Chapter 81: A Parasite Race, Huh? Copying Homework Isn’t That Hard!

Since Gloria abandoned the Daily Bugle and chose to join Weyland Corporation, her goals had become clear and resolute: she absolutely refused to end up like Peter Parker—dying inexplicably, without rhyme or reason.

According to the police investigation, no one could figure out exactly how Peter Parker died or who killed him.

This terrified Gloria. She craved security, believing that as long as she had great power and strong backing, she wouldn't suffer the same fate as her friend Peter.

Moreover, by joining Weyland Corporation, she would have the opportunity to leverage Duncan's resources to uncover the true culprit behind Peter Parker's death.

Gloria had indeed found some clues. Rising through the ranks quickly, she had now become Weyland Tower's de facto chief assistant, granting her access to higher-level classified information. And now, she had finally confirmed that Peter Parker's death was no accident—it was a meticulously planned murder.

But as for who the killer was? Gloria still wasn't qualified to investigate that, which only made her realize that the culprit was an extremely powerful superhuman.

Just how strong were they? Were they on the level of Dormammu or Laufey? Could they be one of the legendary gods?

"I won't question the Boss's decision, and neither should you. Your job is simply to follow orders and execute them. That's what you should be doing. Giving it your all is about attitude, but whether you can accomplish it—that's about ability. You're a smart person."

Gloria stared straight at Foster, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Mjolnir. If there were even the slightest possibility, she would have loved to lift that divine hammer and become the God of Thunder herself. Unfortunately, she wasn't worthy.

What would it feel like to wield divine power? Gloria had no idea.

Foster looked bewildered, yet there was an undeniable hunger for the unknown in her eyes. This adventurous scientist reached out and grasped Mjolnir.

"Only those with an exceptionally pure heart and divine nature are worthy of lifting this hammer," Gloria suddenly remarked.

Foster took a deep breath, then pulled hard.

Buzz!

With a soft hum, Mjolnir lifted effortlessly into her hands. Though it appeared heavy, it felt just right in Foster's grip.

"I… I did it? Wasn't it supposed to be impossible for anyone but Thor to lift this hammer? And I managed it on the first try? Does this mean… I'm the new Thor?"

For a moment, Foster's mind went blank, overwhelmed by the sheer impossibility of the situation. But soon, an immense sense of joy engulfed her. After all, who wouldn't want to become a god? Even if it happened inexplicably, that hardly mattered—becoming a god first and figuring out why later was probably the best approach.

Gloria was equally dumbfounded, her eyes wide with shock. She reached out, almost in defiance, trying to grasp the hammer herself—only to find that she still couldn't move it an inch. Her enthusiasm instantly deflated.

"Once again, Duncan has been proven right. You really do have the qualifications to be Thor. I don't understand the exact mechanism behind it, though. Are you telling me that an ordinary physicist like you somehow possesses divinity?" Gloria quickly composed herself.

This was the first time Foster had heard of "divinity."

But at the very least, she could confirm one thing: she wasn't some half-god hybrid. Both of her parents were ordinary humans.

"I don't think I need to run a DNA test with my parents…" Foster muttered to herself. As she gripped Mjolnir, an endless surge of power coursed through her, making her body unimaginably strong, as if she had an infinite well of energy.

Foster could even sense the free-floating electrons in the air. If she wished, she could manipulate them instantly, conjuring powerful lightning at will.

The legendary Mjolnir, which had resisted countless challengers, felt like a docile child in her hands.

"Divinity isn't tied to bloodlines; it's tied to worthiness. You're already a god now. Just look at the lightning surging around you," Gloria said, her face filled with envy.

She didn't understand it, but she was deeply shaken.

Every step Foster took crackled with electricity, leaving scorched footprints in her wake—evidence of the divine power now coursing through her veins.

"I'm having trouble controlling my power. This feels… strange. I hope you all won't hold it against me…" Foster muttered sheepishly.

Yet, for some reason—perhaps due to the alien embryo inside her chest—Foster possessed an astonishing instinct. Even with limited knowledge, she could fine-tune the smallest aspects of her body, making the most reasonable adjustments to control her newfound divine strength.

Then, Foster met Duncan.

This was her first time seeing him in person. Before, she had only ever seen him on TV or in online reports.

A strange sensation stirred in her chest. Every nerve in her body instinctively responded to Duncan with absolute reverence.

