Levi tore open space and brought Clark to a dead star system.
Three red dwarfs orbited a dying white dwarf, with the nearest civilization tens of thousands of light-years away.
"We'll do it here."
Levi descended onto a barren planet covered in impact craters and raised a hand, deploying a golden barrier.
The moment the barrier unfolded, the flow of time changed.
One second outside equaled three days within.
Clark stood nearby, the energy inside him violently unstable.
Ever since absorbing the artificial miniature sun, he had remained in a strange state—full yet hollow, powerful yet fragile.
Energy surged through his blood vessels and roared through his cells, as though something inside him was about to break free from its cocoon.
"Stabilize yourself first."
Levi glanced at him.
"For the next three days, I'll completely refine the origin of the dead universe."
"The energy inside you will erupt alongside it."
"It's going to hurt."
"I can handle it."
"That's not the issue."
Levi shook his head.
"That energy contained fragments of the Anti-Monitor's will. I purified them, but their essence remains."
"They'll try to rewrite your genes and reshape your existence."
"If your will isn't strong enough, you may become someone else entirely."
Clark fell silent for a moment.
"Then why give it to me?"
"Because this is your only chance to break through."
Levi met his eyes directly.
"Kryptonian power has always been capped by physical laws. No matter how much solar energy you absorb, you're still trapped within the framework of rules."
"To reach the conceptual level, you must break those shackles."
"And the Anti-Monitor's power just happens to be capable of doing that."
He paused.
"Assuming you survive."
Clark took a deep breath and nodded.
Levi sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
His body began glowing as fourteen laws circulated within him.
The origin of the dead universe was gradually refined and absorbed into the Inner Universe.
Space expanded.
Time accelerated.
Life and death intertwined.
Creation and destruction balanced one another.
Clark sat down as well, though he kept his eyes open.
The energy inside him resonated with Levi's rhythm, growing stronger and more violent by the second.
Pale golden patterns emerged beneath his skin—the manifestation of lawful power.
His heartbeat accelerated.
Every beat felt like a star exploding inside his chest.
The pain arrived faster than expected.
Clark began trembling violently.
The energy was no longer docile. It rampaged through his body like an enraged beast.
Every cell burned. Every nerve screamed.
His genetic chains were forcibly dismantled and reconstructed. The agony far surpassed any physical injury.
Grinding his teeth, he dug his fingers into the ground hard enough to carve ten deep grooves into the rock.
His Kryptonian genes began resisting.
It was instinct engraved into the deepest layers of his DNA—a protective mechanism forged through tens of thousands of years of evolution.
It rejected change. Rejected being invaded by foreign power.
But the Anti-Monitor's will fragments were even more tyrannical.
They weren't rewriting his genes.
They were denying the very existence of his genes, then redefining them using a higher-dimensional structure.
Cracks spread across Clark's skin. Golden blood seeped from the fissures, evaporating into luminous mist.
His eyes turned pure white, with no visible pupils—only blinding radiance.
"Hold on."
Levi's voice echoed inside his mind.
"Don't resist it. Guide it."
"Your will has to become stronger than your genes. Tell that power that you are the master."
Clark inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.
He stopped suppressing the energy and instead began sensing it… understanding it.
The power truly was rewriting his existence.
But it wasn't destruction.
It was ascension.
The physical limitations of Kryptonians were being shattered. His lifeform was evolving toward a higher level.
The pain remained, but he could finally endure it.
Time passed second by second.
The laws within Levi became increasingly stable as most of the dead universe's origin was refined.
Inside the Inner Universe, the Law of Destruction and the power of creation reached a delicate equilibrium.
On one side, all things returned to nothingness.
On the other, new life was born from the void.
The two forces balanced one another, making the ecosystem of the Inner Universe even more complete.
Clark's transformation also reached its most critical stage.
Visible changes began occurring throughout his body.
The cracks in his skin healed, leaving behind a faint silver glow.
It wasn't reflected light.
