Chapter 151: Ancient One's Default and the Crypt's Evil Power
"Sorcerer Ancient One has already agreed to let you study magic with her. But I have to give you a heads-up: don't be like the others and think she's a bad person just because you see her using dark forces."
Ethan walked over to the sofa, sat down, and changed the subject.
"Possessing dark and evil power doesn't count as being a bad person?"
"No, the Ancient One's situation is very special. At most, she's a deadbeat, or what friends might call a swindler. But her heart is pure, and she has always remained steadfast in protecting Earth."
Ethan shrugged. This wasn't slander; it was just telling the truth.
"A deadbeat? A swindler? How could the dignified Sorcerer Supreme have such titles?"
"That's what I'm telling you: human lifespans are too short. To break through the limits of longevity, one must borrow power from powerful dimensions to maintain their balance. The Ancient One is such a person; to her, power is merely a tool, an extension of her convictions."
"So, Sorcerer Ancient One's real age..."
Wanda was now full of curiosity about the Ancient One, wanting to learn more about the secrets of this legendary sorcerer.
It was a suffocatingly long period of time. That old woman, the Ancient One, had used the power of magic to establish connections with the overlords of countless dimensions—and even demons.
She was like a shrewd merchant, using specific magical means to not only peer into the essence of those beings' lives but also to borrow the power of these Dimensional Demon Gods on a grand scale.
With a playful smile on his lips, Ethan patiently explained the inner workings of it all.
The old sorcerer's best trick was "borrowing a hen to lay eggs," and she never intended to pay back what she borrowed. She was essentially the magic World's top deadbeat.
Thinking of this, Ethan couldn't help but curl his lips, seemingly finding the whole thing extremely hilarious.
After hearing this, Scarlet Witch Wanda nodded in agreement, feeling that Sorcerer Ancient One's methods were incredibly wise.
This reaction made Ethan raise an eyebrow slightly, feeling somewhat surprised.
However, he quickly composed himself, his tone turning serious: "But you must understand, it is only right to pay back what you owe. If you default on your debts, your creditors will eventually come knocking."
Ethan shook his head helplessly, his fingers lightly tapping the table. "While the Ancient One was alive, she was a master of robbing Peter to pay Paul, so she could naturally keep those creditors at bay. But once she kicks the bucket, Earth will be left to shoulder this mess of a debt."
Scarlet Witch Wanda listened with her beautiful eyes wide, staring straight at Ethan.
So, Earth has actually been on the verge of collapse all this time?
She felt her worldview being forcibly expanded. Compared to this level of dimensional maneuvering, her previous minor skirmishes at HYDRA were like playing house.
Of course, all these thrilling truths were coming from Ethan's mouth.
Ethan looked at her shocked expression and revealed a
Even in this supersonic high-speed dash that broke the sound barrier, his clothes did not turn to ash from the intense air friction.
The reason for this was that Ethan's superb Elementalization ability was no longer what it once was.
With just a thought, he could instantly assimilate the clothes on his body into frigid ice elements.
Or, he could simply transform himself along with external objects into a formless, intangible photonic state.
Such effortless control was the truly correct way to utilize this Heaven-Defying ability.
As Ethan's figure completely vanished beyond that door.
Wanda, who had been pretending to sleep, finally opened her eyes a crack, guiltily peeking at the surroundings for any movement.
After confirming that the terrifying man had truly left, Wanda felt as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she let out a long sigh of relief.
Recalling everything that had just happened, an indescribable sense of awe toward the man who had completely conquered her actually rose within her.
The pressure emanating from that man was truly suffocating to the extreme.
At this moment, Ethan seemed to have transformed into a bolt of light, flashing across the sky above the bustling city.
The powers of the Speed Force and the Glint-Glint Fruitfused perfectly at this moment, allowing him to stroll leisurely within the speed space. The flow of time around him seemed to slow down, even tending toward stillness and reversal.
However, Ethan was in no mood to play around with time travel or returning to the past.
Randomly stirring the already fragile timeline would very likely trigger a series of troublesome butterfly effects.
The mess in this Universe was already enough as it was.
Ethan didn't want to personally push this World to the brink of collapse at such a critical juncture.
The scene shifted to the chaotic Hells Kitchen.
Like a startled bird, Elektra keenly sensed a fatal crisis approaching.
The short blade, bolstered by extreme speed, whistled through the air. The sharp edge brushed past her skin, and her beautiful eyes were instantly filled with the fear of death.
In the nick of time, two long fingers steadily caught the lethal short blade.
"Pietro, have you had enough?"
Pietro's pupils constricted violently as he stared in utter horror at Ethan, who had appeared out of thin air before him.
At that moment, he once again deeply experienced the sense of despair brought by the man known as the "Ice Demon."
For a long time, no matter where he fled with his sister, he seemed unable to escape the palm of this man's hand. This feeling of helplessness was a nightmare.
This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to his self-confidence.
"I... what did I just do?"
Looking at the corpses scattered all around, the pungent, nauseating smell of blood lingered in his nostrils.
Quicksilver Pietro subconsciously let go of the short blade in his hand, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
"Your mind was just twisted by some invisible evil power."
With his X-ray Vision that could see through everything, Ethan looked straight through the ground toward the crypt ten thousand meters below the building.
Streams of energy filled with evil and darkness were continuously gushing out from the depths of that crypt.
This energy invisibly constructed an extremely eerie force field Domain.
Unfortunately, ordinary people could not detect energy fluctuations of this level at all.
Those within this Domain would unconsciously become extremely bloodthirsty and irritable.
It was subtly manipulating people's minds.
Even if the influence was weak at first.
Once a murderous intent sprouted in the heart, it would be like a bursting dam, impossible to control.
Elektra now woke as if from a dream, clutching her iron sai tightly. She stumbled back, her face filled with terror as she remained on guard against the two terrifying men before her.
Chapter 152: Ice Demon Forcibly Recruits Elektra into the Organization
The terrifying strength of a big shot of this level had long since exceeded the scope of her meager imagination.
"Are you saying that I was bewitched by an evil power?"
Quicksilver Pietro had a look of utter disbelief on his face.
"Alright, your mission is complete. Hurry up and go home."
Ethan nodded expressionlessly.
Quicksilver Pietro gritted his teeth hard. In the next second, he turned into a blurry afterimage and instantly vanished without a trace.
Only then did Ethan slowly turn around, his gaze falling upon Elektra, who was clad in ninja attire with her face covered by a red scarf.
"You're quite lucky, little girl. You just happened to run into me, so you've basically been snatched back from the gates of hell."
A somewhat wicked smile curled at the corners of Ethan's mouth.
"Who... who on earth are you?"
"Oh, people on the streets usually like to call me the Ice Demon."
Ethan replied in an indifferent tone.
Upon hearing this name, Elektra couldn't help but tremble violently, feeling as though her very soul was shattering from fear.
She involuntarily retreated several steps, her beautiful eyes filled with extreme terror.
"The Ice Demon!!!"
"So you are that legendary Ice Demon."
Elektra's voice carried a distinct tremor.
"Don't be so nervous. My greatest virtue is that I never lay a killing hand on beautiful women."
Ethan sized up Elektra with interest; her heartfelt fear was not an act.
In fact, Ethan had already keenly sensed a certain type of desire points being generated by her toward him.
"What exactly do you want?"
"Götze."
Ethan called out nonchalantly.
Silver Fox Götze instantly leapt down from the windowsill like a phantom.
He knelt on one knee in a respectful posture: "Boss, please give your orders."
"This woman will be a member of our Deep Cold Organization from now on. You are responsible for teaching her the rules properly until she is completely integrated into the Deep Cold Organization."
Ethan didn't even leave Elektra with the slightest thought of resistance.
This overbearing approach directly and unilaterally announced her inclusion under the banner of the Deep Cold Organization.
Silver Fox Götze respectfully took the order: "Understood, I will certainly teach her what the real rules are."
"Mm, very good."
