"Two more companions have died, Ajak. We need to respond. Can we continue like this?"
Before Ikaris could speak, Kingo could no longer hold back.
"We need revenge, Ajak. With our strength, we're not powerless to act. But because of your orders, we have to do nothing. Makkari and Druig are dead. If this continues, who will be next?"
After Kingo finished, Ikaris also spoke to Ajak. They had been fighting Deviants on Earth for thousands of years. The ten of them together could handle any danger.
But now they had lost three companions. First Sprite, because they were separated and lost contact, then Druig and Makkari.
Ajak took a deep breath, then said to everyone, "If Druig hadn't done something unnecessary, he and Makkari wouldn't have met this end. You all saw what happened online..."
"They're dead now. Don't criticize them anymore, Ajak."
Gilgamesh shook his head. They had all fought alongside each other. Even if it was their fault, it wasn't right to bring it up now.
More importantly, Gilgamesh hoped to do something, not just wait here.
"Listen, everyone. Phastos and I have been working hard on a plan. The human organization SHIELD has responded. They're looking into this matter."
Phastos tried to calm his companions down, because he knew Ajak was also trying. The best course now was to follow Ajak's plan.
"Pin our hopes on humans? For thousands of years, we've been saving humans. Now we switch places?"
Ikaris suddenly stood up, his words full of anger.
Seeing this, Ajak knew that the deaths of Druig and Makkari had brought them great unease. If they didn't do something, they might be next.
"It's hard to lead them, isn't it? Relying on their own abilities, they don't even listen to you, their leader."
These words sounded behind Ajak, sending a chill down her spine. They were in their own spaceship base, with a wall behind her. Where did this person come from?
"Who?"
Ajak shouted, immediately manifesting her Eternal attire and turning around.
The others noticed Ajak's movement, stopped arguing, and looked in her direction. They suddenly saw an extra person there.
With azure blue eyes and long black hair, dressed in ordinary Eastern casual wear, he seemed unremarkable aside from his looks.
But how did this person get into their Eternal spaceship? Ikaris was standing by the entrance.
"Who are you?"
"You ask such a stupid question. Weren't you just discussing taking revenge on me? After all, three of your companions couldn't resist coming after me. It was so annoying, so I..."
Zzzt.
Two golden lasers shot directly from Ikaris's eyes. The moment he heard Hyuga Mirai's words, he didn't hesitate to attack.
"As expected of the strongest Eternal."
As he said this, Hyuga Mirai had already formed a black Truth-Seeking Ball in his hand, as smooth as a mirror. When Ikaris's laser struck it, it was reflected to the other side.
Bang.
"Shit! My hand! Ahhh!"
Kingo suddenly screamed in pain, clutching his wrist, which had been severed by the laser. He had been about to gather energy in his hand, but the laser cut through his wrist. To eliminate the enemy as quickly as possible, Ikaris had used his full power to fire lasers from his eyes.
And Hyuga Mirai had amplified the laser with his Truth-Seeking Ball, so it cut through Kingo's wrist. After severing Kingo's wrist, the laser didn't stop. Hyuga Mirai slightly adjusted the angle of the Truth-Seeking Ball mirror, and Ikaris's laser was reflected elsewhere.
"Ah!!!"
One of Sersi's legs was severed by the laser. Sersi was very close to Ikaris, and he could feel blood splashing on his face.
Gilgamesh shouted, "Ikaris, stop!"
He didn't need to say it; Ikaris had already stopped. He immediately went to help Sersi. As the laser stopped, mysterious runes appeared on Gilgamesh's fists. He leaped high, intending to punch Hyuga Mirai.
But he never even touched Hyuga Mirai before being slapped away. Like a cannonball shot out, he smashed through the Eternal spaceship and crashed into the cave wall outside.
"I have no interest in playing with you anymore."
