Chapter 64: I'm Not an Eternal Anymore! Eternals Should All Die, Die, Die!
Yes, it was fundamentally impossible. Fury strongly agreed with Coulson's assessment.
Struggle leads to progress, and the pursuit of survival unlocks extraordinary potential. This is the essence of life, whether for humans or aliens.
This also indirectly shows that Druig, as an Eternal, has a seriously flawed ideology. No wonder he has strained relationships with all the other Eternals, avoiding them like the plague.
He even fell out with a leader like Ajak.
"Druig possesses mind control abilities and can see through lies. It's impossible to deceive him with words."
Fury believed that as long as he didn't appear before Druig, Druig would be the best tool to use.
Anyway, he absolutely didn't believe that anyone in this world could satisfy Druig's unrealistic fantasies.
...
Druig looked at the numerous Xenomorphs around him, a hint of excitement welling up in his eyes.
"So many... so many pure minds..." Druig unleashed his mental abilities, feeling a faint illusion that he was in a sea of blissful minds—clean, though a bit cold.
Because the Xenomorphs' thoughts were pure and frigid, but Druig didn't have such high demands. He couldn't fault such an excellent species for such minor details.
"Truly perfect."
Meeting everyone's gaze, Druig finally squeezed out a sentence, as if he had just woken up from a hundred-meter-wide bed, bathed in warm sunlight, utterly content.
"Perfect in what way?" Duval asked.
"In every way. These Xenomorphs are simply creatures meticulously selected by the Celestials." Druig hadn't experienced such obvious emotional fluctuations in a long time.
"The Celestial Gods are not qualified to screen my Xenomorphs."
"You've never left Earth, let alone seen a Celestial! You don't think becoming the Thunder God makes you comparable to a true Celestial, do you?"
"No, but I know that the Celestials led by Arishem are unworthy."
This time, Druig sized up Duval with surprise.
He even knew Arishem? And showed no reverence, calling him by name.
Druig's gaze towards Duval changed subtly.
"What is he doing? Shouldn't he make a move soon?" Gilgamesh frowned, completely unable to understand.
Why waste time talking? He should directly use his mind control abilities to control these Xenomorphs, then turn them around to besiege Duval. Wouldn't the battle end sooner?
But he had no choice. If Druig didn't act first, were they really supposed to kill all these Xenomorphs in one go? That would be too troublesome.
Moreover, Duval's subordinates weren't just Xenomorphs; there were also exceptionally terrifying individuals.
While dealing with the numerous Xenomorphs, they might expose weaknesses, allowing powerful enemies to seize the opportunity to attack.
The Sentinel was impossible to ignore, and the newly appeared Death Woman was also intimidating. Even if they didn't know Death Woman, the fact that she stood beside Duval's right hand like the Sentinel indicated that she was no simple character.
"I'm different from them. I'm here to judge your worthiness. All your thoughts will be exposed to me."
Druig activated his ability, and a large amount of mental energy began to spread like a plague, quickly covering the numerous Xenomorphs.
Every second, a large number of Xenomorphs were linked to him, becoming his followers—at least on the surface.
Druig wasn't here to fight, but to examine Duval. Once he determined that Duval was unworthy of possessing the Xenomorphs, he would not hesitate to strip Duval of his control over them.
But facing this situation, Duval wasn't flustered at all, looking at Druig with interest.
He had recognized this guy the moment he saw him.
Therefore, he didn't blame Druig's words and actions at all, seriously saying, "Mind control abilities? You can't get rid of me with just that. Besides, what makes you think you've controlled my Xenomorphs?"
"You'll see."
Druig immediately launched his ability against Duval himself.
The mental attack was very fast. In an instant, Druig had invaded Duval's mind.
But as soon as he entered Duval's brain, Druig sensed something was wrong.
"What's going on?"
Druig's originally icy thoughts were now filled with endless horror.
Duval's mind was like a terrifying abyss, spewing out an extreme cold capable of freezing everything.
Profound, despairing, screaming, deathly silent...
