Marvel : Mutant God

Neither Richard nor zombie Thanos sustained injuries from the cataclysmic, nuclear-like explosion, but others weren't so fortunate. As the shockwaves and disturbed air currents dissipated, New York—which had recently begun regaining some semblance of vitality—lapsed into profound silence.

Both the zombie Chitauri forces and the human defenders—War Machine, Falcon, and others—momentarily ceased their frantic combat, as if collectively processing the devastation.

More than ten seconds passed in this eerie stillness before zombie Thanos, standing at the explosion crater's center, unleashed a primal, bestial roar. At this signal, surviving zombie Chitauri soldiers and Vanguards rushed toward Richard like a swarm of locusts.

Though zombie Thanos had lost his legendary intellect and sanity, their extended combat had made him recognize Richard as a formidable threat. Witnessing the zombie forces charging toward him, Richard—still hovering above the battlefield—sighed with resignation.

While it was entirely predictable for zombie Thanos to direct his forces against Richard, he had no desire for their interference in this duel. After briefly surveying the area, Richard activated his Omega-level Matter Manipulation.

Imperceptible energy fluctuations radiated outward from his position at astonishing speed. Within an eyeblink, these matter-altering waves encompassed a circular area ten kilometers in diameter. Though not particularly vast, this zone easily contained all forces accompanying zombie Thanos.

Decompose!

Without hesitation, Richard activated the decomposition aspect of Matter Manipulation. Unlike his first arrival in New York, he wasn't inclined toward aesthetic displays. While transforming repulsive zombies into drifting cherry blossoms created a visually striking scene, decomposition provided greater efficiency.

Under the watchful gaze of zombie Thanos, War Machine, and the other defenders, the charging zombie Chitauri forces began disintegrating at visible speed, vanishing like smoke in wind. The closer they were to Richard, the faster their decomposition progressed.

Though Richard targeted only the zombie Chitauri and Vanguards, his broad application of Matter Manipulation affected more than just the infected aliens. Surrounding buildings and abandoned vehicles also began dissolving into their component atoms.

In less than ten seconds, every zombie Chitauri soldier and Vanguard accompanying Thanos had completely disappeared, reduced to atomic particles invisible to the naked eye.

After dispatching the zombie forces, Richard maintained his Matter Manipulation, focusing now on zombie Thanos standing within the explosion crater.

No more games.

After targeting zombie Thanos, Richard sighed internally. Despite failing to gain any advantage in swordsmanship or close combat, he'd genuinely enjoyed their exchange. If completing this world's challenge didn't require eliminating zombie Thanos, he might have considered capturing the infected Titan as a sparring partner.

Zombie Thanos certainly posed a dangerous threat, but with proper precautions—removing the Space Stone and double-edged sword, constructing a vibranium containment facility—he could theoretically be maintained indefinitely.

Though the prospect was tempting, the Vergil template offered far greater appeal than preserving zombie Thanos as a combat practice dummy.

As invisible matter manipulation energy locked onto him, zombie Thanos immediately raised his left hand, attempting to generate another protective shield using the Space Stone embedded in his Infinity Gauntlet.

Richard, however, refused to grant this opportunity. As zombie Thanos lifted his arm, Richard directed the hovering Cosmic Cube to discharge a laser-like blue-white energy beam toward the infected Titan.

Unlike his previous attack, this energy projection appeared much smaller—approximately finger-thickness. Despite its reduced size, the beam sufficed to prevent zombie Thanos from manifesting his protective shield.

Hiss-crack! Hiss-crack! Hiss-crack!

Before the blue-white energy shield could materialize, the Cosmic Cube fired dozens of rapid energy beams like a supernatural Gatling gun.

Facing this barrage, zombie Thanos didn't passively await his fate. Instead, he demonstrated agility and speed incongruous with his massive frame, dodging within the confines of the explosion crater.

Zombie Thanos moved with impressive velocity, but his evasive maneuvers only prevented direct hits from the energy beams—they couldn't break Richard's Matter Manipulation lock. Without his protective shield, the infected Titan couldn't maintain his desperate evasion indefinitely.

Decompose!

Under Richard's control, Matter Manipulation first severed zombie Thanos's left arm at the shoulder, causing the Infinity Gauntlet with its embedded Space Stone to clatter to the ground.

Had Thanos retained his living form, losing an arm would have triggered excruciating pain. In his infected state, however, he registered no suffering. Only after his detached limb struck the ground did he comprehend what had occurred.

As zombie Thanos attempted to discard his double-edged sword and reclaim the fallen Infinity Gauntlet, Richard decomposed his right hand as well. After removing both arms, Richard abandoned any pretense of prolonging the confrontation and began decomposing zombie Thanos's entire body.

