Marvel: Xenomorphs

"He's on the move again. This time, he's got about forty Xenomorphs with him, including the Abomination Xenomorph. Some vampires are about to have a really bad day!"

"Duncan has grown to where he is today thanks to vampires! When are those bloodsuckers going to go extinct already?"

"Soon, soon. The vampires in New York will be wiped out by him eventually."

It was common knowledge that Duncan had a special fondness for vampires, considering them plentiful and relatively easy to deal with.

Even though the vampires in various strongholds fought back desperately, at best, they could only kill a few Xenomorphs. Duncan could easily replenish his numbers by capturing more vampires, making him indifferent to such losses.

Naturally, everyone assumed that Duncan's latest move was aimed at the vampires and that he would continue to expand his Xenomorph army. This only added to the growing unease.

"We can't let this go on. We have no idea what the upper limit is for the number of Xenomorphs! If we let him keep growing his army unchecked, it will be a disaster if it spirals out of control. We need to stop him now, even if it means using force!"

Fury, having reached his limit, ordered Coulson to contact Duncan for negotiations while preparing to mobilize troops. If Duncan refused to comply, they would resort to a show of force.

But soon, he received news that Duncan wasn't targeting vampires this time. Instead, he had boarded a helicopter with his Xenomorphs and was heading to New Mexico.

"I must be out of my mind to have agreed to provide you with transportation."

Tony Stark looked at the large number of Xenomorphs and regretted his decision. "Jarvis, scan my brain. Did he mentally manipulate me?"

"No, sir. Everything is normal."

"Really? Maybe it's a subtle form of mental suggestion? Something more insidious than outright control. He can command dozens of Xenomorphs at once—maybe he's using some kind of mental influence." Tony was feeling paranoid.

"Stop overthinking it. Have you dealt with the fallout from killing Ross? I'd rather not visit you in prison," Duncan said through the headset, confident that Tony could hear him.

"One billion dollars, and they think I might have a problem. Ten billion, and they decide I did nothing wrong. A hundred billion, and they're convinced I did the world a favor. But there's no way I'm spending a hundred billion. Those people don't care about Ross's life; they care about whether his projects can continue."

"Let me guess—the Super Soldier Program? That's the only explanation for his obsession with chasing the Hulk," Duncan said.

"Sometimes, I think you've read the script in advance. But now, more people want to get in touch with you to incorporate your Xenomorphs into the Super Soldier Program. You probably already guessed—they've asked me to reach out to you." Tony frowned, clearly annoyed.

Those in power didn't believe that Tony and Duncan had a genuine friendship, but they did believe in their financial ties. After all, they had evidence that Tony had transferred money to Duncan, and such relationships were often more reliable than friendships.

"Lots of people have been trying to contact me. They've been waiting for an opportunity."

"Like this one? You're leaving, creating a vacuum. Your base is going to attract a lot of unwelcome visitors," Tony Stark warned bluntly.

Duncan might not be a superhero, but at least, in Tony's eyes, dealing with someone like Duncan—who had both ability and potential—was far better than dealing with SHIELD.

Duncan didn't respond, only chuckled softly. The defenses he left behind were strong enough to handle most threats. Even if someone powerful did break in, it wouldn't matter.

Because the Queen was already hidden among the forty-plus Xenomorphs accompanying him.

Asgard, a flat world surrounded by the cosmos, lay quietly in the vast expanse of space.

"Your recklessness nearly sparked another World Tree War!" Odin's aged face was filled with anger and disappointment as he glared at his heir.

"I want war!"

Thor and Odin were locked in a heated argument. Thor shouted in the grand hall, "Why should we hold back? I have the power to wipe out the Frost Giants! Asgard has the strength to conquer Jotunheim and end all wars within the World Tree! Your most capable son has the power to kill Laufey! I don't understand why you have time to monitor Midgard and dig up information about the Eternals, but you won't support your own son!"

Extreme admiration often breeds extreme resentment.

Thor didn't hate Odin, but a son who idolized his father naturally wanted to earn his approval in the way he knew best—through strength and conquest. Yet, his reckless actions had only earned him reprimands.

The relationship between father and son had deteriorated, and Thor felt wronged, a sensitive emotion brewing within him.

Odin shot a fierce glare at Loki, who stood nearby, and Loki promptly lowered his head, feigning innocence.

"Are you spying on your father?" Odin's voice turned icy.

"I'm keeping an eye on my father! What's so special about the Eternals? That Midgardian managed to drive one off—I could do the same!" Thor shouted.

"Did Heimdall tell you? Of course, I never told him to keep such a trivial secret. Just as I never expected my son to use underhanded tactics against me!"

Loki's head sank even lower.

Odin's expression darkened. Even though he was nearing the end of his life, he was still the All-Father. No one, not even his own son, could speak to him in such a manner, let alone spy on his actions and openly admit it!

His close monitoring of the Eternals wasn't for their sake but for the Celestials!

Over a thousand years ago, he had united all the pantheons of the World Tree to fight against the Celestials, who had come from afar. They had suffered a crushing defeat.

The Eternals on Earth were created by an immensely powerful Celestial as their emissaries. How could Odin not pay attention? He was too old now, struggling even to bear the weight of his own divine power. If the Celestials returned, he wouldn't have the strength to fight as he had a millennium ago.

"Silence, you fool! You understand nothing!" Odin was utterly disappointed. Thor's recklessness showed he had no grasp of his father's deeper concerns.

"You cowardly old man!"

The moment Thor blurted out those words, he froze.

The entire hall fell into stunned silence. Everyone stared at Thor in shock, including Loki, who had been subtly stoking the flames. Even he was wide-eyed, unable to believe what his brother had just said.

This was no joke—Thor had just insulted the most revered, powerful, and domineering ruler of the World Tree!

"I see now. You're jealous? Jealous that a Midgardian accomplished something you couldn't, and yet you think brute force is the answer. It seems that a thousand years of teaching and nurturing have turned you into nothing more than a fool who only knows how to solve problems with violence."

Odin seemed to age several years in that moment. He had been hesitant before, reaching out to the Ancient One as a precaution. But now, his resolve was firm.

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