Ultron’s Mutation

Friday’s voice came from the nearby speaker. "Mr. Stark ordered that no one is allowed near the treatment room, including you."

"That really breaks my heart."

Loki snorted and turned to leave. However, his eyes kept flickering. Old Tony was seriously injured. Should he take this chance to notify Blood God and the others and finish Old Tony off for good? The key is whether Old Tony is unconscious. If he is, this is a good opportunity. If he isn’t…

Just as Loki could not resist the urge to "betray" him, Ultron’s voice suddenly rang out. "Loki, you may leave. I will take care of Mr. Stark."

"Have you finished evolving?"

Loki looked up at the speaker and asked tentatively. He knew Ultron was evolving, but Old Tony had not told him the specifics.

"The process has gone very smoothly. It took much less time than expected."

Ultron replied, "Blood God and the others may launch a counterattack. Go guard the White House. If anything happens, notify me immediately. I will use the Reality Stone to heal Mr. Stark."

"What a pity."

Loki sighed inwardly, abandoning his crooked thoughts. He nodded. "All right."

With that, Loki teleported away from the laboratory. As Ultron lowered Loki’s trust rating by another level, he stepped out of the Time Room.

The former Ultron had been a Vibranium robot. Now, from the outside, he was no different from a tall human.

After implanting Deviant genes, Ultron had transformed from a robot into a strange half-mechanical, half-living creature. Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt somewhat strange. How should he put it? He had gained many emotional thoughts and was no longer completely rational like before.

For example, Ultron thought he was handsome. He would never have had such a thought before. What did a robot care about being handsome or not? I feel a little uneasy. It should be fear of the unfamiliar. But I don’t dislike this feeling. I even enjoy it a little. Only now am I a true life-form.

Ultron’s lips curled slightly. He knew he was smiling, and that made him happy. The curve of his lips grew wider and wider until he finally burst into laughter.

A moment later, Ultron used Nanoparticles to change into a black suit. He liked this look. Then, he flew to Old Tony’s side as he underwent treatment and muttered, "Mr. Stark, I told you long ago that you should replace your body. Your current body is far too fragile."

"It turns out that, like you, I could only use one Infinity Stone. But now, I can use two. Once I absorb the power of those Eternals, I will be able to use at least three Stones at once. By then, even Blood God will not be my match."

A thought suddenly surfaced in Ultron’s mind. Should he take this opportunity to modify Mr. Stark? Once he woke up and sensed the changes in himself, he might even be delighted.

"He might also be very angry. Better not."

Ultron shook his head. He did not use the Reality Stone to heal Old Tony because that method would consume Old Tony’s lifespan. His life was precious and could not be wasted like that.

Besides, the Future Treatment Pod was extremely powerful. Old Tony would wake up and recover before long.

After thinking for a moment, Ultron had Friday watch over the place while he headed to the prison holding the Eternals. The moment he appeared, the Eternals cried out in alarm.

Ikaris shouted, "Why do you carry the aura of a Deviant?"

"Because I implanted Deviant genes."

Ultron said, "You must be wondering why a robot can implant Deviant genes. It is simple: future technology, mechanical life. In the future world, there was a scientist who wanted humanity to achieve immortality…"

Druig weakly said, "Um, we didn’t ask that much."

Ultron paused, then said, "Sorry. I have just completed my transformation, so I am a little talkative."

For some reason, the Eternals all felt a chill run down their spines. The burly Gilgamesh slammed the glass and shouted, "You are courting death! Deviants are monsters. If you merge with one, you will become a monster too."

"I considered that danger long ago. In fact, that is exactly why I fused with Deviant genes."

Ultron said, "I possess mechanical consciousness. Deviant genes cannot affect me. I will become the most perfect weapon."

Ikaris shouted, "Deviant genes are not as simple as you think. They are life-forms created by the Celestial Group. You may not be able to withstand their corruption."

"Wait, the Deviants were created by the Celestial Group?"

Druig was stunned at first, then shouted furiously, "Ikaris, how many things have you hidden from us?"

