Marvel: Xenomorphs

Duncan was unaware of the events unfolding in Kamar-Taj, but he could guess that perhaps the Ancient One was discussing him with Wong and the others.

He didn't believe that the Ancient One was oblivious to his existence. After all, she was the Earth's protector, in possession of the Time Stone, capable of observing countless futures through it.

"I just wonder if the Ancient One in this universe is the male or female version…"

This thought flashed through Duncan's mind, and he chuckled softly, quickly dismissing it.

Regardless of which version of the Ancient One it was, her future was bright—either returning to the Vishanti or roaming the universe with Eternity.

This was the advantage of having a powerful backing. Even in death, there was no worry about losing one's prospects, which allowed her to face life and death with equanimity.

In contrast, Duncan felt he needed to work even harder. Unlike the Ancient One, who had multiple cosmic-level backings, he had to rely solely on himself.

"The attempt to use the Xenomorphs to steal black magic has failed, and there won't be another opportunity like this in the future."

Duncan placed his hand on the Xenomorph that had burst forth from the black magic, carefully sensing its condition.

Now, Duncan could only attempt to steal Dormammu's power. He couldn't target others because, no matter how enraged Dormammu became, the Ancient One would stand in his way, ensuring there were no dire consequences.

Moreover, it wasn't as if Dormammu would give up on devouring Earth even if he weren't provoked.

"So, I can abandon the path of magic."

Duncan muttered this to himself, feeling no disappointment. From the beginning, he hadn't held much hope for it. Relying on borrowed power was not a sustainable strategy.

Raven sauntered over, swaying her hips, and placed a steaming cup of water on the table with a loud thud. "Magic? You already possess unique power, yet you still covet magic? I really don't understand what you're thinking."

"Magic is still quite useful. Those sorcerers…" Elektra defended Duncan.

"Oh, listen to who's talking. Is it a Stockholm syndrome victim who just got captured and is already speaking up for others? Or a rookie who just learned about a place called Kamar-Taj?"

Elektra's face twisted in anger. This older woman always knew how to seize every opportunity to mock her.

"Don't mind her, Elektra. She's about the same age as Erik and Charles, but her menopause has been prolonged," Duncan reassured.

"How heartwarming. You're really good at comforting people," Raven retorted, clearly irritated, mimicking Elektra's tone.

Duncan downed the hot water in one gulp and wiped his mouth with a tissue.

"It seems you really don't understand. Of course, it's not your fault. You only need to focus on the power of the X-gene. I don't have that luxury."

"A man admitting he's not up to it?"

"On a small scale, I'm the commander of an army. On a larger scale, I'm the leader of an entire species. That's the biggest difference between you and me," Duncan said.

While everyone else was marveling at the wonders and strength of the Xenomorphs, Duncan's gaze was already fixed on a much more distant future.

Being enamored with low-level superpowers was a dead end. Who knew when some cosmic entity might appear, wielding power far beyond Duncan's ability to handle?

Thus, Duncan had long been quietly formulating a plan to elevate the Xenomorphs.

To ascend from planetary lifeforms to cosmic lifeforms!

At the very least, they should be able to survive in the vacuum of space, unlike in the movies where they'd perish upon entering space.

Admittedly, many famous figures weren't cosmic lifeforms either—like Iron Man or Star-Lord. They needed high-tech gear to fight in space.

But that didn't stop them from showcasing their talents, and no one dared to look down on them.

But if there was a chance to elevate the entire species' life form, why not take it?

For now, at least, the path of magic was a dead end. Duncan had no intention of basing the Xenomorphs' ascension on the whims of some cosmic entity.

"…Should I continuously adjust the genetic structure of the entire Xenomorph society? Keep parasitizing and bursting forth until they reach a universal starting point, capable of surviving in all sorts of harsh environments?"

Like the Kryptonians from another universe, born with the ability to absorb energy from a yellow sun, growing stronger just by basking in sunlight—a power rooted in their racial genes.

Duncan pondered this deeply, constantly observing the Xenomorphs surrounding him.

After parasitizing the ten Deviants Magneto had sent over, the total number of Xenomorphs had increased to forty-seven. Of course, that was just the surface count. In the underground caverns, there were still sixty unhatched Xenomorph eggs. If Duncan didn't issue the command to hatch them, these eggs could remain dormant for over a century without needing any external nutrients!

It wasn't that he couldn't have more Xenomorphs or eggs. Without sufficient top-tier combat power, blindly expanding by parasitizing countless animals would only hasten a united crackdown by Earth's major forces, which would be detrimental to long-term development.

"The numbers still aren't enough. Currently, the only peak combatant is the Abomination Xenomorph, with fifteen Deviant Xenomorphs. The rest are just a bunch of Blood Xenomorphs…"

A wild idea popped into Duncan's head. By his calculations, it was almost time for Thor to arrive on Earth.

Thor himself wasn't what Duncan wanted. Odin wasn't dead yet, and if Duncan dared to parasitize Thor, it would surely provoke Odin's wrath.

Although Duncan often fantasized about Odin's body—thinking that since Odin would die in a few years anyway, why not let him take advantage of such a prime specimen—Odin was still far beyond his reach for now.

Duncan realized he needed to think more flexibly, to choose a path with a future, rather than staying on Earth fighting vampires.

"Let's see… May 8th, New Mexico. Counting the days… I think it's time to take action." Duncan made his decision and immediately set his plan in motion.

Raven was full of questions about Duncan's actions. In fact, she had never fully understood this man's secrets. She didn't know where Duncan got his intelligence, whether he had created the Xenomorphs, or what his next move would be.

"What are you thinking now? If I were you, I'd stay put, wait for Erik to capture more Deviants, hunt enough vampires, and keep expanding the Xenomorph numbers," Raven couldn't help but say.

Even if they only counted the Blood Xenomorphs, Raven couldn't see the limits of the Xenomorph Queen's egg-laying capacity or Duncan's control over the Xenomorphs. Naturally, the more Xenomorphs they had, the better.

When Duncan only had a few Xenomorphs, people saw him as a mad scientist. When he had dozens, they saw him as a formidable superhuman.

What if Duncan had hundreds of Xenomorphs?

Even the weakest Blood Xenomorph far surpassed ordinary humans and weaker mutants in raw power, immune to most firearms, with unparalleled obedience and utility. Once they reached a certain scale, they would be an unimaginable asset to the Brotherhood!

Imagine every Brotherhood member being assigned one Xenomorph—or even three to five. The boost in power would be terrifying!

Even Magneto would be tempted.

Raven's initial plan of staying by Duncan's side as a hostage and spy had evolved into trying to win him over.

But Duncan's mind was far from Raven's schemes. He was aware of her intentions but paid them no heed.

He set out with his army.

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