Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

She closed her eyes, then opened them. By the time the last talisman on the magazine page had turned to ashes, she had already reduced her life force and soul strength to a level slightly stronger than an ordinary person.

The commotion outside had largely subsided; clearly, unnamed civilian heroes had assisted government employees in calming the chaotic crowd. And if her memory of the previous loop wasn't too far off, in about an hour, the newly formed World Government would issue an official statement, recruiting all non-superhero civilians willing to fight for Earth to combat this unprecedented catastrophe.

Through this decree, all the forces on Earth will be mobilized. Many otherworldly transmigrators, alien travelers, and other diverse combat forces, characteristic of American comics, will gather on this planet. That will be my opportunity—to better fulfill my duty, instead of being a lazy bum waiting to gain experience.

She decided to boost her reputation before the decree was issued. First...

She picked up her bow and talisman.

Let's start by maintaining traffic order in the surrounding area and helping elderly women cross the street.

Chapter 57. The First Day of Not Being a Salted Fish

And so, two days passed by quietly.

Here are the main things that happened in the last two days—

—A provisional world government was established after costing over ten million lives or injuries in the Middle East, Central Africa, and Southern Europe, or after proxy wars. The world's five largest powers finally compromised at the negotiating table, forming a massive administrative organization that relegated the United Nations to the dustbin of history. Some remote, small countries gained the opportunity to continue living happily in ignorance, while major powers with complete industrial capacity joined forces, and numerous comprehensive cooperative projects that had previously only existed in dreams began to unfold.

—Alien civilizations such as Asgard and Atlantis became close allies of the World Government through special alliances. Many cutting-edge technologies, far beyond the comprehension of most mortals, were shared and rapidly put into use. Several ancient and powerful clandestine organizations also stepped into the limelight and joined the ranks of those cooperating in this great campaign.

The Avengers heroes contacted many powerful allies, both native and extraterrestrial, through their own means. Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, was the first to arrive; she was an extremely powerful superhuman capable of freely absorbing and releasing cosmic energy and traveling at the speed of light between stars. Following closely behind was an alien special forces unit led by a man known as 'Star-Lord'.

Before descending upon Earth, they reportedly fought Thanos. The outcome is unknown, but it was likely less than ideal. This is easily discernible from Star-Lord's perpetually grumpy face, even when he's on television. However, the specifics of the battle remain a closely guarded secret—the fact that they suffered no casualties might suggest a battle that wasn't entirely unsuccessful. But it's also possible that their opponent, with overwhelming power, spared their lives.

—At the same time, the World Government issued a 'Conscription Decree'. Any warrior willing to contribute to the safety and survival of Earth can receive the full support of the World Government simply by stepping forward. Whether it's advanced technological equipment or bizarre magical tricks, the World Government will provide assistance as long as it can.

This law doesn't just target anonymous "unnamed experts"; it also includes super-criminals with a history of crimes. As long as these super-criminals haven't committed heinous crimes like genocide, they'll be pardoned once they step forward. Even those notorious individuals who have committed numerous serious crimes are not immune to negotiation if they possess sufficient ability.

Through this decree, the World Government assembled a super-soldier army of tens of thousands in just two days—heaven knows how so many skilled individuals, even those with cyborg-like combat abilities, were hidden on this planet. Statistics showed that 90% of these super-soldiers possessed 60-80% of Captain America's physical strength. 8% were roughly equal to him. And the remaining 1% possessed combat power far exceeding that of the others.

For example, a mutant with metal manipulation abilities who wishes to remain anonymous. Or, for example, an Asian female archer.

—These are the noteworthy events that have occurred on Earth's surface in the past two days. The power unleashed when the entire world unites has undoubtedly exceeded the comprehension of most mortals. Except for some abandoned remote areas, all cities have been mobilized and placed under high control. At least for the past two days and the next five, global security will be pushed to its limits, much like productivity.

Everyone was fully engaged, and everyone in the know was extremely tense. Because in the past two days, all efforts on Earth to call for reinforcements or generate massive production capacity had not been hindered in the slightest. However, all forces with astronomical observation capabilities within the solar system could clearly see Thanos's army's undisguised gathering in the former asteroid belt.

