With the Reverse Cursed Technique upgraded once again, Aurelius Viremont tested it by using a spatial blade to slice a wound into his palm. Under the influence of the Lv.3 technique, the injury vanished instantly!
The recovery speed was now several times faster than at Lv.2. If Lv.2 was comparable to Wolverine's healing factor, Lv.3 had completely surpassed it. If Aurelius Viremont kept the technique active continuously, he would effectively be immortal. For his current self, maintaining both the Reverse Cursed Technique and Limitless simultaneously placed zero strain on his energy reserves.
Beyond the speed of healing, Lv.3 allowed him to apply the effect to others. Aurelius Viremont theorized that Lv.4 would bring a massive metamorphosis—he might be able to reverse his own state, toggling his body between infancy and old age at will, or even apply such temporal reversion to non-living objects.
Once it hits Lv.4, I should be able to forcibly extract the Reality Stone from Jane Foster, he mused.
Closing the system panel, Aurelius Viremont looked ahead. The Frost Giant-Hulk was currently rampaging through the Chitauri ranks, tearing bodies apart with frozen fury. Behind him, Captain America and the others picked off any stragglers. Not a single Chitauri soldier survived their approach to the control room.
The Chitauri's desperate resistance was like mist against a mountain. Moments later, the team reached the bridge.
BOOM!
The reinforced metal doors were blown inward by a single punch from Hulk. Aurelius Viremont and his subverted squad walked into the command center. The Chitauri commander, backing away behind his few remaining guards, barked at Aurelius Viremont with a mix of terror and bravado:
"Earthling! I am a vanguard of the Great Titan! We have sent a distress signal. The terrifying Black Order is arriving. If you leave now, I may overlook your previous insolence!"
Aurelius Viremont acted as if he hadn't heard a word. As he drew closer, the commander's composure shattered. He screamed frantically at his guards, "Fire! Fire! Kill him now!"
A barrage of high-tech energy bolts struck Aurelius Viremont, but they did nothing but provide a few measly energy points. Amidst the light show, the Chitauri soldiers watched in despair as Aurelius Viremont entered his five-meter "death zone."
The soldier in front was instantly cleaved at the waist. Before his upper torso could even slide off, he was diced into four more pieces by the next wave of slashes. A mist of blood filled the air, but it stayed exactly five meters away from Aurelius Viremont, repelled by the invisible barrier.
By the time Aurelius Viremont stood before the commander, every guard was dead. The commander was alone, his mind breaking under the weight of absolute hopelessness. "Stay back, you monster!"
Aurelius Viremont pulled a translation device from a nearby desk and placed it in his ear. Finally understanding the commander's speech, he crooked his finger. The commander was hoisted into the air by twisted gravitational forces, his bones creaking and snapping under the pressure.
Aurelius Viremont smiled warmly. "Looking at your ugly face... you look like a writhing maggot. Do the 'galaxy-renowned' conquerors also cry when they're afraid?"
Before Aurelius Viremont could continue, a deep, gravelly voice boomed through the bridge's speakers:
"Earthling! I command you to release him. The subordinates of the Mad Titan are for the Mad Titan alone to judge!"
A holographic projection of a tall, grey-skinned humanoid appeared in the center of the room. He glared at Aurelius Viremont. "Let him go, cease your resistance, and accept the judgment of Thanos. Only then will you have a sliver of a chance to survive!"
In the deep void outside the bridge, a massive wormhole tore open. A mothership several times larger than the Chitauri vessel emerged. Inside its bridge, Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, and Cull Obsidian watched the projection of the man who had sacked the Chitauri ship.
[The Black Order — Cull Obsidian]
While Cull Obsidian issued the ultimatum, Corvus Glaive turned to his wife, Proxima Midnight. "The Chitauri are truly useless, defeated by Earth primitives. But even if they are failures, they belong to Lord Thanos. These cowardly humans must pay the price for their arrogance."
Proxima Midnight nodded. "We shall use their blood to remind Earth what happens when you provoke the Titan's army."
They didn't believe for a second that Earthlings could withstand the Black Order, nor did they expect them to fight back. Unlike the Chitauri, the Black Order was the elite core of Thanos's forces. They expected the humans to make the "rational" choice: surrender and await execution.
However, as they chatted, Cull Obsidian let out a sudden roar of rage: "No! You piece of filth, you wretched maggot! I will tear you limb from limb!"
He turned to the other two. "The human rejected us. He killed the Chitauri commander and is openly provoking us—challenging the Great Black Order!"
Corvus and Proxima's faces twisted with fury. "It seems the ignorant Earthlings don't know our name. It is time they understood the fear of true dominion. Fire on the Chitauri mothership! Turn those humans into stardust!"
Under Corvus's command, the ship's main battery charged. After a brief buildup, a terrifying beam of energy erupted toward the Chitauri ship.
The trio watched with cruel satisfaction as the light streaked through the void. They expected the ship and the humans on it to be erased in a heartbeat. But then, their smiles froze.
In front of the Chitauri mothership, the white-haired human stood in the vacuum of space. He held out a single hand, stopping the colossal energy beam in its tracks!
....
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