Elektra’s Upgrade

"You don’t need to be so shocked. Dragon Souls are indeed precious in K’un-Lun, but they aren’t worth much to me."

Wang Bert smiled. "Madame Gao, I once promised to help you return to K’un-Lun, but now I think it would be better for you to fight your own way back."

"Fight our way back to K’un-Lun ourselves?"

Madame Gao was somewhat stunned. Wang Bert nodded. "That’s right, fight your way back—with a group of Iron Fists."

Wang Bert truly had no interest in that old dragon named Shou-Lao in K’un-Lun. After all, he had even taken down a Dragon God. It was better to let Madame Gao and the others settle it themselves.

Madame Gao had turned over a new leaf in recent years and would not do anything evil again. Besides, Skye and the others would be there.

"Thank you, Blood God."

Madame Gao knelt before Wang Bert in immense gratitude. Wang Bert waved for her to rise and said, "I’ve told you before, I don’t like people kneeling to me. Colleen, you’ve served me for several years and earned some merit. Prepare to take over the Blood God Group’s charity projects."

"Yes, Blood God."

Colleen was thrilled. She had finally been formally accepted by the Blood God, and the mistakes she had made in the past had largely been atoned for over these past few years.

Next, Wang Bert sent the two Dragon Souls into Madame Gao and Colleen’s bodies respectively, then began to wait quietly.

Very soon, Madame Gao, Skye, and Little Hela completed their transformations one after another. Their fists shone with different-colored light, signifying that they had officially become Iron Fists.

Next came Jessica, Trish, Mindy, and Colleen. They succeeded as well.

Wang Bert nodded in satisfaction. None of his disciples were weak—well, aside from Lina. That little glutton still had not succeeded, though that was normal. After all, she was far too lazy and fond of eating.

I need to step up Lina’s training. Come to think of it, what exactly is going on with her? Why can she eat so much?

Wang Bert had not neglected to examine Lina before. The problem was that everything about her body was normal—yes, although she ate more in a day than ten people combined, and although she never gained weight no matter how much she ate, everything about her body was normal.

Just then, the Dragon Soul inside Lina’s body suddenly let out a miserable scream. Immediately afterward, Lina’s body shone with a dazzling blue light and rapidly grew taller.

"What’s going on?"

Everyone was startled. Wang Bert hurriedly sensed her condition and discovered that Lina’s life energy was surging wildly. Other than that, there were no other problems.

A moment later, the light around Lina dimmed. Then, a long-haired teenage girl appeared before everyone.

There was no doubt that this was the grown-up Lina. Because her body had grown taller, her capri pants had become shorts, and her shirt had become noticeably shorter as well.

Mindy glanced at Lina and angrily said to Wang Bert, "Master, you lied to me! Isn’t there a Dragon Soul that can make people grow up?"

"Cherish your girlhood. Stop thinking about growing up all day."

Wang Bert replied irritably, then asked Lina, "Lina, what happened?"

"Master, why do all of you seem shorter?"

Lina first asked in surprise, then said a little sheepishly, "That dragon hit me just now. I couldn’t beat it, so in a fit of anger, I bit it. Then, somehow, I swallowed it."

"You swallowed the Dragon Soul?"

Wang Bert was greatly shocked. He stepped forward to examine Lina’s body and found that not only was there no Dragon Soul inside her, even her qi was gone.

Wang Bert asked, "Do you feel like anything has changed?"

"Changed?"

Lina tilted her head and thought about it dumbly for a moment before nodding. "I think so."

Then, Lina raised her hand. Moisture from the surrounding air gathered together and formed a small ball of water. She said excitedly, "I can control water! Haha, now I’ll always have water to drink."

"Do you remember anything besides eating and drinking?"

Mindy complained, her gaze toward Lina filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. This damn girl had two abilities that she wanted most: one was being able to eat without gaining weight, and the other was suddenly growing up.

"So after swallowing the Dragon Soul, you inherited the water dragon’s abilities?"

Wang Bert was even more surprised. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Madame Gao, take Lina to our hospital for an examination and find out every change in her body."

"Yes, Blood God."

Madame Gao nodded. Even she had never seen a change like Lina’s.

"Alright, all of you go back and familiarize yourselves with your new powers."

Wang Bert clapped his hands. Then, he stroked Lina’s head and said, "Don’t overthink things. You’re my disciple, and I’ll protect you."

