Chapter 6 - Spreading the Will of the Void
Harvey returned to his luxurious estate in New York with the money, the skyline of Manhattan stretching beneath him as he moved through the air with unnatural silence. After placing the cash securely in the basement, he changed into ordinary clothes, suppressing the oppressive aura of the Grim Reaper. Once settled, he summoned the system again, his mind focused on the changes triggered after acknowledging his identity as a being of the Void.
He immediately noticed that the interface, which previously only displayed hero templates, had now unlocked two additional functions. Hero Ascension and Hero Origin indicating a deeper stage of progression had been activated.
Harvey first opened the Hero Origin function and saw the familiar image of Kha'Zix, the Voidreaver, a predatory entity driven by endless adaptation and evolution. However, unlike before, the interface now displayed multiple variations of Kha'Zix, each representing a different evolutionary path. These were no longer simple cosmetic skins from League of Legends, but conceptual evolutions transformed into tangible abilities by the system.
Each variation carried a distinct evolutionary direction, similar to how different species in Marvel such as the Kree or Skrulls develop unique biological or technological traits to survive and dominate.
The Sand Guardian Voidreaver granted the ability to transform into sand, enabling near-perfect concealment and environmental adaptation, reminiscent of certain elemental manipulation abilities seen in enhanced beings.
The Death Blossom Voidreaver allowed plant mimicry, making the user appear harmless while hiding lethal intent, a trait not unlike certain alien species that rely on camouflage and deception.
The Tyrant Alien Voidreaver stood out the most, granting mechanized evolution that allowed direct control and integration with machinery, similar in concept to advanced techno-organic interfaces found in Kree technology or other cybernetic lifeforms. However, its requirement one hundred million Void Energy was extremely high.
The Odyssey Voidreaver introduced arcane evolution, hinting at powers beyond conventional science, comparable to the mystical forces wielded by beings connected to dimensions like those accessed by Asgardian or sorcerous energy systems.
The Dark Star Voidreaver was even more extreme, offering control over a destructive cosmic force capable of universal-scale devastation, something conceptually closer to the level of cosmic entities in Marvel. However, most of these forms had unknown exchange conditions, leaving Harvey unable to determine how to obtain them for now.
Although the Tyrant Alien Voidreaver required an enormous amount of Void Energy, Harvey did not immediately dismiss the possibility of acquiring it. Given the system's nature, difficulty did not necessarily mean impossibility. Instead, it likely indicated that higher-level evolutions required far greater accumulation of power and influence. With that thought, Harvey shifted his attention to the Hero Ascension function, which required something called an Evolution Source. According to the system, one Evolution Source could be obtained for every one thousand evolutions, and each source granted a hero ascension opportunity.
Currently, Harvey had only completed slightly over two hundred evolutions, far from the required threshold. This made the ascension function irrelevant for the time being, so he did not dwell on it. At that moment, the system issued a new directive, its cold mechanical voice echoing in his mind. It stated that a Void mission had been activated—he was required to spread the will of the Void, ensuring that more beings believed in it and joined it.
The system further clarified that the stronger a being's destiny and power, the more Void Energy they would provide upon alignment.
Hearing this, Harvey immediately focused on a key detail. "What determines destiny?" he asked, his tone thoughtful. However, as before, the system did not respond, returning to silence as if it only provided necessary instructions rather than engaging in dialogue.
This behavior was consistent with its previous patterns, and although slightly frustrating, Harvey was already accustomed to it. Without direct answers, he could only analyze the information himself.
Strength was easy to understand. Through his ability to perceive life energy, Harvey could roughly gauge the power level of individuals, distinguishing ordinary humans from enhanced beings. Destiny, however, was more abstract. Based on his knowledge of the Marvel Universe, it likely referred to individuals who played significant roles in shaping events those whose actions influenced the broader trajectory of the world.
If strength alone were the deciding factor, then someone like Tony Stark in his original human state would not qualify as powerful.
