Asgard.
Rainbow Bridge Road.
The Ancient One, having just returned from an outing, stood side by side with Odin on the shimmering Rainbow Bridge. They took in the extraordinary, earth-shattering spectacle of the atrium. For either of them, this short distance provided neither visual distance nor sensory barriers. Heimdall, the gatekeeper of the Rainbow Bridge, narrowed his eyes, which could see into most corners of the universe, slightly.
"He's been promoted to a Dimensional Devil?" Heimdall exclaimed in surprise. That's a direct ascension from mortal to god! This kind of grand leap in life and power was something he had only heard of in his long life, but this was the first time he'd witnessed it with his own eyes. He couldn't help but cheer for that mortal.
"No, he retreated before taking that final step," Ancient One whispered. Her tone held a hint of regret, but her expression was one of joy and satisfaction. She could certainly guess why Luke, despite his long preparations, hadn't taken that crucial step, because she had faced that same decision before.
Is it to maintain oneself, prepare again, or choose another path?
Or should I take that leap first, recklessly upgrading my life? Then, gamble my long future on finding myself?
Under such a powerful temptation, not everyone could suppress the life-long desire for advancement that surged from every cell in their body! It was like asking a starving person to ignore the delicious aroma that emanated from their face, telling them they could feast on it. This was going against the instinct for survival and evolution etched into their very being!
Those with strong willpower may be able to control themselves from taking that step, but they will hesitate. While they hesitate, the forces that support their ascension will not stop pushing them away just because of their hesitation. If one cannot think things through quickly and make decisive decisions, then hesitation is the equivalent of being passive, being pushed into taking that step.
The Ancient One was delighted that Luke had managed to control himself at the last moment, but regretted that he had no interest in taking on the role of Sorcerer Supreme. Fortunately, Stephen Strange was also quite capable, possessing both potential and talent. The only thing he lacked was strength and experience. But these could be accumulated and passed on, right?
"Backed off?" Heimdall looked at the atrium carefully, and indeed saw that the shocking vision was dissipating, like a classic drama that ended hastily and sloppily before it even reached its end.
"I underestimated him. He is indeed qualified to trade with us on equal terms. I welcome him to Asgard as a distinguished guest and partner." Odin's grip on Gungnir's hand tightened for a moment, then loosened again. As if he had finally figured something out, his demeanor shifted from the stern, awe-inspiring king to that of a kindly elder. However, his single intact eye, gazing out toward the courtyard, betrayed a hint of worry and annoyance.
Midgard is the territory of the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One. Not only has she found a successor who is said to have extraordinary potential, but she also has a mortal like Luke who is on the path to becoming a god and is so outstanding that even he is surprised and has to face him. In other words, even if the Ancient One now puts down his burden and retires to travel the universe, there is no need to worry too much about the future of Midgard.
The Guardian of the Atrium has a successor!
What about him?
The Nine Realms were not at peace, with external enemies lurking around. Asgard had been able to enjoy such peace for so long thanks to the fame he had earned throughout the Nine Realms and the universe, but he already felt his strength was running out. Especially with the inevitable Ragnarok still to come, simply thinking about how to avert or delay this catastrophe was exhausting him.
When he was younger, would it be cooperation or negotiation? Would he have needed to consider so much? Once conquered, it's mine. But now? Odin shook his head. It was only now that he finally felt a tinge of envy and jealousy towards the Ancient One.
Look at each other's heirs and partners?
Then look at your heir?
An older son, mature but still stubborn and clumsy. A younger son, somewhat clever but always feeling favored by his father and driven by ambition to prove something to him. The throne, a position of responsibility, has become the reward for their jealousy?
Thinking of this, Odin wanted to pick up Gungnir and give each of his two sons in Midgard a beating. It had been a long time since he had received a loving education from the God King, and his hands were itching.
"I'm sorry about Loki," Odin said bluntly. What else could he do? Without the Ancient One, without Luke, then even if Loki caused a commotion in Midgard, he would simply be taken back and imprisoned for a while. While Odin had tempered himself considerably over the past millennia, his fundamental character remained unchanged; he had simply learned to compromise and negotiate.
He didn't care about Midgard's reaction, but he couldn't ignore the Ancient One and Luke's attitudes. After all, the three parties were now partners, and were about to become a true alliance of interests, closely united partners. Odin still hoped these two partners would help Asgard in the future. So, his words were a clear message to the Ancient One: I'm sorry about Loki. If you have any requests, you can make them. We can discuss it.
"The Cosmic Cube." Having lived long enough, Ancient One naturally understood Odin's words. He was planning to negotiate terms to protect his son. He sighed softly. This was the fate of not having a good heir. But at least he wasn't the one facing this dilemma and humiliation, right? Thinking of this, Ancient One's mood brightened. His dull life seemed to have taken on new color these days.
Was Ancient One angry about Loki having fun in the courtyard?
No.
The Ancient One had seen so many visions and futures in her life that, having grown weary of the responsibilities she shouldered and settled on a particular path, she no longer frequently observed the future of Midgard unless absolutely necessary. She had become indifferent to many things, and as long as Loki hadn't blown up her Sanctum Sanctorum and destroyed the Sorcerer Supreme's barrier, she didn't bother to intervene. She wasn't the energetic and youthful Strange of the future, the one who worried about everything, was she?
But she still chose to speak.
"The Tesseract?" Odin knew the true nature of the Tesseract. After all, before it ended up in Midgard, it had been a treasure trove belonging to Asgard. Legally speaking, he had a greater say and decision-making power over the ownership of the Tesseract than anyone else in Midgard, including S.H.I.E.L.D.