It was his bio-force field manifesting itself.
And this force field was no longer simple physical protection.
It had risen to the conceptual level.
It defined the very concept of "Clark Kent cannot be harmed."
His physique became more streamlined, yet its density skyrocketed.
Every cell transformed into a miniature energy reactor.
He no longer relied on external solar radiation.
Now, he could independently generate, convert—even create—energy.
Most importantly, his genetic structure had been completely rebuilt.
His original Kryptonian genes remained, but at a deeper level, they had been engraved with an entirely new concept:
Transcendence.
That concept shattered the restraints of physical law.
From this moment onward, the upper limit of his strength would no longer be determined by the laws of the universe—
But by his own will.
Clark opened his eyes.
At that instant, all three red dwarfs in the star system dimmed simultaneously.
He stood up and rolled his shoulders, feeling the overwhelming power surging through him.
This power was completely different from before.
No longer mere physical strength.
It was something more fundamental.
He could feel it now—
There were things he could do that he never would have dared imagine before.
For example—
He raised a hand and lightly snapped his fingers.
In the distance, one of the burning red dwarfs instantly went dark.
No explosion.
No collapse.
It simply transitioned directly from "burning" to "extinguished," with no process in between.
Clark froze.
He had merely wanted to see if he could influence a star.
Instead… he had switched it off.
"Don't mess around."
Levi opened his eyes.
"Your power still isn't stable. One mistake and you could blow apart this entire star system."
"I… just wanted to test it."
"I know."
Levi stood and patted him on the shoulder.
"Congratulations."
"You've officially stepped into the Single-Universe level."
"From today onward… you are Silver Superman."
Clark lowered his head and looked at his body.
A faint silver radiance flowed across his skin—the manifestation of his bio-force field.
Clenching his fist, he could feel the terrifying power concentrated at his fingertips.
This strength could no longer be measured with physical units.
It transcended the limits of mass, energy, time, and space, ascending to the conceptual level.
"I can feel it…"
he murmured softly.
"There's a strange connection between me and your Inner Universe."
"That's Twin-Star Resonance."
Levi explained.
"You absorbed the energy of my Inner Universe, creating a unique bond between us."
"If I'm injured, you'll sense it. If you're in danger, I'll know immediately."
"This connection transcends universes… even dimensions."
He paused.
"Of course, it also means that if my Inner Universe collapses, you'll suffer backlash."
"And vice versa."
Clark nodded silently.
He understood the meaning of that connection.
It wasn't merely shared power.
It was a bond of shared life and death.
At that moment, Levi's expression suddenly changed.
He looked deep into the void, a grave light flashing through his eyes.
"What is it?" Clark immediately became alert.
"Something happened to Thor and Jean."
Levi's voice sank.
"The Anti-Monitor set a trap in Andromeda Hazard Zone Nine."
"He wants to use Jean's Phoenix Force and Thor's thunder as nourishment—to create a Dark Phoenix and a Fallen Thor."
Clark's face darkened.
"Then let's go."
Levi raised a hand, tearing open a massive spatial rift.
Beyond the裂缝 lay a nebula consumed by darkness, along with two figures struggling desperately within it.
The two stepped through the裂缝 simultaneously, vanishing from the barren star system.
---
Andromeda Hazard Zone Nine
This once-colorful nebula had now been completely consumed by darkness.
Countless shadow demons drifted through it, blotting out every trace of starlight.
Thor gripped Stormbreaker, his body drenched in blood.
Most of his armor had shattered. A bone-deep wound stretched across his left arm, blood dripping from it and freezing into dark crimson crystals within the void.
Yet lightning still burned defiantly in his eyes, and the thunder surrounding his axe was more violent than ever.
Jean Grey floated ten meters behind him.
The phoenix wings behind her had dimmed considerably.
Her face was pale as paper, cold sweat covering her forehead.
Some bizarre force was corroding the Phoenix Force inside her body, like countless needles piercing deep into her soul, trying to tear her consciousness apart.