Because the asteroid belt was gone, the fragmented meteorites that had circled the center of the solar system had been reassembled by the interstellar overlord with immense power, creating an Imperial Death Star that looked like it came straight out of the 'Star Wars' movie set. Its menacing main cannon, with just a single test shot, completely vaporized an asteroid that had strayed into the solar system, about 100 kilometers in diameter, from space. And if such a bombardment had landed on the moon or the Earth, the results would likely have been far from pleasant.

Thanos kept his word, granting seven days as promised. However, only two days later, the alien fleet gathered around the Death Star had grown to a number that would drive any Earthling to despair—it did not prevent any pleas for help from Earth or any aid from the outside world. It also ignored the World Government's requests for negotiation. It simply waited, along with its army and loyal followers, for the seven days and nights it had granted Earth to end.

This invisible pressure is enough to weigh down on every living thing on Earth's surface through the vastness of space. Faced with such pressure, Earthlings have been forced to make some decisions that now seem like a desperate measure.

..............................

Ming Yanwei examined the high-tech armor she was wearing, which was supposedly created using the latest nanotechnology. She easily found three flaws that were likely either system backdoors or design loopholes. She compared this equipment to the personal powered armor Alice had previously built for her, and after half a second, she concluded with a sigh, 'It's free anyway, better than nothing.'

Ah, that's right. This equipment is free. Ever since she calmed two disturbances, resolved a stampede and a sudden fire as an unregistered superhero two days ago, the day the draft was issued, and helped elderly ladies cross the street thirteen or fourteen times, the World Government's operations officer approached her and, after a pleasant fifteen-minute conversation, made her a member of the World Government.

Her long-held dream of becoming a civil servant was fulfilled overnight, though it was essentially a promotion on the spot. The unusual sense of accomplishment still brought her a slight sense of pleasure. Two hours after she joined the system, the background check by the relevant departments came to an end. She officially became a subordinate agent of a special department with a very long name, and after her combat capabilities were verified, she was taken to the rear for emergency training and weapon enhancement.

Unsurprisingly, she met the renowned Tony Stark. After reviewing the report revealing fifty percent of her combat capabilities, he was instructed to take half an hour from his busy schedule to design a special suit of armor specifically to enhance her combat abilities—the one she's currently wearing. After spending half an hour familiarizing herself with the armor's functions, she was quickly assigned to some 'rural areas unsuitable for world peace' and placed in a team of super soldiers with similar backgrounds to her to carry out special missions.

In short, a few brainless extremist groups in the Middle East, who were still making trouble behind the scenes while the World Government was doing everything it could to mobilize all its resources to fight Thanos, have been turned into a twenty-page operational report in the past two days, one that no one will ever read. As a result, she has gained nominal attention from her superiors and has been assigned a special mission completely different from the previous sweep of these brainless groups.

She was assigned to lead an elite team, along with Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, to a secluded location to meet the Lord of the Dark Dimension, who had released a trace of his presence somewhere on Earth two days prior!

Dormammu, this powerful dimensional daemons, is said to possess power surpassing that of the former Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One. According to some irresponsible speculations, Thanos has only now begun his invasion of Earth because he has always been wary of Earth's protector, the Ancient One, and Odin, the former ruler of Asgard—although this theory has become less convincing since the eight Starswords were observed one by one. Nevertheless, it still represents a glimmer of hope for victory.

Dormammu's power is undeniable, and the Time Stone in Doctor Strange's possession is precisely the means to counter him. Therefore, if this external force can be utilized, or even diverted elsewhere, the chances of defeating Thanos will increase significantly.

It was a foolish idea, akin to drinking poison to quench thirst. But in the face of Thanos's threat, humanity had no other choice.

And it was precisely for this reason that, as the group headed towards the secret location leading to Dormammu's lair, all those in the know remained silent.

Ah… familiar tactics. I remember the last loop was just like this. Same World Government, same Dimensional Demons. But this time it seems to be happening earlier… Is it because Dormammu's dark aura accidentally leaked out in this loop? Or is there some other special reason?

