The power of Near-Death was simple in concept. Lucien had already experienced its terrifying potential several tis. Unfortunately, it had entered a cooldown during his ti in the One-Punch Man world, and there had been no indication of how to reactivate it.
So it had been waiting for him here.
Now, the ability had clearly evolved. Previously, he could not trigger it twice on the sa enemy, but after this reset, that restriction was gone. He could use it repeatedly.
Lucien considered his options.
Should he waste a VIP restart on it?
Or choose telekinesis instead?
He had already seen how overwhelming telekinesis could be. Theo was a perfect example. That ability could manipulate repulsion, gravity, and attraction, even to the extent of dragging celestial bodies to crush enemies.
However, if he exchanged for telekinesis now, it would start weak. It would require ti, training, or upgrades before reaching that level.
There was no need to hesitate.
Lucien decisively chose to restart his Near-Death ability.
From this point onward, he could once again dance on the edge of death as much as he pleased. He could repeatedly squeeze strength from the sa opponent. If he were still in the One-Punch Man world, Saitama would have been an endless source of growth.
He still had a Senzu Bean as well, the perfect companion to Near-Death.
Everything aligned perfectly.
The dice continued to spin, enhanced by Thanos's VIP privilege. A brilliant white light flickered before fading away.
"Bigu."
"Description: No longer requires food or water."
The surprise hit instantly. Lucien's grin stretched wide.
With Arbitrary Breathing combined with Bigu, he could survive anywhere in the universe without concern for sustenance, at least until his lifespan ran out.
It was absurdly powerful.
Now, only one Infinity Gem remained.
Marvel's resources were truly rich and ridiculously easy to exploit.
"This is a good thing."
Looking at the five gems embedded in the vibranium gauntlet covering his right arm, Lucien let out a quiet sigh.
This was beyond cheating.
"The ti is right."
A Space Gate opened. Stars shifted, and in an instant, Lucien appeared within the vast expanse of space, facing the majestic realm of Asgard.
On the Rainbow Bridge, Odin stood at the forefront, clad in armor and holding the Eternal Spear. Beside him stood Heimdall with his great sword, while nurous Asgardian warriors gathered behind them.
They were called gods, but in truth, they were simply beings who had evolved beyond ordinary humans.
To the weak, the strong were gods.
And in the eyes of many, Lucien himself was no different.
Thor and Loki were absent. So was Jane Foster.
The Aether, the final Reality Gem, resided within Jane's body.
Lucien hovered in the air, his gaze passing through everything with the aid of invisible lenses. Deep within the palace, he saw Thor and Loki restrained, their demonic corruption being forcibly purged.
Odin had clearly been watching them all along. The mont they lost control, Heimdall had summoned them back through the Rainbow Bridge.
In another chamber, Jane Foster was also restrained. Frigga was using her power to suppress the damage caused by the Aether.
Lucien slowly descended, stopping just above the Rainbow Bridge.
From Odin, he sensed a deep and dangerous aura. Compared to himself, Odin was capable of pushing him to the brink of death.
That was, of course, assuming Lucien did not use the Infinity Gems.
Even in old age, Odin remained the King of the Gods. In a true fight, even with Lucien's enhancents, victory was not guaranteed.
So before triggering Near-Death, Lucien needed every advantage.
With all six Infinity Gems, he could push himself to death as many tis as he wanted.
"Sir, this is not a place you should be."
Odin's voice was cold, his divine power surging outward. His gaze sharpened when he noticed the five gems on Lucien's hand.
The purpose of Lucien's visit was obvious.
"Give what I want, and I'll leave imdiately."
Lucien raised his right hand. The five gems shimred, their colors weaving into threads of energy that spread across the vibranium gauntlet, covering his entire arm. Only his face remained exposed.
"The six Infinity Gems should not belong to one person."
Odin understood the consequences of refusal. Asgard, even the Nine Realms, could face destruction. But as their king, he could not hand over the fate of existence.
"So there's nothing to discuss?"
Lucien narrowed his eyes. He had expected resistance, but not outright refusal.
With five gems, he could erase Asgard entirely.
Whether Odin was fearless or foolish, Lucien could not tell.
"Leave."
Odin slamd the Eternal Spear onto the Rainbow Bridge. Divine power surged outward, shaking all of Asgard.
Lucien remained calm. The Power Gem glowed, and Odin's energy shattered before it could reach him.
"Not good."
Lucien vanished.
Using Space manipulation, he bypassed Odin completely and appeared inside the palace. In one motion, he grabbed Jane Foster with his left hand.
At the sa ti, he activated the Power Gem. With a distant strike, he sent a devastating punch toward Frigga, who had rushed forward.
The shockwave exploded.
Frigga was blasted away like a projectile, crashing through multiple structures before collapsing into ruins, blood at her lips as she lost consciousness.
Lucien tightened his grip on Jane. Sharp spikes extended from his hand, piercing into her body as they began extracting the Aether.
The crimson, living mass twisted in the air, revealing the glowing Reality Gem at its core.
A ripple cut through space.
A spear shot toward him, fast enough to be nearly unavoidable.
Lucien did not even turn his head. Activating both the Ti and Space Gems, he distorted the distance. What seed close beca infinitely far, rendering the attack useless.
In the next instant, Lucien vanished along with the Aether.
Back on the Rainbow Bridge, Odin raised his hand. The Eternal Spear reappeared in his grasp. He looked skyward, his expression dark.
"You were too late."
Lucien hovered above, looking down at them.
The Aether had already stabilized, transforming into the Reality Gem before embedding itself into the ring finger of his gauntlet.
Now, all six Infinity Gems were his.
Space Gem on the middle finger.
Power Gem on the index finger.
Reality Gem on the ring finger.
Mind Stone on the back of the hand.
Ti Gem on the thumb.
Soul Stone on the little finger.
A surge of unimaginable power flooded his body. Six streams of light extended from the gauntlet, spreading through him as he let out a low groan.
At this point, anything he desired could be achieved with a simple snap.
Lucien only had one thought.
From the mont he arrived in this world, he had wanted to understand the truth behind his useless Golden Finger.
The Infinity Gems, embodints of universal forces, should be capable of analyzing it.
It was a perfect plan.
However...
"Successfully seized six Infinity Gems. Reward: 3 VIP Lucky Dice. Countdown to reclaim Infinity Gems has begun."
"Countdown: six seconds."
A screen appeared before his eyes.
Lucien froze.
Only six seconds.
"What the hell."
A breath escaped him as golden-white flas erupted around his body. His hair rose, turning the sa radiant color as he entered Life Evolution 1.
At the sa ti, his defenses surged to their peak. Hardening, Iron Body, and Armant Haki reinforced his body completely.
The war music began to play.
Lucien was fully prepared.
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