Chapter 194: The Secret of Orion’s X Factor

Orion's eyes gleamed with brilliance. He had a vague idea. After all, his strength had already become unfathomable on surface level, reaching the level where he could do what others could not reach in their lifetime. Turning fantasy into reality was almost a piece of cake for him.

The key was whether he could truly create something with his own blood. If blood could be transformed into a flying sword, surely it could be transformed into an solid metal as well.

But which prop could bring about a major turning point in the world without causing him any trouble?

The incident with Padrit had proven that people were uncontrollable and that he lacked the ability to completely dominate others. So...

Creating a mythical item or artifact became crucial. Yet, he couldn't create a divine weapon, as such weapons contained immense power, and he hadn't mastered that technology yet.

"Then I'll do both!" Orion declared to himself. "Create a mythical item and give it an attribute Entry!"

A smile played on his lips; he already had a general idea in mind.

Meanwhile, Samuel Stern, finally regaining his sanity, looked around the building at the men and women surrounding him. A hint of joy flashed in his eyes. He had finally escaped!

After being exposed to Hulk's blood, his intelligence had increased at an exponential rate, perhaps even a thousandfold.

Even his personality had changed. He liked Nick Fury that nicknamed him "The Leader," or perhaps more fittingly, "Big Head." Samuel had always dreamed of creating a future society driven by power and influence.

However, before his plan could even begin, Black Widow had taken him to SHIELD and imprisoned him in a secret research institute under the "Mr. Blue Project." Mr. Blue thought he would never escape SHIELD, yet here he was. It seemed... this was fate.

To avoid being detained again, he had to seize this opportunity to officially join the Vought Group.

"I don't know your name yet," Samuel said, addressing the others. "But Gentlemen, I am very happy to serve as the biochemical expert of the Vought Group."

"Excuse me... what do you want me to study? Hulk's blood? The mutant's X-factor? Or the super soldier serum? Tell me your plan now! I can't wait!"

Mr. Blue looked excited, fully embracing his new identity as he put on a coat. However, his large skull and distorted eyes made everyone around him uneasy.

"The first thing you'll study is my blood sample," Orion replied calmly. "I want to unlock the secrets of my blood. Moreover, it will be mixed into a special drink, the raw materials of which come from the legendary Frost Country, the Fountain of Wisdom. The Vought Group is not a low-end organization like SHIELD or Hydra."

"My true identity is the acting Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj. Have you ever witnessed the power of magic?" Orion smiled, rubbing his hands together to conjure a Raggador Ring, covered with mystic patterns.

Mr. Blue's eyes widened, and his jaw nearly dropped. Before this, he had no idea magic existed in this world.

"Acting... Sorcerer Supreme? Kamar-Taj?" Mr. Blue repeated, excitement creeping into his voice. "Then I've really come to the right place. I've always dreamed of creating a future society driven by power and influence, and it seems like we share the same dream!"

Mr. Blue's extraordinary wisdom, combined with the connections and power of the acting Sorcerer Supreme, meant his dream could definitely be realized. After all, it was the acting Sorcerer Supreme who convinced Hydra to bring him to the Vought Group.

Getting Hydra to cooperate wasn't easy! Moreover, the means displayed by Orion made Mr. Blue fully aware that he wasn't out of danger yet. If he showed any sign of disobedience, the acting Supreme Sorcerer would be merciless and take direct action.

Thus, Mr. Blue had a clear understanding of his situation. The Vought Group was his best option. Leaving would likely mean facing attacks from both SHIELD and Hydra, which would be troublesome.

"It's convenient to work with intelligent people," Orion said, addressing Mr. Blue. "Dr. Stern, you can call me Orion. This is Raven, Wanda, Pietro, and Victor Timely. You're in Sokovia. Don't worry about SHIELD discovering your whereabouts Hydra will take care of that. Now, let's start the real work."

Orion spread out his palm, and a trace of blood overflowed. His mind interfered with the matter, controlling the drop of blood and making it fall precisely into the microscope.

