Chapter 223: Ian Eats A Tapeworm!
“Family! Lend me your light!”
That voice was mournful and earnest, carrying an undeniable persuasive power, echoing in Dark Tiga’s ears and on screens in thousands of households on Earth.
This Dark Giant, who had experienced thirty million years of ups and downs and witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations, now had a silent mind, so the dominator was still Golden Superman.
However.
This didn’t prevent the instinctive reaction of this body upon hearing “light.” Yes, just mentioning light triggered some special mechanism inside Dark Tiga, as if Ian’s “cunning” words about deceiving faith had stirred it, creating a palpitation in Golden Superman’s perception.
Buzz—!
A faint yet extremely pure palpitation, like a sleeping volcano about to awaken, trembled fiercely deep in Dark Tiga’s massive energy core!
The dark energy timer on Golden Superman’s chest even flickered uncontrollably for a brief moment with a barely detectable but brilliantly azure blue light!
But.
This palpitation.
Came fast and went fast.
The next moment, it was suppressed by the overwhelmingly abundant dark divine power.
That instant palpitation was like a small pebble thrown into a deep pool; though it rippled slightly, it was quickly swallowed by endless darkness.
“Hm?”
Golden Superman—this Superman variant from another universe, named “Golden” for his absolute power and near-divine posture—only sensed something unusual.
He hadn’t fully realized that what had almost been triggered was this body’s original owner’s BUG-level “explode in strength with light” cheat mechanism.
He just attributed it to this dark body’s sensitivity to the concept of “light.” For Golden Superman, he knew only fragments about Dark Tiga; even The Batman Who Laughs in the Supreme Alliance might see it as a terrifying shell left by a dark god.
“This body is indeed powerful enough, and using it feels like some force is wrapping my original body, with no sense of controlling someone else’s body at all.”
Calming this minor interlude, Golden Superman hesitated no longer.
He controlled Dark Tiga’s massive body, a ghostly light flashing in his eyes, and the space ahead rippled like water, distorting as powerful dark power directly tore it open!
The next moment, Dark Tiga’s huge figure had traversed space, appearing directly outside Earth’s atmosphere, quietly hovering in low Earth orbit.
“The color of the stars here is off.”
Golden Superman sensed the unfamiliar starry sky around him, somewhat astonished, but soon he was drawn to Earth’s situation. Like a silent observer from another universe, this distance let him “see” and “hear” everything happening on Earth more clearly.
Reflected in Dark Tiga’s huge, deep eyes like cosmic stars was a scene even this worldly Golden Superman found hard to evaluate.
The first scene he “saw” was, of course, nearly every screen corner on Earth.
From massive LED screens on skyscrapers in New York, Tokyo, Paris, and other metropolises to creaky old TVs in rural town general stores.
From cash registers powered by pure solar charging in tents of nomadic peoples on the Sahara Desert’s edge to display screens in Antarctic research station lounges.
All screens, regardless of brand, model, age, or even… whether powered on, were synchronously playing the same image—the massive figure calling himself “God of Light Ian Tekken” in the Dark Dimension, “struggling” against Darkseid and Sangong Mo’s “fierce assault.”
And with his highly persuasive voice, calling for help worldwide.
“Family! Hold on! I feel it! Your light… it’s faint, but warm!”
“Don’t give up! Turn your hopes into power and pass it to me!”
“That guy flying around in red underpants can’t save you! He’s barely saving himself now. Only I, only I am Earth’s sole hope and unwavering guardian!”
……
On Earth, people from all countries, races, and ages reacted differently, but many were indeed moved by this “immersive” “tragic” scene.
It couldn’t be called outrageous.
Even those pretty boy actors, the so-called “doves,” had fans praising their acting; Ian’s acting was far better than most traffic stars.
He even gave close-ups of his handsome face.
Playing the fan circle celebrity game.
The effect was remarkable.
“Cheer on, Lord Ian! You must win!” In Tokyo, a girl in a sailor uniform clasped her hands to her chest, eyes closed, whispering with a choked voice. She said as long as Ian won, not just her light—he could even have her do compensated dating to gather light from otakus, and she’d be willing.
The island nation’s traditional art even felt nobly uplifting at this moment.
