Jean wanted nothing more than to lose herself completely in this sea of souls! Suddenly, a warm hand gently pinched her nose.
"Snap out of it."
Lucci's voice carried a faint smile, pulling her back from that strange state.
Jean snapped awake, suddenly excited. She gasped heavily, her chest heaving with fear, and terror was written all over her face.
"Wait... what was that just now?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear. "Was that... the power of the Mind Stone?"
Just a single glance, and her spiritual world nearly collapsed completely! In fact, she herself was a top-tier telepath!
Lucci smiled and nodded.
"This..." Jean was shocked, but when she saw the blue gem in Lucci's hand gather its glow and return to normal, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Good... good thing... that this stone ended up in your hands. If someone else got it... the consequences would be unimaginable!"
"Indeed." Lucci nodded with satisfaction. "The Mind Stone doesn't have overwhelming destructive power, but within the spiritual realm, it possesses truly incredible abilities."
He toyed with the gem in his hand, a gentle smile on his lips. "But now, with this device, I can further upgrade the MagicNet."
"Upgrade the MagicNet?" Jean regarded him with suspicion. "How?"
Lucci explained with a smile, "The main function of the previous MagicNet was still on the physical level. It could only passively detect powerful energy fluctuations that exceeded the normal threshold. For example, when the Chitauri army opened a space gate.
"But now," he continued, shaking the Mind Stone in his hand, "through the Law of Mind, I can add a new spiritual detection function to the MagicNet—detecting good and evil."
"Detecting good and evil?" Jean was surprised. "Is that even possible?"
"Of course." Lucci's face bore a calm smile. In the next instant, an ancient Path of Flame Sword appeared in his hand. The Law of Mind, now under his complete control, transformed into profound and unparalleled runes representing various spiritual attributes—"benevolence," "malice," "neutrality," "chaos"—which he fused into the sword's body.
Lifting the sword, he lightly swung it through the void!
This strike did not target any specific being, but rather, it activated the Path of Flame Sword's unique property of connecting all things, striking directly at the invisible... layer of MagicNet laws enveloping the entire planet!
"Buzz—"
A new law fluctuation, representing "will" and "judgment," instantly merged with the entire MagicNet!
From now on, for any foreign existence, the MagicNet could instantly sense their presence, form, and energy level—and at the same time, directly detect the core of their intent!
Were they acting out of goodwill, or... malice? Was it absolute good, or a minor evil? Was it a pure desire to destroy, or mere curiosity? These spiritual messages would be clearly and quantitatively captured by the MagicNet!
In this way, whether responding to emergencies involving Kamar-Taj, mutants, or other threats, they could do so more calmly, accurately, and... decisively!
Just as Lucci finished and had stowed away both the Path of Flame Sword and the Mind Stone with satisfaction, a mutant student hurried over.
"Reporting to Prince Lucci!" The student respectfully handed him a letter. "There was an extra letter in the school's main gate mailbox. It's addressed to you."
"Oh?" Lucci was a bit surprised. He took the envelope and opened it. Inside were only two items—both made of a special metal and with a unique shape: bat-shaped darts.
There was also a clipping from the Star City Daily:
["Secrets of STAR Labs Stolen, Whereabouts of the Mysterious 'Mother Box' Unknown!"]
Lucci glanced at the bat dart and the Mother Box design on the newspaper, his lips curving in interest. "Batman?"
"Steppenwolf?"
It seemed the days of peace were coming to an end.
Jean was a little surprised when she heard this. "Batman? I feel like I've heard that name before."
"There's supposed to be a superhero in Gotham City," Lucci replied.
"But who is Steppenwolf?"
He looked at her and explained with a smile, "Steppenwolf isn't from Earth. He comes from a place called Apokolips and is one of the most powerful generals under its supreme ruler, Darkseid."
"Apokolips? Another alien?" Jean frowned a little. She had just experienced the Chitauri invasion and was naturally wary of alien visitors. "Why have they come to Earth?"
