Marvel Cybernetic Girl

"Unbelievable... You actually managed to do it, Kagura Hitomi."

Miss Nihility's voice was as cold and aloof as ever, brimming with a queenly arrogance that seemed detached from the world itself.

She stood like a sovereign reigning high above the heavens.

"Not bad at all. To think that mere human willpower could break through my defenses."

A silver-white blade pierced straight through her chest.

But instead of the crimson spray of blood one would expect, a soft blue light gently drifted out into the endless void around them.

Those beautiful glowing particles swirled and danced in the air, transforming into crystal-like butterflies—each one delicate and translucent as glass.

They fluttered their wings gracefully, scattering toward the distant stars, slowly fading into the cosmic abyss.

With both hands gripping the blade tightly, Kagura held her final striking pose, her head pressed firmly against Miss Nihility's chest.

"See? I told you... we humans are stubborn. More stubborn than any species in this world."

Miss Nihility's golden eyes trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze.

For the first time, a gentle smile graced her lips.

Softly, she caressed Kagura's cheek.

"Well then... at this point, I suppose I'll let you borrow my power."

—After all...

I was you... from the very beginning.

[Infinity Mindscape: Void – Trial Completed]

[You have gained the recognition of the Space Stone]

[Special Ability Updated]

[New Ability Unlocked: Space Dominion – usable at no cost]

Miss Nihility's form shimmered, dissolving into pure, radiant light.

Her final glow transformed into the most brilliant of blue butterflies and gently merged into Kagura's chest.

The Space Stone returned to its rightful place. The trials of the Infinity Stones would now enter a new phase.

"Rumble... Rumble..."

Looking up, Kagura saw the infinite silver-white space begin to collapse.

A colossal Möbius strip broke apart, splitting at its center.

The very fabric of space rapidly fractured into countless swirling specks of dust.

These fragments, born from the void itself, scattered like countless butterflies—just like Miss Nihility—spreading their wings and flying endlessly toward the infinite horizon.

Silver-haired girl...

To defy fate is the hardest path of all in this world.

But because your wish is to bring happiness and beauty to all… I offer you my deepest blessing.

May I become part of the strength within your soul... and may the road ahead of you shine with endless hope.

Now go—turn this dusk into a dawn!

"Haaah...!"

Time spun wildly as Kagura's vision was flooded with the ever-shifting patterns of a kaleidoscope, expanding at an incredible speed.

It felt like flying through a wormhole—or perhaps leaping across the very boundaries of time and space.

The power of the Infinity Stones shifted once more. In the blink of an eye, a new illusion took shape before her.

———————————————————————

—Infinity Mindscape: Red—

When Kagura opened her eyes again, she was greeted by a world drenched in crimson.

A heavy fog blanketed everything, stained with a deep, hellish red—as if this place was the very heart of the underworld.

Suddenly, the stench of thick, iron-scented blood overwhelmed her senses. Kagura grimaced, instinctively covering her mouth.

"Ugh... What is this...? The smell of blood?"

Looking around, she saw a battlefield stretching endlessly in every direction, buried beneath the haze of dusk.

The setting sun bled across the sky.

Before her lay the remains of a brutal, unimaginable war—a wasteland of countless corpses, broken weapons, shattered war machines, and burning wreckage.

The nauseating scent of blood came from this vast graveyard of ruin.

A mountain of corpses and a hill of broken blades.

Perhaps that was the most fitting description for this nightmarish sight.

Holding back the urge to gag at the stench, Kagura furrowed her brows and stepped forward.

She didn't know what sort of trial awaited her here. But one thing was certain—whatever challenge this place held, she had to overcome it.

Beneath the bloody sunset, she pressed on. Soon, a small hill appeared in the distance.

It was formed entirely of bodies and broken weapons, dim and smoldering under the dying light—as if whispering to all who approached about the cruelty and despair that once unfolded here.

Focusing her gaze, Kagura locked her eyes on the top of this hill of wreckage.

There sat a lone, crimson figure.

"Heheheh... Hahahahaha... Ahahahaha!"

Silver hair.

Golden eyes.

