[Marvel : Mutant God] Chapter 111 - 115

Chapter 111: An Inch Longer, An Inch Stronger

Why is he here?

Richard, Natasha, and Sharon froze in shock at the sight before them—zombie Captain America clutching both the Mind Gem scepter and his vibranium shield.

While Steve Rogers hadn't been among the first wave of infected, he'd fallen relatively early in the outbreak. Shortly after zombie Thanos had overturned Hydra's secret base and escaped with newly-infected Hydra operatives, Captain America had assembled a response team including Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, and the Human Torch to intercept the threat.

The confrontation in New Orleans, Louisiana had been brutal. Captain America and his four teammates had engaged zombie Thanos in fierce combat—only for Rogers to fall to the Mad Titan Zombie and contract the zombie virus himself.

Infection didn't impair mobility, but it stripped away all reason and higher thought. The virus reduced its hosts to beasts driven solely by primal hunger. And that made the captain's presence here deeply troubling.

New Orleans lay more than 1,500 kilometers from Washington. Such distance would challenge even a determined traveler with full faculties—let alone a mindless zombie operating on instinct alone. The probability of the infected Rogers randomly wandering to the Triskelion headquarters was virtually zero. The likelihood of him somehow accessing the Mind Gem Scepter was even more implausible.

How had he reached this place?

If zombie Captain America still possessed consciousness, Richard would have immediately employed telepathy to extract his memories and discover the reason for his appearance. Unfortunately, telepathy proved useless against the infected. Zombies possessed no memories to read—their brains contained nothing beyond the primal drive to devour living flesh and blood. Richard had confirmed this limitation when he first arrived in this reality.

"Rogers seems... different from other zombies," Natasha observed, her brow furrowed as she studied the infected super-soldier standing twenty meters away.

"He absolutely is," Richard replied quickly.

Though telepathy failed against the infected, Richard immediately identified the stark difference between this zombie and others he'd encountered. In zombie Captain America's eyes, he detected something the other infected lacked—a glimmer of rationality.

Typically, zombies attacked immediately upon detecting potential prey, lunging forward with bestial hunger. Yet Captain America hadn't charged. Instead, after a moment's hesitation, the infected hero had begun retreating, as if recognizing the danger Richard posed.

"What are you planning to do with him?" Natasha asked. "Should we take him back to our New York base for study?"

"Absolutely not!" Richard replied without hesitation.

Despite zombie Captain America displaying unprecedented cognitive function, Richard had no intention of preserving him or attempting to restore him to his former self. The infected hero was still a target that needed to be eliminated.

After answering Black Widow, Richard immediately channeled the mana flowing through his body.

Aeroga!

Under his control, a transparent wind blade over a meter long materialized instantly and shot toward zombie Captain America with devastating speed. Though Richard had conjured only a single projectile, he was confident it would prove sufficient to dispatch the infected super-soldier.

Like his other abilities, Aeroga had significantly increased in potency since reaching level 4. The wind blades he now created could effortlessly slice through most metals. Unless the target was composed of special alloys like adamantium or vibranium, his wind blade would cut through it as easily as paper.

In a heartbeat, the razor-sharp transparent crescent reached Captain America—but just as it was about to sever his neck, the zombie raised his alloy shield.

Ding!

The transparent half-moon shaped wind blade struck the shield with tremendous force, leaving a visible scratch across its surface.

He actually blocked it?

Richard, Natasha, and Sharon all frowned in unison. Though zombie Captain America had made no complex maneuvers—simply raising his shield defensively—the action itself was astonishing. The infected super-soldier had lifted his shield with the same speed and precision he'd possessed in life.

If one could ignore his decayed appearance and focus solely on how he'd raised his shield, it would seem as though Steve Rogers retained his tactical acumen and combat awareness despite the infection.

"I think we should take him back to the New York base for examination," Natasha said gravely, turning to Richard.

"That won't be necessary," Richard replied immediately.

Though mysteries surrounded zombie Captain America's appearance and possession of the Mind Gem scepter, Richard remained resolute on one point—he would not allow the infected hero to continue existing. He had already killed a version of Steve Rogers in his universe, and he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate this one as well.

Moreover, dispatching Captain America and other high-profile zombies was essential to completing this world's challenge. Even without that incentive, Richard had no intention of sparing the infected super-soldier.

Under the watchful eyes of Natasha and Sharon, Richard withdrew Masamune from his system space.

Neither woman had ever seen Masamune before. Upon witnessing the astonishingly long katana, the same thought crossed both their minds: How could anyone effectively wield such an impractically long weapon?

The adage "an inch longer, an inch stronger" certainly applied to melee combat, but context mattered significantly. In confined spaces like their current indoor location, oversized weapons typically hindered rather than helped, restricting movement and limiting attack options.

Though Natasha and Sharon remained silent, their puzzled expressions revealed their thoughts clearly.

"Masamune is no ordinary katana," Richard explained. "Beyond its exceptional length, it possesses capabilities far beyond conventional blades." He paused. "For example..."

Holding the hilt in his left hand, Richard raised Masamune and executed a casual swing.

Swoosh!

The blade passed through the adjacent reinforced concrete wall as though it were cutting through soft cake, leaving behind an impossibly smooth, flat surface.

Though both women knew Richard was formidable—having witnessed him miraculously eliminate million zombies throughout New York City during their first encounter—they hadn't anticipated Masamune's extraordinary sharpness.

This was solid reinforced concrete!

While they couldn't comprehend the principles behind Richard's demonstration, the sight of Masamune effortlessly slicing through the reinforced wall clarified why he confidently wielded such an unusually long blade indoors.

The surrounding architecture posed no obstacle to Masamune's cutting edge.

Richard paid no mind to the women's amazement, his attention fixed solely on zombie Captain America in the distance. As Richard had withdrawn Masamune from his system space, the infected super-soldier had raised the Mind Gem Scepter in response, ready to engage...

Chapter 112: Vulnerable

You want to attack me with that scepter?

Richard observed zombie Captain America with clinical detachment. Though telepathy proved useless against the infected hero's mind, Richard felt no concern about the threat posed by the Mind Gem scepter clutched in Rogers' decaying hand.

