The first thing Aspros did when he woke up was seek out food. This routine was unusual for him; he typically, in his past life, stirred from sleep around 9:00 A.M., savoring the quiet moments before his day began.
However, today felt like a refreshing change in pace. He woke up really early, around 5:00 A.M.
Despite his identity as a god, Aspros had not yet attained complete self-sufficiency to ignore the need for food.
One might argue that with the vast reserves of energy coursing through his very existence, he could easily dismiss the need for nourishment.
Still, Aspros was not willing to jeopardize his growth and potential because he did not want to eat and use his own energy to sustain himself.
As he ventured into the common area, Aspros noticed that several sorcerers were already awake, their presence filling the space with an air of focused energy.
While Kamar-Taj in the morning lacked the bustling crowd he had witnessed the previous day, it was vibrant nonetheless, with various practitioners engaged in quiet meals or deep in concentration as they practiced their spells.
The soft sounds of quiet conversation and the occasional clang of utensils created a comforting backdrop.
Taking a moment to soak in his surroundings, Aspros's gaze wandered to the intricate architecture of Kamar-Taj.
He had been captivated by its beauty the day before. Still, because he was with the Ancient One, he did not experience it correctly.
Now that he was experiencing it again, especially now, during the stillness of dawn when the sun cast gentle rays through the towering windows, it allowed him to appreciate its grandeur in a new light.
The walls were adorned with ancient symbols and tapestries, each telling a story of magic and wisdom, and the air was thick with the scent of aged books and a hint of incense.
It was a sanctuary of knowledge, a place where the very essence of sorcery thrummed beneath the surface, and in this tranquility.
"I suspect that the ancient symbols etched into the walls are powerful enchantments designed to safeguard this ancient sanctuary."
It was certainly plausible that the Sorcerers from the past had intricately engraved those ancient symbols into the very fabric of the architecture, meticulously choosing strategic locations to serve as a formidable defensive mechanism.
[You are correct, Master. Those enchantments are at least one thousand years old. The most recent ones are at least 100 years old.]
Raphael spoke, bringing her analysis of the symbols and their ancient importance.
Aspros nodded as he heard the words of Raphael; it made a lot of sense for Kamar-Taj, the main place that symbolizes the mythical protection of Earth, to have those kinds of enchantments.
"Are they high quality?"
Aspros asked.
A very naive question, as those symbols not only protect Kamar-Taj, but also make powerful illusions that separate Kamar-Taj from what other humans see.
These symbols also hold a lot of importance, as they deny access to dimensional lords that want to devour Earth and claim the universe.
[They are "high-quality" in terms of how normal sorcerers of the Marvel universe perceive them. But if we are talking from my point of view, they are quite weak, master.]
[Just from a look alone, I can decipher them. Although with my skill set, anything is possible for me, Master.]
[However, from the information regarding Enchant Magic from Irene Belserion, these are not really that high quality. The boundless energy that ties them is what make them so powerful. Irene Belserion could easily break those enchantments.]
This surprised Aspros, but he also calmed down. It made a lot of sense.
Raphael's abilities allow her to analyze, deduce, improve, perfect, and later transcend what it is that she wants to do.
She can also analyze the illogical, the impossible, and even true omnipotence.
But the example she gave also makes sense.
Let's think of the situation in detail.
It has been proven multiple times, in the MCU and the Comics, that the enchantments that protect Kamar-Taj and certain parts of the world aren't difficult to break.
If those enchantments were impossible to break, then Earth would simply be at peace because, in that way, no mythical threats could affect the Earth.
It made sense that the writers of Marvel Comics wouldn't allow something like that because then they couldn't write more comics about Doctor Strange.
Kaecilius and his followers, in the first Doctor Strange movie, destroyed the enchantments, or the defensive mechanism, and allowed Dormammu to descend onto Earth.
This means that any sorcerer with a decent power level can break the enchantments.
It made sense that Raphael said that Irene could easily break those enchantments.
Irene Belserion, the former Queen of Dragons and the strongest woman of the Fairy Tail Universe. Or that was until Selene, the Moon Dragon God, was introduced.
Regardless of whether that is true or not, as that argument is still a debate among fans, Irene is easily above the likes of the MCU version of the Ancient One.
This means that Irene is also leagues above Kaecilius and Doctor Strange.
Irene is easily a Skyfather, or Godfather-level fighter.
In terms of stats, Irene Belserion has the speed, the strength, the experience, the knowledge, the raw skill, and the raw power to beat them.
Irene is also a very smart woman.
Irene learned multiple types of magic over the years in the Fairy Tail Universe, but her main magic is enchantment magic.
If she ever came to the Marvel Universe, she would be delighted to learn new ways of magic.
Especially the spatial magic of the sorcerers of the Marvel world.
Spatial Magic is not uncommon in the world of Fairy Tail. Or at least, some talented enemies and characters use spatial magic in the story very often.