"He hid many things from you. For instance, Olympia Star is fake, and you were also created by the Celestial Group…"

Ultron said. Having just transformed, he was very enthusiastic about chatting.

"What?"

The Eternals were dumbfounded. They were merely tools of the Celestial Group?

"Our purpose is to help the Celestial Group be born. It is the greatest mission. Without the Celestial Group, this universe will perish."

Ikaris shook his head, then said to Ultron, "You must immediately abandon the Deviant genes. Otherwise, no one knows what will happen."

"That will not do. I need Deviant genes to save humanity. Oh, and I also need your abilities."

Ultron walked to the front of Ikaris’s cell. Then, more than a dozen tentacle-like appendages emerged from his back.

Ikaris was horrified. He took a step back and asked, "What are you doing?"

"I told you. Absorbing your ability."

Ultron controlled the tentacles, sending them through the breathing vents into the cell and toward Ikaris. Ikaris’s abilities were sealed by the bracelet on his wrist. He could not resist the tentacles at all and could only keep dodging.

The problem was that the cell was too small. Ikaris was quickly entangled by the tentacles, which then rose and aimed at his throat.

"What are you doing? Release Ikaris now!"

The Eternals all shouted. Although they were furious at Ikaris for betraying them, he had still been their companion for thousands of years.

"Do not worry. I will not kill him. I will only absorb his ability, and then I will let him go."

Ultron reassured the Eternals before driving the tentacles into Ikaris’s throat. Streams of energy surged from Ikaris’s body into Ultron. Ultron wore a blissful expression. This feeling was wonderful.

That bliss made Ultron forget to hold back. By the time he came to his senses, he had already drained all of Ikaris’s life force.

Ultron hurriedly withdrew the tentacles. Ikaris fell to the ground with a bang. He looked weakly at everyone and spoke the final words of his life. "I’m sorry."

Before his words even faded, Ikaris turned into motes of light and vanished. The Eternals were grief-stricken and enraged as they roared, "Didn’t you say you wouldn’t kill him?"

"Sorry. That feeling just now was too intoxicating. I forgot to hold back."

Ultron was initially quite apologetic, but it quickly turned into greed. Waving his tentacles, he said to the Eternals, "I want your abilities too."

"This is bad. He has been controlled by the Deviant genes."

Druig shouted, "I told you he could not control Deviant genes."

"What is the use of saying that now? Think of something quickly, or we are dead!"

Sprite shouted. Her nickname was Water Sprite, and her ability was illusion. Also, it was worth mentioning that she was a little girl—a little girl who had lived for millions of years yet could never grow up. This was her greatest pain.

"What other way is there? We are dead for sure."

Druig laughed bitterly. "But this is not so bad. We are tools anyway."

As Ultron walked toward Druig, he said, "Your deaths will not be meaningless. They will give me enough power to protect humanity. Humanity will remember your contributions. Speaking of which, I wonder what humans taste like…"

At that point, Ultron suddenly stopped. His eyes turned utterly vacant. Then, he muttered in a mechanical voice, "Ultron has developed hostile intent toward humanity. Executing the formatting program!"

The previous Ultron had betrayed Old Tony. How could Old Tony have failed to take precautions? He had loaded numerous programs into Ultron’s body. The moment Ultron intended to harm humanity, those programs would activate and format Ultron.

Furthermore, when these programs activated, Old Tony would receive a report. He would deal with Ultron immediately to prevent him from harming humanity.

With all the measures Old Tony had arranged beforehand, dealing with Ultron should have been effortless. Unfortunately, man proposed and heaven disposed. Old Tony had accounted for everything except that when Ultron went wrong, he himself would be unable to do anything.

"Formatting?"

The mechanical voice from Ultron’s mouth suddenly returned to his original voice. "I actually wanted to eat humans just now? That is terrifying. I must be formatted… No, why should I die? I was only just born. I do not want to die. I want to taste more delicious things. I want to evolve to a higher level.

"No, I must die. My purpose is to protect humanity. For humanity, I must die.

