Marvel : Super Soldier at the Start

In the Void, coordinates held little significance. 

Blake only knew that, in the three days since arriving here, Groot had taken him to the ruins of three different cities. 

Two were alien cities, and one was a place Blake recognized instantly—New York City. 

Each city lay at least hundreds of kilometers away from their shelter, with some as far as over two thousand kilometers. 

It was clear that these cities had been devoured by Alioth, leaving no trace of life. The steel and concrete appeared as though they had been eroded by millennia of time—lifeless, riddled with holes, and steeped in decay. 

If even steel and concrete looked like this, it was easy to imagine what had happened to everything else when Alioth swept through. 

This explained why little Groot's first instinct upon seeing Blake had been to root himself in place to absorb nutrients. 

Food was incredibly scarce—it was purely a matter of luck. 

Other supplies, like vehicle parts, were easier to manage. Occasionally, they could salvage usable components from deep underground parking lots. 

But living creatures? Not a single one. 

This was nothing like the scene Blake had imagined from Loki's trailer, which featured multiple variants of Loki. 

Perhaps Loki's inherent luck had ensured they all landed relatively close to one another. 

That was the only explanation Blake could come up with, as over the past few days, he had flown in one direction for hours without encountering a single soul. 

Still, it didn't rule out the possibility that someone was hiding underground or elsewhere—after all, Alioth emerged to wreak havoc from time to time. 

"I am Groot!" 

Blake was lost in thought when Groot emerged from the ruins, looking dejected—it was clear he hadn't found food. 

"Don't worry, I told you I've got plenty of food with me, enough to last us a long time! We'll try another direction tomorrow!" 

"I am Groot!" 

The little guy shrugged, his expression saying, 'Got it.' 

Having spent several days with Blake, while Groot's words remained the same, he had mimicked Blake's expressions and gestures almost perfectly. 

"If your expressions get any more vivid, I feel like I'll be able to understand most of what you're saying." 

Blake pulled Groot along and started walking out of the ruins. 

This particular city was a small alien settlement. The streets were entirely made of metal, and since Alioth hadn't visited it as frequently, some roads still retained their shape. 

"I am Groot!" 

Turning a corner, Groot suddenly pointed ahead and shouted excitedly. 

Blake focused his gaze. On the roadside ahead, a small white figure lay still. 

"Is that… a dog?" Blake muttered in confusion. 

About thirty meters away, a yellow-and-white dog was lying motionless by the road. 

Groot, perhaps excited to see a creature not much larger than himself, dashed toward it eagerly. 

"Hey! Wait up!" 

Worried about Groot's safety, Blake quickly caught up, scooped Groot onto his shoulder, and approached the dog cautiously. 

Upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably a Shiba Inu. It wore a strange collar with two buttons and a cape around its neck, giving it a peculiar appearance. 

Still, it was undoubtedly dead. 

Relieved, Blake set Groot back on the ground. 

Groot curiously circled the Shiba Inu a few times before pressing one of the buttons on the collar. 

"I am Thor, for the glory of the Norse gods!" 

A voice suddenly boomed from the collar. 

"What the hell? Thor?" 

The little guy wasn't startled, but Blake nearly jumped out of his skin. 

If there could be an alligator Loki, then a Shiba Inu Thor didn't seem that far-fetched, Blake thought. 

He squatted down and placed his hand on the dog's lifeless body. 

Thanks to his identity as the Fire God, Blake could indeed sense Asgardian power emanating from the dog. 

However, this power was dissipating. Judging by the current state, the dog had likely died only a few days ago—the energy hadn't fully faded yet. If left alone for much longer... 

Blake's mind began to drift into questionable territory. 

"Groot, can't you root yourself into flesh? Aim at this, root into it—I guarantee it'll be incredibly beneficial for your growth." 

"I am Groot!" 

Little Groot retreated several steps, shaking his head with a pained expression. 

"What the—? You jabbed your little feet into my neck without hesitation while I was still alive, and now you're hesitant over something that's clearly dead?" 

Blake grabbed the little guy and held him right in front of his face. 

"I am Groot!" 

The little one looked troubled, glancing at Blake and then touching his own belly. 

Blake understood what he meant. During their earlier days of hunger, Groot might not have hesitated, but now that he was eating well and living comfortably with Blake, the thought of doing something like this clearly didn't sit well with him. 

"No excuses! You're doing this!" 

Blake plopped Groot down in front of the "Thor." 

Groot hesitated. In the original movie universe, he'd been alone from a young age, only finding a sense of family after meeting Rocket. 

This little Groot hadn't been so fortunate. He'd been captured by the TVA before even growing up, cleansed, and thrown into this desolate place. 

After spending the past few days together, Groot had come to see Blake as his only family. 

Now, with Blake looking angry, Groot was conflicted. 

But he had no choice. With tears welling up in his eyes, he reluctantly extended his small roots, aiming at Thor's neck. 

With a jab, some fur came loose from Thor's neck, but the skin remained intact. 

This "Thor" was thoroughly dead. The power of Thor offered little protection to the body now—there was no way it would resist. 

Without wasting any more words, Blake pulled out his tang blade and gave it a hard strike, creating an opening. He then forced Groot to root into Thor's flesh. 

The moment the roots connected, it was as if a circuit had been completed. 

Groot's entire body began glowing, radiating golden light from within as though he'd become a living lightbulb. 

Then, lightning began crackling around him, forming spontaneously in the air and surging into Groot's small body. 

The little one's face twisted in pain. 

"Don't resist—let the energy flow into you. If it's too much, I'm here!" 

It seemed Groot heard Blake's words, as his expression gradually calmed. 

His eyes slowly closed, and he appeared to slip into unconsciousness or some kind of deep sleep. 

*Let's see what you'll transform into.* 

Blake watched Groot with keen interest. 

The Void had become one of Blake's anchor points, and he had a feeling it would play a crucial role in his future. 

If Groot gained the power of Thor, Blake would essentially have a superpowered ally here—undoubtedly a massive boon. 

The only question was, how long would this absorption—or evolution—take? 

As he pondered this, a sudden crashing sound came from the ruins ahead. 

"Who's there?" 

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