CH-148. Death Appears

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In Luke's eyes, the appearance of the woman next to him constantly shifted—from human form to a humanoid shape, and then to various other races. Each transformation seemed to reflect her original appearance. Finally, as all her forms faded away, only a skeleton cloaked in darkness remained.

"Death!"

"It seems that the Thanos of this universe still can't escape your clutches!" Luke declared, revealing the identity of the being before him and her entanglement with Thanos.

In the multiverse, each physical embodiment of an abstract concept like death has no fixed form. They appear as the species imagines them, taking on the visage that resonates with that particular race. For Luke, his preconceived notion of death as a charming woman led to the first image that appeared in his mind. However, as he came to his senses, death had transformed into a skeletal figure.

"You know of my existence, and you even understand a lot about me. Is this really how I should look to you now?" Death expressed slight surprise that Luke was aware of her. She had only appeared a few times at the universe's inception and hadn't been seen since. Even Thanos had never witnessed her true form, oblivious to the fact that she had been whispering in his ear. Yet here was Luke, a new god, cognizant of her existence and Thanos's connection to her, which piqued her interest.

"You're here for Thanos! However, if you don't take action, he might die first!" Luke warned as Jean, who was preparing to use Phoenix's Judgment to end the battle.

In the infinite multiverse, it was well known that Thanos was the exclusive plaything of death. Seeing Thanos on the brink of death beneath Jean's Phoenix Judgment, Luke couldn't help but remind her, though he had no intention of stopping Jean himself.

"Just a boring toy," Death remarked, glancing dismissively at Thanos. For her, there were countless Thanos figures scattered throughout the multiverse, each serving as mere entertainment. More captivating was Luke, a being filled with mysteries.

"Your existence actually interests me very much. Although your soul does not belong to the multiverse, your body was born here. It's just that I don't sense death in you, or rather, your death is not under my jurisdiction. Are you trying to please me?" This was the first time Death had encountered someone like Luke, and she felt a desire for him to replace Thanos, to offer a different kind of pleasure.

After all, death symbolized the ultimate concept of extinction across the multiverse. Even creator gods, who transcended the multiverse, could not escape the fate of their end. Yet for Luke, who had just crossed the threshold of a single universe, she could not discern the end of his fate.

"Sorry, but I don't want to be the next Thanos, and I have no sexual interest in a skeleton," Luke replied. He had no intention of becoming a sycophant, especially not like Thanos, who was so ingratiating that he lost himself. In some universes, Death kept Thanos, the notorious bootlicker, hanging on, while also maintaining an ambiguous relationship with Deadpool, a madman who often danced on the edge of death. This jealousy drove Thanos to curse Deadpool with true immortality, ensuring he would never see death again. Yet Death found joy in the chaos that ensued.

"Well?" Death was taken aback by Luke's response. In her view, any life fortunate enough to gain her favor should kneel and kiss her feet in gratitude. Thanos had done so, ruthlessly killing anyone without hesitation just to please her. Why was Luke so different? His tone suggested he regarded her favor as a mere triviality, akin to that of an ordinary mortal. They were gods; to gods, love was eternal.

"You've become an immortal god, so why do you still view things like the weak mortals?" Death inquired.

"This is called sticking to my original intention. You wouldn't understand," Luke replied casually, his attention drifting back to the battle between Jean and Thanos. At that moment, Jean had successfully unleashed the Judgment of the Phoenix upon Thanos. A phoenix, wreathed in golden flames, enveloped Thanos's body. Fueled by the desire for life, this phoenix burned everything in its path, particularly since Thanos harbored what he believed to be "noble" ideals. Under this devastating attack, Thanos's strong convictions became the very fuel that led to his demise. The Eternal Titan lasted only ten seconds before being reduced to ashes.

However, just as the Phoenix flames were about to consume his soul entirely, Death intervened and collected Thanos's essence in one swift motion. It appeared that despite her claims of indifference, her body instinctively preserved him. This realization struck Luke—though the Titan was dead, he wasn't entirely gone; there might be a chance to encounter him again.

"Teacher, I defeated that giant purple potato monster!" Jean exclaimed as she flew over, beaming with pride. She believed she had finally lived up to Luke's expectations.

"I saw that you did very well," Luke praised her generously.

"Death, do you have any further advice for me? If not, we shall take our leave!" As soon as Luke said this, Jean, still riding her wave of joy, looked puzzled.

"Teacher, who are you talking to?" she asked, unable to see Death at all. As a conceptual entity of the multiverse, Death could decide who had the privilege of seeing her. In her eyes, a mortal like Jean, possessing only a fragment of the Phoenix Force, was unworthy of such a sight.

"I will always be watching you. Likewise, countless eyes across the multiverse will be watching you. I look forward to our next meeting. Perhaps you will change your mind by then. By the way, a friendly reminder: the hungry Galactus will soon arrive in this universe, for his child is about to be born, and he requires more life energy."

With that, Death slowly faded from Luke's view.