2: Gaining Strength Through Sunlight
The cold, mechanical sounds of the system resonated.
Rhodes gradually widened his eyes and parted his lips in astonishment.
He understood the significance of the Silver Superman gene.
Silver Superman wasn't a separate category of Superman. It referred to a time during DC Comics' Silver Age, an era of significant superhero creation.
During this period, superhuman abilities had almost no distinct boundaries, rendering characters virtually omnipotent. They could be considered the pinnacle of superhumans.
A simple sneeze could propel an entire solar system to the edge of the Milky Way, and a mere breath could extinguish a star. Like the Monkey King, duplication of oneself and all abilities were possible.
Time and space could be traversed, even time paradoxes could be defied—such as killing one's own mother—while the destruction of the entire universe was achievable.
They possessed super-evolutionary capabilities, adapting rapidly to any perilous situation and acquiring the necessary abilities.
Even Superman's primary vulnerability, kryptonite, could be consumed as a meal by Silver Superman.
"The system's welfare might be a bit delayed, but it's alright, it's alright."
Regaining his composure, a smile graced Rhodes' fair and delicate features. "System, I want to use the Silver Superman gene immediately!"
"Ding! Usage successful! The Silver Superman gene has been introduced into the host [Rhodes]!"
The system's voice resounded.
Yet Rhodes felt nothing.
Doubt furrowed his brow; he touched his body, clenched his fists, hopped off the bed, but detected no discernible change.
He seemed as slim as before.
"How can this be? Could the system be a hallucination?"
Rhodes mumbled to himself in a state of bewilderment.
"Ding! The host can activate the Silver Superman gene and enhance it further by basking in sunlight."
The system's voice echoed once more.
Rhodes rushed out of the room and immersed himself in the sunlight.
Under the embrace of the golden warmth, the retinas of Rhodes began to display: [Power +100], [Power +100], [Power +100]...
A soothing warmth flowed through Rhodes' limbs, providing an incredibly comfortable sensation, akin to soaking in a hot spring.
"Indeed! If this continues, I can progressively grow stronger by sunbathing!"
"This Silver Superman gene could potentially make me one of the mightiest beings in Asgard in no time."
Rhodes felt a profound sense of relief.
At the very least, he now held the power to safeguard himself, no longer a feeble human vulnerable to a sneeze from the Protoss.
"Rhodes, don't dawdle, come and tend to the garden!"
In that moment, a maid approached and summoned him.
"I'm coming."
Rhodes collected the cleaning tools positioned by the room's entrance and headed toward the garden.
A sweeping view revealed layers of dust, fallen leaves, and petals scattered along the pathways.
Moreover, the entire garden was bathed in sunlight.
This implied that while tending to the garden, Rhodes could simultaneously harness the sun's energy to become stronger.
Rhodes meticulously swept away the debris, cleaning the dust and clearing the path.
[Power +1000]...
[Power +1000]...
[Power +1000]...
Fifteen minutes elapsed.
The garden was entirely restored—pristine and refreshed.
Rhodes himself felt an invigorating energy coursing through his veins, as though he possessed boundless vitality.
"This servant from the human realm is quite handsome, much more appealing than the last one..."
"His name is Rhode, not Rod."
"He's also quite diligent; let's head back and report to the butler. He's certainly qualified."
In a distant corner, several maids gathered, whispering and occasionally casting glances toward Rhodes.
"..." Rhodes grew curious about their exchanged glances and listened intently to their conversation. However, their distance rendered their speech indistinct, with only faint mentions of names reaching his ears.
At that moment, Rhodes's genes initiated an evolution.
"Ding! The host [Rhodes] has evolved [Super Hearing]!"
Rhodes's ears twitched, and suddenly, the surrounding voices became clear to him.
"Princess Hela won't return for a while~"
"Charles, are you slacking off again?! I swear, your entire salary will be docked this month!"
"Rod will prove to be an exceptional servant of the gods. Have you noticed, Liz? He's rather charming..."
The voices around him resounded distinctly, each reaching Rhodes's ears.
Particularly those close to him.
Complimenting his charm...
"Huh~ The Silver Superman gene is undeniably efficacious. My hearing has evolved instantly. In the future, I'll likely acquire more and more superpowers."
"However, this must remain concealed."
Rhodes thought cautiously.
He needed to conceal and camouflage his powers effectively.
Otherwise, possessing such formidable abilities as a mere mortal might raise suspicions he couldn't easily explain away—potentially leading to danger.
This was especially true within Hela's abode, the domain of the goddess of death.
Hela was an immensely ambitious individual, and Rhodes was acutely aware of that.
In any case, with the Silver Superman genes at his disposal, it was only a matter of time before he ascended to greater heights.
Once he grew more powerful, he could act as he saw fit.
"Now, proceed to tidy up Hela's study."
Rhodes gathered his tools, departed from the garden, and arrived at the study.
The room was replete with books—numerous weighty tomes.
Rhodes was deeply intrigued; his knowledge of Asgard from his past life was exceedingly limited.
This collection, encompassing the Nine Realms, Frost Giants, Dark Elves, and more, would be invaluable.
And so, Rhodes busied himself with his routine.
Garden cleaning followed by study tidying.
The majority of his day was spent under the sun's nourishing rays, strengthening himself.
As evening descended and the sun waned, Rhodes ventured into the princess's study, where he would read and accumulate knowledge.
The late hours saw few visitors, allowing Rhodes ample freedom.
"Ding! The host [Rhodes] has evolved [Super Vision]!"
"Ding! The host [Rhodes] has evolved [Super Sense of Smell]!"
"Ding! The host [Rhodes] has evolved [Super Memory]!"
"Ding!..."
Days slipped by.
In the blink of an eye, Rhodes had spent ten days in Asgard.
After attending to the garden and the study, he'd bathe, proceed to the study, and continue poring over the tome "Asgard Chronicles."
Seated at Princess Hela's desk, Rhodes immersed himself in the pages.
Before long, his ears pricked, detecting peculiar sounds from outside.
A faint aroma also teased his senses.
"Who's there?"
Rhodes stood, his posture vigilant, his gaze locked on the doorway.
Presently, a woman garbed in verdant attire emerged from the shadows.
Tall and alluring, long black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her visage radiated breathtaking beauty, and her eyes held a profound depth. [pic]
For reasons unknown, Rhodes felt a tinge of unease, and his nerves tensed.
He detected a subtle aura of bloodlust lingering in the air, a murderous intent cultivated amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
The woman who materialized within the study at this late hour, Rhodes had a strong inkling of her identity.