The secret location Doctor Strange pointed out was a hidden underground seal. He initially attempted to open a portal to the Dark Dimension directly from Kamar-Taj, where Dormammu's presence was leaking. However, the surge of energy emanating from behind the portal nearly turned the entire sorcerer's sanctuary into an eternally cursed place. The cause of this phenomenon remained unknown; several veteran spellcasters and Doctor Strange studied it for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Ultimately, they could only weakly attribute it to Thanos and his army existing within the solar system, causing instability in the interdimensional space—a far-fetched conclusion.

However improbable it may seem, with no other explanation, this deduction must be accepted as the correct answer. Under these circumstances, Doctor Strange is forced to choose another hidden, ancient path—a path… requiring guards to clear away the magical seals containing the remaining enemies.

[I know about this, although it's not explicitly stated in the comics. However, in the last loop, Doctor Strange was indeed accompanied by a group of spellcasters, even a regular army, who had borrowed power from the Dark Dimension. He must have negotiated terms with Dormammu again in the last loop, and although he didn't get Dormammu's direct intervention, he borrowed his power to enhance the Earth's army's combat capabilities. Although that doesn't affect the final outcome at all.]

She advanced in silence; no one in the makeshift team spoke, and she naturally had no intention of starting a conversation. In her memory, the last cycle, though abruptly ending midway through the war, clearly demonstrated that Earth's forces were insufficient to withstand Thanos's will. Humanity had attempted to launch a preemptive strike against Thanos's army before the eight celestial swords crashed into Earth's orbit, hoping to seize the Infinity Gauntlet and the six Infinity Stones. Because, in the eyes of the superheroes at the time, there was simply no way to defeat Thanos while simultaneously ensuring Earth's survival, except by harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones.

They made an attempt. But the results were far from satisfactory. Before the last cycle ended, Ming Yanwei, who was just staying on Earth and doing nothing, saw a beam of light traverse the sky, blasting the entire moon into fragments no larger than one cubic meter each—this was clearly a targeted ability, and the source of this ability should belong to Thanos.

Thanos shattered the moon by striking through an asteroid, so the superheroes who fought him are likely doomed. While this cycle differs slightly from the last, the outcome should be the same—Thanos will ultimately triumph, and even if he doesn't, the world will restart. Since I was able to awaken in this cycle, the next one should be the same. Therefore, if I used Dormammu's dark power to forcibly unlock the fourth stage of my genetic lock in this cycle, then even if I fail at the start of the next cycle, I will at least gain insight into the meaning of failure.

Her steps faltered slightly, barely noticeable, as she had already arrived at her destination. As she prepared to fulfill her duties as a bodyguard, she also reaffirmed and refined her plan.

Indeed, Ming Yanwei was self-aware. Her fighting power might be enough to easily defeat all the Avengers except Thor, but going up against Thanos, who could mold planets into clay, was simply suicide. The outcome of this cycle wouldn't change, but if she could use this infinitely looping world to forcibly unlock the fourth stage of her genetic lock through various external forces, then one day, she would be able to enter the extraordinary realm without any external assistance!

This is her small ambition, and here she will take the first step.

'boom--!!!'

..........................................

Meanwhile, on the other side of this "Tree of Things" known as the Marvel Universe, as another cataclysmic crisis sweeps across the galaxy, turning the solar system into scorched earth, a certain purple-toned idiot, having already had his fill of vacation, unabashedly steps onto the surface of this world, accompanied by an invisible streak of light.

"Is this my destination?" Miss Sirin, with her purple hue, blinked. Without any preparation for concealment, she released extraordinary power the moment she arrived, scanning the entire Earth. Several points of light, unremarkable to others but like fireflies in the night to her, were precisely captured, and their identities were quickly deciphered by her.

"Archer, mecha, and comedic TCM practitioner... are those the three of them here?" The girl clapped her hands lightly. "Good, as long as they're all in a circle, the mission is complete. Honestly, this job is pretty simple. I can do it even without using that... special privilege..."

Before she could finish speaking, the spatial structure in front of her suddenly shattered! A blue, bald humanoid figure, as large as a star, emerged from the void, its silver eyes staring at her, releasing a warning roar full of intimidation and oppression!