"I’m not thinking about anything. I’m just a little hungry."

Lina rubbed her stomach and said embarrassedly. Wang Bert was speechless. She had just swallowed an entire Dragon Soul, and she was already hungry again?

"Good thing your master is rich. Otherwise, you’d eat me into bankruptcy sooner or later."

Wang Bert sighed. "Go get examined first. Once you’re done, you can eat whatever you want."

"Thank you, Master."

Lina smiled brightly. As long as there was food, that was enough for her.

After sending several of his disciples away, Wang Bert thought to himself, Could Lina be some kind of alien species? But her DNA is identical to a human’s. Could it automatically disguise itself?

Wang Bert did not actually care much about Lina’s identity. As long as she was his disciple, nothing else mattered.

After some thought, Wang Bert teleported into the underground space beneath the Blood God Building. It was still filled with the Blood River, but unlike before, the Blood River was now exceptionally clear and even seemed to glow.

Wang Bert’s Blood God Power had already broken through to the God Level. In less than a month, he would awaken.

However, Wang Bert had not come to see his main body this time. He walked to a corner and looked at Elektra, who was bound by chains and constantly howling and roaring like a vicious ghost or a madwoman. He could not help but sigh.

"Elektra, why put yourself through this?"

Wang Bert said this because Elektra had devoured too many demon souls during this period, causing something to go wrong with her.

Demon souls were filled with evil and chaos.

Hearing Wang Bert’s voice, clarity flashed through Elektra’s eyes. She tugged at the Vibranium chains and roared somewhat crazily, "I want to become stronger! I don’t want to be useless anymore."

During the battle on Ego Planet, Elektra had been unable to appear in the early stages—she had remained hidden in Wang Bert’s shadow. If she appeared, everyone would know that the Blood God had returned.

In the later stages, when the Blood God appeared, Elektra was no longer restricted. However, with her strength, she simply could not help Wang Bert.

So Elektra had been useless during that battle, and the proud woman was deeply dissatisfied with that. While protecting Wang Bert, she had frantically devoured demon souls.

The demon souls had indeed greatly increased Elektra’s strength, but they had also turned her into something neither human nor ghost. If Wang Bert had not arrived in time and restrained her, Manhattan might already have been a river of blood.

The current Elektra was no different from a madwoman.

"How about this? Go become a Hell Demon King."

Wang Bert said, "Adam has already devoured Lucifer Hell and One-Eyed Hell. I’ll have him give One-Eyed Hell to you."

"I don’t want it."

Elektra answered stubbornly.

"You want strength, and I’m offering you the position of Hell Demon King, yet you’re saying no?"

Wang Bert was so angry that he laughed. "Elektra, that’s a Hell Demon King, God-Devil Level. Do you know how many people would fight until their heads bled for it if this opportunity were made public?"

"I know what becoming a Hell Demon King means, but I don’t want it."

Elektra gritted her teeth and said with difficulty, "If I become a Hell Demon King, I won’t be able to remain by your side."

Wang Bert was taken aback. He laughed and said, "Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me? You spend every day in my shadow, so you should know how much of a scumbag I am."

"As a powerful man, isn’t it only natural to have many beautiful women?"

Elektra looked at Wang Bert, making no attempt to hide her love. "Blood God, you are the strongest person I have ever seen. Not only are you strong, but your wisdom, schemes, and depth are all unmatched as well. I am willing to follow you for the rest of my life."

"Where exactly did your values go wrong?"

Wang Bert could not help shaking his head. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since you’re unwilling to become a Hell Demon King, I’ll give you another path—a path that will very likely kill you."

"What path?"

Elektra said, "As long as I can become stronger and continue staying by your side, I’m willing to do anything."

"Lizard Doctor has been studying Gladiator’s bloodline. Some time ago, he developed a Gladiator Bloodline Potion."

Wang Bert said, "This potion can give someone Gladiator’s ability—the stronger their confidence, the stronger their power. The prerequisite is successfully absorbing it."

"Has anyone succeeded?"

Elektra asked.

"No. The failure rate is one hundred percent."

Wang Bert said, "But you possess regeneration and an immortal body, so perhaps you can try.

"However, Elektra, I must make this clear beforehand. Your genes are already complicated. If you use the Gladiator Bloodline Potion, you may not even have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of success. And the process will be extremely painful, even more painful than last time."

Elektra did not care about the danger Wang Bert described at all. Her eyes reddened as she asked excitedly, "What will happen if I succeed?"

