Marvel : Mutant God

The energy storm, explosive fireball, shockwave, and thunderous sound—all lasted mere seconds before dissipating into eerie calm. The dark thunderclouds that had gathered above the manor vanished, and Thor, no longer suspended in the air, descended gracefully onto the lawn.

"You are strong," Thor acknowledged, the crackling lightning no longer enveloping his form. "Stronger than Hulk."

"You haven't visited Earth in some time," Richard replied, returning Masamune to his system space. "Hulk was defeated by me long ago."

Though Thor and Loki's unexpected arrival had caught him off guard—and Loki's behavior had irritated him slightly—Richard chose not to escalate the situation, considering it a gesture of respect toward Odin.

To most observers, Richard's power seemed to rival that of mythological deities. Yet he understood this perception stemmed largely from Earth's limited understanding of the universe's true scope.

According to the cosmic hierarchy established in the comics, Richard had merely reached the lowest tier of Earth's god-level beings. In other words, while formidable among Earth's divine entities, his strength was relatively modest in the grand scheme of the Marvel Universe.

Beyond Earth's god tier stretched numerous higher classifications: Skyfather level, universal level, multiversal level, cosmic level, and omnipotent level. Though Richard maintained tremendous confidence in his abilities, he wasn't so arrogant as to believe he could dominate the entire Marvel cosmos.

Take Odin, the All-Father, as an example. Richard harbored no illusions about defeating him in direct confrontation.

Though the cinematic Odin hadn't displayed the terrifying power befitting a Skyfather—even suffering the indignity of being imprisoned by Loki and relegated to an Earthly care facility—Odin remained undeniably one of the most powerful beings in the Nine Realms.

"Hulk lost to you as well?" Thor asked, genuine surprise evident in his voice.

"Yes," Richard confirmed simply.

Though Richard offered no elaboration on how he'd overcome the green behemoth, Thor didn't press the issue. Instead, he said, "Would it be convenient for you to accompany us to Asgard now?"

"Give me a few minutes," Richard requested.

With that, he teleported directly to where Emma Frost and the others stood watching.

"I'm going to Asgard," he informed them. "If all goes well, I'll return shortly."

Hearing this, Emma and the others nodded their understanding.

After briefing his companions, Richard teleported back to Thor's position.

Seconds later, a rainbow bridge—as magnificent as the aurora borealis—descended from the heavens, completely enveloping Richard, Thor, and Loki in its prismatic light.

When the Rainbow Bridge vanished, Richard and the Asgardian brothers had disappeared entirely from Emma Frost and the others' sight.

This marked Richard's first experience with Bifröst-facilitated teleportation. Though he'd never personally traveled this way before, the process matched exactly what he'd anticipated.

The sensation resembled riding an impossibly fast elevator through a tunnel of breathtaking beauty. In mere seconds, Richard and his Asgardian escorts arrived in Asgard—specifically, in the Observatory at the terminus of the Rainbow Bridge.

There, standing upon the round platform, waited Heimdall—clad in golden armor and bearing the solemn title "Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge."

After arriving at the Observatory, Thor exchanged brief greetings with Heimdall before leading Richard toward the magnificent Golden Palace of Asgard.

Outside the door to the King's study within the Golden Palace, four fully armed Einherjar stood at attention. Each wore gleaming armor and carried both spears and longswords at their waists.

With Thor and Loki leading the way, Richard had reached the study without incident.

Upon reaching the study door, Thor knocked with measured respect.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Almost immediately, a weathered voice responded from within. "Enter."

The voice unmistakably belonged to Odin, Asgard's ruler and All-Father of the Norse pantheon.

At Odin's invitation, Thor pushed open the ornate doors—standing four or five meters tall and apparently fashioned from gold—and entered with Richard at his side.

Unlike Thor and Loki in their ceremonial armor and flowing cloaks, Odin wore a simple white suit. Despite his understated attire, the moment Richard entered the study, he felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything he'd experienced before—the unmistakable weight of Odin's divine authority.

