Chapter 131: The Thunder God Departs

A surge of heat coursed once more through his back, and a pair of bat wings sprouted forth—not ethereal wings of pure energy like an angel’s, but true, flesh-and-bone wings. These bat wings were larger and more menacing than before, carrying Michael gently upward. Bathed in moonlight, they looked solemn and majestic.

At last, the heat flooded into his mind. Michael was overwhelmed by a torrent of desires—bloodlust, greed, lust, rage, and pride flooding his heart. Instantly, his fangs emerged, and his eyes gleamed a deep crimson. This time, he had utterly lost his reason, reduced to a mere slave to hunt and reproduce.

Keisha sighed softly, taking control of Michael’s body. Using her divine essence, she expelled the Asgardian god genes from his system. Slowly, Michael returned to his normal form; the madness in his eyes faded, and the torrent of desires in his mind receded. He gasped heavily, replaying everything that had just happened.

“How could this happen?” Michael felt weak, collapsing to his knees, unwilling to move.

Keisha said, “Thor’s lightning gene accelerated the mutation, and your willpower wasn’t strong enough.”

“Not strong enough?” Michael asked, puzzled.

Keisha replied, “The mind is the commander, the body the foot soldier. If you cannot control your own body, you will lose yourself—just like that mutated green brute.”

Michael nodded slowly. He understood what Keisha meant. If he considered his body a battalion, then it was a rebellious one. As his body evolved again, the rebellious soldier grew stronger, making it impossible for his spirit to command his entire being.

“What should I do, then?” he asked.

Keisha shared her experience: “First, the forging of time. Second, the tempering of war. Third, the refinement of emotions. Fourth, the transformation of spirit and thought. Fifth, establish an unwavering will and everlasting confidence.”

Michael nodded, signaling he understood.

“But there’s another way,” Keisha continued, “constantly forcing yourself to adapt.”

Michael grasped her meaning—continuously using serums, repeatedly testing his spirit. In times of crisis, Keisha would naturally assist him. If by chance he succeeded, it would save much trouble.

Subsequently, Michael removed the lightning gene from the serum, avoided nights with moonlight to minimize risk, and repeatedly used the serum to torment his will. Pain was the soil in which willpower grew. Over time, Michael’s resistance to desire strengthened.

After more than a dozen cycles of experimentation, Michael finally caught that elusive feeling and succeeded.

He spread his wings—naturally bat-shaped in his true form. His eyes glowed crimson, and his fighting desire was unmistakable.

His fingers showed little mutation; only his nails grew slightly longer, and his fangs, though present, were barely noticeable unless he opened his mouth. Yet a faint black mist swirled around his body, making him appear almost invisible despite standing plainly.

This evolution granted him control over wind and black mist. Wind was simple, but the black mist was enigmatic—it could provide invisibility, hypnosis, corrosion, and destruction, resembling dark magic.

His aura was becoming more villainous.

His gene structure still centered on the vampire bat, with Asgardian god and angelic genes as auxiliaries. Hence, his bloodthirst remained only partially quelled.

Fearing a loss of control, Michael crafted a special blocking serum—one dose could seal his powers for an hour, during which no extraordinary gene abilities would manifest. Whenever his bloodlust threatened to overwhelm him, he would take this medicine immediately.

This enhancement propelled Michael’s physical strength to new heights, his power surpassing four million initially, and he could run at supersonic speeds.

He also gained an immortal and invincible body; his flesh, empowered by dark energy, could withstand virtually any conventional weapon. Even without armor, the Hulk would no longer be a match for him.

...

At the Avengers base, Michael placed the container holding the Cosmic Cube on the table.

“You all may leave now.”

Thor looked at Jane and said, “Sorry, my dear, I must go. I have to report back, but rest assured, I will return.”

Jane Foster understood perfectly. “I know. You must come back. Promise me.”

“All right, I promise.”

Then followed a long, passionate kiss, eliciting groans of annoyance from the others.

Thor and Loki headed to the airfield, preparing to cast a teleportation spell on the open tarmac.

“Jane, I will come back.”

“I know.”

Jane nodded, wiping a tear from her eye. She was about to endure the longest long-distance relationship imaginable—how could she not be sad? Especially since Asgard was such a remote place with no internet connection. Being apart was almost like breaking up.

With everyone watching, Thor and Loki prepared to depart.

Loki glared fiercely at Michael, vowing to return.

Just last night, Michael had brought two black men to consult him about dark magic.

If Loki refused to teach Michael, Michael threatened to have those two feed him sausage and rice porridge—and make him experience the sour agony of “a bursting chrysanthemum.” Proud Loki could not tolerate such humiliation, so, resignedly, he passed on his magical knowledge to Michael.

Most vexing of all, Michael had mastered Loki’s most powerful magic: shapeshifting.

This magic could transform oneself or others into anything—even a rat. (In the animated tales, Thor was once turned into a frog prince by Loki.)

Michael looked at an unwilling Loki and conjured a staff about a foot long.

Pointing it at Loki, a spell shot into his body, instantly transforming him into a crocodile.

Everyone gasped in astonishment and admiration.

Thor laughed heartily. “Brother, now you know how miserable it feels to be transformed, don’t you?”

The horned crocodile Loki tried to flee but was promptly lifted by Thor.

Thor excitedly said, “I was once turned into a frog by him. The story of the Frog Prince was based on my real experience.”

Jane’s sadness faded, and she replied lightly, “Oh, then it was the princess who saved you.”

Thor coughed, pretending not to hear.

“I must go now.”

Thor twisted the device, vanishing instantly through the power of the Cosmic Cube.

With Thor gone, Michael prepared to leave as well.

Tony approached, slinging an arm around his shoulder.

“I heard you two broke up. Tell me, what happened? I thought you guys were happy.”

Michael looked at Tony, shocked by his gossiping tone. Was this really Tony?

Quickly, Michael answered, “I cheated on my secretary. That’s why.”

Tony adopted a knowing expression. “That’s your mistake. Once you have a lover, as a man, you should be faithful.”

Michael was speechless. “You have the nerve to say that? Pepper used to chase away your exes and even throw out your used umbrellas. Don’t think I don’t know.”