"Gentlemen," Mr. Blue said, his voice tinged with excitement, "please don't call me Samuel Stern anymore. I prefer the name Mr. Blue now!"

With that, Mr. Blue smiled and immersed himself in the research, peering into the microscope to observe the blood samples while also operating the professional equipment nearby. The genetic chain he observed was immediately displayed on the monitor.

"X-Factor... Are you still a mutant?" Mr. Blue mused, amazed. "I've never seen this arrangement of genetic material before. Your blood is full of violent power. If I were to make an analogy, it's the king of X-Factors, able to guide all X-Factors."

Mr. Blue's eyes were fanatical as he quickly plunged into formal research. His professionalism and rapid shift in focus made Mystique, Raven, Wanda, Pietro, and the Inventor Kang feel uncertain about their situation.

But as they examined Mr. Blue's brain structure, they gradually put aside their worries, especially Raven, who was shocked by the specialness of Orion's blood sample.

"Can the X-Factor in Orion's body channel all X-Factors?" Raven wondered, suspecting it was due to the Power Stone. 'Since the Power Stone could be made into an ability-stimulating device, guiding mutants to awaken their potential and causing the X-Factor to mutate a second time, Orion's mutant abilities must also stem from the Power Stone, perhaps even containing a hint of its properties.'Raven told others her thoughts.

"Power Stone?" Mr. Blue's ears twitched slightly as he looked away from the microscope, his mind racing. He had a vague guess that this Power Gem should have infinite energy, similar to the Cosmic Cube he had heard of.

"There are six Infinity Gems in the universe," Orion explained, a knowing smile on his face. "The Power Stone is only one of them. Besides, there is also the Cosmic Cube. The four Infinity Stones are on Earth."

Orion's words left everyone shocked.

"What? Four Infinity Stones were on Earth?"

"I know where the Tesseract is," Mr. Blue said, an evil smile creeping onto his face. "You want to collect the Infinity Stones? Then we can plan it carefully."

He couldn't help but record every word and piece of information like a camera, storing it in his mind, ready to recall it at any time. The activity level of his cerebral cortex was vastly different from that of ordinary people. Even SHIELD researchers couldn't crack the inner mysteries of his mind.

"I do intend to do so," Orion replied, his eyes flickering. "But... the time has not come yet. Mr. Blue, what else is special about my blood sample?"

Orion had plans to mix his blood into the Ice Spring, guiding mutants to awaken quickly and personally ushering in an unprecedented mutant era.

If majority of Earth's people became a mutant, there would be no need for racial discrimination, mutual opposition, or fighting to the death. Moreover, this move would bring a significant turning point in the world's destiny, surely earning him plenty of luck points.

"Your blood sample... Excuse me, this is a completely new arrangement and combination, a new structure of the DNA chain," Mr. Blue marveled. "If it can be made into a serum, it will definitely awaken the latent X-Factor. I can even feel that your blood sample seems to have senses, actively deactivating to prevent me from further research. Now, this blood sample is no different from other blood."

Mr. Blue was amazed, sincerely in awe of the blood sample before him. This was precisely Orion's precautionary measure; he didn't completely trust Mr. Blue. If Mr. Blue were to abuse his blood, strengthen himself, and create a monstrous abomination, it would be disastrous.

But this also confirmed Orion's conjecture his blood could indeed stimulate the potential X-Factor. He briefly described the 'Ice Spring' project to Mr. Blue, who was shocked by Orion's plan.

"You are truly amazing," Mr. Blue said, admiration clear in his voice. "I now strongly suspect that your intelligence level is no less than mine, but you don't seem to be planning to apply your energy to science."

Mr. Blue continued to praise Orion, instantly recognizing his choice. That's true wisdom has endless possibilities, but energy is finite.

Even if the X-Factor is researched to an unprecedented level, it's impossible to surpass the Celestials, who are the ancestors of the genetic field.