Not wanting any more trouble, Hyuga Mirai raised his hand and clenched it slightly. Several dozen Truth-Seeking Balls appeared around him. They instantly transformed into sharp blades and pierced the limbs of the Eternals present at incredible speed.
Thud, thud, thud...
Struck by the Truth-Seeking Ball blades, the chakra of seven nature transformations disrupted all energy within the Eternals. Unless their energy surpassed Hyuga Mirai's, they couldn't resist the Truth-Seeking Balls.
"There's also a big fat guy. Why would an Eternal call yourself Gilgamesh..."
A clone dragged Gilgamesh in from outside. After being slapped away by Hyuga Mirai, Gilgamesh's neck was broken. His body was still warm.
"No!"
Seeing Gilgamesh's twisted, misshapen neck, Thena knew he was dead. That's why she cried out in grief.
But these people had no ability to resist Hyuga Mirai. The gap was too vast. The Eternals' skin, impenetrable by Earth's weapons, was as thin as paper before Hyuga Mirai's Truth-Seeking Balls.
After all the Eternals were subdued, Hyuga Mirai snapped his fingers. The next moment, this strangely shaped spaceship was moved into his Initial Ball Space.
From these ten individuals, he should be able to deduce some of Arishem's abilities. However, 18 felt she was becoming weak. She had collected all of Earth's knowledge and computing power. It seemed she had reached her limit.
Hyuga Mirai planned to help 18 create space-jumping probes, while also launching several space signal stations in the universe. These probes could visit other civilizations to absorb information, allowing 18 to continue evolving and growing stronger.
He could also gather information about Thanos, so at least he wouldn't be clueless when Thanos arrived.
Before that, Earth should be quiet for a while, as long as Nick Fury of SHIELD didn't cause him any more trouble. Otherwise, Hyuga Mirai would have to give him a little warning.
When Hyuga Mirai returned, he saw Yuzuki holding dice and wanting to gamble with him. He immediately felt a sense of dread. He hadn't expected that after failing with Mio, Yuto, and the others, Tsunade had managed to corrupt Yuzuki's hobbies.
Hyuga Mirai was about to roll up his sleeves and confront Tsunade, but Yuzuki insisted on playing a couple of rounds with him.
A one-year-old wanting to gamble with Hyuga Mirai. To correct Yuzuki's gambling habit, Hyuga Mirai even used the Tenseigan to manipulate gravity. Within an hour, Hyuga Yuzuki had lost even her pacifier. Kurenai Yuhi watched the whole process, laughing uncontrollably while holding the wailing Yuzuki.
---
"Rumlow, you've done an excellent job over the past few years. Even my daughter likes the movies you've starred in. Who would dare call you HYDRA now? If Nick Fury dared to bring up your past, HYDRA's reputation, boosted by you, would probably surpass SHIELD's overnight."
Hyuga Mirai looked at the model employee Rumlow with great satisfaction. In five years, Rumlow had made the nickname 'Cool Uncle' America's number one superhero. After spending his first year in Los Angeles, he had moved to eight different cities over the next four years, becoming the most popular hero in the nation.
Now, who still used Captain America's image to attract customers? Posters of Steve Rogers could only be found in some back alleys. Even in cities Rumlow had never visited, 'Cool Uncle' superhero posters were gradually appearing.
"Thanks to the company's support. Otherwise, I couldn't have reached this point."
Hyuga Mirai waved his hand with a smile. "No need to be modest. The other day, my daughter asked if the real you is as powerful as the one in the movies. When she found out it was special effects, she was disappointed for a while..."
"..." Rumlow laughed awkwardly and didn't answer. It was indeed a shame he wasn't that strong. He was just a super-soldier who had been injected with serum. He didn't have superpowers.
"You've been with the company for quite some time now. It's time for a promotion."
After saying this, Hyuga Mirai brought up a virtual screen in front of him, displaying ten superpower templates. These were abilities he had developed from studying the Eternals.
Using the Eternals' abilities as templates, Hyuga Mirai had also learned some methods of 'creating beings' and 'granting abilities'.
