Chapter 9: Hollowfication!
Although there were only two members at the time, Lod firmly believed that, in the near future, their numbers would gradually increase and eventually transform into a true Wandenreich.
However, there was still a pressing issue that needed to be addressed.
Quincy, unlike Shinigami or Hollows, were akin to humans with physical bodies, which meant they could be seen by ordinary people.
Therefore, since Jessica and Matt were not yet strong enough, they could not risk exposing themselves to the public prematurely, especially not to that paranoid SHIELD director.
Just like in the original story where the Wandenreich hid in the shadows of the Seireitei where the Shinigami resided, the currently weak Sternritter also needed to conceal itself under someone else's shadow for the time being.
'But where would a suitable base be?' As Lod pondered this, his gaze fell on the corpse of Kilgrave, and a flash of inspiration struck him. "Matt, how much do you know about the Hand?"
"A lot. You could say we're arch-enemies," Matt replied, his gaze dimming as memories of his ex-girlfriend flooded his mind, causing his mood to plummet. "Lord Haschwalth, are you interested in the Hand?"
Speaking of the Hand inevitably brought up a certain woman—Elektra.
Elektra had been Matt's ex-girlfriend. They had parted ways because of ideological differences, only to reunite under tragic circumstances. By then, Elektra had been brainwashed by the Hand and turned into a cold-blooded killing machine.
Despite making multiple attempts to infiltrate the Hand's base and rescue her, Matt had failed because of his lack of strength. On several occasions, he had barely escaped with his life, often at Elektra's hands.
"Perfect timing." Lod's refined features radiated indifference as he spoke in a tranquil tone. "I need to have a small chat with them. Can you lead the way?"
Sensing the fleeting malice in Haschwalth's eyes, Matt's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Lord Haschwalth, the Hand is very powerful. If we rush in recklessly, it could be disastrous!"
Having tried to rescue Elektra multiple times, Matt was painfully aware of just how dangerous this group of professional ninja assassins truly was.
Even though Haschwalth's strength was formidable and his methods were mysterious, charging into the Hand's massive headquarters would mean facing hundreds of assassins skilled in stealth and murder, not to mention the terrifying "Five Fingers." Matt doubted anyone could emerge unscathed from such an ordeal.
Jessica stepped forward to support Matt's opinion. "Lord Haschwalth, I agree with Matt. The Hand is far more dangerous now than it was before."
"Oh?" Pushing up his glasses, Lod's curiosity was piqued. "Tell me what you know."
Jessica recalled, "When Kilgrave controlled me, I once saw the Hand's 'Five Fingers' in an underground chamber. But… they didn't seem human. It was eerie and hard to describe."
"Are you sure?" Matt frowned. "Could it be that you saw something else and mistook it for the 'Five Fingers'?"
Jessica shook her head firmly. "I'm certain it was the 'Five Fingers.' And the notion that they weren't human—Kilgrave told me that in private."
"'Not human,' huh?" Matt mulled over the phrase while stroking his chin. "For someone like Kilgrave to cooperate with the Hand, it's highly likely he was coerced."
This revelation puzzled Matt. With Kilgrave's powers and Jessica's abilities combined, they should have been able to resist the Hand. Why would they have ended up working for them?
Now it seemed clear—there was more to this story.
"Jessica, can you remember anything else?" Matt asked.
"I'll try." Jessica took a deep breath, unwilling to revisit her time under Kilgrave's control but determined to assist Haschwalth.
"I've got it!" Jessica suddenly exclaimed. "Kilgrave told me something else. He said we had to seize a certain book!"
"A book?" Matt was startled. "Are you sure he said that? Did he mention anything else?"
"Yes," Jessica answered, straining to recall. "Kilgrave said the book was an artifact that granted the 'Five Fingers' immortality, which is why he cooperated with them."
'A book that grants immortality?' Pushing up his glasses again, Lod muttered thoughtfully, "Now this is getting interesting."
The situation had taken an unexpected turn.
In Marvel lore, the Hand had merely been a group of assassins. The only noteworthy thing about them had been the immortal dragon bones they had stolen from K'un-Lun.
But now, out of nowhere, a book capable of granting immortality had entered the picture.
This felt oddly reminiscent of something out of Doctor Strange comics.
Given the Hand's recent disappearance, it seemed likely that this book was the reason behind their sudden silence.
It was time to investigate.
"Lord Haschwalth!" Matt dropped to one knee. "I suggest we gather more intel and make a detailed plan. Let me infiltrate their base first. It's safer that way."
The unknown factors were too many. The 'Five Fingers' were already fearsome, and if this book had granted them even greater power, not even Kilgrave could resist them.
Matt couldn't help but worry for Haschwalth.
"No need to worry," Lod said, his eyes half-closed and his lips curving into a serene smile. "The Hand is nothing but dust. Whether it's one or a hundred, they make no difference to me."
The Hand was only the first step. If this step couldn't be taken, how could he ever hope to challenge Cosmic Entity Death itself?
Cowardice brought death.
Fear guaranteed failure.
If he was to seize the power of The Soul King, how could he falter now?
---
The Hand's Headquarters
Lod hovered in the night sky, clad in a white military uniform.
Beside him floated Matt and Jessica, both standing mid-air just as he was.
After becoming Quincy, controlling Reishi was as natural as breathing. Using it to form platforms beneath their feet was an ability Matt and Jessica had quickly mastered.
The Hand's headquarters loomed below with its darkened interior concealing its layout.
'Elektra… I'm coming for you,' Matt whispered to himself.
Since Elektra's capture, Matt had been desperate to rescue her. Tonight was his chance.
"Let's go," Lod said calmly.
---
Inside The Hand Headquarters.
In an underground chamber, five figures swayed in the dim candlelight.
"Someone has broken in…"
"It's that blind man, the woman from before, and someone we don't recognize."
"What should we do?"
"The ritual is in progress and must not be interrupted!"
