Chapter 42: The Berserker Staff (Part 1)

"Thanks again. This is what the director asked me to give you." Coulson gratefully pushed a box towards Daniel Davis. "There isn't much vibranium in S.H.I.E.L.D. A hundred kilograms is way too much. This is the most the director could provide."

A total of twenty-five kilograms of vibranium, exactly one-fourth of the requested amount.

The discovery that Captain America was alive meant a lot to Coulson.

"Finding him was your effort. I just provided some information."

"Sometimes, intelligence is more important than anything else."

After some brief small talk, Coulson hurriedly left. The revelation that the Captain was found and alive, especially in his youthful state, had a significant impact on S.H.I.E.L.D.

Because of this, news of the Captain didn't appear anywhere. If they had found his dead body, it would have been widely publicized and mourned. But since he was alive, it had to be handled discreetly.

If it weren't for the Battle of New York, the Captain might have remained hidden.

"Carter." After Coulson left, Daniel didn't immediately check the vibranium. Instead, he thought about Carter's situation. The young Captain and the elderly Carter had missed out on an era together.

"It's a pity they missed each other. Maybe I can help them out." Daniel glanced at a drink on the table.

While S.H.I.E.L.D. was searching for the Captain, Daniel wasn't idle. He was fully engaged in researching the T-Virus, G-Virus, and other viruses from Umbrella Corporation.

William Birkin was undeniably a genius. If not for the uncontrollable mutations, the G-Virus would be the best virus, named for 'God.'

Birkin's ambition was to create a new human race. It's no wonder he, along with Wesker, killed their teacher Marcus. They had similar god complexes.

Spencer, Wesker, and Birkin all wanted to become gods, a notion Daniel found absurd. True gods never consider themselves as such, yet these humans thought they could become gods.

The Ancient One was once called a god.

Birkin couldn't control the G-Virus's mutations, but with the power of the Ope-Ope Fruit, Daniel could. After creating the complete G-Virus, Daniel faced two choices.

One was to inject it directly, like how the Captain received the super-soldier serum, and gain the G-Virus's abilities. The second was to drink it, like tea, gradually acquiring the G-Virus's powers.

The first method seemed more convenient, while the second was time-consuming.

For most people, the first method would be the simplest. However, for a sorcerer of Kamar-Taj, this method had a downside.

That downside was the purity of the soul. The soul can heal the body, and the body can affect the soul. For ordinary people, this wasn't a consideration, but for Kamar-Taj's sorcerers, it was crucial.

In the original story, Wesker ultimately became a giant monster due to multiple virus injections. This is usually seen as the body's limit to virus tolerance, leading to collapse.

But from another perspective, it could be that multiple virus injections made his soul impure, unable to handle the viruses, leading to the body's collapse.

This issue could be resolved. Kamar-Taj's magic enhances the soul by absorbing dimensional energy, thus prolonging life and allowing magic use.

For Kamar-Taj's sorcerers, purifying the soul isn't impossible, but it requires great strength.

The reason Kamar-Taj forbids the absorption of dark energy is due to its severe soul-corrupting effects, unlike normal dimensional energies, which have no side effects.

However, with sufficient strength to counter dark energy, one could absorb it. But achieving this is very difficult. The Ancient One could do it, but knowing its dangers, she forbade it.

Kaecilius, after absorbing dark energy, became powerful but also a slave to it.

For Daniel, who wasn't in a hurry to boost his power, the second, milder method was better. The first method would directly enhance power but require time to purify the soul.

Material world phenomena can be explained from the soul's perspective. For instance, human consumption of drugs and food theoretically affects the soul. The human body quickly purifies these effects.

The body feeds back to the soul, and the soul to the body.

"If this goes on sale, it would be worth a fortune." Having created the complete G-Virus, Daniel also made its derivative, which could preserve youth.

The principle is the same as virus enhancement, but simpler due to its single ability. However, calling it eternal youth is an exaggeration. It only significantly slows aging.

It's not the real G-Virus.

"So, this is vibranium. Its properties are somewhat like gold, but much stronger. It's like an enhanced version of gold."

Needing to make the Ant-Man suit, Daniel had researched various metals and found vibranium remarkable, justifying its high price.

Considering the similarity between the Black Panther suit and the Ant-Man suit, vibranium was ideal for the latter.

Vibranium's applications go beyond that. Wakanda's technology is based on vibranium, but Daniel wasn't interested in that.

"Though I want to help Carter, finding her is a problem. Seems I'll need to trouble Aida." As a former S.H.I.E.L.D. leader, Carter's residence was a secret.

"I wonder what Aida is working on now."

Norway's National Park.

Deep in the secluded forest, Aida, dressed in casual clothes and carrying a backpack, compared a map in her hand with a book before adjusting her direction. After several changes, she stopped by an ordinary-looking tree.

"This should be it." Aida set down her backpack, took out tools, and cut the tree in half, revealing a peculiar metal rod inside.

"It really is here." Surprised, Aida examined the unscathed rod despite her high-quality tools.

"It seems I shouldn't touch it." Remembering Daniel's warning, Aida hesitated before deciding not to touch the mysterious rod.

After bagging the rod, Aida surveyed her surroundings and started a fire. Though she felt bad for the national park, there was no simpler way to cover her tracks. It would be seen as a natural forest fire.

Only the foolish couple from the original story would publicly declare themselves gods after finding a part of the Berserker Staff. Indeed, they were gods—of madness, becoming lunatics.

The Berserker Staff, meant for Asgardians, wasn't for ordinary humans. Occasional contact might cause temporary discomfort, but long-term exposure would cost lives.

Even if Coulson didn't handle them, those who touched the staff would soon pay dearly, suffering from life force depletion and illness.

By taking the Berserker Staff in advance, Daniel had saved their lives.

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