Chương 103: Chapter 103: The New Module Unlocked by the Reality Stone 

In Asgard, the Ancient One sensed a subtle stabilization in the fragile temporal currents. She nodded faintly, offering a silent prayer for the one-armed Kaecilius, and glanced affectionately toward the general direction of Luke's guest suite. 

I suppose I can let you relax and play around for a few more days. 

Back at the private barbecue, Luke was currently enthusiastically shoving another skewer of Dragon meat into his mouth. Beside him, Tony Stark was leaning back in his chair, groaning softly, having clearly eaten far past his physical limits. 

Suddenly, a bizarre, inexplicably chilling sensation violently pricked the back of Luke's neck, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. He looked around the room in utter bewilderment. 

Shortly after, the small, impromptu barbecue concluded. Luke and Pepper practically had to carry the incredibly stubborn Tony—who had insisted on eating 'just one more skewer' despite visibly struggling to breathe—back to his guest quarters. 

Returning to his own luxurious suite, Luke locked the door and sat down in a comfortable armchair. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small containment vessel Odin had given him. 

He stared intently at the swirling, blood-red, viscous liquid trapped inside. 

I wonder... if I physically touch the Reality Stone in its pure form, will it trigger the System to unlock a new Module? 

After a moment's hesitation, he decided to test his theory. 

Luke carefully popped the cork off the vessel and attempted to pour the liquid Aether into his hand. However, the semi-sentient liquid stubbornly clung to the inside of the glass, refusing to flow out. 

Annoyed, Luke simply crushed the glass vessel in his grip. He reached out and firmly grasped the floating, swirling mass of red energy. 

Instantly, the liquid Aether violently condensed within his grip, solidifying into a solid, brilliantly glowing crimson gemstone. 

Holding the Reality Stone tightly, Luke cautiously channeled a small stream of his own highly concentrated dark energy into the gem. Immediately, the Reality Stone violently rejected the intrusion, aggressively forcing the dark energy back out! 

Luke didn't attempt to force the issue. He had absolutely no idea what catastrophic reaction might occur if he forcefully overpowered the Reality Stone's innate defenses. 

However, as the rejected dark energy retreated back into Luke's body, it carried with it a microscopic, almost imperceptible trace of the Reality Stone's unique crimson energy. 

The moment the altered energy re-entered his shadow, a familiar, glorious chime echoed in his mind. 

[Ding! Unique Energy Signature Detected. The 'Conversion Module' has been successfully unlocked. Please access the System interface for details.] 

Luke immediately opened the System interface and confirmed that a brand-new tab labeled 'Conversion Module' had appeared. 

He clicked on it and quickly read through the description. His eyes widened in absolute astonishment. 

This module allows me to directly convert raw Dark Energy Points into ANY unlocked Shadowkhan unit type! 

Yes, literally ANY unit! 

Currently, based on the specific specialized units he had unlocked, the conversion rates were as follows: 

Standard Ninja: 10,000,000 Energy + 30 Minutes. 

Razorclaw (Spike) Ninja: 50,000,000 Energy + 1 Hour. 

Troll Ninja: 500,000,000 Energy + 2 Hours. 

Nightbat Ninja: 1,000,000,000 (1 Billion) Energy + 4 Hours. 

The absolute best part was that the conversion processes could run completely simultaneously! He could be synthesizing Razorclaws, Trolls, and Nightbats all at the exact same time! 

Luke did some quick mental math. If he utilized this module at maximum capacity, continuously synthesizing all four current unit types for 24 hours, he would consume roughly 12.48 billion Energy Points. In return, he would generate a daily yield of 48 Standard Ninjas, 24 Razorclaws, 12 Trolls, and 6 Nightbats! 

Currently, Luke's automated daily Energy Point generation rate hovered around 20 billion. Previously, he had simply been condensing the excess energy into crystals for storage or throwing it at basic system upgrades. But now? This Conversion Module provided a massively superior, highly efficient method for utilizing his daily income! 

Luke quickly tossed several highly compressed Dark Energy Crystals into the manifestation portal generated by the Conversion Module to power it up. While the machinery hummed to life, he investigated the requirements for synthesizing the other specialized Shadowkhan units—the ones he hadn't formally unlocked yet. 

The Conversion Module helpfully displayed the requirements for synthesizing every single tribe of the Shadowkhan. The base cost for all the currently locked advanced units was a uniform 1 Billion Energy Points and 12 hours of processing time per unit. However, they also required specific, highly specialized 'catalyst materials' in addition to the base energy cost! 