"That's for Luke. It's hard to get this little guy to spit something out of his hands." Ancient One smiled oddly. "Besides, the Tesseract has undergone changes no one could have predicted. Staying with him is the best outcome."
"As you wish." Odin pondered for a moment before nodding decisively. He even offered, "Asgard also has a collection of practical knowledge about the Tesseract. You can bring it to him."
…
"It's finally over. What happened just now?"
As the strange vision dissipated and the familiar scene returned to his eyes, the captain suppressed his inner excitement and instinctively looked at Luke. He felt that Luke might be able to give them an answer.
The matter was finally resolved.
However, the next moment, the energy seal column was burst by a blue light in front of everyone's astonished gaze, and a surging torrent of energy gushed out in all directions along the gap in the energy column.
Everyone raised their arms in front of them, using various methods to resist the onslaught of energy. Fortunately, this sudden change lasted only a moment. The Cosmic Cube, having broken through the energy column's blockade, transformed from its original azure blue to a dark metallic hue. Under everyone's focused gaze, the Cosmic Cube, suspended in mid-air, flickered like a lightbulb with a faulty connection. After a couple of flashes, it completely lost power and fell to the ground like an ordinary black metal cube.
"Is it, broken?" Frank picked up the Tesseract, shook it twice in his hands, and looked at the people watching him, somewhat puzzled. Everyone's eyes turned to the silent Luke.
However, Luke wasn't in the mood to answer them right now. He'd discovered something beyond his wildest dreams. Before withdrawing his consciousness, he seemed to sense a lingering reluctance from the Tesseract. It was like a dead object had been imbued with life, a sense of consciousness. And before it left, this consciousness seemed to call him "Dad."
A "?" slowly appeared in Luke's head. He was a little confused now, with mixed emotions. He needed to break through his defenses!
…
Chitauri outer space mothership.
"You have won," the original Chitauri leader knelt before Letari and bowed his head. The Chitauri civilization has always been conditioned by the principle of victory over defeat. They are brutal, ruthless, and revere war and the strong. After defeat and surrender, surrendering everything they possess is a matter of course, just as they did with their captives.
"It's too early to speak of victory. I need you to call in more fleets." Letari had never felt his mind so clear as it did now. He relished the feeling of being free from the influence and constraints of the hive mind. Of course, the hive mind still existed, but it had undergone some changes. It was more about the seamless exchange and sharing of knowledge and data.
The primitive leader suddenly raised his head, then lowered it in submission under Letari's red gaze.
"I have reported it." The leader of the primitive faction completed everything under the supervision of Letari and others. He did not take the opportunity to do anything, but honestly did what a prisoner should do, which was in line with the Chitauri style.
"Thank you, and finally, welcome aboard!" A smile played across the corners of Letari's mechanical lips, and he swung his blade, cleanly chopping off the head of the Primitive leader. Now, there were no more enemies or aliens on this mothership.
"Where should we go next? Stay here and snipe the support mothership?" asked a tall Chitauri Awakener standing next to Letari. They had already received the most energy infusion and the maximum transformation, and the first Letari chosen by the Lord became the leader of their group of Awakeners.
As former Chitauri, the Awakened were naturally well aware of their own weaknesses. Ignoring the densely packed Chitauri troops and directly targeting the mothership for destruction, they could easily annihilate an entire Chitauri army. Their unstoppable dominance across the universe stemmed from the Dark Realm's immense strength, imposing immense pressure on the enemy. They were merely expendable.
"No, we are still very weak compared to Thanos's forces, and our power is not strong enough. Let's return to the Chitauri home planet!" Letari rejected his companion's proposal, and his red mechanical eyes revealed a fanatical desire for war.
"Mother planet? You want to plunder the mother planet? This plan is really crazy." The companions behind Letari opened their eyes wide. They found that they could not keep up with the thinking of their new leader.
"Plundering the home planet? How can you say that? We are bringing them liberation, freedom, and the Lord's gift!" Latari's smile widened. "We are inviting them to join this glorious evolution!"
"Glorious evolution?" The Awakened were stunned for a moment, then smiled bloody smiles. Although Luke had transformed and liberated them, he had only removed the control and influence of the Chitauri hive mind and implanted a mental program in their minds. A program simply guides them in a certain direction, like someone pursuing a goal and dedicating their efforts to it. It's not the distorting control of a mental imprint. So even though the Letari and their ilk had evolved and considered themselves a new species, the influence of the Chitauri civilization's consciousness hadn't been erased or eliminated.
The pursuit of civilization and knowledge has become the foundation for the survival and evolution of this new race. There is no need to use any control methods such as steel stamps. In order to survive and evolve, they will naturally take the initiative to hunt, cultivate, and seize these.
"I remember there were quite a few valuable artifacts in the civilization museum on our home planet," an Awakened being's eyes sparkled. Over the years, the Chitauri had accompanied Thanos in his plundering cosmic sprees, decimating countless civilizations. Many, including their knowledge systems, were taken as trophies and honors, like prisoners of war, and brought to the Chitauri home planet. The Chitauri even established a dedicated civilization museum on one of their home planet's surrounding satellites.
"We are hunters of knowledge, apostles of the Lord. We have now been transformed by the Lord into a new, powerful race with unlimited potential. I think we should have a new name to bid farewell to our original selves." Letari said softly.
"Do you have any ideas?" The awakened ones all looked at them with concern. They couldn't accept in their hearts that they were still called Chitauri.
"Divine Mechanic." Letari said firmly, "The characteristics of our race's evolution are the Lord's most powerful weapon in the future."