Space travel isn't as enjoyable as one might imagine.
At least, that's the case after the initial novelty wears off.
After all, the Universe is vast.
Extremely vast.
Planets in the Universe are like animals on a vast grassland—rare to begin with, let alone those life-bearing Planets.
Especially as one gets closer to the Solar System, the Universe appears even more desolate, just as the aliens encountered on Xandar described.
Earth is completely in a remote, out-of-the-way corner where not even a bird would stop to relieve itself, a place so obscure that traveling there feels like a waste of energy and life.
Gwen, sitting in the captain's chair, looked at the desolate Universe before her, recalling the bustling star system where Xandar was located, and rested her chin on her hand: "Why is Earth's position so remote?"
Hawk, sitting nearby, heard her, glanced at his wife who had become more sentimental due to her pregnancy, and said with a smile: "Because the World Tree Universe is right here."
As everyone knows.
How can one allow others to snore beside their bed?
Perhaps to the Nine Realms today, Odin, the All-Father, rules them with poetry and flowers, but in the eyes of other deities in the main Universe and those who have lived long enough, Odin, the All-Father's throne, is built upon blood and bones.
Therefore... the entrance to the World Tree parallel Universe is in the Solar System, and naturally, the Solar System is implicitly considered Odin, the All-Father's territory.
In fact, it is true.
When Odin, the All-Father, was still alive, although occasionally some aliens or dimensional gods would rampage on Earth.
But aliens are ordinary people, and dimensional gods are not gods.
However, after Odin, the All-Father's curtain call, good heavens, all sorts of monsters came out, and Thanos even dared to slaughter the Dwarf King, Odin's personal blacksmiths.
If the Ancient One's curtain call marked the opening of Earth's grand stage.
Then Odin, the All-Father's curtain call was the tragic beginning of the World Tree parallel Universe's complete collapse into the main Universe.
Less than one in a hundred living beings of the Nine Realms survived.
The remaining Asgardians could only huddle in a corner of Earth, barely clinging to life.
But the living beings of the Nine Realms are not just Asgardians.
Getting off-topic.
Hawk promptly reined in his wandering thoughts, looked at his wife who was watching him, and said with a smile: "Besides, being remote has its advantages."
Gwen heard him, a little curious.
"What advantages?"
"If Earth wasn't in a remote area, the Universe slave ships would have targeted Earth."
"...You're right."
Gwen heard Hawk's words about Universe slave ships, remembered the related legends she heard on Xandar, and immediately understood: "Remote is good, it's safe."
Seeing Gwen's mood improve, Hawk chuckled and rose from his seat.
"I'm going back to my room."
"Okay."
Gwen responded, watching Hawk leave the bridge.
After Hawk returned to his room, he sat cross-legged on the bed, then closed his eyes slightly, his mind sinking into his Little Universe, continuing to comprehend the insights into 'Life' he had gained from Ego's main body.
Two days ago, the Guardians of the Galaxy and others left the ship, and after parting ways with them, Hawk and Gwen also embarked on their journey back to Earth.
During these two days, the Enterprise was mostly monitored by Gwen, while Hawk focused intently on comprehending 'Life'.
Although Hawk has not yet grasped the true meaning of the Eighth Sense.
But... in his two days of comprehending 'Life', he has already understood why his Sixth Sense warned him when he previously wanted to ask the Dwarf King Eitri to help forge the gold cloth.
Before, he didn't know the specific reason.
But now he does.
Life!
As everyone knows.
Each gold cloth, symbolizing the Zodiac, is not so much armor as it is a battle suit with Life.
Yes.
The gold cloth itself possesses Life, which is why the gold cloth is so rare and why it is so unique.
Therefore... for the past two days, Hawk had kept his mind immersed in his Little Universe, using the power of the Mind Stone to comprehend the insights into 'Life' he had gained from Ego's main body.
It was precisely because his mind had been constantly comprehending 'Life' for these two days that his thoughts were somewhat scattered by this point.
Simply put, he thought of whatever came to mind.
In the Little Universe.
The phoenix phantom enveloping the entire Universe, like a breathing entity, appeared and disappeared rhythmically.
Each time the phoenix phantom appeared, the Eye of Mind and the Eye of Reality also appeared alternately, releasing yellowish-green and crimson light throughout the Universe.
The yellowish-green and crimson lights intersected, ultimately forming golden light, staining his Little Universe in a golden hue.
Hawk's mind, meanwhile, sat cross-legged on his River of Time, his eyes slightly closed, using himself as a guide to influence the flow of Life.
Time ticked by!
According to the Enterprise's flight speed, it wouldn't actually take them many days to fly back to Earth.
But as Gwen put it, since they were already delayed, there was no difference between being two days late or ten days late returning to Earth.
