Death was aware of the events transpiring elsewhere, though not because of any mass casualty event.
The universe was simply too vast; death and rebirth occurred ceaselessly, everywhere, all the time.
Compared to the cosmic scale, the death of an entire planet's population, let alone a war in a single city, wouldn't stir a single thought in Death's mind.
Her attention was drawn to that particular location only because Bul-Kathos had once appeared there, and the Archangel Imperius had also resurrected in that vicinity.
Only entities that could directly impact her would draw Death's gaze.
Moreover, that place was the heart of Eternity. All higher-level existences paid special attention to that azure planet.
Death vanished from her throne, appearing instantly amidst the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral.
This time, the form she presented was not that of a skeleton, but rather that of a graceful woman.
Death only revealed her skeletal form to those she favored.
As for ordinary encounters, the form she assumed depended entirely on the race of the observer.
At that moment, the group still busy fighting had no time to notice Death's arrival.
For them, Death was not an entity that could be directly observed—especially since, on this occasion, Death had not come to say hello.
The Ancient One was still chanting her incantation. It was a grandiose spell, requiring the recitation of over a thousand words.
Although simpler magic existed to resolve the issue of the constantly weeping souls within the Cybermen, the Ancient One, out of benevolence, had chosen this longer and more profound spell.
However, Rorschach suddenly shuddered violently.
Justice resided within his body, making him currently more exalted than his own power would suggest.
The arrival of Death caused the dormant Tyrael within him to feel a distinct discomfort.
It was Death, after all, who had taken the Black Soulstone sealing the Seven Evils from under his protection. Tyrael was all too familiar with her.
Following Rorschach's reaction, Odin realized something was wrong.
Gungnir in his hand began to emit a brilliant light, instantly clearing away every Cyberman in sight.
On the other side of the spatial rift, the advancing Cybermen began to flicker with the glow of an "upgrade."
The more they came into contact with unfamiliar energies, the more this terrifying race would transform that "unfamiliarity" into familiarity, until they truly mastered it.
"A beautiful lady? I don't believe I saw her before. Is there anything you require? Constantine is at your service."
Constantine was the first to approach Death.
His brain and soul were trembling incessantly, a sensation even more intense than when he first met the Sorcerer Supreme.
It reminded him of his first encounter with Mephisto. For the "weak" Constantine, the difference between a beast and a god was meaningless.
Both were equally impossible to resist head-on.
"I doubt an ordinary person would appear in a place like this right now. another acquaintance of Bul-Kathos? Here to help?"
Tony Stark asked flippantly as he fiddled with the lifeless head of a Cyberman.
To come into contact with Death herself could be considered a supreme honor.
One must remember that even the Mad Titan, Thanos, had to journey to the Realm of the Dead to see the object of his affection.
Death rarely left her domain.
The last time was only because she had sensed the residual divine power of death on Bul-Kathos. On that occasion, she had left him a hand bone, white as jade.
"I don't know why, but I feel like this person owes me something. It's the annoyance of a creditor running into a deadbeat!"
Frank Castle, who was lying on the ground catching his breath, finally came back online.
The previous battle had left him with significant injuries, and he had been silently resting on the ground.
"Strictly speaking, it is you who owes me a soul," Death said softly.
Her voice reached everyone's ears—including the Ancient One, who was chanting with her eyes closed!
Odin's presence was enough for the Ancient One to prepare powerful magic; in this world, Odin was ranked among the heavyweights.
Because of Odin, even the Demon Lords currently scraping by in Hell had to be cautious in their attitude toward Earth.
It was precisely the existence of Odin and the Ancient One that prevented the more than ten Demon Lords in Hell from unifying on an invasion plan.
However, the moment she heard that voice, the Ancient One immediately opened her eyes, gripping her butcher knife, ready for battle.
She even stopped the incantation she was less than halfway through, suffering a potent backlash for the interruption.
"Death."
The Ancient One's face was calm, but her body trembled slightly.
As long as one lives, one cannot escape Death.