"Send everyone to stop them!"
As their discussion ended, the candlelight dimmed and extinguished, and the five figures once again vanished into darkness.
---
"Something feels off." The moment Matt entered the Hand Association's territory, his hyper-awareness immediately detected the abnormality, and he warned, "Lord Haschwalth, please be cautious. This place feels... ominous!"
Ever since stepping into the Hand Association's headquarters, the familiar darkness shrouded them, pushing Matt's other senses to their limits. However, the over-enhanced senses made him feel as if an invisible gaze was observing them from the shadows.
Jessica nodded solemnly because she too felt ominous here.
Just then, a sharp katana suddenly struck from the darkness.
Clang!
Matt reacted swiftly, raising his cane horizontally to block the fatal strike aimed at his chest.
But in the next instant, several more katanas surrounded him in a deadly formation, thrusting toward him with unmatched precision.
Matt remained unfazed, moving with an uncanny familiarity in the dark. He evaded the blades at impossibly close quarters, as if the darkness heightened his movements rather than hindered them.
Snap!
A crisp sound echoed as Matt's cane split into two pieces. Holding one in each hand, he thrust forward with lightning speed.
Thud! Thud!
The smooth end of the cane pierced into the throats of two ninjas. Blood spurted like fountains as the two grasped at their necks in terror with their eyes dimming as they collapsed lifelessly.
"...Sigh." Matt's expression shifted slightly, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes before turning into a soft sigh.
On the other side, Jessica was also under attack.
Seven or eight ninjas dressed in tight black outfits, blending seamlessly with the dark, launched their assault from the shadows.
Their target: Haschwalth.
Jessica and Matt's instinctive protective stance around Haschwalth led the ninjas to subconsciously deem him the easiest target.
Seven or eight gleaming blades pierced toward Haschwalth, stopping mere centimeters away. To the ninjas, he was already as good as dead.
"How dare you!" Jessica's pupils contracted as she punched the ground with immense force.
Boom!
The sheer power shattered the surrounding three meters of flooring, which send shards of broken tiles flying like projectiles. The pieces, being propelled by the explosive shockwave, accurately struck the ninjas.
Splat!
The ninjas were instantly riddled with holes with their bodies collapsing into bloody messes.
Through it all, Haschwalth's expression remained completely unchanged, as if he had foreseen this scene long ago.
The next moment, Jessica swiftly removed her coat and shook it out, spreading it over Haschwalth's head like a curtain.
Splat splat splat…
The blood splattering around was entirely absorbed by Jessica's coat, leaving not a single drop on Haschwalth.
Jessica lowered her head, her tone tinged with anger. "It was my mistake that you almost got stained by their filthy blood."
'...Hey, hey, isn't this going a bit too far? I'm not Aizen, you know!' Lod couldn't help but lampoon...
In Jessica's eyes, Haschwalth was the "sun," and anyone who dared defile him deserved to die.
"Roar—" Suddenly, a beast-like growl echoed from the dark.
In the next instant, a small figure shot out like a cannonball. His blood-red eyes glowed with murderous intent that was palpable even in the pitch-black room.
"Watch out!" Black Sky moved with incredible speed, bypassing Jessica and Matt's defenses in an instant and delivering a punch aimed squarely at Haschwalth.
Boom!
After a dull thud, Black Sky's ferocious gaze froze.
That man... had stopped his punch with just one finger!
"You… touched him!" Jessica's eyes turned crimson as she screamed, "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!!"
With a roar of rage, Jessica felt something within her shatter. A surge of power erupted from the depths of her soul.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
The Reishi in the atmosphere gathered at visible speed, forming a miniature cyclone around Jessica.
"You dared to touch Lord Haschwalth with your filthy hands!" Jessica's fury skyrocketed as spiritual energy wildly condensed in her hands, taking the form of an enormous crossbow.
'Is that... a spirit bow?' Lod's eyes lit up—this was an unexpected surprise. He hadn't anticipated Jessica awakening a Quincy's advanced combat skill of manipulating Reishi into weapons purely through the catalyst of her anger.
Clang—
Jessica pulled the string of her colossal spiritual crossbow.
Buzz!
Despite his low intelligence, Black Sky clearly sensed the immense threat posed by Jessica.
Bang!
Black Sky suddenly stomped on the ground, curling his body and leaping backward in an attempt to retreat into the shadows.
"Die, trash!"
"Sacred Destruction Arrow!" Countless Heilig Pfeil or Sacred Destruction Arrows rained down like a storm, enveloping the entire hall in a downpour.
Splat splat splat...
The ninjas hiding in the darkness had never encountered such terror. They had no chance to dodge and were mercilessly riddled with arrows with their bodies torn to shreds.
Despite his beastly resilience, even Black Sky couldn't withstand the onslaught. Howling in pain, he stumbled back into the dark with his body pierced through with numerous holes.
Blood flowed across the ground like rivers, turning the scene into a horrific purgatory.
"Huff..." Jessica exhaled slowly, her anger subsiding slightly.
"Jessica… wasn't that a bit too harsh?" Matt's eyelids twitched as he softly reprimanded her.
"Harsh?" Jessica turned, her blood-red eyes locking onto Matt's. "I don't think so. If they dared to think about attacking Lord Haschwalth, they deserved death!"
"But…" Matt was about to argue further when he noticed Jessica's spirit bow aimed directly at him.
"You lack loyalty." Jessica's tone was calm, but her gaze was deadly serious.
A chill ran down Matt's spine as his heart skipped a beat. If he said one more word, he knew he would end up just like those ninjas, riddled with arrows.
At this point, Lod decided to intervene.
"Enough, Jessica," he said warmly. "Matt meant no harm. There's no need to take it seriously."
"Understood, Lord Haschwalth," Jessica replied, lowering her spirit bow. Her gaze remained icy, though, as if warning Matt.
