Marvel: Extraordinary Comprehension

Chapter 143: General Zod's Invasion! Hela's Change, Lucci Awakens With Three Women!

Still… Fury gave a bitter, powerless smile and shook his head. "Too bad. It's now the property of Lucci."

He was a smart man; he knew some things were best not coveted. By taking the warship in plain view of the world, Lucci had declared his ownership before all.

"Director, how should we treat Lucci? He's… beyond anything I've ever seen," Coulson asked cautiously.

Fury was silent for a moment. Then his gaze sharpened. "How? Simple. Absolute obedience and total cooperation. Tell him SHIELD is ready to become his sharpest sword and strongest shield—whatever he asks, whatever resources needed, we will provide."

"Also, declare all information related to Lucci as top secret. Warn every field agent and the Avengers: anyone who tries to deceive or cause trouble for Lucci—I'll kill them myself."

Coulson nodded. "Understood, Director."

Fury turned to the rapidly brightening sky outside the window, feelings mixed. The world was saved—and that was good. But the new savior was so mighty, even Director Nick Fury felt like an ant, easily squashed at any moment.

"Lucci… the unknown god…" he muttered. "I just hope you have your own bottom line."

…

Compared to the awe and excitement on Earth, the mood inside Asgard's palace was entirely different.

Hela and Loki had just finished a mountain of official work. Both looked somewhat weary. Lucci had temporarily handed them power—Hela was in charge of the military, Loki oversaw civil affairs. They enjoyed the authority, but it was no easy job.

"Phew, finally done," Loki stretched, corporate fatigue replacing the former gloom. "Who knew Father put up with so many trivial things for so many years?"

Hela sneered. "That's because they're too wishy-washy. If it were me, I'd have fed all the discontent to Fenris."

Loki recoiled. "Yes, yes, we all know how decisive and efficient you are, sister."

Though conquered by Lucci, the pride of the Goddess of Death still remained. Loki, for his part, knew better than to provoke Hela now—she might not be Lucci's match, but was more than enough for him.

As they exited the palace and parted ways, sudden hurried, excited footsteps sounded up ahead. Loki instantly recognized the delighted grin—Father! And something joyous had clearly happened.

Odin was elated, smiling broadly, even his heavy robes seemed lighter.

Hela instinctively frown and turned aside, reluctant to speak to the old man who'd sealed her away for millennia. But Loki, never missing a chance, put on his most sycophantic smile. "Father, what's the good news?"

Odin boomed, "Of course it's wonderful! Big news! Lucci won! He beat Thanos on Earth!"

"What?!" Loki's smile froze, eyes wide. "Father… did you just say Lucci killed Thanos?"

"That was Thanos, Loki!" Odin said proudly. "Heimdall and I witnessed everything! Lucci beheaded Thanos with a single sword, and—snatched his warship too!"

Boom!

Loki's mind whirred. Lucci could already suppress Hela—but to kill Thanos? Not merely the stuff of myth, but the god of myth!

Hela, who had been leaving, stopped. Her once cold, hateful eyes now churned like a stormy sea. Of course she knew who Thanos was—a force on par with Asgard, one who had wounded even Odin with a Power Stone.

But Lucci really did kill him?

Looking at Odin's excitement, Hela couldn't help but recall the youth's calm smile. "He really is amazing…" she murmured, her last resentment vanishing. Before such an overwhelming force, all rebellion was pointless.

Loki, still stammering, asked, "Father, are you sure Heimdall wasn't hallucinating?"

"Fool boy! Not trusting Heimdall's sight? Or doubting Lucci? Of course it's real! Even Thor saw it—he's on his way back now!"

Loki finally forced a smile. "Ha, of course—Lucci is the strongest, as expected of an Asgardian prince."

Inside, however, Loki was shaken. He was wise, lucky to have chosen submission and not gone to his doom with Hela. Otherwise his fate would likely be no different from Thanos's.

Odin looked at Hela, noting how much her eyes had softened. Something in him stirred.

"Ahem! Since Lucci not only saved Earth but eliminated a major threat to Asgard, should we not hold a grand celebration?"

Loki jumped in, "Yes, yes, of course! A celebration!"