How terrifying.

No wonder he could command all the Xenomorphs, Foster thought. Maybe she should start studying neuroscience—anything to prevent herself from trembling uncontrollably. And yet, despite herself, she bent forward in excitement.

"As for compensation, don't worry about it. I'm not that petty. This company exists to serve people like us—not the other way around. That order must never be reversed."

Duncan studied the woman before him, his expression devoid of surprise—only satisfaction.

Thor, the female Thor, Beta Ray Bill… Across the entire multiverse, these three versions of Thor had always been able to lift Mjolnir.

"You didn't disappoint me. And you didn't turn out to be one of the extremely rare exceptions, either—that's reassuring. From now on, you are the new Thor. This hammer—Mjolnir—belongs to you. Aside from me, no one can take it from your hands."

Duncan spoke casually, as if he were simply distributing poker chips at a gambling table. And yet, he handed the biggest prize to the newest player—Foster.

"This... I... Ah, thank you, but I still don't quite understand. Why were you so certain that I could lift Mjolnir? Did it never cross your mind that I might fail?" Foster stammered, struggling to adapt to Duncan's straightforward and decisive style.

"If you had failed, you could still serve me as a physicist. It's that simple. I welcome all kinds of talent," Duncan replied. "I believe you can do it, so you can."

Duncan was pleased to have gained another formidable force in his ranks.

Meanwhile, in Nidavellir, Thor's satisfaction was beginning to wane.

He had just acquired his new weapon—Stormbreaker. Its power far surpassed that of Mjolnir, and its massive size alone gave Thor a deep sense of satisfaction as he gripped it with both hands.

"If only the handle were made of wood, it might feel even better in my grip," Thor mused as he swung the weapon. With just a casual swing, the axe unleashed a divine energy beam dozens of kilometers in diameter, making it seem capable of splitting planets.

And that was just from a simple movement. If he were to put his full strength into a strike, the devastation would be unimaginable.

Not to mention, Stormbreaker could also summon the Bifrost, allowing Thor to teleport anywhere at will.

"A wooden handle? What's so great about that? It's not like we don't have enough Uru metal. A fully integrated axe like this is the ultimate weapon," scoffed Eitri, the King of the Dwarves. "Unless you bring me a branch from the World Tree itself, I'm not changing the design. And at this point, it's too late anyway."

Thor flashed a confident smile. He had merely spoken in passing—truthfully, he couldn't be more satisfied with his new weapon.

With this divine tool, his mastery of thunder and lightning had skyrocketed several times over, his power growing visibly in an explosive surge. Divine energy surged around him, radiating outward in endless waves.

And this was just the beginning. Thor knew that with proper refinement, he would grow even stronger in no time.

"The days of me being just 'mortal Thor' are over. From now on, I am still the God of Thunder—but stronger than ever!"

Thor was overjoyed, but then, as if sensing something, he suddenly turned Stormbreaker, pointing its blade toward the deep reaches of space.

"You feel it too, don't you, my new companion? It seems we are of one mind..."

"What is it?" Eitri asked.

"Someone has lifted Mjolnir and gained the power of the God of Thunder. If I'm not mistaken, that person is on Midgard—one of Duncan's subordinates. I just don't know exactly who it is yet."

Thor's joy faded significantly. "The fourth God of Thunder has emerged. I knew Duncan wasn't just making empty boasts."

Thor wanted to activate the Bifrost immediately, head to Midgard, and challenge this new Thor.

After all, only he should be the strongest God of Thunder. No one else.

But in the end, he refrained.

Now, Thor was the heir to Asgard's throne. His every action represented Asgard as a whole—he couldn't afford to be reckless like before.

"You can sense divine energy fluctuations from multiple worlds away?" Eitri was astonished. That was an incredible feat, considering the vast distances between galaxies.

"There will be a chance to meet that person. When the time comes, I will test Mjolnir against my Stormbreaker in battle..." Thor muttered, then activated the Bifrost and returned to Asgard.

He had grueling training ahead, as he prepared to inherit the Odinforce.

By then, Thor was confident he would be the strongest being in the Nine Realms. If another Dormammu-like invasion ever occurred, he wouldn't need anyone else—he alone would be enough to drive the enemy back.

"And then there's the Celestials... Father once suffered losses at their hands," Thor thought just before vanishing into the Bifrost, recalling a battle that had almost been forgotten by time. He had only recently learned about it from Odin himself.