Matt forced a bitter smile. He had only shown a hint of mercy and nearly paid for it with his life. How could anyone deal with such intensity?
This difference was now evident.
Jessica viewed Haschwalth as the "sun," and her unwavering devotion allowed her to abandon all morality and fully awaken her Quincy powers.
Matt, on the other hand, based his loyalty on his principles and conscience. His hesitation to fully embrace Haschwalth's ideology hindered his growth and kept him reliant on past combat experience.
Lod avoided passing judgment but knew that if Matt didn't meet his expectations soon, he would reclaim the Quincy soul fragment from him.
The Sternritter needed no weak links.
---
Matt was frustrated!
Even though he had been the first to receive the gift, Jessica had surpassed him, and his powers still had not awakened.
The most crucial part was that Matt had just noticed Lord Haschwalth's gaze, which seemed to reveal a trace of dissatisfaction toward him.
'No!' Matt swore silently in his mind. 'I must awaken my powers as soon as possible!'
The power Jessica had displayed earlier, capabilities of instantly annihilating hundreds of ninjas, left him feeling deeply envious.
'This is taking too long floor by floor,' Lod frowned as the bad feeling below grew increasingly intense, and he realized that continuing downward would be too late.
Jessica, somewhat embarrassed and helpless, replied, "But, Lord, the basement is too far from here, and my spirit bow can't penetrate through."
"No worries, I'll handle it myself." Lod took a few calm steps forward and drew the Quincy cross-transformed weapon, the "Adjudicator," aiming it at the ground.
Unable to directly see the "target," the X-Axis Schrift technique was useless, so Lod gathered spiritual energy and released it through the barrel.
Click!
With his finger on the trigger, Lod channeled nearly two-thirds of his Reiatsu into the Adjudicator and released a massive arrow.
Heilig Pfeil.
The Adjudicator emitted a dazzling glow as terrifying spiritual energy condensed into a massive arrow that smashed into the ground.
Rumble!
Layer after layer, the enormous Heilig Pfeil tore through dozens of solid floors before it finally dissipated as its energy ran out.
The entire Hand organization building shook as steel beams and concrete crumbled, and massive debris came crashing down.
When the surrounding tremors subsided, a pit about tens of meters deep appeared before them, leading directly to the Hand's basement.
'Hiss...' Matt took a deep breath, stunned. 'Like before, what terrifying destructive power!'
With a single strike, it had pierced through dozens of floors!
If Jessica's demonstrated strength was within Matt's realm of imagination, then Haschwalth's power had already far exceeded his expectations.
This level of destruction was no less than the most advanced high-velocity kinetic weapons in the U.S.
What they didn't realize was that this attack had consumed a significant amount of Lod's energy, nearly depleting his Reiatsu.
Fortunately, as a Quincy, Lod could absorb Reishi from the atmosphere, and in his current condition, it would take only a few minutes to recover.
"Let's go," Lod said calmly after steadying his breath and putting away the Adjudicator.
Jessica followed immediately, and Matt, recovering his senses, quickly jumped down after them.
Whoosh—
Seconds later, the three landed on the ground.
The first thing Lod saw was a massive magic circle on the floor, engraved with intricate and eerie patterns.
The sight of those intricate patterns made Lod feel a wave of dizziness.
"Come closer..."
"Step inside..."
"I will grant you great power..."
The faint whispers, like a devil's murmur, echoed in Lod's mind.
'Not good!' Biting his tongue, Lod forced himself to stay awake as a hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes. 'What a terrifying magic circle. It can even tempt my soul!'
As a Shinigami, his spiritual form was far stronger than that of an ordinary person. Yet, even so, he had nearly fallen prey to this magic circle's influence due to carelessness.
The patterns were too sinister; a single glance could draw one in, making it nearly impossible to escape.
Unfortunately, Jessica and Matt weren't as fortunate.
Their Reiatsu wasn't as strong as Lod's, and they were immediately captivated by the patterns, their minds dazed as if possessed.
"Ah... Lord Haschwalth..." Jessica's cheeks turned slightly red, her eyes filled with longing as she walked toward the magic circle, murmuring, "You're mine alone... no one can take you away..."
Seeing this, Lod couldn't help but lampoon again. 'Terrifying... Who would have thought that serious-looking, possibly mind broken, Jessica secretly wanted to claim me for herself?'
Matt also staggered toward the magic circle, muttering, "Erica... don't leave me..."
It seemed that anyone who looked at the patterns on the magic circle would have their deepest desires drawn out and controlled by that voice.
"Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō!"
With a snap of his finger, Lod immobilized both Matt and Jessica.
"Hehehe..." A raspy voice came from the darkness. "You're too late. Our ritual is already complete!"
"Ritual?" Lod raised an eyebrow. "You mean those scribbles on the ground?"
"Ignorant fool!" The raspy voice sounded furious. "This is the power of the Dark God! He will grant us true immortality!"
"Indeed!" Several figures, their silhouettes illuminated on the ground, shouted fanatically, "We will gain immortality beyond Kunlun, while you will meet your deaths!"
'Brainwashed people were truly terrifying.' Lod couldn't help but look at Jessica and Matt.
Then he looked back, and mourn silently for three seconds for these individuals. That so-called Dark God already sounded unreliable. Who knew what corner of the multiverse it had crawled out of?
"I'm saying it again, you're an ignorant fool!" An elderly woman emerged, holding an ancient, weathered book with a fanatical expression.
Lod's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed the words "Darkhold" engraved on the book's cover.
'Damn! isn't that the Darkhold? How did it end up here? I need to stop it!' Cold sweat dripped from Lod's forehead. If Chthon fully returned to Earth, Lod would undoubtedly be the first to die.
He took out the Adjudicator and aimed at the Darkhold. His instincts as a comic reader were telling him that he needed to stop the book from getting inside the magic circle.
But it was too late.