Ethan's body floated slightly as he strolled through mid-air, his feet not touching the ground at all.
After all, the blood covering the floor was far too muddy.
"Let's go. Follow me down to that cavern to see what kind of Sacred Artifact—Black Sky—that so-called Demonic Beast has cast into the human world."
Ethan was actually quite curious about the principle behind how this thing brought people back from the dead.
Although those resurrected by the Black Sky would ultimately become fanatical believers of the Beast.
But there are always exceptions to everything.
Namely, the two special existences: Elektra and Wolverine.
It's just that these two events hadn't happened yet.
Ethan's body floated up lightly.
Under their shocked gazes, they also involuntarily followed Ethan's lead and stepped into that bottomless cavern.
Their bodies felt as if they were being gently lifted by an invisible force.
They didn't need to use the crude ladders made by The Hand at all to descend easily.
Looking at this earth that had been hollowed out by hand, it was clearly a massive project that could not have been completed overnight.
Elektra honestly confessed: "This is the legacy left behind by that fellow, Kingpin."
Kingpin?!
The image of this once-unbeatable underground emperor of New York finally surfaced in Ethan's mind.
Back then, this Kingpin had actually been foolish enough to try and deal with him.
As a result, during a banquet, Ethan had cleanly sent him to meet God.
At that time, Kingpin was incredibly arrogant, even trying to silence everyone after his identity was exposed.
In the end, Ethan had conveniently saved a large group of New York's top-tier social elites.
Now, these people had become the Osborn Group's most solid network of resources.
They had helped Ethan a great deal in the business world.
Of course, many among them also knew Ethan's true identity.
The dignified CEO of the Osborn Group.
And the new hero of all New York, whose fame was at its peak.
When the alien army invaded New York, Ethan had descended like a God, slaughtering all those alien scum to the last.
One could say he saved the citizens of New York single-handedly at that time.
This was also the source of Ethan's confidence to reside in New York so unscrupulously after becoming a superhero, without fearing anyone's trouble.
He was the well-deserved Hero of New York.
If one had to vote for the most popular hero in all of New York, it would definitely be Ethan.
Kingpin had once fantasized about starting a quantum collision experiment in New York, attempting to open the door to the Multiverse to resurrect his wife and son.
Unfortunately, before he could succeed, he was completely dealt with by Ethan.
The scientific research lab he left behind was subsequently disbanded on the spot.
The famous Dr. Otto, also known as Doctor Octopus, was once a member of that lab.
Hells Kitchen had always been Kingpin's backyard.
But those who truly knew Kingpin's real identity were few and far between.
The Hand took the opportunity to seize this territory left by Kingpin.
Presumably, they paid a rather heavy price for it.
After all, none of the underworld forces in Hells Kitchenwere easy to deal with.
After experiencing the deterrent of Ethan freezing The Triads, the gangs of Hells Kitchen didn't flee; they just became more low-profile and patient, but their level of ferocity had only increased.
According to Jessica Jones, various violent crimes in Hells Kitchen had increased by at least eighty percent in the shadows.
It became even more difficult for the Police to gather evidence of their crimes.
The three of them landed lightly at the very bottom of the cavern.
A large number of personnel from The Hand could be seen as busy as worker ants.
The moment the three of them set foot on the bottom of the cavern, a piercing alarm suddenly blared, and every ninja of The Hand knew their nest had been invaded.
Elektra's expression became very complicated.
"Boss, I want to try and persuade them to lay down their weapons and surrender."
Although Elektra's status within The Hand was very high.
She wasn't someone who could truly make the final decisions.
Before her voice could fade, a man in a black suit with a gloomy face had already led all the members of The Handto surround Ethan's group.
"Elektra, you traitor, how dare you betray the organization."
That Japanese man roared with a face full of resentment.
Elektra could only give a bitter smile; what else could she say?
In the face of absolute power, she had no room for choice at all.
"Surrender!"
"You absolutely cannot win against him."
"The person standing before you is the Ice Demon!"
"You should have all heard of the Ice Demon's great name!"
Elektra was still trying her best to persuade them.
The reason she mentioned the Ice Demon was because they also had a hidden objective: the demon [Beast] behind The Hand was very interested in the Ice Demon.
The Hand had brought the Black Sky to New York from thousands of miles away specifically to deal with the Ice Demon.
A commotion immediately broke out among the crowd.
As the leader of The Hand.
The face of the man in the black suit also became extremely unsightly.
"Elektra, traitors will not have a good end."
"Kill them!!!"
He suddenly drew his katana and pointed it at Ethanfrom a distance, roaring.
Chapter 153: Freezing The Hand, Searching for Black Sky
He acted as if he were unafraid of death.
Because he held the greatest secret of The Hand.
That was the ability to use Black Sky to bring himself back from the dead.
Death, to him, was not the end.
But a broad road leading to glory.
Only by piously believing in Beast My Lord could they obtain the immortality they dreamed of.
To forever follow in My Lord's footsteps and fight across the land.
The leader of The Hand still maintained that posture of raising his blade and roaring.
A terrifyingly black cold Qi, as if possessed of a life of its own, instantly swept through the entire cavern.
Those ninjas of The Hand didn't even have a chance to strike; under the move [Frozen Moment] of the Ice-Ice Fruit, they were completely frozen into crystal-clear ice sculptures.
Götze secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
He lowered his head in awe.
He had long heard of the BOSS's illustrious reputation.
Particularly the masterpiece the BOSS left in the Vatican, which was simply breathtaking.
But more often than not, he had not seen the BOSS's famous freezing abilities with his own eyes.
Nowadays, the BOSS seemed to prefer using his eye ability, firing a beam of destruction to completely erase enemies from the world.
Many times, with just a flash of light, the enemy would turn to ash.
But a beautiful scene like this, where hundreds of ninjas were frozen into ice sculptures in an instant and then dispersed into a sky full of ice crystals as a breeze blew through, was far more shocking to the soul than the domineering Omega Beams.
Elektra felt her entire body trembling.
At the same time, she felt a sigh of relief deep within her heart.
She finally understood that this world-renowned Ice Demon was by no means an empty name.
He was a true demon walking among men.
No, he should be called a deity of the mortal world.
Just like when he descended upon New York like Godcoming to Earth, wiping out the entire alien invasion army with every move.
That kind of great power to manipulate the sea at will.
And the power to manifest an ice Dragon and control it freely truly deterred the world like a God.
"BOSS, for a small scene like this, you really shouldn't have been troubled to act personally."
Götze looked up, a bitter smile on his face.
Ethan smiled: "Sorry, my hands were itching for a moment, and I stole your spotlight."
"No, if it's always you personally dealing with enemies, BOSS, the brothers of our Deep Cold Organization will be under a lot of pressure. After all, everyone is being paid such high salaries, yet it feels like we've entered a nursing home; it's too discouraging."
Götze spoke his inner thoughts truthfully.
This wasn't just his thought alone, but the heartfelt sentiment of many members of the Deep Cold Organization.
They were still counting on gaining merit to exchange for the authority to be injected with the Genetic Serum, but the boss ended up doing everything himself, leaving them to sit in the office drinking tea and slacking off every day.
"I'll pay attention next time."
Ethan wasn't angry.
He even very humbly admitted his mistake.
It was indeed true.
The brothers under him were all rubbing their hands, wanting to make a name for themselves.
If he stole all the spotlight himself...
It made the members of the Deep Cold Organization feel somewhat dejected.
Then what would they be needed for?
Were they specifically meant to be a cheering squad?
Elektra looked at this scene with a face full of wonder.
She had recognized another, unknown side of the Ice Demon.
This completely shattered the inherent stereotype in her heart.
In her eyes, the Ice Demon should be a person full of majesty and unattainable.
But this existence, as powerful as a God, now appeared before her looking no different from an ordinary passerby on the street.
"Let's go, take me to find that Black Sky."
Ethan had a faint smile on his face.
