Marvel : Mutant God

Richard detected hundreds of mental signatures emanating from the city below—all normal human consciousness patterns. The zombies shambling aimlessly through the streets registered no mental activity whatsoever.

Though he had never personally encountered zombies before, their absence of mental patterns didn't surprise him. Superficially, these creatures appeared alive, but in reality, they had died long ago. Their continued mobility stemmed solely from the zombie virus animating their corpses.

Upon realizing he had entered the zombie universe, Richard had anticipated telepathy's ineffectiveness against the undead. While he hadn't read every Marvel comic, he retained significant knowledge of the zombie universe—Earth-2149 in Marvel's multiverse designation.

One detail nagged at him: the zombie universe should contain mutants. Yet among the hundreds of mental signatures he sensed, none belonged to the X-gene carriers. This seemed improbable—even if the zombie virus targeted mutants specifically, some should have survived, given their enhanced abilities compared to ordinary humans.

Richard locked onto a dozen random survivors and began simultaneously scanning their memories. Despite the multiple concurrent readings, the task presented no challenge. If necessary, he could easily expand his telepathic reach to hundreds of minds simultaneously.

Effortlessly, he extracted the information he sought. These survivors remained ignorant about the zombie virus's origin. They knew only that it had spread globally at an alarming rate, with approximately three years elapsed since the initial outbreak.

Notably, the infected didn't conform to the classic, shambling zombie archetype. These creatures could run and jump with agility matching or exceeding normal humans.

The survivors' memories confirmed Richard's earlier observation—this universe contained no mutants. However, most other superheroes and villains existed: Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and various others.

Having gathered sufficient intelligence, Richard saw no reason to descend and rescue the survivors below.

Teleportation!

Without hesitation, he transported himself to New York City.

From the survivors' memories, he had identified the city below as Baltimore. Though situated in different states, Baltimore and New York lay only 305 kilometers apart—a several-hour journey by car for ordinary people, but merely a thought's effort for Richard.

In an instant, he relocated from Baltimore's airspace to hover above New York City.

Suspended in midair, he surveyed the devastated metropolis teeming with undead. Once again, he extended his telepathic awareness across the urban expanse.

New York, befitting its status as America's largest city, harbored considerably more survivors than Baltimore—thousands of minds registered within his telepathic range. Numerically, a few thousand might seem insignificant, but this represented a tenfold increase over Baltimore's survivor count.

This disparity made perfect sense. New York's pre-outbreak population had exceeded 8 million, dwarfing Baltimore's 700,000 residents. Beyond sheer demographics, New York's higher survival rate also stemmed from the concentration of superheroes who had protected the city.

After briefly scanning several survivors' memories, Richard flew toward an underground facility in the city center—a former S.H.I.E.L.D. installation repurposed as a sanctuary after the outbreak. Several similar shelters existed throughout New York, but this particular facility hosted the largest survivor concentration.

However, population density hadn't drawn Richard there. This shelter specifically housed surviving superheroes.

Soon, he arrived above the facility. The shelter, converted from a S.H.I.E.L.D. underground base, lay beneath a building in Queens. Though predominantly subterranean, the surviving superheroes and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had fortified the entire structure, establishing defensive perimeters along surrounding streets.

These "walls" consisted primarily of abandoned vehicles strategically positioned to block approaching avenues, creating a relatively secure zone around the building.

Shortly after Richard's arrival, a figure ascended from the building below.

Falcon!

The approaching figure was none other than Sam Wilson of the Avengers—the new Captain America who had inherited the vibranium shield.

Wilson wore his distinctive Falcon combat suit while clutching Captain America's iconic vibranium shield in his right hand.

What a pity! No opportunity to eliminate Rogers personally!

Richard sighed inwardly. From the survivors' memories, he had learned that Steve Rogers had been infected and transformed into a zombie long ago. Before his complete transformation, Rogers had bequeathed his shield to Falcon, passing the Captain America mantle to his trusted ally.

Within moments, Falcon hovered before Richard.

"Who are you?" Wilson demanded, circling warily around the silver-haired newcomer.

"My name is Richard Wesley," he replied with deliberate calm. "As you can see, I possess extraordinary abilities. I've come specifically to help resolve your zombie crisis."

Unlike the ideologically rigid Rogers, Falcon generally demonstrated fewer double standards. Nevertheless, Richard harbored no particular affinity for him.

Hearing Richard's response, Falcon's expression grew increasingly suspicious rather than relieved. Though Richard showed no signs of infection, something about him triggered Wilson's instinctive wariness.

After circling Richard several times, Falcon finally gestured toward the building. "Follow me."

Without waiting for acknowledgment, he descended directly to the rooftop. Upon landing, he activated the communication device integrated into his gear, alerting personnel within the underground facility.

Minutes later, twelve familiar figures emerged onto the roof.

Spider-Man, The Thing, Invisible Woman, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, The Wasp, Winter Soldier, War Machine, Black Panther, Happy Hogan, and Sharon Carter.

Upon reaching the rooftop, the assembled heroes immediately scrutinized Richard. Though none recognized him, they all sensed an overwhelming, almost oppressive aura emanating from his presence.

This sensation arose not from any telepathic projection, but because Richard had ceased suppressing his natural energy signature. Though invisible to the naked eye, the magical fluctuations radiating from his body manifested as a tangible pressure—his personal aura.

In his original universe, Richard had habitually masked these emanations to avoid discomforting those around him. In this reality, however, he no longer bothered with such courtesies.

