Yes, You Are an Inhuman!

"Remember? The Kree Empire, the Shi’ar Empire, the Skrull Empire—three powers vying for supremacy." Skye nodded as she studied the Obelisk.

Over the past three years, during those days when it was just the two of them, Old Wang had told her many stories.

About the Nine Realms, the Infinity Stones, the multiverse, and the Three Great Cosmic Empires.

According to Old Wang, the universe was vast and filled with all kinds of civilizations. Countless ones were stronger than Earth.

The Three Great Cosmic Empires were among them.

The Skrull Empire had originated on the Skrull Homeworld in the Andromeda Galaxy hundreds of millions of years ago. They were reptilian in nature, and through long evolution and natural selection, they had gained the ability to shapeshift at will. They lived for over two hundred years and were physically far superior to humans.

The Kree Empire was located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. It was a highly developed military superpower whose technology was leagues beyond Earth’s.

The Shi’ar Empire, also known as the "Fierce Feather Empire," was a collection of countless alien races, cultures, and worlds. As the Skrull Empire and the Kree Empire declined, it had gradually become the number one empire in the universe.

At first, Skye had only treated them as stories.

But recently, she had discovered that many of those stories were true.

Could the Three Great Cosmic Empires be real too?

Old Wang seemed to know everything. Could he really be connected to the mysterious K’un-Lun?

Maybe he was the reincarnation of some legendary figure from K’un-Lun, like the Jade Emperor, Lei Gong, or Shou-Lao, just like in novels and movies;

Maybe he looked young, but had actually lived for hundreds or thousands of years, just like in myths and legends…

Could the man I sleep with every day actually be an old man even older than my grandfather?

Skye shuddered for no reason, her gaze toward Old Wang turning somewhat strange.

Although Old Wang found Skye’s reaction odd, he could not read minds and had no idea what the girl was thinking. Otherwise, he would have given Skye a thumbs-up:

Though he was not some ancient monster who had lived for hundreds or thousands of years, adding up three lifetimes, he might not be old enough to be Skye’s grandfather, but he could certainly be her father…

"The Kree are skilled in biological modification. In order to defeat their sworn enemies, the Skrulls, the Kree began experimenting on humans many years ago. By mixing in their own genes, they altered the genes of many humans. These modified humans were given a new name: Inhumans, hybrids of Kree and humans."

Old Wang took a small sip of Essence Wine and continued leisurely. "Over the long years, Inhumans kept intermarrying with other humans, and more and more people came to possess Inhuman genes. By now, it is difficult to determine how many people on Earth carry Inhuman genes."

"So, lots of people on Earth aren’t really human? They’re descendants of the Kree?" Skye seemed to understand something.

"They originated from humans, so naturally they are humans. Black people, white people, and Asians also have genetic differences. Does that make them different species? Should the children of black and white people be called black-and-white people? Does genetically modified soy stop being soy? Most importantly… there is no reproductive barrier between Inhumans and humans. Of course they’re human!"

Old Wang smiled. When he saw Skye silently nod, he continued, "Some Inhumans possess extraordinary abilities beyond those of humans, but there aren’t many of them. In the distant past, the Inhumans suffered conflict after conflict. An Inhuman leader named Hive was jointly exiled to another planet by humans and other Inhumans. His worshippers later founded an organization that sought to bring Hive back to Earth. That organization was… Hydra."

"Mm." Skye nodded.

She had heard Old Wang tell Black Widow about Hydra’s origins before.

Red Skull was actually only the leader of one branch of Hydra. The real Hydra was just as its propaganda claimed—everywhere.

"Later, war also broke out between humans and Inhumans. The details are unclear, but humans gradually became the masters of Earth, while the Inhumans slowly vanished from sight."

Old Wang said, "After absorbing a miraculous substance called Terrigen Mist, some Inhumans gain all kinds of abilities, such as flight or the ability to control flames or ice. It can basically be considered genetic mutation."

"That sounds like something out of a comic book or movie." Skye could not help commenting.

"Yet it is real."

Old Wang pointed at the Obelisk. "And this is the device used to store and release Terrigen Mist. Inhumans call it the Diviner. Only Inhumans can touch it. Once ordinary people touch it, they turn into black stone—the same color as Egghead."

Skye froze, thinking of a terrifying possibility. "You said the Obelisk is connected to my future, then…"

"You guessed right."

Old Wang smiled, reached out, and patted Skye on the shoulder. In a soft voice, he said, "Yes, you are an Inhuman!"

On the way back, Egghead drove while thinking.

If the Obelisk had really been taken by Iron Fist, what did he want that thing for?

Could it really be connected to K’un-Lun?

Had the Obelisk been made by K’un-Lun, and was it connected to "chi" or the "Immortal Dragon"?

Did the Obelisk contain some crucial information, or was it itself a weapon? Or perhaps an item that could enhance Iron Fist’s abilities?

There was too little information to make an accurate judgment.

"Maybe it has nothing to do with K’un-Lun or Iron Fist. Maybe it has something to do with the people under him?"

Egghead’s imagination ran wild. He slammed on the brakes, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes as he recalled everything.

S.H.I.E.L.D. collected detailed information on every Special Ability User and entered it into the Special Ability User Registry.

Using public and non-public information such as bank records, emails, medical records, and hotel stay records, they made assessments to determine whether these people posed a threat, whether they might pose one in the future, and thus decide how to deal with them:

Surveillance, house arrest, capture, or execution.

Iron Fist and the people under him were all on it.

Immortal Iron Fist, male, Chinese American, just turned eighteen. Though he got along well with his neighbors, he possessed an innate arrogance. Physical ability six times that of an ordinary person (further confirmation needed). Capable of manipulating a special energy called "chi"… Long-range surveillance (specially approved by the Director).

Ghost Rider, male, from Los Angeles. Acquired his abilities three months ago (further confirmation needed). Skilled at controlling Hellfire. Hellfire possesses the following characteristics… Shows a tendency toward killing and dominating the lives of others. Long-range surveillance (specially approved by the Director).

Daredevil…

Black Sky…

Stick…

Piece after piece of information surfaced in his mind. Egghead’s memory was astonishing; he would not be wrong.

Nothing unusual.

None of these people should have anything to do with the Obelisk.

That left only one final person—someone not listed in the Special Ability User Registry, yet the person closest to Iron Fist.

Egghead pulled a small black cube from his pocket and opened it. A holographic image appeared.

"Skye."

The moment he spoke, file after file appeared.

Everything else was ordinary, but the final entry startled Egghead.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.’s highest classification? Level 10 clearance? Sealed nineteen years ago, when Skye was not even one year old… Was this Pierce’s doing?"

Egghead tapped it, and the file opened.

His single eye swept over it, and he froze slightly.

"So that’s how it is…"

Egghead suddenly had a powerful premonition:

The Obelisk was connected to Skye!

Thanks to "Ares27" for the 1,000-tip reward!