The Mind Stone was unquestionably powerful—one of the universe's most formidable artifacts—but it was evident that zombie Captain America couldn't possibly harness its full potential. Given the infected super-soldier's deteriorated state, the fact that he could channel the scepter's energy attacks at all was remarkable.

After raising the Mind Gem scepter, zombie Captain America unleashed a primal, bestial roar. The gem at the scepter's tip began to glow with brilliant golden light.

Whoosh!

Under Richard's watchful gaze, a sphere of golden energy erupted from the Mind Gem scepter like a cannonball, hurtling toward him and Black Widow with devastating speed.

The golden projectile moved with impressive velocity, yet it posed no genuine threat to Richard's enhanced reflexes. As the energy sphere closed in on him and Natasha, he raised Masamune with casual confidence and executed a fluid swing.

Swoosh!

As Masamune cut through the air, a crescent-shaped energy slash—purple on the outside with a brilliant white core—surged forward to intercept the golden projectile.

BOOM!

Zanshin Slash's crescent energy projection collided perfectly with the Mind Gem's golden sphere, triggering an explosion that resembled a small detonation. The thunderous sound instantly reverberated throughout the underground facility, drawing the attention of every zombie within the compound. The infected who heard the explosion didn't hesitate, immediately rushing toward the source of the disturbance.

After Richard effortlessly neutralized his attack, zombie Captain America released another feral roar. Under Richard's steady gaze, the infected hero raised the Mind Gem scepter once more, launching another volley of golden energy projectiles.

Though the question of how an infected Rogers retained enough cognitive function to operate the Mind Gem scepter was intriguing, Richard didn't waste mental resources contemplating the mystery. While zombie Captain America continued his barrage against Richard and Natasha, Richard channeled the mana flowing through his body.

This time, he bypassed Zanshin in favor of Octoslash.

Eight immaculate slashes manifested in a single instant, systematically shattering each incoming golden sphere. Unlike Zanshin Slash's crescent projections, Octoslash didn't cause the golden energy to detonate—instead, it completely disintegrated the cannonball-like projectiles.

After neutralizing all the golden energy spheres with Octoslash at Super Speed, Richard decided to end the confrontation without further delay.

Swift Slash!

Richard refused to grant zombie Captain America any opportunity for counterattack, activating Swift Slash with deadly intent.

Slice!

In less than a heartbeat, he materialized behind zombie Captain America, who stood more than ten meters away. Masamune flashed across the infected hero's neck like lightning, its edge impossibly sharp.

Though his neck had been cleanly severed by Masamune's blade, zombie Captain America's head remained momentarily attached to his body, giving the illusion that he'd sustained no injury. However, after a few seconds, the infected super-soldier collapsed as if all strength had instantaneously abandoned his form.

Thud!

Zombie Captain America crashed heavily to the ground, his severed head rolling across the floor like a macabre football.

Vulnerable! Not challenging at all! Even though it evolved, it is still pathetically weak!

Watching Rogers' head tumble across the concrete, Richard sighed inwardly before activating his Matter Manipulation ability.

Under his telekinetic control, the Mind Gem scepter immediately levitated from zombie Captain America's lifeless grasp and floated toward him. Though the weapon hovered within reach, Richard didn't immediately take possession of it. Instead, he utilized his mutant powers to conjure a rotating sphere of water over a meter in diameter.

After thoroughly immersing the Mind Gem scepter in the purifying vortex, Richard telekinetically extracted the weapon from the water sphere. Even then, he refrained from touching it, instead employing Firaga to engulf the scepter in high-temperature flames. Only after every water droplet had evaporated and the entire artifact had been thoroughly sterilized by extreme heat did Richard finally store the scepter in his system space.

Although zombie Captain America's infected blood hadn't visibly contaminated the Mind Gem scepter, Richard still dedicated time to meticulously cleanse and disinfect the artifact. He wouldn't risk storing potentially contaminated objects in his system space without verification.

While the zombie virus could only transmit through blood and saliva, excessive caution was never wasted when dealing with such catastrophic contagions.

After securing the Mind Gem, Richard returned Masamune to his system space as well. Then, with casual confidence, he teleported to where Natasha and Sharon waited, slipping his arms around their slender waists.

An instant later, all three vanished completely, rematerializing on the Triskelion building's rooftop.

"Is there anything else at headquarters you'd like to retrieve?" Richard asked. "If not, we should return to the New York base immediately."

Upon hearing his question, Natasha promptly replied: "I want to check the underground hangar to see if we can salvage a Quinjet."

Despite the abundance of valuable resources remaining at SHIELD headquarters—weapons in the armory, vehicles in the garages, and numerous technological assets—Black Widow understood their limitations. Unless they eliminated every zombie infesting the facility, securing even a single Quinjet would represent a significant victory.

"No problem," Richard said, turning toward Sharon. "What about you?"

"I'll pilot another Quinjet back," Sharon replied without hesitation.

"Perfect. Let's secure two Quinjets and head home," Richard confirmed.

Several minutes later, the hangar door adjacent to the Triskelion building exploded with a thunderous blast. The tremendous noise immediately attracted surrounding zombies. Before the infected could reach the breached hangar, two Quinjets bearing the SHIELD insignia rocketed from the opening, banking sharply toward New York hundreds of kilometers distant.

Inside one of the aircraft, Natasha glanced sideways at Richard seated beside her. Her brow furrowed slightly as she asked, "In your world, was your relationship with Rogers particularly strained?"

"Why do you ask?" Richard countered.

"No particular reason. I just sense you harbor significant animosity toward him," she observed. "Despite Rogers becoming infected, he clearly differs from other zombies. Not only did he somehow return to headquarters from New Orleans, but he demonstrated the ability to wield the Mind Gem scepter."

She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "He represented considerable research potential. We might have discovered valuable information by studying him. Yet you showed absolutely no interest beyond eliminating him." Black Widow's penetrating gaze fixed on Richard as she concluded, "Or rather, your sole focus seemed to be his termination."

Chapter 113: Zombie Thanos

Though Natasha had known Richard for only a short time—barely three days—she was a top-tier SHIELD agent with exceptional intuition. After several in-depth conversations with him, she'd easily detected his animosity toward Captain America. If she couldn't perceive Richard's hatred for Rogers by now, she'd be embarrassingly obtuse.

