[-3.5 billion USD. Talent exchange successful! Account balance: 248 million USD]
A trace of cool clarity flowed through Corin's mind.
Having never had any concept of "mental power" before, at this moment he truly felt where his consciousness resided.
It was an indescribable presence coiled throughout his entire body, somewhat like the divine sense described in novels.
It had no shape and no color, like a mass of energy, yet not merely a mass of energy. Its dimensional level felt very high.
All of his thoughts and actions relied on it to be driven.
This was a completely different feeling from spider-sense.
Spider-sense worked by instantly strengthening the whole body's senses to react to impending threats.
It leaned more toward a kind of biological instinct.
But the perception through mental power at this moment relied more on using mental force to break through distance barriers and connect different dimensions.
Focusing his mind, the places Corin had once been to gradually became clear in his thoughts.
He had a strong feeling that he could use mental power to pull the space in his mind right in front of him, and even open a passage to step straight through.
Truly achieving movement across space.
"So this is how the anywhere door works?"
Thinking this, Corin tried raising his hand and drawing circles in the air in front of him.
One circle, two circles… Nothing happened at all.
The space portal with spark-filled special effects that he imagined did not appear.
"Where did it go wrong?"
Corin opened the description of the sling ring portal, [Sling Ring Portal: Sorcerers use a sling ring to guide energy, combining hand gestures and incantations to tear space and connect two locations.]
[Note: Talents exchanged from the shop do not require sling ring guidance. Maintain focus on the linked coordinates to release.]
'So that is it.'
His mind had been full of stray thoughts just now. Clearly, having the motions right alone was not enough to open a portal.
At this moment, Corin closed his eyes, imagined the warm room of his Manhattan hotel, and gently traced the air with his right hand.
A strand of geometric patterns resembling "Morse code" appeared in the air, with golden and orange energy sparks flickering along the edges.
As Corin's arm moved, the circular passage slowly expanded.
Hearing the unique crackling sound of the sparks, Corin opened his eyes.
Seeing the familiar scene on the other side of the portal, he didn't hesitate for a second and flashed straight through.
"Waiter! Bring the food!"
———
[Asgard]
At this moment, Odin stood at the broken edge of the Rainbow Bridge, gripping Thor, while Thor tightly held onto the spear in Loki's hand.
Seeing his father appear before him, a trace of hope flashed in Loki's eyes. Like a child eager to claim credit, he hurriedly explained in a loud voice, "I was about to succeed, Father. I almost wiped them out… for you! For all of us!"
Facing Loki's pale explanation, Odin felt a deep ache in his heart. He knew and understood everything Loki had done, but he could not agree with it.
"No, Loki…"
There was no sermon, no scolding, and no curses. Odin simply stared at Loki with those eyes full of compassion.
But he still had to deny his actions, because Loki had indeed nearly caused a catastrophe.
Hearing his father's rejection, Loki's heart shattered.
What he had just said came straight from his heart. In his mind, everything he did was to prove himself to Odin.
He never expected that after all his scheming, what he would still receive was Odin's denial. He felt like a complete joke.
With his heart dead, Loki loosened his grip on the spear and let his body fall into the depths of the universe, disappearing without a trace.
Seeing his brother abandon himself, the emotional Thor felt his heart and soul tear apart, "NOOOO..."
———
The setting sun was like blood.
The storm in the sky had already subsided.
Jane looked toward the horizon where Thor had disappeared and murmured, "He's gone."
Having just touched love, Jane immediately experienced separation, leaving her feeling hollow inside.
With mechanical steps, she slowly followed after Erik.
———
At Asgard's victory celebration, Volstagg boasted to the crowd about how he had taken down the Destroyer, only to be mercilessly exposed by another warrior, causing an uproar of laughter.
Thor did not share in the joy like everyone else.
He slowly walked through the banquet and came to the balcony, standing beside Odin, the two of them looking toward the distant horizon together.
"You will be a good king," Odin, who saw through everything, had witnessed Thor's changes. At this moment, he could finally feel at ease handing the throne over to Thor.
But Thor no longer held the same expectations for the throne as before.
His mood was heavy, mourning his troublesome brother on one hand, and missing Jane far away on Earth on the other.
At the same time, having gone through so much, Thor was now able to fully understand the thoughts that occupied the mind of the elderly man beside him.
"There will never be a better king than you... or a better father…"
Odin looked down at the ground beneath his feet, unexpectedly feeling a bit moved.
With satisfaction, he thought to himself, 'The child has grown up.'
It seemed to be the first time Thor had truly spoken his heart in front of Odin, his tone a little tense, "I… still have so much to learn. Only now do I understand…"
"Maybe… one day, I'll make you proud of me…"
Odin slowly turned around and gently placed his left hand on Thor's shoulder, "I am already proud of you."
———
The scene shifted.
Thor strode across the Rainbow Bridge.
Heimdall stood at the broken edge of the bridge, looking down at the lower realms as he continued carrying out his duty of watching over the Nine Realms.
"We can never return to Earth again, can we?", With a hint of helplessness, Thor spoke with this respected gatekeeper.
"No, all things are possible."
Heimdall knew of Thor's feelings for that Earth girl, and his distinctive voice did not give an absolute answer.
"Can you see her?"
Thor stood beside Heimdall, looking down in the same direction.
"Yes."
Heimdall knew who Thor was asking about and replied slowly.
The scene now showed the trio of scientists, fully focused on continuing their exploration of astrophysics, especially Asgard.
"Is she doing well?"
Thor softly asked the all-seeing, all-hearing gatekeeper beside him.
"She has been looking for you."
Hearing Heimdall's reply, Thor lifted his gaze toward the horizon, a trace of hopeful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
———
Somewhere within S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury met with Erik Selvig.
Director Fury valued Erik's research abilities highly and intended to entrust him with a new scientific project.
Opening a silver case, inside was a cube emitting a blue glow.
Nick Fury planned to have Erik lead the research on this energy-filled cube.
The goal was to solve the energy crisis.
At this moment, reflected in the metal wall, Loki appeared.
He had already taken control of Erik's mind. Looking at the cube before him, the energy contained within far surpassed that of the divine casket, the Casket of Ancient Winters.
A new plan surfaced in his mind.
Loki smiled at Erik and said, "Looks like it's worth studying carefully."
And Erik, with a slightly mechanical tone, said to Nick Fury, "Looks like it's worth studying carefully."
———
Two Months Later, Manhattan—
Corin spent two incredibly delicious months.
Ever since upgrading heat vision and his constitution, Corin's appetite had multiplied several times over.
During this time, Corin ate his way through the streets and alleys of New York.
Reaching one conclusion: Chinese food was still the best.
Inside a dumpling shop, under the shocked gaze of the waiter, Corin finished his thirteenth plate of dumplings.
Sipping Pu'er tea contentedly, Corin enjoyed this moment of leisure and satisfaction.
At this time, the phone rang, and Director Nick Fury's voice sounded a little weak, ["Mr. Destiny, entrusted by the World Security Council, I formally invite you to join the Avengers Initiative."]
Corin didn't understand. He had already made his stance clear to Director Fury long ago: Commissions were negotiable. Joining was out of the question.
Ignoring the invitation, Corin asked curiously, "Director Fury, did something happen?"
["It's nothing much…"]
["Just accidentally summoned an alien."]
["One base got flattened."]
["Hawkeye switched sides on the battlefield and put a bullet in me."]
["My helicopter also crashed."]
Nick Fury's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
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