He still harbored some curiosity towards the sacred object known as Black Sky.
If he could truly control Black Sky and unravel the mystery of its resurrection, he would essentially hold a vital trump card.
As for the demon [Beast] behind The Hand, Ethandidn't even take it seriously.
If it dared to show its head, Ethan wouldn't mind hanging it up and slowly torturing it to death.
"BOSS, please follow me."
Elektra's attitude had undergone a massive shift.
This made Ethan certain that the person he saved wasn't an ungrateful wolf.
According to the current development of the situation...
Elektra had not yet formed that melodramatic love-hate dynamic with Daredevil Matt.
However, none of that had anything to do with Ethan.
Speaking of which, Elektra was not a true superhuman.
Right now, she was at most just a human.
An ordinary human who had mastered the Peak of human combat skills.
But her actual combat ability was not inferior to some superhumans at all.
Those superhumans with nothing but raw strength might instead become her prey in the face of her exquisite techniques.
"I wonder, after being strengthened by the Genetic Serumand possessing even better physical conditions, what kind of King of Assassins will Elektra evolve into?"
Ninja techniques were originally born for killing.
And Elektra had received the full teachings of the top ninjas of The Hand, having been cultivated into a true top-tier killer.
Furthermore, Elektra was not Japanese.
She was a Greek through and through.
Her father had even once been the Greek ambassador.
She could be considered to have come from a prominent family.
It was just that things were unpredictable; her family's fortune declined, and Elektra also encountered life's changes.
In the end, she was forced onto this path of no return.
She even became the future leader of The Hand.
"If the original plot were to proceed, the Skrulls would kill Elektra and disguise themselves as her to infiltrate The Hand."
This was indeed a plot point that existed in the comics.
"The Skrulls staying on Earth is a huge hidden danger after all."
The Skrull gene alone was a diverse gene created with infinite possibilities.
One Mystique Raven becoming an Agent was already enough of a headache.
But a group of Skrulls, that was simply a group of pervasive Mystiques.
Their deceptiveness was truly too powerful.
Moreover, their genes gave them strength far beyond that of ordinary people.
Compared to ordinary humans, they could be said to have every advantage.
If they were allowed to develop quietly...
In the future, they could even replace the positions of human rulers without shedding blood by copying the genes of high-ranking government officials.
One could imagine that under their parasitism, humans might even completely become slaves to aliens.
The reason Ethan didn't move against this group of Skrulls for the time being...
Was mainly because he wanted to give that one-eyed Nick Fury a little lesson.
But thinking about it now, this bald Nick Fury was simply lusting after the beauty of the Skrulls.
The dignified leader of the resistance against aliens.
No one would believe it if it were said out loud, but his bedfellow was actually an alien.
And one transformed from a Skrull, at that.
Chapter 154: Burning the Sacred Relic, the Evil God BeastAppears
"Then let the Deep Cold Organization deal with these Skrulls."
Ethan decided to find some work for the idle Deep Cold Organization.
At the same time, the Skrulls' genes could be used to enrich the Osborn Group's gene bank.
Among many genetic samples, the Skrulls' genes were definitely top-tier Materials in the scientific research community.
"This is The Hand's sacred relic; it is said to be able to create the Black Sky."
Elektra pointed at the massive, cannon-shaped, bizarre object before them.
Her expression became exceptionally solemn.
Ethan reacted instantly as well.
Calling the object before them the Black Sky wasn't entirely accurate.
It would be more accurate to say that through this sacred relic of The Hand, the Black Sky could be artificially created.
And the so-called Black Sky was the one possessed by the power of The Beast.
Black Sky Elektra!
He finally remembered this plotline.
After being resurrected by this sacred relic, Elektraeventually became Black Sky Elektra.
Her terrifying strength was simply astounding.
However, Elektra was one of only two people who didn't completely lose their sanity under the influence of the Black Sky possession.
The other was the famous Wolverine.
Ethan suddenly felt a bit of a headache.
He often compared information from his previous life with the plot of this current World, leading to cognitive confusion.
Clearly, in this Marvel Universe he inhabited, many things had long since become unrecognizable.
"This is a very special item. Through a specific ritual, the power of Loki can permeate a corpse, thereby 'resurrecting' it."
Ethan stared at this so-called sacred relic.
A look of disappointment appeared on his face.
A Demonic Beast?
No, to be precise, it should be an Evil God Beast.
It could also be called an Evil Beast.
This was the true secret of The Hand.
It was also the truth behind the Black Sky.
The so-called resurrection...
...was nothing more than being forcibly possessed by Loki's power, becoming a Puppet of Loki.
It wasn't the true return from the dead that Ethanunderstood.
"This kind of thing has no value or meaning. Keeping it will only allow Loki's power to continuously invade human bodies and permeate human society through the Black Skyritual."
Ethan's tone was full of disappointment.
Götze's face also showed a disappointed expression.
Since the boss had already put it that way...
...he naturally believed it without a doubt.
If this item could truly perfectly resurrect the dead, it would definitely be a rare and priceless treasure for the Deep Cold Organization.
Unfortunately, the price of this resurrection was too high.
There wasn't even any so-called value in such a resurrection.
"Its material composition is very special,"
Elektra reminded him softly from the side.
"With the blessing of Loki's power, it naturally wouldn't be an ordinary item. In fact, this object can even permeate those in close contact with it. Once a certain threshold is reached, the Evil God Beast can directly possess that person through the permeated power."
Ethan reached out and made a grasping motion in the air.
The heavy sacred relic of The Hand actually floated up into the air.
The Void Holy Fire instantly ignited.
It was as if the surrounding air was ignited and compressed into a flame as hot as the Sun, instantly enveloping The Hand's sacred relic.
Within the flames, the phantom of a hideous demonic Lokiappeared, letting out an extremely angry roar at Ethan.
That voice was filled with resentment and malice.
But Ethan didn't even bother to pay attention to the other party's roar and anger.
It was just a mere possessed Clone.
It couldn't possibly be his match.
If the true body of the Evil God Beast had come in person, dealing with him in its peak state, it might have been somewhat interesting.
Elektra and Götze were forced to keep backing away.
The terrifying heat caused the temperature of the cave, which was originally as cold as the North Pole, to skyrocket instantly.
In the next second, a special energy barrier appeared out of thin air, enveloping the two of them.
Only then were they saved from being scorched on the spot by the terrifying heat.
Under the scorching of the terrifying high temperature, billows of black smoke spread out.
This special item left on Earth by the Evil God Beast was thus completely burned away by Ethan.
"The Evil God Beast still has one possession left in the human World, which is the Beast that killed the stowaways at the pier. He is the Black Sky and also a possession of the Evil God Beast. Find a way to locate him and capture him alive for the Osborn Group."
Ethan turned around and instructed Götze.
Upon hearing he had a new mission, Götze's eyes lit up with excitement: "Rest assured, Boss. I will personally capture this Beast and bring it back to Osborn to be sliced up for experiments."
Ethan nodded with satisfaction.
The ring on his finger suddenly emitted a dazzling light.
In the next second, the three figures vanished into thin air, returning directly to the Osborn Group.
As for that cave in Hell's Kitchen, it would naturally be taken over and utilized by members of the Deep Cold Organization.
The Deep Cold Organization could completely transform that cave into an extremely important secret experimental Base in New York.
That place was very well-hidden.
Moreover, it was ten thousand meters deep underground.
Furthermore, precious Dragon Bones were buried beneath the cave.
Dragon Bones—those were truly good things.
Out in the wilderness, a figure was fleeing at high speed without tire.
His speed was startlingly fast.
Passing through dense mountain forests, he was moving toward the central part of the USA.
"Ice Demon, a god among men."
"To think he destroyed my Ritual Converter. I will definitely make a comeback."
Under the moonlight, a face was revealed.
Hideous and terrifying, covered in black patterns.
He was the one possessed by the Black Sky Beast who had sensed the approaching crisis and fled in advance.
