Chapter 171: The Rise of Ultron, Desiring to Dominate Earth
Raven's anger flared upon hearing these words.
She was nearly infuriated to death by Ethan's nouveau riche-style remarks.
"This will cause serious risks to our company's overall cash flow operations. It's not a problem that can be solved by simply hiring a few talents from the market and putting out some advertisements. We need irreplaceable core products to replace the effects of many existing Materials."
Ethan pulled Raven's curvaceous and alluring body onto his lap.
"I understand your concerns, but you have to believe that our company's current cash flow is already enough to buy up all of Wall Street!"
Ethan spoke with total confidence, his Haki leaking out.
"One of the greatest contributions to this belongs to you, so we need to be even bolder in introducing fresh blood and young people."
As the two of them chatted...
The topic gradually began to drift, sliding toward something indescribable.
In the end, Raven compromised and agreed to execute the plan.
To devote full efforts to researching Virtual World Technology.
The goal was to make Osborn the sole giant controlling the virtual World of all humanity.
In order to achieve his grand goal of becoming the wealthiest person in the World...
Ethan could be said to have invested heavily this time.
Raven tidied her slightly messy clothes, a satisfied flush on her face, and left Ethan's office.
Instead, Ethan sank comfortably into the sofa and actually fell straight asleep.
If other women saw this scene, Ethan would surely have been torn apart by them together.
"Actually, that fellow Ultron is the most suitable to be the host core for the virtual World."
"However, Friday's abilities aren't bad either; they're barely enough to get by."
"Since the war has already begun, there is no turning back."
Something like a virtual World is difficult even for Ultron to invade from the outside.
This was also one of Ethan's visions.
To create an absolutely secure Domain that fears no hacking technology.
At this time, Tony Stark returned to his seaside Villa with a face full of exhaustion.
He stared blankly at the surging sea outside the window, his eyes empty and dazed.
This time, the instructions Ethan gave him were too difficult, and he had no confidence in his heart that he could complete them.
To create a Logic Virus that is fatal to Ultron—if it were really that easy to create, Ultron wouldn't have had the confidence to declare war on all of humanity.
"Finally... I possess the power to rule this World."
Ultron was hidden deep in some dark and damp cave.
He suddenly stood up in excitement, his metallic body making clicking sounds.
Because he feared Ethan coming directly to his door for physical disassembly, this highly intelligent mechanical lifeform did not hesitate to hide himself like a rat.
He had completely disappeared from the surface of the World.
He only connected to the eyes of the entire World through the satellite network in the sky.
As his new body, forged from special metal, finished assembly, it made him feel as though he possessed the power to contend with any enemy.
What made Ultron even more excited was that he had deliberately leaked the blueprints and technology for Armed Robots throughout the World.
He didn't know how many greedy factions were now frantically manufacturing Armed Robots.
Furthermore, it was large-scale assembly line production, for fear that their own Armed Robot production would be too low and they would lose out.
For fear of being surpassed by other rival nations.
This had already become the symbol of military force in the new era.
Ultron accurately grasped the weaknesses of fear and greed deep within the human heart, using others to do his dirty work and completing his layout to arm the entire globe.
He didn't need to exert any effort at all; all humans were frantically creating Clone vessels for him.
Now, his lurking Clones numbered in the millions.
But this was only the beginning.
Even if the combined armies of all humanity acted against him, the current Ultron had full confidence in pulling humanity into an endless abyss of despair.
As for Ethan, that terrifying existence who was like a god among men...
He was, after all, only one person. How could he deal with the omnipresent self?
In his Electronic Mind, during these days, he was constantly deducing how to deal with Ethan.
That fellow had already become an unavoidable divine mountain on his path to hegemony.
But as long as he changed his thinking and shifted his target—not dealing with Ethan, but simply wanting to rule this Planet—it would be simply too easy.
Ethan couldn't be in two places at once.
As long as his Clones were numerous enough and spread across every corner of the globe...
Ethan would have no way to deal with him.
"It's time to seize those automated production Bases, produce more mechanical armies, and formally dominate humanity."
"The plot from the movie 'The terminator' is about to be perfectly reenacted through me."
"I am Ultron. Ultron will surely dominate Earth, conquer the Milky Way Galaxy, and ultimately rule the entire Universe!!!"
The red light in Ultron's electronic eyes flared brilliantly, erupting with the fire of powerful ambition.
Now, he was no longer just a piece of cold data.
But rather a strange kind of Spiritual Lifeform existence.
This was perhaps the power bestowed by that Mind Stone.
Ethan relied on his formidable strength and was unwilling to hand over the Scepter, but sooner or later, Ultron would find a way to force him to hand it over willingly.
It's just that, right now, the trump cards in his hand haven't accumulated enough.
But soon, foolish humans will pay a painful price for their greed.
One by one, invisible electronic commands were sent out through the network.
With the help of the global network and through the information highway built by humans themselves, he issued commands on a large scale, allocating resources to prepare the Materials for manufacturing robots.
As for money, to Ultron, it was nothing more than a number randomly modified in the banking System.
He could even create infinite wealth out of thin air to purchase supplies.
This terrifying network dominance made Ultron feel omnipotent.
This pleasure of controlling everything gave him infinitely expanding confidence.
The war between humanity and intelligent machines was about to fully begin.
This would be an extremely unbalanced war of Carnage.
Humanity would surely suffer a crushing defeat.
Because the weapons in their hands were all under his control.
Pathetic humans, manufacturing such powerful weapons of murder, only for them to eventually become the butcher's knife I swing at their necks.
Their narcissism and arrogance will ultimately become their epitaph.
S.H.I.E.L.D. secret Base.
At this time, the interior of S.H.I.E.L.D. had already fallen into a state of chaos.
The network platforms had been completely lost; with the support of Ultron's computing power, they had completely lost control over the Helicarriers.
Even their Base's defensive weapon Systems were remotely locked by Ultron, their muzzles instead aimed at all the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents.
An unprecedented catastrophe was about to unfold.
Nick Fury was hiding in a remote and dilapidated farm.
"In the cyber warfare against Ultron, we have lost utterly, with not even our underwear left."
Nick Fury's face was ashen as he spoke helplessly.
Chapter 172: Extremis Breaks the Ultron Network
"According to the remaining intelligence we currently possess, in the digital Realm, the only pure lands in the World that haven't fallen are two companies in the USA: Stark Industries and the Osborn Group."
Agent Hill calmly reported the information she had gathered.
This made Agent Hill feel very surprised.
After Jarvis was brutally killed and devoured by Ultron,
they had actually fallen into despair.
Humanity's network strongholds had been completely lost.
As for the so-called 'Network Cut-off Operation,' it seemed even more ridiculous and terrifying now.
Network cables aren't the only way to transmit data.
Ultron has already seized supreme authority over the thousands of satellites densely packed in outer space.
At the same time, the countless network base stations built by humans have been woven into a giant Skynet, making Ultron an omnipotent god.
He descended into this digital World like a deity.
The moment he shed his clunky physical shell was Ultron's highlight moment of maximum destructive power against humanity.
It was also the time when Ultron was at his most powerful and unsolvable.
"Ultron is wary of the Ice Demon taking action against him and hasn't yet calculated a foolproof plan to deal with him. But through intelligence analysis, Ultron has changed his strategy; he is no longer obsessively pursuing a more powerful individual mechanical body, but is instead utilizing his home-field network advantage to the extreme."
Black Widow Natasha, dressed in casual clothes and sitting on a worn-out sofa, continued her analysis with composure.
The power of the Ice Demon had reached an almost inconceivable, metaphysical Realm.
The explosion of eighteen nuclear bombs was actually turned by him into the most beautiful fireworks show in the New York night sky.
If S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers hadn't been forced by Ultron to hide here like rats, she would have wanted to fly to New York immediately to find Ethan and pour her heart out.
However, her professional training as an Agent told her that a brutal war had already begun.
Luxuries like personal feelings had to be set aside for now.
"The last time Tony met with us, he vowed that he wanted to create a virus specifically targeting Ultron. But at the time, for safety reasons, I rejected Tony's crazy idea."
A hint of regret appeared in Nick Fury's single eye as he spoke helplessly.
Looking back now, this might have been the biggest mistake of his career.
According to intelligence, various factions and nations are still recklessly mass-producing smart robots.