Lucci's gaze fell to the newspaper, pointing at the design of the Mother Box. "Steppenwolf's goal is these Mother Boxes."
"According to Asgardian records, many years ago—when humanity was still in its most primitive and ignorant age—the ruler of Apokolips, the evil god Darkseid, led his demon army down to Earth."
"At that time, he was so powerful that he tried to turn Earth into a second Apokolips, a hell of fire and wailing."
"However, even in that age, Earth was not without resistance. To fight Darkseid, Earth formed the greatest alliance in history."
"Zeus, king of the gods and lord of Mount Olympus, personally led the Greek gods! The kingdom of Atlantis, not yet sunken beneath the sea, sent its most elite warriors! The isolated Themyscira, home of the Amazons, produced wave after wave of female warriors! Even the tribes of men took up swords and spears to fight alongside the gods!"
"In that battle, countless mighty warriors fell, dyeing the land red with blood."
"In the end, after paying a heavy price, the alliance achieved an overwhelming victory, gravely wounded Darkseid, and banished him from Earth."
"The three Mother Boxes used to transform Earth were entrusted to the three great races for safekeeping: one to the Amazons, one to Atlantis, sunk deep in the sea, and the last was entrusted to humanity."
Lucci finished his tale. But to Jean, the shock was as if a nuclear bomb had been dropped into the calm lake of her heart!
"Wait... wait a minute..." Her mind reeled. "What do you mean... Zeus? Mount Olympus? Themyscira, Atlantis beneath the sea... These... these mythic, legendary places... Are you saying... they're all real?"
Watching her adorable and stunned expression, Lucci couldn't help but laugh and pinch her nose. "Isn't the crown prince of Asgard standing right before you?"
He joked, "If even the divine realms exist, why is it so strange that Olympus, Themyscira, and Atlantis are real too?"
Jean was momentarily speechless, then quickly came around, unable to suppress a wry smile. "Looks like... that's true..."
The people you love are gods of myth. He also carries the universe-level power of the Phoenix. This world has long since defied common sense.
She finally accepted reality and pondered aloud, "So this time, that Steppenwolf is coming to reassemble the separated Mother Boxes?"
"Yes and no," Lucci replied, puzzling her again.
"What do you mean?"
Lucci's eyes glimmered with depth as he smiled. "He's here for the Mother Boxes now."
"When the three Mother Boxes unite, they generate the power of Unity, tearing the fabric of the universe, opening a permanent gateway for Darkseid's army to invade Earth—and even altering the planet's environment itself."
"But in reality, there is another thing on Earth that Apokolips, Darkseid, and others crave even more."
His words pointed to the ultimate force that could enslave all free will in the universe—the Anti-Life Equation!
"Another thing? What is it?" Jean's curiosity was fully piqued. She sensed that whatever Lucci was talking about was perhaps even more important than the three Mother Boxes.
But Lucci did not explain further. He stood up, dusted the grass from his clothes, and said, "Alright, leave this matter to me."
"While I'm away, you stay at school and continue training the True Fire of Origin."
With him nearby, Jean's focus would always be drawn to him, making it hard for her to settle down and practice. Jean understood what he meant, blushing as she nodded shyly.
Still, she reluctantly advised, "Then come back soon."
"Don't worry. I'm just moving around on Earth, it'll be quick!" Lucci nodded and, having made up his mind, quickly pinpointed Themyscira's location through the newly upgraded MagicNet that now covered the world.
Though wrapped in powerful magical barriers, for one with the MagicNet, the "blank" space stood out as the clearest coordinate.
He immediately took a step toward Themyscira, preparing to take the Amazons' Mother Box first.
No matter what Steppenwolf was planning, he could not escape him.
…
Themyscira
Themyscira, the sacred land of the Amazons, protected by divine power and magic, was a paradise cut off from the world. Inside, rolling green mountains and magnificent temples built from ancient Greek white marble stood tall.