“Giant! Don’t die! I’ll give you all my pocket money! My light from next life… and the life after!” On a Kansas farm, a chubby little boy cried at the TV.
In Rio de Janeiro’s slums, kids gathered around a flickering TV screen, grimacing along with the “coughing blood” Ian on screen, constantly praying.
When it came to faith.
Kids’ faith was indeed easier to gain.
Of course.
Old people’s faith was also easier to acquire.
In a remote mountain village, an old man stared in shock at his long-powered-off, antenna-rusted black and white television, now not only lit up but showing HD full-color footage, even with surround sound “lend light” cries! The old man nearly knelt.
“Miracle! This must be a miracle! God of Light! He really is a god!” He prostrated in worship. Actually, his black and white TV lighting up without power and evolving to color was pure tech—Ian had his company survey elders who bought health supplements.
These black and white TVs were things his employees installed door-to-door. It was capitalist cunning, knowing which groups’ faith was easiest to harvest.
Of course, Africa’s side used some black tech, but their TVs would only show color texture and dynamic sound effects when playing Ian.
“Is this a foreign TV station? Compared to our country’s sun and this God of Light, who’s stronger?” Some country’s residents saw the outside world for the first time.
They marveled.
They sighed.
But the power of faith provided wasn’t much; before Ian, it had been mostly absorbed by Earth’s only round sun besides Superman.
Anyway, globally, anything with a screen, from little genius phone watches to others, had become tools for Ian’s “big score” operation.
The mastermind.
Was still “miserably” howling in the dimension.
“Light! I need more light!”
His voice held uncontainable, acting-unconcealed joy.
“……”
Perhaps only Golden Superman knew why that boy’s mouth wouldn’t stay down. Golden Superman fell silent, not moved but shocked.
“This… what’s going on?”
Golden Superman muttered to himself.
His brows furrowed.
His super huge eyes as Dark Tiga could clearly see everyone’s emotions, like countless tiny light spots forming a global emotional network.
Threads of flowing “silk lines”—extending from every screen-watcher’s heart, converging at Ian’s special dimensional position.
“Is this the purpose of that boy playing pitiful?”
Golden Superman realized Ian was “acquiring” something from humans. Unsure if it was fraud, he wanted to see this universe’s Superman’s reaction.
Thinking this.
Dark Tiga’s big eyes looked toward the ruins with Superman.
He expected a tragic, heroic battlefield, heroes fighting bloodied, civilians panicking—since he knew what invaded Earth.
However.
Beyond Golden Superman’s expectation, what entered his “sight” was a peaceful, even “peaceful and quiet” scene?
Anyway, Golden Superman couldn’t find other words for what he saw. As a superhero for years, he’d never encountered anything like it.
There, amid rubble, a small group gathered, their vibe clashing with the surroundings and the eerie Dark Dimension on all human TVs.
First in view was Batman Bruce Wayne.
He sat on a fairly intact concrete block, several translucent light screens floating before him, fingers sliding and clicking rapidly, expression focused and calm.
Massive wealth flowed to him.
Not just gambling.
Golden Superman could “hear” faint encrypted satellite comms info flows about fund movements, odds adjustments, and… shorting a multinational group’s stock. Batman was remotely manipulating the crisis, waging invisible financial war with global capitalists.
“Heh, give me a Kryptonian Armor? The money for Kryptonian stuff isn’t as fast as I earn. Youngsters just don’t get what a real lion’s mouth is.” Batman’s mouth showed a mocking smile, aimed at the “bloodied fighting” Ian.
Ian plundered his money.
While he plundered capitalists’ productivity.
Nearby, half-machine Cyborg Victor Stone held a “Flash Delivery” logo paper food box, using his mechanical hand to savor food with a disposable fork.
“Mm… this Soviet-style red borscht with black bread tastes great. 3.9 US dollars assembled rice, super value, tastes like what my great-grandmother described.”
“Authentic!”
Cyborg showed no sign of being in a cosmic crisis.
More outrageous: by a small ditch from battle shockwaves, murky with debris, but it didn’t stop Amazon princess Diana Prince using her magic Lasso of Truth to compete with ocean lord Aquaman Arthur Curry fishing garbage.
“Lasso of Truth binds all truth, so it can ‘fish’ underwater ‘truth.’ The cost is just praising that kid.” Wonder Woman seemed in philosophical discussion and practical test; she was nearly tamed by Ian’s modified Lasso of Truth.
