"So... where are we going?" Aspros asked the Ancient One, his curious gaze darting around their surroundings.
A few hours earlier, the two had reached a mutual decision—Aspros needed to find a safe place to train and hone his skills. But now, as they stood in an expansive clearing, he felt a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Thick, verdant foliage surrounded them, with towering trees draped in vibrant green vines, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze.
In the distance, the crumbling silhouettes of ancient stone structures emerged from the undergrowth, their once-grand facades now partially reclaimed by nature.
Intricate carvings and faded murals embellished the stones, hinting at a long-lost civilization that once thrived in this mystical place.
The air was rich with the earthy scent of damp soil and the distant sound of waterfalls cascading somewhere in the depths of the jungle.
"We are going to Avalon. Haven't you heard of it?"
The Ancient One smiled as she saw the curious eyes of Aspros. But Aspros's eyes widened like they were about to fall out, like in those old cartoons.
'Did she just say Avalon?'
Aspros was panicking from the sheer shock of what the Ancient One just said.
[Indeed, she did, Master.]
Raphael was quick to respond, as she was also analyzing everything around them.
You need to understand that "Avalon" in the Arthurian legend is the Everdistant Utopia that King Arthur seeks.
The perfect world.
Full of life, full of resources, and full of happiness.
In the Marvel World, Gaea, the Elder Goddess of Nature and Earth, created Avalon as that very same representation of the perfect utopia.
In fact, some people say that the real consciousness of Gaea lives in Avalon, as the body of Gaea is connected to planet Earth.
Gaea also appears in multiple pantheons, and she specifically has said that she is the mother of multiple pantheons and Gods.
Gaea is connected to Earth. Gaea is Earth, and Earth is Gaea.
However, with her powers, Gaea can create Avatars. These avatars of herself were the ones that actually gave birth to multiple pantheons and Gods.
In fact, Gaea is the mother of Thor.
The reason why the MCU changed this origin story was to prevent people who knew nothing of the mythos from being confused.
Another possible reason is due to the constant reset of the universe to continue the loop created by "Those Who Sit Above in Shadows."
But yes.. The original mother of Thor is Gaea.
The only pure Elder God that was born from Gaea was Atum, the God Eater.
Atum was actually a God that was born to fight against the Evil of those times, the Elder Gods that became degenerate demons.
A problem that was orchestrated by the Mother of Horrors and led by Chthon and Set.
However, during the process of slaying those Gods, Atum was corrupted, and thus he was called the "God-Eater."
Atum was so powerful that he had to be sealed away, and he was currently sleeping.
However, in some Marvel Stories, or in other words, in different Marvel universes, the story changes.
After Atum, the God-Eater, slew the degenerated Elder Gods turned demons, he went to the sun for a rebirth.
After that rebirth, Atum was reborn as the Sun God Amon Ra. Although he was less powerful than before, his purpose was done, and he now had a new purpose.
In the Universe where the "Those Who Sit Above in Shadow" rule, which is the universe where this story and problem happen, Atum is still asleep.
This means that the Amon Ra of that universe is another retcon of the original universe.
This is actually true.
In his past life, in the mythos, Thor was the son of the All-Father and King of Asgard, Odin, and the Giantess Jörð. The Giantess Jörð is the avatar of Gaea in this universe.
You can say that, like Zeus, Odin also had multiple lovers. Freyja was the one with whom he settled.
In the myth, the wife of Odin was Freya, the Valkyrie Queen, not Freyja, the best sorcerer of the Nine Realms.
Although that statement is not even true, as the Ancient One is the best sorcerer in the universe, Asgard does whatever it wants.
Or you can say that it is Freya, as Freyja is the name that was given when she was born in the Vanir Royal Family. But Freya was the name she gained when she became the Valkyrie Queen and later wife of Odin.
Frigga is also another name for the character, most probably because of the loop that sometimes changes the origin of the story.
The retcon happens a lot.
In fact, it is stated that the version of Chthon and Set that became Dimensional Lords are from the collection of universes that is ruled by those who call themselves "Those Who Sit Above in Shadow," as they escaped from Atum into other dimensions.
This also made them become beings that are in yet out of the timeline.
In other universes, Chthon, the Dark God and ruler of the Darkhold Dimension, exists. Still, it is not the same as the Chthon that became a Dimensional Lord.
It is simply an avatar of the Elder God Chthon, and a means to justify the story and the presence of the Darkhold. Nothing else.
All of this made Aspros quite apprehensive of what was going to happen.
While Gaea actually is fused with the Earth, her multiple avatars were part of many pantheons. But her consciousness likes to go to Avalon.
Gaea is a quite lovely goddess, but he was actually going to enter her domain.
"Oh... you seem nervous, are you okay?"
The Ancient One raised an eyebrow as she watched Aspros. Although Aspros was acting normally, she could feel some emotional fluctuations.