She silently took a few steps forward, standing at a distance that wouldn't offend Death, positioning herself to shield the fragile ordinary humans behind her.
Upon hearing the Ancient One's words, Odin silently turned and blocked the path to the spatial rift.
Guarding the Nine Realms was his responsibility, but fighting Death was not his job.
He wasn't arrogant enough to face Death herself head-on. Especially since his heir was still causing him high blood pressure, he couldn't frankly accept his own demise just yet.
"You took my wife and daughter. Now, do you want to take the last of my family too?"
Frank struggled to pull out his last functioning firearm, pointing the scratched barrel directly at Death herself.
The previous sentence had made Frank instantly realize what he was facing.
At this point, Constantine and the others gaped as if waking from a dream.
"I actually asked Death herself if I could help her? What a marvelous experience. So, can I live forever, beautiful and moving Lady Death? If I can, I'd be willing to lick your toes."
Constantine's calves were trembling, but he suppressed his fear and took two steps forward.
It was abundantly clear that no one present could oppose Death, but Constantine, accustomed to winning against stronger foes, felt he might be able to do something.
His words were incredibly humble, like a clown.
But it didn't matter. If he could accomplish something, dignity wasn't even an option for Constantine.
A hero who doesn't look like a hero is still a hero.
He just felt it wasn't yet time for him to sacrifice himself.
"I must be crazy, right? Where am I? Maybe I'm still in my big bed at home, not yet awake, with such a beauty lying next to me?"
Although Tony didn't understand what the name "Death" represented, it didn't stop him from grasping the danger of the situation.
At the very least, he had witnessed the power of the Ancient One and Odin. The caution, even fear, that such beings displayed when facing Death was abundantly clear.
However, under this pressure, his words were becoming incoherent.
"Sir, you are currently at the location of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Do you need me to pull up a map? That would require you to put on your faceplate," Jarvis said breezily.
Tony's face turned even grimmer.
Death glanced at Tony with a smile. Although Tony Stark wasn't the smartest person in the world, he was definitely in the top ten.
So, when Death looked at Tony, she revealed her skeletal visage for a split second.
"Uh, is this lady perhaps a half-demon like me? Those horns are truly beautiful."
Hellboy raised his head and, in that instant, saw the most beautiful half-demon woman he could imagine, involuntarily letting out a sigh of admiration.
He hadn't even noticed that he had regained full control of his body.
Fortunately, faced with the survival instinct, he didn't voice the thought "Cute, want to..." Even the Mad Titan only dared to think such things in his heart.
Satanis's influence had receded. Even as a Demon Lord, the soul-deep fear he felt facing Death sobered him up considerably.
His madness was predicated on the fact that he wouldn't die easily. But facing Death, he regained a rare shred of rationality—and felt fear.
As for the Doctor, he stood holding Rose, looking at Death with a peculiar expression, completely ignoring Nimuë's slightly resentful look.
Nimuë's expression was full of dissatisfaction toward Rose, and her body even began to emanate killing intent.
After meeting the Doctor, Nimuë was just a little woman longing for happiness. Of course she would be jealous.
It was just that this little woman possessed considerable power, making her rather dangerous.
The image the Doctor saw was not a human female like ordinary people saw, nor did he see his "dead" kin.
After all, Time Lords weren't exactly his kin; even he didn't yet know his identity as the Timeless Child.
In the Doctor's eyes, Death wasn't even in skeletal form. Instead, she appeared like the light source he saw when looking at the time rift—but radiating a chaotic light of mixed black and white!
Death's rule was supreme. The Doctor wasn't a complete incarnation of Time, merely a child of it.
But his existence and status were sufficient for him to see the true form of Death as a rule.
Death looked at the Doctor with surprise, then turned her head as if he were completely unimportant.
"My purpose in coming is not to take the soul you owe me, but for the souls appearing here that should not exist," Death said, glancing at Frank with some reluctance.
She didn't intend to speak to the Child of Time; dealing with Time was a hassle.
Time was also a creation-level rule. Even without a reference point to constitute units of time, no one would say time didn't exist—it was merely unrecognizable and incomprehensible.