“Your Lasso of Truth even sorts garbage? Damn! My trident… why won’t it move itself.” Aquaman openly envied Wonder Woman.
Perhaps Wonder Woman was an overlooked product streamer by Ian.
Outside this circle of “leisurely mood” heroes, a figure in blue bodysuit and red cape stood out— this universe’s Superman Clark Kent.
He wasn’t joining companions’ “leisure,” but held an old-style professional news camera, shooting the ruins and Dark Dimension projection in the sky.
Invincible Superman had Bluetooth headphones on, seemingly on a call.
“Yes, Perry, I’m at the scene! Situation is very… uh, complex! But I got first-hand material! Yes, absolute exclusive!”
His tone had reporter’s bluster and a trace of… hard-to-detect guilt?
“What?! You say… shooting material today doesn’t matter?! Why?! …What?! Our boss sold the newspaper agency???”
Suddenly.
Superman’s voice spiked with exclamation, even stopping clearing fallen wall debris, freezing like Kryptonite-struck.
“Damn! Who did you sell the newspaper agency to???” Superman looked thunderstruck, expression shifting from stunned to incredulous and panicked.
The phone explained something.
But Superman couldn’t hear. He stood dazed, holding his precious camera, red cape swaying in the breeze.
At this moment, Darkseid, Sangong Mo, cosmic crisis—all faded before this sudden personal career and emotional blow.
“Am I really going to Pluto?” Superman clutched his forehead, dizzy; he remembered Ian’s childhood diary had similar dreams.
And as family.
Old Father knew Ian had a diary, treated as real proposal writing.
“No, what’s wrong with these superheroes?” Speechless wasn’t just Ian’s Old Father; Golden Superman in space too.
Dark Tiga’s huge eyes clearly reflected this bizarre ruins scene below.
Trading Batman, takeout-eating Cyborg, Lasso-fishing Wonder Woman and Aquaman, and petrified Superman over the newspaper sale.
Golden Superman struggled to evaluate, sinking into deeper, longer silence.
He even suspected he’d space-jumped into a niche, cult parallel universe.
No way around it.
Golden Superman had to doubt.
Leaving aside the off solar system star layout.
Just that Earth Superman.
Was this guy really from the world of the Superman isotope he’d fought before, with different ideals but firm will and power?
Golden Superman felt his cognition hit unprecedentedly.
Hard to accept it all.
“All because of that person…”
Golden Superman directed Dark Tiga’s gaze through reality-dimension barrier to the unseen world—Ian, Darkseid, Sangong Mo’s Dark Dimension. The scene inside was more vivid than live screens.
Ian’s massive “Galactus” form of stardust and dark matter sprawled imageless on the Dark Dimension’s void ground.
He even stuck up his butt; steel butt fearless, Darkseid’s earlier butt sneak-attack gave him psychological trauma.
Now dared not approach that direction.
“Rumble! Rumble!”
The two villains attacked relentlessly.
Darkseid’s Omega Effect-infused fists and feet, and Sangong Mo’s occasional chaos magic lashes, rained on Ian’s seemingly bent back.
Massive commotion.
Dull booms.
【Absorbed high-dimensional rules erosion energy, Entropy Lord experience points +25000!】
【Absorbed chaos dimension magic power, Entropy Lord experience points +18000!】
【Constitution adaptability improved! Minor boost to rules attack resistance!】
“Ah! Stop hitting! Please! Stop!” Ian synced with attack rhythm, crying shrill, tearfully.
“Hit more… I’ll die! Really die! I’ll die for you to see!” Ian looked the pitiful bullied kid unable to fight back.
This mournful begging.
Wouldn’t transmit via his pervasive “live stream” tech to every global corner; it was just Ian’s incentive easter egg for Sangong Mo and Darkseid.
Others couldn’t see.
Only Dark Tiga’s gaze sneaked a peek.
The instant this begging ended, without a breath gap, Ian’s voice silkily shifted!
Prior sob and weakness vanished, replaced by low, “resolute” and “believing” tone. He lifted his huge head to empty ahead, sinking voice as if undergoing key transformation, deceiving more kind folk’s tears and prayers.
“Almost… almost!”