Samurai Ninja: 1 Standard Ninja + 1 Billion Energy + High-Grade Enchanted Metal. 

Scythe Ninja: 1 Razorclaw Ninja + 1 Billion Energy + Bone Dust of a Powerful Entity. 1

Crab/Pincer Ninja: 1 Troll Ninja + 1 Billion Energy + Armor/Scales of a Powerful Entity. 1

Alien/Squid Ninja: 1 Nightbat Ninja + 1 Billion Energy + Flesh/Blood of a Powerful Entity. 1

And finally, the absolute most terrifying, highly anticipated specialized unit: 

Shadow-Eater Ninja (Mini-Kahn): 1 of EVERY OTHER (8) Ninja Type + 1 Billion Energy + 'Essence of Devouring'. 1

Luke stared at the requirements, his mind racing. 

The first four were relatively straightforward. High-Grade Metal? He could just send a squad to quietly mine some Vibranium from Wakanda. Flesh, Bone Dust, and Scales of a Powerful Entity? The massive, freshly slain Black Dragon corpse was literally sitting right outside the kitchen! 

But what the hell was an 'Essence of Devouring'?! 

Luke racked his brain, desperately trying to recall various cosmic artifacts and entities within the Marvel Universe. Could it be the Black Hole Grenades used by the Dark Elves? 

No, that's incredibly unlikely. Those are just technological weapons. 

If those grenades count as 'Devouring Essence,' then where does that leave Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds?! Wait... I don't have to fight Galactus for it, do I?! 

Suddenly, a much smaller, infinitely more terrifying image popped into Luke's head. 

Goose. The Flerken. The terrifying alien creature that looks exactly like an adorable orange tabby cat, but possesses pocket dimensions in its stomach and can literally devour anything. 

Does the System expect me to track down Goose and... harvest its essence?! 

Absolutely not! I refuse to harm the cosmic kitty! 1

Shoving the horrific thought of cat-murder out of his mind for now, Luke quickly commanded a few Shadow Ninjas to retrieve specific portions of the Black Dragon corpse. 

He carefully separated the Dragon's dense scales, tough flesh, and reinforced bones into distinct piles. He then fed the biological materials, along with massive amounts of Dark Energy Crystals, directly into the Conversion Module's hopper. 

Whirrr! Clank! 

The massive interface lit up, indicating that the synthesis process for the Scythe, Crab, and Alien Ninjas had successfully initiated! 

Luke punched the air in sheer excitement. His grand plan to fully assemble all nine tribes of the Shadowkhan army had just taken a massive leap forward! 

Checking the material consumption rates for the active conversions, Luke calculated that he would need to reserve a significant portion of the Dragon corpse to sustain production for the next three months. 

Fortunately, the Dragon had been absolutely massive. Even after the Royal Chefs had claimed a massive chunk for the banquet, there was still plenty left over for his industrial needs. As for sourcing these highly specific biological materials in the future? He would just have to organize more 'hunting expeditions' into other dimensions. 

Continuing his exploration of the new module, Luke discovered another incredible feature: the Conversion Module itself could be upgraded! 

By expending 'Dark Essence,' he could significantly accelerate the conversion times and reduce the energy costs! However, Luke currently had absolutely no idea what 'Dark Essence' was or how to obtain it. He would have to research that later. 

Overall, the Conversion Module was a literal game-changer. It fundamentally shifted his primary method for expanding his army from tedious dimensional conquest to streamlined, automated industrial manufacturing! Furthermore, as his maximum Energy Capacity increased, he could theoretically infinitely expand the physical size of his Dark Dimension, eventually transforming it into a complete, fully functioning universe, much like Dormammu's! 

Having thoroughly explored the new module, Luke collapsed onto his incredibly soft Asgardian bed, feeling immensely satisfied as he watched the digital progress bars slowly filling up. 

Ding! 

The System suddenly chimed again. 

Luke opened the interface and saw a glorious notification: the Shadowkhan army had successfully exterminated the remaining mutated beast horde and fully conquered the Black Dragon's Intermediate Dark Dimension! 

[74,500,000 Extractable Energy Points Available.] 

Luke practically squealed in delight. The available energy pool had skyrocketed past seventy million! He eagerly clicked the 'Watch Ad for 50% Extraction' button three times. 

Instantly, a massive torrent of pure energy flooded his system. His previous maximum Energy Capacity of roughly 35 million points was violently shattered, instantly skyrocketing to a staggering 70 million! 