Even if technology reaches incredible heights, it cannot match the Observers, who can travel through the multiverse and compete with Infinite Ultron.

[The Watchers or Observers are cosmic beings who possessed the innate ability to achieve virtually any effect desired, including augmenting personal attributes, time and space manipulation, molecular manipulation, energy projection and a range of mental powers.]

Therefore, magic was Orion's main focus, and he would devote all his wisdom and energy to mastering it. Only in this way could he successfully survive the Seven Domain War, prevent the outbreak of Celestial Awakening, and remove the black Entries on him.

"So…"

"Mr. Blue," Orion began, his voice calm but firm. "I value your intellect greatly, and you will enjoy certain privileges within the Vought Group provided you complete my plan. But understand this: I don't entirely trust you. You cannot leave this building. You have no choice but to accept my terms."

Orion's eyes gleamed with intent, revealing everything in their depths there was no room for deception.

"Let's make a deal," Mr. Blue nodded, his expression serious.

Despite his incredible IQ, Mr. Blue knew that intellect alone couldn't translate into power. Without absolute strength, he wouldn't stand a chance against other formidable forces.

S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra alone could easily eliminate him in silence. He was willing to play the part of a tool, though, because within the Vought Group, he had discovered something far more intriguing.

"Magic…" he mused, his eyes flickering with possibility. "If I could learn magic…"

Mr. Blue, for all his cunning, also possessed a unique free will a trait that the god Loki himself had intended to unleash upon the multiverse. However, Orion had no intention of teaching Mr. Blue the mystic arts, knowing full well that it would only lead to trouble.

"Gentlemen," Mr Blue addressed the room with measured authority, "where is the sample of this so-called Fountain of Wisdom? I want to see if it can merge with your blood. You should be able to control when the blood becomes inactive, correct?"

Mr. Blue smiled slightly. The name alone Fountain of Wisdom suggested something extraordinary.

"Of course," Orion responded with a nod. "Pietro, give him a glass of the spring water. Let him drink it. And one more thing…" he added, his tone hardening. "During his research, keep a close eye on him. Make sure he does nothing beyond the project, and that my blood sample never leaves the Vought Group."

Orion's calm demeanor only added to the gravity of his words, making his intentions unmistakably clear. Mr. Blue heard him loud and clear, though his exterior remained composed, betraying nothing.

In the blink of an eye, Pietro's figure blurred, leaving only a faint shadow behind. When he reappeared, he held a glass of clear, shimmering spring water.

"A speedster?" Mr. Blue's thoughts raced as realization struck him. Any attempt to act now would be futile speed trumps all forms of martial prowess. Even if he tried anything, Pietro would know immediately and Orion would be alerted within moments.

"The Fountain of Wisdom…" Mr. Blue murmured, skepticism creeping into his voice. "Can it really enhance my wisdom?"

With some hesitation, he took the spring water and drank it down in one swift gulp.

Suddenly, a powerful sensation surged through him. His brain buzzed, his thoughts sharpened, and the chaos in his mind began to settle under the influence of the magical spring.

The main personality, Samuel Stern, long suppressed, seemed to stir, reviving within him. His eyes regained a clarity that had been missing for ages.

Now, he was both Mr. Blue and Samuel Stern, much like how Dr. Green had emerged in the Endgame, a fusion of the Hulk and Banner personas, united and inseparable.

"Amazing," Mr. Blue whispered, awestruck. "It seems my wisdom has indeed increased."

And with Orion's blood sample in his grasp, he was now closer than ever to achieving his ultimate dream.

[Due to your actions, Sokovia's fate has changed dramatically. You will be awarded 2,000 points of luck.]

"Huh? 2,000?!" Orion's heart skipped a beat, excitement bubbling up within him. According to the luck calculation formula, his plan was flawless pure profit with no downsides.

The future of Sokovia had finally shifted! I wonder if Baron Zemo will rise to become the interim Prime Minister?

[End of this chapter]