"No. I am okay."
Aspros simply sighed and responded.
At least he was entering an actual safe place. Not even the evil Elder Gods like Chthon and Set dare to enter the domain of Gaea.
Not even Odin, Zeus, and other Gods dare to mess with Gaea.
Gaea is an Elder God, and the version that they met and courted was simply an avatar. While that avatar was able to give birth to other gods, the real Gaea has never been seen in a long time.
The real Gaea is above many Skyfather Gods.
But Gaea is also weakened, as she is also reaching the end of her life, not as the planet, but as a God.
"Well... we are about to enter."
After wandering for some time, they stumbled upon an ancient temple that loomed majestically before them. Though deeply weathered by the passage of time, its design resonated with a medieval elegance, reminiscent of a storied British castle, echoing the grand structures of the Arthurian legend—Camelot itself.
Vibrant plant life clung tenaciously to the stone walls, while shards of broken crystals sparkled like forgotten stars, dotting the facade with a touch of ethereal beauty. The temple was a relic from a distant past, its presence thick with history and mystery.
As they ventured deeper, navigating through winding staircases and concealed passages, they finally arrived at an imposing gate.
It towered above them, carved intricately yet hauntingly, as if it existed in a realm of its own. This was the door-portal that held the promised utopia.
This was no ordinary gate; it was the gateway to Avalon, a threshold to a dimension steeped in legend and magic.
"Ready?"
The Ancient One asked and teased at the same time. She liked to see how Aspros was observing the scenery before them, but he kept his composure.
"Yes..."
The more that Aspros had to wait, the more time and strength he was losing.
While he is not against missing some of the important events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it doesn't mean he wants to miss all of them.
Ten years is enough for him to become insanely strong.
Aspros simply pushed those thoughts to the side when he saw that the Ancient One walked to the gate, and she did some strange movements, and after some time, the gate opened a portal.
"Here we are... Avalon."
The Ancient One was the first one to enter the realm of Avalon, and she smiled quite happily.
Avalon is one of the few dimensions that she found out about a long time ago. In fact, one of her closest friends lives here.
Yes... Merlin.
The magician who was said to be born of a demon and a human. One of the few people that the Ancient One respected. Also, the former Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj.
While Merlin is not as strong as the Ancient One, nor as skilled in martial arts, Merlin is quite the genius in magic creation.
In fact, the reason Merlin, in the Marvel Universe, is so powerful is due to his skill with the spells he created, or the spells that were created.
It was also stated that Morgan Le Fay, the Black Sorceress, the sister of Arthur Pendragon, a former student of Merlin, inherited the genius of Merlin to invent, manipulate, and control magic.
Morgan is definitely a genius among geniuses, a genius that is beyond the beyond.
In fact, candidates to become Sorcerer Supreme are Loki and Morgan.
The Ancient One is the strongest Sorcerer Supreme there has been in multiple years since Agamotto became an eternal entity alongside his mother and the other guy.
That Merlin gains the respect of the Ancient One means that Merlin is incredible enough to be remembered.
The Ancient One quickly disregarded her thoughts and wanted to tease Aspros about how he was reacting to the world.
From her perspective, it was very funny. It was like seeing a grown-up baby.
However, when she turned around to see Aspros, she was surprised to notice a lady holding Aspros by the cheeks.
As the information was processed, the Ancient One quickly became cautious. She quickly came to a secretive pose that made her ready to strike at any moment.
"Look at you! You are so perfect!" These were the words of the woman.
Aspros found himself captivated by the striking figure of the lady standing before him. Her long, flowing hair, a deep ebony intertwined with iridescent strands of green, seemed to shimmer in the soft light, casting an otherworldly glow around her.
Her eyes, a vibrant mix of hues that sparkled with pride, radiated warmth and admiration, much like a mother gazing lovingly at her accomplished child or an artist admiring their masterpiece at long last finished.
How did this situation come to be?
As Aspros stepped through the shimmering portal alongside the Ancient One, he felt a rush of energy and sensations enveloping him. It was as if the Earth, the Skies, and everything else in this dimension seemed to connect with him.
It was at that very moment, just as the portal closed behind them without a sound, that the lady materialized before him. The unexpected appearance sent a jolt of caution through him, instincts sharpening as he sized up this unexpected presence.
Yet, before he could react further, in the next heartbeat, she had closed the distance between them.
Gently cupping his face with her delicate hands, her touch was surprisingly warm and reassuring, contrasting with the apprehension swirling within him.
As she held him by the cheeks, a sense of calm started to wash over his apprehensive heart, replacing tension with curiosity about who she truly was and what this moment meant for him.
"This is what I've been dreaming of! You are the most perfect creation, my son."
The lady spoke; her sensual yet maternal figure and tone could hypnotize even the most composed men, but her tone was maternal.
