space and damaging our home... The Surface Dwellers have caused us, the innocent, to be implicated. Look at what those guys are doing! The Surface Dwellers are about to erupt in civil war again, a war between humans and Mutants," Namor said, looking at everyone.
But he still did not give the command to strike hard.
If it were anyone else—even S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Mutants—who dared to provoke the majesty of Atlantis, Namor would have unhesitatingly mobilized his forces to give the provocateurs a little ocean-style shock and awe.
Just as they had been constantly at war with Wakanda, and at one point even wanted to unleash a flood to destroy the entire Kingdom of Wakanda.
Atlantis and Wakanda were ancient enemies.
But this time was different. Even the ill-tempered Namor knew what a creature like the Xenomorph signified.
The term 'Xenomorph' didn't just refer to the non-human creature itself, but also the man who ruled the Alien Species, and the many renowned powerhouses who followed that man.
Especially the top few among them. Even if Namor himself didn't make a move, if these few individuals were to do something to Atlantis, Namor felt that the losses for Atlantis would be catastrophic.
In particular, the ones who filled Namor with the most dread were Reynolds, and the Laufey Xenomorph that had likely already begun to develop—although the Laufey Xenomorph had never appeared in any battle, anyone who knew anything about Du Wa was certain that he would capture Laufey for parasitism at any cost.
As long as he could access humanity's internet and do a quick search, Namor could confirm many things. For him, a being who possessed high technology, this was not a difficult task.
These two human-born Xenomorphs alone were enough to make Namor restless, not to mention Du Wa who commanded everything from the top of the pyramid, who was even more terrifying.
Was he really going to lead all of Atlantis into a protracted war with the Alien Species?
"Heh heh, Namor, Your Majesty, you're feeling fear, aren't you? You're afraid of them."
An incredibly strong, burly ocean-dweller wearing golden armor stepped forward. Standing in the middle of the grand hall, he stared at the Sea King before him with a cold gaze, showing no respect.
In fact, if he had the chance, he would have long since knocked Namor out with a single punch and taken that seat for himself.
Becoming the King of Atlantis was not his goal; leading all of Atlantis to ultimately submerge and destroy the entire landmass was.
Attuma, an Atlantean even more crazed and radical than Sea King Namor, possessed the strength to be an even match for a standard Hulk.
Namor suppressed the rage in his heart. "While we are at war with Wakanda, you want to ignite a war with the Xenomorphs as well? Fighting on two fronts would be a massive burden for us."
"No matter how great the burden, it's better than doing nothing. You should understand that stopping the Xenomorphs' expansion in the ocean is something we must do. Otherwise, there will be no Atlantis in the future. Everything we have accumulated over twenty thousand years will cease to exist."
Attuma said coldly, "Twenty thousand years ago, while the Deviants and the Eternals fought, our ancestors entered the ocean with the continent of Atlantis. When the Celestials cleansed the Earth, we were able to stay out of it, watching everything change. All our efforts over the millennia weren't to become a catalyst for the Xenomorphs, a race that has only existed for a few years!"
Attuma declared his ambition: "I will do what you dare not do. I will kill those you dare not kill. If we don't submerge all the Surface Dwellers in the ocean, we will have no future! We can turn the Earth into an ocean planet, so why must we endure the humiliation and destruction the Surface Dwellers bring us? Including that damned Wakanda!"
Attuma had always had many fanatical supporters, but this time, no matter how much they admired his ideals, they couldn't help but show a moment of hesitation.
If they hadn't learned of Du Wa's feats of repelling Dormammu and conquering Jotunheim, they would have followed Attuma without a second thought, launching a full-scale assault on the land and sinking a few human cities into the ocean for good measure.
But now, knowing full well how ridiculously ferocious Du Wa's group was, and knowing that their very survival was under grave threat from the Xenomorphs, they still hesitated instinctively.
"Attuma, you'd better listen to what you're saying. Mindless violence cannot solve the problem of violence that is stronger than you."