It wasn't long before word spread across multiple worlds—Thor had obtained a new divine weapon, one potentially on par with Gungnir. This was major news. Everyone knew Thor was the undisputed successor to Asgard's throne, set to receive Odin's full guidance and inherit his power.

And given that Odin was clearly feigning his death, it was obvious he didn't have much time left.

All eyes turned to Thor, each faction making their own calculations.

…

"So, my foolish brother has acquired a new weapon and grown even stronger? And with Father's careful grooming, he'll only continue to grow... Perhaps one day, he'll even reach Father's level."

Loki opened his eyes, dispelling the illusion magic cloaking him. Ever since arriving on Earth, he had been busy—searching, scheming, figuring out how best to utilize that mysterious black dragon.

Even now, Loki remained uncertain about the black dragon's true nature, origins, or purpose. But he was sure of one thing: if he could control it, he could create an endless army of soldiers.

Loki believed that by commanding these warriors, he could rapidly expand his own power.

Yes, just like Duncan once did.

In the face of Duncan's repeated, almost incomprehensible achievements, even someone as proud as Loki was willing to set aside his arrogance—if only slightly—to study Duncan's rise and mentality as a point of reference.

"Those Midgardians call the parasites they extracted from the dragon 'symbiotes'… What a fitting name."

Loki remained invisible, a peculiar smile on his face as he silently followed a group of stern-faced individuals into an elevator that descended deep underground.

Duncan had been using the parasitic abilities of alien creatures to continuously acquire powerful hosts, exponentially expanding his own strength.

Now, to Loki's delight, he had discovered symbiotes on Midgard—beings that also grew stronger through parasitism. This was nothing short of a gift from fate.

Loki had to admit that he had underestimated Midgard. This world was home to all sorts of strange beings and even stranger phenomena, some of which were capable of surprising him in extraordinary ways.

"So, these Midgardians had the same idea as me? They want to replicate Duncan's miracle by harnessing the power of this black dragon? Unfortunately for them, it's useless—because I have my eyes on it!"

A sinister grin spread across Loki's face. Ever since Duncan had shattered his arrogance, forcing him to gradually let go of his conceit, Loki had found that his mind had become clearer than ever.

In other words, he believed he had evolved. He had entered "Loki 2.0"—a more cunning and formidable version of himself.

Once he seized control of the symbiotes' source and the unknown black dragon that had emerged from beyond the Nine Realms, he would ascend to "Loki 3.0."

"My foolish brother… I may have given up the throne, but that doesn't mean I acknowledge that I'm inferior to you. Our competition has only just begun. And then there's Duncan…"

Loki, filled with ambition, stepped deeper into the underground facility. He lifted his gaze to the massive, ice-encased creature before him, feeling the overwhelming sense of danger emanating from its body.

The sensation was strange—an almost instinctive, primal intimidation that higher life forms exerted over lesser beings. It made Loki uneasy, yet at the same time, he could barely suppress his laughter.

"Attention, everyone! Cease all freezing operations on Target E7. We need to extract a sample of the symbiote!"

A booming voice echoed from the loudspeakers, and the scientists in the facility immediately halted their work.

Normally, they would continuously generate extreme cold to keep the black dragon sealed in ice, preventing the layers from thinning and ensuring that whatever lay within—whether dead or alive—remained trapped.

This procedure had been in place since the 1970s, ever since the failure of the symbiote super-soldier project.

Even before the scientists had discovered the dragon, it had already been frozen within an ancient glacier for an untold length of time.

Now, a group of highly skilled engineers operated massive machinery to drill through the thick ice, carving a direct path to the dragon's black-scaled body.

Their objective was to extract a sample of the writhing organic material from its surface.

Just like they had done decades ago.

But this time, there was a flaw in their plan.

Because Loki was here.

"Mortals, your work is complete. From here on, leave everything to me. The God of Mischief will take over your operation. If any of you are willing to kneel and serve me, I will graciously reward you—with a symbiote of your own!"

Yes, just like how Duncan had gifted his subordinates with facehuggers.

Copying Duncan's strategy seemed like a foolproof plan.

"Who is that? Damn it! How did he suddenly appear? Why didn't our sensors detect anything?"

"Loki! It's Loki, the God of Mischief! An Asgardian!"

