After formulating an initial idea, Shiller immediately began his experiments without stopping. To ensure the safety of these trials, he did not leave Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Instead, he stayed with Professor X, thus being able to pull back in case of any mishaps.
At Shiller's request, the Gray Mist quickly adjusted the magnetic field around him, and at the same time, another persona, other than the controlling greed, surfaced.
Normally, there are two possible outcomes. If greed voluntarily withdraws, it would be pushed out, replaced by another persona controlling the body. However, if the persona currently controlling the body refuses to return to the high tower, other personalities cannot surface.
But this time, Greed had a different sensation. It felt like the water on top of a pipe, and when the tap was reopened, it could seek another refuge instead of having to stay in the body.
Following this feeling, the ghost of Greed successfully detached from the body. According to Professor X's observation, it had been tuned to the frequency of a mutated soul, also known as a ghost.
In the following trials, Shiller found this ability wasn't as convenient as he had assumed; it had various limitations. He also discovered a peculiar phenomenon: morbid personality traits were more suitable for becoming ghosts, and after becoming ghosts, they became more potent.
Shiller and Professor X discussed this point. The two top psychologists believed that the ancient human terms "evil spirits" or "vengeful ghosts" were not without reason.
When humans are in extreme emotions, their brain waves change. According to Professor X's years of observation, extreme negative emotions are more potent than extreme positive emotions, and brain wave changes are more intense. This means that emotions like anger, resentment, and hostility would significantly alter human brain waves.
The two speculated that the brain waves of humans in extreme negative emotions are more susceptible to magnetic fields, hence making it easier to transform into ghosts. The resulting ghosts trigger changes in brain waves, which impart special properties and make them more potent.
In the abyss beneath the Shiller Tower, there exist many personality traits representing the most extreme negative emotions such as resentment, killing, destruction, and ruination, which barely act independently.
One could not even call these persona traits as they are irrational by nature. They cannot surface normally, mostly blending in with the morbid, acting more like catalysts for violent behaviour.
These fragments deep in the abyss can be referred to as ghosts, and the vicious ones chasing souls can even be termed hobgoblins.
Of course, other personas can also become ghosts, but the transformation isn't meaningful. The main reason is twofold. Firstly, ghosts do not have a physical body, making it inconvenient to carry out many activities.
Existing in a state of nothingness is also dangerous. Natural phenomena in astrophysics can obliterate ghosts, leaving not even a trace. That's why ghosts fear light - solar radiation influences the magnetic field and electromagnetic waves.
Another problem is that personas leaning towards positive or neutral traits cannot possess bodies.
As mentioned before, when humans are in a state of negative emotions, their brain waves change significantly, while brain waves change less when one is in a state of positive emotions.
This means that attuning with positive emotion brain waves takes more time and is more challenging, while attuning with negative emotion brain waves is simpler. Therefore, the ghosts transformed from extreme negative emotions can more easily possess bodies.
Without a corporeal form, ghosts can't influence any material reality, thereby making possession of people's bodies via brain wave attunement their most potent offensive tactic. Hence, only malevolent ghosts are meaningful.
That said, Shiller has never been one for physical combat. He prefers to resolve all issues before any fights occur, making battles mostly ceremonial.
So, is there any need to release those irrational malevolents to become hobgoblins? Even without unleashing them, Shiller can easily resolve the matters.
At this moment, Shiller discovered a crucial point.
Shiller could carry the Gray Mist, which could create a magnetic field that affected ghosts. Could he let these disembodied ghosts carry the Gray Mist and continuously create a magnetic field to control other ghosts?
Transforming into a ghost to fight is entirely different from attaining the ability to control ghosts.
After parting with Professor X, Shiller ran an experiment on the out-of-control child ghost he and Nick had encountered at the base earlier. As he suspected, every ghost of Shiller could carry some Gray Mist, effectively carrying a magnetic field control device. All ghosts affected by the field would then obey his command.
Simply put, Shiller had become the King of All Ghosts.
But Shiller still had another experiment to conduct. After all, his ultimate goal wasn't to increase his fighting power. Instead, he aimed to become a better psychologist in the world of superheroes, creating more effective treatment plans for their conditions.
So Shiller sought out Eddie.
Shiller's idea was to bring ghosts laden with the Gray Mist magnetic field close to patients, then use the special magnetic field to influence the patients' brain waves. This strategy would spare them from compulsively recalling terrible memories, thereby stabilizing their mental state for further treatment.
