Chapter 185 185: The Eighth Law

Levi stood by the window, watching Natasha leave the conference room. When the door closed, the entire space fell silent.

He raised his right hand. The black pattern on his palm wriggled beneath his skin like a living thing. The Power of Void flared up every few hours, spreading from his palm up his arm. Each episode required immense effort to suppress.

This wasn't sustainable.

Levi turned and left the room, walking down the corridor toward the base's external teleportation platform. He needed to head into deep space—to find Rocket Raccoon, and to deal with the hidden danger inside his body.

Carol had said a round trip would take twelve hours, but with Levi's current mastery of the Space Law, it would take only moments.

He stepped onto the platform and closed his eyes. His super hearing expanded outward. The sounds of the universe flooded into his mind—billions of streams of information instantly filtered and sorted.

He searched for a specific frequency.

Rocket's ship emitted a unique energy fluctuation—a variant of early Hank Pym technology. Across the entire universe, only Rocket used it.

Found it.

3,200 light-years from Earth, at the edge of the Orion Arm, a small spacecraft was traveling through interstellar space. Levi locked onto the coordinates. The seven Laws within him activated simultaneously.

The Space Law wove a complex network around him, each thread linking distant points in spacetime.

He took a single step—and vanished.

---

The next second, Levi appeared in the dark expanse of space.

Five kilometers ahead, a battered spacecraft cruised forward. Its hull was scarred with laser burns and impact dents, clearly fresh from a brutal battle.

Levi didn't hide his presence. He flew straight toward it.

---

Inside the ship, red warning lights began flashing.

"Warning. Unknown lifeform approaching. Energy level unquantifiable."

The mechanical female voice echoed through the cockpit.

Rocket sprang up from the pilot's seat, grabbing a high-powered energy rifle.

"Which idiot bounty hunter is it this time? I'm in a bad mood today—anyone shows up, they die."

In the co-pilot seat, Groot slowly stood, his branch-like arms creaking.

"I am Groot."

"I know you're Groot—cut the crap." Rocket pulled up the external feed. On the screen, a humanoid figure was rapidly approaching the ship, moving at an absurd speed—and completely ignoring the vacuum of space.

Rocket narrowed his eyes and zoomed in.

When he saw the face clearly, he froze.

"…Damn." He lowered the gun and pressed a few buttons. "It's Levi."

Groot tilted his head. "I am Groot?"

"The Earth guy who disappeared after the Battle of New York." Rocket typed rapidly, shutting down the weapon systems and opening a comm channel. "Listen, I don't know where you've been these past five years, but now's not a good time to mess with me. I just took out three Kree who wanted my head. I'm injured and not in the mood for a reunion."

Levi's voice came through the communicator—calm, devoid of emotion.

"I'm not here for a reunion. Earth needs you, Rocket. Open the door."

Rocket stared at the screen. Levi hovered five meters outside the ship, wearing no suit, no oxygen mask.

That wasn't possible.

"…What the hell are you?" Rocket muttered—but still opened the hatch.

---

Levi entered through the airlock. After pressurization, the inner door opened, and he stepped into the cockpit.

Rocket looked him up and down. He looked almost identical to five years ago—if anything, younger.

"Do you even know what's going on?" Rocket said. "Thanos snapped his fingers. Half the universe is gone. My teammates—Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Mantis—they all turned to dust."

"I know," Levi replied. "That's why I'm here. The Avengers have a plan to reverse the Snap—but we need your help."

Rocket froze for a moment, then laughed, dripping with sarcasm.

"Reverse the Snap? You serious? That's the power of the Infinity Stones—the most powerful objects in the universe. What's your plan—pray really hard?"

Levi ignored him. His gaze shifted past Rocket, landing on Groot in the corner.

The young tree-being stood quietly, about one and a half meters tall, eyes filled with curiosity.

"I am Groot."

Levi stared at him—and a thought flashed through his mind.

On Xandar, in the original timeline, Groot had sacrificed himself to protect his teammates, reducing himself to a single twig… and then regenerated.

A being capable of rebirth from a fragment.

A lifeform that could defy death.

Levi's right hand grew hot. The black pattern writhed violently. The Void craved to devour all life—and the life force emanating from Groot was like the most irresistible feast.

Suppressing it, Levi stepped forward.

Rocket instantly moved in front of Groot, raising his rifle.

"Don't move. What are you trying to do?"

"Relax." Levi stopped. "I just want to confirm something. Groot, can I touch you?"

Groot looked at Levi, then at Rocket.

Rocket frowned but didn't fire.

"I am Groot."

He extended a branch-like arm.

Levi reached out and grasped it.

The moment they touched, a surge of pure life energy flowed from Groot into Levi, coursing through his entire body.

It was pristine—without impurities—like the primordial flame of life at the birth of the universe.

A system notification sounded in his mind.

[Detected S-Rank Ability: Tree of Life. Copy?]

Levi didn't hesitate.

Copy.

---

Pain exploded from his palm.