"Outsider, you—"

"Disappear from this world immediately!" The girl's scream echoed through the real universe before the blue behemoth's naked lower body materialized from the radiance. The effect of those words was that the bald, blue giant showed a stunned expression before vanishing like a phantom. The girl gently patted her chest; her previous composure was nowhere to be found. She had sensed an absolute crushing power on a life level in that instant, and thus had no choice but to swallow the words she was about to utter.

“Okay, I admit that permissions are quite useful.” The girl shrugged and looked at the world-destroying darkness in the universe, which was formed by the reincarnations of the Indian team. “But now that we’ve taken the first step in cheating, the rest doesn’t really matter whether it’s more or less.”

She waved her hand, and a huge portal of light appeared behind her.

"Hyperion, sortie!"

Chapter 58: Dragons and Snakes

Putting the DC universe aside for now, given that Ms. Sirin has such a powerful and influential figure at the helm, she'll ultimately be able to resolve things unscathed. Meanwhile, within the Marvel universe, the war between gods seems endless.

After transforming into Dormammu, Zhao Yingkong gained the entire Dark Dimension as her backing. While her actual combat strength and absolute output didn't change significantly, her energy reserves became virtually limitless due to the Dark Dimension's existence. This allowed her to endlessly prolong the battle, even if she couldn't defeat Alice. Unless Alice could sever her connection to the Dark Dimension in one strike, shattering her body and soul into pieces.

Can Alice do it?

The answer is yes, she certainly can. Just like that guy in the neighboring DC universe who always has a secret plan to deal with all his companions, she, who single-handedly oversaw the enhancement of most of the team members, naturally also has some… 'emergency measures' in hand.

Of course, in this Marvel universe that's a million years old, the effectiveness of these 'emergency measures' is highly questionable. However, as long as the parts Zhao Yingkong uses to fill the deepest layer of her enhancement as her foundation remain familiar, they will inevitably prove useful given her loss of control. Gaining even a single advantage could lead to ultimate victory, but that's not the real issue.

The seven dragon heads roared in unison, forcibly tearing open the rift to another dimension of power due to the existence of the concept of 'Satan'. Insufficient energy level meant the Lord of Hell in the Marvel comics wasn't yet ready to be fully realized in this scale of the story. And that unfinished existence was instantly and easily erased by Alice, completely replacing it!

Only one Lord of the River Styx can exist in a single world. This is the rule of the world, a law like that of the trees. Compiled by the Sacred Hunting Ritual, the reincarnated know how to use it—and when a new dimensional demon replaces the old, sulfur and fire surge forth from the torn dimensional rift!

'boom--!!!!'

Red and black clashed violently in the dimensional gap, a high-energy boundary line, its exact color indiscernible, stretching from the outer edge of the rift to an unknown destination. Beyond the boundary line, seven ferocious dragon heads tore through the giant serpent's energy shell, viciously biting into its putrid flesh. The colossal creature named Xiangliu lost four heads in the instant of the clash, and from its wounds gushed dark green, highly venomous blood!

"Well done! Well done! Only in this way will defeating you have any meaning!" From the venomous black blood emerged billions of writhing snakes. They surged against the crimson dragon's body like a tidal wave of army ants. The four heads that had been devoured instantly regenerated from the severed neck, their complex voices merging together into a roar, and also into a curse.

The moment the crimson dragon's body touched the sonic waves released by the giant serpent, its scales withered and corroded. Those scales, which could remain intact even deep within the earth, existing between the physical and the conceptual realm, instantly turned into decaying ash. And the ash spread outward with the storm caused by the clash of the two giants.

Dragons cannot be defeated, nor can they die. Decaying, ashes-covered dragon scales drifted with the storm into the dimensional rifts, instantly transforming into towering, powerful dragon-toothed behemoths. Wielding axes and greatswords, they battled against the billions of snakes formed from the blood of the giant serpent. The battlefield expanded outwards at a visible speed.

This is war, a war between demons. The strange natives of the Dark Dimension either perished in the clashes or trembled in fear on their escape. Their very existence or non-existence did not garner the slightest attention from the demons.

