Inside the magical space, Howard glared at General Ross with a face so dark he looked ready to peel him alive.
"Now you see, this is the price for offending the Lord of Life. You still think our carrier fleet can threaten him? Open your eyes and look carefully! He just snapped his fingers, and we were all dragged into this cursed magical space. Our carriers, our destroyers, everything vanished!"
Howard roared in rage. If not for a shred of rationality holding him back, he might have killed Ross on the spot.
Ross, however, did not reply. He quietly observed the strange magical dimension around him, muttering, "Such power should not exist in the mortal world, and it certainly should not be controlled by a business family. They must be regulated, or the consequences will be endless. My idea of creating a super soldier legion was not wrong after all."
Howard was speechless. He could never understand Ross's way of thinking.
Just then, a strange light flashed through the magical space. The moment it disappeared, Howard realized with horror that everyone around him was gone.
At once, the words of that mysterious woman echoed in his mind: In this space, each person will face their greatest fear. Could it be starting now?
Although the Roland family had only sent Effie, the butler, it was already more than enough.
What could a military fleet do? Even the rulers of Hell dreaded the Lord of Life, so what was a mere human nation's military compared to him?
Effie did not annihilate the fleet directly, only out of concern for the people's perception. Many common folk believed in the Lord of Life because he blessed all and embodied great love. In their eyes, he was a symbol of compassion.
If she slaughtered without restraint, it would tarnish his image. Besides, the commander showed some sense, so she spared them. Still, as she said, death could be avoided, but punishment was inevitable. And punishment could often be worse than death.
Inside a room of the manor, Banner's heart suddenly raced wildly. His face twisted, clutching his chest, his pupils flickering between green and brown.
"My emotions aren't even fluctuating. Why is this happening?"
He collapsed to the ground in pain, sweat dripping down his forehead. If he transformed into the Hulk here, the consequences would be unimaginable. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to breathe deeply, trying to calm the raging beast within.
At that moment, his doorbell rang.
Ding dong.
Banner, who had barely calmed himself, felt another surge of fury and tension at the sound. Smiling bitterly to himself, he muttered, "I didn't expect there to still be something in this world that makes you nervous and afraid."
"Dr. Bruce Banner, I am coming in," a gentle voice spoke.
"Please, come in."
Effie opened the door and saw Banner sitting on the floor, gasping heavily.
"It looks like you are not in a good state."
"It's him. He's afraid," Banner laughed bitterly.
"Afraid of me? I am not that terrifying. As long as you behave in this manor, I will not harm you," Effie said calmly.
To Banner's shock, her words soothed him instantly. Even the monster inside him obeyed. One sentence was enough to control the Hulk. The sheer power behind it was unimaginable.
"And you are?" Banner asked curiously.
"I am the head butler of the manor, Effie."
"Miss Effie, I heard a great commotion outside. Did something happen?"
"Someone led an army to the manor to take you away. I think you know who they wanted. But don't worry, we refused."
"Thank you so much. Then, those people outside, did they leave?"
"Not exactly. I tossed them into a magical dimension. They won't come out for days, and even if they do, most won't remain sane," Effie replied casually.
Banner drew in a sharp breath. Despite her calm tone, he could feel the overwhelming killing intent behind it. This woman was terrifying, far more than the little girl who once pinned him down.
"Dr. Banner, our deal is complete. According to the agreement, you must leave."
"But I…" Banner started, only to be cut off.
"No buts. If I remember correctly, you still have more important matters waiting for you back in your country. So, go."
With a wave of her hand, a magical portal appeared under his feet. Before he realized, Banner was expelled outside the manor gates.
In front of him stood a row of tanks, now completely unmanned. Behind him, the towering walls of the Roland Manor loomed.
Stunned, Banner muttered, "To erase everything with just a snap… so this is the kind of power we're dealing with. Thank goodness I didn't transform inside, or the outcome would have been disastrous."