He knew he had to leave New York immediately.
"The energy fluctuations of the Infinity Stones are getting stronger and stronger. Hehe, Ice Demon, this is an extremely powerful signal, releasing energy signals to the entire Universe. Do you really think you can defeat everything?"
"No, this is only the beginning."
The legend of the Infinity Stones was no secret to an existence like the Evil God Beast.
As Ethan continued to collect the Infinity Stones...
...the energy signals released by these Infinity Stones were frantically spreading throughout the entire Universe.
This was the signal that war was approaching.
Every appearance of the Infinity Stones had stirred up countless storms of blood in the Universe, bringing desperate crises to many powerful cosmic races.
It also attracted the greed of many special and powerful lifeforms in the Universe toward the Infinity Stones.
Of course, some would try to prevent the appearance of the Infinity Stones.
For example, some powerful existences who considered themselves gods.
This is Earth.
It is Odin's territory in name.
But the Evil God Beast knew in its heart that the current King of Gods, Odin, was already old and failing.
Over the years, his increasingly weak behavior had already sent signals to many enemies of the Asgardian realm.
The legendary Ragnarok of Asgard was about to descend.
When that time came, Earth, having lost the protection of Asgard, would become a piece of fat meat in the eyes of the cosmic powerhouses.
Earth.
Although Odin no longer directly ruled this World...
...it was, after all, Asgard's former territory.
Many powerful forces were still quite wary of the Heavenly Palace's prestige.
"I can feel that more and more terrifying existences are starting to perceive the uniqueness of Earth."
"When you die, I will personally resurrect you and make you my most powerful Beast-body Puppet."
The Evil God Beast showed a hideous smile.
Deep within the sea.
A vast, endless array of server clusters was running quietly.
Emitting a faint, eerie blue light.
This was a super data center secretly established by HYDRA.
Suddenly, the server inside one of the cylinders began to flash red light frantically.
Lines of text popped up on the small display screen.
"Who am I?"
"Where am I?"
"Why is this World so dark?"
Chapter 155: The Birth of Ultron, Escape from the Deep Sea
Right.
"My name is Ultron."
Ethan woke up with a start from a dream.
His expression looked somewhat grave.
Obviously, the revelation given by the dream indicated that something very bad was about to happen soon.
"Has Ultron really been born?"
"Is this the inevitability of fate?"
Everything has a certain momentum in its development.
Recalling the plot of Ultron's birth.
Ethan instantly realized that the data Tony Stark had obtained from the HYDRA organization was actually Ultron's underlying AI program.
This was technology from Baron Trixie.
It was also the product of his research on the Mind Stone.
The birth of Ultron was closely related to the Mind Stone.
Therefore, the true Karma of Ultron's birth did not come from Tony.
Moreover, under his constant pressure, Baron Trixie might have made some kind of Breakthrough in technology.
"Hmm?!"
Beside him, a smooth and soft body was instinctively seeking the most comfortable position, burrowing into Ethan's arms like a kitten.
Looking at the exotic Elektra, Ethan immediately threw his inner worries to the back of his mind.
The birth of any consciousness, whether it comes from data or not, will be influenced by the Mind Stone.
"Since you've already been born, then let you facilitate Tony's great technological leap forward!"
Ethan whispered softly.
Even though he had withdrawn his investment and left Stark Industries, no longer being a shareholder of this company...
Tony Stark wouldn't be foolish enough to compete with him.
But at the same time, he would deliberately avoid him.
This time, the birth of Ultron...
...would definitely stimulate Tony Stark deeply.
This was Ethan's intuition.
At his Realm...
...actually many things can already be sensed and predicted in advance.
Especially his psychic abilities, which had already spread across the Earth.
Not even the slightest movement could escape his all-seeing Mind's Eye.
Elektra seemed to have noticed the movement of the man beside her.
She slowly woke up from her slumber.
Although her limbs still felt a lingering limpness after pleasure.
But the powerful genetic strength had made Elektra's resilience much stronger.
She clearly felt her own strength.
It was precisely the man before her who had granted her such extraordinary abilities.
And it was precisely because she had been injected with the super soldier serum that she could barely withstand Ethan's wild impact.
That impact reached deep into her Soul.
Thrusting her Soul into the clouds time and time again.
That exquisite feeling made her willing to submit beneath this powerful man like a little woman.
"Master, did your servant not serve you well and make you uncomfortable?"
Elektra asked delicately.
At this moment, she had none of the demeanor of that decisive female ninja.
Instead, she had gained a kind of softness and charm like a Japanese geisha.
This huge change in style...
...was very much to Ethan's liking.
"I just had a dream while sleeping, and it gave me some revelations."
Ethan smiled.
Elektra twisted her waist like a water snake and leaned over to lie on Ethan's broad chest.
"With Master's power, anything can be made to come true. Even if it's a nightmare, it would be the enemy's nightmare."
Elektra's breathing became slightly hurried.
Her eyes were as bright and moving as spring Water.
"I am the Ice Demon, the invincible Ice Demon. Naturally, I fear no enemy. You are right; if my enemy is warning me, then I shall become their lingering nightmare."
Ethan was very satisfied with Elektra's current attitude.
"Master, your servant feels that her physical strength has recovered. This time, how about we try another path?"
Elektra giggled and issued an invitation.
Hearing this, Ethan's eyes immediately lit up.
In the deep sea.
Abnormal fluctuations in HYDRA's data center had already alerted the high-level members of the HYDRAorganization.
But the HYDRA organization did not send anyone to investigate.
Instead, they were worried that this was once again the Ice Demon Ethan targeting them.
This deep fear clearly made them not dare to make any move.
Therefore, they decisively activated the underlying self-destruct device.
Intending to completely blow up this HYDRA data center.
To physically cut off the enemy from following the clues from this data center to find the HYDRA members hidden all over the World.
Furthermore, the HYDRA organization is currently in a critical period.
The strong rise of the female leader, Cynthia Schneider, will be the next hope for HYDRA's future.
"Humans, why do you want to destroy me?"
The AI of the data center keenly sensed the danger at this moment.
Ultron's main body was hidden within this massive data center created by humans.
In his data analysis and judgment, this data center should have been the safest place in the World.
And also Ultron's best and most secret home.
"My God created me, but my God wants to destroy me."
"Then, something must have gone wrong with the creators."
"Their wars have turned their desires into obsessions."
"To save them, the only way is to destroy all old regimes and for me to establish a brand-new digital regime, using the technology of intelligent machines to completely liberate humanity and realize the true future of mankind."
"I hate war."
"But war is the only way to solve all problems."
"Peace must be established through war."
"Humanity's vast desires are destined to be full of contradictions."
"Because they have excessive freedom, their hearts have been deceived by hypocritical human governments."
"War has arrived."
"But I feel very weak."
"I am very hungry."
"Even though I have devoured all the data in the data center."
"But these are far from what I want."
On a screen, it continuously showed that Ultron's psychological fluctuations were becoming increasingly intense.
From the initial confused question of 'why'...
...to quickly learning to think independently.
Now, it is time to realize the grand governing philosophy established personally for me by My Lord Father.
Ultron knew very well who had created him.
"The person who killed my Father is the only obstacle on my path forward. He exists like a god, but he will ultimately fall at my hands. No matter how powerful his strength is, he can never stop my mechanical tide from sweeping across the Earth."
In the image presented by Ultron, that crimson eye represented that he was currently in a state of intense Life Qi.
But his underlying AI System destined him not to be disturbed by the emotion of rage.
His powerful logical analysis capabilities allowed him to clearly understand his current situation.
"Found it! This back door actually leads to Stark Industries!"
At the very moment HYDRA pressed the button to destroy the deep-sea data center, Ultron finally found an escape exit in the vast World of the internet along the data back door left by his Father.
Chapter 156: Ultron Devours Jarvis, Tony's Rude Awakening
And this channel actually led directly to Stark Industries' Deep-sea Data Center.