His voice held suppressed excitement:
“I feel it! Unprecedented power surging inside! It’s family! Your prayers and blessings working!”
“Let’s cheer more! Victory’s dawn ahead!”
“Little red hearts tap tap… cough! No! I mean, prayers and blessings! More! Don’t stop!”
This was Earth audience content; Ian knew montage. His seamless faces were Marvel Universe’s trinity.
Hm.
At least Ian explained trinity thus.
Of course, his unmasked performance and uncontainable mouth from magic/experience surge humiliated his two evil giant attackers unprecedentedly.
This wasn’t disdain!
This treated them as unpaid background props!
No pay!
“Enough!” Sangong Mo stopped first, his huge demon face twisted in anger, six evil fire eyes glaring at still “acting” grounded Ian.
He turned to Darkseid, panting—demons might not breathe, but it showed mood: “I think this guy’s just toying with us!”
“He doesn’t hide it at all! Not at all!” Sangong Mo was done; as Hell Lord, he’d never played humiliation like this.
For a moment, Sangong Mo couldn’t tell who was the hellish beast—yes, cursing himself, that’s rage-peak Sangong Mo.
Hearing Sangong Mo’s frustrated roar, Darkseid didn’t respond verbally, but his rock face was ashen.
How could Darkseid not feel this humiliation?
His Omega Effect-burning eyes held solid killing intent. Though toyed, he didn’t stop, crazier powering up.
【Absorbed high-dimensional rules erosion energy, Entropy Lord experience points +33000!】
Dark New God power like raging waves bombarded Ian.
Excellent effect.
【Entropy Lord Lv18〔13221/1317120〕】
【Strength: 1573—1701】
【Constitution: 1841—1999】
【Intelligence: 88.9—89.2】
【Spirit: 642—667】
Darkseid was fierce; this was Ian’s second level-up from him, experience gift packs his; Sangong Mo half Darkseid’s output.
“Rumble! Rumble!”
Darkseid as fierce as ever.
Sangong Mo, seeing Darkseid ignore and just attack, grumbled: “Hmph! We’re equals, acting all aloof?”
He saw through: their foe unlike superheroes, a tough nut—unbreakable, and cursing excited him.
And realizing, Sangong Mo analyzed: opponent not just devouring their energy, but stealing human faith via their image/behavior!
Double-dipping!
“No more!”
Realizing, Sangong Mo stopped wasting effort, plopping his huge demon body on dark dimension ground, six arms crossed, posing watch-and-slack, coldly watching Darkseid solo output madly.
He wasn’t true body; worst was power loss. Attacking just benefited others; a self-serving demon wouldn’t fight desperately.
Sangong Mo fully quit.
Pressure all on Darkseid. Ian, seeing Sangong Mo stop, panicked. Losing an experience pack was huge!
Leveling would slow?
“Hey! Red demon bro! How can you quit?!”
Ian’s voice full of “regret” and “encouragement.” He switched to earnest tone, “teaching” slacking Sangong Mo.
Trying to hype Demon King.
“Failure is mother of success! Setbacks are progress steps! Look at me, beaten bad but never abandon hope! Because I have light in heart! Family support!”
“Stand! Fight! Turn anger to power! Let evil… shine unique light! Believe yourself, you can!”
“You and Darkseid together might beat my light!” Ian’s success-coach chicken soup made Sangong Mo’s mouth twitch.
Sangong Mo no minor demon.
How could cheap soup infect him.
He closed eyes, tilted huge demon head aside, played dead—eye out of mind. Ian’s flowery words didn’t budge him.
Zero intent to give Ian experience. Only Darkseid, more promising, persisted attacking.
His pride and anger forbade quitting like Sangong Mo. He believed any defense/absorption had limit/cost!
“Roar—!!!”
Darkseid roared dimension-shaking, erupting scarier dark energy, Omega Effect maxed.
Even subtly invoking Dark Dimension’s own rules.
“I don’t believe! This state lasts forever!” He roared, seeming to burst again, all-in to break Ian’s maddening defense!
At Darkseid’s peak desperate assault—Ian, “ow”-crying exaggeratedly on ground, showed first genuine, unfeigned panic! Unlike prior acted fear!
Real flustered feeling!