Irene has also been able to use spatial magic, so it wouldn't be too hard for Irene to learn magic like the Mirror Dimension, Dimensional travel, and other things.
The most important thing for Irene is that she doesn't need to use other sources to perform her spells.
This is because the people of Fairy Tail create their own magic. The magic from the Fairy Tail is the perfect blend of physical energy (life-force) and spiritual energy.
Although the magic of the Fairy Tail world is more spiritual than physical, it still has physical properties that affect the physical world.
Irene used to be human, and she later became a dragon after the constant use of her Dragon Slayer Magic. After the dragonfication, Irene became thousands and thousands of times stronger.
She was able to even hold back Acnologia, although that Acnologia was not going seriously at all. Acnologia was simply amazed by how Irene could perform Enchantment Magic at such a level.
It was also stated that the massive magic that Wendy received from Irene, or that she had absorbed from when she was inside Irene's body, which she couldn't control, was less than one percent of Irene's genuine magical reserves.
This is very true, as it takes a lot of magical energy to move asteroids and meteors really far from Earth.
It is not impossible to admit that Irene might be a little overkill for the MCU universe. Although this overkill statement becomes obsolete when Thanos is using all the Infinity Stones.
Aspros sighed.
With a steady determination, he navigated his way to the long wooden dining table, where a diverse assembly of sorcerers was animatedly partaking in their first meal of the day.
The air was thick with the rich aromas of freshly baked bread, savory stews, and a medley of exotic spices that beckoned to his senses.
As he approached, his presence cut through the lively chatter like a knife through butter—conversations stumbled to a halt, and curious gazes turned toward him.
This was something that couldn't be helped.
Such attention was inevitable; he carried the weight of his title with every step. As the Supreme God of Humans, his intrinsic connection to humanity was glaringly evident.
It was as if an invisible thread tethered the hearts of mortals to him, drawing forth a deep sense of loyalty and reverence with each encounter.
One of the fundamental reasons most humans in the Marvel Universe refrained from siding with the Gods was the stark reality that they were different—entities removed from the essence of humanity.
By nature, humans tend to align themselves with their own kind, instinctively gravitating towards those who share their experiences, struggles, and vulnerabilities.
Even amidst those humans who harbor animosities towards one another, the inclination to stand with their own race in the face of danger remains a powerful motivator.
Some of the more seasoned sorcerers could discern a profound divinity within Aspros, yet intertwined with that divinity was an unmistakable humanity. This revelation sent ripples of astonishment through them.
A human who ascended to godhood?
A God that reincarnated as a mortal?
Or perhaps a God who retained their humanity?
Or even a Demigod?
Many questions and rumors were going around, but Aspros didn't care.
Many sorcerers in Kamar-Taj saw Aspros walking alongside the Ancient One the day prior, so many noticed his presence.
However, when they saw him with the esteemed Sorcerer Supreme, Ancient One, a figure shrouded in mystery and reverence, it led them to assume Aspros was an ally or a familiar acquaintance of this esteemed sorcerer.
Thus, his presence faded into the background, overlooked, as they trusted the decision-making of the Ancient One.
If the Ancient One allowed him to enter Kamar-Taj, it meant that Aspros was not dangerous.
But when he found himself alone, curious gazes began to study him closely.
As they observed the infinite divinity and the striking blend of said divinity with humanity emanating from him, their intrigue deepened into sheer astonishment.
No... they were utterly shocked.
Yet, there was more to his magnetic pull because of his divinity, or his unique existence.
Aspros's physical allure played a significant role in this phenomenon.
In his previous life, people, especially some girls he dated, had deemed him handsome. But Aspros knew that he was not handsome enough to be called perfect.
However, in this new incarnation, he transcended mere attractiveness—he became a living embodiment of beauty itself, radiating an ethereal quality that captivated anyone fortunate enough to behold him.
It was as if there was a secret code in them that made them more obedient and loyal to him the more they were exposed to him.
As the Supreme God of Humans, or a creation woven from the multiple templates from the Saint Seiya Universe, where beauty was a natural state, he epitomized perfection.
His divinity also played a part, as his divinity is intertwined with the elements of love, beauty, and allure, and cultivated not just admiration but a yearning in those nearby.
Aspros's appearance was the physical definition of what mortals fantasized about when they envisioned heavenly beings.
He boasted a physique reminiscent of ancient Greek sculptures, where art met nature—his form exuded a harmonious balance of strength without veering into the realm of excessive muscularity.
He was neither a towering giant nor a fragile wisp; instead, he exhibited an aesthetic equilibrium that invited breathless awe from onlookers.
Every contour of his body, every well-defined line, and every detail that made him who he was spoke of divine artistry.
The definition of his muscles was mesmerizing, as if engraved by the hands of divine expert sculptors, perfectly shaped yet devoid of the overwhelming bulk that often accompanied physical prowess.
