Nolan finished recording the gene structures of Sebastian Shaw and Darwin and then dripped both samples directly onto his skin.
The change was immediate.
The star-level energy and spatial power already raging inside his body surged even faster, reinforcing his physique at a rate far beyond the slow, gradual strengthening from before.
That could only mean one thing his cellular growth threshold had been raised again.
Every single one of his cells already functioned like an independent energy reactor. But even they had a maximum absorption rate.
At the current level, they required such an enormous amount of energy to maintain themselves that growth had nearly stalled.
Shaw's gene altered that.
The absorption rate spiked. Cell growth accelerated. For the first time, Nolan could feel a strange sense of emptiness as if his body was growing faster than the surrounding energy could replenish it.
Once his body stabilized, he planned to embed the Space Stone directly into his body.
If every cell reached Skyfather-level…
Then even within a single universe, he would be considered a true cosmic-level entity.
Once the Illuminati meeting concluded, every extraordinary faction across the planet began to move. The U.S. government watched in stunned disbelief as mutants appeared in the skies only to vanish into swirling portals seconds later.
The internet lit up with theories… which were promptly wiped from every platform.
That was enough for the public to understand this is above our pay grade.
At Hell's Gate, the staging ground for the battle, the forces gathered at an almost surreal pace.
Mutants with strange appearances, sorcerers in battle robes, super-soldiers in full combat gear…
Many had never believed in magic — until a Master of the Mystic Arts personally opened a dimensional portal in front of them.
And through that portal… lay a monster capable of devouring entire planets.
At the head of the formation stood Nolan, Odin, The Ancient One, and Wanda.
The Ancient One spoke softly.
Her pale yellow robes stirred in an unseen wind. She raised her hands enormous power flooding through the air as a radiant golden disc spun into existence, inscribed with impossibly complex glyphs.
A portal slowly formed a colossal gate connecting Hell's Gate to the Dark Dimension.
From a higher perspective, it looked like a colossal energy corridor erupting from Earth and violently piercing through countless galaxies and dimensions forcibly forging a path between two completely different realities.
"The gate is ready," the Ancient One said, her normally warm eyes now ice-cold.
People often mistook her kindness for weakness.
They forgot that in her youth she carried the Book of the Vishanti in one hand and the Eye of Agamotto in the other and hunted dimension gods like wild animals, stacking their corpses like a mountain.
This woman had kept the entire multiverse from invading Earth for centuries. Her gentleness was only for those who did not threaten the planet.
"Master, I'll go first."
Silver and gold markings pulsed across Nolan's skin, forming a sleek mystic battlesuit and flowing crimson cloak.
"That flashy thing is your battle robe?" the Ancient One snorted. "Every sorcerer in Kamar-Taj wears a proper robe, even me and you show up in a custom power suit?"
"Come on, it's the 21st century. Traditional robes are outdated. This is Arcane Power Armor self-designed. Alright, see you on the other side!"
With a thunderous boom, he launched himself into the dimensional corridor.
The Ancient One glanced at Odin. "After you, Your Majesty."
"Hmph. If that young man were my son, Asgard would never have fallen," Odin muttered. "Instead, I'm stuck with a war-addict and an empty-headed hammer swinger."
A sigh left his lips.
An instant later, Odin's full battle regalia manifested cloak, armor, and the All-Spear tore across the multiverse and landed in his hand. Far above, Loki caught a glimpse of him and froze Odin didn't even spare him a word.
With a single step, Odin entered the corridor.
The Ancient One then produced a book and handed it to Wanda. "Take this. Return it to Nolan after… assuming you two survive."
Wanda blushed slightly, but took it.
"You channel chaos. This will amplify that and help you support Nolan in the Dark Dimension. But if you lose control and Dormammu gets his hands on you…"
"Then maybe I shouldn't use it—"
"Nolan believes you can handle it. And I trust his judgment."
Wanda took a steady breath. The moment her fingers brushed the Darkhold, it felt… natural as if the book had always belonged to her.
The two stepped into the portal.
At the front lines of Hell's Gate, Max, leader of the Defenders, raised his hand and roared, "Everyone in position! Shields up! Prepare for incursion!"
A hundred warriors braced themselves as the portal shuddered.
The Battle for Earth had officially begun.
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