At this moment, it was as if all the terror, all the evil in the world, was concentrated in this human's heart, turning into an insurmountable chasm.
Druig swore that in his past thousands of years of memories, he had never encountered such a situation, never probed such an unfathomable, black hole-like terrifying mind! If this damned place could still be called a "mind."
"Sure enough, he's an extremely evil villain. Let me see, who exactly are you..."
Druig gritted his teeth, but the next second, he was stunned.
In that abyss of terrifying will, there were flowers and applause everywhere.
Countless Xenomorphs, turned into countless points of light, emitting a faint glow in this empty, void-like area.
Just as Druig was shocked and observing, countless points of light appeared, embellishing everything in this mental world.
Several of these points of light were exceptionally bright, emitting mental fluctuations far exceeding those of ordinary Xenomorphs.
Druig gradually understood.
Each Xenomorph, in the spiritual world, had become a mental barrier guarding Duval.
To exert mental control over Duval was essentially to fight against all the Xenomorphs at the same time.
Did such a guy exist in this world? No, it should be said, why would such a guy exist? Why, why could he use the consciousness of the Xenomorphs in this way?
Why could an ordinary human achieve a level that Druig wouldn't even dare to imagine? At this moment, Druig understood how ridiculous and utterly wrong he had been to think that he had suppressed Duval's consciousness and controlled the Xenomorphs' cognition.
"No wonder, no wonder... no wonder you dared to ignore external mental power, no wonder you are always full of confidence in your Xenomorphs..."
What was this? Was Duval a collective consciousness of all Xenomorphs? No, it was a collective consciousness with a main consciousness.
Here, Druig saw the thoughts of every Xenomorph or Xenomorph host, and could clearly hear their thoughts and feelings.
Even more, with an unprecedentedly clear sense, he understood all the Xenomorphs' instinctive praise for Duval.
Was this what a god was like, being surrounded by countless pure, clean hymns? Druig felt it was hard to say. Could Duval be more special than Arishem? He didn't know.
Unconsciously, Druig was in tears. Having been isolated from the world for hundreds of years, and out of sync with humans or the Eternals, he had almost forgotten what his true heart was like.
Icy yet warm, complex yet orderly, all the contradictions in the world seemed to stagnate at this moment, turning into eternal tranquility and peace.
Outside.
"...Why is he suddenly crying?" Gilgamesh didn't understand.
Thena touched her head and said irritably, "Who knows? Didn't he also cry bitterly a few hours ago when he argued with Ajak, accusing us of not leading humanity? Who knows what strange things are going on in his head!"
Speaking of which, it was not very convincing for a crazy female warrior to say such a thing.
Several Eternals were a little confused, but only a few short seconds had passed, and they didn't know what was wrong with Druig again.
That's right, "again."
They were not good at dealing with the emotionally sensitive and paranoid Druig, especially now. The crying Druig was simply an emotional audience member who had just watched a tearjerker, immersed in his own world and unable to extricate himself.
"He just understood me, it's that simple."
Duval spoke, his voice very soft. He said with utmost seriousness, "Druig, following Ajak is simply wasting your precious life. Can you bear to waste your abilities for nothing?"
"Shut up! Druig, don't listen to his nonsense. No matter what you saw, it's all his conspiracy! He's just that kind of person!" Ajak's expression changed drastically, and a strong ominous premonition rose in her heart.
Duval shook his head, "Who can fake their own heart? Or rather, can I deceive myself? Even if I could, wouldn't that further prove the truth of my heart?"
He reached out to this Eternal, who was actually millions of years old but had a mental age of about a few thousand years.
"Come, Druig, come to my side. Someone like you is born to stand by my side." His voice contained a mountain-like weight and steadiness.
"No, I can't do that!"
Druig couldn't help but take a step back.
Ajak was completely dumbfounded. Even as the leader, she didn't understand what the hell was going on! What exactly did Druig see?! And why was he crying and sniveling, like a frightened child seeking comfort? Duval said calmly, "Do you still identify more with your Eternal origins? Don't worry, I never care whether you are an Eternal, a human, or some other race, because everyone who stands by my side is the same."
