If the celestial gods represented physical destruction, the Old Gods were the embodiment of spiritual annihilation.
At this moment, Syd observed as his clearer self spoke a single word.
"Light!"
A mysterious, almost eerie voice echoed.
In an instant, an area spanning nearly thirty kilometers was filled with sunlight.
The next second, boundless light coalesced into a beam of energy!
Simultaneously, the sunlight itself intensified, with the sun overhead seeming to blaze even more brightly, pouring down infinite rays of light. The black-clad Syd also radiated light.
The beam of intense heat and the light of the sunlight combined, focusing towards the black tendril and the eerie dark space above.
Boom!
The black tendril, caught off guard by the unexpectedly powerful energy from what it had underestimated as mere ants, was struck by the beam and the sunlight.
The black tendril was first scorched, then began to disintegrate.
A strange, painful groan emerged, mixed with astonishment.
In a short moment, the black tendril was reduced to a ragged state, its dark, glowing blood flowing out.
Fortunately, at a crucial moment, a layer of black energy appeared on the tendril, resisting the sunlight and beam, sparing it from complete destruction.
Seemingly enraged, a colossal figure approached the dark void above, and Syd glimpsed a gigantic red eye.
Before he could observe further, multiple black tendrils emerged, forcing their way through the sunlight, rapidly closing in.
Although the sunlight, chaotic magic's red glow, and the reflective shield slowed the tendrils, they did not stop them.
The next moment, the black-clad Syd was ensnared by the tendrils and disappeared into their writhing embrace.
The light dimmed...
Eerie distortions began...
"Ants... futile resistance and struggle... you only have one fate—to become my puppet..."
The eerie, triumphant laughter echoed.
In the distance.
Syd fell silent.
He could sense the complete mental distortion of his counterpart in the death scene, who had become a puppet of the Old God.
His vision blurred again, returning to reality.
Looking at the now dimming black stone artifact in his hand, Syd sighed.
He had initially underestimated the Old Gods, but it turned out they were more formidable than he expected...
"It seems that level four abilities really aren't enough..."
Syd shook his head.
Currently, only abilities like Floating Flight, Divine Word, and Divine Body had reached level five. Other crucial abilities had not yet reached level five, preventing any significant leap in his power.
For instance, if Light of Dawn and Chaotic Magic had both reached level five, transforming them, the death scene would have been less severe.
Even if Bardul's stronger abilities had awakened, things might have turned out better.
Of course, what troubled Syd the most was the Old God's spiritual pollution ability.
At present, his divinity did not seem capable of avoiding such pollution and distortion.
Perhaps reaching level five in divinity could allow him to resist or ignore this distortion?
And what transformations might occur at level five in divinity?
Syd was curious.
Additionally, he was still unsure of the Old God's true strength, as it had not been fully displayed. This uncertainty also made him wary.
Syd understood very well that if the Old God was powerful, even a death goddess could be annihilated!
And this death goddess was not Hela of Asgard but the true Death Goddess, an abstract deity representing death itself!
Syd remembered that in another universe, the Cancer Universe, the Death Goddess was defeated and devoured by an otherworldly tentacle monster, causing all life in that world to become twisted, cruel undead monsters...
That otherworldly deity was one of the Old Gods...
If even the Death Goddess representing death itself could perish at the hands of that tentacled deity, Syd didn't believe he could resist it.
Reflecting on the appearance of the Old God in the death scene, Syd was filled with suspicion.
Could this being be the cause of the Death Goddess's demise in the Cancer Universe?
"No, if that were the case, its strength seems a bit lacking..."
Syd hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and dismissing the thought.
There was no point in overthinking. Instead of pondering endlessly, it was better to quickly elevate all his abilities to level five. Then, even if there were any crises, he would have the confidence to handle them.
Moreover, after enhancing his abilities, the black stone's death scene might reveal more information, and the Old God's true identity would soon become clear.
Resolved, Syd basked in the sun while channeling the light energy within him.
[Divine Light Experience +1]
Occasionally, he also heard the sound of divinity experience increasing.
Time passed swiftly, and soon two days had gone by.
That morning, Syd opened his eyes.
[Ability: Divine Light (1999/2000) Level Four]
A notification sounded in his ears.
[Divine Light Experience +1]
[Ability: Divine Light (Max/Max) Level Five]
Finally, it reached level five!
Syd's eyes showed excitement.
The next moment, a dramatic change occurred!
At this moment, the sleeping Venom was startled awake by the sudden crisis and quickly leaped from Syd's right hand.
"Syd, what's happening to you?" Venom asked, bewildered.
Suddenly, he saw Syd's body glowing brightly.
At that moment, Syd became a massive ball of light, as dazzling as the sun itself.
The light energy began an extreme transformation.
It became increasingly pure, exuding a mysterious aura.
Asgard, Divine Realm.
Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, sensed something and instinctively looked towards Earth.
In a single glance, he saw a figure in white robes, enveloped in a powerful divine aura, in a narrow alley.
"What's happening to him?"
The intensity of the divine aura...
Heimdall's golden eyes revealed confusion and shock.
In the Hall of the Gods.
Odin, who had been conversing with Frigga, suddenly frowned, sensing something.
"Midgard... this divine aura..."
Nearby, Frigga felt an inexplicable unease.
Earth.
Kamar-Taj.
The Ancient One, who was pouring tea, stopped and looked in a specific direction with a puzzled expression.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
The energy detection instruments went off again.
Nick Fury was filled with uncertainty.
In the dimly lit alley suffused with light.
Venom looked up at the sky, dumbfounded.