At that time, an open space by the shore was filled with intense sparring.
Diana, princess of the Amazons and the strongest warrior on Themyscira, was fighting alone against three Amazons armed with sword and shield.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The endless, sharp, and fierce sound of clashing swords and shields resounded. But despite being outnumbered, the fight was one-sided.
Diana's movements were as graceful and deadly as a wind-blown elf. Her speed was dazzling, and every sword strike thundered with power, numbing her opponents' arms. Without using her full strength, her combat intuition and skills far surpassed any ordinary person, allowing her to easily defuse every attack.
She ducked low, dodging a sweep, and her longsword struck an opponent's wrist at a sharp angle.
"Clang!" The longsword fell to the ground.
Right after, she used her shield to precisely strike another warrior's shield, the force sending the woman retreating several steps.
Seizing the moment, Diana stepped forward, gently pressing the hilt of her sword to the third warrior's throat.
The fight was over.
The entire process was smooth and orderly, beautiful in its fusion of violence and art.
The surrounding Amazons, after a brief silence, erupted in warm cheers and applause!
"Diana! Amazing!"
"Princess, you're so strong!"
Diana sheathed her sword and smiled encouragingly at her defeated sisters, who looked a bit crestfallen. She pointed out their mistakes from the match, her words precise and to the point. The warriors listened, expressing admiration and gratitude.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!"
Diana nodded, but her gaze unconsciously drifted beyond the invisible magical barrier enveloping all of Themyscira.
Themyscira was wonderful, but after thousands of years, the tranquility and boredom were almost unbearable. Born with half-divine blood, she craved battle and adventure—there was still so much in the outside world that interested her.
No, she had to find another way to sneak out. But her mother's supervision was too strict, so she'd have to find a way to trick her sisters...
Diana's mind was already plotting her next "prison break."
But at that moment, above Themyscira, a ring of transparent space rippled outward!
A figure with black hair appeared out of nowhere.
He hovered in the air, gazing down at the beautiful island with deep eyes.
"Not a bad view," Lucci nodded slightly, making his own assessment.
At that moment, a sharp-eyed Amazon warrior spotted him.
"Who's there?" her face changed dramatically, bow drawn as she pointed at the uninvited guest in the sky!
Diana and the others were startled by the shout and looked up.
When they saw the strange man floating above Themyscira, shock appeared on everyone's faces!
"What's going on?"
"Who is that?"
"Oh my god! He's... he's a man!"
"How did he get in? What happened to the Themyscira barrier?"
Shock, confusion, disbelief! Countless thoughts flashed through their minds.
But as elite warriors, their reactions were not delayed at all!
"Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Sharp and clean sounds rang out! In an instant, all the Amazons present drew their bows, aiming at Lucci in the sky.
But before hundreds of cold, gleaming arrows, Lucci didn't seem to care. He simply stepped from the air to the beach.
"Who are you? What is your purpose on Themyscira?" Diana stepped forward, her voice low and wary. As the princess, she had a duty to protect her home in the queen's absence.
But Lucci completely ignored her question. His gaze lingered with interest on Diana's wrist—her silver bracers shone with divine light, rippling with godly power.
Those were... crafted by the fire god Hephaestus from shards of the Aegis shield, the Amazons' mightiest artifact: the Bracelets of Submission.
"Are you Diana?" Lucci finally spoke, his tone calm and detached.
Diana was stunned! Her face filled with shock.
"You... you know me?"
"I don't know you," Lucci shook his head slightly. "But I've seen records in the Asgardian's Library about the silver bracers you guard."
Asgardians!
Those words struck the hearts of all the Amazons present like bolts of lightning!
Diana's face was instantly filled with disbelief!
"Asgard... the divine realm?"
"You... who are you?"
The female warriors behind her exchanged glances, all in an uproar!
…