The same Xenomorph.
Duval added in his heart.
Druig also instantly understood Duval's meaning.
Duval, like a devil tempting people to fall, whispered, "Aren't you confused about your own existence? Don't you feel like you should have done more for humanity, made humanity better, but you didn't because of Ajak's orders? Then let me tell you why this is the case. Because the meaning of the Eternals' existence is to destroy Earth and exterminate all of humanity."
"That's impossible!"
"Why don't you ask your leader? She can communicate with the Celestial Gods. Why not ask her directly?" Duval said with certainty.
Druig stiffly turned his head, looking at Ajak in disbelief.
With just a glance, meeting that complex gaze, Druig, a master of the mind, immediately understood who had been lying all along.
"Listen to what he's saying. We've been protecting humanity for thousands of years, and it's actually to destroy them?"
"Ajak, Duval is crazy. We should hurry... Ajak?"
Druig's face was ashen, his eyes empty.
The other Eternals looked at the pained Ajak in disbelief.
Was it true? Could this absurd claim really be true?
"I'll explain everything to you after we deal with him!" Ajak was interrupted by Duval before she could finish.
"Brief destruction is to welcome a better rebirth, using Earth's humanity as a price to nurture a new Celestial. This is what your leader has been hiding from all of you."
Duval suddenly laughed. "But I refuse to accept it. Are humans just destined to be exterminated, to become nutrients for the Celestials? To sacrifice themselves so that the newborn Celestial can go to some unknown galaxy and create some unknown species?"
Druig suddenly said in a low voice, "What Duval is saying is true. I can feel it."
Ajak suppressed the pain in her heart and said sternly, "I order you, attack! Don't listen to him!"
The other Eternals were skeptical, but they still faithfully carried out Ajak's orders, just as they had done for thousands of years.
But the moment they attacked, Druig also made his move.
Countless Xenomorphs, under Druig's gestures, suddenly acted, abruptly switching from a state of stillness to a killing mode, and pounced on... the Eternals!
"Druig, what are you doing!" Ajak exclaimed in shock.
"I've had enough of you people. All our past efforts have been nothing more than acting as tools for the gods, without even having the self-awareness of being tools!"
Druig's tears streamed down his face. Experiencing such an extreme contrast in such a short period of time, he finally couldn't bear it any longer.
"From now on, I am no longer an Eternal! I have found a more reliable method, a cleaner and more beautiful path!"
Druig lost his composure, heartbroken, in pain, despairing, and with a hope he had never imagined before. Countless complex emotions mixed together, and he roared in anger.
Duval's gaze towards Druig was always calm.
Because he had known from the beginning that Druig had this kind of personality, that he harbored such ideals.
You can laugh at this Eternal for taking himself too seriously, for actually thinking he was qualified to lead humanity.
You can also ridicule him for being whimsical, like a fool who has watched too many fantasy dramas.
But the one thing you can't doubt is that his ideal is genuine.
Druig genuinely felt that he could do more for humanity, better fulfill his responsibilities. This was his obsession and his persistence.
Now, Druig suddenly learned that the belief he had embraced was a joke from the very beginning. The more he did for humanity, the more he contributed to the destruction of humanity? His already sensitive heart completely collapsed, and then he went mad.
"I'm not an Eternal anymore! To hell with the Eternals, despicable, underhanded! From now on, I will be a... Xenomorph!"
Facts have proven that deceiving idealists with ideals is the cruelest thing, and it is enough to drive idealists crazy, causing them to make a complete about-face.
Not to mention, this idealist is a master of the mind, able to see into people's hearts and witness the most authentic inner selves.
The Xenomorphs began to besiege the caught-off-guard Eternals on a large scale.
Every Eternal couldn't hide the bewilderment on their faces, looking at Druig in disbelief.
Their high-speed brains were now stuck.