"Shut up, Namor! What do you know? You have no idea what great risks I've taken to find such a wonderful way out for the Atlanteans! You only know how to sit on your throne, snarling and posturing. I would never share my accomplishments with someone like you."
Hearing these words of open defiance, a murderous glint flashed in Namor's eyes. He gripped his trident and charged forward.
Attuma sneered, unafraid, and immediately engaged Namor in battle.
Their fight was exceptionally fierce. Every move stirred up vast amounts of seawater, and the turbulent currents triggered a localized earthquake.
In the end, Attuma managed to retreat unscathed. Namor did not possess the strength to kill Attuma in a direct confrontation in a short amount of time, especially when Attuma had a group of loyal followers.
"I have made my decision. We will dispatch troops to push back the Xenomorphs and restrict their area of activity. As long as they agree to this, we will not attack. I will not trigger a full-scale war with the Xenomorphs. This is not out of fear, but out of responsibility for my people."
Namor nonchalantly returned to his throne, tightly gripping the trident in his hand. He stared fiercely at his remaining kinsmen, their numbers now reduced by nearly half. "You don't want to end up like the vampires, do you?"
Even someone as volatile as Namor had to admit that the existential threat posed by the Xenomorphs was unprecedented. Faced with the race's superior strength, its rapidly expanding scale, and its laughably low development cost, Atlantis was at a great disadvantage.
Surface Dwellers couldn't survive for long in the ocean, and ocean dwellers couldn't survive for long on land.
However, after numerous observations, the Atlanteans confirmed that these damned Xenomorphs could not only survive normally on land but also speed through the ocean like fish, as if they were natural marine beings with instinct on a genetic level. This was simply outrageous.
If one had to point out a weakness, it was that they needed to surface periodically, like whales.
But don't forget, these were just ordinary Xenomorphs. Capable of withstanding temperatures from over 100 degrees below zero to 1500 degrees Celsius, they could naturally endure a great deal in the ocean as well, more than capable of handling the water pressure and low-oxygen environment.
The vampire Xenomorphs, just one level above the ordinary ones, could survive continuously in the ocean for over ten hours. This was while maintaining high-intensity activity, hunting and killing.
Don't think this is a short amount of time. You have to understand, an Atlantean of Attuma's level could, at most, operate unimpeded on land for twenty minutes if he went ashore and fought at full power. If he exceeded that time, he would have to retreat immediately and submerge himself in the ocean again.
"Vampires are vampires. Strictly speaking, they are merely a branch race created by our Atlantean ancestors. The fact that the vampires, whom humanity couldn't eliminate for so many years, have now been driven to near extinction by the Xenomorphs, doesn't mean we will suffer the same fate."
An Atlantean said this resentfully, then left with several others to catch up with Attuma. They were full of anticipation for the solution Attuma had mentioned for dealing with the Surface Dwellers, as Attuma was not one to make idle boasts.
Namor suppressed his fury.
Twenty thousand years ago, Atlantis was still a continent, and all its people were Surface Dwellers. A magician named Varnae came into contact with the Book of Darkness and became the world's first vampire.
When Varnae had lived long enough, a few hundred years ago, he tricked a mortal named Dracula into drinking his blood of eternal life, turning him into the second vampire, before passing away peacefully.
Namor guessed that Dracula might have already fallen into Du Wa's hands. Otherwise, there was no way to explain the appearance of a group of identical Xenomorphs in Du Wa's army, which had clearly been hatched from vampire hosts.
Perhaps it was extremely advanced cloning technology. Had they captured Dracula, cloned his genes, and then used numerous clones to incubate Xenomorphs?
"I finally understand now why this swarm of Xenomorphs can fight on other worlds or other planets..."
The pressure on Namor was immense. What was the difference between these Xenomorph things and amphibious creatures? And they weren't just amphibious in freshwater, but in both sea and on land!
The only thing they couldn't do was fly.
The Xenomorph's extraordinary, off-the-charts adaptability, born solely for combat, truly sent a massive shock through everyone.
The operational efficiency of Atlantis was high. They immediately dispatched their military forces to intercept the Xenomorphs everywhere.