Odin nodded, locking eyes with Hela. "Three days from now, Asgard will hold a grand victory feast and invite honored guests from all Nine Realms. You must attend as well."

Hela was silent. After a long moment and complex feelings, she finally spoke, "...Fine."

"That's wonderful! Prepare yourself!" Odin bustled away to find Frigga and share the news, his beard shaking with excitement.

Loki watched, lips curving. The world of Asgard, too, was changing. But perhaps that wasn't so bad. Life would certainly be less boring under a true powerhouse.

…

—Meanwhile, at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters on Earth—

Lucci felt no particular satisfaction from defeating Thanos. To him, it was just a test—a step toward a higher realm.

Now, seated cross-legged, six Infinity Stones floated in front of him, their laws converging into his sea of consciousness. He'd understood the laws of space, time, reality, mind, and had just recently mastered the laws of Asgardian power. But he had never tried to fully merge and sublimate all six at once.

Buzz…

The six gems shone simultaneously, colored lights weaving together. Instead of chaos, Lucci's comprehension bent them into a perfect loop. A torrent of cosmic information flooded his mind.

If before his understanding was like peering at a river, now he glimpsed the entire sea.

He "saw" spinning galaxies, devouring black holes, currents of energy in the void, the very birth and death of life. Earth itself was as insignificant as dust beneath his gaze.

"So this… is the true mystery of the universe?"

The wash of sixfold law continually elevated his soul—he could feel himself only a step away from grasping the ultimate: the completion of a single universe.

This was a mystical, perilous state—one misstep and he could be washed away, his will diluted into the cosmos forever.

…

Outside, in the school courtyard, Jean, Jane, and Diana sparred. Suddenly, Jean faltered, glancing instinctively toward the meditation room.

"What is it?" Diana noticed immediately.

"No, not an enemy," Jean murmured, eyes fixed on the basement entry. "It's odd—almost as if Lucci is undergoing some transformation. I can feel a great wave of power, a kind of awe."

"Transformation?" Diana and Jane exchanged shocked glances. Was Lucci still not at his peak?

…

Back in the chamber, Lucci's cosmic vision was suddenly shattered by a discordant ripple. He saw… ships? Great metal warships, far beyond Earth's technology. Lucci's will instantly locked on them, seeing through even their thick hulls.

Within, groups of stern men in black armor bustled about—and at the center of the bridge, a tall, sharp-eyed man stood.

"General Zod…?" The name leapt to Lucci's mind—Kryptonian military zealot, a menacing villain who nearly destroyed Earth. So it was him.

Apparently, Superman's activities had finally drawn the attention of Kryptonian remnants. Zod must've tracked Superman's signal into the Solar System.

The immersion faded instantly. The merging-with-the-cosmos sensation receded. Lucci exhaled, clarity returning to his eyes.

"As sublime as this state is… now's not the time."

Stretching, a sly grin crossed his lips. "Well, thanks to General Zod's sudden arrival, I woke up sooner than planned. Guess that's convenient for me."

The six Infinity Stones dissolved into light.

A large-scale conflict seemed inevitable with the obstinate Zod now loose.

Lucci left the chamber, smiling in the warm sunlight. "Looks like Earth is going to get lively again."

Just then, a familiar voice sounded in his mind: "Prince Lucci, it is Heimdall."

"Heimdall? What's up?"

"The All-Father commands me to invite you to a grand victory feast three days hence in Asgard, to honor your defeat of Thanos and salvation of the Nine Realms. We hope you can attend."

Lucci grinned. A celebration? He had just wanted to visit Asgard again, observe and harness the World Tree's energy—this would be the perfect opportunity.

"Got it. I'll come," he replied.

"Thank you, Prince Lucci."

Lucci looked up at Diana, Jane, and Jean hurrying over. All three women dashed to surround him.

"Lucci, done with your seclusion?" Jean asked, voice full of concern. "How do you feel?"

"Very good—quite fruitful, actually."

"Heimdall invited me to Asgard's grand celebration for my victory. I wouldn't dream of going without you all—would you like to see the realm of gods together?"

Jane's eyes lit up. "Really? Asgard?! The legendary land of gods? Of course I want to go! I've heard it's incredible!"

Diana, herself a demigod, was also intrigued. "Me too. I've always wondered about the place that produced someone as powerful as you."