I sparked a mythological frenzy in Marvel.

Chapter 216 The God of Death in the Shadows

"What a sorry state you are in, Holy Son of the Church of Dagon. If I hadn't helped you, you would have been dead before your master could even make a move."

A sneer from the shadows made Strange, who had just escaped, wary.

Strange abruptly stopped in his tracks, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

He quickly looked around, but the night was deep, with only sparse starlight filtering through the clouds, adding an eerie touch to the dark street.

The sneer seemed to come from all directions at once, yet it also seemed to echo only in his heart, making it impossible for him to pinpoint the source of the sound.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Strange hissed, secretly gathering his inner strength to prepare for a possible surprise attack.

His eyes darted through the darkness, trying to catch any unusual movement.

The shadow seemed completely unfazed by the provocation, and another low, mocking laugh rang out: "Heh, don't be nervous, Your Holiness. I have no intention of being your enemy, at least not now."

As the words fell, a blurry figure slowly emerged from a deep doorway at the street corner.

The man was wearing a black cloak, his face completely obscured by the shadow of the hood, leaving only a pair of eyes that gleamed with an eerie light, like two cold stars in an abyss, staring directly at Strange.

Strange frowned, a chill running through him.

This power... He wasn't unaware of a similar aura before, but it usually belonged to his master, Cthulhu, with its profound and ancient nature.

The person before me seemed to have some subtle connection with those ancient beings, yet was completely different.

"Who are you? What is your purpose?" Strange tried to remain calm and glean useful information from the other person's words.

"Who I am is not important. What is important is that we have a common goal." The figure in the shadows slowly took a few steps forward, each step seemingly closing the distance between him and Strange, while also deepening the unease in Strange's heart.

"Cthulhu's awakening is both an opportunity and a challenge for you, and I might be a guiding light on your path." Strange sneered, clearly skeptical of this sudden "ally": "Why should I trust you?"

"Because I know secrets you don't, and I possess power you can wield." The voice from the shadows carried an undeniable confidence. "For example, that unknown power you just relied on, its origin, and how it's inextricably linked to Cthulhu's awakening."

Strange's pupils contracted slightly upon hearing this.

He was indeed puzzled by the sudden surge of power, and the person before him seemed to possess the key to understanding it all.

But at the same time, he also knew that cooperating with unknown forces was tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin.

"What are your conditions?" Strange asked cautiously, already considering possible countermeasures. "It's simple. We need each other's strength to achieve our respective goals. You seek Cthulhu's favor, while I... have my own plans."

The figure in the shadows smiled slightly, a smile that looked particularly eerie in the night. "Of course, you can choose to refuse, but don't forget who gave you everything you have now, including your life." Strange was silent for a moment, then finally nodded slowly.

He understood that, regardless of whether the person in front of him was a friend or foe, he had no way out at this moment.

Only by moving forward can we find our own way to survive. "Very well, Your Holiness, then our cooperation shall begin here."

The figure in the shadows clapped softly, as if foreshadowing the start of an unknown and dangerous journey.

With the agreement reached, Strange and the mysterious man in black began a delicate alliance. Despite their mutual wariness and suspicion, they both knew that a temporary alliance was necessary to prevent Cthulhu's awakening.

"Tell me, what is the source of that power?" Strange asked bluntly, eager to understand the unknown force that had helped him escape the Avengers and Jack's pursuit.

The man in black smiled slightly, seemingly pleased with Strange's eagerness: "That is a gift from the abyss, an ancient power emanating from the land where Cthulhu slumbers. It was originally sealed in the endless void, but as Cthulhu's awakening drew near, the seal began to loosen, and this power leaked into this world."

Upon hearing this, a glint of greed and desire flashed in Strange's eyes.

He knew that if he could master this power, he would gain unprecedented strength, enough to elevate his status in Cthulhu's cult, and even gain Cthulhu's favor.

"So, how should I use this power?" Strange pressed.

The man in black robes slowly approached and whispered a few words in Strange's ear.

As he finished speaking, Strange's expression grew increasingly serious, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

"Are you sure this won't lead to an even bigger disaster?" Strange asked hesitantly.

The man in black chuckled, seemingly dismissive of Strange's concerns: "Disaster? That's nothing but the lament of the weak. Before absolute power, everything will turn to dust, and you, Holy Son, will be the pioneer who leads this change."

Under the influence of the man in black, Strange finally made up his mind.

Under the influence of the man in black, Strange's gaze hardened. He knew he had no way out; only by moving forward could he find a way to survive. He took a deep breath, and the ancient power from the abyss within him surged once more, making him feel stronger than ever before.

He abruptly raised his head, his gaze piercing, meeting the eyes of the Avengers and Jack before him. His voice was deep and powerful: "You think you can stop me with this? How laughable. Now, I'll show you true power!"

As he finished speaking, black mist surged around Strange once more, shimmering with an eerie light, as if countless eyes were watching everything around him. His figure blurred, moving through the night like a ghost, so fast that the Avengers and Jack were caught completely off guard.

He attacked Jack first, a black beam of light shooting from Strange's hand, aimed directly at Jack's chest. However, Jack did not give up; he quickly raised his hands, a yellow light emanating from his palms, colliding violently with the black beam. The two intertwined in mid-air, unleashing a deafening explosion and distorting space and reality.

Seeing this, the Avengers launched attacks on Strange, attempting to distract him. However, Strange seemed to possess boundless power; he easily dodged their attacks and retaliated with his mysterious energy. Each attack was accompanied by black mist and eerie light, filling the Avengers with unprecedented fear.

