[Reverse Cursed Technique XP +1]
[Congratulations! Your Reverse Cursed Technique has leveled up!]
[Reverse Cursed Technique Lv.2 (107/300): Converts the negative energy of Cursed Energy into positive energy, possessing an extremely powerful healing effect!]
[Cursed Technique Reversal: Red XP +1]
[Congratulations! Your skill Cursed Technique Reversal: Red has leveled up!]
[Cursed Technique Reversal: Red Lv.3 (19/1000): Generates a repulsive force centered on Red. Minimum power is twice that of Blue; maximum output is infinite, approximating a miniature supernova!]
Following the high-intensity battle, both the Reverse Cursed Technique and Cursed Technique Reversal: Red moved up a level. Because he possessed the Limitless barrier and previous enemies were almost never able to harm his physical body, the Reverse Cursed Technique had been slow to level up.
In this fight against the Destroyer, he needed to use the technique constantly to heal the damage caused by the armor's energy beams. This allowed the accumulated experience to finally trigger an upgrade, putting him a significant step closer to Lv.3.
At Lv.2, the healing effect was drastically enhanced. Combined with the innate recovery speed granted by Energy Absorption, Aurelius Viremont's regeneration had reached the level of Wolverine. However, he still couldn't use it on others yet—that would likely require Lv.3.
Thinking of this, Aurelius Viremont decided to practice the technique more. After all, when Jane Foster arrived with her "delivery," he would need the Reverse Cursed Technique to safely extract the Reality Stone. He was also curious about what lay beyond Lv.3. In Jujutsu Kaisen, Shoko Ieiri reached the pinnacle by healing others; if he surpassed that limit, what would happen? Eternal youth? Resurrection? Restoring matter to its original state?
As for Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, its power had spiked again. He turned his palm upward, and cursed energy surged, manifesting a basketball-sized black-red singularity that floated steadily above his hand. He tossed it forward; amidst a violent gale and the shaking of the earth, a new trench—ten meters wide—was carved right into the center of the previous massive furrow. Its power had increased several times over.
Aurelius Viremont smiled with satisfaction. Beyond the skill upgrades, the battle had yielded another bounty: the Destroyer's beams contained massive amounts of energy. After absorbing them, he gained a wealth of energy points. His character template integration had jumped from 60% to 67%.
If the Destroyer weren't so difficult to carry around and risky to keep (given Odin's temper), he would have loved to use it as a permanent battery. Even with Lv.4 Energy Absorption, he calculated he would still need about five Arc Reactors running simultaneously to satisfy his daily requirements.
The plan to get the Infinity Stones needs to be moved up the schedule!
Just as Aurelius Viremont prepared to leave, a piercing roar echoed from the distance! Upon hearing this strange sound, he felt the energy in his body suddenly stagnate, but under the control of the Six Eyes, he regained balance in an instant. His calm face split into a grin of pure pleasure.
The seeds he had planted earlier were finally sprouting.
A giant missile plummeted from the sky. Aurelius Viremont stood his ground, unmoving. A mere nuke? Nothing more than a friendly "energy delivery"!
In the next moment, a blinding light erupted. It was as if a sun had fallen to earth; endless light and heat swallowed everything.
In the distant town, Thor and the others watched as a mushroom cloud rose on the horizon. A massive shockwave swept toward them. In this moment of crisis, Thor finally reclaimed his power. He summoned Mjolnir, grabbed Jane Foster and the others, and flew them to a safe distance. The Warriors Three followed close behind.
Once they reached a safe zone, they stared at the site of the explosion—mankind's most powerful weapon. Even Thor was startled.
"Why was Aurelius Viremont suddenly attacked by such a powerful weapon?"
Jane Foster explained, "His identity is the 'White Demon.' He's a wanted man. I heard the government had a plan for him; this nuke must be their doing. Even Aurelius Viremont can't survive a direct hit from that..."
Thor stepped forward. "I have to save him. Even if he's dead, I must retrieve his body!"
But as Thor took his first step, he froze. He stared at the shrinking, searing flames in the distance and said softly, "Oh... it seems I won't be needed."
In the hidden military base, the generals cheered as they watched the satellite feed.
"He was at the center of the blast! Even the White Demon can't survive that!"
"The world's greatest threat is gone. The White Demon is history!"
"Contact the media! We want the headlines to scream that the military has killed the White Demon!"
Amidst the celebration, only Colonel Stryker remained glued to the screen. Having dealt with mutants for decades, he knew they didn't always play by the rules—especially one as strong as Aurelius Viremont. He wouldn't be surprised if the man walked out unscathed.
Suddenly, the mushroom cloud on the screen changed. The flames and shockwaves that were expanding outward began to shrink visibly. The light and heat were being sucked into the center as if by a black hole, unable to escape.
The generals' laughter died. They stared in disbelief.
"What's happening?"
"The energy from the blast is being rapidly absorbed by something in the center!"
"Weren't his powers suppressed by the device? How is he still using them?"
"My God... is he even human?"
Within moments, every ounce of energy from the nuclear blast was gone. The explosion site was empty save for a vast expanse of dust; the molten ground had even begun to cool.
A blurry figure stepped slowly out of the dust, walking into the clear area visible to the satellite. He looked up at the sky and raised a single middle finger.