Seeing that he now possessed more than enough raw energy to afford a massive physiological upgrade, Luke didn't hesitate. He assumed a comfortable position on the bed and initiated the upgrade protocol. 

Fifty million Energy Points were instantly deducted from his capacity. 

A torrential, overwhelming surge of pure, highly refined cosmic energy violently washed through his entire body. His physical constitution was rapidly, brutally broken down and rebuilt, instantly elevating him to 64 times the baseline physical strength, speed, and durability of an average human! 

Simultaneously, the baseline combat power of every single Shadow Ninja in his army experienced a massive, synchronized boost! 

"Oh... that feels incredible!" Luke groaned, stretching lazily. 

A continuous series of crisp, satisfying pops echoed from his joints. He felt a profound, unprecedented sense of absolute physical perfection and raw power coursing through his veins. Even the massive energy deficit he had just incurred by initiating the Conversion Module was rapidly replenishing. 

"Today was an absolute success," Luke murmured happily. Watching the progress bars on the Conversion Module slowly creeping forward, he eventually drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep. 

Meanwhile, deep within the uncharted, pitch-black void of deep space... 

A pale, sinister figure slowly emerged from a heavily shielded stasis pod aboard a massive, dagger-shaped warship. 

"The Aether calls to us... The time has come to awaken the convergence..." Malekith rasped, his eyes burning with ancient hatred. 

The next morning. 

A series of firm, rhythmic knocks on his door woke Luke from his deep slumber. 

"Who is it?" Luke mumbled, reluctantly peeling himself out of the incredibly soft, cloud-like mattress. 

"Your Highness! The Grand Asgardian Banquet and Coronation Ceremony will commence shortly. Please proceed to the grand arena to finalize your preparations," a guard called out respectfully from the hallway. 

Remembering what day it was, Luke forced himself out of bed. He allowed the Shadow Ninjas to assist him with his morning routine and quickly changed into the incredibly ornate, highly tailored Asgardian formal attire that had been prepared for him. 

He did a quick spin in front of the full-length mirror, admiring the intricate golden embroidery and the deep, rich fabric. Feeling quite satisfied with his appearance, he walked toward the heavy oak doors. 

Two Shadow Ninjas materialized and smoothly pushed the heavy doors open. Instantly, the lively, joyful sounds of Asgardian music and distant cheering drifted into his room. 

Luke rubbed his eyes and stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the city. 

The vibrant, festive atmosphere instantly woke him up. 

The meticulous preparations of the past few days were on full display. The entire golden city was draped in magnificent banners and glowing magical decorations, reflecting the brilliant light of the morning sun. Thousands of Asgardians, dressed in their finest, most colorful attire, filled the streets, laughing, singing, and slowly making their way toward the colossal grand arena located near the Royal Palace. 

In the sky far above the city, massive, sleek interstellar battleships hovered in strict formation, clearly maintaining a respectful distance. Small, highly ornate diplomatic shuttles continuously detached from the battleships, ferrying the alien dignitaries down to the designated Asgardian spaceports. 

"It seems we have quite a few guests from outside the Nine Realms today," Luke remarked to the guard waiting for him. 

"Indeed, Your Highness. For this momentous occasion, Asgard has formally extended invitations to the major interstellar empires and prominent factions across the known cosmos," the guard replied, saluting sharply by bringing his right fist to his chest. 

"The formal ceremony will commence in exactly three hours, but protocol dictates that the Royal Family must arrive at the venue early for final preparations." 

"Understood," Luke nodded. "Lead the way." 

The guard marched crisply ahead, with Luke following at a leisurely pace. As they descended into the city streets, the crowds grew significantly denser. 

However, upon seeing Luke's distinctive attire and recognizing his face, the boisterous Asgardians immediately fell silent, bowing respectfully and quickly clearing a wide path for him. 

Luke couldn't help but smile at the respectful treatment. He enjoyed the leisurely walk through the vibrant city. 

As he walked, he suddenly remembered the Conversion Module he had activated the previous night. He quickly opened the System interface to check the progress. 

Currently, the module had successfully synthesized 20 Standard Ninjas, 10 Razorclaws, 5 Trolls, and 2 Nightbats. However, none of the brand-new, highly specialized unit types had finished processing yet; their 12-hour timers were still ticking down. 