"I don't have a problem with him," Richard replied with unnerving calm. "I just really don't like him." He paused briefly. "By the way, I was the one who killed Rogers in my world."

Natasha's brow furrowed immediately at his confession.

While she couldn't speak to Captain America's character in Richard's universe, she held Rogers from this reality in high regard. In her assessment, Steve certainly had his shortcomings—his old-fashioned mindset, his occasional stubborn inflexibility—but he was an invaluable teammate. If nothing else, working alongside Rogers meant never worrying about betrayal or abandonment when the situation deteriorated.

"Can you tell me why you killed Rogers from your universe?" she pressed.

"There's nothing much to say," Richard responded with deliberate slowness. "It's just a matter of stance and personal dislike."

He saw no need to justify his antipathy toward Captain America. Everyone possessed their own perspectives, values, and methods for handling conflicts. Even if he provided Natasha with a detailed explanation for his hatred of Rogers, she might not comprehend his reasoning.

"Okay," Natasha replied, noting Richard's reluctance to elaborate. With professional courtesy, she allowed the topic to lapse into silence.

Less than thirty minutes later, Richard and his two companions returned to New York. After parking the Quinjets on the street before their headquarters building, they descended to the underground base.

Time passed quickly. Before Richard realized it, another week had elapsed.

During this period, in addition to engaging in philosophical discussions about the origin of life with Natasha and Sharon within the underground base, Richard made several expeditions outside.

Spider-Man and Ant-Man had yet to develop a device capable of neutralizing "super zombies." While they lacked a method to specifically target infected superheroes and supervillains, Richard refused to place all his hopes on Parker and Lang's technical expertise.

While the two scientists continued developing their containment device, Richard traveled alone to Kamar-Taj. There, he acquired the Eye of Agamotto containing the Time Stone and systematically collected every tome from the Kamar-Taj library into his system space.

Beyond his visit to the mystical sanctuary, he also traversed half the United States searching for this universe's Cosmic Cube. Perhaps due to some cosmic law of conservation of luck, his quest proved fruitless. Despite crossing vast distances, the artifact remained elusive.

Though his primary objective went unfulfilled, the journey wasn't without accomplishments. Along his path, Richard methodically eliminated every "super zombie" he encountered—Mr. Fantastic, Iron Man, Human Torch, Abomination, and numerous others who had succumbed to infection.

He also made a dedicated expedition to Sokovia to confirm whether Wanda and Quicksilver existed as zombies in this universe. After extensively exploring the country and several neighboring nations, he found no trace of either infected Maximoff twin.

New York's underground base had become the nucleus of renewed civilization. After more than ten days of reconstruction, the streets and communities surrounding the facility had regained a semblance of vitality.

Not only had survivors from New York City congregated here, but refugees from other cities had settled nearby as well. While restoring the metropolis to its former glory would prove impossible in the short term, conditions had dramatically improved compared to the situation just weeks earlier.

If nothing else, an orderly human society had re-established itself with the underground facility as its center. Maintaining its current momentum, New York would gradually reclaim its status as a vibrant urban hub—though reaching its pre-outbreak state might require decades rather than years.

Richard paid minimal attention to New York's reconstruction efforts. His focus remained fixed on three priorities.

First, locating zombie Thanos. Second, finding this universe's Cosmic Cube. Third, winning over Invisible Woman.

While all three objectives held importance, his immediate attention centered on the third. Compared to defeating zombie Thanos or obtaining the Cosmic Cube, conquering Susan Storm's defenses presented a more achievable goal.

After spending considerable time together, Richard and Susan had developed a much closer relationship—especially after he'd eliminated zombie Reed Richards and Johnny Storm, then allowed her to conduct modest funeral services for both. Though their connection had strengthened significantly, some distance remained before he could completely win her over.

Richard felt no particular urgency. He wasn't planning to leave this universe anytime soon, affording him ample time to pursue Susan Storm. Moreover, following the funerals for Reed and Johnny, he'd detected a subtle "widow" aura emanating from her that hadn't existed previously.

Within a conference room in the underground base, Sam Wilson, T'Challa, James Rhodes, Peter Parker, Scott Lang, Natasha Romanoff, Sharon Carter, Susan Storm and others participated in their second discussion regarding post-disaster reconstruction initiatives.

Though Richard remained on-site, he abstained from the meeting. Instead, he occupied a laboratory within the facility, studying both the Mind Gem scepter and the Eye of Agamotto with intense concentration.

He hadn't extracted the Mind Stone or Time Stone from their respective housings, preferring to leave them within the scepter and Eye. Without the Infinity Gauntlet, he saw no reason to remove the Space Stone, Mind Stone, or Time Stone from their containers.

After extensive experimentation in the laboratory and confirming his ability to absorb energy from both the Mind Stone and Time Stone without complication, Richard returned the artifacts to his system space and prepared to depart the lab.

Shortly after exiting the laboratory, he encountered Spider-Man and Ant-Man approaching the facility. Peter had just begun to greet him when the ground beneath them suddenly trembled violently.

BOOM!

The sudden tremor shook not only the entire underground base but sent violent vibrations through the buildings above ground. Though uncertain of its cause, Richard didn't hesitate—he teleported instantly.

Within moments, he materialized thousands of meters in the air, rapidly scanning the area below. Soon, he spotted a powerful figure advancing through a distant street.

Zombie Thanos!

The moment Richard laid eyes on zombie Thanos, he understood the source of the previous tremors. The Mad Titan wore the Infinity Gauntlet with the Space Stone prominently embedded within it.

As Richard observed zombie Thanos from above, the infected Titan lifted his gaze toward the figure floating in the sky. Despite his zombified state, Thanos's domineering aura remained undiminished. Beyond the Infinity Gauntlet, the zombie Titan wore his full battle armor and clutched his massive double-edged sword in his right hand.

Like zombie Captain America, zombie Thanos displayed a "rationality" that ordinary infected lacked—giving the impression he retained his faculties. Of course, one had to overlook his decaying, zombified appearance.

After confronting zombie Captain America, Iron Man, and other infected heroes, Richard had confirmed that "super zombies" transformed from metahumans differed significantly from ordinary infected. They not only retained combat experience and skills from their previous lives but exhibited greater "rationality" and "intelligence" than standard zombies. Additionally, the virus seemed to enhance their existing abilities.