Wang Bert said, "If you succeed, with your confidence, you should be able to break through to the God-Devil Level. At that point, the negative emotions and demonic energy within you will no longer be able to interfere with you."

"Then inject me with the Gladiator Bloodline right away."

Elektra said impatiently. Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Elektra, do you really not want to reconsider becoming a Hell Demon King? It’s safe, and the success rate is one hundred percent."

"No. I want to stay by your side forever and be your assassin."

Elektra said.

"Alright, then."

Wang Bert sighed, but instead of taking out the bloodline potion, he took out a crystal—Elektra’s Soul Crystal.

Next, Wang Bert sent the Soul Crystal into Elektra’s body. Elektra was greatly surprised and asked, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll betray you?"

Wang Bert held Elektra’s face, kissed her forehead, and said, "I believe you."

Elektra, who wore only a few strips of cloth and had never known what embarrassment was, suddenly blushed. She did not even dare to look at Wang Bert. Wang Bert could not help laughing. He took out the Gladiator Bloodline Potion and said, "It’s starting. I’ll stay with you."

"I will definitely succeed."

Elektra said with absolute certainty.

"You will."

Wang Bert said no more and injected Elektra with the potion. Moments later, the bloodline began to fuse. Elektra let out a shrill scream as her body began to collapse—her genes had broken down.

The pain of genetic collapse was more terrifying than any pain in the world. Even though Elektra had experienced it before, she could not help developing the desire to die.

I can’t die. My master needs me, and I want to stay by his side for the rest of my life.

Elektra thought with incomparable determination, then died amid the excruciating pain.

Her immortal body took effect. Elektra revived, died again, revived again… and the cycle repeated endlessly.

Wang Bert could not help shaking his head. In truth, he would have preferred Elektra to choose to become a Hell Demon King. He did not lack helpers. However, Elektra had made her own choice.

Wang Bert opened his Soul Eye and discovered that Elektra’s soul was not weakening. Instead, it was becoming increasingly resilient through each death—the souls she had devoured before were turning into nourishment, allowing her soul to grow rapidly.

"If you can overcome such pain, you will become the most confident assassin."

Wang Bert murmured to himself. The Gladiator Bloodline would allow Elektra to become a true God-Devil Level being.

Several days later, at S.W.O.R.D. headquarters, Wang Bert looked in surprise at Raina, whose entire body had turned green and whose face was covered in spikes like a cactus. "When did you turn green?"

"I used genetic technology to change it. I think this suits me better. Besides, I can’t get married anyway."

Raina smiled. She had originally carried a gloomy air, but ever since she began following Skye and working tirelessly for the great cause of the Inhumans, she had become much more cheerful.

Moreover, genetic technology for changing skin color had gradually become widespread. Many people in America had chosen to alter their skin colors—there were all kinds of colors. In the words of one candidate, it was a chaotic parade of demons.

"I can have someone remove those spikes from your body."

Wang Bert said, "With Sovereign’s technology, it won’t be difficult."

"Then I wouldn’t be distinctive anymore, and men would only distract me."

Raina shook her head and got to the point. "Blood God, Gordon sensed that a large number of Inhumans have been appearing recently."

"Isn’t that a good thing?"

Wang Bert asked. "There are far too few Inhumans right now. Those countries are offering better and better terms to compete for them. Ordinary people are getting jealous."

The Resource Stars needed a great number of powerful people, so every country was competing for Inhumans. Inhumans were no longer facing discrimination—they were being envied, hated, and resented.

"According to the data, under normal circumstances, around thirty or forty Inhumans are born every day."

Raina said, "But recently, more than a hundred Inhumans have been born every day. And according to Gordon, these new Inhumans are filled with hostility, completely different from ordinary Inhumans."

Wang Bert was somewhat surprised. "He can sense even that?"

"That’s because the hostility of these new Inhumans is simply too intense. Unfortunately, Gordon cannot sense where they are."

Raina said, "Blood God, I suspect someone is secretly creating Inhumans."

"Secretly creating Inhumans?"

Wang Bert frowned and asked, "Raina, have you foreseen what these new Inhumans will do?"

"I can’t foresee the futures of these new Inhumans."

Raina first shook her head, then said, "Blood God, we must find these Inhumans as soon as possible. With their hostility, they will cause tremendous destruction to the world. When that happens, the Inhumans will inevitably be implicated."