Template integration had reached 79%, only one point away from the 80% mark required to unlock a new ability. However, at his current level, Energy Absorption couldn't handle the massive, sustained output of the Mind Stone for long. After just a few moments, Aurelius Viremont felt an unusual wave of fatigue wash over his body.
He placed the Mind Stone into his pocket dimension, deciding to wait for his body to recover before continuing the absorption.
Currently, his Energy Absorption at Lv.4 was only slightly stronger than Sebastian Shaw's; it was within his expectations that he couldn't fully shoulder the power of an Infinity Stone yet. However, once the skill reached Lv.5, he would likely be able to bear the energy of one stone completely—or even multiple stones simultaneously!
His current skill progress was:
[Energy Absorption Lv.4 (2987/5000)]
As a skill that was active every waking second, it leveled up incredibly fast. It would reach Lv.5 soon, and then his template integration speed would skyrocket. Based on his current rate of draining Ikaris's energy core, he estimated he would gain another percentage point by tomorrow.
As he tucked the Mind Stone away, Aurelius Viremont looked at Captain America and the others. With the Mind Stone in his possession, a new, wicked idea took root!
Loki as a subordinate?
Captain America as a HYDRA sleeper agent?
The Hulk bonded with a symbiote?
Thor awakening his lightning powers early?
Black Widow brawling with the Hulk?
And a Sorcerer Supreme Iron Man...
Aurelius Viremont couldn't wait for the Battle of New York to begin. He wondered what the Chitauri army would think when they arrived on Earth only to face this lineup.
Determined to see it through, he turned toward the group. Captain America and the others felt a sudden surge of dread, but before they could resist, the majesty of the Mind Stone washed over them, twisting their thoughts completely.
"Sir!"
Including Loki, everyone bowed respectfully to Aurelius Viremont. Aurelius Viremont's lips curled into a wide grin. "Return to the Helicarrier," he commanded. "We're going to give Nick Fury a grand gift!"
"Yes, sir!"
Because of Aurelius Viremont's interference, the bond between SHIELD and Tony Stark wasn't as tight as it was in the original timeline, so Tony wasn't currently on board. The group boarded a jet and soared toward the Helicarrier.
During the flight, Aurelius Viremont examined the symbiotes. Loki was bonded with Riot, Captain America with Anti-Venom (Serum), and Black Widow with Agony. For some reason, these symbiotes had fallen together near the gala. Aurelius Viremont extracted a portion of each, used the Mind Stone to erase their original consciousnesses, and blended them together. A brand-new symbiote was born!
Since it lacked an independent will, it was less a creature and more a piece of equipment—one that could change shape at his command. He let the symbiote spread over his body; it consumed his original clothes and morphed into a fresh set. Feeling a negligible increase in strength, Aurelius Viremont smiled. Almost nothing, but the utility is nice...
The jet landed on the Helicarrier. As the hatch opened, Nick Fury was already waiting. He smiled at Captain America. "Welcome back in victory, Captain. Where is Loki?"
Captain America looked Fury straight in the eye, his expression dead serious. "He's on the plane. But Nig-er Fury, I have a gift for you."
The moment he heard that slur-adjacent nickname, Fury's pupils contracted. He knew Steve Rogers would never say such a thing. There was only one possibility: Captain America, like Hawkeye, was compromised.
Fury immediately reached for his hidden pager to call Captain Marvel. Simultaneously, a white-haired figure stepped out of the jet. Aurelius Viremont glanced at the pager Fury was desperately pressing. He could have stopped him, but he didn't. His expression only became more amused.
"Calling Captain Marvel?" Aurelius Viremont said, watching the shock in Fury's eyes. "She can't save you. Can she, my loyal subordinate, Nig-er Fury?"
Fury barked an order to the surrounding agents: "Fire! Target the White Demon!"
But the agents ignored him. Instead, they turned their weapons on Fury himself. Fury's heart sank. He looked at Aurelius Viremont—who wore a warm, charismatic smile that made him look more like a hero than Fury ever would—and snarled:
"You controlled them. You have mind control! No... you got the scepter, and you're far better at using it than Loki was!"
As a master spy, Fury deduced the situation instantly. But knowing the truth only made him more desperate. Seeing Aurelius Viremont remain noncommittal, Fury spat with venom: "You think you've won? You've offended too many powers. You'll die a miserable death soon enough!"
Ignoring the "mad dog" barking of the loser, Aurelius Viremont said kindly, "Don't worry, my loyal subordinate. That won't happen. And you're going to help me ensure it doesn't, right?"
A flash of yellow light pulsed from the Mind Stone. Under its influence, Fury's bulging, enraged eyes gradually glazed over and calmed. He looked at Aurelius Viremont as if staring at a god and bowed deeply. "Yes, sir. I will dedicate my life and all my energy to you."
With Fury and the crew under his thumb, Aurelius Viremont smiled with satisfaction. If SHIELD could be HYDRA-SHIELD, why couldn't it be Su-SHIELD? At this point, the takeover was mostly complete.
Led by Fury, the group marched into the depths of the Helicarrier, subverting every agent they encountered. Finally, they reached a laboratory where a lone man stood: Bruce Banner.
Banner spoke without turning around: "Director, I still need a bit more time to track the Tesseract..."
He trailed off, his voice dying in his throat. Standing behind Fury was a white-haired man, smiling at him. Though the smile was bright and sunny, it chilled Banner to the bone. He had seen this man in his recurring nightmares.
The White Demon spoke in a friendly tone: "Dr. Banner, sorry for the inconvenience, but I have a few 'suits' that need some tailoring."
Behind Aurelius Viremont, several grotesque symbiotes manifested on Captain America and the others, writhing with a violent, ominous aura.
Dr. Banner: "Hulk, Hulk! Come out, please!"
Hulk: (Trembling in the corner)
....
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