But of course, the Xenomorphs showed no fear or hesitation and immediately charged to kill. The two sides quickly went from interception to a full-blown battle.
The ocean officially plunged into strife and slaughter. Even though the Atlanteans possessed magic and technology, it was impossible for them to face a creature like the Xenomorph and emerge unscathed. As time went on, the casualties began to mount.
As if sensing the cleanup operations in various Atlantean ocean cities, even more Xenomorphs operating elsewhere began to gather spontaneously, amassing greater numbers and beginning to turn the tables, bloodily purging the soldiers and population of Atlantis.
Namor only wanted to limit the Xenomorphs' expansion and keep them within a relatively controllable range. Unfortunately, the Xenomorphs didn't think that way. Since there was a war here, they would naturally flock to it. The scale of the war escalated uncontrollably, exceeding Namor's ability to manage it.
Before long, the rapidly expanding scale of the war in the ocean quickly captured the attention of the entire planet.
This was the ocean, which covered seventy percent of Earth's surface and dwarfed the land in terms of depth. With the entire global ocean as the battlefield, one could only imagine how vast the scope of this war would be.
"Atlanteans? Those guys tried to clean out the Xenomorphs and got bitten back?"
"Hahaha, so besides vampires, extraterrestrials, and gods, there are also undersea people in this world? The legendary Atlantis wasn't a legend after all? What other kinds of people are on this planet? Are there people underground too?"
"Hmph, so what if they're ocean people? Go to hell! How dare they oppose the Xenomorphs? Don't they know how powerful our Xenomorphs are? Even if you're a god, we'll rip your head off and use it as a host for a Xenomorph!"
The result of this was that civilians all over the Earth felt their horizons had been broadened once again. How could there be so many strange and bizarre species on this one planet?
Their perspective was still too narrow.
But no matter what species you were, no matter what race, the Xenomorphs would fight you all the same.
As long as it was alive and made of flesh and blood, it could be captured and used as a host for a Xenomorph!
Once a war begins, its scale will only grow larger, never smaller. This led to a greater number of Queens appearing in various places, frantically laying eggs and parasitizing more fish, then rapidly assembling the quickly maturing Xenomorphs to attack the various cities in the ocean.
The global ocean became turbulent and unpredictable, with all sorts of waves that defied natural laws rising and falling intermittently.
Ordinary people didn't need to worry about the outcome of the war, because they believed that even if Du Wa couldn't win, he would absolutely not lose.
They had several terrifying powerhouses holding the line, teams led by mass-produced mid-tier Xenomorphs, and a rapidly growing number of low-tier Xenomorphs.
How could such a race possibly lose?
Unless a powerhouse capable of shattering a star with one punch appeared and smashed the entire Earth, or even the whole solar system, to pieces, then they could naturally wipe out ninety-nine percent of the Xenomorphs.
But a very small number of people, like the Ancient One, knew that even this would be useless. Du Wa's Xenomorphs had already been spread to many planets through Kruger.
Even within the Nine Realms, at the very least, the two worlds of Asgard and Jotunheim, as well as multiple planets within those two realms, were now home to scattered Xenomorphs.
As long as it wasn't a disaster on the level of universal destruction, Du Wa generally didn't need to worry about his own safety.
This battle, however, attracted more people who wanted to join Du Wa's ranks.
"I have some inside information. The Atlanteans have been restless for years, constantly interfering with the development of humanity."
"Rumor has it that the Atlanteans are behind some of the annual tsunamis and typhoons..."
"Since they've officially gone to war, and with the entire world's oceans as the battlefield, doesn't that mean Du Wa's side is short on military force? How about you parasitize me? I can guard some of the major cities and kill any Atlanteans who dare to invade."
Weyland Tower was once again besieged by crowds.
Even business people and government dignitaries who came for regular meetings had to be guided by Xenomorphs forcibly clearing a path just to get in and out.
Du Wa, Xenomorph, and Ocean War were the hottest topics worldwide.