With each fluid movement he made, he showcased the precision and grace inherent to his being, leaving an indelible impression on anyone who chanced to lay their eyes on him—a moment forever engraved in their minds, like a fleeting glimpse of the divine.
(He is more like Saint from the world of Saint Seiya. Technically "perfect.")
Some fans of the anime and manga series "Saint Seiya" have speculated about the absence of "ugly" characters within the show.
Aspros also has its own headcanons about it.
Aspros is one of the few people who believe that the reason for the absence of ugly characters in the Saint Seiya Universe is the Microcosm.
But what is the microcosm?
To fully grasp the idea of the microcosm, we first need to explore its counterpart: the macrocosm.
The terms "macro" and "micro" are derived from Greek, where "macro" signifies large and "micro" denotes small.
The word "cosmos" itself translates to "world" or "order."
However, the term "world" can encompass a range of meanings—some people interpret it as referring to our planet, while others view it in a broader context as indicative of the entire universe or existence itself.
When "cosmos" is mentioned in most discussions, it is frequently associated with the concept of the universe, encompassing everything from celestial bodies to cosmic phenomena.
The same happens when "cosmos" is mentioned in most fictional discussions.
Moreover, when the term "cosmos" is used in fictional discussions, it can signify a variety of scales, including our own planet, the solar system, galaxies, the universe as a whole, multiverses, and even omniverses, which are theoretical collections of multiple universes.
This is true when you find out that the current Marvel multiverse is the Seventh Cosmos.
In the Saint Seiya universe, the term "macrocosm" is associated with the universe itself.
The Greater Will.
The "macrocosm" was created from the Big Bang, and since then, all types of life have been created.
However, it didn't take long for the creations of the universe to find out that, as creations of the universe, they also had blueprints of the macrocosm.
But instead of being as large as the macrocosm, these blueprints, or fragments, only granted the scope of the universe on a microscopic scale.
A universe that existed inside of them.
As these creations learned to harness the microcosm, they also learned that the microcosm resonates with the macrocosm, in other words, the universe.
This resonance allowed them to summon and manipulate elemental forces such as water, fire, electricity, wind, earth, light, and darkness.
This also allowed them to transcend the limits of the body, and these limits were in the form of the nine senses.
What are the five senses? The sixth sense? The seventh sense? The eighth sense? The ninth sense?
The five senses are the senses to perceive creation through sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing.
These five senses are the senses that every being possesses. Some beings lack one or two of those senses.
In some special cases, some beings are born with special abilities within the initial five senses.
In the Marvel Universe, Heimdall, the eagle guardian of the Nine Realms and also the guardian of the Bifrost, possesses supernatural senses that allow him to see all the corners of the Nine Realms.
The Saints of Athena, as humans, train their bodies and minds to their utmost limits to meet the requirements needed to awaken the sixth sense.
The Sixth Sense represents the spiritual awareness, or consciousness, of the small universe, also known as the microcosm.
This sense is also called the sense of intuition.
This sense can also be explained as the awareness that there is a universe inside oneself, and later using that awareness to bring together the blueprints, or fragments of the macrocosm, on a miniature scale, to form the microcosm.
When the Sixth Sense is opened, the person is able to perceive the soul, the atoms, the life energy, and especially the universe inside and around them.
Of course, in the Saint Seiya Universe, the guaranteed perception is the perception of atoms.
Yes... You read it and heard it right.
The most guaranteed perception is the perception of atoms. This is because all the people who have the microcosm are able to perform atomic destruction and perception.
If in the Saint Seiya universe, you are not able to perceive atoms, then you are not a saint, nor are you able to destroy atoms.
To fight against beings that possess the microcosm, you need the microcosm and the ability to destroy atoms.
The other perceptions that were mentioned in the awakening of the Sixth Sense, such as the perception of the soul, the perception of life energy, and abilities like psychokinesis, can be awakened naturally at the formation of the microcosm if the person has enough talent, or they can be taught by a Master.
The Sixth Sense also allows one to break one of the limits of the physical body.
This means that the person has beyond superhuman physicality, sonic speeds, enhanced durability, psychic abilities, elemental manipulation, atomic manipulation, and so on.
Even among the sixth sense, there are stages.
The early stage.
This is the initial formation of the microcosm, and its wielder barely knows how to control it, but they are not aware of it.
The mid-stage.
The mid-stage is where the person or saint has learned to control somewhat the cosmos inside of them, and they are able to use it in a fight effectively, but they are far from perfect use of it.
The next stage is the "peak" stage.
The peak stage is where most of the silver saints of the sanctuary are.
The silver saints are saints who have reached the peak of the sixth sense.
But this observation also varies.
Some silver saints are even weaker than a bronze saint, and some silver saints are stronger than the average gold saint, as they have reached the seventh sense.
Yet, the peak of the Sixth Sense is also extremely powerful. The peak of the Sixth Sense can be said to be when the person has mastered all the special techniques that the Sixth Sense can grant.
The Seventh Sense, the Sense of Cosmos.