“As expected! I guessed right! His absorption isn’t infinite! Nearing limit! This exposed panic… can’t fake!”
Darkseid, fixated on Ian, keenly caught this true emotion shift!
He sneered inwardly!
Darkseid saw victory’s dawn, attacks fiercer, ready to crush this humiliator into invincible form collapse!
Darkseid’s thoughts lovely, but Ian’s next words froze his sneer.
Brain lagged momentarily.
“Wait! Where’s my magic power?! My faith?! My light?!” Ian’s voice stunned and anxious, like money vanished from account!
“Why did the faith family just renewed drop so much?! Was ocean-endless! Now trickling like stream!”
Ian truly shocked.
His words totally predicted by Darkseid, content baffling! Magic power? Faith? Light? Gibberish? Under Darkseid and Sangong Mo’s stunned gaze, “dying” grounded Ian leaped up!
His massive body straightened.
Face red with rage.
“Is it you! Did you kill my beloved Earth people!” Ian meant to accuse Darkseid, then recalled he’d swallowed Earth into belly for protection.
“Fine, not you… but who, which damn mouse?! Stealing my light?!” Ian truly furious.
He looked around.
Found no sneaky actor.
Meanwhile.
Above unknowable Earth’s low orbit, controlling Dark Tiga, Golden Superman hugely astonished.
“What’s happening?”
He raised Dark Tiga’s huge arm; originally deep black, now uncontrollably emitting soft, pure light!
This light not his power, more like… external belief/prayer energy forcibly intercepted/absorbed by body!
This body’s DNA really moved! Boiled!
Original dense, all-devouring darkness receded like tide, replaced by intensifying golden blaze!
Vivid colors climbed Dark Tiga’s body!
Dark power turning to light!
Golden Superman’s will fluctuated wildly; probing body change, trying to “untransform,” but couldn’t amid shift. Light influx triggered deeper mechanism even he missed.
As he puzzled, a mild, ancient voice with indescribable fatigue rang deep in consciousness.
“Did you… awaken me? One whose inner pure goodness was quietly tainted black.”
The voice gently asked.
Like from distant space-time shore.
“Damn! Another will! Who are you?!” Golden Superman alarmed, spirit max tense! Thoughts flashed.
This body’s original will revived! Was the outer universe power from The Joker Bat hiding trap?
Or The Joker Bat deliberate!
Thinking that chaotic Dark Knight might’ve left this hand.
Golden Superman chilled. Mind voice sensed tension/hostility, tone still calm, soothing.
“No need to tense… stranger will.”
“I was long gone… deader than dead. Remains to void, consciousness to star sea.”
“But… by chance, I heard someone repeatedly chanting light… this obsession ignited me, returning me to reality.”
The voice explained.
However.
Better unexplained.
Golden Superman.
“???”
He was utterly baffled.
How not? Golden Superman thought himself super hearing epitome, ultimate super hearing, yet couldn’t fathom why a dead being had hearing? And revived by light talk? You sure not fooling a three-year-old!?
Golden Superman’s caution/doubt deepened.
As Golden Superman’s mind tangled from bizarre “awakening,” trying to sort and communicate with this “dead” mind entity.
Dark Dimension, anomaly again!
Thunderous Ian hunting “light thief” suddenly clutched glowing belly; face huge as stars full of terror.
“Your energies unclean?! This feel… this feel… gave me worms!” He dry-heaved.
Cursing paused Darkseid and Sangong Mo.
Darkseid: “…”
Sangong Mo: “…”
Two evil giants saw Ian’s “bad belly” paranoid look, sinking into deep silence/speechlessness again.
They seriously doubted.
Opponent not same dimension.
While Ian clutched belly, grumbling, inwardly checking if besides palms, worms grew in gut.
A cold, mechanical prompt only he heard rang clearly in consciousness.
【Quest Name: Eclipse Reversal · Fire-Stealing New Chapter】
【Quest Requirement: In deepest abyss, find the paradoxical light’s ‘Primal Dark Core.’ Not by force, not by reason, but true vessel guide its inner Paradox, reverse its dark essence fully to Torch of Pure Light, reignite Shadow of the End’s Radiance of First Birth.
Thereby ignite New Era’s dawn.】
【Job Transfer Mission completed!】
【New class—Lord of Blazing Ashes unlocked!】
