Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 566 Betrayal of the Gods (First Update)

"Captain, what is this?"

"This? This is why we're here, wisdom!" Salomon displayed the repulsive contraption in his hand to the crew. It was an apple made of flesh and blood, perfect, smooth, and lifelike; the skin formed the peel, the muscles and blood vessels the flesh, and he could even feel its faint heartbeat through his fingertips. He stuffed the fleshy apple into his mouth in front of the crew and chewed it incessantly. The first mate, who was closest, vaguely heard inhuman screams, the piercing, unstoppable, brain-piercing screams of an infant that sent a chill down his spine. The first mate didn't know what the captain had gone through, but disappointment and anger were etched on his face. "Alright, you bastards. I'm glad you didn't die here." Salomon sighed and strode through the makeshift camp the crew had set up. The Merlin Wizarding Order had brought some supplies for the crew, but it was far from enough. He didn't speak with the Merlin Wizarding Order, because he felt it was unnecessary.

Salomon stood on the gangway, watching N-Galle shrink below.

A terrifying magical light flickered around the outer perimeter of the distant, dark castle, its nauseating deep purple glow like a slumbering beast lurking within. It was a seal placed by the Earth Mother, hundreds of millions of years old, yet it still couldn't stop Sithon's dreams from corrupting the real universe. He turned and stepped into the spaceship, preparing to leave this planet, swallowed by an outer dimension with a thin atmosphere, and return to the real universe. He never looked back, as if this place was utterly unworthy of his presence.

A plan was brewing in his mind.

"Phoenix," the large, golden-red bird tilted its head. Salomon said, "Are you willing to betray the gods with me?"

It spread its wings and let out a beautiful cry. Salomon smiled and reached out to stroke Phoenix's chin. Kamar-Taj resisted the gods in order to grant humanity free will. This was taught to him by His Holiness, not something instilled in him by the Earth Mother or any other deity. Whether the Earth Mother supported reptiles or mammals, Kamar-Taj's mission would never change. Human destiny should not be decided by gods, whoever those gods may be.

The Venerable One did this, and Salomon will do the same.

"Captain, where are we going?" the first mate asked.

"A spiral arm of the Orion Arm, the Midgard system, planet C-53. Don't worry, I have the Asgardian passcode; no need for stealth. I'm going there to retrieve what my future self left for my past self," Salomon uttered, cryptic words. He walked through the dimly lit passage, waiting for the crew to reach their posts, the firelight on Phoenix illuminating his face. This time, they wouldn't have to travel such a long distance; Mother Earth would provide assistance. Gaia also hoped Salomon could soon see the fruits of his future self's labor and face reality. The heavy, rusty pneumatic steel door of the captain's cabin slowly opened, releasing a pungent, ionized stench. Behind the captain's seat, countless extra-installed pipes were haphazardly connected, as if the cabin harbored spiders that could only shoot rubber cables from their rear ends.

"I've heard of that planet. While others may not know, I know Ronan suffered a great loss there..."

"Weak inertial engines, through the white portal that will appear above us soon. Hurry up, the fleet will appear in the Asgardian star system." Salomon waved his hand, interrupting the first mate's rambling. "I need to rest now. Go carry out the orders, my dear first mate."

"My master, I'll go and urge those lazybones right away."

The fleet's command system projected layers upon layers of holographic images before him. Salomon closed his eyes, having no intention of watching. He had consulted the oracle, and now he only hoped Laura's movements would slow down a little.

Laura Crawford witnessed an incredible sight. She saw a massive glacier buried deep within the mountains, and an ancient, damaged Byzantine warship moored in the middle of it. According to the inscription on a scroll sealed in brass tubes on the ship, the Byzantine warship was named Maria Adela, a vessel used by the Holy Trinity to hunt down the Prophet. The Holy Trinity had intended to use the ship's ballistae against the Prophet, but due to the ice cracking, the keel of the warship broke in two, forcing the Holy Trinity to disembark and walk. Laura knew that these people ultimately failed to leave the frozen cave, because she saw many soldiers' corpses while searching for an exit. At the same time, she also found much of the Holy Trinity's treasure on the bridge, but she only took a beautiful porcelain brooch as a souvenir.

Perhaps this could be a gift? She desperately missed the steaming hot tea and desserts. She'd fallen into the river earlier, and now she was soaking wet, the icy water exacerbating her hypothermia. Yet she had to endure the excruciating pain of the freezing temperature and dive back into the water, searching for a way out, like pearl divers on the coast—if you only have one breath left, you'd better swim as fast as you can, praying that an exit is ahead. Laura prayed, and it worked; she did indeed leave the frozen cave and reach an abandoned Soviet facility. She longed to find a place to rest, though she knew it wouldn't be easy.

"I am not your enemy," Laura said to the red-haired girl, putting away her bow and arrows. Her stress response was quite severe, especially under the influence of hypothermia; she didn't even know if her trembling hands could still shoot arrows accurately.

"I'm not so easily swayed. I saw you kill those people." Though she said this, the red-haired girl slowly lowered her bow and arrow, no longer aiming at Laura. She could tell how tired the woman in front of her was, and she had seen how this woman killed those intruders.

"I killed to survive, and I believe you did too. How long have they been here?"

"It will probably take a few days. The invaders have taken many of our people. You'd better leave now."

"I can't do that. I came here for something important."

"Then they are too." The red-haired girl drew her longbow again. "If I ever see you again, I'll shoot an arrow through your throat."

There were also enemies in this abandoned Soviet facility, where Trinity used explosives indiscriminately to clear the ruins.

Laura found a sheltered spot on a cliff and built a fire, trying her best to keep the flames out of Trinity's sight. She needed rest, a long rest. Through Trinity's radio channel, she heard that their mercenary leader, Constantine, had captured a local. Laura forced herself to close her eyes, trying to ignore the feeling of her empty stomach. She needed to conserve her strength and wait for her mental energy to return. She planned to infiltrate the facility and rescue the captured local—Trinity undoubtedly wanted to extract information about the prophet from them. The locals' help was indispensable if they wanted to find the Divine Source. Laura felt she could gain the red-haired girl's trust this way.

Based on the ancient scrolls left behind by the Holy Trinity, Laura learned that the people of this region had converted to the Prophet. They must know where the Divine Source is, and she must take it with her first.

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(End of this chapter)