The Seventh Sense can be explained in the following manner.
"I am my microcosm."
The Seventh Sense can be said to be the complete awareness of the cosmos. Or the awareness of the potential inside the human body, and using that potential to the fullest.
But you can also think of it in the following way.
We established that the Sixth Sense is the formation of the cosmos, right?
The Seventh sense is to be aware of the knowledge that the seventh sense is the cosmos itself, to be aware of its true potential, and to be able to use that potential.
To put it more simply.
The Sixth Sense is the intuition of the knowledge that the body has a small universe inside, and they are able to use that power to break the limits of the human body.
The seventh sense is the understanding and acceptance that the body is cosmos, or that you are cosmos.
Or more like the person accepts that the microcosm is not a power given to them, more like the power that they always had, and they become one with it to fully control it.
Once this process of acceptance and awakening occurs, there are unimaginable changes.
This is also the second and final uplift of the limits of the body.
The person with a seventh-sense microcosm is able to move at light-speed, or even multiple times faster than light-speed.
This is because their body stops being limited by physics. Speed, strength, durability, reaction, and the range of capabilities change.
This also allows for other abilities like spatial manipulation, but not on a basic level, on a very high level that even the most advanced sorcerers of Kamar-Taj wouldn't be able to reproduce.
The Gemini Saints are known to bend space and even create their own pocket dimension.
This is also where the differences begin.
The people who have reached the Seventh Sense, in the Saint Seiya universe, can be said to be true saints.
But this is also where the differences begin to be noticed.
This is where potential and talent are the most important factors in becoming stronger and even reaching the next step.
Remember when I mentioned that some Silver Saints are stronger than the average Gold Saint?
Every person is unique in their own way.
Other people are dumb; some are smart.
Some are dumb but talented, and others are smart but useless.
Some Silver Saints were chosen to become Silver Saints, but it doesn't mean that a Silver Saint can't become stronger than a Gold Saint.
This also applies to bronze saints, especially the five protagonists of the series.
This is because the talents and potential of each person are different.
A saint that was chosen to become a silver saint, or even a bronze saint, once he or she comprehends the truth of the seventh sense, if their potential, talent, and their cosmos reserves are high, they can surpass golden saints.
But while that is true, gold saints are the best of the best; that is why they are gold saints. Even if there are silver saints that are equal or highly superior to golden saints, the gold saints won't show fear.
This is because gold saints are the elite of the elite; to defeat a gold saint, unless you are a god, you need strategy, skill, and certain conditions.
All of this applies to even gold saints.
Deathmask is stated to be the weakest gold saint. At the same time, Shaka and Saga are considered to be the strongest gold saints of their generation.
Deuteros and Aspros, the twins of the 18th generation of Gemini Saints, are also extremely powerful.
Those brothers can truly be said to be Gods reincarnated as Humans.
Cain of Gemini and Abel of Gemini are extremely powerful. Brothers that share the same body. A literal human god.
Gemini Cain can be said to be a Gold Saint that has reached the power of the Gods.
This is also why Gemini Saints are stronger than other saints.
This is because of their special existence.
The Gemini Saints are said to come from the stars themselves, or at least, that is what Pope Shion said when he encountered Saga and Kanon.
It is said that every time a Holy War is on the verge of happening, the stars will give the sanctuary the next Gemini Saint.
Pope Shion, on the day signified by the stars, came to get Saga and Kanon, the twins selected to become the next Gemini Golden Saints, from their descent for the stars.
As saints that come from the stars, and they were also selected by the Gemini constellation, Saga and Kanon had immense cosmos, talent, and potential.
This is why Saga and Kanon, twins, were considered the strongest out of their generation, only followed closely by Shaka.
The same thing for Shaka, he had immense potential, talent, and comprehension, and he used his special talents to preserve and increase his cosmos, which allowed him to gain the title "the Man closest to God."
But in terms of raw power, raw talent, raw potential, and simply high cosmos reserves, the Gemini brothers are the best.
And even among them, Cain and Abel of Gemini were extremely powerful and unique.
Due to being a being that shares two souls, two powerful souls, the cosmos of Abel and Cain is extremely powerful.
This translates to their potential, talent, and cosmos reserves being higher than most other saints. This is why Cain of Gemini is the strongest in "Saint Seiya: The Next Dimension."
The only exception here is Ophiuchus Odysseus.
But it is not just raw talent and raw cosmos; it is also comprehension and skill.
The reason why Saga was stronger than Kanon, even when they are identical twins, was not because Saga had more talent and potential than Kanon.
Not at all.
Kanon and Saga had the same reserves of cosmos, the same talent and potential.
After all, the Gemini twins were supposed to be two faces of the same coin.
Evil and Good. Evil can't be stronger than good, and good can't be stronger than evil. Everything needs a balance.
The real reason was that Saga had a more complete understanding, comprehension, and near-perfect control over his vast and powerful cosmos.
