Kamar-Taj
Hum!
A surge of dark energy spread.
"What's that?" Kaiser snapped open his meditative eyes, looking toward the Ancient One's location.
Golden crystal walls expanded, containing the dark energy within the house.
A second later, the darkness dissipated.
Kaiser rose and entered the Ancient One's room.
Her eyes were closed, a dark mark on her forehead.
It looked eerie.
Pain flickered across her face, subtle but present.
An hour later, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Thank you." She said, her voice weak.
"Back to the Dark Dimension?" Kaiser asked.
"Drawing on its power to sustain your life…"
"…doesn't your soul ache?"
"I'm used to it." She replied with a shrug.
"My mission isn't over."
"It's not just the Dark Dimension. I've tapped into many dimensions' powers."
"The Vishanti Barrier and my strength keep the dimensional demons at bay."
"And as a follower of Eternity…"
"…when my body dies, my soul will return to him."
"Those demons won't dare trouble me."
She smiled, unconcerned.
She'd calculated her fate long ago.
"Your mission?" Kaiser said. "You mean Strange?"
Doctor Strange was undeniably a genius.
And a madman.
The epitome of genius on one side, insanity on the other.
In most parallel universes, he was the prime candidate for Sorcerer Supreme.
But his brilliance made him reckless.
He saved worlds but destroyed just as many.
"You know a lot." The Ancient One said, smiling. "The time energy I sense in you wasn't a mistake."
"The Time Stone and Space Stone would greatly aid you."
"The Infinity Stones all would." Kaiser replied.
"But now's not the time."
He had no intention of sacrificing a loved one for the Soul Stone.
Some claimed a loophole existed... any two people in love could trade for it on Vormir.
That underestimated the Soul Stone.
It sensed soul fluctuations, discerning true intent.
It knew if you sought it with obsession or were coerced.
If anyone could claim it, it wouldn't have slumbered on Vormir for eons.
In the MCU, the Soul Stone had rested there since its creation.
"If you ever use... or refine... the Time Stone." The Ancient One said, emphasizing, "I hope you'll protect this universe's reality."
With Wanda's nature, she'd likely pass the Time Stone to Kaiser.
Losing it wouldn't affect Wanda much.
But for future Sorcerers Supreme, it was monumental.
An Infinity Stone with boundless divine power.
"Don't worry." Kaiser assured her. "I'll keep my promise."
Elsewhere, Thor meditated in his room, using Kaiser's Cosmo meditation technique.
He finally sensed his divine power.
Boom!
Lightning surged skyward.
Fifteen hundred years of pent-up divine energy erupted.
Thor opened his eyes, electricity dancing within.
Countless bolts leaped, cheered, and swirled around him.
Now, he truly resembled the God of Thunder.
"This is… the feeling of awakened divine power?" Thor murmured, marveling at the lightning coursing through him.
He felt alive.
In Asgard's palace…
"What's that?" Odin muttered.
"Thunder?"
"Midgard's that effective?"
Preparing for eternal slumber, Odin sensed Thor's source awakening.
Thor's divine authority was fully awakened.
His single eye widened in shock.
This wasn't what he'd expected.
How had his source power suddenly awakened?
Not only Odin but Loki sensed it too.
He was on Earth.
"Thor…" Loki muttered, fists clenched, teeth grinding as he stared at the sky-piercing lightning.
He knew Odin wouldn't truly abandon Thor.
Loki had lingered near Mjolnir for days.
Thor never showed.
Now it seemed Odin had sent Thor to a powerful mentor for training.
Loki's eyes burned crimson, seething with resentment.
He was clearly superior to Thor.
"Am I lesser just because I'm a Frost Giant?" He sneered, his spirit sinking.
Hum!
With Thor's awakening, Mjolnir stirred.
Its sudden burst of energy caught S.H.I.E.L.D. off guard.
"Incredible energy readings." Coulson said, stunned, eyeing the instruments.
"It's like a star."
Mjolnir shot skyward, racing toward Thor.
"Congratulations." Kaiser said, approaching Thor. "You've awakened your divine source and activated your godhood."
"Thanks to your help." Thor replied, grateful.
"Earth has saved me years, maybe decades, of struggle."
"It's boosted my strength immensely."
"Don't forget our deal." Kaiser said with a smile.
"I won't." Thor assured, gripping Mjolnir as it flew to his hand.
Divine armor clad him, restoring the God of Thunder.
"Let's go." Thor said, brimming with confidence.
"No need for trouble." Kaiser replied, chuckling.
He grasped Thor's shoulder.
In a flash, Thor found himself in Asgard's great hall.
Odin and Frigga sat, discussing Thor's awakening.
"Hm?" Odin's divine aura surged, sensing an intruder.
Immense power rippled from his aged frame.
The overwhelming pressure forced Thor to his knees, sweat soaking him instantly.
Odin's divine might snapped Thor out of his bravado.
Kaiser conjured a barrier, deflecting Odin's aura.
Seeing Thor, Odin's power receded, his presence reverting to that of a frail god-king.
"Thor, you've returned." Odin said, his eye warm with relief.
"F-Father…" Thor stammered, still reeling.
Only now did he grasp Odin's true power.
A mere surge of aura and divine energy had brought him to his knees.
If they fought, Thor knew he'd die horribly.
"And who is this?" Odin's single eye studied Kaiser, curiosity flickering.
He sensed divinity in Kaiser.
Familiar yet foreign.