In an instant, a large-scale battle broke out, unfolding in such an unexpected way that the Eternals were at an absolute disadvantage from the start, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
Their total number was already small, and then the most crucial mind master defected on the spot! "Druig, use your mental powers to your heart's content. Let me see your strength," Duval said.
Druig looked coldly at his former companions, his powerful mental strength rapidly spreading, eroding their minds and wills.
"You are so pathetic, living for millions of years as tools. Ajak is Arishem's lackey and accomplice, but I am not! I have found the truth, so let me save you." Druig's eyes were bloodshot, like a fanatical believer.
Bang! Gilgamesh struggled to resist Druig's wide-ranging mental intrusion, punching the Xenomorphs away one by one. He was careful to retreat immediately after punching a target, to avoid being splashed by Xenomorph blood.
But soon, the strongman encountered a powerful opponent. Heavy thuds echoed from within the Xenomorph horde, and an extremely strong, muscular Xenomorph aimed straight at him and charged.
"You again?"
Gilgamesh's face showed deep helplessness.
The last time he met this unbelievably strong Abomination Xenomorph was in New Mexico.
Now, the two strong and sturdy fellows engaged in a fierce close combat, exchanging punches and kicks, each blow landing squarely, exceptionally brutal.
But to say who among the Eternals is the most capable fighter right now, it is actually the female warrior Thena. She held a golden energy shield in one hand and a golden energy sword in the other, moving with astonishing speed. Wherever she passed, all the Xenomorphs were easily dismembered by her.
Phastos was also good. This guy was skilled at using energy to create various precise instruments. Multiple golden halos flew out, rampaging through the Xenomorph horde.
Sentinel originally set his sights on the female warrior Thena, his eyes turning into a golden light, and a powerful golden Heat Vision was about to blast out.
"I'll deal with her." Druig's voice, transmitted through the Xenomorph on Sentinel's chest, reached Sentinel's brain. "I know better than you how to solve her with the least cost."
Sentinel curled his lip. He really wanted to ask, what are you good for, why do you dare to make decisions before Duval speaks? Even if you got Duval's tacit approval? "Reynolds, let him do it. Moreover, if we want to gain the most with the least loss in this battle, Druig is the key." Duval issued the order.
Sentinel immediately changed direction, and the Heat Vision, powerful enough to penetrate mountains, immediately bombarded Phastos, forcing Phastos to mobilize all his weapons to block in front of himself.
However, at this time, the advantage in numbers was demonstrated.
A mutated Xenomorph pounced over and knocked Phastos to the ground.
"Kill him, this guy is useless." Duval casually said, deciding Phastos's fate.
"You heart-wrenching villain! I won't let you have it easy!" In despair, Phastos threw out his carefully crafted energy instrument, handing it over to the other Eternals.
According to the plan, these weapons would be key, capable of gathering all the Eternals' power together for an instant burst.
Phastos was quickly dismembered, and another Eternal died tragically.
The other Eternals would soon meet their own fates.
Ajak, with her super self-healing ability, turned pale, watching her side being quickly suppressed, gradually submerged in the Xenomorph horde, especially when she saw Druig flicking a glance over, driving the female warrior Thena mad again, causing her to attack indiscriminately, emitting beast-like roars.
Druig's on-the-spot defection had a fatal impact on the situation.
Originally, according to Ajak's plan, Druig would instantly seize control of all the Xenomorphs and drive this powerful army to attack Duval in turn, thereby decisively determining the battle.
But unfortunately, the opposite was true.
"Kingo, be careful!!" Ajak suddenly shouted.
Kingo, who was constantly firing energy cannons with both hands, had already killed more than a dozen Xenomorphs. This kind of ranged gunner was normally very suitable for pinpoint clearing of Xenomorphs, but unfortunately, his Eternal comrades had not created a safe enough space for him.
Death Woman's fingers grew half-meter-long Adamantium Claws, and she rushed towards Kingo.