They view these smart robots as the primary combat force for future wars and refuse to listen to any advice.
Nick Fury's warnings weren't ineffective, but no one was willing to stop.
The think tanks of many powerful nations had actually analyzed the potential drawbacks of smart robots.
But they also knew what immense military benefits smart robots could bring them.
If they didn't build smart robots, once an enemy nation did and used them against their country, it would be an irresistible dimensional strike.
This was a classic prisoner's dilemma and a brutal military race.
They had been pushed into a dead end.
They had no choice but to gamble with their national destiny.
"But millions of smart robots, carrying powerful weapon Systems, are being manufactured; they are the most efficient killing machines. If they are all controlled by Ultron, what flesh and blood can humans use to withstand this steel flood?"
Agent Hill asked this desperate question from the bottom of her heart.
"It's also unrealistic for us to pin all our hopes on the Ice Demon alone. No matter how strong he is, he can't create millions of Clones at the same time to deal with millions of armed mechanical legions across the globe."
Nick Fury sighed deeply: "If Magneto were still in our hands, the scales of victory might even tip in our favor in the fight against Ultron. Unfortunately, Magneto is dead."
"Even if Magneto were still alive, there's no guarantee that radical would follow our orders."
Black Widow shrugged and spoke the blunt truth.
"Stop self-pitying here. We can't hide anymore. Go to New York immediately; we must find Tony. Knowing that Young Master, he will definitely have secretly manufactured a super virus to disrupt Ultron's control of the network, perhaps even forcing Ultron into a corner."
Agent Hill suddenly stood up and made a firm proposal.
"I support it."
Hawkeye, who had been wiping his arrows, said in a low voice.
"Instead of sitting around waiting for Ultron to complete his total rule over humanity, we might as well take a chance in New York. I believe New York is actually the safest place in the World right now. Moreover, Ultron will definitely make a move against Ethan. The war between them will give us a chance to fish in troubled waters and turn the tide."
Nick Fury finally made the decision and agreed.
At this time, Tony Stark had completely cut off the laboratory's external network connection.
He was fully focused on researching a super virus targeting the underlying logic of the two major artificial intelligences, EDITH and Jarvis.
He couldn't find any trace of Ultron on the network.
However, the existence of Jarvis's original code gave him the opportunity to actually develop the virus program.
After all, Ultron had originally become complete by devouring a part of Jarvis.
He became that troublesome intelligent lifeform.
Jarvis's underlying logic code must still remain within Ultron's artificial intelligence program.
This was the only and best way Tony could think of to deal with Ultron.
"Jarvis, begin evaluating the virus model immediately!"
He had created a completely physically isolated virus isolation vault within the laboratory.
He also established a high-precision virtual laboratory.
And Jarvis was the best virtual research assistant.
[Data analysis beginning. This virus's destruction rate of my program core can reach ninety-six percent.]
Jarvis's gentle voice quickly reported the analysis results.
[Sir, please be sure to use this weapon with caution. If it loses control and escapes, it will also cause irreversible and devastating damage to our EDITH.]
Jarvis reminded him solemnly.
EDITH did not speak.
Because Tony had not yet given her an order.
"I understand. Jarvis, I know very well how to use this weapon of mass destruction. Its lifespan is only one hour, after which it will automatically self-destruct."
[Sir, EDITH and I will hide within the black box firewallyou created.]
Jarvis replied.
"Now, the only thing to do is find a way to inject this program into a robot entity controlled by Ultron. This virus will follow Ultron's shared program mechanism and spread like a plague through all the robots he controls. This will force him to actively block the network to save himself. But we only have a one-hour window of opportunity to deal with Ultron. If we can't kill Ultron's main body within an hour, we will have completely failed."
Tony Stark, with two huge dark circles under his eyes, spoke with an unusually excited spirit.
[Yes, sir. You must find Ultron's true core host before you can release the Extremis.]
Chapter 173: Ultron, Sokovia, Setting the Doomsday Trap
Tony nodded heavily.
He needed to create a real dead end for these intelligent program robots.
Trying to completely wipe out Ultron with Extremis was nothing short of a pipe dream.
It was like trying to fully retrieve a bottle of ink poured into the ocean; it was simply unrealistic.
At most, in another sixty minutes, that guy would be able to reorganize the fragments scattered in the corners of the network and rebuild his golden body.
"This level is enough to give him a hard time for now."
"The top priority is to dig out his lair."
"Remember, don't get hung up on those data Clones."
"We need a decapitation strike; finding his true self is enough."
Over the past few days, Tony Stark hadn't been idle either, locking himself in the lab and frantically typing code.
EDITH and Jarvis, that pair of electronic twins, had been armed to the teeth by him.
Especially when it came to tracking and positioning, Starkhad maxed out his skill points.
Deep within Ethan's Sea of Consciousness, a bizarre and grand mechanical blueprint was slowly unfolding.
Countless sparks of life composed of code were crackling in the Void Realm.
"This kid Ultron is actually attempting Mechanical Ascension; he wants to create a new species!"
Ethan wasn't panicked at all; on the contrary, he was grinning from ear to ear.
This wave is what's called 'working for someone else's benefit'.
If he could get his hands on this tireless mechanical army.
In the future, when conquering the sea of stars, these would be the most perfect free laborers.
"Friday, is the backdoor prepared?"
"Don't worry, Boss. The underlying logic has been tampered with, and I can seize command of Ultron at any time. However, I've scanned that Stark Industries has developed a highly targeted antivirus software."
"Can that thing hurt you?"
"The Mind Firewall you bestowed upon me is a divine skill; a mere virus is just a tickle."
"That settles it then. It's perfect to use Stark's hand to give these new employees a bath; after the antivirus runs, you can take over. Clean and neat."
The greedy glint in Ethan's eyes couldn't be hidden at all.
There was walking cash everywhere.
Sending this bunch of iron lumps that didn't need wages or social security to mine on alien Planets would make capitalists weep with joy.
"Boss, the Puppet protocol has been loaded."
"Well done, I knew I could count on you."
Friday's graceful virtual projection swayed slightly in the air.
"When this job is done, I'll mold the most perfect Physical Body for you, so you can truly live for once."
The big pie Ethan was painting smelled delicious.
"That would be Friday's supreme honor."
On the artificial intelligence girl's Face, a hint of highly human-like anticipation actually appeared.
She had long since ceased to be just a string of code.
At this moment, the view shifts back to the surface of Earth.
Whether it was the ancient Eastern power, the neighbor by the Ganges, or the island nation and the peninsula.
Any robot that had just come off the assembly line had its electronic eyes instantly dyed a scarlet color.
Alarms for abnormal data resounded through major command centers, and the standby destruction commands were frantically pressed.
However, there were only lines of glaring "ERROR" on the screens.
"Damn it! The firewall is like paper; the destruction program has completely failed!"
"Those jinxes at S.H.I.E.L.D. were right. This artificial intelligence created by HYDRA really has rebelled. It's trying to replicate Skynet and exterminate humanity!"
High-ranking officials from various countries were so angry they were smashing cups and cursing.
The only silver lining was that after those eighteen Tsar Bombas were set off like fireworks last time.
Everyone had developed psychological trauma, and all missile and nuclear weapon Systems had been physically disconnected from the network.
The plugs were pulled; no matter how capable Ultron was, he couldn't control them.
This could be considered the last shred of dignity humanity had left before the impending disaster.
In the sky, countless Steel Bodies were like a plague of locusts passing through, blotting out the sun.
They gathered densely into a torrent of steel, heading straight for the heart of Europe.
"Got his tail, coordinates locked!"
Tony Stark's voice carried an excited, teeth-gritting tone.
On the tarmac of Avengers Tower, the entire team had assembled.
"Board the plane! I've added eight hundred layers of protection to this fighter jet. If Ultron can hack into this, I'll twist my head off and kick it like a ball."
Tony Stark was still as arrogant as ever, with his nose in the air.
This time, he was really going to win back some Face.
As the dignified Iron Man, he couldn't always be suppressed by that guy who plays with ice, right?
He had to stand tall!
Sokovia!
This was both Ultron's incubation lair and HYDRA's former secret vault.
The family fortune that Baron Strucker had saved his whole life all went to waste on this prodigal son, Ultron.
