Balder hovered in midair, gazing down upon the quiet world beneath his feet.
At this point in the timeline, Iron Man hadn't yet been born — Tony Stark was still a carefree playboy, spending his days drifting between parties and women.
Bruce Banner was still an ordinary scientist; the Hulk had not yet awakened.
Everything was calm — the skies unbroken, the Earth unscarred.
There were no alien invasions, no cosmic threats, no chain of cataclysms tearing the world apart.
This universe hadn't yet begun to boil.
"So the story hasn't started yet… good."
Balder exhaled slightly in relief.
As long as the plot hadn't officially begun, this world would remain in its lukewarm stage — not yet entering the coming "Age of Upheaval."
Right now, true transcendents were still rare.
Even a second-rate superhuman could strut across the Earth like a demigod.
But once the narrative began to roll, the universe would erupt into a fever pitch — with bosses and monsters appearing like contestants in a queue, each one more terrifying than the last.
And when that time came, coupled with those restless Invisible Elder Gods, there was no telling when he might be dragged into another deadly vortex of fate.
Casting one last look at the seemingly peaceful Earth, Balder turned into a streak of radiant light and shot into the sky, vanishing into the depths of space.
"No need to make a move yet," he murmured.
"When I've forged the means to face those Elder Gods… then I'll act."
After a span of time, Balder returned to Asgard.
Inside the Temple of Light, he lifted his hand and summoned the Gate Between Worlds — a shimmering portal rippling with dimensional energy.
"Whether the first step of my plan succeeds… depends on this attempt."
He took a deep breath and placed his hand upon the glowing frame.
"I don't care if you have a will of your own. As my possession, you answer to me."
"Now — by my will — seek out two kinds of worlds."
He paused, eyes blazing with divine certainty.
"First — a world filled with powerful warriors, fit to serve as soldiers."
"Second — a low-magic world where a true God exists."
Yes — that was Balder's plan.
If he could find such a world and seize the authority of a so-called god — the false omniscience and omnipotence of a low-magic deity —
then perhaps he could bend the Law of Fate itself, even if just a fraction of it.
For Fate, no matter the universe, stood among the highest powers — equal to Time, Space, and Destruction.
To comprehend it directly would be a fool's dream.
But with a shortcut — by stealing a god's counterfeit omniscience — he might just cheat destiny itself.
As Balder spoke, the Gate Between Worlds shuddered violently, unleashing a monstrous suction force that began devouring his divine energy.
But rather than panic, Balder's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"So… it really works."
"Though it seems to require an enormous amount of energy."
He didn't hesitate.
With a flick of his wrist, Balder summoned a Faith Idol, channeling torrents of divine belief into the portal.
As long as the gate could search as he commanded, he cared nothing for the cost.
He could drain an entire world's faith dry, and it would still be worth it.
One minute. Two. Three…
Half the divine faith of an entire world was consumed, yet the portal's hunger didn't wane in the slightest.
Balder's expression shifted slightly. Maintaining the stream of power, he reached into his vaults, drawing out treasures he had gathered over a thousand years of life — his emergency reserves.
After several more minutes, four-fifths of the idol's divine power was spent.
Only then did the Gate's pull begin to weaken.
"So much energy just to locate worlds?"
He frowned.
The realms he sought weren't even high-tier.
Could it be that the cost wasn't based on power level, but something deeper?
The Gate gave no answer.
This mystery would have to wait for more experiments.
When the devouring finally ceased, Balder glanced at the nearly transparent idol and shook his head.
"That's… excessive."
Still, faith could be replenished. It was no great loss.
Lifting his gaze, Balder watched as three swirling portals appeared upon the Gate's surface, each labeled with a new world.
"The Terminator."
"The Boys."
"Bruce Almighty."
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Three worlds… one of them's bound to be useful."
His eyes flicked between them.
'Bruce Almighty' was easily ruled out — yes, that world had a God, but that God's strength?
Hard to say. After all, a mortal who inherited his power could juggle the moon like a toy ball.
If that so-called deity wasn't a pushover, Balder would eat his crown.
Still — it was a low-magic world, with no other supernaturals but that single divine being. It fit his criteria perfectly… if he dared challenge it.
As for the other two — The Terminator and The Boys — neither had gods, but both offered fine sources of recruits.
One world teeming with mechanical soldiers.
The other with artificial superhumans.
Balder's gaze lingered between them, before finally settling on the Terminator universe.
"The Boys' Compound V could mass-produce superhumans… but in limited quantity."
"What I need is an army — a force large enough to wage war against Heaven itself."
And for that, machines — obedient, endless, efficient — would serve far better than fragile mortals.
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