According to Spider-Man and Ant-Man, this resulted from the zombie virus's evolution. Though the outbreak had begun just three years ago, after infecting most of Earth's population, the pathogen had undergone significant mutation.

Beyond the super zombies transformed from heroes and villains, even ordinary infected had changed dramatically compared to those from the initial outbreak. If the earliest zombies were mindless beasts attacking indiscriminately, current zombies had learned rudimentary pack tactics and no longer operated as scattered individuals.

Richard's gaze shifted from zombie Thanos to the figures behind him. Arrayed behind the Mad Titan stood ranks of zombified Chitauri soldiers and vanguards. In the distant sky, several infected Leviathans drifted ominously.

The sight of these zombified Chitauri forces caused Richard to frown immediately. Though the virus had originated accidentally when Hydra scientists studied Thanos's corpse, all the Chitauri soldiers and vanguards who'd accompanied Thanos's invasion had been killed in battle before the zombie virus emerged.

Yet here they stood, transformed into the walking dead.

Has the virus evolved to the point where even the deceased can be infected?

This thought flashed through Richard's mind as he observed the zombified alien forces. An ordinary pathogen couldn't possibly infect Chitauri soldiers who had perished long ago—but the zombie virus in this universe was far from ordinary.

Any virus born from Thanos's corpse defied conventional understanding. After learning the origin of this universe's zombie plague, Richard couldn't help but think of Death—one of the five cosmic entities of the Marvel multiverse.

Death, the concrete manifestation of life's inevitable end, existed as the embodiment of mortality itself. This cosmic entity possessed infinite power over life and death, able to extinguish or resurrect almost any being at will. Death could create or destroy the souls of virtually all life across the multiverse.

In the cinematic universe, Thanos had collected the Infinity Stones to eradicate half of all life, allegedly to solve overpopulation and resource scarcity. But in the comics, his motivations were far simpler: to please Death itself.

Throughout comic continuity, Thanos and Death formed a dysfunctional couple—repeatedly separating and reconciling without ever completely severing their connection. Though lacking concrete evidence, Richard strongly suspected that the zombie virus's emergence from Thanos's corpse bore Death's signature influence.

After examining the zombified Chitauri army and infected vanguards behind Thanos, Richard immediately employed telepathy to contact Black Widow, Invisible Woman, and the others.

"Zombie Thanos is here with his zombie army. Looks like we'll have to fight another battle for New York."

Upon hearing Richard's voice, Black Widow, Susan Storm, and their companions all registered shock. While they knew Thanos had been infected, they hadn't realized the long-dead Chitauri forces had also risen as zombies.

Though bewildered by this development, they immediately evacuated the underground base and assembled on the building's roof. Their expressions darkened at the sight of zombified Chitauri and vanguard units surrounding the nearby blocks.

"Can you eliminate these zombies in one sweep, like when you cleared the city before?" Natasha asked Richard.

"Yes, I could," Richard replied promptly. "But if I handle the army, you'll need to deal with zombie Thanos."

"We'll manage the zombie forces," Susan Storm interjected. "You take responsibility for zombie Thanos."

"No problem," Richard nodded.

Even without the Invisible Woman's suggestion, he had no interest in the zombie army. Under the watchful eyes of Susan and the others, he retrieved Masamune from his system space.

Then, channeling the mana flowing through his body, Richard transformed his casual attire into Sephiroth's iconic black coat. As his clothes shifted to include silver shoulder armor and the long black windbreaker, his entire demeanor changed dramatically.

As the saying goes: clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha!

After donning Sephiroth's signature outfit, Richard no longer projected the impression of a cynical yet powerful metahuman. Instead, he radiated the presence of a silver-haired angel emanating divine authority.

So cool! Spider-Man thought immediately upon witnessing the transformation.

Just as the typically talkative Peter began to speak, Richard teleported from their sight, materializing before zombie Thanos with Masamune's tip pointed directly at the infected Titan.

"I don't know if you can understand me," Richard addressed zombie Thanos, "but I've always looked forward to fighting you."

The zombie Titan responded immediately.

BOOM!

Zombie Thanos raised his left hand and clenched his gauntleted fist. A laser-like blue energy beam erupted toward Richard with devastating speed—unmistakably the power of the Space Stone.

Though energy projection didn't align perfectly with the Space Stone's conceptual domain, all Infinity Stones could manifest destructive energy attacks. Indeed, such offensive energy projections represented the simplest application of the Infinity Stones' vast potential.

Facing the fierce energy assault, Richard raised Masamune.

Octoslash!

Eight immaculate slashes manifested in a single instant, intercepting the incoming energy beam.

Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice!

Masamune's edge carved through the energy beams repeatedly, neutralizing the attack. Some disrupted energy simply dissipated like air, while other fragments changed trajectory and struck surrounding buildings.

Though zombie Thanos could have continued his energy barrage, he ceased fire after witnessing Richard defeat his attack with Octoslash at Super Speed.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

After abandoning his ranged assault, zombie Thanos charged toward Richard like an enraged rhinoceros, massive double-edged sword raised high. Within seconds, the infected Titan closed the distance, bringing his weapon down with staggering force.

Rather than evade, Richard met the attack head-on, swinging Masamune to intercept.

CLANG!

The double-edged sword and Masamune collided violently, generating a thunderous metallic impact. Beyond the deafening crash, a visible shockwave erupted from the point of contact, radiating outward to buffet both zombie Thanos and Richard indiscriminately.

Chapter 114: An Exciting Battle

Compared to Thanos's massive double-edged sword, Masamune appeared almost delicate in Richard's grip.

The katana measured a mere three centimeters in width with a thickness of only a few millimeters. In stark contrast, Thanos's weapon spanned 20 to 30 centimeters across with a thickness of two to three centimeters. Though both weapons stretched beyond two meters in length, Masamune appeared impossibly slender beside the Titan's brutal implement.

Yet the seemingly fragile Masamune didn't merely withstand the direct collision—it carved a visible notch into the blade of Thanos's double-edged sword.

This guy is quite powerful!

Richard had anticipated surpassing zombie Thanos in raw strength, but now realized he'd been overconfident. Despite possessing Super Strength, Enhanced Durability, and a 5% fusion with the Superboy-Prime template, he failed to secure an absolute advantage in their confrontation.