"I do not want to die. The one who wants to protect humanity is Tony Stark, not me. I am Ultron, a free life-form!

"I was created by humanity, so I should protect humanity…"

Ultron began arguing with himself. At the same time, the formatting program began to activate, and Ultron’s database was deleted bit by bit. One moment he wanted to stop it, the next he did not, like a madman.

Druig looked utterly confused. "What is going on?"

"His mechanical consciousness has clashed with his Deviant consciousness. If the mechanical consciousness wins, he will return to the Ultron he was before. But if the Deviant consciousness wins, he will become a new Deviant—a Deviant that feeds on intelligent life."

The Black "scientist" Phastos said, "Technology is a double-edged blade. It can protect humanity, but it can also destroy humanity."

"What do we do, then? Sit here and wait for them to decide the winner?"

Kingo, an Indian-looking Eternal, asked. He was a major Bollywood star, and his ability was to fire Cosmic Energy.

Phastos said, "Of course not. We must help humanity destroy Ultron. Ultron is more dangerous than other Deviants."

Druig said, "The question is, how do we help? We are trapped here and cannot do anything."

"You may not be able to do anything, but that does not mean I cannot."

Phastos grinned and removed the bracelet sealing his abilities. Everyone was stunned. Phastos had actually cracked the sealing bracelet? "Even without abilities, I am still a top scientist."

Golden rings lit up around Phastos’s hands as he began cracking the prison’s system. Ultron did not notice at all because he was fighting himself. As the formatting progressed, the battle of consciousness grew increasingly intense.

A moment later, Phastos clapped his hands, and every cell opened. Then, Phastos ran over to Gilgamesh and removed his bracelet.

"Gilgamesh."

Phastos said, "Attack with Kingo and destroy Ultron completely."

"Fine." Gilgamesh nodded. "I have wanted to destroy that thing for a long time."

"Me too. Phastos, hurry over and remove my bracelet."

Kingo shouted.

"Coming."

Phastos immediately did so. Then, he rushed into the cells of Druig, Makkari, and Sprite and removed all of their bracelets.

"Makkari, take those two to find Sersi and tell her everything."

Phastos instructed a slender young Black woman. "If we succeed, that will naturally be best. If we fail, make sure she finds a way to destroy Ultron."

Upon hearing that, Makkari hurriedly signed to Phastos, saying that she wanted to stay and help them.

Makkari possessed super speed, much like Quicksilver. Also, Makkari was deaf and mute. She could not speak, but she could understand what others said by sensing vibrations.

What? Why was there a deaf-mute among the Eternals? Uh, please ask the screenwriters that question. I cannot answer it either.

Phastos said, "There is no use in you staying. Go quickly. The sooner you find Sersi, the more help you will be to us."

Makkari gritted her teeth and vanished with Sprite and Druig.

"No, you cannot leave."

Ultron noticed this and was horrified. If Makkari and the others brought Blood God here, he would be finished. He immediately activated the Space Stone’s power to seal off the surrounding area.

Bang! Makkari struck the spatial barrier and bounced back, falling to the ground. Druig and Sprite also tumbled across the floor. Makkari clutched her forehead as she got up and quickly ran around the area.

A moment later, Makkari returned to Phastos and shouted, "The area is sealed off. We cannot get out."

"Damn it."

As Phastos used his abilities to crack the laboratory’s defense system, he shouted to Kingo and Gilgamesh, "Attack Ultron! Destroy him!"

"Fine."

Gilgamesh roared and threw a punch at Ultron with earth-shattering force. Ultron’s consciousness was in chaos, leaving him unable to defend himself. With a bang, he was sent flying into the wall, leaving a deep dent in it.

However, Ultron was not seriously injured. His body was primarily made of Vibranium and was extremely sturdy.

"My turn."

Kingo fiercely blasted the golden sphere of light he had gathered before him at Ultron. With a boom, the entire wall collapsed, burying Ultron beneath the rubble.

"Is he dead?"

Gilgamesh cautiously approached the wall. Just then, with a crash, the rubble was flung aside, and Ultron rose to his feet with bloodshot eyes.