"Loki, your unauthorized intrusion here is a direct violation of Earth's laws. Are you trying to provoke a conflict between our worlds?"

Panic erupted in the room as heavily armed soldiers aimed their advanced weaponry at Loki.

Loki found their reaction amusing. He glanced at their weapons and raised an eyebrow in surprise—they were using energy-based weapons rather than the traditional kinetic ones.

"I must say, your technological progress is rather impressive. But I doubt you obtained it through conventional means. No matter… If you surrender now, I will generously share some of Asgard's advanced technology with you. However, if you choose to resist… I will grant you death."

A sinister smile curled on Loki's lips. "I may not be the God of Death, but killing all of you would be no trouble at all."

"Loki, you're operating on Earth without permission. Are you not afraid that the Sorcerer Supreme or Duncan will come after you? Or… did you act under Odin's orders?" A scientist in a lab coat shouted through the intercom.

Loki's expression stiffened slightly. His eyes pierced through the glass wall as he coldly asked, "Tell me your name."

"You may call me Dr. Cliff. I am the chief scientist of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the man responded.

"Dr. Cliff… Let me guess, as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top scientist, you must have studied the xenomorphs—and failed. So what makes you think you can succeed with the symbiotes? Is it the so-called 'advanced' Midgardian technology you currently possess?"

Loki smirked. He realized that his patience had grown significantly. In the past, he would have killed this insolent fool without a second thought.

And what nonsense was this man spouting? "Am I not afraid of the Ancient One or Duncan?"

If either of them truly wanted to stop him, they would have acted long ago. Why would they wait until now?

Besides, ever since Loki had first arrived on Midgard, he had—strictly speaking—not personally killed a single human.

(…If one were to ignore the unfortunate civilians caught in the crossfire of his battles with Kaecilius and others, but that hardly counted.)

More importantly, Odin had already given him prior approval. As long as he didn't cause a world-threatening catastrophe before amassing enough power, there was no reason for the Ancient One or Duncan to interfere with him.

Loki had no interest in lingering within the World Tree, a place that only brought him pain. His goal was to amass power as quickly as possible and set forth into the vast, uncharted cosmos.

Without another word, Loki seized the freshly extracted batch of symbiotes. He gazed down at the writhing, sticky mass of black organic matter, which pulsed and shifted incessantly in his grasp.

"Is this the symbiote? If you break this mass into many pieces, each part will be an independent creature with parasitic abilities, greatly enhancing the host's combat strength."

Loki couldn't help but look up at the enormous black dragon. What is this thing? Is it really just the source of the symbiote?

He immediately raised his hand and cast a magical blast against the ice layer. Visible cracks quickly spread across the surface.

The agents were immediately thrown into a panic. Some called for help, others signaled for backup, and a group of people immediately opened fire on Loki, but it was useless. Loki was holding a strange box in his hands, and with the power of frost flowing around him, he effortlessly blocked all the energy attacks.

"Loki!! The origin and power of this giant dragon are unknown. Letting it out like this is madness!" Dr. Cliff shouted angrily.

Loki, feeling annoyed, raised his hand and fired a spell that shattered the glass wall, swallowing everyone in the lab.

So what if the black dragon is released? Since it could be sealed by the mortals of Midgard with low temperatures, Loki, who now possesses the Frost Box, was even more confident.

He only needed to gently open the artifact in his hands, and with a single moment's effort, he could seal the strange black dragon just like before.

The immediate priority was to figure out the dragon's strength and origins, which was far more important.

Soon, the ice layer collapsed, and the black dragon unfurled its massive wings, each spanning several dozen meters. With immense force, it easily shattered the surrounding rock layers.

A terrifying growl erupted from the black dragon's mouth. As if awakening from a long slumber, after the initial confusion, it immediately began to seethe with raging anger.

"Are you angry? I understand. In your view, after struggling to break into the World Tree and finding Midgard, just as you were about to act, you were defeated by my foolish brother and then slept for a thousand years in Midgard. Now, you're being imprisoned and used by these pests."

Loki smiled, clearly pleased. He had already considered the black dragon his property, imagining how impressive it would be as his mount, showcasing his status.

Just think about it—riding a black dragon as it flies across the great planets of the cosmos.

But the strange black dragon clearly had a different opinion.

"@#%%&￥%&@#￥…"

The black dragon emitted a series of sounds. Normally, Loki would understand this as it was a form of mental language.