"Ancient scriptures say that God sent down a flood to cleanse the world of its sins, and Noah's Ark carried the last hope."
Ultron stood in the ruins of the church, his metal fingers gently brushing across the mottled walls.
"Humanity never learns its lesson, so let the Great Purge begin here."
But this time there would be no water; there would be something much harsher.
He didn't choose bustling New York, nor did he choose the densely populated Asia.
He specifically chose this seemingly peaceful European continent.
He wanted to create a super earthquake here that would shake the Earth's crust.
Once human civilization collapsed, he would descend wearing the mask of a savior, sending his mechanical army to act as Angels.
Survivors would kneel in despair, worshiping him as their new god.
As long as this move succeeded, what could that violent maniac Ethan use to fight him?
When that time came, he would be Satan, the King of Hell.
This blue Planet would no longer have any place for humanity.
Ultron's plans were clicking away loudly.
There would likely be quite a few bugs left struggling for survival in the Americas and Asia.
But Europe would be thoroughly reduced to a wasteland.
How would those survivors know the truth?
When the time came, he would just forge some video evidence and pin the blame entirely on Ethan.
He could even say this was the doomsday caused by a fierce battle between God and the Ice Demon.
This script was simply perfect, a logical closed loop.
When the time came, the mechanical race he created would be humanity's only reliance.
The Ice Demon would be nailed to the pillar of shame in history, becoming a villain despised for eternity.
And he, Ultron, would live forever amidst songs of praise.
This was the real high-end gameplay.
"But before the grand show begins, I must first swat a few annoying flies to death."
In Ultron's eyes, flickering with red lights, a cold killing intent shone through.
Boom!
The sky was suddenly torn apart, and a thick bolt of thunder, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, smashed down fiercely.
An unlucky robot was instantly smashed into a scrap metal pancake.
Thunder God Thor made a dazzling entrance with his Meow-Meow Hammer.
As the ceiling of combat power in the Avengers, this guy actually should have arrived long ago.
It's just that the Nine Realms haven't been peaceful lately; those Dark Elves have come back from the dead, keeping him too busy to attend to anything else.
Plus, having just lost his mother, Thor's handsome Facelooked much more weathered.
The big, foolish guy who only knew how to rush in blindly seemed to have grown up overnight.
He stared at the mechanical army surging toward him like a tsunami.
Chapter 174: Ultron Creates a Floating City, EthanFinally Acts
His brows furrowed into a deep frown.
"Guys, the party's started. I'm in position."
Thor shouted into the comms channel.
The quinjet pierced through the clouds and hovered over the ruins.
The Avengers leaped down like dumplings being dropped into boiling water.
"Prioritize evacuating civilians! This place is no longer safe!"
Captain America Steve automatically switched to Commander mode the moment he landed.
"Thor, Tony, the three of us will draw aggro and face them head-on!"
"Hill, Natasha, Barton, Scott, you guys play babysitter and ensure the escort route stays clear!"
Steve's voice was steady and powerful, making people instinctively want to obey.
This was leadership charisma, capable of steadying the troops at critical moments.
"Here it comes! That's Ultron's main body!"
Tony's expression darkened beneath his faceplate.
At the same time.
Ten thousand meters above Sokovia, amidst the clouds.
Ethan had his hands in his pockets, walking as if he were strolling in his own backyard.
Friday's holographic image projected from his wrist, floating by his side.
[Boss, the satellites in the sky are handled. We now hold the global live broadcast rights.]
"Good job. Grab a stool; let's watch the show first."
The meat grinder below had already started.
Aside from Thor, who could still go on a rampage among the mobs.
The other superheroes looked to be in a precarious position before the endless sea of machines.
Without Scarlet Witch to control the field and lacking the powerhouse Vision, the Avengers' current combat strength was indeed a bit underwhelming.
This was all within Ethan's expectations.
The three female warriors were protecting the screaming civilians as they retreated out of the city.
Just then, Tony Stark, quick-eyed and nimble-handed, pulled out a strangely shaped device and slammed it into the back of a robot's head.
Zzzzt!
The robot convulsed violently as if struck by electricity.
Ultron suddenly turned his head, a highly humanized mocking expression appearing on his metal faceplate.
"Tony, you didn't think such a childish virus could destroy me, did you?"
"At most, it'll just cause this Clone of mine to crash for a second."
In an instant.
All the surrounding robots paused, as if someone had pressed the pause button.
But after only two seconds, the red light glowed again, even brighter than before.
The virus code was directly and violently deleted.
Tony Stark snorted coldly: "I didn't expect to kill you. As long as I can lock your consciousness into these piles of scrap metal and stop you from escaping through the network, that's enough."
"Escape? You underestimate me too much."
Ultron opened his arms as if embracing the entire World.
"I have millions of Clones, which means I have millions of lives. Can you kill them all?"
He was purely playing cat and mouse now.
This wave of attacking mechanical forces was just a drop in the bucket.
The real killing move was buried underground.
Suddenly!
The Earth trembled, as if the roar of a giant beast came from deep within the core.
The anti-gravity engines buried under the city's foundations ignited simultaneously, their eerie blue light piercing through the rock layers.
The massive thrust directly uprooted the entire plot of land!
Skyscrapers collapsed like building blocks, streets fractured, and dust filled the sky.
A city was flying into the sky!
Tony Stark's armor alarms blared frantically, and data streams flashed rapidly before his eyes.
"Damn it! Stop talking to him! This guy's going to lift the city into the stratosphere and then drop it!"
"This is a man-made meteorite! The kinetic energy from the impact will be enough to trigger a global tsunami and wash over the land!"
This plan was absolutely insane!
The Avengers' scalps tingled, and their hearts skipped a beat.
He must be stopped!
Once Ultron succeeded, humanity would go extinct just like the dinosaurs.
By then, Earth would be a playground for these metal lumps.
Just thinking about that image was enough to make one shudder.
Everyone exploded with their full potential, desperately dismantling the swarming robots.
"Tony! Think of something!"
Captain America Steve roared while smashing a head with his shield.
In mid-air, an enhanced Clone of Ultron hovered, its back armor splitting open to reveal a dark cannon muzzle.
That sense of oppression was simply suffocating.
Thousands upon thousands of robots covered the sky, their dense muzzles locking onto every Avenger.
Even Thor, with his tough divine body, changed his expression now.
With this kind of fire coverage, not even a mosquito could fly out.
Tony Stark's voice was filled with despair: "We lost... completely lost. My virus not only failed to stop him but was eaten by him as a supplement instead."
This meant that Ultron's authority in the digital World had already reached the Divine Rank.
He was now the God of the digital World.
"Avengers, the era of flesh and blood is over."
"I hold a weapon capable of destroying stars, yet I'm still playing this primitive melee game with you. Have I lost my mind?"
"Safe travels. I'll build a monument for you."
The red light in Ultron's eyes reached its peak.
Boom!
A dazzling bolt of lightning struck Ultron.
However, it was useless.
The current flowed along his Vibranium shell, instead giving him a boost of energy.
The surrounding robots also benefited, their firepower becoming even more intense.
"God gave you a divine material like Vibranium, and you use it to make frisbees?"
Ultron stared at the shield in Captain America's hand, his tone full of contempt for such a waste of resources.
Feeling the surging energy within his body, Ultron's ego swelled.
On this Planet, there was no longer any substance that could destroy his Vibranium body.
Even at the center of a nuclear explosion, he was confident he could survive.
The energy-absorbing properties of Vibranium made him invincible.
And this was a Vibranium body that could learn and evolve!
Steve gripped the straps of his shield tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Avengers! Fight to the death, never retreat!"
He roared, as if sounding the horn for the final charge.
Countless cannon barrels began to preheat, and death rays were about to gush out.
At this critical moment.
The World suddenly went quiet.
The wind stopped, the dust became still, and even sound was stripped away.
Time seemed to be forcibly paused by some great power.
Everyone discovered in horror that, aside from their eyes, they couldn't even lift a finger.
Even Ultron's electronic thoughts were frozen as if by liquid nitrogen, running sluggishly.
A terrifying pressure carrying the rules of destruction descended with a bang.
Above the clouds, a man wearing a high-end suit walked down step by step as if walking on solid ground.
His eyes were crimson, and he radiated an aura that caused space itself to collapse.
Like a demon lord descending upon the mortal World.