While Spider-Man and The Thing observed him warily, Richard conducted his own assessment of the assembled heroes. His attention lingered predominantly on Invisible Woman, Black Widow, The Wasp, and Sharon Carter, while merely glancing at the male heroes.

His focused gaze didn't go unnoticed. Observing Richard's particular interest in the female heroes, Falcon frowned disapprovingly.

"You claimed you're here to help with our zombie situation," Wilson interjected sharply. "Exactly how do you intend to assist? What abilities do you possess?"

Richard responded with measured deliberation: "I command numerous extraordinary powers—too many to enumerate individually. As for my assistance, it's straightforward—I can eliminate the zombies you've been unable to handle."

While speaking, he discreetly employed telepathy to probe their memories.

Though his statement conveyed literal truth and his demeanor remained composed, his response still provoked visible skepticism among the assembled heroes.

Madness!

Spider-Man, The Thing, and the other heroes shared an identical assessment: Richard exuded unbridled arrogance.

Their collective judgment didn't escape Richard's notice as he scanned their thoughts.

"You consider me arrogant," he acknowledged calmly. "That's understandable—you don't know who I am." A slight smile played across his lips. "Allow me to demonstrate. Within three minutes, I will make every zombie in New York City disappear."

What?

If the assembled heroes had previously considered Richard merely arrogant, now they viewed him as completely delusional.

Though New York currently hosted no particularly powerful undead—most were transformed civilians rather than enhanced individuals—their sheer numbers exceeded eight million. To eliminate eight million zombies in three minutes seemed impossible. The heroes couldn't envision any solution short of detonating a nuclear device in Manhattan.

"You're planning to detonate a nuclear bomb in New York?" Black Widow asked, her tone simultaneously skeptical and alarmed.

Richard merely smiled and shook his head. "No nuclear weapons necessary," he replied with unsettling calm. "I only need my abilities."

With that declaration, he turned and walked toward the roof's edge, the assembled heroes watching his every movement. Upon reaching the perimeter, he addressed them without turning. "Don't blink. What happens next won't be repeated."

As the final word left his lips, Richard activated his powers. Specifically, he simultaneously employed the matter manipulation plundered from Dark Phoenix and the matter transmutation acquired from Sersi.

Sersi's original ability had required physical contact to transform matter. When Richard first obtained this power, he too had assumed direct contact was necessary. However, after several days of experimentation at Silver Manor's training grounds, he discovered that "matter manipulation" and "matter transmutation" could work in perfect concert.

Matter manipulation originated from the X-gene, while matter transmutation derived from cosmic energy. Though fundamentally different in both principle and genesis, they complemented each other perfectly. Matter manipulation's targeting function effectively substituted for physical contact, enabling matter transmutation at a distance.

Black Widow, Invisible Woman, and the others remained uncertain about Richard's intentions. Nevertheless, they approached the roof's edge, eager to witness how he planned to eliminate New York's entire zombie population within three minutes.

They anticipated some magnificent, large-scale attack. The reality proved far more astonishing.

Under their watchful gaze, zombies from every corner of New York began rising into the air. Whether shambling through streets or lurking within buildings, every undead creature targeted by Richard levitated skyward.

Within seconds, hundreds of thousands of zombies floated above New York, forming a grotesque "zombie cloud."

This is impossible...

Disbelief etched itself across the faces of Black Widow, Invisible Woman, and their companions.

Time passed steadily. After approximately one minute, the "zombie cloud" had expanded dramatically, blotting out the sun like an ominous thunderhead.

Having confirmed that all zombies now hovered airborne, Richard turned to address the stunned heroes. "Have you ever witnessed cherry blossoms raining from the sky?" he inquired casually.

What?

Confusion replaced their expressions of disbelief.

Without awaiting response, Richard continued: "Enjoy the cherry blossom rain."

As he spoke, he activated his matter transmutation ability. Under the heroes' astonished gaze, golden light suddenly erupted from the zombie cloud's center. Within an eyeblink, this radiance expanded like lightning, encompassing the entire suspended mass.

As the golden illumination faded, the revolting "zombie cloud" underwent a startling metamorphosis. Where decaying corpses had been, delicate pink cherry blossoms now floated. Pulled by gravity, these countless petals began descending slowly toward the devastated city below.

The spectacle of countless pink blossoms drifting through the air above the silent, ruined metropolis created a surreal, almost transcendent tableau—beauty amid devastation.

It worked!

Like Black Widow and Invisible Woman, Richard observed the cherry blossom rain he had created. Unlike their expressions of astonishment, however, his features reflected relief.

Despite his status as an Omega-level mutant with vast magical reserves and numerous plundered abilities including Hellfire and matter transmutation, the demonstration had consumed substantial resources. Nearly one-third of his stored energy had been expended to accomplish this feat.

Though he had drawn exclusively from his body's energy reserves rather than his magical resources, depleting nearly a third of his power in just over a minute represented a significant expenditure.

In that brief span, he had transformed over one million zombies into a cascading rain of cherry blossoms.

Even witnessing this miraculous transformation firsthand, Black Widow, Invisible Woman, and their companions struggled to comprehend what they had just observed.

Could any human possess such power? Who is this man? Why have we never heard of him before?

These questions and more raced through the minds of the assembled heroes.

Though they couldn't identify Richard or understand the full extent of his capabilities, one fact became incontrovertible: his earlier statement had not been arrogance.

He had simply stated the truth.

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Marvel x Star Wars: Avengers in the Clone Wars

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