DORMAMMU: There's Something Filthy!

DORMAMMU: There's Something Filthy!

Originally, Duva had personally come here only to test just how far a Xenomorph born from parasitizing a Deviant could go.

At least for now, there was no problem with its ability to mobilize bodily energy.

"An ordinary Xenomorph can fully heal superficial wounds within dozens of seconds, while an ordinary Deviant can mobilize the energy throughout its body to rapidly repair injuries."

Duva watched as visible energy shimmered at the wound of the Deviant Xenomorph Kaecilius had split in two, pulling the two halves of its body back together.

Normally, as long as the energy within its body was not exhausted, given enough time, it could slowly repair itself. Its regenerative ability was stronger than that of ordinary Deviants.

"Bodily energy—or rather, vitality—can be stolen. That is power derived from genes, so I'm not surprised. But what about magic?"

Duva looked toward the Black Magic User who had been parasitized by a Facehugger and was now surrounded layer upon layer by Xenomorphs.

Marvel's magic was all borrowed, while Xenomorphs could seize the host's superior genes. By becoming part of the host, they could cripple the host's regenerative abilities, surpass them, and replace them in the narrow sense.

Could such a Xenomorph replace its host and inherit the magical debts the host owed? Duva was very interested.

"Although I may not necessarily take the path of learning magic, if it's possible, having another option wouldn't be bad." Duva stroked his chin.

"Parasitism... You want to walk the same path as me? There's no need to make things so troublesome. With your strength, you can join us entirely." Kaecilius saw through Duva's intentions at a glance. Rather than getting angry, he became somewhat more enthusiastic.

For a cold-blooded idealist, having someone occasionally acknowledge his beliefs could bring him a tiny bit of comfort.

"That's different. I know my joining would make Dormammu even more pleased, but before that, let my little darlings have a try first." Duva brushed him off casually.

At this point, Kaecilius was simply a hopeless fanatic. Talking to him about anything else was useless, but mention Dormammu, and he immediately got fired up.

The two stood at sword's point, ready to strike at any time, yet neither made another move. Meanwhile, the Xenomorphs and the other Black Magic Users were fighting fiercely.

A world where only vampires got hurt had been achieved. These poor fellows fought desperately, but whether it was Black Magic, Xenomorphs, or Blade, none were opponents they could resist.

Even after deploying the new breed of vampire—the Reapers—these pale creatures were biological weapons the vampire race had painstakingly developed. Reapers were not picky about their food, whether human or vampire.

But unfortunately, against enemies with both quality and quantity, they had no chance of escape. In the end, Blade chopped them to pieces.

"This thing was really hard to kill. Looks like I've got a new target." Blade used the tip of his sword to poke at a Reaper's mouth, then said to Duva, "Its mouth looks a little like your spiders."

"I need to correct you. The 'spiders' you mentioned are scientifically called Facehuggers. Also, comparing my Facehuggers to defective products made from defective products like Reapers is truly hurtful."

As Duva spoke, he also spared a glance at the Reaper's corpse, a creature that feared neither silver nor garlic, only sunlight.

Blade did not need to fight so desperately. He could have worked with the Xenomorphs to kill the creature easily, but he had rushed in impatiently. Apparently, he did not want to give Duva a chance to capture a Reaper alive for parasitism.

"Terrible behavior. What a waste," Duva remarked without the slightest courtesy.

Blade acted as though he had not heard him. Ignoring the Xenomorphs around him, he fixed his gaze on the ever-composed Kaecilius. "Now you're the only one left, magician. Let me remind you: your people's fighting skills are simply painful to watch. You have neither sufficient strength nor refined technique."

"Of course we can't compare to you, vampire," Kaecilius said. "You are ultimately just little toys my master created with Black Magic, while we are pilgrims who follow our master in pursuit of truth."

Kaecilius admitted that it was unrealistic for Black Magic Users to compete in close combat with a gifted vampire like Blade.

But that did not stop him from looking down on Blade.

"I hate it most when people call me a vampire. I'll carve my name into your corpse. Oh, right, what was your name again?" Blade spun his weapon in a flourish and charged forward at once.

"Go cool off in Antarctica."

Kaecilius flicked his hand, creating a forward-moving portal that instantly swallowed Blade and made him disappear.

"I had intended to warn him, but he isn't someone good at taking advice. When his suspicion of me took over, he probably failed to realize there was a reason I hadn't attacked you all this time," Duva said.

That was the downside of dealing with agents. Their minds were always thinking about things unrelated to battle, which could affect their judgment at crucial moments.

"Perhaps he understood perfectly well, but had no choice except to act before you did." A strange smile appeared on Kaecilius's face.

This world-famous Great Magician clearly held a fairly favorable impression of Duva.

Duva looked around. Aside from Kaecilius, only the Black Magic User parasitized by a Xenomorph and one other Black Magic User remained alive.

"Kaecilius, save me!!" The Black Magic User was pinned tightly beneath a Deviant Xenomorph and looked hopefully toward the only person who could save him.

"Returning to Dormammu a little earlier is not a bad thing. On the path to seeking immortality and truth, you have taken a step ahead of me." Kaecilius remained unmoved.

The Black Magic User fell into complete despair, watching helplessly as the Deviant Xenomorph's strands of flesh pierced into his neck.

Rings of light appeared as the Black Magic User's body rapidly shrank. In the end, he was completely absorbed by the Deviant Xenomorph.

"...The improvement isn't that great. Magic, this kind of energy with an owner, really is completely different from other forms of energy." Duva had not held much hope to begin with.

He waited for the changes in the Black Magic User who had been parasitized.

Only when the Xenomorph successfully burst from his chest did that strange magical fluctuation reach its peak, then rapidly weaken.

"Failed? Did Dormammu or Chthon see through it?" Duva stroked his chin.

One was Single Universe Level, the other Multiverse-level. He would not be surprised if they could see through a Xenomorph's method of secretly replacing someone.

Just as Duva had expected.

Dormammu indeed noticed something was wrong immediately.

"Something is stealing my power and refusing to pay the price... Another one trying to imitate Ancient One!!"