The most important point.
Gwen had taken a month's vacation for their honeymoon, but her laboratory work schedule was arranged for two months.
Hawk offered no opinion on this.
And so.
As the Enterprise entered the Solar System and began to steadily advance towards Earth, Gwen's greatest pleasure was sitting in the captain's chair, gazing at the boundless starry sky outside.
When the Enterprise passed Jupiter's orbit, Gwen had the Enterprise stop.
When Hawk emerged from his room and arrived at the bridge, he saw Gwen standing by the window, staring intently at the celestial body ahead.
Hawk walked behind Gwen and embraced her.
Gwen felt Hawk's embrace, continuing to look at Jupiter before her.
"So beautiful!"
"Terrifyingly beautiful!"
Though Jupiter is beautiful, it contains great terror.
As everyone knows.
Jupiter has no solid surface; beneath its magnificent cloud layers hide countless giant storms, especially the Great Red Spot, which could swallow two Earths.
Let's put it this way.
Any creature that goes to Jupiter will surely die.
Of course.
Gods are an exception.
Hawk smiled and followed Gwen's gaze towards the terrifying Jupiter reflected in her eyes: "I can take you inside to see, if you're not afraid."
Gwen withdrew her gaze, smoothly turned in Hawk's arms, then wrapped her arms around Hawk's neck.
"You know I'd be scared."
"Sorry."
"Why aren't you continuing your comprehension today?"
"No need anymore."
Hawk smiled: "What I needed to comprehend, I have already comprehended. What I haven't, I won't be able to, no matter how much more I try."
In short.
No forcing it.
With his current strength, self-preservation and protecting those he cares about are already sufficient; there's no need to constantly feel like a mad dog is chasing him, desperately trying to improve himself.
The most important point.
Haste makes waste.
Sometimes, retracting a fist isn't giving up the attack, but rather to ensure the next punch is more accurate and powerful.
The same applies to comprehending the Eighth Sense.
Gwen listened to Hawk's words, nodded thoughtfully, and then seemed to think of something: "Hey, Pluto isn't far from here. Do you want to go have a drink with your good friend Mephisto?"
Hawk heard her, raised an eyebrow, said nothing, but simply smiled at Gwen.
Their eyes met.
Gwen blinked.
"What's wrong?"
"My dear."
"Hmm?"
"How do I feel like you don't want to go back to Earth so soon?"
"That's not a feeling, it's an illusion."
Gwen's expression was serious as she earnestly corrected him, but she didn't maintain it for two seconds. Meeting Hawk's gaze, she shrugged: "Okay, you always talk about Mephisto, but I've never met him. I don't even know what he looks like."
Hawk laughed.
"Very ugly, but uniquely ugly."
"Uh..."
"Just especially ugly!"
Hawk said, then chuckled: "However, you won't be able to meet Mephisto. That guy is still refining the Heaven Dimension."
Gwen was slightly stunned.
"Didn't you say he already devoured the Heaven Dimension?"
"Devouring is devouring, refining is refining. They are not the same."
"...Alright."
Gwen's idea of a short trip to Hell fell through, so she shrugged, but didn't mind.
"Enterprise!"
"Madam."
"Depart, Earth, full speed!"
"Understood!"
The Enterprise, previously suspended in Jupiter's orbit, roared to full power and, with Gwen's cry of "Home!", instantly vanished from Jupiter's orbit.
Soon.
The quiet, azure little broken Planet suspended in the Universe appeared on the screen, and in the Enterprise's cargo hold, boxes of honeymoon gifts Gwen had purchased vanished into thin air, one after another.
Once the honeymoon gifts were completely gone, Hawk, embracing Gwen, left the Enterprise, just as they had when they departed, and floated in the Universe.
The next second.
Gwen saw the Enterprise, quietly suspended in her line of sight, disappear without a trace like a phantom bubble after a ripple, leaving no evidence of its existence.
The Enterprise was materialized by Hawk using the Reality Stone.
Hawk needed to constantly maintain the Enterprise's existence with energy every moment.
Although this amount of energy was negligible to him, if he wished, he could truly make the Enterprise continue to exist.
But... there was no need.
They were home. Gwen's next check-up at the hospital on Xandar was in six months. Rather than letting the Enterprise sit idle and rust above Earth, it was better to dismiss it and materialize another one when they went to Xandar in six months.
So... after Hawk revoked the Enterprise's existence, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Gwen in his arms.
"Let's go, home."
"Mm."
Gwen looked down at the azure Planet beneath her feet, thought of her mother Helen and father George, and her two foolish younger brothers, then nodded: "Home."
Hawk didn't hesitate, embracing Gwen, and instantly broke through the atmosphere... (End of chapter)
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