As for choosing to answer Frank's question, it was because she had reservations.
She feared someone present might be able to call Bul-Kathos back directly. She didn't think she could withstand a Barbarian's fury.
Although she had extracted the death rule left by Malthael from Bul-Kathos, becoming stronger in the process, she was still a shut-in with only a partial understanding of combat.
Moreover, the shadow left by her last meeting with Bul-Kathos still lingered.
She didn't believe Bul-Kathos would take no action after suffering losses at her hands twice.
In reality, Bul-Kathos was quite powerless against rules, but unfortunately, Death didn't know that.
If not necessary, who would want to come to this place?
Wasn't sitting comfortably on the throne in the Realm of the Dead better?
Death had rarely offered an explanation, but Frank had no intention of lowering his gun.
The Punisher was also a man who didn't know how to compromise. Facing the existence that had nearly taken his entire family, Frank would not back down.
"I don't believe you!"
Frank took a step forward against the pressure of life itself, flicking the safety off his gun and extending the barrel, which was little better than a fire poker, forward.
"Frank, Death will not lie to you."
The Ancient One tightened her grip on her butcher knife, pondering whether to summon Bul-Kathos.
After all, no one present was qualified to fight Death; the gap in status was too great.
She only needed to go to the Sacred Mountain to inform Bul-Kathos of the situation via the connection between Mount Harrogath and the Barbarians.
She could even just open a portal to do it.
Even if she had no chance of defeating Death, she could stall for a moment.
Killing her, the Master of the Dark Dimension, wasn't much easier than dealing with the Vishanti.
In just an instant, Bul-Kathos could return.
That teleportation method, which even she couldn't understand, could achieve that.
The Ancient One believed in Bul-Kathos's power.
"But this bitch took my wife and kids!"
Frank wanted to roar this sentence, but his voice came out cold and quiet.
Facing Death, his life as a human who had not yet stepped into the supernatural realm was unconsciously being affected.
"Death is fair to all, and it is the only salvation."
Death was not angered by Frank's words. For her, insults were commonplace.
Most lives cursed before death arrived anyway. She wouldn't react even to words uglier than this.
"Enough, Frank," the Ancient One said, narrowing her eyes.
"Death. I assume you prefer to hear this title."
"That is my name."
The brief conversation did not put anyone at ease, although Death had not yet shown any hostility.
"I assume you didn't come here to make fun of us, nor do you intend to take us all. The name Bul-Kathos is one you'd rather not face as well."
The Ancient One overcame her internal emotions, finally regaining the demeanor of the Sorcerer Supreme.
She casually tossed Constantine behind her, although her protection might be worthless against Death.
"I came only for the souls that have disrupted the balance of life and death in this world."
Death avoided talking about Bul-Kathos; merely hearing the name made her heart tremble.
"The souls of the Cybermen?"
The Doctor finally spoke.
He had a deep understanding of the trouble Cybermen caused. Although he didn't know Death, the true form he saw gave him a somewhat favorable impression.
"Yes. The souls of these guys who shouldn't exist. They will make this world colorful," Death said flatly.
"Give me back my wife and children!"
Frank's voice became even colder. He knew very well what the consequences of provoking "Death" would be.
But as a "father" and a "husband," he couldn't just watch.
"Death, I would like to ask, are those souls indispensable to you?"
The Ancient One knew she couldn't stop Frank, and she knew she wasn't qualified to stop any of this.
So, she would try negotiating.
Though she wouldn't be foolish enough to use the Time Stone to restrain Death as Doctor Strange had done.
Death and Dormammu were not on the same level; the Time Stone wouldn't be effective against Death.
However, Bul-Kathos's name could solve this problem to a large extent.
"Not entirely."
Death thought of Thanos, who often visited the Realm of the Dead to see her, and spoke with some embarrassment.
Out of personal feelings, she had returned the souls of the dead to the living world more than once.
Personified rules could never be completely impartial and selfless; that was the nature of "people."
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