Despite using all of his abilities as a Quincy and Shinigami at once, the old woman holding the Darkhold seemed to be powerful. She jumped into the magic circle with superspeed and fanatical fervor, and amidst a chorus of fanatical chants, instantly exploded into a pile of flesh and blood!
Her blood and flesh seeped into the ground, causing the magic circle's eerie patterns to glow brighter, radiating waves of terrifying energy.
'Not good!' Lod cursed internally. It was too late!
Buzz!!!
Gurgle...
Chaotic, Black, viscous liquid surged out, forming a massive void in the ground that seemed to connect to another dimension.
Moments later, a blurry figure crawled out of the void and stood upright.
"Mmm..."
The shadow let out a satisfied groan. "It's been millions of years since I last returned. I didn't expect Earth to have changed this much."
[Emergency Mission Activated!
Mission: Expel Chthon!
Details: The Hand, tempted by the Darkhold, has summoned a projection of Chthon. User must expel it from Earth's dimension before the Sorcerer Supreme arrives.
Reward: Based on performance.]
'Chthon! It really is this being!' Cold sweat poured from Lod's forehead as he thought, 'I'm in deep trouble now!'
---
It was said that in ancient times, when Earth was first born amidst chaos, the Great Demiurge decided to spread its energy across every corner of the world.
These scattered energies gave rise to the earliest beings, and among them were the Elder Gods. Among these deities were four of unparalleled strength: Gaea, the Goddess of Earth and Nature; Set, the God of Destruction and Death; Oshtur, the source of White Magic; and Chthon, the source of Chaos Magic.
One day, the Serpent Set discovered that devouring other Elder Gods would enhance his own power. This revelation led him to slaughter and consume his brethren, which eventually triggered the "Fall of the Elder Gods" or the "Godwar."
During this cataclysmic conflict, the fallen Elder Gods turned into demons, killing and consuming each other in pursuit of even greater power. Unable to endure this devastation, Gaea initiated a battle against Set. Yet, their power was nearly equal, so this led to a prolonged war that ravaged Earth and even wiped out the dinosaurs.
To end the cycle of slaughter and devouring, the Great Demiurge and Gaea birthed a new Elder God—Atum, the God-Slayer.
Atum was born with the mission to end the Elder Gods' war, and he possessed power that surpassed all others. He destroyed the fallen demons and absorbed their demonic powers. However, these Demonic powers eventually corrupted Atum, turning him into an unstoppable Devourer of Gods.
Even the Serpent Set and Chthon the God of Chaos, could not rival Atum's might. To escape annihilation, these fallen Elder Gods fled to other dimensions.
Before escaping, Chthon inscribed all his Chaos Magic onto indestructible parchment as a means to ensure his eventual return to Earth.
Anyone who studied this parchment would fall under Chthon's influence, becoming his devoted follower and opening dimensional gateways to facilitate his return. This "Book of Chaos" played a crucial role in the creation of Marvel's first vampire.
Later, the parchment was compiled into a book by Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur's sister, and this came to be known as the Darkhold.
Though it was unclear how the Hand obtained the Darkhold, the figure of Chthon before Lod was undoubtedly the real deal—a true Elder God!
Millions of years ago, Chthon had been a cosmic-level entity on par with Oshtur, the source of White Magic. Even in his current projected form, his power far exceeded Lod's capabilities.
It was like a novice player encountering a max-level boss in their first quest.
Lod's expression turned strange. 'The system really overestimates me by giving me this quest.'
But with danger came opportunity.
The system rarely issued tasks, and this "emergency mission" was a first. Past missions had always provided generous rewards, such as the Shikai Zanpakutō and the Reiatsu of a Sixth Seat Officer for completing the "Become a Shinigami" mission.
'Time to take a gamble!' Lod gritted his teeth. 'It's just a projection, right? No risk, no reward!'
With his resolve set, Lod prepared for battle.
Chthon's projection was still savoring his return to Earth and paying no attention to the humans around him, much like how humans ignored ants while walking.
But Chthon's arrogance provided Lod with a fleeting opportunity.
Lod's sharp eyes noticed that the magic circle summoning Chthon's projection was a key "anchor." Energy poured into the projection from the circle, maintaining the dimensional gateway between Earth and the Flickering Realms.
Destroying this magic circle might sever the energy flow, cutting off Chthon's connection to Earth.
With this hypothesis in mind, Lod summoned his Zanpakutō, unleashing a torrent of Reiatsu.
"Ikorose, Shinso!" With his whisper, the blade extended at blinding speed, breaking the sound barrier and hurtling toward Chthon.
Clang!
The elongated blade stopped dead, pinched between two of Chthon's fingers. It didn't budge.
Lod's expression became grave. Even at full power, his attack was effortlessly halted.
"Interesting," Chthon remarked. "I've never encountered this kind of power before. Where does it come from?"
"None of your business!" Lod said with gritted teeth.
In his left hand, the Quincy Cross transformed into a bow. Drawing in Reishi from the surroundings, he formed a colossal arrow imbued with overwhelming Reishi.
'Let's see how this goes!' Lod fired the arrow, and the energy surge distorted the space around it as it roared toward Chthon.
Boom!
"You're just a human," Chthon's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Such weak attacks were nothing. I could erase them with a flick of my finger!"
Chthon raised a finger and pointed upwards. "In the name of Chthon—Black Hole!"
Most sorcerers needed to chant spells to communicate with magical dimensions, draw energy, and unleash their attacks.
But Chthon was different. As the source of Chaos magic itself, the dimensional energy originated from him, so he didn't need incantations to instantly unleash all forms of magic.
At the tip of Chthon's finger, a massive magical diagram unfolded and rippled through the space.
Then, as though punctured, the fabric of space revealed a "void" that was nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.
Chaos Magic gathered at a pinpoint of light and spiraled into a vortex.
Whoosh!
The "void" expanded rapidly, growing dozens of times in size and emitting a terrifying suction force that threatened to consume everything around it.