This was the same with Defteros and Aspros in the manga of the Lost Canvas.
The reason why Aspros was stronger than his twin brother Defteros was that Aspros had complete control and understanding of the microcosm.
It seems that while Defteros and Aspros had the same power, or at least, at one point, they had the same power, the reason Aspros was ahead was that his control was vastly superior.
This is also a theme that the story plays a lot.
The need for understanding.
The reason why Shaka was known as the "Man Closest to God" was because of his understanding.
Shaka, for most of the story, had a seventh-sense microcosm, and even then, he gained that title.
When he died, he comprehended the eighth sense, and at that point, he was truly the man closest to god.
The Eight Sense represents transcendence.
It is when the person understands the meaning of life and death. In other words, it is the understanding of the truth of life and death, and later using that truth to transcend both.
In the original classic series, the eight senses did not grant a power boost, but in the Lost Canvas, Saint Seiya Omega, and Saint Seiya Episode G, the eighth sense granted a massive power boost.
Beings that awakened the eighth senses literally transcended life and death. This also grants a massive boost to the microcosm, as the user is no longer bound by a physical body.
This means that the microcosm can grow as big as it can, thus allowing the user to become extremely powerful.
This is why some people say that once they reach the eighth sense, they feel like they can defeat one thousand past versions of themselves in an instant.
Mind you, the past version they are speaking of is a version of them that reached the pinnacle of the Seventh sense.
The Ninth Sense is Godhood.
Before we dive further, you need to understand that the microcosm resonates with the macrocosm.
As the microcosm evolves with each sense, the microcosm, or its wielder, understands more and more the existence of the macrocosm.
This is why with each sense, the person is evolving and evolving.
The Ninth sense is godhood.
At that point, the resonance with the macrocosm is absolute, and this also allows the user of it to quite literally see the laws that make the universe and understand them.
This is why the gods can do anything and everything in the Saint Seiya universe.
This is why some humans are mad with the gods, because the Holy Wars are pretty much little "games" for the Gods. A source of entertainment.
But... after this long explanation, the reason why Aspros believed that the microcosm helps in the appearance of its wielder is that it allows it to evolve.
The microcosm can allow a human to become a god, and in fact, some humans during the mythological era in the Saint Seiya universe became gods.
Some demigods also became gods.
Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal, became the God of Strength in the Greek Myth.
The 13th gold saint of Athena, in Saint Seiya: Next Dimension, Odysseus of Ophiuchus is the literal reincarnation of the God Asclepius.
He was also chosen by the Ophiuchus, who represents the God of Medicine, the son of the Sun God Apollo and the human princess Coronis, Asclepius.
The Ophiuchus Gold Saint is able to cure anything and everything. The Ophiuchus Gold Saint is pretty much a doctor who can perform any kind of surgical operation and medical procedure.
They are able to cure a broken brain, soul, do things like heart transplants in an instant, perform neurosurgical operations, and even reconstruct the human body.
The Ophiuchus Gold Saint can also help a person change their gender, their race, their skin color, and much more.
The reason why Ophiuchus Cloth was downgraded from gold to silver was that Zeus found out that the Saint of Ophiuchus was able to cure souls and allow a person to revive and escape the underworld.
Although Hades can be said to be an evil god, in the Saint Seiya universe, Hades also takes his job as the god of the underworld quite seriously.
This is something that multiple media sources agree on. That while Hades, in some universes, can be evil, Hades takes his job as the ruler of the Underworld very seriously.
This also explains why Odysseus, who became too powerful, didn't become a god. It was because the gods interceded.
But in the case of Hercules, no god interfered because Hercules was the son of the King of the Gods of Greek mythology, Zeus.
Whoever wanted to strike down the son of Zeus had to deal with the divine wrath of Zeus.
Not even Hades, Poseidon, and other gods would want to face the wrath of Zeus, so they simply allowed Hercules to become the God of Strength in the Greek Pantheon.
The microcosm refines the body, the soul, the mind, and the spirit, and allows it to become a god.
The gold saints are the pinnacle of this.
All gold saints are beautiful and handsome.
They have perfect posture, perfect constitution, and no physical flaws.
Although the Taurus Gold Saints aren't too handsome, if you compare them to other saints, but if you compare them to normal humans, the Taurus Gold saint is pretty much the most perfect human warrior. Handsome but strong and masculine.
So after this long explanation, Aspros believed this to be the case.
Aspros was reborn as a god; the gods of Saint Seiya are perfect. Thus, he, a combination of multiple templates of gods and other characters, was simply meant to become perfect.
This entire narrative serves as the theory and headcanon that Aspros contemplated during his solitary meal.
Seated alone at a modest table, Aspros immersed himself in his food, not out of preference for solitude, but rather because the other sorcerers lacked the courage to approach him.
Their hesitance cloaked the dining area in a palpable sense of separation.
This was the gap that humans and gods couldn't close despite their best efforts.