In the several major events prior, thanks to the activities of Du Wa and the Xenomorphs, anxious people desperately seeking a sense of security attempted to join the Xenomorph ranks and become one of them. This had become an increasingly popular choice.
The only concerns were whether Du Wa had any plans for mass recruitment, and how Xenomorphs born from the parasitism of a bunch of talentless ordinary humans would be any stronger than those born from animals.
If one had to point out a unique trait, perhaps it was that humans who didn't undergo the chestburster phase would have more schemes?
As the city Du Wa was stationed in year-round, New York City also began to suffer from tsunami attacks.
There were even sporadic appearances of Atlanteans in the city. Wearing high-tech equipment, they attempted to plant some starfish-shaped deep-sea bombs for targeted demolition.
The Xenomorphs already scattered throughout New York began to increase the frequency of their appearances, always managing to quickly root out the undersea people who landed in New York and swiftly capture them.
After all, the physical constitution of these Atlanteans was generally formidable; they were humanoid beings capable of withstanding the immense pressure of the deep sea, after all.
If used for parasitism, they were much stronger than vampires. A single Atlantean host was worth several vampire hosts.
"Capture as many Atlanteans as possible. Although we don't know yet if these guys daring to land on the surface are from the Sea King's faction or Attuma's, it doesn't matter. They're all the same."
Du Wa casually issued the command, and all Xenomorphs on Earth and the hosts carrying Xenomorphs within them simultaneously received his directive: "Be vigilant of these guys' attempts to bomb New York City into the ocean. Strengthen patrols of the continental shelf."
Reynolds and the others were mobilized, and the Atlanteans naturally returned empty-handed. They had prepared a large number of high-tech deep-sea bombs, but even if they could theoretically sink New York City into the ocean, it was all useless now.
This forced the Atlanteans to resort to creating continuous tsunamis to batter New York City, attempting to destroy this Xenomorph headquarters.
But this city didn't just have Du Wa and his Xenomorphs; other superheroes also stepped up.
Hulk jumped directly into the ocean, thrashing about at high speed and rapidly slaughtering Atlantean soldiers. His violent punches easily sent shockwaves through vast stretches of water.
"Good job, Hulk! For the first time, I approve of you. As long as you don't start throwing your fists at me like last time, you're a reliable comrade-in-arms."
Tony praised him loudly. This time, at least Hulk wasn't holding him back. As for the likes of Hawkeye, at best they could shoot their bows, using things like lightning arrows and ice arrows to barely clear out some grunts.
Hulk let out a roar, continuously rampaging in the ocean. His actions caused the brewing tsunamis to fully form, becoming even more chaotic and disordered as they crashed toward New York City one wave after another.
"Jarvis, regular armor won't work against the Atlanteans. Activate 'Rubber Ducky'." Tony made a decisive call, deploying a new suit of armor that came after the Hulkbuster.
Tony had also gotten serious, upgrading his technology tree day and night, frantically creating all sorts of specialized armor to deal with different enemies.
Furthermore, he had begun a deep collaboration with S.H.I.E.L.D., coming into contact with technology that surpassed Earth's, and had even seen with his own eyes an inexplicable individual that he believed Earth should not have been able to produce.
Tony felt that he had evolved once again.
"What? What did you say your armor is called?"
"Natasha, if you have time to mock the names I come up with, you'd be better off taking down another enemy. Your work efficiency is frighteningly low, only slightly better than Captain America's. If I were Nick Fury, you'd drive me to an early grave."
As a square metal box fell from the sky, Tony quickly donned the incredibly thick, golden armor. He raised both arms, aiming at the roaring tsunami in front of him.
"Taste my new invention: the energy shield!"
A beam of light shot out from Tony's arms and rapidly coalesced into a transparent energy barrier rising from the ground up, forcefully holding back the endless seawater beyond the beaches of New York, as solid as a fortress.
Anyone who saw Tony's performance would have their eyes light up.
This guy's rate of progress was too fast. He could now create an energy barrier several kilometers in diameter. In a few more years, creating an energy shield to cover the entire Earth probably wouldn't be a difficult task.
