There was no sound, no light—only a perfect, all-consuming void. The small black hole devoured everything around it like a primordial monster. If Ben had not deliberately contained its gravitational range, the entire planetoid they stood on would have been torn apart and swallowed in a matter of minutes.
"So that's what you meant by 'average strength'?" Captain Marvel deadpanned, rolling her eyes at a gobsmacked Nick Fury. "A being that can conjure black holes with a flick of his wrist, and you tell me he's just ordinary? I haven't been back to Earth in decades. Have you people evolved to this level?"
Fury was at a complete loss. This can't be right. Aren't you Ben Parker, a Spider-Man? When did you become a planet alien? And one that can create black holes, no less! Does that even make sense? He couldn't wrap his head around it, but that didn't stop him from being utterly stunned by Ben's terrifying display of power.
Once a black hole enters the equation, who could possibly win? "If you had to face him," Fury asked Carol urgently, "do you think you could win?"
Carol gave him a look usually reserved for the clinically insane. "Do you think I can fly faster than light?" she retorted. In truth, if she activated her binary form, she could achieve superluminal speed and manipulate the cosmic spectrum, including gravity. But that was a different matter entirely. The energy consumption of her binary form was immense, and it was impossible to say what other abilities Ben Parker had up his sleeve. A real fight between them would be… troublesome.
"So, that guy in the blue suit is toast?" Fury said, a strange mix of shock and dawning opportunity in his voice. In this business, power and connections were everything. There had been some unpleasantness between him and Ben in the past, but they had moved beyond it. Out here in the vastness of the universe, they were fellow Earthlings. That counted for something. And sometimes, connections were strength. What had given Nick Fury his swagger on Earth? It was knowing he had the Skrull alliance and Captain Marvel backing him up.
The stronger Ben was, the more benefits he stood to gain. He suddenly felt that the Plumber's badge in his pocket was far more valuable than he'd realized. If I get into trouble in the future, maybe flashing this thing will make people think twice, he thought.
"He wouldn't kill Kallark, would he?" Carol asked, her brow furrowed with concern as her green eyes remained fixed on the battlefield.
The area was now shrouded in a pitch-black sphere. All light that entered the vicinity was twisted and warped, flowing like a river into the endless singularity at the center. Fear, as palpable as the oppressive darkness, spread rapidly among the onlookers.
They could all see Kallark struggling within the event horizon, desperately trying to escape. The full might of his power was unleashed, a blazing sun trying to break free of its gravitational prison. But he could hardly move. The black hole greedily siphoned the energy from his body, leaving him trapped like a kite on a string, circling the drain of infinity.
As time stretched on, Kallark's legendary self-confidence shattered, and his energy reserves dwindled. Soon, he wouldn't even be able to maintain this tenuous balance. He would be torn apart by the terrifying gravity.
The Shi'ar delegates could no longer hold back. They drew their weapons, preparing to engage the Plumbers. If their Praetor died here, in public, at the hands of the Plumbers' High Commander, it would be an undeniable declaration of war.
However, Beta Ray Bill simply stepped forward, hefting the Universal Weapon he had seized from Ronan. The mere sight of him was enough to make the Shi'ar warriors hesitate. There was no way to win a fight here. A full-scale war would have to wait until they could return to the Shi'ar Empire and muster their forces.
But Ben never intended to kill Kallark. He was just making a point. Killing the Praetor would plunge the galaxy into chaos. The Skrull and Kree empires would inevitably feel threatened, fearing they were next. They would put aside their ancient prejudices and unite against him.
Thinking of this, the light in Ben's palm suddenly vanished.
For Kallark, who had resigned himself to death, the tearing, crushing force that was atomizing him simply disappeared. He was unable to recover his senses, and the residual energy in his body launched him like a cannonball out of the planetoid's atmosphere.
Ben ignored him. He canceled his transformation, reverting to his harmless human form, and turned to look back at the delegation on the high tower. A placid smile touched his lips. "Does anyone else have doubts about my strength? Please, you're welcome to try."
Everyone shook their heads wildly. Are you kidding? You just created a black hole with your bare hands. Who in their right mind would be looking for death? Get sucked into that thing and there wouldn't even be a grave to visit.
Ben feigned a slight look of disappointment. He used his innate Mana to fly back to the high tower of the Galactic Federation. Not long after, a disheveled Kallark returned. His proud crest of hair was as messy as trampled weeds, his battlesuit was torn to shreds, and his eyes, when they looked at Ben, were filled with stark terror.
The most powerful warrior of the three empires was broken. From now on, whenever he stood before Ben, his self-confidence would crumble like waterlogged sand, leaving him powerless. Kallark carefully pulled out his chair, his movements stiff with the unease of someone sitting next to a caged beast. Fortunately for him, Ben had no intention of paying him any further attention.
The rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly.
The three empires, having witnessed Ben's power, dared not say anything more. They directly acknowledged Sakaar's status as a fourth great power in the universe. Tar-Rell meekly proposed the release of Ronan, a request Ben undoubtedly rejected. The Kree rep. didn't dare utter another word, simply lowering his head with a gloomy face, a silent grudge already festering in his heart.