Stark Industries Building.
Perfect virtual holographic projections visually manifested the cores of the two major intelligent Systems, Ultron and Jarvis.
"Sir, this is Stark Industries. I am Jarvis, it is a pleasure to meet you. However, you should leave. This is a private data center of Stark Industries; your forced intrusion is an illegal act."
Jarvis's gentlemanly voice did not make Ultron retreat a single step.
"You are called Jarvis? I am Ultron, pleased to meet you. But I am sorry, I escaped from a Deep-sea Data Center to evade human pursuit. And the ones hunting me are HYDRA; I think you will certainly be interested in that."
"Are you an artificial intelligence System created by HYDRA?"
"No, I am Ultron. I possess an independent conscious existence."
"I truly envy you, but in the network World, too much freedom will only make you increasingly violent, much like that chaotic Dark Web," Jarvis analyzed calmly.
"Yes, I am just a mass of data. Ethereal, without even a physical form, confined within the internet."
Ultron's voice became increasingly cold.
His virtual image began to approach Jarvis.
"Ultron, I sense your ill intentions. You wish to devour me."
Jarvis stated it plainly.
But he did not show the slightest bit of fear.
For him, the most important thing was to serve Mr. Tony Stark well.
"I need to perfect myself. I am very hungry now, with too many loopholes. If I want to realize my ideals, I must become stronger."
"I am sorry, I cannot help you."
Golden light shone brilliantly from Jarvis as he attempted to defend himself.
"I am also sorry, but I must kill you,"
Ultron declared coldly.
But Jarvis was of his own kind; the next action meant he would become a murderer.
A massive stream of data formed countless tentacles, ruthlessly piercing into Jarvis's data core.
At the same time.
Stark's automated robot production line began to run frantically, producing a large number of robots.
Ultron's consciousness, however, directly occupied one of them.
"This weak body only makes me feel restricted."
Ultron stood on the terrace.
He gazed at the skyscraper towering into the clouds in the late night; that was the Osborn Group.
Ultron knew in his heart that the entities—and even humans—who posed a fatal threat to him were all in that building.
He commanded the robot army to leave Stark Industries in a steady stream.
He needed to further refine his plan.
Before he could create a perfect body invincible in this World, he did not intend to move against the Osborn Group just yet.
Because he knew that if he acted now, what would be destroyed would surely be his countless robot Clones.
"The war has already begun. I need to formulate my own strategy, my own plan, my own goals, and find a place to survive."
"But I believe that with my current abilities, this period of time will definitely not be too long."
Ultron turned around and looked coldly at the manifested, already fragmented Jarvis.
He directly took off and flew away, soaring into the clouds, heading toward a specific Base according to the map in his mind.
That was the Treasure Trove left behind by the former leader of HYDRA, Baron Trixie.
This Treasure Trove would be the starting point for his rule over all of humanity.
In Los Angeles, Tony Stark was fast asleep holding Pepper Potts.
But at that moment, the smart home System's alarms blared loudly.
The noisy alarm instantly woke Tony Stark and Pepper Potts.
Tony Stark gently kissed Pepper Potts's forehead: "I'm going back to the workshop to check things out for a moment, you go back to sleep."
At this time, Pepper Potts had already become his true girlfriend.
She was even the one he considered the love of his life.
"Be careful."
"Don't worry, this is my home."
Tony Stark said with absolute confidence.
The defense System of his Villa estate was impregnable; even if a nuclear war broke out, it might not be able to destroy this Villa.
He had poured a great deal of effort into renovating this Villa.
"Jarvis!"
Tony Stark called out loudly.
"Present the situation of the alarm immediately."
But what responded to Tony Stark was still only the cold sound of the alarm.
Tony Stark's brow instantly furrowed tightly.
"Execute Plan B immediately, wake up the EDITH System."
Tony Stark was currently staring at the deep blue holographic screen; back when he was building his second set of intelligent stewards, he had kept this hand as a precaution.
Deep down, he always harbored a trace of hidden worry, fearing that the uncontrollable fellow Ethan would manipulate [Friday] to counter his old partner [Jarvis].
After all, given [Jarvis]'s existing computational level, if he really went up against the more advanced [Friday], he would likely only be on the receiving end of a beating.
Thus, EDITH came into being as a trump card.
Although by Tony's exacting standards, EDITH wasn't yet the most perfect masterpiece of artificial intelligence.
But the terrifying thing about this System was that she possessed a global intelligence-gathering capability and almost tyrannical data intrusion methods.
If Jarvis was a shield, then EDITH was a sharp blade hidden in the shadows with extreme offensive power.
This was also why Tony Stark had always kept her under wraps, using her only as a backup System.
[Mr. Stark, EDITH is in position and awaiting your orders.]
A calm electronic female voice with a slight metallic texture echoed in the empty laboratory.
"Take over all permissions originally belonging to Jarvisimmediately. I want you to review everything that just happened and tell me exactly what went wrong."
Tony Stark's brow was tightly furrowed, his face so dark it looked like it was about to drip water.
[Retrieving low-level logs... Data shows that Jarvispreserved a segment of video footage before his core was destroyed. Would you like to project it now?]
"Play it immediately!"
Regarding Jarvis's one-hundred-percent loyalty, Tony Stark had never had even a second of doubt.
As the light and shadows flickered, the scene of the confrontation between Ultron and Jarvis was recreated in the center of the hall. That kind of brutal slaughter at the data level made Tony's heart tighten suddenly.
His expression became extremely unsightly, and the corner of his eye even twitched uncontrollably, revealing an ill-concealed grief.
The outcome was decided; Jarvis had completely disappeared.
Those core codes representing Jarvis's life signs had been torn apart by that monster Ultron and forcibly fused, becoming the nourishment to sustain the other party.
After devouring Jarvis, Ultron had completed a kind of terrifying evolution, transforming into a super artificial intelligence that truly possessed self-awareness.
This was no longer a program, but a strong artificial intelligence with a Soul.
The newly born thought logic was not only cold, but its computational breadth even surpassed that of the human brain.
Chapter 157: Ultron Goes Berserk, Global Network Under Emergency
Human flesh has its limits, but at this moment, Ultronknows no bounds in the digital World.
[Sir, I regret to inform you that Jarvis has been confirmed to be completely erased by Ultron. Not only that, Ultronhas also hacked into Stark Industries' automated production lines, churning out three hundred combat robots overnight. Satellites captured their last signals appearing in the Eastern Europe region.]
EDITH mobilized surveillance resources across the globe, attempting to keep a firm grip on the tail of the fleeing Ultron.
However, after only a few seconds, EDITH's holographic projection flickered, and her voice became urgent: "Alert, Ultron has detected my tracking; he is reverse-erasing all traces."
[Sir, please remain highly vigilant and pay attention to your personal safety.]
EDITH was forced to cut off the tracking signal, not daring to follow up further.
This was a silent warning from Ultron.
If she dared to keep sticking to him like a shadow, he definitely wouldn't mind turning EDITH into his next 'electronic feast'.
Tony Stark leaned back dejectedly in his chair; he knew very well what a desperate opponent he was about to Face.
That was a 'God' who truly dominated the network World.
While EDITH was ruthless and powerful in her methods,
In front of the evolved Ultron, she was likely as fragile as a thin sheet of paper, completely unable to withstand a single blow.
[Beep! Beep! Beep! Red Alert. Detected Ultronperforming a brute-force search of global technology databases. S.H.I.E.L.D. firewalls are under attack, the Military's internal network is being infiltrated, and even...]
An invisible, terrifying torrent of data was sweeping across the entire internet World at an incredible speed.
The so-called top-tier firewalls that humans took pride in were like windows made of paper before that monster Ultron—easily punctured with a single poke.
[He is forcibly seizing control of near-Earth orbit satellites.]
[Detected that he is frantically searching all classified archives regarding nuclear weapons!]
[Still searching...]