The serpent continued its attempt to strangle the dragon, which continued to tear large chunks of burning flesh from its body. This slight loss in mass had no real impact on the overall battle. A little more or less wouldn't make a difference; it was merely an outer shell that could multiply infinitely with dimensional support. Amidst the carnage, the crimson seven-headed dragon fell into deep thought.

[In the instant before I descended into the Dark Dimension, she clearly still retained her sanity. In other words, my arrival was the catalyst that caused her to lose control… That makes sense; if she were truly going to lose control, she would have already done so during those million years immersed in the Dark Dimension. I wouldn't have been the one to be the final straw!]

Alice pondered, continuing her battle as she thought. She wouldn't slow her attacks on the Xiangliu Giant Serpent with sulfurous fire and Styx black water, even as she considered the consequences. She knew that even if she showed mercy, her opponent wouldn't relent.

Using your trump card has a 50% chance of ending the battle immediately, but is it worth it?

No, it's meaningless. Even if we win, what then? Although Zhao Yingkong has lost control, she has also seen through the mystery of the world's cycle. And if her mind cannot be adjusted, even if she is annihilated here, she can still fall into madness again as the Lord of the Dark Dimension when the script restarts. And if that happens…

If that's the case...

The purpose of the Hunting Ceremony was to strengthen the members of the Central Plains Team, and the sage who compiled it should not tolerate such a flaw.

A thought flashed through Alice's mind. That momentary hesitation caused one of the seven dragons to break off. The falling head exploded mid-air, transforming into a dark star that illuminated the darkness. In the instant it vaporized countless serpent offspring, it drew a loud, mocking laugh from the giant serpent.

"Is this all you've got? Is this what you call 'reality'?" Poison dripped from the giant serpent's mouth, and more serpents sprang forth from the surface of the dimension.

"It's absolutely hilarious, it made me laugh so hard my teeth fell out!"

The pair of enormous fangs crashed down with a roar that echoed throughout the dimension. Piercing into the surface of the Dark Dimension, they manifested a vast, black-green swamp of poison. More swarms of snakes surged forth from within, their presence even interfering with the stability of the dimensional space's structure. In an instant, countless portals of varying sizes materialized, and countless swarms of snakes or Dark Dimension natives poured out of these portals, instantly touching upon tens of thousands of different dimensions or planes.

Most of them perished the instant they arrived due to the incompatibility of the dimensional rules. A small number, however, managed to survive in another dimension thanks to their powerful physiques and good fortune. This was like a provocation, a declaration of war against the lower-level demons—perhaps existing, perhaps still in their infancy—within the various power dimensions of the Marvel universe. Some lucky ones even pierced through the boundary membrane and descended into the real universe, some even crashing into a blue planet called Earth!

They unleashed a reign of terror, bringing death only to quickly meet their own demise. Yet, this provocative message ultimately reached many corners of this world. And what followed was the escalation of the war.

More outsiders arrived, bringing with them even greater war. Not all dimensional demons possess reason and the capacity for thought, before they have reached the pinnacle of their power and touched upon the realm of absolute dominance. Most of them are merely the physical manifestation of war and natural disasters!

The first to cross over from the other dimension in response to the provocation was a colossal fire giant. It bore some resemblance to Surtr, whom Thanos had crushed. Its mere existence relentlessly unleashed lava and karmic fire outwards. Like a constantly erupting volcano, it silently rose from the surface of the dark dimension, only to lose a third of its body to the brimstone fire, which was even more intense than the lava fire.

It did not fall, and this served as a marker, a measure of progress. As the fire giant roared in retaliation, even more powerful dimensional demons crossed over, bringing a more comprehensive and thorough grand war.

There were colossal beasts constructed from lightning, chaotic towers made entirely of spliced ​​machinery, and seemingly ordinary bluebirds whose claws captured spatial warps resembling miniature wormholes. But even more numerous were monstrous beasts of cataclysm, seemingly straight out of mythology, unleashing their fury and magical energy in every direction the moment they appeared!