Even the building above twisted into a bizarre spiral and was devoured by the ravenous "Black Hole."
Nothing, whether matter or energy, could escape the gravitational pull of the "Black Hole."
However, exceptions existed.
The highly compressed Reishi beam fired by the Adjudicator defied these laws. It shot straight into the "Black Hole" without bending under its pull.
The beam pierced through the "Black Hole" with an overwhelming force and continued its trajectory toward Chthon, undiminished.
"Fascinating" Chthon's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He hadn't expected his Chaos Magic to be so effortlessly destroyed.
Yet, in the next instant, he understood something else.
The Reishi beam wasn't aimed at him. It targeted the magical array at his feet—a formation that connected dimensions and supplied dark energy.
If the array was destroyed, the portal between Earth and the dimension would collapse.
"You're interesting, human" Chthon commented. "In the name of Chthon—Stop!"
His voice was not loud but carried overwhelming authority, as though he was commanding the entire universe.
Buzz!
A unique energy ripple radiated from Chthon, halting the dust in the air, freezing the distorted light, and even pausing sound and vibration. Atoms themselves seemed locked in time.
The Reishi beam, mere centimeters from the magical array, froze mid-air.
'Time stop?' Lod's thoughts remained active, but his body was stiff, unable even to move a finger.
'Chthon is... truly terrifying!' And this was only a projection. If his true form was here, Lod doubted he would survive a second.
"Though amusing, they're nothing more than trivial tricks" Chthon crushed the Reishi beam with his hand. "Being summoned here wasn't part of my plan, but now it is. Did you really think a minor mastery of the rules could disrupt my plans?"
'So close! The magical array was nearly destroyed!' Lod hadn't anticipated that Chthon could halt time itself.
Against time manipulation, even abilities that pierced all defenses were rendered ineffective.
Time resumed its flow.
Chthon's projection dimmed, its once-solid form becoming faint and translucent.
'It seems this move drains him significantly.' Lod noted, finding some relief in the situation.
If Chthon's projection was already strained, he could likely only use the time-stopping ability once more before collapsing.
"Human... you've succeeded in getting my interest!"
Chthon smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
"Chthon, I'm curious." Lod suddenly smirked provocatively. "How many more times can you stop time?"
"For you, once is more than enough!" Chthon declared, still smiling. "Do you think your minor mastery of rules can challenge me?"
"Is that so?" Lod fired his Adjudicator without warning.
"You think that will work again?" Chthon said and drew a massive black sword from the magical array beneath him.
The sword, both physical and energy-based, was etched with ominous patterns. A mere swing left a deep black scar in space.
This weapon was forged by Chthon's true form, blending his mastery of rules with Chaos magic.
Even the mirror dimension would shatter under its strike.
Clang!
Chthon swung his blade and unleashed a devastating wave of energy that obliterated the Heilig Pfeil fired at him.
"That's it?" Chthon said as he tilted his head. The attack lacked the intensity of the previous one, feeling off.
Before he could decipher the situation, the sky darkened as countless Heilig Pfeil rained down.
Lod continuously pulled the trigger of his Adjudicator.
Amid the deafening roars of gunfire, blue flames burst from the barrel, unleashing arrow after arrow of Reishi. The barrage engulfed the area around Chthon.
One or two could be blocked.
But what about ten? A hundred? A thousand?
Among these arrows, a few carried the X-Axis ability that bypassed all defenses. If even one slipped through, Lod would destroy the magical array.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The black sword clashed against the Heilig Pfeil, releasing showers of sparks and ripples of destructive energy.
The surrounding structures crumbled under the onslaught, the once-solid building reduced to rubble.
"I'm getting bored of your tricks!" Chthon said with a frown, realizing Lod's ploy.
The sheer number of arrows was overwhelming. Chthon's projection lacked the power to intercept them all.
Moreover, identifying which arrows carried the rule-defying ability among the barrage was hard for this vessel.
"Ignorant mortal, let me show you true power," Chthon remarked as he gripped his black greatsword with both hands and plunged it into the ground.
Crack!
The hard earth instantly shattered, and dense cracks spread like a massive spiderweb, extending outward.
From the fissures, an intense Chaotic energy surged forth, so concentrated that it could be seen with the naked eye.
At that moment, Lod felt every hair on his body stand on end. He immediately used Shunpo to retreat and infused Reishi into his veins, activating his Blut Vene for defense.
"In the name of Chthon—Dark Storm!" Chthon declared as he drove his black greatsword deeper into the ground, and the terrifying energy stored within the blade erupted in an instant.
Boom!!!
The massive energy surged upward, forming a storm that seemed to connect to Space. It was visible even from several kilometers away.
In a fraction of a second, the black storm swept across a radius of hundreds of meters and obliterated every building. All matter, visible and invisible, was reduced to dust.
'What kind of power is this?' Lod wondered as he witnessed a massive building sucked into the storm and vanishing in the blink of an eye.
His Heilig Pfeil disintegrated against the dark storm like fragile glass, breaking down into its original Reishi composition within seconds.
'Disintegration? Obliteration? No—it seems to reduce everything it touches to its most fundamental particles.'
'I can't outrun it!' Lod thought as his expression shifted slightly.
The storm's expansion far exceeded his escape speed, and its immense pull dragged him closer.
In a split second, Lod channeled all his Reiryoku into his veins, forming black patterns on his body, and controlled the excess Reishi around him to form a defensive barrier.
Boom—
The dark storm raged, and its violent power annihilated everything in its path.
That night, half of New York witnessed a colossal storm accompanied by a soul-deep oppressive force.
Meanwhile, at SHIELD headquarters, Fury bellowed, "Find out what's happening! Deploy every satellite and camera. I want to see what's going on in 30 seconds!"
Two massive energy anomalies in Hell's Kitchen in one day made him suspect something troublesome might be hidden there.
The colossal storm dissipated, leaving Hell's Kitchen and several surrounding blocks in ruins. Once-standing buildings were flattened into a barren wasteland, leaving behind only rubble and cracked ground.