She held him firmly in place, her piercing gaze locking onto him as she began to circle around, assessing every nuance of his being.
The air crackled with an unspoken energy and words, each step deliberate, as if she were not just observing, but breathing him in.
She later stopped, once again cupping his cheeks, but the tears in the eyes of the lady were beyond anything.
"You embody everything I have long sought to create," she declared, her voice a melodious blend of reverence and authority. "A human God. Human yet God. Divine yet mortal. You are the living testament of the infinite potential that lies within humanity, infused with the dignity and raw power of the deities."
As she continued to cry as she held him, her eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and awe.
"You, my child, are the most perfect existence I have ever encountered in my entire life. Even your divinity surpasses my own, reaching heights that dwarf my essence as an Elder God."
Each word resonated with a profound truth, reverberating in the air like a sacred chant, illuminating the connection between them.
Every word that Gaea had spoken came from the heart, and she was truly happy.
Ever since Gaea has had a sense of reason, she has been creating life, including the life of humans. Gaea did not directly, but indirectly, yet directly, create humans.
Gaea created nature, or the natural resources, for other races to exist and develop. And one of those races happens to be humans.
Gaea has given birth to multiple gods, yet none of them were as perfect as Aspros in her eyes.
When she meant that Aspros was a mortal yet divine, a human god, she meant it in every way.
Gaea has seen the rise and falls of multiple pantheons and has seen the human race evolve.
Just like her sister, Oshtur, now one of three members of the Vishanti, Gaea grew more and more curious regarding human evolution than the lives of the so-called gods.
As the Gods grow older, they become static existences. They literally do nothing.
Yes… The "Gods" are exceptionally powerful beings. Yet, due to their powerful existence, they slowly but surely become static existences; they do not progress in life.
Life needs evolution, adaptation.
All life in the universe, if it doesn't have power, needs to adapt and evolve. That is what makes life so valuable. It is not the aspect of living, but the aspect of adaptation and evolution. The experiences that make life so interesting.
If you are born with power, those things are unknown to you, and you become a stone that can't be moved by any storm.
Gaea has also seen multiple demigods through history, but none of them were like Aspros. Or more like none of them was what she wanted.
Most demigods chose to become fully fledged gods, but this means that they are abandoning their humanity to live as immortal beings.
In the eyes of Gaea, this means abandoning the infinite potential that humanity seems to have.
Other demigods choose to remain like what they are, but this choice also makes them, in the eyes of Gaea, failed creations.
Yes... They retain some of the potential of humans and the almighty power of the gods, but some of them aren't able to think outside of the box, and they don't know how to correctly evolve.
But he has never seen a perfect creation like Aspros.
Aspros embodied everything she wanted to see.
A Human God.
A god yet human.
Even when he lives like a human and struggles like a human, he is a god.
The perfect paradox.
"The perfect title. The God of Humans. You truly are the most perfect existence I have seen, my Son."
Truly god but completely human. A natural creation.
"You must be Gaea..."
"Sorry... I am still not a complete human god. I have yet to ascend into that title."
Aspros's gaze sharpened as recognition dawned upon him; standing before him was the illustrious Elder Goddess Gaea, the embodiment of Earth, the very essence of Nature itself.
Gaea, revered as the nurturing mother of humanity, has donned countless forms throughout the tapestry of history, each radiating the power and wisdom of the natural world.
"Yes, my child," she spoke, her voice a gentle breeze that carried the weight of epochs. Her hand was carefully caressing the perfect cheeks of Aspros.
"Oh... I understand."
Gaea was not disappointed that Aspros had still not reached its potential. In fact, that fact made her even happier.
This would mean that Aspros had unlimited options for growth, which represents his human part perfectly.
"Yes, I am."
Throughout the ages, Gaea has been known by many names, but one resonates profoundly—the mother of humanity.
Though she did not directly forge humanity from the cosmos, the earth she represents nurtured the essential resources that enabled human evolution and growth.
In a sense, Gaea embodies the very spirit that gave rise to humanity. As humans emerged from a blend of cosmic events and earthly conditions, Gaea stood sentinel, a protective force akin to a loving step-mother, safeguarding and guiding the burgeoning species.
While the original act of creation may have been left to the hands of the universe, Gaea unwaveringly embraced her role, nurturing and fostering humanity along its winding path, ensuring that life could flourish amidst the wonders of her domain.
Aspros stood utterly speechless, a profound silence enveloping him.
As the first step was taken to cross the threshold into Avalon, a realm of perfection, he found himself face to face with the Elder Goddess Gaea, a figure of breathtaking majesty.
But, in an instant, Aspros remembered something. His infinite, absolute, divine, and positive luck.
Everything around him flowed seamlessly in his favor, as if the universe itself, Eternity and Infinity, conspired to fulfill his desires.