As he savored each bite, Aspros reflected on the intricate flavors and textures, offering a silent gratitude to the unseen cook who had prepared the meal.
Once finished, he rose from the table with a sense of purpose, eager to seek out a suitable place for training and experimentation with his burgeoning powers.
While meandering through the serene and mythical grounds of Kamar-Taj, Aspros saw someone coming towards him.
It was then that the Ancient One appeared, her presence an embodiment of calm power and wisdom.
Early riser by nature, the Ancient One often began her day with a tranquil tea ceremony, surrounded by a circle of trusted friends and devoted subordinates.
It was through this morning ritual that the Ancient One remembered that Aspros was in Kamar-Taj. This was right, one of her subordinates asked, "Who is Aspros?"
After devouring her meal with the ferocity of someone who hadn't eaten in days, the Ancient One set out to find Aspros.
"Good morning, my lord. How are you this fine morning?" she greeted, her voice melodious and warm, her posture straight and dignified, hands clasped behind her back like a venerable monk in the presence of his disciples.
Aspros smiled at the woman.
His smile did not hide fake emotions, nor any fear for the woman. It was a simple smile.
It was best to not fear the power of the Ancient One, nor fake his emotions to get on the good side of the Ancient One.
The best course of action was to simply be honest.
It seems that the Ancient One noticed his honest smile, and she also smiled at him.
'It seems that he is not a bad person... yet, the future is blurry because of him. I still don't know if this is good or bad.'
The Ancient One thought.
The Ancient One, right after their last words the day prior, checked the future once again. The future was very blurry, but it was not bad.
In fact, the future seems to be much better than what she expected.
"Good morning. I am doing well. Thank you for asking."
Aspros responded with honesty, and he simply kept walking with the Ancient One.
"What are your plans?"
The Ancient One was very interested in what Aspros's plan was. She didn't expect that Aspros was going to stay in Kamar-Taj for long.
After all, people with their own power wouldn't want to be tied to someone who limits them.
While sorcerers are not limited to anything, when it comes to fighting to protect the planet from mythical threats, that is their first priority.
You can say that their only limitation is that they are strictly made to protect the Earth.
What this means is that you can do anything you want, but when the planet is in danger from mythical threats, all sorcerers must be ready to protect the planet.
"My first plan is to gather enough power. I know how to do it, but I need a place where I won't bother others or put anyone in danger."
This was the idea that Aspros had in mind.
The first thing he needed to learn to do was to control his allegedly large amount of energy.
This was also the most important thing to do. To learn control not just over his energy, physical strength, but over his mind and emotions.
These are things that not even the mighty sons of Odin, Thor, Loki, and Hela, learned to do; they only did it when they saw that power alone was not enough to defeat their enemies.
In fact, the only one who saw a clear improvement was Hela, when she noticed that she couldn't defeat mortals that were weaker than her in terms of raw power but more skilled than her.
In that one episode of "Marvel: What if?" Hela managed the ways of internal energy control, and also learned Tai-Chi, which allowed her to clear her mind and see things more clearly.
There is a theory that the authorities and godheads of the gods affect them since birth.
The Gods that have the Godhead and Authority of War are bloodthirsty maniacs that want to cause destruction and war.
Even if they were raised properly by their godly parents, because their Godheads, since they are born, their godheads affect their mind and spirit.
The Godhead of a God is what makes them them, but it also controls them.
Hela, who is the Goddess of Death of the Norse Pantheon, is someone who is defined by her title.
Odin, who was a bloodthirsty maniac at first, raised his daughter to be the perfect warrior. His executioner and his general.
Hela, who was raised to only bring death, couldn't appreciate life in the slightest, as she only appreciated strength and blood.
In that episode of "Marvel: What if?" Hela was exiled from Asgard to what the Asgardians call "Midgard." In other words, planet Earth.
There, she lost access to her godhead and divine powers, or at least, her control of them. After everything that Hela experienced on Earth, Hela learned to control her internal energy and learned the ways of Tai-Chi.
Hela also learned to appreciate life and think outside of the aspect of death, and this allowed her to evolve her godhead from Goddess of Death to Goddess of Life and Death.
This also allowed Hela to defeat the likes of Odin.
Of course, that is a weakened version of Odin. If it were the Odin from the comics, not even Hela at full power would be able to compete with a dying Odin.
Now... Thor.
In the MCU and even in some versions of the comics, Thor always thought that he was the strongest warrior of Asgard and the Nine Realms, only second to Odin himself.
Regardless of whether that was true or not, Thor found out that he was not the strongest.
Thor got to experience, firsthand, that there were many powerful individuals in the universe.
Thor also noticed that he couldn't control his divine power, or godhead of thunder, without the divine hammer known as Mjølnir.
Multiple fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe think that Thor, and even some version of the same character from the comics, don't even compare to the likes of Enel from the anime of One Piece, or other powerful lightning users in anime.