The trouble with this therapy was that once patients sensed the ghost's magnetic field, they would inevitably see the ghost, and they had to not be afraid of it.
Most people in the world are afraid of ghosts. As far as Shiller knew, members of The Avengers had more or less fear of ghosts. Even Natasha had a kind of Russian superstition, and the rest were more frightened by surprise attacks.
There's no help for it, fear is a kind of danger warning. In a sudden attack, no matter who the other party is, humans tend to be afraid.
That's why Shiller chose Eddie, because Eddie had a good friend - Venom.
As Venom isn't a human, fear is not his instinctive response. He's not afraid of ghosts, and he can promptly help his host expel the fear of ghosts.
This way, Eddie can be influenced by the magnetic field and not panic when he sees a ghost, making him an ideal test subject.
Like that, Shiller tricked Eddie into accompanying him on a trip.
So why did he bring Stark along? The answer is simple, to give medical treatment the first thing needed is a stable treatment environment, the zombie virus needed to be addressed.
Shiller was busy observing the experimental results and didn't have time to develop a cure for the zombie virus. Since nanobots were created by Iron Man in the original work, it's convenient to bring an Iron Man along to not worry about the spread of the zombie virus.
So, Eddie and Stark were both fooled by Shiller to come over. The arrival of Helen and Spider-Man was not originally part of Shiller's plan, but with Helen's arrival, dealing with the zombie virus became a simpler task.
On the edge of the Bronx in New York, in a temporary base made of abandoned dinner cars, Helen, Eddie, and two Spider-Men were discussing how to solve the problem of Earth's horrifying resurgence.
"Although the zombies have stopped biting people, we still face two serious issues. First, they have activated a transmitter and brought many monsters into this universe. The Avengers of this universe won't stand by."
"Once superheroes comes over and get injured by these frenzied zombies possessed by ghosts, there won't be enough ghosts to possess the superheroes of this universe, and the zombie crisis will still break out in this universe."
"Second, we can't simply ignore the original universe. There are still many zombies there. The longer we take to solve this, the more extensive the infection of the zombie virus will be. We must first solve the first problem and then go back to solve the second one."
Spider-Man's thinking is clear, he pointed out the biggest problem they are facing so far, everyone fell into deep thought, trying to find the most effective solution.
Helen frowned and said, "This is a typical trolley problem. If ghosts don't control the zombie superheroes, they would intentionally go biting people spreading the zombie virus. But if ghosts control the zombie superheroes, their random rage would definitely attract The Avengers of this universe, and the tragedy would replay."
"Enough." Zombie Spider-Man's voice lowered significantly when he spoke. He said, "I left the plan to outsiders other than you all, but now everything has gone beyond my control. I'm not sure if they have come into this universe."
"Maybe you should think about leaving." Zombie Spider-Man stared outside of the dinner car and said, "Zombie virus won't escape from these two universes. Thus even if the tragedy happened multiple times, it wouldn't affect your universe."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Spider-Man raised his voice, "We have to save you and these two universes. That's what we're doing."
At this time, Helen pondered and said, "Have you considered combining this issue with mysticism?"
Both Spider-Men turned to look at her, and Eddie also put his gaze on Helen. Helen analyzed, "Indeed, we can use the scientific method to explain ghosts, but the existence of mysticism is real, and I am one of the users of divine power."
"Mysticism has a much longer history of studying ghosts than science does. Since the conclusions drawn by science also conform to the customs of mysticism, does it mean that some methods dealing with ghosts in mysticism are also effective?"
"Like what?"
"Exorcism," Helen said as she thought, "Ghosts have possessed zombie superheroes. We can get something that ghosts hate to drive them away from the crowd or simply weaken them."
"In this way, we can cooperate with the healthy Avengers of this universe to catch zombie superheroes possessed by ghosts. Once the affairs of this universe are resolved, we will naturally have ample time to deal with the zombie universe."
"But the question is, what are ghosts afraid of?"
Helen's eyes landed on Eddie. Staring at her, Eddie said, "Why are you looking at me?"
"Isn't it obvious? You looked so scared of ghosts, you must have watched many ghost movies. Think about it - what are ghosts afraid of?"
Eddie stammered, trying to say "you're talking nonsense," but Venom betrayed him and spoke out before Eddie could, "That's right, he takes up my time every weekend night that I use to watch plasma movies. He insists on watching those old century ghost movies and always gets so scared that he drops my cheese balls."
"Shut up! Parasite!"
"I'm telling the truth! Apologize now!"