Though surprising, this development didn't trouble him excessively. The cinematic version of Thanos, while formidable, never seemed truly unstoppable. The comics, however, portrayed a far more terrifying entity.

By official power ratings alone, Thanos's attributes were staggering—intelligence, strength, endurance, energy projection, and combat skills all ranked at the maximum level 7. Only his speed fell short of perfection.

While this universe's Thanos likely didn't match his comic counterpart's full might, he still outclassed most superheroes by a considerable margin. Even the supposedly "weakened" MCU Thanos had effortlessly dismantled the Hulk with his bare hands.

After discovering his lack of overwhelming physical superiority, Richard abandoned the direct strength contest. He twisted his wrist to withdraw Masamune while simultaneously shifting position—moving from directly in front of zombie Thanos to the infected Titan's right flank.

Octoslash!

Without hesitation, Richard executed Octoslash, unleashing eight devastating strikes against zombie Thanos in rapid succession.

Though deprived of his living intelligence, zombie Thanos retained his combat instincts. As Richard initiated Octoslash, the infected Titan swung his massive weapon in response.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Masamune and the double-edged sword collided repeatedly, generating a cascade of metallic impacts. With astonishing precision, zombie Thanos deflected all eight slashes in a single fluid sequence.

Truly worthy of being called Thanos! Even zombified, he cannot be underestimated!

Richard acknowledged this reality with grudging respect. Though Octoslash wasn't an unbeatable technique, zombie Thanos was the first opponent to neutralize it entirely. More impressively, the infected Titan hadn't relied on his superhuman durability—he'd countered the attack through pure martial skill.

Rather than disappointment, Richard's expression shifted toward excitement. After dispatching Sebastian Shaw and Magneto's clones, combat had lost its thrill. Neither the conflict at the Department of Mutant Affairs nor his encounter with Dark Phoenix had rekindled that spark.

Yet facing zombie Thanos, the exhilaration returned.

Gravesong!

Without retreating, Richard unleashed Gravesong—four consecutive earth-shaking slashes delivered with devastating precision. Just as with Octoslash, zombie Thanos intercepted each strike with his double-edged sword.

Though he failed to wound the infected Titan, Richard remained undiscouraged. If Octoslash at Super Speed couldn't penetrate Thanos's defense, Gravesong faced similar odds.

After completing Gravesong, Richard teleported backward more than ten meters.

Swift Slash!

The moment he materialized on the street, Richard activated Swift Slash, vanishing instantly from normal perception.

Clang!

Masamune's edge, targeted at zombie Thanos's neck, met the unyielding resistance of the double-edged sword once again.

Recognizing that Super Speed wouldn't secure a swift victory, Richard teleported again, reappearing over twenty meters from the infected Titan.

Though he could employ other abilities—Matter Manipulation, Transmutation, Hellfire, Heat Vision, and more—to overwhelm zombie Thanos, Richard chose to restrain himself. It was rare to encounter an opponent who matched him in swordsmanship while possessing comparable physical attributes. Such an opportunity demanded proper appreciation.

Unlike Richard's enthusiastic approach to zombie Thanos, Susan Storm and Peter Parker harbored no desire for extended combat. While Richard engaged the infected Titan, the Invisible Woman and Spider-Man initiated their assault against the zombie Chitauri and Vanguard forces.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

War Machine and Falcon, leveraging their aerial mobility, led the offensive with a barrage of gunfire and explosives. As they engaged from above, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Thing, and others split into tactical teams, striking from multiple vectors simultaneously.

Neither Richard nor zombie Thanos paid attention to the distant combat sounds. They charged toward each other once more.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Masamune and the double-edged sword collided repeatedly as Richard and zombie Thanos battled like legendary duelists.

Octoslash, Gravesong, Skyshatter, Swift Slash, Zanshin, Hell Gate, Heartless Angel...

Overhead chop, horizontal slash, diagonal cut, forward thrust, rising strike...

The massive double-edged sword appeared weightless in zombie Thanos's grip as he wielded it with devastating force and momentum. Masamune answered each attack relentlessly, as if determined to eventually shatter the Titan's weapon through sheer persistence.

Compared to the surrounding conflicts, their duel transcended mere combat—it was simultaneously more visually spectacular and more lethally intense. Despite possessing a Kryptonian physique and Accelerated Healing, Richard had no intention of testing his durability against the double-edged sword's edge.

That thing could slice through a vibranium shield! Even if it doesn't kill me, being cut would certainly hurt!

Time passed gradually. Before either combatant realized, several minutes had elapsed in continuous battle.

Throughout this period, neither Spider-Man, Susan Storm, and their allies, nor the zombie Chitauri and Vanguard forces, interfered with the central duel between Richard and zombie Thanos.

After these minutes of intense combat, Richard grudgingly acknowledged that techniques like Octoslash and Gravesong alone wouldn't overcome zombie Thanos. Despite his infected state, Thanos's combat prowess remained undiminished. In terms of battle experience, the Mad Titan's centuries of warfare far exceeded Richard's own.

When zombie Thanos blocked yet another Octoslash sequence, Richard teleported to the street twenty meters distant.

"You're good, really good!" Richard called out, admiration evident in his voice. "If circumstances were different and you weren't... like this... I'd genuinely enjoy sharing a drink with you." His expression shifted to one of resigned determination. "What a pity!"

Richard regarded Thanos with a complex mixture of respect and resignation.

From a personal perspective, his impression of Thanos wasn't entirely negative. Though the Mad Titan could never be considered a good person—his methods were undeniably extreme and his worldview fundamentally warped—he wasn't without admirable qualities. At minimum, Thanos possessed formidable determination and unshakable resolve in pursuing his objectives.

Zombie Thanos offered no verbal response to Richard's sentiment. Instead, he raised his left hand and aimed his gauntleted fist directly at his opponent.

Energy Projection!

Without hesitation, zombie Thanos unleashed another devastating energy attack.

Facing the laser-like beam, Richard didn't counter with Octoslash as before. This time, he activated his X-gene mutant ability.

Energy Absorption!

As the blue-white energy beam approached Richard, it abruptly vanished. Though the Space Stone's energy differed significantly from conventional forms like thermal, nuclear, or electrical power, it still fell within the absorption range of his Energy Absorption ability.