Feeling a chill of dread, he quickly put on his hat and slipped away. Since the Lord of Life would not help him, he needed to find Mr. Blue.
Inside a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Nick Fury's face was grim as he listened to Agent Hill.
"All personnel have vanished?"
"Yes. At first, only the people disappeared, but a few minutes ago, the carrier fleet, tank divisions, and more than a dozen F22s all vanished too!" Hill said, shocked.
"Damn it. I suspected that the cult behind Roland Phils was not simple. Now the military has suffered a huge loss. Billions spent, gone in an instant. Ross is an idiot and should be court-martialed and locked away," Fury growled.
"Sir, that requires him to still be alive. Right now, no one knows if he is dead or alive," Hill replied bitterly.
"He is probably alive. As long as they did not attack first, Phils would not start a massacre. Killing recklessly would harm the Lord of Life's reputation, which benefits no one. Still, while they may not be dead, they are surely suffering worse than death. Phils is not merciful," Fury reasoned.
"Then where could they have gone?" Hill asked.
"That, you will have to ask God," Fury shrugged. To him, Ross had brought this upon himself, and he felt no sympathy.
Just then, Coulson knocked and entered quickly. "Sir, you should see this." He handed Fury several photos.
They showed a massive crater. At its center lay a hammer carved with ancient runes.
"According to reports, before this hammer fell, a rainbow light appeared."
Fury studied the photos thoughtfully. "It looks like Earth is about to get lively again."
Inside the Roland Manor, ripples spread through space. Everyone froze in place.
An aged figure appeared before Roland Phils.
"Lord of Life, I, Odin, have come to visit."
Phils showed no surprise, as if he had been expecting this. Calmly sipping his tea, he said, "King of the Gods of Asgard, to suddenly arrive here, what business do you have with me?"
"Hehe, truly a hero in his youth. Lord of Life, you are far younger than I imagined."
"For me, age has long since lost its meaning."
"Indeed, one who controls the power of life holds a span even greater than the gods."
"Odin, you did not come all this way merely to chat, did you?" Phils asked evenly. His power now rivaled, even surpassed, that of the All-Father level. Even Odin could not threaten him.
Odin smiled, his face serious. "When Earth birthed another power as great as the Ancient One, I wished to visit, but was delayed. At last, I have come. And I must admit, you exceeded my expectations. Not only are you formidable, but your followers are also strong. Truly astonishing."
This was his honest thought. Phils's strength shocked even him. When Dormammu and Mephisto descended upon Earth, Odin had already noticed Phils. He had tried to peer into his future, but even his sight failed. That only increased his interest. Knowing the Ancient One held him in esteem made Odin more eager to form ties. Yet facing him now, Odin realized he had still underestimated him.
Even the others in the manor radiated power that surprised him. Odin also knew Phils commanded the Holy Light Order with thousands of skilled warriors. If things continued, this man would one day rise as a cosmic overlord.
With two troublesome sons and disasters looming in their fates, Odin knew he could not help them himself. Only by befriending Phils could he leave them hope.
"Compared to Asgard, conqueror of the Nine Realms, what do I amount to?" Phils said humbly.
"You are too modest. In terms of potential, Asgard cannot compare. Soon, Asgard may even need your help," Odin said earnestly. He had seen glimpses of Ragnarok, the curse of the gods.
"I can help, but what can you give me in return?" Phils asked with meaning.
"My treasury is open to you," Odin answered with a smile.
"Including that jewel?" Phils asked.
"Of course. If you are willing to bear its trouble, I am happy to entrust it to you," Odin nodded.
Phils chuckled. "Seems you are willing to pay a heavy price."
"As long as you agree to help my sons when the time comes, nothing else matters," Odin said.
"Very well. Deal," Phils nodded.
"Excellent. Thank you," Odin said, satisfied. Space rippled again, the manor returned to normal, and Odin vanished.
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