However, in this case, Loki didn't understand a single word. He couldn't make sense of what the dragon was trying to say.

"What's going on? This is an unfamiliar language, but some of the characters feel strangely familiar, like something I've seen in the library before… it seems to be an ancient godly language… no, I must be mistaken. This black dragon doesn't seem very strong, but why do I always feel this overwhelming, ancient power coming from it?"

The contrast became even more apparent when Loki attempted to make mental contact.

Loki sharply realized that he had missed something crucial.

The next moment, the black dragon released an overwhelming, terrifying aura. The mental waves immediately became a tangible force, creating a massive storm that shattered everything in its path.

Many weak humans were instantly reduced to ashes, and the secret base of S.H.I.E.L.D., carefully constructed, collapsed under the dragon's attack. Everyone perished.

Loki, holding the Frost Box, watched as the beast locked eyes with him.

"&*#@￥%… @#!"

Another series of incomprehensible sounds, but Loki still couldn't understand.

The black dragon, enraged, lunged toward Loki, but the ice power from the Frost Box pushed it back, freezing half its body.

However, in the next second, the dragon unleashed an immense divine power that shattered the mysterious ice. It abandoned Loki and broke through the Earth's crust.

The ground trembled violently, as if an ancient behemoth was awakening.

The ultimate madness, mixed with colossal mental waves, surged forth and wreaked havoc across the world.

Every atom and molecule in the dragon's path was consumed, and all matter disintegrated instantly.

No living being could escape the dragon's overwhelming rage, which had been building for a thousand years, capable of crossing half the universe.

No one knew what the black dragon had endured, nor could they comprehend the level of frustration it had experienced on this insignificant planet.

Wherever the black dragon rampaged, devastation followed. Countless people and things vanished into thin air, becoming the dragon's sacrifice for its fury.

Soon, more and more people learned of the mad black dragon's rampage, and the number of victims was increasing at an alarming rate.

Various factions immediately took action, deploying all kinds of weapons in an attempt to attack, but to little effect. Maybe they had caused some insignificant trouble for the dragon, but they couldn't truly defeat it.

"What is this thing? How did a dragon suddenly appear out of nowhere?"

"First, ancient gods, then demons from other worlds, and now dragons? What is going on in this world? Why has everything suddenly become so chaotic?"

"Could it be that this world has always been like this, but it's only now bursting into chaos? Are we the unlucky ones to witness it?"

"Even modern weapons can't handle this dragon. It seems like they only make it angrier. Who is going to defeat this thing?"

People who didn't understand the situation were terrified and full of dread.

Nick Fury, the initiator of the chaos, clearly didn't have time to be afraid. He was equally stunned.

"I thought Loki was confident and must have a thorough plan, but I didn't expect his method of getting the symbiote was just to release it? What is Loki thinking? What is he trying to do?!"

Fury was furious. After all, the black dragon wasn't exactly a secret at the higher levels. Anyone who saw it immediately knew something was terribly wrong.

But now that the situation had unfolded, what could he do? There was no choice but to send the Avengers to deal with it, hoping to recapture the black dragon. If used correctly, it could produce an endless stream of super-soldiers—this couldn't be allowed to slip away.

Thus, the Avengers assembled once again, and this time, it might be their first real collective action.

"At least this time we're not dealing with some unheard-of demon," Dr. Banner quipped with a mocking smile.

"But this thing is still very troublesome. I'm not sure what Loki is thinking, but we need to act quickly, guys. The good news is, we only have to deal with the black dragon and Loki. The bad news is, it's just me and you guys—the rejects."

Iron Man took the lead, with the other heroes helplessly following in aircraft, unable to fly themselves.

However, when they reached the front lines, they immediately noticed someone had already arrived. Someone flying at high speed, almost simultaneously with them.

"Jarvis, is it just me, or does this entrance feel very familiar? This sudden storm is also unusual," Tony said, narrowing his eyes.

"Sir, based on the shadow through the clouds, this is not Duncan, nor Thor or Reynolds," Jarvis responded.

"Hah, a new Thor, huh? Another one wielding Mjolnir? If I had known, I should've gone to Duncan sooner to see if I could lift Mjolnir too. Maybe I could become a god in Asgard," Tony remarked as he immediately pursued, seeing a female Thor landing on the black dragon's head, Mjolnir raised, preparing to strike it down.