A face identical to Kagura's own—but with a crazed, arrogant smile stained by a thin streak of blood on her pale cheek.

"Kagura Hitomi... I can't believe you actually made it this far. So tell me—how many times did that Void witch slice you apart? Huh? Hahaha! Bet it hurt like hell, didn't it?! Hahaha!"

This red-clad woman looked exactly like Kagura herself. There was no doubt—she was the master of this trial.

"Who are you? What is this place?"

Kagura's voice was calm, unfazed by the mad taunts.

"If this is another trial like the Space Stone... then I take it all I have to do is defeat you?"

"Defeat me? Heheheheheh..."

The woman in red slowly stood up, her golden eyes now flickering with an ominous crimson light.

"So that's what kind of boring trial Nihility gave you, huh? Don't worry, Kagura. Compared to that icy queen of space, my trial is far more... entertaining."

"Haaah—!"

As she spoke, an overwhelming aura burst forth, so heavy and fierce that it nearly forced Kagura to her knees.

If Miss Nihility had been the embodiment of a cold, untouchable queen, then this crimson figure before her was the very picture of wild arrogance—a madwoman unbound by rules.

"Ah, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself."

She grinned, a manic smile spreading across her face.

"I am the manifestation of the Reality Stone. And yes... I'm also a part of you. As for a name—well, I don't really care what you call me. But for convenience's sake, you may call me 'Aether.'"

With that, Miss Aether raised her hand and pointed arrogantly at Kagura.

"Enough chatter. Watch closely. Understand carefully. And above all... enjoy yourself. Because this place—" she grinned wider, "is reality itself!"

A crimson aura exploded outward like a scorching tidal wave, sweeping away the battlefield's mist and dust in an instant.

The raging red storm tore across the earth, laying bare the truth hidden beneath the mountains of corpses and sea of wreckage.

"What…?!"

Kagura's golden eyes shrank sharply.

A gasp escaped her lips as cold fear gripped her body, making her tremble.

Scattered across the battlefield were the fallen bodies of the Avengers—the Earth's greatest heroes—as well as the warriors of Asgard and even the dread forces of Thanos, whose monstrous armies had haunted her dreams countless times.

"No way… This has to be an illusion. It's not real!"

Gritting her teeth, Kagura turned her glare toward Miss Aether.

"Do you really think you can scare me with this fake battlefield, conjured from the Reality Stone?"

"Oh? So confident, are we?" Aether chuckled darkly. "Confidence is admirable... though not always wise."

Turning her back to Kagura, Aether tilted her head and gave a smug, mocking glance over her shoulder—a perfect 45-degree smirk.

"I am the Reality Stone's avatar. My power is the highest form of reality rewriting in the universe. So allow me to gently remind you—everything here... everything... is true reality."

She burst into wild laughter, filling the battlefield with her maddening voice.

"Hahaha... Hahahahahaha!"

"Buzz—!"

In the next instant, Miss Aether vanished without a trace.

Her voice whispered suddenly from behind Kagura's back.

"Reality, in my hands, is child's play. I can twist and rewrite it however I please. And your trial? It's very simple."

She gently brushed Kagura's cheek with her fingers, leaving a faint trail of blood.

"All you have to do... is touch me. That's it. Somewhere in this infinite ocean of realities—if you can reach me, you win."

Aether smiled wickedly.

"See? I'm much kinder than Void, aren't I? Hahaha! I don't need you to defeat me. I only want you to try and catch me. So tell me, little Kagura... do you think you can?"

"Tch!"

Without hesitation, Kagura lunged forward, reaching out to grab her—

"Haaah—!"

But in an instant, Aether vanished once again, leaving behind nothing but scattered crimson light, fluttering gracefully like butterflies in the air.

"Hahahahahaha! Struggle all you want, Kagura! Struggle to your heart's content!"

The entire battlefield under the blood-red sunset began to tremble and quake.

"If you can't survive the raging torrent called 'reality,' you'll never have a chance to lay a finger on me!"

And in the very next moment—

All the corpses, all the broken wreckage scattered across the field...

Suddenly began to rise.

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