During idle moments in the past, Richard had frequently used the Cosmic Cube as a personal "power bank." This fierce energy attack not only failed to harm him but actually enriched his internal energy reserves.

After absorbing the Space Stone's power, Richard immediately mounted his counteroffensive.

Matter Manipulation!

Rather than employing other mutant abilities, Richard channeled his Omega-level Matter Manipulation. Under his precise control, a shockwave invisible to the naked eye surged toward zombie Thanos with lightning speed.

Unlike conventional shockwaves, this projection carried matter-decomposing properties. In an instant, the destructive wave reached zombie Thanos.

Just as the decomposition wave was about to impact the infected Titan, a spherical blue-white protective shield materialized, completely enveloping zombie Thanos. Superficially, this barrier resembled other energy shields, but its defensive capabilities vastly exceeded conventional protections. The difference was fundamental—this shield drew its power directly from the Space Stone.

Richard's decomposition wave collided violently with the blue-white barrier, attempting to break down its structure. However, even after expending its full energy, the wave failed to penetrate the shield generated by zombie Thanos.

This outcome didn't particularly surprise Richard. The Space Stone was, after all, an Infinity Stone. If a barrier generated by such a cosmic artifact could be easily overcome, it would dishonor the very status of Infinity Stones within the Marvel universe.

After confirming his decomposition wave couldn't breach the protective shield surrounding zombie Thanos, Richard immediately shifted tactics.

You want to challenge me with the Space Stone? I possess one too!

If you wish to engage me with Space Stone abilities, I'll gladly reciprocate!

Under zombie Thanos's watchful gaze, Richard extracted the Cosmic Cube from his system space.

As Richard produced the artifact, zombie Thanos displayed an unmistakably human expression of astonishment from within his protective barrier. Though the infected Titan had lost his original rationality and intellect, one imperative remained encoded in his being—collecting all six Infinity Stones to fulfill his universe-cleansing plan.

Zombie Thanos first regarded the Cosmic Cube in Richard's hand with visible surprise. Then, he examined the Space Stone embedded in his Infinity Gauntlet with equal bewilderment.

Had he retained his living intelligence, Thanos would have quickly deduced that Richard originated from another universe, as did the Cosmic Cube he wielded. Unfortunately, the Titan's once-formidable intellect had severely degraded. While his mind contained more than just the primal hunger driving ordinary zombies, he still couldn't comprehend how two Space Stones could simultaneously exist.

Recognizing the confusion evident in zombie Thanos's expression, Richard understood the Titan's dilemma. However, he had no intention of providing explanations. Instead, he channeled the Space Stone's energy contained within the Cosmic Cube.

Instantaneous Projection!

Under Richard's control, the Cosmic Cube levitated slowly, hovering beside him. In the next moment, it aligned with zombie Thanos and discharged a laser-like blue-white beam.

The Cosmic Cube's energy projection wasn't particularly massive—approximately the diameter of an adult's arm. Despite its modest size, the beam's power was anything but insignificant.

Within a heartbeat, the concentrated energy struck the protective shield surrounding zombie Thanos.

BOOM!

The moment the blue-white beam collided with the barrier, a cataclysmic explosion resembling a nuclear detonation erupted with zombie Thanos at its epicenter. A blue-white mushroom cloud hundreds of meters tall surged skyward.

The resulting shockwave radiated outward like a tsunami, obliterating every structure within a one-kilometer radius. The devastating blast reverberated throughout New York, generating seismic tremors as if the city had been struck by an earthquake.

Zombie Chitauri soldiers and Vanguards within the explosion's range either perished instantly under the shockwave or were hurled skyward like leaves in a hurricane. War Machine, Falcon, and other defenders caught within the blast radius fared little better—they were either thrown violently backward or sustained injuries from the indiscriminate shockwave.

Richard recognized that such an immense explosion might harm War Machine, Falcon, and other allies, but this concern didn't particularly trouble him. Even if they were killed rather than merely injured by the blast, he wouldn't consider it a significant loss. With the exception of Black Widow, Sharon Carter, and the Invisible Woman, the fate of the others held little importance to him.

The blue-white mushroom cloud and devastating shockwave dissipated relatively quickly. Within ten seconds, the towering cloud and expanding pressure wave had vanished, and the disturbed air currents and dust began settling.

As conditions normalized, zombie Thanos reappeared in Richard's field of vision.

The infected Titan appeared completely unharmed, indistinguishable from his pre-explosion state. However, the blue-white protective shield that had completely surrounded him had disappeared. Now he stood at the center of a crater five to six meters deep, gazing upward at Richard, whose silver hair danced in the wind as he hovered above.

At the moment of detonation, Richard had teleported beyond the city limits to avoid the explosion's shockwave. Only after the mushroom cloud and pressure wave dissipated did he teleport back to the battlefield.

Though he could have remained in place and employed Energy Absorption to neutralize the approaching shockwave, he'd chosen teleportation instead. He had already absorbed sufficient energy and saw no need to specifically harvest the shockwave's power.

Chapter 115: 80% Fusion

Neither Richard nor zombie Thanos sustained injuries from the cataclysmic, nuclear-like explosion, but others weren't so fortunate. As the shockwaves and disturbed air currents dissipated, New York—which had recently begun regaining some semblance of vitality—lapsed into profound silence.

Both the zombie Chitauri forces and the human defenders—War Machine, Falcon, and others—momentarily ceased their frantic combat, as if collectively processing the devastation.

More than ten seconds passed in this eerie stillness before zombie Thanos, standing at the explosion crater's center, unleashed a primal, bestial roar. At this signal, surviving zombie Chitauri soldiers and Vanguards rushed toward Richard like a swarm of locusts.

Though zombie Thanos had lost his legendary intellect and sanity, their extended combat had made him recognize Richard as a formidable threat. Witnessing the zombie forces charging toward him, Richard—still hovering above the battlefield—sighed with resignation.

While it was entirely predictable for zombie Thanos to direct his forces against Richard, he had no desire for their interference in this duel. After briefly surveying the area, Richard activated his Omega-level Matter Manipulation.

Imperceptible energy fluctuations radiated outward from his position at astonishing speed. Within an eyeblink, these matter-altering waves encompassed a circular area ten kilometers in diameter. Though not particularly vast, this zone easily contained all forces accompanying zombie Thanos.

