"Cough, cough~cough!"
It was stuck.
Garfield felt an unmistakable blockage in his throat.
He jumped straight up, bounced twice in place, then forcefully swallowed, shoving the Cosmic Cube down into his stomach like it was being fed into a void furnace.
He looked down at his belly.
It wobbled slightly. He shook it again.
Nothing exploded.
…Good sign.
Garfield could clearly sense the Cube's position inside him. More than that, he could feel its endless energy, waiting to be drawn out.
He smiled, alright.
Time to eat properly. Garfield mobilized his devouring ability.
He took a deep breath…
A colossal surge of power erupted from the Cosmic Cube. So much.
Too much.
Yet… So comfortable.
For the first time in his existence, Garfield felt what it meant to be truly full.
"Ah!"
Space itself trembled.
As the Cube's spatial energy detonated within his body, Garfield felt his entire being undergo sublimation.
His mastery over space skyrocketed at a rate visible even to the naked eye. His stomach, said to be linked to another universe expanded its absorption capacity dramatically.
Strength flooded every inch of him.
Garfield opened his eyes, they were now completely blue.
The color overflowed, spilling from his pupils, radiating outward until his entire body was wrapped in shimmering azure light.
Even his orange fur began to glow faintly, bathed in a blue aura.
The Ancient One paused mid-page. Then she produced a camera.
Click. Click. Click.
Rapid-fire photos.
"Beautiful." She said calmly. "This is the first time I've seen a blue-glowing orange cat."
Pandora's soul projection suddenly popped out beside Garfield, also holding a camera.
Click click click.
Garfield opened his eyes at the sound. "Pandora Godzilla what are you doing?"
Pandora didn't stop shooting.
"Obviously, I'm photographing cats," She replied. "Blu-ray, high-definition cat photos. I'll turn them into short films."
"…Blu-ray HD?"
Garfield looked down at himself. "I really turned into a blue-light orange cat?!"
For some reason, his mind immediately filled with images…
animated blue cats, rainbow rabbits, strange robot worlds, and questionable children's cartoons.
Although his fur was still orange, the blue radiance seeping from his body made it look like it was slowly transforming.
Enough.
Garfield tightened control over his stomach and shut down his devouring ability.
As the absorption stopped, the blue glow gradually faded, retreating back into his body.
Grrk.
Garfield burped.
He rubbed his belly contentedly. "So comfortable, I finally feel… a little full."
The Ancient One closed the Book of the Vishanti, stood up, and walked over.
"Poor child," She said gently. "Then eat more. Look how thin you are."
Pandora crossed her arms. "Ancient One, please. Ask him if he can even see his feet."
"…" Garfield lowered his head. He stared at his tiny white paws.
"I can see them," He snapped back. "A little, but clearly."
"These are white gloves," He declared proudly.
"Only top-tier noble orange cats have them. A symbol of high status."
Pandora scoffed. "Noble orange cat? Do you think you're some spoiled rotten orange on Earth?"
"Humph." Garfield turned away dramatically, and so did Pandora.
"Humph."
The Ancient One stepped between them and sighed. "Enough. We agreed to support each other and care for one another."
The moment she said that…
Garfield felt an inexplicable sense of doom. Like he had just been spiritually married to Pandora.
Pandora rolled her eyes hard.
"Ancient One," She said flatly, "You're not allowed to say things like that."
The Ancient One squatted down with a gentle smile. "Pandora~"
"Go away," Pandora snapped immediately. "Don't say anything."
"Alright, alright. I'll listen." The Ancient One raised both hands in surrender.
Pandora didn't bother arguing further.
She stepped forward, delivered a clean kick straight into Garfield's face, then stormed off in a fury.
Garfield rolled once, stopped, and lay there silently.
The Ancient One watched Pandora leave, sighed helplessly, then turned back to Garfield.
"Garfield."
"Here." Garfield replied reflexively.
"As a man." The Ancient One said calmly, "You must protect the women around you."
"You may be passionate, but not promiscuous. Pandora is a little arrogant. You must be steady, responsible, and brave enough to shoulder what you start."
She continued speaking slowly, like an elder giving life advice.
The more Garfield listened, the stranger it felt.
This tone…
This rhythm…
Why did it sound like a mother-in-law lecturing her future son-in-law?
A terrifying thought crossed Garfield's mind. Could it be… Pandora is actually Odin and the Ancient One's child?
And I, Garfield, am the chosen… son-in-law?
Somehow, the logic almost worked.
And yet…
Why would a mother-in-law teach someone how to be affectionate?
Garfield was deeply confused.
"Master," He said cautiously, "Could you send two mages to protect my partner?"
The Ancient One nodded without hesitation.
"Yes," She said. "But you must pay."
"…Huh?"
"The world is developing. Humanity is progressing," She replied calmly.
"Kamar-Taj must also keep up with the times. Hiring mages requires payment."
"No problem."
Garfield reached into his pocket and pulled out a massive stack of cat-paw-shaped gold bricks… a full cubic meter's worth.
The Ancient One smiled, waved a hand, and casually pocketed them.
Then she rubbed Garfield's head.
"Garfield," She said gently, "Remember, when you rob the rich and give to the poor, always leave a name."
Garfield stiffened. She knows.
She had definitely seen him looting certain wealthy families on the island nation while holding the Time Stone.
She also knew exactly what that island nation would do in the future.
Which raised a bigger question. Why hadn't the Ancient One intervened?
As Earth's multidimensional guardian, she was more than capable.
The answer was obvious. She was entangled with something far more dangerous.
The coming massacres were not simple human evil, they were connected to outer gods or interdimensional demons.
And it wasn't Mephisto.
Mephisto had long since lost interest in mass soul harvesting. He only cared about rare, exceptional souls now.
If I get the chance, Garfield thought,
I should investigate which evil god those sun-thieves borrowed power from.
"Garfield." the Ancient One said again.
"What?"
"Continue absorbing the energy of the Cosmic Cube. Strengthen yourself."
Garfield hesitated. "Master… if I overuse the Cube's power, won't I be discovered by those hunting the Infinity Stones?"
His words were vague, but the target was clear.
A Heavenly level existence.
A purple-skinned madman… Thanos.
The Ancient One closed the Book of the Vishanti with confidence.
"Kamar-Taj is not such a simple place." She said calmly. "And your master is not useless."
She met Garfield's eyes.
"Unless the Five Creation Gods themselves intervene… You have nothing to fear."
"…Then I'm starting." Garfield swallowed.
He reactivated his devouring ability.
He drew in a sharp breath… like when he swallowed back then~
The Cosmic Cube's space power surged violently.
Garfield's stomach absorbed it effortlessly, circulating the energy throughout his body.
Experience +9999
Experience +9999
Experience +9999
Ding.
BANG
Garfield's vision went dark.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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