Lod stood amid the debris, pale and bloodied, with his clothing in tatters. His body trembled, barely able to stay upright.
"Troublesome..." Lod murmured as a bitter smile tugged at his lips. 'Without Blut Vene, I would've been torn apart.'
Despite layers of defense, both internal and external, the storm had nearly obliterated him. Its sheer power was beyond terrifying.
"You've lost, mortal," Chthon remarked as he observed Lod's weakened state. "My power comes from the Flickering Realms, and its energy is virtually infinite, while yours is spent."
Lod remained expressionless, though his trembling wrist betrayed his exhaustion.
As Chthon said, his frequent use of Heilig Pfeil had drained him. Even with his Quincy physiology enabling Reishi absorption, his consumption far outpaced his regeneration, and the earlier defense against the storm had nearly emptied his reserves.
Yet despite this, Chthon saw no panic in Lod's eyes. His calm, composed demeanor remained unchanged.
"You're wrong, Chthon," Lod replied, his voice steady as his Zanpakutō angled toward the ground. "This battle is already over."
Step!
Lod used Shunpo to charge at Chthon head-on.
"You're a Fool then!" Chthon observed as he raised his greatsword to meet the Zanpakutō.
"Heh, of course, I'm a fool," Lod said with a pained smirk.
Clang!
The heavy sword clashed against the Zanpakutō, and sparks flew as their immense power sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
In the midst of their furious exchange, Lod found an opening. Retreating mid-strike, he aimed his blade at Chthon.
"Ikorose, Shinso!"
The short blade elongated instantly and accelerated to supersonic speed. With deadly precision, it pierced toward the magic circle beneath Chthon.
Chthon's black eyes gleamed. "Did you think I would fall for the same tricks multiple times? Well, you're more foolish than I thought."
Clang—
Chthon caught the Zanpakutō's blade with his fingers again.
Lod shook his head with a bitter smile. "Looks like I'm out of options now."
"Oh, then show me your last stance, human. All of you seem to have one," Chthon said, now interested, as he reached for Lod with a terrifying gravitational pull that distorted the very air.
In that moment, Lod allowed himself a faint, cryptic smile. His chance had come.
"You're now smiling?" Chthon noted as he saw unwavering confidence in Lod's eyes—a mortal who seemed certain of victory.
"Chthon," Lod said, his voice calm. "I told you—I've already won."
Flames erupted from Lod's arm, crackling with ominous energy.
"Hadō #96… Itto Kaso!"
"Show me what you got, Human!!!"
Boom!
The terrifying flames, compressed to their very limit, had erupted in an instant and had formed a massive blade-like inferno several kilometers in diameter.
In the blink of an eye, the scorching heat had vaporized the air within a kilometer radius into mist, and it had caused the temperature to surge dramatically.
Whoosh—
The air had rippled like thickened water and had spread wave after wave of oscillating patterns before violently exploding outward after reaching its limit.
A shockwave visible to the naked eye and accompanied by a deafening thunder-like roar had swept across the entire sky.
Had any ordinary person been even slightly closer, their eardrums and blood vessels and heart might have burst under the sheer sound of the explosion.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Even several kilometers away, the streets had been littered with shattered trees and broken glass from the force of the shockwave.
That day, the people of New York would never forget the sight of the massive blade of fire that had resembled a small nuclear explosion and had wreaked havoc across much of Manhattan.
"My God..."
Countless onlookers had stared in stunned silence.
"Is New York under nuclear attack?"
In truth, it hadn't just been the citizens who were shocked, as even in SHIELD headquarters, Fury's eyes had nearly bulged out of their sockets as he had witnessed the scene.
It's over...
Such a massive display couldn't possibly be covered up, and it would not only incite public panic but would also lead to him being interrogated by those bureaucratic fools.
More importantly...
The appearance of such a colossal hidden threat within SHIELD's jurisdiction had been a major failure of oversight.
It had been certain that tonight, the politicians would not be sleeping.
Itto Kaso, The advanced forbidden technique ranked ninety-sixth in the Kidō spell had not disappointed Lod, as it had far exceeded his expectations.
Ordinarily, the conditions for activating this technique had been harsh, requiring a burnt body and the sacrifice of an arm to unleash the massive blade-shaped flames.
But thanks to the system, Lod hadn't needed to burn his body or sacrifice an arm, and he could activate the high-level Kidō technique directly.
Given his current level and Reiatsu, it should have been impossible to use such advanced Kidō.
Fortunately, he had drawn this exact technique during a system gacha.
Though it had been a one-time consumable, it had undoubtedly been the strongest trump card he possessed to date.
According to the system's description, this consumable's power had been equivalent to that of Yamamoto Genryūsai's, who had sacrificed an arm to execute the same technique.
If Chthon hadn't been so overwhelmingly powerful and hadn't disrupted his original plans, Lod wouldn't have considered using it.
Thankfully, the outcome had been satisfying.
Itto Kaso had lived up to its reputation as a high-level Kidō, as its power had even overwhelmed Chthon's Chaos magic.
As the smoke and shockwaves had gradually subsided, the scorched ground had emanated waves of residual heat and had left behind a colossal, kilometer-wide chasm that seemingly stretched endlessly into the depths.
"I... won!"
Lod had exhaled deeply and had finally relaxed his tense nerves.
Chthon had been playing with him, and he could've folded him in so many ways even before Lod had decided to use the Kidō spell, and it wasn't even funny. The process had been neither graceful nor clean, but the result had been worth it.
Yet, this battle had also given Lod a clearer understanding of just how insignificant his so-called strength was compared to the likes of these cosmic beings.
And this realization had ignited an even stronger desire within him to become stronger.
"I'm still too weak," he muttered while gripping his Zanpakutō tightly and while his eyes burned with determination.