Natasha tried to use her agility and intelligence to find an opening in Strange's defenses, but Strange's speed and strength far exceeded her expectations, and she couldn't get close at all. Matt brandished his blade, attempting to overpower Strange in close combat, but Strange seemed to anticipate his movements, always managing to skillfully dodge them. Hawkeye constantly harassed Strange with arrows, but Strange seemed to possess an invisible shield, and the arrows couldn't penetrate his defenses.

Under Strange's relentless onslaught, the Avengers and Jack gradually found themselves on the defensive. They fought with all their might, but their defenses proved incredibly fragile against this powerful dark force. They were repeatedly knocked down by the black energy waves, only to struggle back up each time, unable to inflict any real damage on Strange.

Strange looked at the group's tenacious figures and felt a surge of respect. But he quickly regained his composure and said, "You are indeed brave, but it's all in vain. Cthulhu's power is limitless; you simply cannot withstand it."

With that, Strange swung his staff again, unleashing a torrent of black energy that engulfed the Avengers and Jack. They fought back with all their might, but their defenses were utterly useless against this powerful dark force. They were repeatedly blasted away by the black energy waves, eventually collapsing helplessly to the ground, unable to move.

Strange stopped in his tracks, looking down at the crowd with the smugness and arrogance of a victor: "Look at this, this is what you call courage and wisdom. Before the power of Cthulhu, you are nothing but insignificant ants."

I'm currently reading the error-free version! This is the first time I've published this novel.

However, just as he was preparing to deliver the final blow, a deeper, more ancient power suddenly surged within him. This power belonged neither to him nor to this world; it seemed to come from another dimension, carrying an indescribable terror and majesty.

Strange's expression changed drastically. He felt the power gradually eroding his consciousness, making him unable to control himself. He tried to resist, but the power surged in like a flood, completely engulfing him.

To everyone's horror, Strange's body began to undergo bizarre changes. His eyes became hollow and deep, as if they could see into another world. His body gradually swelled, and strange patterns appeared on his skin, as if countless tentacles were wriggling inside him.

Ultimately, Strange completely lost himself and transformed into a giant Deep One.

This enormous deep-sea creature was twisted and terrifying, its skin a deep blue-black, covered with grotesque suckers and tentacles that lashed out in the air, seemingly able to capture every minute fluctuation in the atmosphere. Strange's face had vanished, replaced by a gaping maw full of fangs and whiskers, constantly emitting low, horrifying roars.

The Avengers and Jack watched in horror; they had never seen anything so terrifying. Natasha tried to dodge the Deep Ones' attacks with her agility, but the tentacles seemed to possess a mind of their own, moving with incredible speed and agility towards her. She could barely evade them, but her clothes were already stained with the slime left by the tentacles.

Matt brandished his blade, attempting to sever the tentacles, but each clash produced a teeth-grinding sound, while the tentacles reverted to their original shape like rubber, even becoming more ferocious. Hawkeye's arrows also proved ineffective against monsters of this caliber; they were either easily deflected by the tentacles or distorted by the Deep One's eerie energy field, veering off course.

Each of the Deep One's attacks was devastating, and the Avengers and Jack could only fight back with all their might, but their strength seemed so insignificant in the face of such a monster.

They were knocked down time and time again, and struggled to get back up each time, but despair was written on every face.

Just as everyone was about to be completely defeated by the Deep Ones, and an atmosphere of despair permeated the air, Jack suddenly unleashed an unprecedentedly powerful force. His eyes suddenly lit up, as if two flames were burning within them, and a golden light surged around his body, forming a stark contrast with the dark aura surrounding the Deep Ones.

"I can't give up like this!" Jack gritted his teeth, his voice filled with determination and unyielding spirit. He knew that facing such a terrifying enemy, escape was impossible; only by fighting could he have a chance of survival.

As Jack unleashed his power, his body seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, allowing him to move lightly through the air, dodging the Deep One's deadly tentacle attacks. At the same time, golden energy orbs began to gather in his hands, tracing dazzling paths through the air as they flew towards the Deep One.

The golden energy sphere collided with the Deep One's tentacles, creating a deafening explosion. Each collision elicited a painful roar from the Deep One, and the tentacles temporarily lost their ability to attack. Jack seized the opportunity to lead the Avengers team to escape into the distance, seeking a safe haven.

"Quick! Follow me!" Jack shouted back as he flew, his voice filled with both anxiety and encouragement. Seeing this, the Avengers rallied and followed closely behind.

Led by Jack, they traversed narrow streets and bypassed dense buildings, finally arriving at an abandoned underground warehouse. It had once been a company's storage area, but had been deserted for years. The warehouse entrance was blocked by a heavy iron door, but Jack effortlessly pushed it open and led the group inside.

The warehouse was dark and cold, but it had become their haven. Everyone sat down against the wall, panting, trying to calm their fear and tension. Jack, however, stood in the center of the warehouse, his gaze resolute, as if still contemplating how to fight the Deep Ones.

"What should we do?" Natasha spoke first, her voice trembling slightly. She knew all too well that the Deep Ones' power was far too great for them to contend with head-on.

Matt chimed in, "Yeah, Jack, what's your plan?"

Jack paused for a moment, then slowly spoke: "We must find a way to counter the power of the Deep Ones. Otherwise, we will never be able to rid ourselves of their threat."

"But what should we do?" Hawkeye asked, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.

"Let's go back and talk about it first."

Jack shook his head helplessly. The King in Yellow had only given him so much power, and there was nothing he could do.

(End of this chapter)