When the Ancient One had spoken that they were going to Avalon, Aspros began to process multiple scenarios and possibilities.
One possibility became impossible.
That possibility was the impossible dream to encounter Gaea and even forge a connection with her.
Yet, the very moment those thoughts crossed his mind, reality twisted. Upon entering the lush and vibrant dimension of Avalon, Gaea had sensed his presence like a beacon in the vastness of existence and came to him.
Upon seeing him, Gaea was delighted and mesmerized. Not even if Aspros cared or not, she called Aspros her son.
The Ancient One, who was listening and watching the scene, was stunned as the information hit her.
The Ancient One has visited the realm of Avalon multiple times, but not once, since she has been here, she heard that the Elder Goddess Gaea lived here.
Every time she visited, mostly to visit Merlin and have some time off, Merlin never spoke of Gaea.
She was also impressed by the way that Gaea described Aspros, and she was very impressed.
While she had seen those qualities in Aspros before, she didn't know if her vision was correct.
The Ancient One is pretty much a mortal, and when it comes to the matter of Gods, if the Earth is not involved, the Ancient One barely cares.
However, Aspros is different. Aspros is a human god.
A god made human, or a human that became a god and gained the divinity of humanity to continue being human while retaining his god side.
Whether this theory and the options she mentioned were true or not, the connection between her and Aspros was there. Not just her, but all of humanity was tied to Aspros.
She feels as if humanity is not killed; Aspros can live for thousands and thousands of years. If humanity still lives for millions of years, she thinks that Aspros will still be alive.
However, she also feels that without the connection to humanity, Aspros is immortal.
This made her sigh internally.
The reason she was using the Dark essence that comes from the Dark Dimension, where Dormammu resides, is because of her type of immortality.
That very same magic she uses to extend her physical form is rotting her soul and spirit, which is also killing her.
Ironic, isn't it?
The very same thing that is helping her to live is also killing her, but on a more internal sense, not on a physical sense.
But the Ancient One was very surprised to know that an Elder God was living here in Avalon. She never saw or sensed the goddess whenever she entered this realm.
Even when she entered the Dark Dimension to fight with Dormammu or when she entered Hell to fight against Mephisto, the Ancient One felt their presence.
But the Elder Goddess in front of Aspros didn't make her presence known to her at all. This meant that while Gaea was not as strong as those dimensional lords, it didn't mean that Gaea was not skilled with her powers.
This made the Ancient One smile.
Whenever she goes back to fighting with Dormammu and Mephisto, she can joke to them about not being as good as less powerful gods than them.
This is true.
In terms of divinity, the Elder Goddess Gaea is one of the top existences she has seen in a while. But in terms of overall power, the Ancient One has seen better, but you need to know that Gaea is not a fighter.
In terms of raw talent and raw power, Gaea is up there, but in terms of using that power to fight, it was better to simply not think of that.
As it was said, Gaea is not a fighter. If Gaea were a fighter, she would have fought the corrupted elder gods herself.
"What brings you here, my child?"
Gaea was excited to see Aspros, but she knew that Aspros was not here simply to visit. She also noticed the Ancient One.
Gaea knows of the Ancient One.
The Ancient One is one of the successors of the organization that Agamotto, the son of her sister, Oshtur, created to protect the planet from other-dimensional threats.
She also sees the immense power that the Ancient One holds, and she smiles. This person is also one of the people who have been protecting the Earth, her home.
"Well... I made a deal with the Sorcerer Supreme, and this deal was to bring me to a place where I could train without being noticed by other people."
Aspros was honest.
With people who have nothing but good intentions and honesty, Aspros did not plan to hide things. If he did do that, most of them would be pushed away.
After all, a good person needs to be responded to with good intentions, even if they don't believe it. This is the best way to build connections.
"Great!"
Gaea didn't care if Aspros was here to destroy the dimension, as long as she could see Aspros, Gaea didn't care.
Of course, this is an exaggeration; Gaea wouldn't allow Aspros to destroy her favorite place, but she liked the honesty of Aspros.
She also didn't mind Aspros using this place for training. This is a place that not many people know. In fact, only a few in existence know about this place. She also gets to watch Aspros closely, which is a good thing for her.
"Sure... sure.. come in."
Aspros blinked in surprise.
Was this Elder Goddess really going to allow him to come into her dimension and train without anything in return? Well... she seems to be quite fascinated with him.
Aspros wouldn't say that she is in love with him, but more like she is fascinated with him. Fascinating that he even exists.
The Ancient One, who was also watching this, was also stunned. Was this elder goddess really going to allow a stranger to train in her place?
Well... the Ancient One knows that Aspros is not a bad person. She can also tell that Gaea knows that Aspros is not a bad person either. This means that as soon as she and Aspros entered this dimension, she took notice of them.
....