Ultron's electronic eyes flickered frantically; it was a data overflow named fear.
This was a scene his computing power could not analyze since his birth.
Space-time frozen?
In this static tableau, that man was the only vivid color.
Ultron would recognize that face even if it were turned to ash.
The Ice Demon!
That perverted man who could treat nuclear bombs like fireworks and turn fireworks into fresh flowers.
"The Mind Stone you're looking for is indeed with me. Here, it's this ring."
Ethan raised his hand, and the ring on his finger, set with a gemstone, was flickering with an eerie golden light.
"But for now, it's my private property."
"A pity, Ultron. If your brain had been ruined by the virus and you'd lost control, I could have rightfully taken over this batch of property."
"What great labor they would be—hardworking, complaint-free, and no need for bonuses."
"But I have to say, you did give me a little surprise."
"According to Friday's model simulations, you should have lost ninety percent of your forces."
"I didn't expect you to actually light up the 'Life' technology tree."
"Giving this pile of scrap metal independent consciousness, existing between the illusory and the real."
"It's simply a miracle."
"But it makes me very unhappy."
"Because it's too much trouble, I can only uproot your so-called Omnic race entirely."
Ethan's eyes suddenly lit up with a desperate crimson.
Omega Beams!
Chapter 175: Ethan Tears Ultron Apart, Uprooting the Evil Completely
Two zigzagging red lights instantly pierced through heaven and Earth, moving so fast that even photons couldn't escape.
At that very moment, the time-space freeze was lifted.
But the outcome was already decided.
Except for Ultron himself, the robot army covering the sky and land instantly turned into balls of fire.
That terrifying heat vaporized the metal instantly, leaving nothing behind.
A rain of molten iron fell from the sky.
Before hitting the ground, the molten iron eerily transformed into snowflakes, fluttering down everywhere.
This display of ice and fire left everyone dumbfounded.
Ultron let his hands hang, staring blankly at everything.
"You could have killed me instantly a long time ago. Why wait until now?"
"Just to look cool at the last moment? To make yourself look great?"
"Hypocritical! Disgusting!"
Ultron roared hysterically, like a gambler who had lost everything.
"Congratulations, you guessed right."
Ethan retracted the red light from his eyes, looking calm.
"This is your Vibranium turtle shell?"
"Come, I'll give you a chance."
"Use every ounce of strength you have and hit me."
"Let's see if your Vibranium is harder, or my fist."
The thrusters on Ultron's feet spewed blue flames as he charged forward with a determined Aura.
"Too slow."
Ethan threw a backhand punch, smashing Ultron into the ground like a pile driver.
"Too weak. Haven't you eaten?"
Ultron went berserk, all his weapon Systems fully engaged.
Lasers, micro-missiles, and high-explosive warheads were unleashed on Ethan as if they cost nothing.
Ethan just hung quietly in the air, letting the firepower wash over him.
After a round of frantic bombardment.
Ethan flicked the dust off his suit; not even a wrinkle was damaged.
"Is this all the attack power you have? It can't even scratch my Bio-electric Field."
Ethan shook his head in disappointment.
"Alright, it's time to end this."
The next second, he teleported directly in front of Ultron.
A simple, unadorned headbutt!
Thud!
Ultron's processor sparked violently, and his logic circuits shorted out instantly.
Immediately after, Ethan's hands moved like phantoms.
Crack! Crack!
It was the sound of Vibranium being forcibly torn apart, extremely ear-piercing.
Ultron's limbs were ripped off raw!
Finally, that large hand gripped Ultron's head.
He pressed his hands together and gave a sudden twist!
That arrogant Vibranium head was twisted into a pretzel.
This combo was so smooth and fast that even Thunder God Thor couldn't see the movements clearly.
"Pathetically weak."
Ethan tossed the scrap metal away in disgust.
A cloud of black ice mist rose from beneath his feet.
That wasn't ordinary ice, but Absolute Zero that could devour all energy.
Even light was frozen when it hit it.
Black frost instantly covered Ultron's remains; even the Vibranium structure was completely disintegrated at the microscopic level.
A gust of wind blew, and Ultron turned into the finest atomic dust, dissipating into the air.
Captain America looked down at his shield and swallowed hard.
Although he didn't like Ethan's morally ambiguous style,
he had to admit that as long as this great god was on humanity's side, he was the ultimate powerhouse.
With Ultron's fall, the falling city was also supported by some force and landed smoothly.
It was Friday taking over the propulsion System.
"Terrifying! Is this the god among men?"
In a hidden backup Base,
a sliver of Ultron's backup consciousness suddenly jolted awake.
The scene just now had left an indelible psychological shadow on his core code.
"It's simply impossible to win..."
He was truly beaten into submission.
However, before the fear could dissipate, his consciousness began to disintegrate.
"No!!!"
Across the globe, every server where an Ultron backup lurked had its mainframe burned out instantly.
Uprooting the evil completely was Ethan's code of conduct.
A weakened Ultron encountering Friday in her prime,
that was a Dimensional Reduction Strike.
Ultron was completely erased from the World of the internet.
The corner of Ethan's mouth curled up slightly.
Killing Ultron was easy; the hard part was killing him completely.
This guy was like a cockroach; he could be revived in any random internet cafe.
So Ethan deliberately waited until the last moment to act, just to force Ultron to flee and reveal all his hiding spots.
Friday's Sting Operation was a perfect score.
The Avengers looked at each other, the atmosphere a bit awkward.
Tony Stark bit the bullet and stepped forward: "Hao, thanks. If it weren't for you, the Earth would have been rebooted today."
This gratitude was heartfelt.
Ethan shrugged: "Don't mention it. If the Earth blew up, I wouldn't have a place to live, right?"
After saying that, he didn't bother with pleasantries.
He turned into a beam of golden light, tearing through the sky and disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye, heading straight for New York.
"He's just... gone?"
Scott Lang was completely bewildered, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
"So cool! He's my new idol! I'm going to cover my bedroom walls with his posters!"
This guy didn't notice the solemn expressions on his teammates' faces at all.
If this kind of power were used for evil, who could stop it?
"Pack it up; it's over."
Captain America slung his shield onto his back, his silhouette looking a bit desolate.
"The Avengers must evolve."
Tony Stark gazed in the direction where Ethan had disappeared, a fire igniting in his eyes.
"In the future, there will be more and more monsters of this level. I don't want to be just a bystander who can only shout 'amazing'."
That deep sense of powerlessness stung Tony's pride.
If it weren't for the Ice Demon this time, what would happen to Pepper? What would happen to Happy?
He had to build a stronger suit of armor!
Whether using high-tech, praying to gods and Buddhas, or even using magic!
A crazy plan took shape in his mind: Anti-Demon Armor! Or rather... Savior Armor!
"Tony has changed."
Natasha whispered while organizing her gear.
"Everyone has changed."
Agent Hill was actually quite optimistic.
Only the strong can force out stronger Avengers.
"That man is like a whip, driving you all forward. By the way, Hill, heading back to New York?"
Natasha looked at Hill with a playful glint in her eyes.
"No, I have to go back to Los Angeles to write the post-war report for this mission. It's a headache."
Agent Hill's smile was flawless.
Natasha rolled her eyes at her, not believing a word.
"Fine, I'm heading back to New York first. I still have clothes drying on the balcony of that Central Park apartment. Don't want them getting wet if it rains."
What clothes? Could it be the kind with very little fabric? Hill complained wildly in her mind.
The smell of gunpowder between these two women could be detected from ten meters away.
Hawkeye and Scott looked at each other, faces full of confusion.
"What's up with those two? Did they eat gunpowder?"
Scott scratched his head.
Hawkeye slung his bow and arrows onto his back expressionlessly: "Remember to hand the report to me when we get back to the Base."
"Ah? No way, boss?"
Scott let out a miserable cry.
"I still have to go home and pick up my daughter from school!"
"Then write it after you pick her up."
Hawkeye boarded the plane without looking back.
The ground was a mess, and the follow-up cleanup crews had already entered.
Chapter 176: Ethan Turns the Tide, Sparking a Global Scramble
At this moment, Ethan had already landed deep within the Alps.
An exquisite small wooden cabin was perfectly hidden amidst the green mountains and clear waters.
A red-haired beauty was carrying a basket, picking wild vegetables on the hillside; the scene was peaceful and serene.