Yet Tony Stark's importance was undeniable. As Iron Man, he became a central figure in the development of advanced technology, global defense systems, and major conflicts that shaped Earth's future. His influence extended far beyond personal strength, affecting organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and even the formation of the Avengers. This suggested that destiny was tied not just to power, but to impact the ability to alter the course of events on a global or even cosmic scale.
Initially, Harvey had no intention of involving himself with Tony Stark. Interfering too early could disrupt the future he was familiar with, creating unpredictable consequences. However, the situation had changed. Now that Tony Stark had already become Iron Man, his role in the world had solidified. This meant that approaching him at this stage would not completely derail the timeline, but instead allow Harvey to take advantage of an already established turning point.
More importantly, if Harvey's interpretation was correct, then Tony Stark's destiny was exceptionally strong. Convincing someone like him to acknowledge the Void or even partially align with it—would likely generate a massive amount of Void Energy. Compared to ordinary individuals, the return would be exponentially greater. With this realization, Harvey began to reconsider his previous restraint.
If spreading the will of the Void required targeting individuals with both power and destiny, then Tony Stark was an ideal candidate. Not only was he influential, but his technological genius and position within global affairs made him a key figure in humanity's future. Whether through persuasion, observation, or subtle influence, Harvey understood that making contact with Iron Man was no longer optional, it was a necessary step in his evolution.
However, to spread the will of the Void, Harvey realized he needed to change his approach. Remaining hidden and acting only as a mercenary would not allow the Void to expand its influence.
He needed to step into the world openly, but in a controlled manner, adopting an identity that others could believe in and follow. In Marvel's world, influence often came not just from power, but from perception figures like Tony Stark or even leaders within S.H.I.E.L.D. shaped events because people trusted or feared them. Harvey understood that if he wanted to spread the Void's will effectively, he needed to build a similar foundation.
One possible method was to establish an institution, such as a school, and subtly guide ordinary people toward the Void. By cultivating influence over time, he could shape beliefs without drawing immediate suspicion. However, Harvey quickly recognized the risks involved. In a world monitored by organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and agencies such as the FBI, any unusual ideology spreading among civilians could easily be classified as a cult. Once labeled as such, it would inevitably attract investigation and scrutiny, limiting his ability to operate freely.
In truth, being targeted by the FBI was not a major concern for Harvey. With his current abilities intangibility, instantaneous movement, and overwhelming presence, ordinary human forces posed little threat. However, what truly concerned him were forces beyond conventional human authority. In Marvel's established structure, Earth was not unguarded. Mystical forces, dimensional barriers, and cosmic overseers all played roles in maintaining balance.
Acting too openly risked drawing the attention of beings far more dangerous than any human agency.
One of those figures was the Sorcerer Supreme the Ancient One—who protected Earth from mystical and interdimensional threats. In Marvel canon, the Ancient One maintained the balance between dimensions and monitored abnormal magical disturbances, especially those tied to external forces like the Dark Dimension.
If the Void's influence manifested as a form of energy or power that disrupted reality or resembled an invasive force, it would almost certainly fall within her domain of responsibility. That alone made large-scale expansion extremely risky.
At the same time, Harvey had to consider the influence of Asgard. As previously mentioned, Earth (Midgard) was one of the Nine Realms under Asgard's sphere of influence, and Odin Borson, the All-Father, maintained a watchful presence over it.
While Asgard did not interfere with every minor event, anything that threatened the balance of the Nine Realms or introduced a foreign power capable of large-scale disruption could draw attention. If the Void began spreading too rapidly, it might be interpreted as an invasive force, prompting intervention from Asgard.
Another uncertainty further complicated matters. Harvey did not know what would happen to individuals who accepted the will of the Void. If they gained abilities or underwent transformations, those changes could easily resemble mystical empowerment or even corruption. In Marvel's framework, such phenomena often fell under the classification of magic or extradimensional influence.
This meant that even if Harvey acted carefully, the very nature of the Void could expose him, making it highly likely that the Ancient One would investigate.