Under his impassive gaze, zombie Thanos—like his Chitauri forces moments earlier—rapidly dissipated like morning mist. Within three seconds, the massive infected Titan had completely vanished, as if he'd never existed.

It's finished.

Though he'd succeeded in eliminating zombie Thanos, Richard experienced no satisfaction in defeating such a formidable opponent. Instead, a wistful curiosity about facing Thanos in his normal, non-infected state emerged in his thoughts.

[World Challenge Completed]

[Challenge rewards have been sent]

[Third Template: Vergil Template Awakens!]

[First Template: Sephiroth (Fusion Degree 65%)]

[Second Template: Superboy-Prime (Fusion Degree 5%)]

[Third Template: Vergil (Fusion Degree 80%)]

[Do you want to return to the original universe now?]

Upon seeing Vergil's fusion percentage, Richard's expression registered as "exactly as expected." Though he'd only just officially awakened the Vergil template, he'd already mastered Judgment Cut End, Phantom Sword, Yamato, and True Demon Form long before this moment.

In essence, beyond Judgment Cut End and the three weapons—Force Edge, Phantom Blade, and Beowulf—Richard already possessed Vergil's complete ability set. His Judgment Cut End technique had even progressed to level 4 through continuous refinement.

He'd previously theorized that awakening the Vergil template would yield a substantial fusion percentage, and his prediction proved correct. Though technically his third template, Vergil's fusion degree surpassed his Sephiroth and Superboy-Prime templates combined.

The 80% fusion level conclusively demonstrated his mastery of Vergil's power set.

After reviewing the Vergil template information, Richard considered the system's query about returning to his original universe. He swiftly reached his decision, selecting "no."

Though he'd successfully completed this world's challenge, he felt no imperative to immediately return to his original universe.

Richard had no intention of returning to his original universe until he'd successfully conquered the Invisible Woman.

There's nothing urgent waiting for me back home anyway. I might as well stay here a while longer and enjoy the gentle companionship of Black Widow and Sharon Carter a few more times.

After dismissing the system information panel, Richard—still hovering above the battlefield—returned both the Cosmic Cube and Masamune to his system space. Next, he employed Matter Manipulation to levitate the fallen Infinity Gauntlet and double-edged sword before him.

Following the same procedure he'd used with the Mind Gem scepter, Richard first conjured an enormous sphere of water to thoroughly cleanse both artifacts. After ensuring they were properly decontaminated, he applied high-temperature flames to sterilize the Infinity Gauntlet and double-edged sword before storing them within his system space.

Looks like it's time to add to my collection of trophies!

As he secured these powerful artifacts, an unbidden image of Odin's treasure vault materialized in Richard's thoughts. The All-Father's legendary repository housed countless spoils accumulated over millennia of conquest—the Frost Giants' "Winter Casket," the Fire Demon Surtur's "Eternal Flame," and numerous other cosmic relics.

Though Richard hadn't engaged in as many battles as Odin, his own collection had grown impressively substantial: Sebastian Shaw's mind-shielding helmet, Captain America's shattered vibranium shield, the Cosmic Cube, Wenwu's Ten Rings, the Mind Gem scepter, the Eye of Agamotto, the Space Stone-embedded Infinity Gauntlet, and Thanos's double-edged sword.

After careful deliberation, Richard abandoned the notion of establishing a physical trophy vault. Better to keep these items within his system space where they remained accessible at any moment. Creating an Odin-style treasure room only invited eventual theft, regardless of how improbable that might seem. Though few individuals could successfully pilfer such artifacts, prudence dictated caution.

Three months later. Zombie universe, Manhattan, New York.

"You really won't stay a little longer?" Natasha asked, studying Richard's expression carefully.

"No, I've been here for more than a hundred days. It's time to return to my universe," Richard replied with deliberate slowness.

"It would be fine to remain here a while longer," Natasha pressed.

"Perhaps, but I'll need to go back eventually," Richard answered. "Though speaking of which, I could actually take you out of this universe." He paused, glancing between Natasha, Sharon, and Susan. "While you do exist in my reality as well, at least in my universe you wouldn't need to worry about zombies anymore. You could set aside your responsibilities and live according to your own desires."

Shortly after eliminating zombie Thanos, Richard had successfully seduced Susan Storm, experiencing the exquisite pleasure of her company. Over the subsequent two months, he'd persuaded all three women to engage in "debates on the origin of life" with him—sometimes in pairs, other times all together.

I must admit, enjoying the gentle attentions of these three remarkable women simultaneously provides an exceedingly pleasant experience for both body and spirit. 'Blessings for everyone' indeed! Richard now appreciated this idiom with newfound depth.