"Your body carries Athena's aura." Odin noted.
"But faintly."
"And your power has crossed the Skyfather threshold."
"I should know a god like you."
"You're from another universe, aren't you?"
Odin pieced together Kaiser's identity with a moment's thought.
He didn't realize Kaiser came from another world, not a parallel universe.
Kaiser saw no need to clarify.
"This is our second meeting, Odin." Kaiser said, meeting the gaze of Marvel's god-king.
Unlike Saint Seiya's Odin, this one was noticeably weaker.
Less imposing.
"Second meeting?" Odin echoed. "So, you've met me in your world?"
"Exactly. Because of Ragnarok, we made a deal." Kaiser replied.
"I've come to Asgard to propose another."
"The terms involve Asgard's artifacts."
"Including… Gungnir."
At the mention of Ragnarok, Odin's eye narrowed.
It was a secret known only to him.
The price of a deal with fate.
Kaiser's blunt mention suggested he knew much.
"Speak." Odin said. "Why should I agree?"
"My world is stronger than this universe." Kaiser began.
"The Odin I know far surpasses you in power."
"In this world's terms, he'd be at single-universe or beyond."
"Even so, he couldn't overcome Ragnarok."
Kaiser locked eyes with Odin.
"Single-universe?" Odin replied. "You're far from that level."
"Why should I trust you?"
"This body is an avatar." Kaiser explained.
"My true strength rivals yours, though in my world, I'm not yet a god."
"He bet on my potential."
Kaiser's words brimmed with confidence.
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Thor interjected, confused.
Ragnarok sounded ominous.
And his father clearly knew of it.
"You're saying you can help Asgard survive Ragnarok?" Odin asked, catching Kaiser's intent.
"I'll give you a hint." Kaiser said.
"Your world's Ragnarok is artificial."
"You new gods are caught in a cycle of time."
"Your power, divinity, and lives are harvested as fuel for another's growth."
"That's different from my world."
Kaiser's words struck Odin like lightning, shattering his thoughts.
His hands gripped the throne tightly.
Crack… crack…
The throne groaned, on the verge of breaking.
"We're being harvested?" Odin said, disbelief in his voice.
Clearly, this world's Odin hadn't realized it.
"Everything is fated." Kaiser continued.
"Don't you find it strange?"
"Since you learned of Ragnarok, you've fought to change its outcome."
"Yet you always fail."
"Balder died because of your obsession."
"Hela, twisted by your fixation, was imprisoned forever in Helheim."
"Even your child with Frigga, lost in the battle against Heaven, vanished."
"You've lost three heirs, Odin."
Odin's face paled.
Mentions of Balder and Hela filled his eyes with pain.
Thinking of his missing daughter, guilt consumed him.
"I'll give you Gungnir and Asgard's artifacts." Odin said.
"But you must fulfill your promise."
The Father of the Gods was gone, replaced by a weary old man.
Ragnarok's prophecy had cost him everything.
Yet he couldn't stop it.
Learning from Kaiser that his life was manipulated crushed his pride.
He was just a father who'd lost his children.
"Of course. We can form a contract." Kaiser replied calmly.
Odin glanced at Frigga.
She understood instantly.
Runes shimmered, countless symbols dancing.
A divine contract materialized before Kaiser and Odin.
Kaiser grasped it, the terms flooding his mind.
No tricks.
Everything was clear... what he'd gain, what he'd give.
Without hesitation, Kaiser signed.
"It's yours." Odin said, tossing Gungnir.
The golden spear embedded itself before Kaiser.
Hum!
Kaiser's right hand closed around it.
Gungnir glowed with rainbow light.
"A peculiar feeling." Kaiser murmured, sensing the spear's power feeding into him.
"Domain Expansion! Weapon Sanctuary!"
His microcosm materialized.
Kaiser absorbed Gungnir into it.
Now wasn't the time to analyze it.
He'd do that at the Sanctum.
"What's that?" Odin said, sensing the microcosm. "A complete world?"
"No wonder…"
He detected a faint trace of creation's aura in Kaiser.
Weak, but distinctly that of a creator god.
"Is he the reincarnation of a creator god?" Odin wondered.
Kaiser's actions hinted at such origins.
"For now, Gungnir is all I can give." Odin said.
"I'm old. It's useless to me."
"As for other artifacts, you'll have to wait."
"That's fine." Kaiser replied. "Gungnir alone is a great gain."
"I can wait for the rest."
To Kaiser, Asgard's most valuable artifacts were Gungnir and Hela's Nightsword.
Their powers of absolute accuracy and infinite division would greatly enhance his combat strength.
Bidding farewell to Odin and a bewildered Thor, Kaiser returned to the Sanctum.
He began analyzing Gungnir.
"As expected, forged from Uru and the World Tree." He noted.
"A divine weapon imbued with godly authority."
"Worthy of being among the Nine Realms' finest."
Gungnir met Kaiser's expectations.
Even as Marvel's Gungnir, it was formidable.
Using his divine vision, Kaiser started dissecting it.
He secluded himself in Kamar-Taj for years.
"My power's draining heavily." Wanda said, sensing her Chaos Magic's expenditure.
Since Kaiser's seclusion, her energy consumption had inexplicably doubled.
It now accounted for half her daily output.
She gazed worriedly at Kamar-Taj's microcosm, praying Kaiser was safe.
"What's that?" Wanda turned, sensing the aura of Dormammu's followers.
***
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