Had any other being exuded such intimidating presence upon first meeting, Richard would have interpreted it as a deliberate attempt to cow him. But Odin represented a different case entirely.

If Odin had merely wished to impress Richard with his power, he wouldn't have dispatched Thor and Loki to Earth as personal envoys.

"Father," Thor and Loki intoned in unison, offering slight bows to Odin, who sat behind his desk.

Richard remained silent but mirrored their gesture, showing appropriate respect to the All-Father.

"Leave us, my sons," Odin directed. "I must speak with Richard privately."

Though clearly curious about their father's intentions, Thor and Loki complied without hesitation. "Yes, Father," they replied before departing, carefully closing the massive doors behind them.

With only himself and Richard remaining in the study, Odin gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you," Richard nodded, taking the indicated seat.

Once Richard was settled, Odin posed an unexpected question: "What impression have you formed of Thor and Loki?"

Richard frowned slightly, puzzled by this line of inquiry.

After a thoughtful pause, he responded, "I'm not entirely sure I understand your meaning, Your Majesty."

"Allow me to be more direct, then," Odin continued. "Do you believe my sons possess sufficient capability to safeguard Asgard and the Nine Realms?"

What game is he playing? Richard wondered silently.

Though uncertain of Odin's ultimate purpose, he offered an honest assessment.

"Working together, the brothers should be capable of protecting Asgard without significant difficulty," Richard stated. "As for securing the entire Nine Realms... that's less certain."

Hearing this response, Odin's expression suggested Richard had confirmed his expectations.

"It seems the Ancient One judged correctly," Odin remarked. "You indeed possess knowledge beyond that of ordinary mortals."

"Since you're aware that Loki is not my biological son, I'll dispense with pretense. I summoned you here because I require your assistance."

Though Odin hadn't yet specified his request, Richard had already surmised the likely subject.

Hela, the Goddess of Death.

Beyond Odin's firstborn, Richard couldn't imagine any threat significant enough to prompt the All-Father to take such measures.

"You want me to help prevent the Goddess of Death—Hela—from escaping her imprisonment," Richard stated directly.

"Yes," Odin confirmed.

"When I die," Odin continued with quiet gravity, "Hela—whom I exiled to Hel—will be freed from her imprisonment."

"Though I have great faith in Thor and Loki, prudence dictates seeking additional safeguards. I hope you might intercede to stop Hela when that moment arrives."

Richard met Odin's gaze directly. "I can help prevent Hela's escape—but I expect appropriate compensation in return."

"What would you ask as payment?" Odin inquired, his expression unreadable.

"The Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame," Richard stated without preamble. "I know both artifacts reside in your vault, Your Majesty. Grant me these items, and I will not only help contain Hela but also do everything in my power to prevent Ragnarök itself."

Richard saw no need for excessive diplomacy with the All-Father and spoke his terms plainly.

Had anyone else dared request the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame as payment, Odin would likely have refused outright and demonstrated why he was called the All-Father. Yet hearing these demands from Richard, Odin showed no anger—only an expression suggesting he had anticipated this very request.

"Since you desire the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame as your reward, they shall be yours," Odin declared. "However, I require that our conversation today remain strictly between us."

Odin's gaze intensified as he emphasized the importance of discretion.

"Agreed," Richard nodded simply.

"Very well. Our business is concluded," Odin declared. "Thor will escort you to the vault. Once you've secured the Casket and the Flame, he'll accompany you to the Observatory where Heimdall will return you to Earth."

With that, Odin lifted an exquisite golden bell from his desk and rang it gently.

Jingle.

Seconds after the bell's delicate sound faded, the study doors opened as Thor and Loki reentered.

"Thor," Odin commanded, "take Richard to the treasury and surrender to him the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame."

What? Thor and Loki exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion evident.

Though neither prince knew what Odin and Richard had discussed, they both recognized the significance of the artifacts in question. Both the Casket and the Flame were not merely rare treasures but symbolic trophies representing Odin's greatest victories.

