Solomon peered through the observation window of the incubation chamber.
Countless thin cables pulsed like living creatures within the deep green fluid. The high-tech body, crafted through a fusion of alchemical processes and biological tissue, was now wrapped tightly in black, snake-like tendrils, leaving only its synthetic human face exposed. An uncountable stream of data flowed through those cables, into the body, and was then processed and displayed on the computers of the Immortal City's Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The arcanist stood for a while in the dimly lit room, then turned and walked to the other end of the dungeon.
There, imprisoned in a special room designed just for her, was the Daughter of the Rhine. As an enchantress whose voice alone could bewitch any male creature, Lorelei was now enduring unthinkable humiliation and shame in the deepest part of the dungeon. The prolonged psychological torment and degradation hadn't filled her with hatred—perhaps it once had, but under Solomon's psychological reconditioning, the Daughter of the Rhine had developed Stockholm syndrome. She would become Solomon's most vital spy. All the pain, interrogations, and mind-breaking were for a single, immensely important mission—one that would influence generations to come.
For that goal, Solomon had soiled his own hands, employing methods that no good man could tolerate, training Lorelei with whatever means were necessary. And that goal was none other than Asgard's Bifrost. If his intentions were ever exposed, even the now semi-retired Odin would ride Sleipnir with Gungnir in hand and storm the Immortal City to kill him.
Not even the Ancient One could stop Odin if the All-Father went all in.
Before Ragnarok, it was not yet the time to make an enemy of Asgard. In order to obtain knowledge of the Bifrost before Asgard's destruction, Solomon had to train a spy capable of infiltrating the Golden Palace. That person was the enchantress Lorelei. The long, drawn-out training had all been for this singular objective.
"The time has come, Lorelei," Solomon said as he unlocked her shackles, lifting the limp Daughter of the Rhine and placing her gently into a warm bath. Without any distraction, he used a sponge to wash away the lingering scent of lust on her body—but the whip marks, chain scars, and other traces of torment would not vanish with soap. Lorelei closed her eyes, utterly content, basking in the arcanist's tenderness. Her body trembled slightly under his touch, but her soul yearned for the bittersweet pain only Solomon could give her.
"What kind of timing?" she asked softly.
"A once-only moment—one Heimdall can't see." Solomon didn't lift his head, continuing to scrub away the foam on her skin. Heimdall had already submitted a mission report for Thor; soon, Thor would use the Bifrost to come to Earth.
Solomon didn't know many spatial rifts, and most of those became monitored by Heimdall after a single use. He couldn't take the risk of assuming they were unobserved. He had to seize this opportunity. Only during Thor's descent would Heimdall's vision be momentarily blind to Lorelei.
"I'm going to Asgard, darling," the enchantress said, eyes still closed. "Don't you want to do something before I go?"
"When the mission is over," the arcanist replied, kissing her gently on the forehead. "I promise."
"Should we throw a welcome party?" Almost all the Avengers were gathered on a barren plot of land in Arizona, waiting. They fully trusted the intel from Solomon—though most of them didn't know much about Kamar-Taj, as the only organization with open lines of communication with Asgard, and with Solomon being the only known Kamar-Taj affiliate they had contact with, his information naturally carried weight.
"Where's the kid?" Even though Solomon was already over eighteen, Tony Stark still liked to refer to the arcanist in a patronizing tone when he wasn't around. "Half a year—that's how long it's been since we've heard from him. He even missed the Christmas party!" Maybe it was the lack of alien visitors lately, but Stark just couldn't stop talking. "Anyone else get any updates from him?"
Dr. Banner blinked.
He had, in fact, heard about the storm Solomon had stirred in the academic world six months ago. But back then, the arcanist hadn't been the lead figure; the paper's first author was a long-retired quantum physicist—Dr. Hank Pym, whose highly controversial Pym Particles had sparked plenty of debate. Banner glanced at Natasha Romanoff—if anyone in the Avengers had secrets, it was Black Widow. But Agent Romanoff only smiled and raised her eyebrows at Hawkeye. Clint just shrugged, the message clear: "Haven't seen him since you last introduced us."
"He said he'd come," Romanoff said, "but didn't say when."
Steve Rogers sighed. He wasn't a fan of the younger generation's concept of punctuality.
"This view never gets old," Stark said, pulling out his phone and aiming it at the sky.
A blinding light pierced through the clouds. Thick storm clouds curled, twisted, and expanded under some unseen force before swirling into a massive vortex. The light behind the clouds grew stronger, and a multicolored, energy-laced storm split the sky. Lightning and wind, brilliance and thunder crashed down onto the desolate desert. No matter how many times they'd seen it, the arrival of the Bifrost was always a thrilling sight. But the dust storm it kicked up was unbearable. The Avengers quickly took shelter inside their vehicles, listening to the rapid-fire pattering of gravel and sand against the metal frames.
Then, through the rising dust, a burst of dazzling orange-red sparks erupted.
When the storm subsided, Solomon stood there, not a speck of dust on him. He was still wearing his deep crimson sacred relic robes, the seven silver chains on the front perfectly fastened. His right hand, adorned with three rings, was hidden behind his back, clenched tightly into a fist. He smiled and greeted both the newly arrived Thor and the gathered Avengers.
Stark climbed out of the car, patting sand from his hair and clothes.
"Hello, my friend," Thor said, gripping his hammer and striding forward to embrace the arcanist. The difference in height between them was gone now, and Solomon readily returned the Asgardian-style hug—arms wrapped tightly around the other, squeezing with all one's strength. The deeper the affection, the tighter the grip. The weak might even suffocate, but to the Asgardians, such people were cowards unworthy of Valhalla.
"You really know how to make an entrance!" Stark said as he stepped out, still brushing off sand.
"Hello, Tony Stark! Hello, Rogers! Hello, Banner! Not bringing the big guy out to say hi?" Thor beamed as he greeted each familiar face, the smell of scorched air and molten glass clinging to him. But Banner refused the hug, afraid it might trigger the Hulk and put everyone at risk.
"What are you all doing here?"
"The wizard told us you'd show up here!" Stark thumped his chest, trying to catch his breath. "Don't know why you're on Earth, but I say we start with a rager of a party!"
"Stark, maybe we should hear what Thor has to say first," Steve Rogers cut in, dismissing Stark's antics. He looked at Thor. "Is there something we can help with?"
"As a matter of fact, yes, my friend," Thor said with a grin, swinging his hammer. "It's going to be a glorious battle!"
While everyone gathered around Thor, Natasha Romanoff slowly drifted toward Solomon. She sniffed the air and glanced behind him. "You smell like barbecue. Your fingers are singed," she said. "What were you doing?"
"Just a minor magical mishap, Natasha," the arcanist said with a smile. "It'll heal soon."
But Agent Romanoff instinctively knew he wasn't telling the truth.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
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