The future Marvel Universe would only grow more dangerous, and the road he had to walk and the enemies he had to face would make this projection of Chthon seem insignificant by comparison.
Strength, strength, strength—only with enough power could he cast aside these fears and hesitations.
Taking a deep breath, Lod had pushed these thoughts aside and had turned his gaze toward Chthon's projection.
The projection, having endured the full brunt of "Itto Kaso," had now been shattered and on the verge of vanishing entirely.
"Hahaha, that's what I'm talking about, Human, what is your name?" As it had faded, Chthon's tone had become jubilant, and he had asked this question while laughing.
"Jugram Haschwalth." Lod had lied without hesitation with his expression unflinching.
There had been no way he would reveal his real name, as who knew if Chthon would use some Chaos magic to curse him later?
Dealing with a Chaos magic master like Chthon had required extreme caution to avoid an untimely demise.
"Haschwalth... I'll remember that name." Chthon had chuckled, either seeing through Lod's lie or simply holding another agenda. "I hope the next time we meet, you'll have become stronger. Otherwise, If you remain a one trick pony, I'd find it very boring."
Lod had only responded with a laugh. "Let's not meet again. Ever."
'Reuniting? Not in this lifetime!' He could easily guess that Chthon had found him interesting from the many times he had said the same thing—it might get etched into a Darkhold for eternity.
However, despite finding him interesting, he had ruined Chthon's plans, and if they ever met again, Lod had doubted Chthon would let him live.
"Haschwalth, as a mere human to entertain me, I'll give you a 'gift.' I hope you like it." As it had faded, Chthon's projection had revealed a sinister smile.
"Farewell~"
Lod's face had turned pale, and without a word, he had used Shunpo to flee as fast as he could.
Escape had been his only option, as there had been no way he believed Chthon's so-called goodwill.
"Running? Do you think you can escape me?" Chthon's grin had widened as his figure had dissolved into Chaotic energy and had instantly closed the gap between them.
Before Lod could react, Chthon's shadowy hand had pierced his chest and had infused the last remnants of Chaotic energy into his body.
"What... is this?" Lod had writhed in pain as his mind had been consumed by a surge of negative emotions.
"Really, I'm not joking, accept my gift," Chthon's voice had echoed as his projection had vanished.
A white bone mask had begun to form, covering half of Lod's face.
---
Orange-yellow magical energy was leaping and dancing in mid-air as it formed a circular portal from nothing.
A bald woman in a yellow robe was stepping out slowly from the glowing gate, and she was none other than the Sorcerer Supreme who defended Earth for over a thousand years—Ancient One.
"Strange..." she muttered with her brows furrowed, "Why has Chthon's presence disappeared?"
Chthon descended upon Earth and deliberately suppressed the energy of his Chaos magic while hiding the Time Stone from her, which prevented her from observing the past and future timelines to stop him.
However, Lod unknowingly destroyed his new plan with one fiery attack that obliterated the summoning circle, exposing everything to Ancient One.
Before she could reflect on what occurred, a sudden roar echoed, cutting through the air with an intensity that demanded attention.
"Roar, roar, roar—"
Her eyes narrowed as she turned towards the sound and murmured in confusion, "That is... a human?"
What she saw was something unrecognizable. Lod was no longer himself.
A white bone mask covered his face while crimson points burned in the black hollows where his eyes should have been. His Reiatsu surged like blades colliding in the air, and the heatwaves distorted his figure.
"This feeling..." Ancient One stared at him with an unflinching gaze, though her heart grew heavy with unease.
In her centuries of fighting magical creatures, she never encountered anything that radiated such raw violence and destruction.
In Lod's monstrous state, he let out another deafening roar before slamming his foot into the ground, creating a massive crater that sent debris flying everywhere.
With a sudden burst of speed, he disappeared from sight and reappeared right in front of her with his Zanpakutō swinging in a deadly arc.
"Ring of Raggadorr!"
Ancient One reacted without hesitation and conjured a shimmering red shield.
The energies of the Zanpakutō and the magical shield clashed, causing a massive explosion that scattered energy waves far and wide. When the dust settled, she remained unharmed, although traces of ash marked her robe.
However, Lod growled deeply while forming a pitch-black Cero at his fingertips, his intent clear as he aimed to obliterate her along with the city.
Her expression shifted as she whispered, "Chthon's energy..."
The black beam roared across the sky, tearing through the fabric of reality as it threatened to consume everything in its path.
"Mirror Dimension," Ancient One spoke softly, clasping her hands together.
Space rippled and expanded, folding into mirrored layers that encased them in a surreal kaleidoscope.
This realm is known only to advanced sorcerers, it mainly served to protect the real world while containing the destruction within.
"Shield of Seraphim," she declared, summoning a complex diagram of magical light that solidified into a barrier.
The devastating Cero collided with the shield, resulting in a blinding explosion that filled the mirrored dimension with black light.
The energy surged like waves that rippled outward, each tremor causing more destruction, but it all remained contained within the mirror world.
When the chaos calmed, Ancient One stood as composed as ever, while Lod's transformation continued, with white bone armor spreading across his body and his Reiatsu growing even darker and more overwhelming.
Her gaze hardened as she decided to uncover his nature, forming a gesture with her hands as the Eye of Agamotto began to glow.
"In the name of Agamotto—Time Reversal," she said, and green circles of energy appeared, gathering at her chest to form a glowing eye.
She peered into time itself, seeking answers about this creature's past and future, yet what she found was nothing.
Her calm demeanor faltered as she whispered in disbelief, "The Time Stone cannot see its past?"
Every timeline she observed revealed nothing about this monster, and it was as if it never existed at all.
"What... exactly are you?" Ancient One's expression became deeply grave as no one understood better than her the terrifying consequences that could unfold when the timeline was disrupted.
"Roar—" Half-Hollowfied Lod let out another meaningless roar, and just as he was about to launch an attack on Ancient One, a hand suddenly gripped the edge of his white bone mask.