Yet now, inexplicably, Odin intended to bestow these priceless relics upon Richard—a mortal he had only just met.

"Father," Loki objected immediately, "why would you give the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame to this... mortal?"

"It is my decision," Odin replied with finality.

"I don't understand—" Loki began to protest further.

Before he could continue, Thor placed a restraining hand on his brother's shoulder.

"I will escort Richard to the vault immediately," Thor assured Odin, cutting off Loki's objection.

"Go," Odin confirmed with a nod.

Half an hour later, in the Observatory at the terminus of the Rainbow Bridge, Thor addressed Richard as Heimdall prepared to activate the Bifröst.

"I don't know what transpired between you and my father," Thor said thoughtfully. "Nor do I understand why he relinquished the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Eternal Flame to your keeping. But I trust he has profound reasons for his actions."

"Do not disappoint my father's faith in you—and prove worthy of the artifacts he has entrusted to your care."

Without waiting for Richard's response, Thor instructed Heimdall to activate the Rainbow Bridge.

"You will understand your father's reasoning in time," Richard assured Thor cryptically.

Then, under the watchful gaze of both Thor and Heimdall, Richard stepped into the Bifröst's brilliant light and vanished from their sight.

The following day at noon, Richard walked alone to the training grounds behind Silver Manor's main building.

Though his meeting with Odin had not been part of his original plans, he felt thoroughly satisfied with the outcome. Even had Odin not requested his intervention, Richard would have considered taking action against Hela after Odin's eventual passing—if for no other reason than to test whether he could defeat the Goddess of Death at full strength.

Beyond that strategic consideration, Richard held genuine interest in Hela's extraordinary abilities and those of the resurrected wolf Fenrir.

Reaching the training ground, Richard extracted two artifacts from his system space: the Frost Giants' "Casket of Ancient Winters" and the Fire Giant Surtur's "Eternal Flame."

As he withdrew these cosmic relics, system notifications immediately appeared in his field of vision:

[Do you wish to absorb the Casket of Ancient Winters to upgrade the Blizzaga skill?]

[Do you wish to absorb the Eternal Flame to upgrade the Firaga skill?]

Upon seeing these prompts, Richard selected "Yes" without hesitation.

This wasn't the first time he'd encountered these upgrade options. When he initially obtained the artifacts, the system had presented identical information—but he had chosen to close the panel without making a selection.

The instant after confirming his choice, the Casket of Ancient Winters in his left hand and the Eternal Flame hovering above his right palm suddenly vanished. Both transformed into energies imperceptible to the naked eye and flowed into his body.

As these primordial energies merged with his being, Richard felt his mana surging at an unprecedented rate.

[Absorption complete!]

[Blizzaga Level Up!]

[Firaga Level Up!]

[Skills: Blizzaga Lv5 (Extreme), Firaga Lv5 (Extreme)]

[Mana: 45,000/45,000 (recovery rate: 15,000 points per hour)]

Richard smiled with profound satisfaction as he reviewed the information.

Superficially, absorbing the Casket and the Flame had merely increased Blizzaga and Firaga by one level each. But the notation "(Extreme)" revealed the truth—these weren't simple incremental improvements but transformative enhancements that had elevated both spells to their ultimate forms.

Moreover, boosting both spells to their extreme potential had caused his mana capacity to surge to a staggering 45,000 points.

If there was any disappointment, it was that the fusion degree of Sephiroth's template remained unchanged. Yet even this represented a minor concern. Completing the "One-Winged Angel (III)" mission would increase Sephiroth's template fusion by 10% regardless.

After dismissing the information panel, Richard immediately teleported to a position high above the Atlantic Ocean.

While the system had clearly indicated that both Blizzaga and Firaga had reached their extreme states, it had provided no explanation regarding the actual capabilities of these enhanced spells.

To discover their true potential, Richard decided a practical demonstration was in order—with the Atlantic Ocean as his testing ground.

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