Decompose!

Without hesitation, Richard activated the decomposition aspect of Matter Manipulation. Unlike his first arrival in New York, he wasn't inclined toward aesthetic displays. While transforming repulsive zombies into drifting cherry blossoms created a visually striking scene, decomposition provided greater efficiency.

Under the watchful gaze of zombie Thanos, War Machine, and the other defenders, the charging zombie Chitauri forces began disintegrating at visible speed, vanishing like smoke in wind. The closer they were to Richard, the faster their decomposition progressed.

Though Richard targeted only the zombie Chitauri and Vanguards, his broad application of Matter Manipulation affected more than just the infected aliens. Surrounding buildings and abandoned vehicles also began dissolving into their component atoms.

In less than ten seconds, every zombie Chitauri soldier and Vanguard accompanying Thanos had completely disappeared, reduced to atomic particles invisible to the naked eye.

After dispatching the zombie forces, Richard maintained his Matter Manipulation, focusing now on zombie Thanos standing within the explosion crater.

No more games.

After targeting zombie Thanos, Richard sighed internally. Despite failing to gain any advantage in swordsmanship or close combat, he'd genuinely enjoyed their exchange. If completing this world's challenge didn't require eliminating zombie Thanos, he might have considered capturing the infected Titan as a sparring partner.

Zombie Thanos certainly posed a dangerous threat, but with proper precautions—removing the Space Stone and double-edged sword, constructing a vibranium containment facility—he could theoretically be maintained indefinitely.

Though the prospect was tempting, the Vergil template offered far greater appeal than preserving zombie Thanos as a combat practice dummy.

As invisible matter manipulation energy locked onto him, zombie Thanos immediately raised his left hand, attempting to generate another protective shield using the Space Stone embedded in his Infinity Gauntlet.

Richard, however, refused to grant this opportunity. As zombie Thanos lifted his arm, Richard directed the hovering Cosmic Cube to discharge a laser-like blue-white energy beam toward the infected Titan.

Unlike his previous attack, this energy projection appeared much smaller—approximately finger-thickness. Despite its reduced size, the beam sufficed to prevent zombie Thanos from manifesting his protective shield.

Hiss-crack! Hiss-crack! Hiss-crack!

Before the blue-white energy shield could materialize, the Cosmic Cube fired dozens of rapid energy beams like a supernatural Gatling gun.

Facing this barrage, zombie Thanos didn't passively await his fate. Instead, he demonstrated agility and speed incongruous with his massive frame, dodging within the confines of the explosion crater.

Zombie Thanos moved with impressive velocity, but his evasive maneuvers only prevented direct hits from the energy beams—they couldn't break Richard's Matter Manipulation lock. Without his protective shield, the infected Titan couldn't maintain his desperate evasion indefinitely.

Decompose!

Under Richard's control, Matter Manipulation first severed zombie Thanos's left arm at the shoulder, causing the Infinity Gauntlet with its embedded Space Stone to clatter to the ground.

Had Thanos retained his living form, losing an arm would have triggered excruciating pain. In his infected state, however, he registered no suffering. Only after his detached limb struck the ground did he comprehend what had occurred.

As zombie Thanos attempted to discard his double-edged sword and reclaim the fallen Infinity Gauntlet, Richard decomposed his right hand as well. After removing both arms, Richard abandoned any pretense of prolonging the confrontation and began decomposing zombie Thanos's entire body.

Under his impassive gaze, zombie Thanos—like his Chitauri forces moments earlier—rapidly dissipated like morning mist. Within three seconds, the massive infected Titan had completely vanished, as if he'd never existed.

It's finished.

Though he'd succeeded in eliminating zombie Thanos, Richard experienced no satisfaction in defeating such a formidable opponent. Instead, a wistful curiosity about facing Thanos in his normal, non-infected state emerged in his thoughts.

[World Challenge Completed]

[Challenge rewards have been sent]

[Third Template: Vergil Template Awakens!]

[First Template: Sephiroth (Fusion Degree 65%)]

[Second Template: Superboy-Prime (Fusion Degree 5%)]

[Third Template: Vergil (Fusion Degree 80%)]

[Do you want to return to the original universe now?]

Upon seeing Vergil's fusion percentage, Richard's expression registered as "exactly as expected." Though he'd only just officially awakened the Vergil template, he'd already mastered Judgment Cut End, Phantom Sword, Yamato, and True Demon Form long before this moment.

In essence, beyond Judgment Cut End and the three weapons—Force Edge, Phantom Blade, and Beowulf—Richard already possessed Vergil's complete ability set. His Judgment Cut End technique had even progressed to level 4 through continuous refinement.

He'd previously theorized that awakening the Vergil template would yield a substantial fusion percentage, and his prediction proved correct. Though technically his third template, Vergil's fusion degree surpassed his Sephiroth and Superboy-Prime templates combined.

The 80% fusion level conclusively demonstrated his mastery of Vergil's power set.

After reviewing the Vergil template information, Richard considered the system's query about returning to his original universe. He swiftly reached his decision, selecting "no."

Though he'd successfully completed this world's challenge, he felt no imperative to immediately return to his original universe.

Richard had no intention of returning to his original universe until he'd successfully conquered the Invisible Woman.

There's nothing urgent waiting for me back home anyway. I might as well stay here a while longer and enjoy the gentle companionship of Black Widow and Sharon Carter a few more times.

After dismissing the system information panel, Richard—still hovering above the battlefield—returned both the Cosmic Cube and Masamune to his system space. Next, he employed Matter Manipulation to levitate the fallen Infinity Gauntlet and double-edged sword before him.

Following the same procedure he'd used with the Mind Gem scepter, Richard first conjured an enormous sphere of water to thoroughly cleanse both artifacts. After ensuring they were properly decontaminated, he applied high-temperature flames to sterilize the Infinity Gauntlet and double-edged sword before storing them within his system space.

Looks like it's time to add to my collection of trophies!

As he secured these powerful artifacts, an unbidden image of Odin's treasure vault materialized in Richard's thoughts. The All-Father's legendary repository housed countless spoils accumulated over millennia of conquest—the Frost Giants' "Winter Casket," the Fire Demon Surtur's "Eternal Flame," and numerous other cosmic relics.