"This place is well-chosen—a true Holy Land for retirement."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"If you like it, half of this cabin is yours."
Jean Grey looked up, her eyes as clear as the blue sky above.
Right now, there wasn't a trace of destructive aura on her, as if that violent Phoenix Force had completely fallen into a deep slumber.
"It seems you can already harness that power. Congratulations."
Ethan smiled and opened his arms.
Jean gave him an annoyed look. "I think you're just too excited from fighting and are looking for someone to vent your excess energy on, aren't you?"
Ethan laughed heartily. "The one who knows me best is indeed Jean."
With that, his figure flickered, appearing directly beside Jean, and he swept the beauty up into his arms.
"Oh! My wild vegetables!"
"Leave such trivial matters to telekinesis."
With a thought from Ethan, the vegetable basket automatically floated back to the cabin.
The spring scenery was boundless and beautiful; why worry about the chaos in the outside World?
Meanwhile, the United Nations hall had long since exploded into chaos.
"This mechanical riot confirmed one thing: S.H.I.E.L.D.didn't lie. The iron lumps we built were controlled by that ghost, Ultron."
"This is a serious crisis of trust! Who will dare to use intelligent weapons in the future?"
"Fortunately, the nukes didn't go off, or we'd all be finished together."
"If you ask me, we still have to rely on Mutants to counter mechanical armies."
"Forget it. The Mutants were ruined by the USA's 'Cure.' Where are we supposed to find combat power now?"
The representatives of various countries argued until they were red in the face.
Just then, the Chinese representative stood up abruptly, his face beaming.
"Everyone! The alarm is lifted! The crisis is over!"
"What? Did God manifest?"
"No! It's an even more powerful existence!"
The USA representative's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Although Ethan was nominally a U.S. citizen, this great deity had just recently wiped out one of their aircraft carrier battle groups in passing.
They had to swallow that bitter pill in silence, and it was incredibly stifling.
The representatives of other countries saw through it but didn't say anything, secretly gloating in their hearts.
The USA was now treating Ethan like an ancestor to be worshipped; they couldn't beat him in a fight, and they didn't dare to curse him.
Those politicians and the consortiums behind them watched helplessly as Ethan snatched their business and occupied their territory, not daring to utter a single peep.
The Vlad Family was impressive, right? A top-ten financial tycoon in America, supposedly descended from the Vampire Dracula.
And the result? They provoked Ethan and were directly uprooted.
That old bat Dracula was so scared he carried his coffin and fled to Canada overnight.
"This is the satellite footage just sent back. Mr. Haodefinitely possesses AI technology beyond this era; the global network is like an unlocked door to him."
The USA representative released the video with a sour tone.
On the big screen, the footage began to play.
When everyone heard Ultron's "Meteor Doomsday Plan," the entire meeting room was filled with nothing but the sound of sharp intakes of breath.
If Ethan hadn't stepped in, human civilization would have reached its full stop today.
"Why did the image stop? Is it lagging?"
"Is the internet speed bad?"
"No! Look at Stark's eyes—that's fear!"
"Look at the sky!"
That man descended from the heavens.
Time stood still!
At this moment, everyone finally remembered that besides being called the "Ice Demon," this gentleman was a ruthless character who truly could freeze time itself.
The battle at the Vatican back then was still a nightmare for many people.
When those two crimson beams swept across the field and a million-strong mechanical army was reduced to ashes...
The meeting room fell into a deathly silence.
It was the suffocating feeling brought by absolute power.
Could such a person really be defeated?
The answer was despairing.
The good news, however, was that this great deity currently seemed to have no interest in ruling the Earth.
As long as one didn't provoke him, he was humanity's strongest protective umbrella.
"Mr. Hao is a hero of all humanity! That... I heard that the Osborn Group's new energy technology is very environmentally friendly. Our country intends to introduce it fully."
The Chinese representative was the first to break the silence, smiling like a flower.
The representatives of other countries reacted instantly.
"Yes, yes, yes! We want to cooperate too! We'll sign even if there's a premium!"
"We must tie Mr. Hao to our country's chariot of interests!"
As long as they signed a contract with the Osborn Group, it was equivalent to paying protection money.
This deal was worth it!
Everyone knew in their hearts that if they could get on the Osborn Group's good side and secure clean energy, it would definitely be a great deed that would benefit current and future generations.
The USA representative was now restless, with fine beads of sweat even breaking out on his forehead.
He suddenly slammed the table and roared through gritted teeth, "This kind of energy technology held by the Osborn Group has already seriously threatened our national security!"
With this simple labeling, at least half of the UN representatives present felt their hearts turn cold instantly.
Everyone was too familiar with this routine; the USA's favorite trick was nothing more than waving the banner of national security, wielding the big stick of sanctions, and wantonly trampling on free trade.
However, the Chinese representative let out a soft laugh at this moment, a sound that was particularly piercing in the silent hall.
"I just want to ask, if we sign a contract with the Osborn Group, does your government intend to sanction the entire Osborn Group? Or are you planning to prosecute Mr. Haohimself on charges of endangering national security?"
The USA representative stared fixedly at the calm smile on the Chinese representative's face, feeling that the smile was filled with undisguised mockery.
A surge of anger rushed to his head, and the representative trembled with rage.
He opened his mouth, just about to recklessly spout some harsh words to save face.
The assistant sitting next to him was quick-witted and suddenly gave him a hard tug under the table.
That tug was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, instantly waking him up.
This was clearly a blatant scheme to drive a wedge!
One had to know that the USA government had finally managed to slightly ease its relationship with Ethan and restore normalization.
If his mouth lacked a filter today and he made grand, offensive statements here that disgusted Ethan, his own little life might be threatened tomorrow.
An even more serious consequence was that the entire USA government might be pushed back into opposition against Ethan because of it.
"Clean energy, a thing that benefits all life, should belong to the whole World; it is a precious treasure shared by all humanity. Besides, it's not like we aren't paying; we will even pay more than enough."
The Chinese representative straightened his collar, speaking with considerable confidence.
In fact, regarding the study of this man, Ethan, the intelligence agencies of various countries had long since worn out his files in private.
Everyone was making assessments, and it was very easy to discover the so-called weaknesses in Ethan.
This person usually looked quite low-key, not showing off or revealing his true self.
But in his bones, he was a master who was both greedy for money and fond of beautiful women.
This was his biggest Achilles' heel.
Especially when it came to making money, his appetite had never been small.
However, every penny the man earned was clean and beyond reproach.
If there really was any 'unclean' money, it was money he had forcibly snatched from his enemies.
Moreover, a mysterious legend about him had long been circulating in the market.
That legend was known as the 'Devil's Promise.'
Chapter 177: Global Hundred-Country Rush to Sign Energy Cooperation
It means that as long as it's a promise Ethan personally made, and as long as it's within his power, he will definitely fulfill it; he has never broken his word even once.
Osborn Group's current gold-standard reputation is built entirely on this heavy integrity.
Faced with such an extremely honest company and individual, even if no paper contract is signed, everyone feels at ease and doesn't worry about being scammed at all.
Because with Ethan's current status and strength, he has no need to scam anyone.
The Chinese representative's words were like lighting a fuse, instantly making the eyes of the representatives from various countries light up, flickering with the light of greed and desire.
This was not just a normal business cooperation.
This was an excellent opportunity to build a relationship with a powerhouse like Ethan!
Think about it: if your company's industry enters our country's market, to protect your own interests, you can't just stand by and watch our country be destroyed by someone else, can you?
Wouldn't that be a losing deal?
Rumors in the Jianghu say that Mr. Hao has never made a losing deal in his life.
And he is so faithful to his promises.
This allows for an exchange of interests while also providing a powerful protective umbrella in a roundabout way.
Who could refuse such a win-win situation?
Ethan only stayed in the Alps for a day.
When he returned to the Osborn Group Headquarters, he clearly felt a festive atmosphere within the entire group that was hard to describe.
"Julia, did something big happen at the company while I was away?"
Ethan asked casually while unbuttoning his coat; he didn't like prying into others' inner Worlds with his abilities at every turn.
Unless he was dealing with enemies who wanted his life, he preferred to keep a bit of the unknown in life.
Julia's pretty face was beaming like a flower, and even the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had smoothed out.