They were powerful, but disorganized. More than half of the otherworldly invaders, upon their arrival, abandoned the summoned Xiangliu Giant Serpent due to conflicting attributes or factions, choosing instead to fight their fellow invaders. The entire Dark Dimension trembled and shook, unleashing a massive sea of ​​energy. And in the center of this sea, the clash between dragons and serpents continued.

Chu Xuan wouldn't do anything meaningless... and he was even less likely to act foolishly. In this Saint Hunting Ceremony, where the timing and circumstances were entirely in our hands, even if he wanted to take a risk, there was no need for him to invest a precious fourth-tier combatant in a gamble with an uncertain future. So...

More sulfurous fire and Styx water surged forth from the invading Styx plane of the Dark Dimension, relentlessly sweeping away those powerful beings, not even among the top-tier dimensional demons, capable of single-handedly destroying a civilization. Countless bolts of lightning, aurora borealis, curses, and frost tore through the air towards it, some piercing its scales, others failing. And when the number of attacks reached a certain critical threshold, unimaginable amounts of energy were released from within its scales!

Boundless light illuminated the darkness, but this light brought weakness and death. Many of the weaker otherworldly invaders were thus forced to retreat. However, in the instant the light faded, the crimson dragon was met with a treacherous bite from the ancient serpent!

[So that's how it is. I almost fell for this guy's trick... The main personality, Zhao Yingkong, didn't have the ability to sense the outside world at that time. So, the Xiang Liu who appeared here was actually my alter ego, which I had weakened before she fully matured through enhancement and rituals!]

[Damn it! The lingering regrets before the complete fusion of the main and secondary personalities, the slight resentment left behind by the brief journey of the unfinished heart in the cycle of reincarnation... Ah, my head hurts. Why do I have to face this kind of trouble?!]

The seven-headed red dragon roared, its body, partially lost to the serpent's bite, rapidly regenerating at a speed akin to reversing time. The otherworldly invaders, attempting to exploit the situation, were all repelled by the spatial-temporal barrier created by the dragon's massive tail. But just as the giant serpent, having gained a slight advantage, tried to expand its victory, it was met with a burst of crimson breath from the ten crowns on its head, which had vanished at the start of the battle!

A massive wave of destruction descended.

The colossal serpent at the point of direct impact lost over seventy percent of its mass in an instant. Its shell vaporized, its form collapsing simultaneously on both a material and conceptual level. A sharp serpentine roar clashed with the defensive spells attempting to coalesce, but all it did was futile—seven of Xiangliu's nine heads, along with their necks and most of its torso, vanished. The remaining portion was further decimated by teleportation spells, leaving only a few remnants to escape this terrifying force, comparable to the creation of the world!

It fled, but the surface of its dimension suffered. The few interdimensional invaders closest to it were wiped out of the world, while the dimensional demons further away also sustained varying degrees of damage. The blazing light continued to pour down, shattering the outer shell and penetrating deep into the core. The previously dark dimension, only displaying black and green hues, instantly revealed countless crimson spiderweb-like cracks, and a massive void, over a hundred kilometers in diameter, appeared at the center of the fissure!

Dormammu's Dark Dimension has been completely corrupted by Hell and the River Styx. Bright red lava and night-like black water flow from the dark green gaps. If time could continue beyond what happened after Thanos, perhaps within ten thousand years, this Dark Dimension would be completely swallowed up by Hell and the River Styx, ceasing to exist.

However, ten thousand years is too long.

The world will face death in seven days. Before its demise, the Dark Dimension will inevitably unleash an even greater power. This could be described as a dimensional resurgence before its end. This also means that this war will not reach its conclusion here.

The giant serpent, reduced to less than two percent of its original mass in the previous impact, recovered completely and quietly reappeared on the other side of the void. The red dragon also readjusted its posture, ready for the next wave of attacks. Between the two, the other-dimensional demons who had proven their power in the previous battles each occupied their own territory, awaiting this battlefield that originally had little to do with them.

War, war never ends. And just as a new horn was about to sound, and the next chapter of the dragon-snake conflict was about to begin, an abnormal spatial fluctuation occurred. A group of mortals dressed in various ways suddenly appeared in the very center of the void.