Bang bang bang! Kingo aimed at her, his hands shaking as he fired rapidly, but hitting Death Woman only created flesh wounds, causing blood and flesh to fly, looking even ferocious on the scene, but without practical significance.
"What's wrong with this woman?!" Kingo couldn't help but scream. He saw Death Woman's silver bones exposed, indestructible, completely ignoring his energy attacks.
Death Woman rushed over expressionlessly, like a cold fighting machine, leaping up and stabbing her claws into Kingo's chest, pressing him to the ground.
Several Xenomorphs had already rushed over, cooperating skillfully, cutting off Kingo's limbs, poking out Kingo's eyes, cutting off his tongue, and deafening his ears, abolishing all forms of threat.
All of this happened in just a few seconds, and Kingo's miserable state shocked the other Eternals.
Even so, Kingo did not die, and everyone knew why.
"Druig, is this what you want to see?" Ajak, in the protective circle of several Eternals, used physical qualities far superior to those of Earthlings to knock down several Xenomorphs, and couldn't help but question.
"You don't understand anything. You can't understand me without seeing that beautiful picture with your own eyes like I did." Druig's voice rang in Ajak's mind, which also meant that Druig had officially attacked Ajak.
"I am doing my best to save you!"
"Save? Phastos is dead, Thena has been turned into a madman by you, Kingo has been captured, do you know what will happen next! Your betrayal has pushed the entire Eternals into the abyss!"
"Abyss? You don't understand. I personally felt the Void. The future and the truth are there, and I will lead you to that place—of course, as Xenomorphs!"
Ajak completely didn't understand what Druig was saying. She felt that Druig at this moment was more like a madman than the crazed Thena.
The battle had barely begun, and the situation had already collapsed to this ghastly state. They hadn't even managed to injure a hair on Duval's head, yet they were losing people one after another.
"It's time. The things Phastos prepared... I didn't expect we'd really have to use them."
Ajak was sprayed with the blood of a Courier Xenomorph, causing extensive corrosion to her body, but she relied on her terrifying self-healing ability to quickly recover.
She caught the energy instruments that Phastos had thrown out before his death and began to draw upon the remaining Eternals' power.
This was the final battle plan that had been decided long ago, and the executor of this plan was... the quiet Sersi.
Also Ikaris's lover.
Concentrating all the Eternals' power into Sersi alone would be enough to instantly eliminate all the Xenomorphs.
"But that Sentinel guy is a bit too strong..."
They had no choice.
Ajak glanced at Sersi, who was still being well-protected.
Sersi's expression tightened, and she nodded almost imperceptibly, already prepared.
Just as Ajak threw out the energy instruments, Duval's figure transformed into a terrifying bolt of lightning, appearing not far from Sersi.
Whoosh! The Thunder God's Hammer, flung out with immense force, struck Sersi, causing her to cough up blood. In the next moment, Druig's mind control suppressed the severely injured Sersi.
"Did you think I didn't know what you were trying to do? I won't give you the chance." Duval's voice sounded like it came from Hell, each word exuding extreme terror, causing Ajak's heart to plummet into an icy abyss.
It was over. This guy had made all sorts of meticulous preparations and would not give them the slightest chance.
"Bewitching Druig was also something you planned long ago?" Ajak asked, unwilling to accept it. She couldn't believe that the Eternals she led, after millions of years, witnessing the destruction of countless life-bearing planets and the birth of many Celestial Gods, were going to be wiped out on this planet, Earth.
And they were being eliminated by an Earth human, not someone from an advanced cosmic civilization.
"Who do you think I am? How could I possibly foresee everything? I'm not a fortune teller. Druig made the right choice, staying away from you guys who are rotting in a cycle of repeated lives."
Duval walked up to Ajak.
Gilgamesh roared, trying to rush over, but unfortunately, he was quickly seized by the Abomination Xenomorph, who took the opportunity to punch him, causing him to stagger. Several mutated Xenomorphs immediately pounced on him, extending their flesh tubes that could absorb life force and piercing them into Gilgamesh's body.
