Chapter 46: Heaven Creates All Things and Mankind

“Tremble in fear, mortals!”

Hovering in the air with her segmented limbs unfurled behind her, Zazaira stretched out both hands. Waves of violet arcane power rippled outward from her center. In the wake of this surge, a chill embodying death and corruption swept the world, as the heavens darkened beneath gathering clouds and countless ghostly blue lights burst forth from the hollow beneath the earth.

A piercing shriek drowned out every other sound on Broadway. The spiders, bristling and menacing, poured from the cavern like a living tide, flooding into the streets and surging down every avenue. They scuttled up buildings, wrecked infrastructure, terrorized children, sowing panic and despair wherever they went...

Meanwhile, deep within Base 13, the Hulk—bound fast by a multitude of iron shackles—trembled uncontrollably. The energy of Necromantic Transmutation pinned him to the ground, stuffing his mind with waves of negative emotion and ceaseless whispers. At that moment, he was rendered utterly silent, his rage crushed beneath a mountain of forced quiet. There was no explosion, no outlet—his rational self was slowly fading away.

“You are Abomination, enemy of all living things. You must obey the summons of the Lich King!”

Erica chanted in a trance, casting the Dark Transmutation that Roald had given her again and again—over a dozen times—upon the Hulk, her mastery over him growing ever more complete.

“Yes... Hulk will, Hulk likes Lich King, Hulk...” The words were thick and hoarse, forced past his lips.

...

Within S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Trident Headquarters, Nick Fury—having received Vicarne’s message—hurried to the control center with Rogers at his side. After seeing off “Mr. Bambi” and “Mr. Lightning Hammer,” New York, beset by calamity, now faced yet another crisis.

Clutching two signal devices, Fury studied the oscillating energy readouts, eyes sharp as he calmly assessed the situation.

“What’s the status, Agent Hill?”

“Energy radiation indicates a massive surge on Broadway. Coulson is en route with his team. Should we initiate mandatory evacuation for civilians?”

Hill rapidly brought up the local map; within seconds, images of the Broadway area filled every monitor in the room.

“Oh my God.”

“All these spiders—where did they come from?”

The operators watched, horrified, as the screens showed an endless flood of spiders erupting from the ground. Terror surged in every heart—never had death and slaughter seemed so near.

“Transmit all unclassified intel to the military—order immediate civilian evacuation. This is an invasion, a cross-species incursion...”

“Deploy air support and heavy weapons. Seal off the district. We cannot let these creatures spread further!”

“We need live coverage—and Rogers, tell Stark that we... No, tell him the country needs him!”

“Coulson is to secure as many live samples and field data as possible.”

Fury’s voice was steady and unhurried as he issued his commands. Meanwhile, Zazaira’s violet glow intensified on the monitors, revealing horrors that chilled the blood.

After the spiders came a wave of Scourge soldiers—draped in tattered armor—marching from the cave’s mouth. They quickly formed ranks, raising rusted weapons to the sky in a silent, furious howl. Though sound did not carry through the screens, the oppressive aura of death was palpable, more terrifying in its silence.

Countless blue soul-lights flickered like comets, and Fury clenched his fist. This was a calculated assault. His instincts screamed it.

Suddenly, the Scourge soldiers broke their skyward howl as one, turned, and charged with weapons raised. The screens filled with harrowing cries and desperate pleas for help. But the loyal Scourge continued their slaughter, unswerving.

The hatred of the living, the terror of the soul, the rage and fear at the moment of death—these were nourishment for the Scourge.

Floating above, Zazaira breathed in the sweet scent of souls, their energies flowing into her and making her stronger. As violet light flared around her, two more arms slowly took shape behind her.

Souls began to manifest visibly, writhing in agony beneath the shroud of darkness. Life was snuffed out en masse, but Zazaira cared nothing for it. As a demon of the crypt, her only duty was to prove her loyalty to the Lich King.

With every surge of death’s power, a profound sense of strength bloomed within her. At last, as the streets emptied around her, Zazaira spread all her arms wide, unleashing the soul energy she had just absorbed in a sudden burst.

“For the Scourge! For the Lich King!”

Floating high, she raised her arms and cried out, her voice trembling with unnatural resonance. Violet mana swirled about her, and the wind from the surging souls whipped her beautiful red hair beneath the dark shroud.

“We are the Scourge!” she thundered, her voice dropping low.

“Our generals will bring the world both rebirth and annihilation!”

“And here...” She paused, her arms lifted.

“This is where death begins...”

With a sweep of her hand, streams of green light burst from the Scourge soldiers and the surviving living alike. The Scourge turned to ash before the eye, while those still alive withered and aged in an instant.

“It’s not enough!” Zazaira muttered, as violet spell-light erupted around her. Her red hair writhed like serpents, and even thicker lines of draining energy extended in all directions.

“Not enough!” Dissatisfied with the pace, her voice rose, and the violet power lashed out even more fiercely. The wailing of souls grew more agonizing, and at last she clenched her fist with terrible force.

“Still not enough!” Her voice rose to a rasping shriek, her eyes blazing with blinding violet light, her body etched with pulsing lines of power as if she might tear herself apart.

The spell’s range widened, its energy denser, its draining even swifter. Now Zazaira had fully transformed—her banshee wail shattered windows for blocks, and the blast wave radiated outward from her like a storm.

“Death—this is the power of death!” Zazaira reveled in the energy coursing through her, greedily consuming every drop. She could sense, faintly, that somewhere, the great Lich King was watching her.

Roald, at that moment, was being pestered by Kel’Thuzad in another district, the two browsing a pet market together. They had just picked out an orange cat.

Outside, the cataclysm had not disturbed the calm within Base 13. Erica’s spells and hypnotic suggestions proceeded methodically.

Half an hour later, a furious roar echoed from the base, followed by continuous whimpering.

Grommash strode out, axe slung over his shoulder. Behind him, the green Hulk was nowhere to be seen.

“Halt! I order you to stop! This is a military installation—come any closer and we’ll open fire!” the sentinel outside the base shouted in terror.

Grommash seemed not to hear. He walked slowly forward, the fury in his eyes burning ever brighter.