The seven nature transformations of chakra touched upon the fundamental energy of a planet. These superpowers were child's play to Hyuga Mirai.
"Sir... can I choose any of these?"
"Of course, but only one. Your body can't handle a second superpower template yet, unless you undergo a major overhaul."
Hyuga Mirai said with a smile. With his power, creating a batch of Eternals as henchmen wasn't impossible, but there was no need. Once you reached a certain level, you didn't need grunts to support you.
His Initial Ball Space also contained a Gedo Statue, which could be infused with chakra to become the Ten-Tails. If Hyuga Mirai infused the Gedo Statue with chakra, its destructive power could destroy a planet in less than a day.
After reviewing all the superpower templates, Rumlow hesitated between Ikaris' flight and laser eyes and Gilgamesh's ability. The former was powerful but didn't seem suited for close combat. The latter was more fitting for his identity as Weapon Master, but it lacked the ability to fly.
After thinking for a moment, Rumlow made his choice. "Sir, I'll choose the seventh template."
Flight and laser eyes were strong, but Future Biopharmaceutical Company had no shortage of flying equipment. Laser eyes weren't really his style either.
Hearing Rumlow's words, Hyuga Mirai closed the virtual screen, then created a charm in his palm containing Gilgamesh's ability. It was similar to a cursed seal, but it would fuse completely with the recipient.
After sending the charm into Rumlow's body, he immediately felt he had gained a new ability.
Rumlow struck his fists together, and layers of golden runes appeared around both wrists. His strength increased tenfold. Rumlow's physical attributes were already on par with a super-soldier. Now he felt that even if a speeding train were heading straight for him, he could punch it away.
However, he also sensed that this ability consumed stamina. If he kept it active continuously, it would last him only about two hours of combat.
"You can't absorb cosmic energy yet, but the charm will gradually transform your body. One day, you'll even be able to survive in space."
Rumlow immediately said gratefully, "Thank you, Mr. Mirai, for nurturing me. I..."
"Save the rest. Your performance deserves this reward."
Although Hyuga Mirai said it casually, Rumlow knew in his heart how precious a reward that could transform a person into a god truly was. It surpassed anything valuable on Earth.
After Rumlow left, he suddenly recalled that Mr. Mirai had mentioned his daughter several times. "Maybe I should find out what kind of movies Miss Yuzuki likes."
Besides Rumlow, Peter Parker and Quicksilver also had the opportunity to receive charm modifications. Wanda did not, as she had already begun learning magic.
Quicksilver's speed increased significantly, and he could also create a shield around his body while running. If his shield and speed didn't diminish, he could punch through the moon.
However, his path as a scholar was narrowing. He didn't have Peter's talent for learning; at best, he could only get a bachelor's degree.
Hyuga Yuzuki had also been granted the power of charms: absolute strength, absolute speed, absolute defense, and so on. Hyuga Mirai had spared no expense for his daughter.
She also carried the soul marks of Hyuga Mirai, Tsunade, and Kurenai Yuhi. If any charm on Hyuga Yuzuki showed the slightest anomaly, the three would open a spatial passage and appear beside her.
But she had been raised well. Aside from a slight gambling habit and a fondness for teasing others with the Rinnegan, she had no other bad traits.
"18, still no trace of Thanos?"
After Hyuga Mirai asked this, 18's complaining figure appeared before him. "Sir, the scope of the universe is currently undetectable. Unless you use the Infinity Stones..."
18 had again appeared in the image of Kaguya, always surprising Hyuga Mirai.
"The futures seen with the Time Stone are also chaotic. 18, I can only rely on you now."
18 immediately recited a string of numbers: "You've said that sentence to Sasori of the Red Sand 121 times, and to me 525 times."
"The Kree civilization controls a vast star system. I've already altered some command protocols. If I get any news, I'll tell you immediately."
(End of Chapter)