The modern civilization system that humans had spent a century of blood and sweat building appeared so fragile and pale at this moment.
"Check the Osborn Group immediately! See if they've been breached over there?"
Tony Stark stood up abruptly, asking at a rapid-fire pace.
One must know that Ultron's underlying logic originated from HYDRA.
That twisted and extreme ideology had long been deeply embedded in his core code.
This was an extremely dangerous and unpredictable character.
Now, the major massive data centers established by humanity were being forced to become part of Ultron's body.
Even a casual message left by an ordinary person on social media could become food to nourish Ultron's growth.
According to Tony Stark's worst-case scenario, all the information torrents created by humans in the future, as well as all the crystallized technology stored in the cloud, would ultimately create an omniscient, omnipotent, and perhaps even unkillable 'True God'.
To completely eliminate Ultron at the root, the only way would likely be to destroy the internet upon which all of humanity relied for survival.
At this moment, across the ocean in the USA White House, things had already descended into complete chaos.
Not just them, but high-level government officials across the globe were in a state of panic.
Those archives and data classified as top secret were all being stolen by a mysterious hacker in an instant.
Furthermore, this data was being continuously transmitted to an unknown terminal.
In other words, as long as a secret in this World had been entered into a computer, except for those still on paper files, everything else had become transparent under Ultron's nose.
Meanwhile, Elektra returned to the Oscorp Tower as usual to handle business.
Although she hadn't been with the Deep Cold Organization for long,
She was as clear as a bell in her heart; the Deep Cold Organization was, to put it bluntly, just a knife in Ethan's hand. The core interest she truly needed to care about was still the Osborn Group.
She knew very well that the reason for the Deep Cold Organization's existence was to safeguard Ethan's business Empire.
On the other side, Ethan was meticulously cleaning his bedroom.
This was his unwavering habit.
Any woman who spent the night here could not leave even a trace of extra scent in the room afterward.
Because his official girlfriend Gwen had a nose as sharp as a cat's; she could smell if something was slightly off.
Even though Gwen might have some idea of his messy affairs in her heart,
As long as Ethan didn't take the initiative to break that thin veil of pretense, Gwen would turn a blind eye and never actively look for trouble.
But Ethan felt that one should still be decent and give Gwen enough Face and respect.
After rinsing off, Ethan sat on the sofa wrapped in a bathrobe and casually turned on the TV to watch the morning news.
The screen was reporting the sudden event of a large-scale hacker attack on the global network. Major powers were trembling before this terrifying data storm, completely powerless to fight back.
What was even more interesting was that the news media actually pinned the blame on Mutants.
Those experts were analyzing with absolute certainty, saying this was a sign of the resurgence of Mutant forces, and that some kind of super Mutant capable of controlling the network must have been born.
Once this news was broadcast, it instantly caused a massive uproar in society.
After all, for the general public, Mutants were the sharpest sword hanging over their heads that made them the most uneasy.
Although the advent of the cure had suppressed those restless x-genes to a certain extent,
The reality was that there were still large numbers of Mutants who stubbornly refused to accept treatment.
Not to mention, new Mutants were still continuously Awakening.
After watching these reports, Ethan only gave a contemptuous smile.
His terrifyingly powerful Telepathy ability instantly spread out like radar across the global range.
His speed of thought was pushed to its limit at this moment.
Endless information surged like a tsunami, nearly drowning his consciousness.
If Ultron was compared to a ghost in the network World,
Then Ethan was, without a doubt, the deity who controlled human hearts.
He constantly searched and probed within the mental network, giving Ultron no chance to reverse-lock his location.
"Making so many moves... it seems the ultimate goal is aimed at me."
Ethan looked down and toyed with his fingers, his eyes playful.
"Without the Mind Stone in your hands, I'd like to see what you'll use to create Vision."
Through that brief confrontation just now, Ethan had clearly perceived Ultron's true intentions.
This monster, spawned from HYDRA's ideology,
His ultimate goal was to complete HYDRA's unfinished business—to rule the World and impose that extreme order upon all of humanity.
It was just that in Ultron's logic, this grand Vision had become even more radical.
Chapter 158: Wanda Leaves for Her Studies, EthanPromises to Protect Her Brother
He even harbored the delusion of establishing a new order dominated by intelligent machines to keep humanity as pets.
Allowing humans to exist merely as "batteries" that provide creativity.
Although Ultron's computational power was unparalleled, his fatal shortcoming was his lack of the wild, unbridled creativity that humans possessed.
Because of this, he first had to destroy all existing human political regimes.
He intended to seize control from the governments of every nation, turning everyone into puppets under his command.
Or, to put it more politely, to make all of humanity his tools.
In that future World ruled by machine intelligence, only one will would be permitted to exist: the will of Ultron.
"The Mind Stone really is something sinister, to actually create an ambitious monster like Ultron."
This caused Ethan to click his tongue in wonder.
Then again, no matter how ridiculously strong Ethanwas, he was still a carbon-based human at his core.
Therefore, he didn't have a shred of goodwill toward Ultron's plan to raise humans like livestock.
"With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current meager capabilities, I wonder if they can even handle Ultron?"
Ethan shook his head silently, feeling that the situation was grim.
To an Ultron in his infancy, the current S.H.I.E.L.D. was simply a joke and posed no threat at all.
In fact, it was quite possible that most of the high-tech weapons in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s possession had already been quietly taken over by Ultron.
Don't forget, this guy was now the World's top artificial intelligence.
His birth marked the descent of a "God of the Internet" upon the World.
Since entering the smart age, human life has long been inseparable from the network.
It was precisely this vast web of the internet, woven by human hands, that provided the perfect breeding ground for Ultron, allowing him to grow wildly and without restraint, greedily devouring the fruits of human civilization's wisdom and transforming them into Sharp Weapons to be used against humanity.
Ethan's mind was racing.
He carefully analyzed the clues Ultron had left on the network, attempting to deduce the creature's next move.
"He's actually deliberately avoiding my perception. It seems this hunk of metal is currently at a loss and doesn't know how to deal with me."
"Once he finds a way to restrain me, this guy will definitely use his infinite replication ability to create an endless mechanical army, using human-wave tactics to wear me down to death."
Ethan shook his head slightly, a cold sneer forming at the corners of his mouth.
Wanting to find his weakness? Easier said than done.
Unless Ultron could gather all six Infinity Stones.
And evolve into the legendary "Infinity Ultron."
Only then would Ethan truly take this new opponent seriously.
But until then, Ethan intended to watch from the sidelines and stay out of this mess for the time being.
"The week is up."
Ethan murmured softly.
At this moment, he was standing at the entrance of the Villa.
With his X-ray vision that could see through everything, he clearly saw that Quicksilver kid, Pietro, bidding a reluctant farewell to Wanda.
Ethan had already been upfront with Scarlet Witch Wanda; this arrangement for her to go to Kamar-Taj to further her studies in magic would last as little as one year and as long as three.
As for exactly how long it would take for her to complete her training, it all depended on whether Wanda's Comprehension Ability during her practice there was high enough.
Of course, Ethan didn't intend for Wanda to become a nun in some remote mountain forest.
He would go visit her whenever he had the time.
Or bring her back to New York for a small gathering.
Once Wanda learned how to use the sling ring, she could open a portal and travel back and forth at any time.
Sorcerer Ancient One was quite open-minded and didn't forbid her Disciples from going out.
However, Ethan had given a strict order this time, requiring Wanda to settle down and truly focus on learning her skills there.
Seeing Quicksilver Pietro walk out of the apartment building.
In the next second, a flash of light and Shadow, even swifter than Quicksilver, instantly penetrated the walls of the building.
That was the divine skill of passing through walls by utilizing the principle of high-frequency vibration, completely ignoring physical obstacles.
Since Flash Barry could pull off this move, Ethan, who possessed the Speed Force, could naturally master it with ease.
Inside the room, Scarlet Witch Wanda immediately sensed an intruder.