They mean this in terms of how to use his amazing power, not in terms of strength. It has been shown that when Thor is able to master his power, his strength doubles or even skyrockets a lot.
Aspros didn't want to be like the biological children of Odin.
Aspros did not want to be caught lacking, as that could mean he could be defeated. Defeat in a world like this means you lost everything. No... not just in this world.
In every world, when you are defeated, you lose something, or you lose everything.
Aspros does not want to lose anything, nor is he going to lose anything. His entire plan is to train himself to perfection so as to not be defeated.
Aspros also needs to learn to control his energy and powers. This is because he needs control over his body, energy, and awareness to finally grasp the Sixth Sense and form his microcosm.
Nor was it going to be beneficial to him to not be able to control his power, as control is a requirement to form the microcosm at one point.
"Interesting. I am guessing you need my help, your majesty."
The Ancient One was quick to decipher the hidden message in the eyes and words of Aspros, and she knew what Aspros wanted from her.
She smiled.
The Ancient One is a lady who lived for multiple decades, and she has traveled and seen multiple places through her years.
In fact, she sometimes takes the initiative to go out of Kamar-Taj to refresh her mind and spirit.
Of course, this is after she triple-checks the timeline with the Time Stone inside the mythical artefact known as the Eye of Agamotto.
This is to know if she leaves, nothing will change the original sacred timeline, although that no longer needs to happen, as the future is blurry now.
"Exactly. I was hoping you had a place for that."
Aspros smiled when he noticed that the Ancient One noticed what he meant. He needs a place without people and without praying eyes.
Although it is very hard to find a place like that, Aspros knows that the Ancient One knows a place like that.
"You are right, my lord... I do have a place like that."
The Ancient One smiled.
Aspros knew one hundred percent that the Ancient One had a place like that; his question was simply to know if the Ancient One was willing to put a bet on him.
Although Aspros can't use his other powers because he doesn't know how to use them, one of the skills that is pretty much engraved into his body and soul is the Clairvoyance skill that he acquired from the personal and class skills from the world of Fate.
This skill allows him to see into the future, and he used it to see if the Ancient One was willing to be on his side.
He didn't use it to see the future and change it, or to know what would happen in hundreds of years; he used it to know the next move of the Ancient One.
The Ancient One is pretty much his only unconfirmed ally and the one protecting him from Odin.
Aspros knows for sure that Odin and Heimdall noticed his descent to Earth. Planet Earth, or Midgard, was a territory of Asgard.
Or at least that was the unconfirmed title, as the confirmed title is that Earth is under the "protection" of Asgard.
Odin wouldn't want a foreign god in his territory, even if said God was the God of humans, the main race that lives in Midgard.
The Nine Realms, including Midgard, are under the jurisdiction of Asgard.
That is why Aspros and Raphael checked the future through that skill, to see what could happen.
The answer of the Ancient One was to help him, which meant that the Ancient One was willing to bet and even put herself against Odin to protect him until he got enough power to pose a threat to Asgard.
You, the reader, a possible massive fan of Marvel and possibly Saint Seiya and other fictional universes, may think that these critiques are completely wrong.
But you have to understand that these are not the movies; this is real life for Aspros.
Aspros is the only person in the entire seventh cosmos and in the MCU timeline who didn't belong in the original work, and this already puts him against multiple people who have plans.
This already puts Aspros against forces that have been planning for eons, centuries, decades, or even a few years.
Thanos is Aspros's current number one enemy in this universe.
Aspro's future plans will also put him against enemies like Hydra, a human organization.
In this universe, Gorr, the God Butcher, also appeared.
Ultron, the One Meant to be Perfect.
Ultron can be easily dealt with, or it could easily become like the Ultron that had the Sixth Infinity Stones.
And even other villains of the Marvel cosmos were eminent for him, but they weren't actual threats to Aspros.
His existence could also catch the appeal of abstract cosmic entities like Death, Eternity, Infinity, Oblivion, the Living Tribunal, Master Order, Lord Chaos, and even the likes of Galactus.
Even the colored celestial that overthrew the First Firmament were rumored to be still around and plouting for the rebirth of the next cosmos, the eighth cosmos.
Although Aspros was not scared to go against beings like them, he didn't want to hinder his growth because he had grown arrogant enough to challenge other established gods.
At this very time, he was still an infant in their eyes. Simply a god that was born. Or more like a cockroach that tried to call itself god.
But in case he angers them, he doesn't fear them.
His soul is truly immortal, explained by the system of reincarnation.
Even if the One Above All, the true God of the Marvel Universe, comes to his door to kill him, his soul would regenerate and adapt, and he would also understand omnipotence.
Why would he understand omnipotence?
Raphael is able to analyze the impossible and even omnipotence. And taking into consideration the skill set Raphael has, she is able to decipher the truth and allow her master to become truly omnipotent at a glance.
So everything is a win-win for him, but he was not ready to stand toe-to-toe with beings like that right now. He better not get carried away.