The Void sensed the invading life energy and awakened instantly, tearing into it like a ravenous beast. Black patterns spread rapidly up Levi's arm—shoulder, chest.

Rocket saw the change and fired.

The energy shot vanished midair as space twisted.

"Groot, run!" Rocket shouted.

But Groot didn't move.

He held Levi's hand, continuously channeling life energy.

"I am Groot."

Levi clenched his teeth. The seven Laws within him activated at once.

Space formed a prison.

Power became chains.

Time slowed the corrosion.

Reality tried to erase it.

Mind shielded his consciousness.

Death opposed the Void itself.

But it wasn't enough.

The Void devoured everything—even Laws.

Then—

The life energy from Groot erupted.

A blazing green light pierced straight into the core of the Void. Life and nothingness—two absolute opposites—collided violently within Levi's body.

His body trembled. Cracks spread across his skin, blood seeping out.

Rocket fired again—this time explosive rounds.

But Groot moved, expanding his arm into a shield, blocking the blast.

"Damn it, Groot! Are you crazy?!" Rocket roared.

Groot said nothing. He simply kept channeling energy.

---

Levi felt it—resonance.

His Healing Factor, his Celestial physiology, fragments of life… all scattered, incomplete.

Now, Groot's Tree of Life acted as a catalyst.

Levi closed his eyes, diving into his consciousness.

He saw the fragments:

Logan's healing factor—glowing green.

Ego's Celestial essence—like starlight.

Groot's Tree of Life—pure and ancient.

He guided them together with the Mind Law.

They resonated.

Merged.

The green light intensified—until it became a colossal Tree of Life, rooted deep within his consciousness.

Its roots extended into the void, drawing in universal life energy.

Its trunk bore all fragments of life.

Its canopy flourished—each leaf a form of life.

This… was the Life Law.

---

Levi opened his eyes.

The black patterns began to recede.

Before the Life Law, the Void retreated like darkness before light—forced back into his palm, then disappearing completely.

His skin returned to normal.

No trace remained.

He released Groot's hand and took a deep breath.

Eight Laws now formed a perfect balance within him:

Space, Power, Body, Mind, Time, Reality, Death, Life.

With Life as the core, they formed a complete cycle.

---

Rocket lowered his weapon, staring wide-eyed.

"What the hell just happened?"

Levi flexed his hand.

"I comprehended the Life Law. Thank you, Groot."

"I am Groot." (He smiled.)

Rocket stared at Levi for several seconds, then turned away, tossing the rifle aside.

"Life Law, huh? Sounds fancy. So what are you now—some kind of cosmic big shot?"

"More or less," Levi said calmly. "Now—are you coming back to Earth with me?"

Rocket leaned back.

"You said the Avengers have a plan. What is it?"

"Time travel."

Levi stepped forward.

"We go to the past—before Thanos gathers the Infinity Stones—and take them first. Then use them to undo the Snap."

Rocket's eyes flickered.

"…You're insane. That's theoretically possible, but the execution—wait. You actually have a plan?"

"We do. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner developed a Space-Time GPS. We've mass-produced Pym Particles—enough for thirty trips. We just need people. You're the best for the Morag mission in 2014."

Rocket fell silent.

Groot gently touched his shoulder.

"I am Groot."

"…Yeah, I know." Rocket sighed. "Star-Lord, Drax, Mantis, Gamora… if there's even a chance to bring them back… I'm in."

Levi nodded.

"Then get ready. We leave now."

---

Ten minutes later—

A spatial rift opened in the cockpit.

On the other side: the Avengers base.

Rocket whistled.

"Way more convenient than the Bifrost. Just how strong are you now?"

"Strong enough."

Levi stepped through.

Groot followed.

Rocket took one last look at his ship—then jumped in.

---

They arrived at the Avengers' teleportation platform.

Tony Stark looked up.

"You're fast. Crossing the universe like that—teach me sometime?"

"That's not your path," Levi replied.

Rocket looked around.

"So this is the Avengers base? Smaller than I expected."

Tony glanced at Levi, frowning.

"You feel different."

Levi showed his palm—perfectly normal.

Tony scanned it, his expression turning serious.

"Your energy levels are up 47%… and there's a new waveform. You got stronger again?"

"I comprehended the Life Law."

Tony sighed, walking away.

"Great. Another overpowered variable…"

---

Levi watched him go.

Then his communicator rang.

"Levi. Meeting room. Ten minutes," Steve said. "It's about Nebula. She wants to join the Morag mission—but something feels off."

Levi frowned.

"Nebula… Don't take her."

"…You're sure?"

"Yes. Her cybernetics can link with her past self. If she goes back to 2014, Thanos could access our timeline."

Silence.

"…Understood."

---

Levi looked up at the night sky.

In twenty-four hours, they would begin a mission to change the fate of the universe.

Now wielding eight Laws—with Life as the foundation—he had reached the high-tier Skyfather level.

And if he could obtain the Soul Stone…

He might reach true perfection.

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