Crack!
The hand forcefully tugged at the bone mask, and the creature let out a sharp, agonized scream as it flailed its Zanpakutō wildly, seemingly trying to prevent the mask from being torn away.
"What's this?" Ancient One frowned slightly but chose not to attack, and she stood still as she watched quietly from the side.
Crack... crack...
As more and more of the white mask was peeled away, Ancient One finally saw the face concealed beneath it.
"A human?" She appeared genuinely surprised as she had not expected that the monstrous creature was actually a human.
"Argh... get out of me!" Lod's will finally gained the upper hand, and he completely suppressed Chthon's lingering negativity. With a desperate roar, he tore the mask from his face with all his strength.
Snap!
With a crisp sound, the white bone mask was fully removed.
"Whew... I'm back..." Lod exhaled heavily, and when he opened his eyes again, his face froze.
A bald woman in a yellow robe stood quietly before him, and she studied him with an expression of interest.
'That's Ancient One?! This is bad!' Compared to Lod's panic on the inside, Ancient One remained calm, and with an almost casual tone, she greeted him, "Good evening, young man."
Lod took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm because panicking was not an option now.
'Escape? Forget it. This was Mirror Dimension. Not even Chthon's projection could break free from this space, let alone me.' He had no choice but to yield, and given the circumstances, that seemed like the best option.
Adjusting his broken glasses and composing himself, Lod spoke politely, "I didn't expect to meet you under such circumstances, and I deeply apologize for letting you witness my unsightly state earlier."
"No need to apologize~" Ancient One appeared approachable, and she smiled warmly as she said, "Young man, aren't you going to introduce yourself?"
Lod bowed slightly and responded with gentlemanly grace, "Sorcerer Supreme, you may call me Jugram Haschwalth."
"Haschwalth?"
Ancient One chuckled softly, and there was a subtle hint of skepticism in her tone. "You refuse to reveal your true name. Is it because you fear I might trace your past?"
She could clearly perceive the dual souls hidden within this body and the starkly different personas they represented, so she wasn't buying Lod's claim.
Lod understood her insight but remained silent, and his expression remained unchanged.
"Fine..." Ancient One waved her hand dismissively and said, "If you won't share, I won't force you."
"Thank you for your understanding, Sorcerer Supreme." This gratitude was genuine.
"However..." Ancient One paused briefly before continuing, "As an exchange, you must answer a few of my questions."
"Please ask. I will do my best to provide clarity." Under the weight of her reputation, Lod had no choice but to agree.
"Did you banish Chthon?"
"Yes, though it came at a cost."
"Heh... I can see that. Then, my second question: what was that form you just took?"
"Chthon's scheme," Lod admitted reluctantly.
"To my knowledge, there isn't any black magic that turns someone into such a monster."
"It's possibly Chthon's latest creation."
"Oh... and you think I'll believe that?"
"Of course you will, Sorcerer Supreme."
"Ha-ha-ha..."
"Ha-ha-ha..."
The two wily individuals shared a laugh.
Lod carefully chose his words to avoid arousing Ancient One's suspicion while shifting all blame onto Chthon, and since Chthon wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, why not make him the scapegoat?
"I see." Ancient One nodded thoughtfully before saying, "Then, Haschwalth, I have one final question."
"Please ask." Lod's expression turned serious, and he knew this was likely the real question Ancient One had been leading up to.
Her gaze sharpened like a blade, and her demeanor shifted dramatically.
This was no longer the serene, detached Ancient One.
Now she stood as the Sorcerer Supreme, a cold and unyielding guardian.
"Who... exactly are you?" Her voice was calm but carried an undeniable pressure. "Why can't the river of time observe your past?"
'This is bad!' Lod's mind raced for a solution, but on the outside, he only furrowed his brows.
This was a tricky question.
With the Eye of Agamotto, Ancient One could observe the past, present, and future across all parallel universes.
In Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange used this ability to view over 14 million futures to find the one path to victory.
Ancient One routinely used the Eye to foresee potential disasters and intervene.
Yet Lod was entirely absent from her observations, like a "bug" in the universe, invisible in all timelines.
That made no sense.
This anomaly was why she asked the question.
As Lod remained silent, Ancient One took a step closer, and the oppressive energy around her intensified.
"What's wrong?" she asked coldly. "Is this question too hard for you to answer?"
The question itself wasn't difficult.
The real challenge was determining what answer Ancient One wanted to hear.
The system and his status as a transmigrator likely caused his exemption from the timeline, but he couldn't reveal that truth.
He had to gamble, and taking a deep breath, Lod answered, "I... am a human."
"Hmm?" Ancient One's frown deepened, and her gaze grew colder. "That doesn't answer my question."
"You're putting me in a difficult spot, Sorcerer Supreme." Lod smiled bitterly and said, "If the river of time cannot observe me, how could someone like me cause it? Perhaps this is Chthon's doing?"
Ancient One closed her eyes briefly and scrutinized Lod's expression.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally retracted her oppressive aura and sighed. "You may be right. Chthon could indeed have done this. Perhaps I was too hasty."
'Success!' Lod felt immense relief and silently thanked Chthon for the unintentional favor.
"Remember, young man," Ancient One said meaningfully, "Never forget what you've claimed today. You are human. You are of Earth."
"I will remember, Sorcerer Supreme." This, at least, was a truth he would not deny.
"Beware of Chthon's power. It is far from simple." With those parting words, Ancient One opened a portal and stepped through, leaving behind a lingering warning, "If you wish to master that power someday, come to Kamar-Taj and find me."
TN: What do you find terrifying in a villain: a cold, calculating mastermind who never shows any emotions on their face, or someone who acts like you both are best friends while gutting you in a hundred different ways?
It took a lot of effort to edit this chapter because I changed Chthon from being a generic villain 420 to Villain finds the MC interesting 69. lol.
What did you think about the chapter?
(End of Chapter)