This strongest of the Eternals was finished as well. Waiting for him was the fate of becoming a host.
Pfft!
The seemingly unremarkable Elektra suddenly drew her blade, originally aiming to slash at Duval's neck, but she abruptly swung it in another direction, stabbing into a patch of air.
Sprite, who possessed the ability to turn invisible, gradually revealed her figure, looking down in disbelief at her chest, which had been pierced.
"I heard you're an Illusion Sprite? Too bad, illusions are useless against people like us." Elektra slowly pulled out the knife, taking the life of this petite Eternal.
The heavily injured Sersi lay on the ground, trying to mobilize the energy within her body, attempting to create a large-scale ice formation to freeze as many enemies as possible, but unfortunately, accompanied by the appearance of a shadow, she was instantly pummeled dozens of times by the Speedster Xenomorph and was about to die.
"You're Makkari's..." Sersi looked at this ghostly figure that appeared and disappeared like lightning after attacking, completely losing the will to resist.
The successive falls of the Eternals had already declared the final outcome of this battle to everyone.
"How pathetic. You, who have been stationed on Earth for seven thousand years, will come to an end forever. Your era is over."
Duval calmly looked at Ajak. "I am different. My era has just begun, and I will use your robust bodies as the foundation. I like it very much."
The chaotic battlefield gradually fell silent, and Xenomorphs continued to gather, silently raising their heads.
Ajak looked around. Besides her, there were no Eternals left standing.
"You're finished, Ajak. You'll thank me," Druig slowly closed his eyes, hot tears streaming down his face. "I am right. I have seen the truth."
"The truth you acknowledge is to kill all your comrades?"
"This isn't killing. You will be with me in another form—as Xenomorphs! When you see that place like I have, you will understand what I mean. Only the spirit is immortal."
"Madman." Ajak shook her head in disappointment. What else could she say? Could she discuss a new faith with someone who had changed their beliefs?
It was useless. Otherwise, how could Druig have betrayed them and sided with Duval at this crucial moment?
Death Woman attacked Ajak from behind, skewering her with a claw and dragging her along the ground like a dead dog, step by step, back to the 93rd floor of Weyland Tower. There, Ajak, as well as the other Eternals, would meet their fate.
93rd floor.
Xenomorph eggs continued to bloom and bear fruit, finding their respective hosts.
Ajak, Thena, Kingo, Gilgamesh, Sersi... these most powerful Eternals will all become a part of Duval.
In Druig's perception, this "becoming a part" includes both body and mind.
"I am one with the Xenomorph..."
This is Druig after awakening from being facehugged. He senses the Xenomorph within his chest, synchronizes with all the Xenomorphs, and establishes a close mental link. That feeling of no longer being alone makes Druig feel a deep sense of security and comfort.
Then, he coldly watches these Eternal comrades being chestbursted one after another, meeting their pairs of resentful eyes without any fear.
"I am right, they are all wrong," Druig says to himself once again in a low voice.
"Buddy, I don't know what you're thinking, but you must be right."
Reynolds walks over and pats Druig on the shoulder. This slap is a bit strong, almost shattering Druig. It's hard to tell if he's taking the opportunity to retaliate for Druig's commanding him during the battle just now.
"We are on the right path, the future is bright, an endless blue sea."
Robert Reynolds looks at these newly born, powerful Xenomorphs in front of him and says with a determined expression.
Duval doesn't speak. He no longer needs to come forward for this kind of thing. Compared to personally scrutinizing the fate of these Eternals, he has more important things to do.
...
In a secret room several kilometers away, Coulson looks dejected, then lets out a deep sigh.
He has already heard the sounds of battle outside, which quickly fall into an eerie silence.
"Who is it?" Coulson asks, his voice still carrying that characteristic gentleness and composure.
"It's me."
Duval walks in: "Since we know each other, I'll personally send you on your way. I originally thought I would face a fierce battle, and it would take a little time to deal with the protective forces around you, but I didn't expect that the only ones protecting you are these ordinary agents."
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