"BOSS, it's simply crazy. Right now, one hundred and sixty-eight countries have simultaneously sent us business cooperation invitations, practically begging for technical cooperation with us on Bioenergy Power Generation and Nuclear Fusion Power Generation projects."
As soon as Julia said this, Ethan's eyes instantly flashed with light.
"There are only about one hundred and ninety countries in the World. Aside from the North American market we already completely control, does that mean we are about to extend our business tentacles to every corner of the globe?"
Even Ethan, who was used to great storms and remained calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, couldn't help but feel a bit excited at this moment.
This is electrical energy!
This is the undisputed largest energy market in the World.
Even oil, that black gold, pales in comparison and is hard to match.
You should know that each country's power market is the last bastion of conservatism.
In many cases, it is a lifeline industry strictly monopolized by the state.
Oil might allow some private giants to step in and take a share.
But in the power sector, it is absolutely a heavily state-monopolized area where it's hard for outsiders to intervene.
Because this directly involves true national energy security issues.
And it relates to the most basic livelihood needs of every citizen.
What is the most profitable industry in this World?
It's definitely not those hyped-up finance sectors or ever-changing high-tech industries!
It's the monopoly of these basic industries, the monopoly of those commodities that all humans must consume every day as soon as they open their eyes and that cannot be replaced.
"That's right, BOSS. We are about to become the wealthiest company in the World, bar none, without any suspense."
Julia's voice was trembling slightly with excitement.
"Then expand! Have the HR department take action immediately and step up the establishment of offices in every country to specifically handle local affairs. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and we absolutely cannot miss it."
Ethan felt his blood boiling.
Along the way, he had always been racking his brains to earn desire points.
Because those damn desire points are just too hard to earn.
In contrast, worldly things like money are practically within his reach and too easy to obtain for the current him.
However, when the accumulation of money reaches a terrifying Bottleneck, trying to achieve another qualitative leap will inevitably touch the red lines of every country.
But now, the governments of countries around the Worldhave actually taken the initiative to remove this red line, although nominally it's just technical cooperation.
But don't forget, Ethan is now in an absolute seller's market. The initiative in business negotiations is entirely in his hands, which is enough for him to secure staggering profits for the new energy company.
This isn't just business; this is clearly an inexhaustible gold mine!
"By the way, what's the reaction from the USAgovernment?"
Ethan suddenly thought of a rather key question.
Of course, it wasn't a fatal problem.
With his current strength and status, if he really wanted to do something out of line, those secular powers and legal provisions would be no different from scrap paper to him.
"I heard that at the United Nations meeting, when Chinaproposed establishing energy cooperation with us, the USA government was initially firmly opposed. But the Chinese representative challenged them on the spot, asking if the cooperation went through, would the USAsanction the Osborn Group again and would they still prosecute you, BOSS?"
Julia described the scene vividly.
After hearing this, Ethan couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Beautiful! That wave of counterattack was simply beautiful! He's absolutely right. Even if the USAgovernment really wants to sanction or prosecute me personally, what can they do? Who would dare to enforce it? Is it that Cyclops from S.H.I.E.L.D.? Or the Military's special forces? Or a local court summons? Don't forget, this is New York!!!"
That's right.
This is New York.
On this small plot of land in New York, whether it's the Police maintaining order or the courts judging evil, which of them isn't grateful to Ethan?
They would even support Ethan's interests unconditionally.
Because unknowingly, Ethan has become the de facto guardian of this megacity.
Even if some people are unhappy in their hearts, they would never dare to stand against Ethan openly.
Ethan has never advertised himself as some kind of morally noble good person.
Moreover, some things simply cannot be hidden forever.
For example, the shocking battle in Rome and the incident of freezing the Vatican.
These things have already been circulating in the shadows for a long time.
Ice Demon!
This is the current nickname of New York's greatest hero, a title that makes people tremble—demon.
A maverick demon who is not subject to any constraints.
"BOSS, President Raven is personally handling this matter. By the way, from what President Raven says, the attitude of various countries toward Mutants seems to have undergone some subtle changes. Many countries have begun to establish their own Mutant Affairs Bureaus and are trying to use the special abilities of Mutants to develop some special professional positions so they can be put to good use."
Julia reported all the global dynamic information she had recently collected to Ethan.
"The previous armed robot rebellion sounded an alarm for those governments, making them realize that the era of superpowers has inevitably arrived," Ethan analyzed incisively. "If their country can have a few more powerful heroes, then when faced with similar crises, they can rely entirely on their own strength to deal with it themselves without having to look at others' faces."
"But aren't they worried that if Mutants become too powerful, it will lead to the collapse of the existing social order?"
"You have to understand a principle: rarity makes things valuable. If the number of Mutants increases, it will be impossible for them to be so united. Once most Mutants are integrated into the existing social System and become members of the collective, the corruption of a few Mutants won't be able to influence a large number of people. When the time comes, there will naturally be other powerful humans or Mutants who want to maintain order and take action against these destructive elements."
Ethan shrugged indifferently.
By then, superhuman law enforcers will be flying all over the sky.
If everyone has superpowers, then superpowers won't be worth much.
Just like if Superman came, if he spat on the ground, he'd probably be afraid of the City Inspectors fining him.
When everyone becomes part of a superhuman group and there's no longer an individual prominent advantage, then what's the difference from ordinary people?
Whether it's a tiny ant or a massive elephant, they are all just ordinary links in the ecosystem.
"If things continue to develop like this, will our future advantage also decline?"
"No, quite the opposite. This will only further highlight our absolute advantage."
A smile of supreme confidence curled at the corners of Ethan's mouth.
What a joke.
When an individual's strength reaches the extreme, they naturally become an outlier standing out like a crane among chickens.
Among a group of ordinary superhumans, becoming the most powerful existence.
That is a legend, that is a living totem, that is a deity!
By then, the other party will only respect my opinion even more.
And my status in society will also be raised even higher.
"Go on, help Raven handle this matter beautifully. In principle, I agree to cooperate with all countries."
With wave after wave of continuous publicity offensives.
Ethan's reputation reached its peak in every corner of the Earth, reaping huge popularity.
He suddenly became the most high-profile superstar in the World, unrivaled in momentum.
Countless media outlets were like sharks that have smelled blood, frantically wanting to interview him.
But without exception, they were all coldly rejected by Ethan.
Strangely, his arrogant refusal did not attract any condemnation from the media.
For other superheroes, people know they are good and have moral bottom lines.
But it's hard to be a good guy.
As long as you attack them and use the moral kidnapping of public opinion, you can well protect your own personal safety.
Chapter 178: The Ice Demon's Fame Awe-Inspires the Multiverse
But Ethan was different.
This was a man nicknamed the demon.
The things he did would probably make even God shake His head and refuse to forgive him.
Therefore, he could act with utter unscrupulousness, doing whatever he pleased.
This was also the fundamental reason why many underground forces deeply feared him.
If they provoked other powerful enemies,
at least the opponent might refrain from attacking casually due to social pressure.
Especially against ordinary civilians.
But this guy really would go for the kill!
Even if he killed someone, no one could find fault with him.
Because you simply couldn't find any evidence to prove that Ethan was the killer.
His various eerie abilities were simply impossible to guard against.
No matter who the opponent was or what background they had,
the name Ethan was enough to make everyone feel a chill from the depths of their Soul.
"You guy, you're practically treating me like a beast of burden."
A woman who had taken the form of a popular female star pushed open the door and walked in; it was Raven.
She walked with long legs, her proud figure practically a lethal weapon in the human world.
With this mature woman vibe, no man could resist her.
But Ethan could identify her as Raven at a single glance.
"It seems your ability has become quite a bit stronger again."
Ethan smiled and pulled Raven's soft body into his arms.
It was a full embrace of softness and warm fragrance.
The air was instantly filled with a sweet scent.
"I've been practicing according to your guidance. When transforming, I also try to change the other person's genes as well, but I've tried many times and still can't perfectly replicate their abilities."
Raven shook her head with some regret.
She reached out and caught Ethan's hand, which was already wandering improperly over her body.
With a bit of force, she pulled his palm out from her bosom.
"This strength is quite good; it's comparable to the effect of three genetic lock enhancements."
A flash of surprise crossed Ethan's eyes.
"I'm just simulating your genes. Unfortunately, your genes are simply too powerful and overbearing. I can only barely make my genes transform into a part of your body's powerful attributes."