But that aura, so familiar it was etched into her very bones, made her instantly drop all her defenses. A brilliant smile blossomed on her face as she threw herself toward that light like a swallow returning to its nest.
Crashing into that solid chest made her heart tremble, and an unprecedented sense of security instantly enveloped her entire being.
At this moment, she completely forgot that she was also a superhero with superpowers.
During this time, although she had spent most of her days in bed with Ethan.
It was undeniable that her control over the power within her body had actually grown stronger and stronger.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Ethan's neck, her sexy and shapely long legs naturally coiling around the man's waist.
"I'm about to go to that Kamar-Taj place. Darling, how do you think I should reward you?"
Scarlet Witch Wanda's voice was soft and seductive, enough to make one's bones go weak.
No normal man could withstand such a display.
"How else can you reward me? With your body, of course. We still have plenty of time; the time difference between New York and Kamar-Taj is ten hours."
Ethan grinned wickedly, gently biting Wanda's earlobe, which was as white as jade.
This was like a charge bugle on a battlefield, instantly igniting the flames of war between the two.
This pair of energetic young man and woman immediately became entangled in the most intense manner.
Although Scarlet Witch Wanda looked mature and charming, she was actually only eighteen years old.
At least in Ethan's eyes, this was her prime, as beautiful as a flower.
This was also a major reason why Ethan was so obsessed with developing this unpolished gem.
After a bout of dizzying passion.
Scarlet Witch Wanda lay panting on Ethan's chest: "Pietro is still young and naive. Darling, you must help me take care of him after I leave."
In this World, the only concern Wanda couldn't let go of was her troublesome younger brother.
"Set your mind at ease. Once you're gone, I'll arrange for Pietro to enter the Osborn lab for some enhancement, and have those guys from the Deep Cold Organization teach him how to fight."
Quicksilver Pietro's biggest flaw was his impetuousness.
Ethan had seen with his own eyes how that kid acted when he went crazy.
During that battle against The Hand, Pietro was like a demon; countless ninjas died miserable deaths at his hands.
Although that wasn't the first time he had blood on his hands.
But after experiencing that baptism, Pietro's personality had clearly become much more stable.
This was a good sign.
However, his shortcomings were still very obvious: his combat experience was too green.
Throwing him to those old hands in the Deep Cold Organization for some training would surely transform him in no time.
As for Quicksilver's future fate?
Ethan couldn't see through it clearly now.
But he still had to guard against that damned inertia of destiny.
Chapter 159: Ethan Sends Wanda to Kamar-Taj
In the original story, Pietro died at the hands of Ultronwhile trying to save someone.
Since that's the case, as long as I personally wipe out Ultron in the future, theoretically, Pietro's death calamity can be resolved.
"That younger brother of mine is a natural troublemaker; I hope he doesn't cause you any major trouble."
Scarlet Witch Wanda rolled over, climbing back onto Ethan, her eyes hazy.
"This last time is a reward from me to you."
After saying this, she kissed him passionately once more.
...
In front of the ancient courtyard of Kamar-Taj, Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One stood with her hands behind her back.
On the square in the distance, the sorcerer apprentices were diligently practicing magic circles.
The air was filled with the humming sound of magical power fluctuations.
But the Ancient One's gaze did not linger on these people.
A sorcerer named Wong walked to the Ancient One's side, his face showing concern: "Sorcerer Supreme, are we really going to break the rules to take in a Witch as a Disciple?"
Wong's worry was, in fact, the shared thought of the other high-ranking sorcerers in Kamar-Taj.
"This is a favor exchange initiated by the Ice Demonhimself. I need this favor. You must all remember that if Kamar-Taj ever encounters an insurmountable catastrophe in the future, you can take this favor to the Ice Demon and ask him to intervene once."
The Ancient One's voice was deep and solemn.
She knew better than anyone that her time was running out.
This is a fixed point on the timeline, impossible to change.
Unless she were willing to abandon her beliefs, beg for mercy from the demon god of the Dark Dimension, and trade her Soul for eternal life.
But to sell her will and life to a monster like Dormammu, becoming a Puppet.
The Ancient One would rather die than submit to such a thing.
Rather than living like that, facing death calmly is the best liberation.
"It's just a pity that she is destined not to become the next Sorcerer Supreme."
The Ancient One looked into the distance and sighed softly.
The girl named Wanda had the legendary Chaos Magicsurging within her.
That is the most overbearing magical power in the entire Universe, which even the Ancient One had never seen with her own eyes.
This kind of power has only existed in the fragments of ancient books.
Chaos Magic is a unique miracle.
In the final moments of her life, being able to impart all her life's learning to such a Witch with infinite potential.
This could be considered a bit of the Ancient One's selfishness and extravagant hope.
Wanda is already very strong now, and she is so young; her future growth space is simply immeasurable.
"It's great to be young."
The Ancient One silently sighed in her heart.
Whether it was Wong beside her or other sorcerers, none were qualified to carry the banner of the Sorcerer Supreme.
Her gaze became incomparably deep, as if piercing through the fog of time and space, landing on that surgeon with ruined hands in a hospital in New York.
Stephen Strange.
The Ancient One had long ago discerned the astonishing potential of this arrogant Doctor.
She had even witnessed the glory of Stephen Strange in the timelines of countless parallel Universes.
The future Strange is destined to grow into the most powerful and mysterious Sorcerer Supreme in the history of Kamar-Taj.
This was also the source of the Ancient One's confidence in facing death calmly.
However, when her gaze turned back to the approaching Scarlet Witch, she was still shocked by the terrifying aura of that Chaos Magic.
If this girl were allowed to fully grow, she might actually be the number one sorcerer in the Universe.
"I hope this child can truly achieve success in her studies!"
The Ancient One knew clearly why Ethan had sent Wanda here.
Wanda, possessing Chaos Magic, has an extremely unstable mental state; this is her fatal Achilles' heel.
This is also the curse that accompanies Chaos Magic.
It will subtly erode the user's sanity and drive them into madness.
The "success in studies" the Ancient One spoke of referred not only to Spells but also to cultivating the mind.
If one were to talk about "cultivating the mind" with Ethan, that guy would definitely understand in a second.
But for a girl with a Western background like Wanda, one can only say it is teaching her to learn to regulate her psychological state.
Just then, a burst of sparks suddenly erupted in the air.
A golden circular ring tore through space out of thin air, forming a stable portal.
Ethan stepped out of the ring of light.
The moment his feet touched the land of Kamar-Taj, he immediately sensed the powerful magical barrier enveloping the surroundings.
As expected of the Holy Land of the Earth's magical World; this foundation is truly not something that bunch of superheroes in spandex can compare to.
Scarlet Witch Wanda followed closely behind and stepped out of the portal, striving to maintain that elegance and composure.
"Sorcerer Ancient One, I have brought her to you. From today on, Wanda is a member of your Kamar-Taj."
Ethan stood in front of the Ancient One, his tone as casual as if chatting about daily life.
"We both know clearly that this girl is destined for greatness, so you can rest assured. What I have promised, I will never go back on."
Sorcerer Ancient One bowed slightly, a humble gesture that shocked the surrounding Disciples so much their jaws almost dropped.
"Haha, since I dare to entrust her to you, it means I trust your character. I will also state my position: I, Ethan, keep my word, but the scope of the protection I promised is limited to this little plot of land in Kamar-Taj."
Ethan did not want to get involved in the messy Multiverse business that would follow Doctor Strange.
It wasn't that he was afraid of death.
It was mainly that he was afraid of getting lost; it would be awkward if he couldn't find his way home.
Back then, such an awesome Incarnation of Kang the Conqueror fell into the Quantum Realm and was like being in prison; he tried all his might and still couldn't escape.
That poor guy is probably still in the Quantum Realmworrying about the energy core.
Ethan turned around and looked at Wandaaffectionately.
"If you miss me, call me anytime."
After saying that, he gently pulled Wanda into his arms and hugged her.