His unexpected proposal stunned all three women into momentary silence. Throughout their three months together, Richard had never before mentioned this possibility.

After several seconds of contemplative quiet, Susan ventured, "Can you really transport people from this universe?"

"It should be possible, though I can only take a few individuals," Richard replied.

Although this marked his first World Travel challenge, based on the black spherical portal he'd used to cross between realities, bringing a small number of companions shouldn't present significant complications. The three-meter-diameter black sphere functioned effectively as an interdimensional gateway.

While Natasha and Susan were still weighing his proposition, Sharon's decisive voice broke the silence.

"I'll go with you," she declared with unwavering certainty.

Hearing Sharon's immediate acceptance, Natasha and Susan quickly reached their own decisions. Like Sharon, both elected to accompany Richard.

Their reasoning proved straightforward—this universe contained no one worthy of their lasting attachment. Though they maintained friendships with individuals like Clint Barton and Ben Grimm, these connections represented mere camaraderie rather than profound bonds.

Bruce Banner, whom Natasha had genuinely cared for, had perished early in the outbreak. Reed Richards and Johnny Storm, Susan's beloved family, had likewise fallen to the infection. Despite their relatively brief acquaintance, Richard had somehow managed to fill the emotional void left by these devastating losses over the past three months.

Of course, Richard had compensated for considerably more than just their emotional deprivation.

"In that case, say your farewells to the others," Richard instructed the three women.

"We will," they replied in unison.

More than an hour later, under the watchful gazes of Spider-Man, War Machine, and the remaining survivors, a perfect black sphere three meters in diameter materialized before Richard and his companions. Resembling a miniature black hole, the orb immediately generated a formidable gravitational pull.

Curiously, this powerful attraction affected only Richard—neither the gathered observers nor even the three women standing beside him experienced its influence. Anticipating this, Richard had already decided to bring his companions with him. He immediately released his mana, enveloping Natasha, Sharon, and Susan within its protective field.

Once surrounded by his mana, all three women felt the sphere's tremendous gravitational force. Before they could fully process this sensation, Richard ceased resisting the pull.

As War Machine and the others looked on, all four individuals were instantly consumed by the black sphere, as if devoured by a cosmic void. Immediately afterward, the sphere itself vanished completely.

Similar to his journey to the zombie universe, Richard experienced an overwhelming repulsive force shortly after entering the black sphere.

Silver Manor.

A three-meter-diameter black sphere materialized without warning in the center of the training ground, expelling Richard and his three companions before dissipating like smoke.

Finally back!

Richard exhaled with profound relief after confirming that the sphere had successfully transported himself, Natasha, Sharon, and Susan back to his home reality. This being his first attempt at bringing others across universal boundaries, he'd harbored significant concerns about potential complications.

Evidently, as long as he enveloped chosen individuals within his mana field, he could successfully transport them between universes.

"Where are we?" Natasha asked, quickly surveying the vast, empty training ground that resembled an indoor sports arena devoid of equipment.

"This is my personal training facility," Richard explained. "But we can discuss that later. First, I should introduce you to everybody."

Reception Room, First Floor, Silver Manor.

The two groups of women regarded each other with unmistakable suspicion. Natasha and Susan frowned as they studied Emma Frost and Clarice across from them. Similarly, Emma and Clarice scrutinized the newcomers with evident wariness.

Beyond Sharon Carter, whom neither recognized, Emma and Clarice immediately identified Natasha Romanoff and Susan Storm. However, they assumed these were their universe's native versions rather than dimensional travelers accompanying Richard.

As the five women engaged in their silent standoff, Richard addressed Emma and Clarice directly:

"They are indeed Natasha and Susan, but not the ones you know. They come from a parallel universe."

Parallel universe?

Upon hearing Richard's explanation, Emma and Clarice exchanged perfectly synchronized eye-rolls, their expressions clearly conveying:

Sure, keep making up stories.

Though Richard had spent over a hundred days in the zombie universe, thanks to temporal differential between realities, only a single day had elapsed in his home universe. After a mere twenty-four-hour absence, Richard's claim of visiting parallel dimensions and returning with alternate versions of Natasha and Susan strained credibility.

Compared to interdimensional travel, Emma and Clarice found it far more plausible that Richard had previously established relationships with this universe's Black Widow and Invisible Woman without their knowledge. After all, Richard had already engaged in "in-depth exchanges" with numerous high-profile women—socialites, prominent journalists, international supermodels, and others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.

New Fanfic 

Marvel x Star Wars: Avengers in the Clone Wars

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~