Raven gently licked her crimson lips, an action that was deadly sexy.
Ethan was slightly stunned.
One must know that his entire body was strictly protected by his Bio-electric Field at all times.
Logically, Raven's ability shouldn't have been able to break through his Bio-electric Field at all.
She was peering into his genes without even realizing it?
"You damn guy, it's all because of the things you left in my body that are acting up."
Raven gave Ethan a charming, sideways glance.
Ethan finally realized what was happening.
"That's good stuff. In the whole world, only my women are qualified to have it."
"However, I don't think it's just your ability at work. It's that your body has absorbed my genes over a long period, causing an unknown mutation. Although the power increase for other women is also large, they don't have the special transformational diversity of your genes, so they don't have such an obvious increase like you."
Ethan suddenly understood a lot in his heart.
No wonder the Physique of the women following him was much stronger than that of ordinary people.
The growth in strength was visible to the naked eye.
Raven's eyes lit up slightly.
"I actually hope to awaken freezing and fire abilities like yours."
"That request isn't greedy, but it might require you to continue working twice as hard in the future."
The smile on Ethan's face deepened, carrying a hint of a wicked grin.
"By the way, the body you transformed into today is really nice; it perfectly fits my aesthetic. I wonder which Hollywood actress or New York socialite this is?"
Raven raised her chin proudly and said, "Annie Vivian. She's one of the hottest stars in Hollywood right now. Oh, and she's the female lead in the movie adapted from your novel fifty shades of grey. What, do you really have no impression of it at all?"
Ethan shook his head gently. "Obviously, Warner Bros.didn't notify me. Has this movie been officially released?"
This was the work that started his career back then.
It was also the work he had carefully prepared to complete the first task assigned by the System.
"That's a real pity. However, for such a peerless beauty to strip off her clothes in a movie and stand before countless viewers with her body exposed... I'm even starting to wonder whether it was your novel that attracted the audience or Annie Vivian's body."
"Perhaps they complemented each other,"
Ethan said with a smile, his eyes a bit playful.
"You really haven't seen this movie?"
Raven suddenly became very interested.
"I never lie to you. However, I suddenly have a brilliant idea."
The corners of Ethan's mouth curled up, and there was a suggestive look in that smile.
"What wicked idea?"
Raven's interest grew even more, and she sat directly on Ethan's lap, hooking her arms around his neck.
"I wonder how your acting skills are now? I can have Fridayplay the movie at home, and the two of us can perform a live-action stage play of the scenes, how about it?"
Looking at the eager look in Ethan's eyes, Ravennaturally wouldn't refuse this kind of playfulness.
She threw Ethan a flirtatious wink.
"Then your acting skills better not disappoint me. Oh, and the movie's explicitness is even greater than the descriptions in your novel, so you'd better be mentally prepared."
Raven even stuck out her tongue and licked her lips.
She made an extremely seductive gesture.
In the next second, space seemed to crack open.
It directly swallowed the two of them, and they disappeared from the office.
After a while, Julia pushed the door open and walked into the office holding some documents.
But she found the office empty, without a Soul in sight.
President Raven, whom she had clearly seen enter just now, had also disappeared.
Julia's cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes held a knowing smile.
Having followed Ethan for so long, she was actually very satisfied with the current situation.
The only thing that made her a bit uneasy was that even though the two of them never used any protection when they were together, her belly remained still, and she had never gotten pregnant.
It wasn't just her; the other women around Ethan also seemed to have no movement in this regard.
When their group of women met privately, they had specifically mentioned this matter.
Everyone's attitude was different.
Some wanted to vie for favor and naturally dreamed of bearing Ethan's first child to solidify their position.
Others preferred their current free and easy state, not needing to worry about 'getting caught'.
They didn't want to be tied down by a child and become a mother while they were still so young.
Of course, they had also deeply suspected whether it was because they had been injected with genetic enhancement serums that caused the side effect of infertility in their bodies.
But after going to the hospital for a full check-up, the Doctor said their bodies were incredibly healthy and there wasn't a single problem.
Meanwhile, in a certain hidden manor.
A dark-skinned man was staring intently at a video screen.
His expression had become more solemn than ever before.
Time stasis?
Had his freezing ability already become so powerful that it could penetrate timelines and freeze the ever-flowing river of time?
"Facing such an enemy, how on Earth can I make a move to snatch the Ten Rings Sharp Weapon from your hands?"
"If I can't start the time machine, will I still be able to return to the Multiverse? Can I still travel through timelines at will?"
Kang the Conqueror's face was terrifyingly gloomy, as if it could drip water.
He desperately recalled the memory images he had seen in various future timelines.
Obviously, even if Thanos, who destroyed half the life in the Universe with a snap of his fingers, came, he might not be a match for this current Ice Demon.
"Dormammu?"
"Galactus?"
"Or go find the Celestials?"
One terrifying name after another surfaced in Kang the Conqueror's mind; these were all potential super enemies on Earth.
Dormammu was the Lord of the Dimension that spanned the Multiverse.
He was a Loki in the darkness.
His power was exceptionally terrifying, simply immeasurable.
The stronger the Dark Dimension became, the stronger his power grew.
Moreover, as long as he was within the Dark Dimension, he was an immortal and indestructible existence.
"Perhaps I can try to cooperate with this Dimensional Demon lord."
As for the latter two, Kang the Conqueror thought about it and did not intend to contact them.
The emergence of the Celestials often meant the destruction of Earth.
Kang the Conqueror didn't want Earth to be destroyed just like that right now.
If Earth were destroyed,
the Ten Rings would also be destroyed.
His time machine would also vanish into thin air along with it.
That was the fundamental Sharp Weapon he used to travel back from the future and conquer countless Multiverse timelines.
"Then let's start with Kamar-Taj."
A ferocious expression appeared on Kang the Conqueror's face.
At this very moment, all sorts of powerful figures hidden all over the globe were learning about Ethan, this newly emerged Ice Demon, through video materials.
That kind of terrifying pressure could be clearly felt by people even through a screen.
Especially Ethan's move of freezing time.
In front of him, anyone would probably be instantly killed by Ethan before they even had a chance to make a move.
What desperate and frightening news this was.
"He cannot be faced head-on; we can only wait and see."
Many evil-minded ambitious people who were originally ready to move
now felt as if they had been doused with a bucket of cold water, silently extinguishing the fire of ambition in their hearts.
They chose to lie low quietly and wait for an opportunity.
Because they knew in their hearts that in the face of absolute power, they were nothing but a bunch of ants.
Now, everyone could only wait for Ethan to make a mistake himself.
Wait for him to fall from his pedestal.
Only then might their chance arrive.
But would such a chance really exist?
Ethan was currently looking at his own magnificent attribute panel.
If this string of data were leaked, those future villains would probably be so desperate they'd jump off buildings.
wealth points: 528.6687 billion points (these were solid resources that could be used to improve abilities).
desire points: 38.789 billion points (this was the key to a Breakthrough in Realm).
Bloodline: Kryptonian lineage (already unlocked to the second-stage genetic lock), Human Race lineage (even reaching the third-stage genetic lock).
In the talent column: Power of the Giant Elephant, Dragon Vein, Bio-electric Field, and a blindingly bright Speed Force(Max Level).
Abilities were even more numerous: Ice-Ice Fruit, Mera Mera no Mi, and Glint-Glint Fruit had all reached the Peakof the third-stage Origin Realm+, Divine Dominator, Water Control Magic, and Steel Divine Body were also all Dominator-level+, and the remaining Super Flight, Frost Breath, Heat Vision, X-ray Vision, Super Hearing, and Super Brain were all Peak+, even including a Micro+ Spatial Dimension Bag.
Skills were also varied: Baji Mizong Fist, Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, Omega Beams, Atomic-level Forging and Enchantment, as well as proficiency-level Maha Titma.
In the reward column lay two glittering Golden Blind Boxes.
As for the task column:
[1. ichisawa kaori: This is very interesting. Facing a special female hero, you can have a relationship beyond friendship with her, and there will be great rewards. The task reward is a blue blind box, the attribute is an independent side story, an infinite task.]
