Boom!
A violent surge of energy swept through the ruins as Lucien shot out from the wreckage and hovered in midair. Behind him, Thor, Captain Arica, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk followed closely.
Their injuries had completely healed, and each of them had gained enhanced abilities, including accelerated cell regeneration.
Hawkeye, for instance, had regrown his severed limb.
Their overall strength had risen to an entirely new level, and it would continue to improve as they adapted to their transford bodies. Once they fully awakened their Blood Demon Arts, the abilities would rival any superpower.
However, the effects were not imdiate. Their newly acquired demon physiology required ti to stabilize and adjust. As for their true upper limits, that would ultimately depend on Lucien.
"Go clean up the remaining stragglers."
Through his perception, Lucien knew his clones had already wiped out most of the Chitauri army. Still, the survivors were scattered, and so had already fled beyond New York.
Explosions echoed as Captain Arica, Hawkeye, and the others shot forward one after another. Their speed alone had increased several tis over compared to before.
Captain Arica's running speed had already surpassed Mach 1. With further adaptation, his speed, strength, and neural response would continue to rise.
Lucien remained behind with Tony Stark. After the others departed, he grabbed Stark and flew toward Stark Tower.
The surrounding buildings had been reduced to rubble, yet Stark Tower stood untouched, making it stand out even more.
Upon reaching the top floor, Lucien casually picked up several bottles of expensive wine from the bar before following Stark into the laboratory.
His goal was simple. He wanted to see if he could break the Cosmic Cube and retrieve the Space Stone within.
From what he knew, the Infinity Stones could be used as long as they were placed inside a suitable dium capable of handling their power. The Infinity Gauntlet and Loki's scepter were clear examples.
There was no need for incantations or complicated control thods.
Lucien intended to test whether he could wield the power of the Space Stone directly.
Ordinary people would likely be destroyed by the energy of an Infinity Stone, but Lucien was far from ordinary.
After all, Loki had been able to channel the Mind Stone through the scepter. There was no reason Lucien could not do the sa.
His interest in the Space Stone also stemd from Theo already possessing the Mind Stone. The only reliable way to counter an Infinity Stone was with another.
That left one question.
How could he break the Cosmic Cube?
In the original events, Thanos crushed it effortlessly to obtain the Space Stone. Lucien believed he could do the sa with enough force, but there was still so hesitation.
If the Space Stone reacted unpredictably, it might teleport him sowhere unknown in the universe.
"BOSS..."
"Call Mr. An."
Lucien had no intention of exposing their identities. Things would remain as they were on the surface.
"Yes."
Stark nodded carefully.
"Jarvis, begin analysis."
"Yes, sir."
J.A.R.V.I.S. responded instantly as streams of data about the Cosmic Cube filled the screens. Most of it was incomprehensible to Lucien.
"Sir, the Cosmic Cube acts as a container for the Space Stone. It requires a sufficiently powerful external force to be shattered."
"Based on calculations, its energy will stabilize in twelve days. That will be the optimal ti to proceed."
"Understood."
Lucien took a sip of wine, his gaze fixed on the cube.
"You can go."
Stark left without another word, leaving Lucien alone with his thoughts.
For now, all he could do was wait twelve days.
And decide whether the risk was worth it.
---
At an altitude of two thousand ters, the cloaked Helicarrier revealed itself.
Lucien stood in the sky, observing the massive airborne warship. Iron Man hovered beside him, while a fighter jet carrying Black Widow, Hulk, and the others landed on the deck.
The Chitauri invasion in New York had been nearly eradicated. Any remaining stragglers elsewhere could be handled by local authorities.
Lucien had co here because Nick Fury invited him.
Even without the invitation, he would have co anyway.
It made no difference that S.H.I.E.L.D. was deeply infiltrated by Hydra.
Lucien only needed one thing.
To turn all of them into demons.
"Welco, Mr. Savior."
Inside the control room, Nick Fury extended his hand with a smile that did not reach his eye.
Lucien remained floating in the air, his purple diamond-patterned eyes filled with amusent.
Several agents, including Maria Hill, instinctively moved their hands toward their weapons, unable to hide their unease.
"Everyone, stand."
Lucien's voice carried an unnatural force.
Every person in the control room imdiately stood up against their will and ford a neat line before him, their expressions filled with panic.
Black Widow and Hawkeye brought over a bathtub filled with clear water and placed it in front of him.
Lucien sliced his finger open. A single drop of blood fell into the water and rapidly diluted.
Even one drop of his blood was too much for ordinary humans to handle. Dilution was necessary.
"Line up and drink."
His command took hold again.
No one could resist.
Nick Fury was the first.
Holding the glass handed to him by Black Widow, his expression remained composed.
"So they are under your control as well."
He glanced briefly at Thor, Banner, Stark, and Steve standing behind Lucien.
Black Widow simply shrugged.
Unable to resist, Fury drank the liquid.
Monts later, his body convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground.
If he survived, he would beco a demon.
If not, he would explode.
Agent Hill followed next.
Ten minutes later, most of the control room had been transford.
A few weaker individuals could not withstand the process and exploded, leaving others to clean up the blood.
The sa process spread throughout the Helicarrier.
By the ti Lucien was done, nearly everyone aboard had beco demons.
After finishing, Lucien remained briefly, gathering information about the Ancient One and Zhou Tianyu before leaving with Iron Man.
From what he deduced, Zhou Tianyu had likely been restrained by the Ancient One.
---
The following days beca far calr.
News of the New York incident, the Chitauri invasion, and the existence of superheroes spread across the entire world.
Thor, Banner, and the others adapted quickly to their new powers. Several of them had already awakened their Blood Demon Arts.
Hawkeye, for example, could create bows and arrows from his own blood. He could even form arrows from compressed air within a limited range.
Captain Arica's physical abilities doubled. Bullets could no longer pierce his skin, and his strength, speed, and stamina had increased significantly.
Once they stabilized, they began working with Nick Fury to control key figures within the governnt.
It would not be long before the entire nation fell under Lucien's influence.
anwhile, Loki had been captured.
And turned into a demon.
Ti passed quickly.
The Cosmic Cube would stabilize the next day.
Lucien had already made his decision.
Two figures shot out from Stark Tower, streaking across the sky like twin cots as they headed toward Wakanda in East Africa.
To the outside world, Wakanda appeared to be a poor agricultural nation.
In reality, it was the most technologically advanced country on Earth, ho to vast reserves of vibranium.
Lucien's objective was simple.
He was going to take it.
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