Given the sheer time and energy cost required to synthesize these advanced units, I'll definitely have to deploy them strictly as elite specialists or strike-team commanders rather than cannon fodder, Luke noted mentally. 

Dismissing the interface, Luke realized they had arrived at the massive, open-air grand arena. 

Currently, the arena was completely closed to the general Asgardian public. The vast seating sections were mostly empty, populated only by the elite diplomatic delegations from the Nine Realms and the various interstellar empires. 

Dressed in his incredibly conspicuous, high-ranking royal attire, Luke walked through the arena, naturally drawing the curious, highly scrutinizing gazes of the alien diplomats. Luke casually observed them in return. 

He recognized several prominent factions from the movies. He spotted the blue-skinned Kree diplomats, the arrogant, golden-skinned Sovereigns, and several high-ranking officers in the distinctive uniforms of the Nova Corps. 

Amidst the mutual, silent appraisals, the guard led Luke directly to the highly secure staging area located directly beneath the primary royal viewing platform. 

Odin and Frigga were already waiting for him. 

"I honestly expected Thor and Loki to be down here preparing as well," Luke smiled, walking over to join them. 

"Given their specific roles in today's ceremony, Thor and Loki are required to wait in a separate holding area before making their grand, formal entrance to receive their new titles. However, as a recognized Foreign Prince of Asgard, you are exempt from those strict ceremonial protocols," Frigga explained gently. 

Luke nodded in understanding. He glanced back out toward the stands, observing the alien diplomats. "I genuinely didn't expect these interstellar empires to arrive so early." 

Based on their punctuality, they had likely arrived in the local star system the previous day and had simply waited for clearance to land this morning. Their promptness was a profound testament to the absolute respect and fear Asgard commanded across the cosmos. 

"By the way, what faction do those guys belong to?" Luke pointed discreetly toward a group of bizarrely dressed diplomats he couldn't immediately identify. 

Frigga graciously stepped forward and began acting as his personal cosmic encyclopedia. She identified representatives from Knowhere, the Grandmaster's envoys from Sakaar, and several other obscure, powerful factions Luke had never heard of. 

Luke nodded thoughtfully, committing the information to memory. I should definitely plan a grand cosmic road trip soon to secure the Power and Soul Stones before anyone else finds them. 1

After chatting comfortably with Odin and Frigga in the staging area for a while, the sun finally reached its absolute zenith. 

It was noon. The ceremony was officially beginning. 

Under the warm, brilliant Asgardian sun, Odin led Luke and Frigga out of the staging area and up the grand staircase to the absolute highest, most prominent tier of the royal viewing platform. They took their respective seats. 

Odin stood tall. Gripping Gungnir, he aimed the tip of the legendary spear directly at the sky and unleashed a massive, blinding pulse of golden energy! 

The energy pulse violently detonated in the upper atmosphere, creating a breathtaking, localized aurora. 

As if waiting for that exact signal, thousands of magical fireworks violently erupted from every corner of the Royal Palace and the surrounding city, painting the daytime sky with impossible, brilliant colors! 

Simultaneously, the massive, towering outer gates of the grand arena were violently thrown open! 

Thousands of Asgardian citizens, dressed in their absolute finest, most colorful formal wear, began pouring into the stadium, filling the lower tiers with a deafening roar of joyous celebration. Those who couldn't secure a seat within the arena gathered in the massive plazas outside, watching the proceedings on colossal magical projections. 

Sitting comfortably on his golden throne, Luke looked down at the VIP section directly below the royal platform. He saw Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. Tony caught his eye and flashed a highly exaggerated, comical thumbs-up. 

Tony was currently seated directly adjacent to the high-ranking diplomats of the major interstellar empires. 

"My buddy up there is looking pretty damn sharp today, wouldn't you agree?" Tony casually leaned over, speaking to the high-ranking Nova Corps diplomat seated next to him. 

The Nova Corps official, having just witnessed Luke aggressively roll his eyes at Tony from the royal platform, looked at the mortal billionaire with intense curiosity. He immediately began subtly probing Tony for intelligence regarding the mysterious new Prince's identity and capabilities. 

Tony smirked internally. Utilizing his genius intellect and unparalleled charisma, he effortlessly turned the interrogation around. By casually dropping Luke's name and royal titles, Tony subtly manipulated the Nova diplomat, extracting a wealth of highly classified cosmic intelligence in exchange for practically nothing! 

After all, Odin was going to officially announce Luke's identity and titles to the entire universe in about five minutes anyway. Tony was basically trading public information for state secrets!