"Jean, hold on!"
Thor shouted over his shoulder while swinging Stormbreaker, releasing a bolt of lightning that reduced more than a dozen charging shadow demons to ash.
Jean didn't respond.
She gritted her teeth and clutched her head tightly enough for her fingernails to cut into her scalp, blood streaming down her cheeks.
She could feel something taking root within her mental world.
Fragments of the Anti-Monitor's will.
They were trying to transform her into the Dark Phoenix.
"No… I won't…"
she whispered.
Thor tried to approach her, but a black wall of energy suddenly rose between them, isolating him.
With a furious roar, he brought Stormbreaker crashing down.
Lightning exploded against the wall, sending sparks everywhere—but the barrier remained unmoving.
"Damn it!"
At that moment, a deep laugh echoed from the depths of the nebula.
The sound did not travel through air.
It reverberated directly within their souls.
"Struggle all you want, God of Thunder."
The Anti-Monitor's voice resounded.
"Your thunder is impressive, but within my domain, you are merely a trapped beast."
Before the words finished, countless black tentacles stretched out from the nebula depths and lashed toward Thor.
Wherever they passed, space itself collapsed, and even lightning was devoured.
Thor swung Stormbreaker repeatedly, severing tentacle after tentacle—but there were too many.
Soon, they completely engulfed him.
Seeing this, a look of determination flashed through Jean's eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she forcibly suppressed the corruption inside her and unleashed the last of her Phoenix Force.
[Phoenix Force · Nirvana Heavenflame]
Golden-red flames erupted skyward, incinerating every tentacle into ash and freeing Thor from the encirclement.
But the price was catastrophic.
The defenses inside her body completely collapsed.
Black markings spread from the corner of her eye, covering half her face.
Her left eye turned completely black, devoid of pupil or sclera—only endless void remained.
The Phoenix Force began twisting.
Shadows mixed into the golden-red flames.
"Jean!"
Thor shouted in horror.
Jean slowly raised her head and looked at him.
Her right eye remained golden-red.
Her left had completely fallen into darkness.
The two powers warred violently within her body, tearing apart her consciousness.
"Thor…"
Her voice became distorted and hoarse, as though two people were speaking simultaneously.
"Kill me… while I'm still conscious…"
"No! I won't give up on you!"
He raised Stormbreaker.
All six Infinity Stones erupted with blinding radiance.
[Stormbreaker · Six Paths Samsara Slash]
Space.
Time.
Power.
Reality.
Soul.
Mind.
The six lawful powers converged into a universe-rending bolt of thunder that cleaved toward the depths of the nebula.
Where the lightning passed, darkness dispersed, shadow demons evaporated, and even the Anti-Monitor's energy barrier cracked.
But it wasn't enough.
The Anti-Monitor laughed again, mockery evident in his tone.
"You think six stones are enough to oppose me?"
"Foolish."
A gigantic black hand slowly extended from the depths of the nebula.
With a casual squeeze, Thor's lightning was crushed apart.
The hand continued forward, fingers spreading as it reached toward Thor and Jean.
Thor clenched his teeth, preparing for a final stand.
And then—
A golden spatial裂缝 tore open before them.
Levi and Clark burst out simultaneously.
Levi raised a hand.
All fourteen laws erupted at once, condensing into a dark golden barrier that blocked the giant hand.
The collision shook the entire nebula with deafening force.
Clark didn't stop moving.
He shot directly toward Jean.
His speed surpassed even light itself as he instantly appeared beside her, pressing a hand against her forehead.
Silver radiance poured from his palm into her mental world, colliding head-on with the black corruption.
"Get out."
Clark's voice rang low.
[Silver Superman · Conceptual Purification]
The full power of Silver Superman erupted from within him—a conceptual force that transcended physical law.
Before that power, the Anti-Monitor's will fragments had no ability to resist.
They were peeled away from Jean's soul piece by piece and ultimately erased entirely.
Jean's left eye returned to golden-red, and the black markings gradually faded.