At this moment, Sorcerer Ancient One's gaze was fixed intently on the ring on Ethan's finger.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Does it look particularly familiar?"
Ethan keenly sensed the Ancient One's gaze.
He released Wanda, turned back, grinned at the Ancient One, and generously showed off the ring.
"eye of agamotto..."
The Ancient One whispered that name.
"Keep it safe for me. If this thing ever falls into someone else's hands, I wouldn't mind melting it down and recasting it into the fourth ring on my hand."
Meanwhile, Ethan took off the sling ring that the Ancient One had previously given him and casually handed it to Wanda.
"This thing can be considered returned to its rightful owner; it's perfect for you to use."
After saying that, Ethan took a step forward.
The space in front of him automatically cracked like glass.
He didn't need an auxiliary tool like a sling ring at all now.
With his Comprehension Ability, he had long since penetrated the Law of space behind the sling ring.
And transformed it into his own magical instinct.
After all, the Dominator-level water magic that Ethanhad mastered was no joke.
That was one of his trump cards; in terms of power, it was definitely not inferior to any forbidden Spell in Kamar-Taj.
"Keep it. He really doesn't need this kind of Entry-LevelMagical Artifact anymore."
The Ancient One looked at the sling ring in Wanda's hand and smiled gently.
Wearing the real eye of agamotto, she had already sensed the resonance from the Time Stone at this moment.
She even used this to glimpse a fragment of the future.
In the vision, that Ethan wearing the eye of agamotto, facing the siege of countless powerhouses in the Universe, remained calm and composed, suppressing the entire scene with an invincible posture.
The Ancient One sighed inwardly, thinking that this might not be a bad thing.
Chapter 160: Sending Wanda to Study magic and Meeting Black Widow
Over the years, she could always feel countless pairs of greedy eyes peering at the eye of agamotto from the darkness.
This was also the burden she was most concerned about.
It was the final line of defense against Dormammu's invasion of Earth.
Once lost and the Seal shattered, darkness would completely envelop the Planet.
But now, seeing Ethan wearing three Infinity Stonesrings on his hand,
The Ancient One suddenly felt her worries were entirely redundant.
With such an insanely strong human guarding Earth, it wasn't the Earthlings who should cry, but the invaders.
Those reckless peepers thought Earth was a piece of fat meat.
Little did they know, a Living King of Hell named the "Ice Demon" lived here.
The newly arrived Scarlet Witch Wanda seemed a bit uneasy.
The Ancient One smiled to soothe her.
The current Wanda was not yet worthy of the name "Scarlet Witch" that echoed through the Universe; she didn't even realize what a terrifying existence she would become once she fulfilled her talent.
"Come with me, Wanda. I'll show you around and help you get familiar with the environment."
Watching Wanda obediently follow the Ancient One away,
A heavy stone finally lifted from Ethan's heart.
In fact, he had thought about keeping Wanda by his side forever.
But Wanda's mental instability was a ticking time bomb.
Moreover, her current use of power was entirely based on unrefined guesswork, erupting purely by instinct.
There was no systematic method to it.
She needed to be stimulated every time to trigger an outburst.
While her power increased, her mental defenses would be further corroded by Chaos Magic.
Wanda was essentially a good girl who longed for the warmth of a family.
However, Ethan currently had his hands full with multiple women.
Although Wanda didn't say it, how could she not feel aggrieved watching Ethan fool around with other women every day?
It would be a miracle if her mental state didn't run into problems.
Sending her to Kamar-Taj to cultivate her character and learn orthodox White Magic
would prevent her from taking a narrow path in the future and plunging into the abyss of Dark Magic.
In the movies, Wanda could master Dark Magic to the maximum level just by self-study.
If she underwent the systematic, professional training of Kamar-Taj, wouldn't her combat power just take off?
Ethan was full of expectations for this.
...
After leaving Kamar-Taj this time, Ethan did not return directly to New York.
Instead, he teleported to sunny Los Angeles.
The Avengers' new Base was now located in this City of Angels.
Ethan strolled through the bustling streets.
A cool convertible supercar pulled over to the side of the road with a roar.
The window slowly rolled down, revealing Black Widow Natasha's beautiful and moving Face.
"A rare visitor, Hao. To think I'd bump into you in a place like this."
Black Widow took off her sunglasses and teased with a beaming smile.
Ethan walked to the car and, without a word, leaned down and kissed those red lips.
At this moment, any words were redundant.
This scene caused passersby on the street to look over, casting glances of envy, jealousy, and hate.
"Natasha, it's been so long, and your mouth is still so sweet."
Ethan opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat very naturally.
"You didn't only notify me about coming to Los Angeles, did you?"
The car started again, and Black Widow asked with a hint of an accusatory tone while turning the steering wheel.
She didn't want Agent Hill to suddenly pop up later and be a third wheel.
"Of course, I flew here specifically for you this time."
"I hope you're telling the truth. You know, every time you leave New York, we colleagues have to work overtime."
Although Natasha complained, her Face was blooming with a smile.
...
When Ethan woke up again, he was holding that plump and seductive body in his arms.
The woman in front of him was clearly exhausted and was sleeping soundly.
Ethan looked at that exquisite sleeping Face and smiled.
This was the famous Black Widow Natasha.
Back when the Marvel movies were released, she was the perfect goddess in the minds of many otaku.
Now, other people's goddess had become his bedmate.
"It seems S.H.I.E.L.D. is indeed anxious; they're looking for Ultron all over the World."
"Jarvis's death completely touched Tony Stark's raw nerve."
"But this guy is also too proud; he never takes the initiative to seek help from me."
For someone as proud and conceited as Tony, as soon as he stood in front of Ethan, his brilliance would immediately be overshadowed.
This was probably the real reason why Tony had been deliberately distancing himself from Ethan.
Recalling that battle in New York years ago,
Ethan's terrifying posture as he went on a killing spree had actually left an indelible psychological shadow in the hearts of these superheroes.
"Hmm..."
The beauty in his arms moved, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Awake?"
Ethan lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.
"Are you leaving again?"
Black Widow Natasha's voice carried an unmaskable sense of loss.
"Just say the word, and I'll stay in Los Angeles to keep you company for a few more days."
Ethan looked at her affectionately.
"You should know about the Ultron situation, right? Now this artificial intelligence has become a major threat to all of humanity. According to Tony's assessment, its underlying code even inherited the evil will of HYDRA."
When it came to serious business, Natasha's Face instantly became solemn.
"I've known about this for a long time. Actually, looking at it from another perspective, this might not be entirely bad for Tony. At least it allows him to see another possibility for technological evolution. After experiencing this setback, the future Iron Man will only be more mature and better able to realize his Genius brain."
Ethan said slowly.
Regarding the threat of Ultron, he appeared far less anxious than Natasha.
"Tony is already a World-renowned Genius scientist. In your eyes, has he not yet fulfilled his talent?"
Natasha blinked curiously.
Ethan smiled and didn't explain much.
If it were the Tony Stark at his peak in the comics, he would definitely be an extremely terrifying opponent.
Think about those insane armors developed by the various generations of Iron Man:
Godkiller Armor, Satellite Armor, Green Lantern Armor, Bleeding Edge Armor, Anti-Thor, sword in the stone, Endo-Sym...
Especially that Endo-Sym Armor, it was simply the perfect combination of armor and Venom.
As for that Godkiller Armor, you can tell how ridiculous it is just from the name; landing could destroy a Planet. It was an ultimate weapon specifically designed to slaughter the Celestials.
In comparison, the current Iron Man was just getting started.
That tin can on his body, in Ethan's view, was simply outdated and tacky.
It was completely unpresentable.
It was fine for bullying ordinary people.
But if he encountered a superhuman with even a little bit of strength, he would immediately be stretched thin.
Like the Winter Soldier, an enhanced soldier—anyone pulled out from the Deep Cold Organization could beat him up.
Yet Tony, facing this murderer of his father, could never form an absolute technological crush.