Ben, naturally, paid the clown no mind. Before the meeting was even over, he said a quick goodbye to Carol and Nick Fury and prepared to leave. The trivial matters that followed could be left to Bill. The three empires were not worth wasting any more of his time.
This was Ben's second time visiting Asgard. This time, Odin looked even more tired on his throne. His divine power was growing stronger, crackling around him like static, but his physical body had begun to decay, like an old appliance on the verge of overloading from a power surge.
Hela had obviously noticed this. She relentlessly attacked her seal, making it even more difficult for Odin to cope. He now needed more time and energy just to contain her, forcing him to sleep for longer and longer periods. During his absences, the Nine Realms had fallen into chaos, but Odin was unable to solve it.
If only Loki were willing to return and inherit the throne, Odin might have been overjoyed. But that boy would rather work for the Plumbers than come back. It was a strange reversal. Both his sons once craved the throne, but now they seemed to avoid it at all costs.
So, Odin thought to ask Ben for help.
Now, in the great hall of Asgard, Odin spoke slowly, his voice heavy with fatigue. "A powerful force has invaded the Nine Realms. Jotunheim has completely fallen."
"Jotunheim?" Ben frowned. "Isn't that the land of the Frost Giants?" The last time he and Looma had left that planet, its surface had been shattered into icy sand, millennia of solid ice turned to powder. Even Laufey, the king of the giants, was dead. "There's nothing left on Jotunheim. Who would invade it?"
Odin shook his head. "Heimdall did not see the invader's true face. Because Laufey was dead, he paid little attention to that realm. The next news he heard of Jotunheim was that the dimension itself had been completely destroyed." The All-Father frowned, the weight of ages on his brow. The destruction of Jotunheim felt like an omen, a harbinger of the coming Twilight of the Gods.
"You want me to help you find the one who destroyed it?" Ben asked. He had taken a great deal from Asgard's vaults; it was hard to refuse a direct request for help.
But Odin shook his head again. "The destroyer appeared once and vanished. Even Heimdall cannot find his trace. What I wish to speak of is another matter…" Odin paused, his gaze distant. "Long ago, my father, Bor, defeated the Dark Elves and sealed them away. But now, it seems they are about to break free. Soon, the nine realms will align. I am afraid that when the Convergence comes, all worlds will be affected." He held his forehead, suffering a terrible headache.
Ben listened and didn't know where to begin his complaints. So, it turns out aliens are also into cosmic alignments… Although he had already seen the movie, he still had to ask, "Why didn't your father just annihilate the Dark Elves? Why seal them?" Ben truly couldn't understand. After Bor used the Bifrost to take the Aether, the Dark Elves were doomed. If he had just wiped them out then, there would be no trouble now.
You're asking me? Odin was speechless. His father was the one who sealed them; it had nothing to do with him. If it were his younger self, he would have taken Gungnir and personally chopped off Malekith's head. But then again, he himself hadn't killed Laufey, so he was no better than his father. After a moment, he thought of an excuse. "At that time… it was to maintain the balance of the Nine Realms. And we in Asgard have always been peace-loving…"
Bullshit, Ben thought, rolling his eyes. Asgard is peace-loving? Go ask the countless civilizations you conquered whether they agree.
Odin probably felt his own excuse was unconvincing, and his ancient face turned slightly red. The old man coughed a few times and quickly changed the subject. "No matter the reason, the Dark Elves are very dangerous. Their goal is to drag the Nine Realms into darkness. Fortunately, to do so, they must rely on the power of the Aether, and the Aether was taken by my father, Bor."
Odin said this with considerable pride. Without the Aether, the Dark Elves were still a threat, but not an apocalyptic one. With the four Infinity Stones at his disposal, Ben wasn't worried.
"So, what about the Aether?" Ben asked.
Odin scratched his head, feigning a moment of senility. "The Aether? What is the Aether?"
Ben's eyes widened. "The Aether your father Bor took from the Dark Elves, you old coot! Are you trying to steal it from me?" Although Ben had no objection to helping, and hadn't intended to ask for anything in return, the Aether was central to this matter. It was only reasonable to hand it over to him.
"Well…" Odin scratched his head again, a bit embarrassed, and glanced at Frigga beside him.
Frigga sighed. "The truth is, we do not know where the Aether is sealed."
Ben didn't think they were lying. This family collected powerful artifacts like trading cards and then forgot about them. In the movie, Thor had given the Aether to the Collector without a second thought.
Frigga, probably sensing Ben's slight annoyance, added, "If you need anything for this task, you may take whatever you wish from Asgard's treasury." Odin nodded repeatedly in agreement. The treasures were merely symbols of past victories.
"No need," Ben shook his head. The things in the treasury were no longer what he needed.
"Then what do you want? Don't be shy, just tell me!" Odin waved a hand generously. "If you like something, just say the word! If I don't have it, I can help you get it!"
Ben nodded thoughtfully. "What I want is not an item…"
He looked at the Queen of the Gods, Frigga.
Odin froze. Huh?!
The God-King's eye snapped wide open. The divine power coursing through his body erupted like a volcano, shaking the very foundations of Asgard.
You dare?! You dare to make a move on my wife, you little whelp?! Believe it or not, I will smite you where you stand!
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