New York, United States.
Stark Six-Star Restaurant.
This ultra-luxury establishment operated directly under Stark Industries, a place reserved almost exclusively for the upper echelon of society.
Aside from the tranquil private suites on the top floor, every other level throbbed with wild heavy metal music. Champagne bottles were shaken violently before being popped open, spraying alcohol through the air in reckless celebration.
Seated quietly in a corner of the restaurant was Aiden Cross, chairman of the Hero League, idly swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.
Beside him sat two young women and a cold-faced young man—direct members of the Hero League.
Including Aiden Cross himself, a total of five "heroes" had followed him into the Marvel world. Two remained stationed at headquarters.
"Senior… I don't really like this kind of environment."
A pink-haired, violet-eyed girl spoke softly, holding a glass of plain water in both hands.
She wore black-rimmed glasses, a black student-style one-piece dress layered over a white-and-gray shirt, a red necktie at her chest, dark stockings, and brown shoes.
Her petite frame looked delicate—
yet within it lurked terrifying power.
Mash Shieldheart, currently ranked C-Class, Second Seat, was one of the Hero League's active heroes.
Within the Hero League, hero rankings were broadly divided into six tiers:
Vice-Chairman Tier,
S-Class,
A-Class,
B-Class,
C-Class,
D-Class.
With the global spread of Monster Factors, the Marvel world was destined to awaken vast numbers of monsters that would rampage without restraint.
These awakened monsters were similarly categorized into six disaster levels, corresponding directly to hero ranks:
Wolf Level = D-Class — A threat has emerged.
Tiger Level = C-Class — A crisis capable of causing mass casualties.
Demon Level = B-Class — A crisis that can halt or destroy an entire city.
Dragon Level = A-Class — A crisis that may wipe out multiple cities.
Ultra-Dragon Level = S-Class — A crisis that could lead to human extinction.
God Level = Vice-Chairman Tier — A crisis capable of destroying the universe itself.
Not to mention the already-descended Desert Emperor Aurelion Azar, the Fox Demon King of Tushan, and the Primordial Spirit Elysia Prime—
every single one of them qualified as an Ultra-Dragon Level disaster.
If dozens more Dragon-level threats—or even a handful of Ultra-Dragon disasters—were to awaken…
Aiden Cross did not believe that the Avengers alone could withstand the onslaught.
The spread of Monster Factors had pushed the already hellish Marvel world straight into nightmare difficulty.
To prevent total collapse, Aiden Cross, as chairman of the Hero League, pursued two strategies simultaneously:
Summoning new heroes from other planes…
and actively engaging with Marvel's native heroes, recruiting them to strengthen the League.
And Tony Stark was clearly his first target.
"Just wait a little longer," Aiden Cross said calmly after taking a small sip of wine.
"He'll be here soon."
Tony Stark was famously busy. Rumor had it he had only just escaped from terrorists and was already developing a more advanced Iron Man suit.
The fact that he could even make time to dine here was unexpected.
"Hey! Bring ten more glasses of Water of Life!"
A blonde girl clad in a cleric's cloak slammed her hand on the table and shouted loudly, her green eyes unfocused and her fair cheeks flushed crimson, clearly drunk.
She was calling for ten glasses of ninety-six-proof Water of Life in one breath.
Medical alcohol was only seventy-six proof—
for an ordinary person, even a sip of this would be flirting with death.
But the blonde girl had no such worries.
Her physique was far beyond human limits.
Holy-plate armor blessed by sacred light covered her upper body and legs. Beside her rested a white oak cross nearly as tall as a person. On the table lay a Holy Gospel tome, its author clearly signed:
Michael.
Michael was the founder and supreme leader of the Cleric Order, a great archangel of the Angelic Race, and one of the Abyssal Apostles known as the Seers of Truth.
If classified as a disaster, Michael would unquestionably be Ultra-Dragon Level.
Fortunately, his heart leaned toward the Light. Despite his identity, he was unlikely to slaughter civilians indiscriminately.
"Seraphina, drink a little less," Aiden Cross said.
"We still have important business later."
"Relax, relax," Seraphina said drunkenly, slapping Aiden Cross on the shoulder.
"The Holy Light will guide me, Chairman."
She was a newly promoted Paladin, thoroughly versed in all branches of clerical doctrine.
While she lacked finesse in practical combat, she excelled at teaching others—more than qualified as an instructor.
Strictly speaking, she was a theory-type powerhouse.
In actual combat, she was only ranked C-Class, First Seat.
But if she later awakened as a Gospel Herald, or even underwent a second awakening as a Seraph, her ranking could leap directly into A-Class—or even S-Class.
"Water of Life! Bottoms up!"
Lifting the ninety-six-proof liquor, Seraphina tilted her head back and downed it in one go.
The bartender nearby nearly fainted from fear, half-expecting her to collapse on the spot.
"Hah—so good!"
She slammed the empty glass onto the table, swaying unsteadily as her Holy Gospel tome was swept straight to the floor.
"Honestly…"
Aiden Cross shook his head and hooked a finger toward the fallen book.
As if pulled by an invisible force, the Holy Gospel floated into the air and landed gently in his palm.
He casually flipped open the first page.
It recorded clerical doctrines, the handwriting somewhat sloppy but perfectly readable.
The contents were astonishingly comprehensive—
from initiation rituals to second awakening spells, all recorded without omission, written in the script of the Arad Continent.
Unfortunately, without genuine faith in the Holy Light, ordinary people could never cultivate these techniques—even if they could read the text.
Manual of Sacred Power Cultivation
On How to Discern False Apostles
Balancing Support and Offense
How to Shout: "Apocalypse!"
Redeeming Sinners with Your Fists
"…Why does this feel a little… off?"
Aiden Cross's expression turned subtly strange.
Pinching one page between his fingers, he felt clear resistance pushing back.
Without sufficient strength—or sufficient faith—no one could even turn to the second page.
But such restraints meant nothing to the chairman of the Hero League.
The second page recorded a complete compendium of cleric weapons…
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Read Chapters ahead: [email protected] / KaiOynx