"Then that settles it. For this, I am willing to help you when you need it most. Let's call it allies. Or friends."
The Ancient One smiled when Aspros spoke and said those words. This is also what she wanted.
The Ancient One, as a human herself, knew that Aspros, as a Human God, the Supreme God of a race that has unlimited potential, truly embodied the concept of limitless.
A walking paradox.
You need to know that certain gods who begin to think like Mortals start to lose their powers because they think that they are becoming mortals.
Aspros is different.
Aspros is a god, but his godhead represents humanity. The more human he becomes, the more his godhead becomes powerful.
It is like the more human he becomes, the more divinity he will have. That is why she said that he is a walking paradox.
He has the divine might of the gods, but the infinite potential of humans.
The perfect being.
In fact, in the eyes of the Ancient One, only Aspros truly embodied the concept of limitless.
This was not because the Ancient One knew that Aspros had infinite potential and talent in both quality and quantity.
This statement was not meant to reduce or insult the potential of other humans in other universes. No, nothing like that. If anything, it proved her point further.
Her reason was because of what Aspros represented.
Humans are weak.
Humans are strong.
Humans are evil.
Humans are good.
Humanity as a whole has unlimited paths to reach greatness.
Most races in the universe aren't as versatile as the human race.
Why do you think that Mephisto and Dormammu come to Earth?
Is it because of her?
No. Not at all.
Those dimensional lords don't care about her; they only think of her as a being that stops them from coming to Earth. Nothing more.
They fear her because of her strength, which stops them from coming to this reality.
But from a higher point of view, they didn't care for the universe; they only cared for Earth.
Earth is special.
That is something that the Ancient One has seen over her years as the Sorcerer Supreme. Every time those powerful dimensional lords come to the universe, they only focus on Earth.
If they really wanted to take over the universe, they could easily open their portals to come down in other parts of the universe, easily skipping Earth as a whole.
In fact, the Ancient One thinks that if the dimensional lords were smart, they would conquer the universe first and later come down to Earth.
Earth wouldn't be able to defend against the entire universe.
This is why she claims and knows that humans have infinite potential. Dormammu and Mephisto want to come down to Earth to eat the souls of humans, which grant them more power than other races.
And this is also why she thinks that Aspros, as the Supreme God of Humans, truly embodies the concept of limitless.
A human-made god, or a god that is human.
Regardless of which of the two options was true, Aspros was a human god. As a human, he had infinite potential, and from what she could see, Aspros also knew this.
This means that Aspros can grow stronger than most people at a rapid rate if he is guided the correct way.
This is also the reason why she bet on Aspros and was willing to sever ties with Odin.
You need to know that the Ancient One, Sorcerer Supreme, and Odin, the All-father, know each other very well.
They had spoken and even became friends at some point. The Ancient One also knows that Asgard protects Earth as well.
However, the Ancient One also understands that these are big words and their meaning is very little.
Asgard says that they protect the Nine Realms, but you need to know that the Realm of the Ice Giants, the Fire Giants, and the Dark Elves are pretty much unprotected.
The only protection that these mentioned realms get is that Odin has Heimdall observing those realms. Nothing else.
Although Odin says that he is a benevolent king, deep down, everyone knows that he is an insincere bastard.
Odin only cares for his interests.
The only reason he stopped attacking the rest of the universe was because he was growing old, and because there were many individuals in other regions of the universe that Odin couldn't defeat.
Odin says that he loves his children, but if his children dare to go against his word, Odin is willing to kill them or even cast them out.
Odin even killed his own brother and father; do you think that Odin can't go deeper than that?
The Ancient One also thinks that if humanity puts Asgard in a bad situation, Odin himself would want to start a war against humans.
Yes... The Ancient One and Odin are friends, but if interests are in the way of friendship, the two sides are willing to break their friendship.
The Ancient One knows that Odin, as the leader of Asgard, will not allow a foreigner to take control over the planet without a fight.
He might allow for humans to evolve, as this means that when Asgard needs allies, humans can help Asgard. But don't get it twisted, Asgard only protects its interests, not human life.
The Sorcerers Supreme of the past allowed this because they weren't as strong as Odin, but the Ancient One was different.
The current Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, is already on the level of powerful chief gods like Odin, Zeus, Indra, and Ra.
She also constantly fights against dimensional beings like Dormammu and Mephisto, who are easily above the likes of Odin in terms of power.
This puts the Ancient One on equal, or even higher, conditions than Odin, who is growing older and can't use the near infinite power that exists inside of him.
Due to her existence, Odin did not come down to deal with Aspros, and she knew that Aspros also knew this.
When two beings that understand the cosmology of their world interact, they know that certain beings will notice other things.
This is why their conversation had so many hidden messages.
"That settles it, then. I will find someone who can prepare you some supplies, and we can go there after that."
The Ancient One spoke with a calm tone, and she simply walked away. Aspros simply saw her walking about and didn't say anything.