novelhk Chapter 256 Rune's Little Lover?
Chapter 256 Rune's Little Lover?
Chapter 256 Rune's Little Lover?
The big problem Reed was referring to was spiritual pollution.
The multi-horned beings in the Marvel Universe are a reference to the despicable twins of the Cthulhu Mythos, so they naturally possess one of the characteristics of the Cthulhu Mythos—mental pollution.
However, compared to the unsolvable corruption abilities of the Cthulhu Mythos, the Horned Ones in Marvel are significantly weaker. As a result, the heroes who initially entered the Cancer Universe did not show any obvious symptoms. However, this also meant that most heroes were completely unaware of the Horned Ones' mental corruption. Doctor Strange should have been aware of this problem and taken precautions in advance, but his main opponent was another member of the Great Old Ones—the Eye Demon. Moreover, Doctor Strange himself carried numerous amulets that protected his mental domain, so he also overlooked the Horned Ones' mental corruption abilities.
"So, I have to clean up this Sorcerer Supreme's mess?" Rune looked at Reed speechlessly.
When Orochi heard that these heroes were stumped by such a ridiculous reason, he sneered: "What a rabble."
His power of fear can indeed resist the mental pollution of the multi-horned, since both belong to the realm of the mind. In fact, since Orochi's main ability is fear, while the mental pollution of the multi-horned is just an additional passive skill, the multi-horned is actually at a disadvantage in this respect.
Orochi's subordinates were naturally unaffected by the mental pollution; they began to mock the other heroes as if they were immune to it through their own abilities.
As for those heroes, because their abilities are different, the symptoms and severity they exhibit are also somewhat different. The most serious is Daredevil, who was brought over by Alien. This hero does not have the mental abilities of Professor X and cannot resist the mental corruption from an evil god, nor does he have the strong insensitivity of the Thing. Instead, he is corrupted more quickly because of his unique super senses.
This obscure hero saved an old man from a truck when he was a teenager, but he lost his sight after being exposed to radioactive material spilled from the truck. However, this misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it greatly enhanced his other senses. He also learned how to fight blind from a stick-wielding old man and eventually became a powerful warrior.
Daredevil's powerful hearing even allows him to "see" the surrounding terrain by bouncing sound waves, much like a bat, while his sense of touch allows him to "read" ink on paper. And this isn't the first time his superhuman senses have been a hindrance; almost all of Daredevil's enemies have known about and exploited his overly sensitive organs.
As the hero most severely affected by spiritual corruption, Rune naturally came to his side immediately.
At this moment, Daredevil was surrounded by a group of alien puppets and lay on Erica's lap. Erica looked remorseful and kept saying things like, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault" and "I shouldn't have brought you here."
Clearly, Erica, who has repeatedly switched between the sides of good and evil, does not trust her former and current "partners," to the point that she uses the puppet given to her by Rune to protect her lover Daredevil.
Rune could certainly dispel the puppets he had created, but out of respect for their current master, he called out loudly, "Erica, make these puppets move aside."
If puppet wielders knew that Rune could also control the puppets they created, it's hard to imagine their reaction. It's also uncertain whether companion-type or combat-type Rune wielders would suffer more, but Rune is certain of one thing...
If that bastard Constantine knew, he would definitely pester Rune to have an archmage play some perverted tricks on him.
Rune's previous experience fighting alongside Erica had clearly brought the two closer. Erica hesitated only slightly before immediately ordering the alien puppets to make way and letting Rune in.
"I'm a little jealous of you—" Daredevil forced a smile, "You've only fought alongside her twice, yet you've already gained her trust."
Rune rolled his eyes. You're the one enjoying a lap pillow now, not me. What's there to be jealous of?
But don't let Daredevil's ability to joke fool you; Rune doesn't think he's in much better shape. Erica, to protect Daredevil, hasn't removed his mask, but the sweat seeping from beneath it is visibly intense. The pain that would make Daredevil, who once willingly entered hell to endure endless torment just to stop a cosmic threat, sweat profusely would be enough to kill an ordinary person.
Rune immediately knocked the hero unconscious, letting him sleep to alleviate his pain. Then, Rune began to think about how to dispel the evil god's mental pollution. Erica was also watching Rune nervously, just like an ordinary person walking outside an emergency room.
A series of spells began to pass through Rune's mind, but most were offensive spells; he rarely performed mental healing.
Runes are better at physically torturing or destroying their enemies.
But the raven beside him gently tugged at Rune's sleeve and whispered, "Teacher, have you forgotten the Patronus Charm?"
Previously, Rune had demonstrated this spell, symbolizing one of the highest achievements of white magic in the Harry Potter world, to the Raven. The Patronus Charm not only requires recalling one's happiest memories, but also demands extremely high levels of magical ability, willpower, and concentration. Even though every wizard has undergone systematic study of magical theory, most wizards still cannot cast the Patronus Charm.
When Rune first summoned that magnificent white tiger, Raven was immediately captivated by his confident demeanor. Even now, when Raven thinks back, she still finds Rune incredibly handsome at that time.
Rune was immediately brought back to his senses by Raven's reminder. He had initially learned this spell to ward off dark magic, but the enemies he faced who used dark magic were either half-human, half-demon Jason Todd, a future Justice League member who theoretically knew dark magic but had basically never used it, or former First Fallen Satans, or an otherworldly Sorcerer Supreme who was killed by a sneak attack. The former two were not afraid of the Patronus Charm at all, and the latter did not even reach the point where Rune needed to cast the Patronus Charm. Therefore, this spell had been shelved until now.
"You're a true genius," Rune remarked with a smile, then whispered, "EpectoPatronum—!"
His body erupted with a dazzling silver light, and a silver-white tiger, as tall as two men, leaped out from the void. Its body bore the stripes of a normal tiger, but upon closer inspection, these stripes appeared extremely dark and deep. Its crimson eyes were fixed intently on the hero on Erica's lap. The next moment, it roared loudly, and black mist surged from Daredevil's body, then dissipated. The expression beneath the hero's mask relaxed considerably.
Not only Daredevil, but other heroes who had also suffered from mental pollution to varying degrees also felt a sense of relief at this moment.
Reed also breathed a sigh of relief.
"My God, if it weren't for you," Reed patted Rune on the shoulder, "I would have been in a terrible state. The consequences would have been unimaginable. Erica, needless to say, finally breathed a sigh of relief—as well as her lover—and tried to give Rune a hug, but Raven took the initiative and hugged Rune first, watching warily as the graceful and voluptuous lady walked over.
Erica immediately laughed.
"Look, some people have girlfriends at such a young age."