Loki revealed the location of the Infinity Stones without hesitation—something that should normally be a closely guarded secret.
But he didn't mind offering a little help to Alex Ray.
After all, Loki had something he needed from Alex. Or rather, something he hoped the future Alex Ray would accomplish.
He was tired of sitting on the sidelines, no matter what happened in the universe.
Whether it was glory or destruction, all he could do was watch—unable to act.
Simply put, he was imprisoned.
The One-Above-All had sealed him because he had evolved from human to god.
He retained human emotions.
Unlike other gods, who were devoid of such burdens.
OAA did not tolerate gods having emotions. Because once a god felt emotion, selfish desires would follow.
And if Loki were ever to act selfishly—causing harm to the Marvel Universe—the consequences would be catastrophic.
So, he was locked away.
But even now, Loki had things he wanted to protect.
It was only because of his experiences with the Time Variance Authority that he was able to evolve into the God of Stories. Otherwise, he would've died at Thanos's hands like so many other Loki variants—living and dying in endless tragedy.
So, he was deeply grateful for the companions who had stood beside him during that turning point.
Mobius. Sylvie. Inventor Kang...
At that thought, a soft glimmer flashed in Loki's eyes—a quiet ache of remembrance for those he once called friends.
Without them, he never would have uncovered the truth, discovered himself, or learned what kind of god he was meant to be.
Without them, he would never have become the God of Stories.
So when he learned that the Time Variance Authority was in danger, Loki couldn't stand idly by.
"What exactly happened? What did you see, Loki?" Alex asked, brows furrowed. He had already set aside the matter of the Infinity Stones. It was enough to know they were still in this universe.
He didn't yet know who the mysterious figure in the black robe was—the one who had stolen the Stones—but as long as he knew their location, he was confident he could retrieve them.
But the looming invasion by Kang the Conqueror was an entirely different matter.
Alex already knew about the deep conflict between Kang and the TVA.
After all, the TVA had originally been created by He Who Remains—a version of Kang himself.
Back then, the TVA's mission was to maintain the Sacred Timeline by erasing rogue timelines and eliminating any variant versions of Kang before they could cause chaos.
But since Loki took control, the TVA had transitioned from executioner to observer—still working to prevent the rise of evil Kang variants.
Naturally, this had made them Kang's enemy. So it didn't surprise Alex that Kang the Conqueror wanted to obliterate them.
What puzzled him was how Hell's Kitchen had gotten involved. What did Kang have to do with his turf?
Did Kang already know about him?
Or... was Loki lying just to rope him in?
Regardless, Alex knew he would have to face Kang sooner or later—whether for the sake of transcendence, or to protect the only home he had: Hell's Kitchen.
However, in his eyes, the price Loki had paid so far wasn't enough.
"Sure, I can help you protect the TVA," Alex said plainly. "But right now, I'm not strong enough. I don't think I could offer much protection."
His meaning was clear: if Loki wanted him to take up this burden, he'd have to offer more in return.
So far, he had only given Alex the letter and pointed him toward the Infinity Stones—nothing of immediate, practical value.
Even Loki looked momentarily stunned by the request—he hadn't expected Alex to demand compensation.
But he didn't get angry. Instead, he paused and considered.
Then, with a slow movement, he raised his right hand. A brilliant green light gathered in his palm and shot toward Alex.
Startled, Alex reflexively activated his defense systems—but the green energy seemed to possess a will of its own. It slipped past his defenses effortlessly and silently merged with his body.
Ding.
"Congratulations, Host. The God of Stories Loki$￥#&&&—"
Alex's expression darkened. It was the first time the system had ever displayed garbled code.
What the hell was Loki up to?
Before he could demand an explanation, he realized Loki wasn't even looking at him. Instead, the god was weaving a shimmering network of green starlight into the air.
The starlight writhed and spun, as though it were alive, then dispersed in all directions.
A few seconds later, the system chimed again.
"Congratulations, Host. The God of Stories Loki has added you as a friend."
"Friendship reward received. +1000 Friendship Points."
Alex's mood shifted instantly. He smiled brightly, completely forgetting that he'd been glaring at the system a moment earlier.
"Boss Loki is very generous," he said cheerfully. "If Boss Loki has any more tasks, I'd be happy to help. Same reward system as before, of course."
Truthfully, Alex was hoping Loki would smack him around a few more times—ten hits would be perfect. He could farm 10,000 points off that alone.
Apparently, friend points came easily from this god.
But Loki refused flatly.
"Don't get greedy," he said. "That little spell cost me ten thousand years of stored energy. I normally use it to keep the timeline in balance."
"Also… I almost forgot to tell you. When that letter burned up, a trace of Alex Ray's past aura was released. His former enemies noticed. They'll definitely start investigating."
Alex's expression turned grim. He hadn't expected such a consequence.
"Relax," Loki said. "I've already cast a small veil over your presence. It won't stop them entirely, but it'll delay them."
"And you don't need to worry too much. Since the last war, both the One-Above-All and the Five Great Gods have been severely injured. They still haven't recovered. It'll be a while before they regain their full power."
"They likely won't come in person. As long as you're careful, you'll avoid detection. Anyone below my level won't be able to sense you."
"But you do look exactly like your past self. If someone's sharp enough, they might still figure it out. That's on you."
"Also… the OAA has already made a move. He didn't confront you directly, but stay alert."
At the mention of the OAA, a flicker of unease flashed across Loki's eyes—so fast it was almost invisible.
With that, Loki waved his hand, and a brilliant light wrapped around Alex, instantly teleporting him into a blank, featureless void.
As Alex vanished, Loki gazed up into the endless starry sky. The light in his eyes shifted—complex, conflicted.
"It seems the old gods can't sit still any longer," Loki murmured. "Alex Ray… I hope you survive. I hope you can finish what you couldn't the last time."
Then, slowly, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep once more.
In a smoky, retro-themed bar in the Marvel Universe, soft blues music hummed beneath murmured conversations. The atmosphere was thick with cigarette smoke and tension.
Behind the bar stood a figure wreathed in shadow, his body partially cloaked in darkness. The dim lighting made his face almost impossible to discern.
Suddenly, the bartender froze. The cocktail shaker in his hand stopped mid-air, suspended as if time had lost meaning.
He raised his head slowly. His gaze pierced the ceiling and extended beyond—into the vastness of space, where stars shimmered and secrets hid in every shadow.
"Interesting... very interesting."
"That aura—it's him. The rebel Alex Ray. Is that name... about to echo across the cosmos once more?"
"Alex Ray… A nightmare for many. A legacy etched in fire. After all this time… what kind of storm will his return bring?"
"I wonder if the main body will survive this round."
"If the main body dies… I will cease to be the fulcrum. Then it will be the OAA."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Maybe... it's time I found Alex Ray. Or… Alex Ray found me."
---------
🎇🎇 Check out new Fanfiction 🎇🎇
🎊 Naruto : Tsunade You're Really Drunk 🎊
---------
Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------
📚 Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chapters—read ahead of everyone else! 🔥
👉 https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your support means the world to me—thank you so much! 💖
-------------