Weakly, she collapsed into Clark's arms, gasping for breath.
"Thank you…"
Clark nodded, handing her over to the approaching Thor before turning toward Levi.
At that moment, Levi was locked in direct confrontation with the Anti-Monitor's gigantic hand.
The power contained within it far exceeded imagination.
Every collision caused cracks to spread across Levi's barrier.
Yet he didn't retreat even a single step.
Instead, a cold smile curled across his lips.
"Anti-Monitor."
"What's the point of hiding in the shadows?"
"If you've got the guts, show yourself and fight."
The laughter ceased.
The darkness deep within the nebula began boiling as a colossal figure slowly emerged.
It wasn't a true physical body.
It was a phantom stitched together from warped fragments of space and shattered laws.
But even as a mere projection, the pressure it emitted caused the entire nebula to collapse.
"As you wish."
The Anti-Monitor's voice echoed.
"If you're so eager to die… then I'll grant your wish."
Levi didn't answer.
He simply raised his right hand.
The destruction rune in his palm began spinning, dark crimson light intensifying without limit.
Fourteen laws circulated madly inside him—
Space.
Time.
Life.
Death.
Alchemy.
Mind.
Reality.
Power.
Devouring.
Soul.
Darkness.
Light.
Body.
Destruction.
Each law resonated with the others before converging beneath the phantom of the Phoenix Force.
This was a terrifying power capable of tearing apart the multiverse itself.
Clark stood beside him, his silver bio-force field fully expanded.
Through Twin-Star Resonance, he could feel Levi's power endlessly flowing into him, while his own strength fed back into Levi.
Together they formed a perfect cycle, elevating both of them to unprecedented heights.
Thor tightened his grip on Stormbreaker as the six Infinity Stones shone once more.
Though weak, Jean's Phoenix Force still burned brightly, enormous golden-red wings unfurling behind her.
Four people.
Four universe-destroying powers.
All locked onto the phantom deep within the nebula.
The Anti-Monitor fell silent for a moment before letting out another low laugh.
"How interesting."
"You think joining forces is enough to oppose me?"
"Foolish."
"But…"
He paused as the phantom slowly began dissipating.
"I've changed my mind."
"Killing you now would be too boring."
"I want to watch you struggle in despair."
"To watch each of you fall one by one…"
"And finally kneel before me begging for mercy."
The darkness within the nebula began receding, and the countless shadow demons vanished alongside it.
The gigantic hand dissolved into black mist and merged back into the void.
But before the phantom disappeared entirely, the Anti-Monitor left them with one final sentence.
"Levi."
"You devoured my trap and thought it made you stronger?"
"No."
"You merely made yourself more delicious."
"I'll savor you slowly…"
"Starting with the people you cherish most."
As his words faded, the nebula returned to silence.
Levi narrowed his eyes and looked into the depths of the void.
He could feel it.
The Anti-Monitor hadn't truly left.
He was watching them from deeper dimensions.
This war… had only just begun.
"We need to find the others as soon as possible."
Levi turned toward Thor and Jean.
"The Anti-Monitor's target isn't just me. He wants to turn all of us into nourishment."
Thor nodded while helping Jean to her feet.
Though still pale, clarity had returned to her eyes.
"What about Wanda and Strange?"
she asked softly.
"They're still trapped in the Third Chaotic Layer."
Levi's expression darkened.
"The situation there is even worse."
Clark glanced at him.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Levi didn't answer immediately.
Closing his eyes, he sank his consciousness into the Inner Universe, sensing the positions of the others across the multiverse.
Wanda and Strange's life signatures were weak—but still present.
Tony and Starlight's signals were even more chaotic, as if they were caught in some kind of spacetime distortion.
But what concerned him most—
Nathaniel's signal had suddenly vanished.
The boy was supposed to remain behind at Avengers Base.
Why had contact been lost?
Levi opened his eyes, a grave expression crossing his face.
"The situation is more complicated than I thought."
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