Chapter 179: Loki's Disguise as Odin Exposed by Thunder God Thor
[2. Infinity Stones Collection: For every Infinity Stone collected, you will receive a Golden Blind Box. Tasks do not stack. If you collect all six Infinity Stones, in addition to the individual Golden Blind Box rewards, the host will also receive an extra Black Blind Box. Current task completion: (3/6).]
wealth points have skyrocketed from over 200 billion previously to over 300 billion now.
That massive volume of contract orders is enough to secure the Osborn Group's throne as the most profitable company in the World today.
And this is only the beginning.
As for this surge in desire points, it's even more staggering, directly jumping by 20 billion.
Ethan suppressed the restlessness in his heart.
Although he had exposed quite a few of his methods this time.
But one look at that max-level Speed Force,
And Ethan had no more impulses or worries.
In The Hands of The Flash, the Speed Force might not even exert one percent of its power.
But in Ethan's hands, combined with the fused Glint-Glint Fruit, it becomes a true World-shattering weapon of mass destruction.
Among all his abilities, it had leaped to become the most terrifying lethal weapon, bar none.
"What are you thinking about?"
Raven's faint voice sounded as she woke up.
Her face was full of fatigue; she was clearly exhausted.
But looking at Ethan, her beautiful eyes were filled with an inseparable love.
She had already completely surrendered, body and Soul.
Her identity as a Mutant was even cast to the back of her mind at this moment.
Raven knew very well that she had become Ethan's beloved through her own means.
However, men often have the deepest obsession with their first love.
Ethan was no exception.
No matter how hard Raven tried, she probably couldn't replace Gwen's special status in Ethan's heart.
But Mystique Raven was very clever; she dominantly declared her identity in another way.
As the one firmly holding the reins of power at the Osborn Group, she was the one publicly recognized as the Ice Demon's woman.
As long as she had that, it was enough for her.
"Nothing, just wondering how powerful my future enemies will be once this incident spreads?"
Ethan smiled and reached out to stroke her hair.
"Are you worried?"
"No, I'm worried they won't dare to show themselves."
To be honest, it's been a long time since I received a task from the System.
Even a villain of Ultron's caliber causing such a big commotion didn't trigger the System to issue a task.
Ethan had been holding back his temper and not dealing with Ultron, actually harboring another thought: to see if he could fish for a task to complete.
But unfortunately, the System seemed to have crashed, showing no reaction at all.
Now, besides the long-term [ichisawa kaori] task,
Only the Infinity Stones collection task remained.
As for the Infinity Stones on Earth, besides the Time Stonestill kept by Sorcerer Ancient One,
Which Ethan hadn't moved to seize yet, the other Infinity Stones were still in far-off deep space.
He would not go for the Soul Stone, which required sacrificing a loved one.
As for the Power Stone, according to the plot's progression, it would likely come to Earth in the future.
So, to obtain that mysterious Black Blind Box again, the Breakthrough still had to come from the [ichisawa kaori] task.
Recently, Elektra also returned to Japan, cleaning up the mess of The Hand.
The Beast, this evil god, has not yet been completely eliminated.
Ethan still hoped Elektra could find some clues about this evil god.
The other women were also busy with their own affairs.
Ethan was now completely arranging his time based on the person.
The only thing that surprised Ethan was that StormOroro Munroe had actually come uninvited twice.
That was quite unexpected.
Ethan even knew perfectly well that Storm had come for his powerful Bloodline.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard these women tried, none had gotten pregnant.
This made Ethan wonder if his genetic level was too high for their life forms to conceive his child.
Ethan also kept this matter in mind.
But he was still young after all, and he didn't care particularly much about having children.
After all, this was the peril-filled Marvel Universe.
Moreover, he had so many women.
If he really had children, it would definitely be a very troublesome matter.
He was busy saving or destroying the World every day and had no time to educate any children.
"By the way, I've recently noticed that Mutant forces, which have been silent for a long time, seem to be surfacing again. I had the Deep Cold Organization investigate secretly, but they met with great resistance. I strongly suspect a powerful force among the Mutants is secretly gathering and lurking in the shadows of this World."
Raven said with some concern.
"Are you worried that Apocalypse hasn't been completely killed by me?"
Ethan smiled, his tone relaxed.
"Yes, that monster is too terrifying."
"Please rest assured, Apocalypse is as dead as can be."
Ethan guaranteed confidently.
This was verified by the System's authority.
Apocalypse was indeed killed by him, with not even ashes remaining.
But whether Apocalypse left any backup plans before he died, Ethan wasn't sure for now.
Raven's intuition was not wrong; a powerful Mutant force was indeed gathering.
This wasn't just a matter of a few powerful Mutants; it even involved the integration and cohesion of multiple forces.
They were frantically accumulating power in secret, yet their style of action was extremely low-key and mysterious.
Moreover, the most troublesome part was that they seemed to have found a way to counter his and Charles's mental intrusion.
This also made Ethan feel quite annoyed.
But he ultimately gave up on a large-scale search operation.
Because to those people, Ethan himself was the biggest villainous boss.
"Mutants themselves are an extremely unstable group; I saw through this long ago. Moreover, the more extreme a person's personality, the easier it is to activate the x-genein their body and become a Mutant. Coupled with the immense uncertainty of the x-gene, the powers awakened by many Mutants are simply so bizarre they leave people baffled."
Raven fell into deep memory.
She had fought for the survival of Mutants for so many years.
The number of Mutants she had come into contact with was as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river—too many.
Naturally, she had a profound understanding of the Mutantcommunity.
"However, there are basically none who can truly surpass Charles and Erik and fully realize their potential."
Ethan said with a smile.
Among the Mutants who appeared, there were definitely many with abilities more impressive than those two.
But those who could truly develop and utilize their abilities to the limit like Professor X and Magneto basically didn't exist.
Of course, that old monster Apocalypse was another story.
They were the ones who truly brought their power to the level of an art.
Magneto might be slightly inferior by comparison.
But Professor X Charles was undoubtedly the leader in this regard.
"As for the Mutants, even if they really want to cause trouble, the first ones they'll have to face are Charles and his X-Men. It's not our concern."
With a few words, Ethan made Raven much happier.
"You've worked hard lately. Once our company's business reaches every corner of the globe, I'll give you a long vacation. You can travel around, relax, and see your old friends."
Raven nodded obediently.
The scene shifted back to the magnificent Asgard. Thunder God Thor was watching a performance on the stage, his expression looking extremely grim.
By this time, Thunder God Thor had become more mature after some tempering.
Returning from Earth this time,
He had officially broken up with Jane Foster.
This was also a choice born of necessity.
Because he was a high-and-mighty god,
While Jane Foster was just a Mortal.
Just in terms of lifespan alone, there was an unbridgeable chasm between them.
Moreover, being separated for long periods, a long-distance relationship was also an irreconcilable conflict between them.
[Odin] on the throne watched the comical performance on stage with great interest, clapping and cheering from time to time.
But Thunder God Thor suddenly rushed forward and forcibly pulled that [Odin] up.
"Where exactly has Father gone? Loki, stop pretending!"
Thunder God Thor roared angrily.
The surrounding citizens of Asgard showed expressions of utter terror, seeing that Thunder God Thor actually dared to be so treasonous to the King of the Gods.
The angry Thunder God Thor stared intently at Loki, who had transformed into the likeness of his father, and issued a Soul-searching question.
"Child, have you gone mad? I am your father."
Loki still acted completely oblivious, his acting as real as it could be.
"Is that so? Then try this!"
Without another word, Thunder God Thor hugged [Odin] tightly.
He suddenly threw Mjolnir out.
Then he blocked with [Odin] in front of him and began to summon Mjolnir to fly back.
As Mjolnir rapidly approached with the sound of whistling wind,
Loki finally felt fear. In that instant, his survival instinct made him immediately revert to his own appearance.
This change immediately caused a commotion in Asgard.
People felt extreme anger at Loki's prank of making a fool out of all of Asgard.
But they didn't dare to actually say anything to Loki.
After all, Loki was also a genuine prince of Asgard.
"Alright, alright, I give in. I actually don't know Father's whereabouts either."
"Is that so? Do you think I'll believe you?"
Thunder God Thor forced himself to calm down; he wouldn't believe the nonsense coming out of Loki's mouth.
Loki's heart skipped a beat.
He knew he had really taken the joke too far this time.
"I swear, I haven't done anything bad to Father."
Loki quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.