Though Richard hadn't engaged in as many battles as Odin, his own collection had grown impressively substantial: Sebastian Shaw's mind-shielding helmet, Captain America's shattered vibranium shield, the Cosmic Cube, Wenwu's Ten Rings, the Mind Gem scepter, the Eye of Agamotto, the Space Stone-embedded Infinity Gauntlet, and Thanos's double-edged sword.

After careful deliberation, Richard abandoned the notion of establishing a physical trophy vault. Better to keep these items within his system space where they remained accessible at any moment. Creating an Odin-style treasure room only invited eventual theft, regardless of how improbable that might seem. Though few individuals could successfully pilfer such artifacts, prudence dictated caution.

Three months later. Zombie universe, Manhattan, New York.

"You really won't stay a little longer?" Natasha asked, studying Richard's expression carefully.

"No, I've been here for more than a hundred days. It's time to return to my universe," Richard replied with deliberate slowness.

"It would be fine to remain here a while longer," Natasha pressed.

"Perhaps, but I'll need to go back eventually," Richard answered. "Though speaking of which, I could actually take you out of this universe." He paused, glancing between Natasha, Sharon, and Susan. "While you do exist in my reality as well, at least in my universe you wouldn't need to worry about zombies anymore. You could set aside your responsibilities and live according to your own desires."

Shortly after eliminating zombie Thanos, Richard had successfully seduced Susan Storm, experiencing the exquisite pleasure of her company. Over the subsequent two months, he'd persuaded all three women to engage in "debates on the origin of life" with him—sometimes in pairs, other times all together.

I must admit, enjoying the gentle attentions of these three remarkable women simultaneously provides an exceedingly pleasant experience for both body and spirit. 'Blessings for everyone' indeed! Richard now appreciated this idiom with newfound depth.

His unexpected proposal stunned all three women into momentary silence. Throughout their three months together, Richard had never before mentioned this possibility.

After several seconds of contemplative quiet, Susan ventured, "Can you really transport people from this universe?"

"It should be possible, though I can only take a few individuals," Richard replied.

Although this marked his first World Travel challenge, based on the black spherical portal he'd used to cross between realities, bringing a small number of companions shouldn't present significant complications. The three-meter-diameter black sphere functioned effectively as an interdimensional gateway.

While Natasha and Susan were still weighing his proposition, Sharon's decisive voice broke the silence.

"I'll go with you," she declared with unwavering certainty.

Hearing Sharon's immediate acceptance, Natasha and Susan quickly reached their own decisions. Like Sharon, both elected to accompany Richard.

Their reasoning proved straightforward—this universe contained no one worthy of their lasting attachment. Though they maintained friendships with individuals like Clint Barton and Ben Grimm, these connections represented mere camaraderie rather than profound bonds.

Bruce Banner, whom Natasha had genuinely cared for, had perished early in the outbreak. Reed Richards and Johnny Storm, Susan's beloved family, had likewise fallen to the infection. Despite their relatively brief acquaintance, Richard had somehow managed to fill the emotional void left by these devastating losses over the past three months.

Of course, Richard had compensated for considerably more than just their emotional deprivation.

"In that case, say your farewells to the others," Richard instructed the three women.

"We will," they replied in unison.

More than an hour later, under the watchful gazes of Spider-Man, War Machine, and the remaining survivors, a perfect black sphere three meters in diameter materialized before Richard and his companions. Resembling a miniature black hole, the orb immediately generated a formidable gravitational pull.

Curiously, this powerful attraction affected only Richard—neither the gathered observers nor even the three women standing beside him experienced its influence. Anticipating this, Richard had already decided to bring his companions with him. He immediately released his mana, enveloping Natasha, Sharon, and Susan within its protective field.

Once surrounded by his mana, all three women felt the sphere's tremendous gravitational force. Before they could fully process this sensation, Richard ceased resisting the pull.

As War Machine and the others looked on, all four individuals were instantly consumed by the black sphere, as if devoured by a cosmic void. Immediately afterward, the sphere itself vanished completely.

Similar to his journey to the zombie universe, Richard experienced an overwhelming repulsive force shortly after entering the black sphere.

Silver Manor.

A three-meter-diameter black sphere materialized without warning in the center of the training ground, expelling Richard and his three companions before dissipating like smoke.

Finally back!

Richard exhaled with profound relief after confirming that the sphere had successfully transported himself, Natasha, Sharon, and Susan back to his home reality. This being his first attempt at bringing others across universal boundaries, he'd harbored significant concerns about potential complications.

Evidently, as long as he enveloped chosen individuals within his mana field, he could successfully transport them between universes.

"Where are we?" Natasha asked, quickly surveying the vast, empty training ground that resembled an indoor sports arena devoid of equipment.

"This is my personal training facility," Richard explained. "But we can discuss that later. First, I should introduce you to everybody."

Reception Room, First Floor, Silver Manor.

The two groups of women regarded each other with unmistakable suspicion. Natasha and Susan frowned as they studied Emma Frost and Clarice across from them. Similarly, Emma and Clarice scrutinized the newcomers with evident wariness.

Beyond Sharon Carter, whom neither recognized, Emma and Clarice immediately identified Natasha Romanoff and Susan Storm. However, they assumed these were their universe's native versions rather than dimensional travelers accompanying Richard.

As the five women engaged in their silent standoff, Richard addressed Emma and Clarice directly:

"They are indeed Natasha and Susan, but not the ones you know. They come from a parallel universe."

Parallel universe?

Upon hearing Richard's explanation, Emma and Clarice exchanged perfectly synchronized eye-rolls, their expressions clearly conveying:

Sure, keep making up stories.

Though Richard had spent over a hundred days in the zombie universe, thanks to temporal differential between realities, only a single day had elapsed in his home universe. After a mere twenty-four-hour absence, Richard's claim of visiting parallel dimensions and returning with alternate versions of Natasha and Susan strained credibility.

Compared to interdimensional travel, Emma and Clarice found it far more plausible that Richard had previously established relationships with this universe's Black Widow and Invisible Woman without their knowledge. After all, Richard had already engaged in "in-depth exchanges" with numerous high-profile women—socialites, prominent journalists, international supermodels, and others.