Mind control was, without a doubt, one of the most formidable abilities Su Zhan had ever wielded. With Kira now under his complete influence, she was like a different person entirely-her will erased, her memories rewritten, her loyalty absolute. Su Zhan had meticulously deleted every trace of her former self that might allow her to break free, and in their place, he had implanted false memories and a deep, unwavering obedience. With her own mind control powers, Kira became the perfect manager for the base. She didn't need to micromanage the other superpowered agents; as long as she issued clear orders, they would follow her lead without question.
Within days, Kira had gathered all the cash reserves from the organization's vaults and handed them over to Su Zhan-a staggering sum of more than three million US dollars. And that was just the cash on hand. For an organization of this scale, especially one operating as a clandestine syndicate of assassins and superpowered mercenaries, money was never in short supply. Su Zhan realized that, in a world where power was everything, financial resources were simply another tool at his disposal.
Despite his growing ambition, Su Zhan decided not to immediately devour any more abilities. After absorbing Nick's and Cassie's mother's powers, he could feel his body and mind reaching a threshold-especially since Cassie's mother's precognition was far more potent than any he'd encountered before. He chose to pause, letting his system stabilize and fully integrate the new abilities before risking further absorption. For now, he focused on consolidating his gains, strengthening his control, and mastering the powers he already possessed.
As he relaxed in his private quarters, enjoying the soothing touch of Kira's massage and sipping a glass of fine wine, Su Zhan opened a mental dialogue with the system. "System, when can I unlock a second instance dungeon?"
The system's response was calm and matter of fact. "You will be able to open a second Instance Dungeon Plane after your next system upgrade. However, the energy required for such an upgrade is immense. Unless you acquire a very powerful energy source, it will be extremely difficult to achieve in a short period of time."
Su Zhan's mind raced with possibilities. "A very powerful energy source… What about the Aether? Could I absorb its energy? And would the system space be able to safely contain it?" He knew the Aether was no ordinary artifact-it was, in fact, the Reality Stone, one of the legendary Infinity Stones. Its energy was so vast and volatile that it could warp reality itself, and only the strongest beings could withstand its power. The system's hesitation was palpable.
After a long pause, the system finally replied, "Yes. The system space can store the Aether."
Su Zhan's heart leapt with excitement. If the system was truly capable of containing the Aether, then absorbing its energy would almost certainly be enough to trigger a major upgrade-perhaps even unlocking the second instance dungeon. That meant he wouldn't have to abandon his current plan but could continue to develop and expand his influence across multiple worlds.
He quickly reviewed the timeline in his mind. If he remembered correctly, the events of Thor: The Dark World had just started. Next would come Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which would lead to the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D., followed by Guardians of the Galaxy (which had little direct impact on Earth), and then Avengers: Age of Ultron. With Ultron's emergence and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s disintegration, the world would soon face unprecedented threats. Su Zhan knew he needed to build his own power base to survive and thrive in the chaos to come.
But that was a concern for the future. For now, he focused on consolidating his gains in the instance dungeon. Three days passed in a blur. From the moment he arrived at the base, seized control, and began reorganizing its operations, time seemed to fly. He refrained from absorbing more abilities, instead focusing on mastering the ones he already possessed and ensuring his system's stability. He also made it a priority to search for Pop Girl, but despite his enhanced precognition, he was unable to sense her presence. He decided not to force the issue-after all, he could always return to this world later and continue his search.
Before leaving, Su Zhan gave Kira clear instructions: continue researching and developing the gene serum, recruit and train new superpowered individuals, and, above all, keep looking for Pop Girl. He was building the foundation for a future empire-one that would be prepared for any threat, no matter how great.
When his allotted time in the instance dungeon expired, Su Zhan returned to the real world, reappearing in the same stairwell where he had entered. He straightened his clothes, withdrew a portion of the cash from his system space, and left the building.
He made his way to a bank, where he opened an account and deposited the money he had brought from the instance dungeon. To his surprise and relief, the funds were accepted without issue. It seemed that, despite originating from another reality, the money was valid and usable in his own world. Su Zhan couldn't help but marvel at this unexpected benefit-he had worried that the currencies might not be compatible, but fortune was on his side.
Just as he stepped out of the bank, his phone rang.
"Hey, I hope you haven't forgotten what I told you. Where have you been these last three days? Why didn't you check in?" Phil Coulson's voice came through, tinged with concern.
"Everyone needs a little personal space now and then," Su Zhan replied lightly.
"Well, your personal time is over. We have a mission, and I need you to come back immediately," Coulson said, his tone earnest and insistent.
Su Zhan smiled, feeling a sense of anticipation. The game was about to change once more, and he was ready for whatever came next.