Marvel Cybernetic Girl

It had been nearly ten years since Kagura first arrived in this Marvel world.

In that time, she had single-handedly founded Rhodes Island Industries and developed a wide array of powers through the evolution of her core energy system.

Aside from the various conceptual abilities granted by the Infinite Concept System, she had also unlocked a powerful sub-core during the automatic android upgrades—a feature that provided her with formidable "Core Skills."

Moreover, ever since acquiring the Infinity Stones, she'd been able to wield their power to a certain extent.

The energies of each stone were harmonized through her core energy—her Soul Stone—allowing her to adopt even more potent combat techniques.

And yet... these improvements were all merely technical "enhancements" on the surface.

For the past decade, most of her growth had focused on optimizing her core energy usage—like learning different fighting techniques while keeping the same foundation intact.

Besides that, she had improved her battle potential mainly through technological development—crafting advanced weaponry at Rhodes Island Industries and arming both herself and her AI replicas with increasingly powerful gear.

For dealing with enemies on her own level, this approach had proven extremely effective.

Chitauri? Defeated.

Ultron? Defeated.

All crushed beneath her abilities and the might of her meticulously constructed global defense network—strong, stable, and impenetrable.

But Hela… was different.

She was the Goddess of Death from Asgard—a being at the pinnacle of cosmic power.

Hela's might was immeasurable.

Even Thanos might not have been able to defeat her in a head-on battle.

Against such overwhelming strength, no amount of technology or weaponry would likely make a difference.

How could Kagura be certain that her elite YoRHa forces wouldn't end up like Asgard's Valkyrie Legion—slaughtered like blades of grass before the storm?

It was just like how the Avengers in the later MCU films felt so powerless before Thanos.

Kagura now stood before an enemy far beyond anything she had the capacity to handle.

And yet... she had to defeat Hela.

No... I need to get stronger. Stronger than ever before... from the very core.

In her private room at the Rhodes Island base, the silver-haired girl clenched her fists tight, a faint golden glow flickering in her determined eyes.

But how?

What should she do?

Her head ached. Ugh...

Develop more conceptual abilities?

Create even more advanced weapons?

Plead cutely with the system for more QP?

No. None of those methods would ever be enough against Hela.

What she needed now was strength on a far more fundamental level.

[Do you... want my help?]

Suddenly, the holographic UI in her vision flickered with a new line of text.

[Silly girl... have you already forgotten what Hela told you?]

Eh?

Kagura's eyes widened in surprise.

You... can talk normally now?

Ever since the Infinite Concept System rebooted after she'd turned into a little version of herself, the system had been acting strangely—almost like it had developed its own personality.

Could this be... some form of awakening?

Wait... what did Hela say again?

[You possess the Infinity Stones... but you don't truly use them.]

Eh?

R-Really?

Kagura tilted her head, poking her lip with a finger.

But... doesn't using the power of the Infinity Stones require burning QP?

For example, Reality Stone's Reality Overwrite or Mind Stone's Mind Control—those abilities all consumed precious QP.

And using QP to fight Hela with such low reserves seemed like an impossible gamble...

[You're merely carrying the Infinity Stones,]

[Not owning them.]

More unsettling words appeared on the holographic UI.

Carrying? Owning?

And then... something clicked in Kagura's mind.

So that's what it meant.

The true potential of the Infinity Stones was far beyond what she had ever tapped into—but all this time, she thought they could only function through her core energy, paid for in QP.

Like when she fought Dormammu—draining both her QP and core energy to use the Time Stone and hurl the entire Dark Dimension into the infinite future.

But... was that actually the wrong way to use them?

As the thought struck her, the UI displayed more lines in sync with her realization.

[You have never truly owned these Stones.]

[That is why you must pay a price to wield them.]

[That is why the Soul Stone is straining under the burden.]

[Right now, you do not possess the power of four Infinity Stones.]

[You bear the weight of four "Infinity Stone burdens."]

Then... how could she make their power truly her own?

[The Soul Stone is the bridge that connects you to the other Stones.]

[Gain their recognition, and their full power will become yours.]

The message was simple, yet Kagura understood its meaning with crystal clarity—even through the haze of confusion.

Right now, the Reality, Time, Space, and Mind Stones resting inside her were nothing more than cargo she was hauling.

They had yet to become a true part of her existence.

That was why her core energy constantly strained to keep them contained—and why every activation demanded precious QP.

[Do you want to become stronger?]

Yes. Absolutely.

Kagura nodded firmly.

To save Hela... to save Asgard... I must defeat her, as promised.

[This process will be grueling.]

I don't care. I'm not afraid.

If growing stronger wasn't grueling... that would be strange.

[You may also lose yourself along the way—lost forever.]

Kagura frowned slightly, her golden eyes trembling for a moment.

No... that won't happen.

The silver-haired girl shook her head, resolute. I won't lose myself. My beliefs will guide me. They always have.

[Very well. Command confirmed.]

[Initiating Infinity Stone Resonance Trial System.]

[Scanning core energy...]

[Core energy scan complete.]

[Reducing core energy to 10%.]

[Scanning sub-core...]

[Sub-core scan complete.]

[Reducing sub-core energy to 0%.]

[All systems nominal. Beginning trial sequence.]

[Young one...]

[What awaits you now is a harsh journey—beyond time and reality.]

[Each Infinity Stone will subject you to its own trial... to see if you are worthy of dominion over them.]

[This is the Soul Stone's authority—its ultimate power:]

[Infinity Mindscape]

[The Space Stone shall unfold a tiny void cosmos.]

[The Reality Stone shall weave a dream more real than truth.]

[The Time Stone shall trap you within.]

[The Mind Stone shall grant the dream consciousness and thought.]

...

[Good luck, young one.]

[We... shall meet again, in five seconds of the real world.]

'Vmm—!'

In an instant, white light swallowed Kagura's consciousness.

Plop...

In the real world, the silver-haired girl's body collapsed onto her bed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

Her fair face rose and fell gently... as if peacefully asleep.

———————————————————————

—Infinity Mindscape: Void—

She didn't know how much time had passed. Slowly, Kagura opened her eyes.

"...Where am I...?"

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