Just like the Ancient One, who could deploy a magic array to cover an entire planet.
This made one suspect that the next time Tony went all out, he might just pilot an anti-god armor into battle.
Regarding Tony's performance, Du Wa nodded slightly in approval but was not surprised.
Tony was already one of the most intelligent people on Earth. As a mere mortal, what he lacked most was time.
Truth be told, if Du Wa hadn't been constantly stirring up trouble over the past year or two, engaging in radical expansion and making risky leaps that caused many dangerous events to erupt in a concentrated period, Tony would have had more time to develop. He should have had at least three to five years, and wouldn't be in his current situation, feeling rushed and unprepared every time he encountered a new event.
For a mortal, being unable to prepare in advance was a terrible thing.
"It's not just Tony who's growing. Many heroes and villains are beginning to rapidly make their mark... Every major event is a crisis that kills many people, and will even eliminate some heroes and villains who haven't had a chance to mature. But it also forces these people to accelerate their growth."
Du Wa stood by the window, gazing at the gray sky in the distance and the wildly churning seawater.
The conflict with Atlantis escalating into a war was just a small interlude. After all, what the Xenomorphs feared least were war and sacrifice, especially when the battlefield was a place like the ocean, which was ridiculously rich in hosts and food.
His Alien Species had never fought such a bountiful war before! It was far better than that dirt-poor war with Jotunheim.
If he really didn't care about the cost, the Xenomorphs could simply wear Atlantis down to its death just by overwhelming them with sheer numbers.
Exchanging a hundred Xenomorphs for the life of one Atlantean was a worthy trade for Du Wa.
What's more, how could the loss ratio possibly be that high? Many of the ones leading the teams of ordinary Xenomorphs to attack the Atlanteans were mid-tier Xenomorphs possessing special powers.
Du Wa pondered for a moment, then called Reynolds back.
"Are we launching an all-out assault on Atlantis? We should've done this ages ago! Hey, I'll be the vanguard. I'll capture that what's-his-name, the Sea King or Attuma, and make them one of us. Druig has been nagging me about this, and I'm getting tired of hearing it."
Reynolds was ecstatic. His favorite thing to do was stomp on weaklings. All he had to do was bathe in golden light, show up where he was needed, and unleash a flurry of fists and heat vision to sweep through his enemies like they were nothing.
And if he ever ran into a powerful enemy, he could decisively let someone else take over. He'd just have to close his eyes and open them again, and the enemy would be down.
"Not that. The Atlanteans aren't worthy of us launching an all-out assault to deal with them. They're a bunch of guys who even struggle against Wakanda—they never even dealt with the Panther God. We just need to maintain this rhythm of pressure. It won't be long before they collapse on their own."
He had called Reynolds over for another purpose.
"I'm planning to form a specialized team within our race. This will be the first professional team, and I've decided to appoint you as its captain," Du Wa said.
Reynolds looked bewildered. A professional team? Was this a detailed re-organization of the existing Xenomorph legion?
"I've already thought of a name for this team. We'll call it the Superman Corps. Simple, clear, and easy to understand."
Du Wa said slowly, "Don't worry about being a commander with no troops. I've already scouted a suitable member for you and have sent that person an invitation... After he joins, you will have a powerful assistant."
...
Sunspot was a spirited young man. Magik was a delinquent girl with a mysterious past.
When Sunspot needed her most, Magik heartlessly left him.
After being broken up with, and feeling disheartened by the perilous battle between the Xenomorphs and the Atlanteans, Sunspot called home.
"Butler, I've decided to come home and inherit the family fortune."
The butler replied, "What damned family fortune do we have?"
"What? I'm Roberto da Costa, my father's only successor!"
"Yes, you are the successor, that's true, but all you can inherit now is debt," the butler said. "Because Hammer Industries has been expanding into Brazil, aggressively seizing the mining industry, it has dealt a heavy blow to our corporation. Now the ocean is in turmoil as well, affecting transportation. The family is about to go bankrupt."
"?"
Sunspot was dumbfounded.
(end of chapter)