With his current strength, Harvey was confident in his ability to escape danger. By merging with the Void and utilizing his unique abilities, retreat was always an option. However, escape was not victory. Against figures like the Ancient One or Odin both possessing immense experience, power, and authority he had no confidence in achieving a decisive win. Engaging them directly at this stage would only create unnecessary conflict and severely hinder his long-term plans.
If matters escalated to that level, Harvey would be forced into a defensive position, constantly evading pursuit rather than expanding his influence.
That would make spreading the will of the Void extremely difficult, if not impossible. Instead of growing stronger, he would be trapped in a cycle of survival. For someone whose power depended on evolution and accumulation, such a situation was unacceptable. Therefore, avoiding their attention entirely was the most logical choice.
Only when he evolved to a level where he could stand on equal footing with entities like the Ancient One or Odin would he truly be free to act without restraint. Until then, subtlety and patience were essential. With this in mind, Harvey decisively abandoned his earlier plan of establishing a school and recruiting large numbers of followers. While effective in theory, it was far too conspicuous for his current stage of growth.
At the same time, the system had made one thing clear targeting individuals with both power and strong destiny would yield far greater returns. This aligned perfectly with Harvey's understanding of the Marvel world, where key figures such as Iron Man, future Avengers, and other influential individuals shaped the course of history. Rather than spreading the Void indiscriminately, focusing on a small number of high-value targets would be far more efficient and far less risky.
With this in mind, Harvey began to formulate new strategies. This was only the beginning of his expansion. He did not need to rush or act recklessly. By keeping his actions hidden and selectively influencing key individuals, he could steadily accumulate Void Energy without drawing attention. Once he reached a sufficient level of power, broader actions could be taken with far less risk.
As for spreading the will of the Void on a massive scale, Harvey believed that such ambitions were better suited for the future particularly beyond Earth. In the wider Marvel Universe, countless civilizations existed, many with advanced technology and vast populations. Establishing a Void-based belief system among those civilizations would yield far greater results than limiting himself to Earth. However, that required one crucial condition interstellar mobility.
For that, Harvey needed access to a higher-level hero template, specifically something like the Voidwalker Kassadin, whose abilities would allow him to traverse space and dimensions freely. Only then could he move between planets and begin expanding the Void's influence on a universal scale. Until that point, Earth would remain his testing ground rather than his primary domain.
Fortunately, time was on his side. With his evolving lifespan, Harvey was in no hurry. Unlike ordinary humans, he was not bound by decades or even centuries. If necessary, he could wait, growing stronger while observing the world's development. In fact, if he remained cautious enough, he might outlive both Odin and the Ancient One before taking more aggressive actions.
From his knowledge, neither Odin nor the Ancient One had an indefinite lifespan. Odin periodically entered the Odinsleep to restore his power, and the Ancient One had already begun preparing for her successor, Doctor Strange. Their time was limited, even if it had not yet reached its conclusion. This meant that patience alone could remove two of the greatest obstacles in his path.
Ideally, Harvey would prefer to bring both Odin and the Ancient One into the fold of the Void. If beings of their level acknowledged the Void, the resulting gain would be unimaginable. However, he quickly dismissed this possibility as unrealistic. The Ancient One was devoted to maintaining balance and was already guiding Stephen Strange toward becoming the next Sorcerer Supreme, even planning her own death as part of that transition.
Odin, on the other hand, was a god-king who had conquered realms, defeated countless enemies, and ruled Asgard for millennia. His pride and authority were absolute. A being like him would never willingly submit to an unknown force like the Void. If anything, he would view it as a threat to be suppressed. The idea of converting such figures at this stage was nothing more than wishful thinking.
If circumstances were different—if Odin and the Ancient One had longer lifespans and Harvey had more time to evolve then perhaps things could change. With enough power, he might one day stand above them and force acknowledgment of the Void's supremacy. But reality was not so accommodating. Both of them were nearing the end of their respective paths, leaving Harvey with limited opportunity to influence them.
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