Marvel: Starting as a Time Criminal, Stealing Powers

Russell focused his mind, checking the latest entries. The first was from Ebony Maw:

[Psychokinesis (Blue-Purple)]

A mental power distinct from telekinesis—it allows the user to manipulate matter with thought.

It can also generate psychic spikes to torture and disrupt the mind.

Note: Can be stacked with the telekinesis ability.

[Bewitching (Blue)]

Skilled in using persuasive language to dismantle psychological defenses—can manipulate, seduce, or influence targets, though with a chance of failure.

[Knowledge Reserve (Purple)]

Grants an extensive database of mechanical expertise, cosmic awareness, and galactic geography.

Russell raised his eyebrows in surprise.

He expected Psychokinesis, but hadn't anticipated getting such a valuable drop.

Bewitching was a useful utility skill, but Knowledge Reserve was a true jackpot.

This made up for his lack of information when navigating the timeline.

The next entry came from Cull Obsidian (a.k.a. Black Dwarf), though it was more mundane:

[Super Strength (Blue)]

Grants the user a strength level of approximately 15 tons and hardened skin that can resist most physical damage.

It sounded decent, but it didn't provide a direct strength boost. Instead, it increased the density of his muscles, bones, and flesh.

Otherwise, stacking the entry could give someone 100 million tons of strength and make them invincible—which would be unbalanced.

With Russell's current physique, this was only a slight enhancement—better than nothing.

[Warhammer Mastery (White)]

Proficient in wielding various warhammers.

Russell shrugged. "Well, that's pretty useless."

Then his eyes lit up—he reached the most exciting reward:

[Titan Bloodline (Gold)]

The genetic bloodline of the Eternals.

Provides superhuman strength, stamina, regeneration, durability, and agility.

Resists cold, heat, electricity, radiation, poison, aging, disease, and even magic.

Grants partial immunity to mental interference, mind control, and bewitchment.

Allows survival in space without oxygen or food.

Weakness Erasure: After integration, does not cause Titan mutations like purple skin, oversized features, or chin ridges.

Russell whistled.

"No wonder Thanos could resist the Power Stone's corrosive energy."

He finally understood why the Titan was so difficult to kill—even after being dragged into the spiritual realm.

"This guy was a fully maxed-out tank."

If Russell hadn't tricked him, he wouldn't have stood a chance at killing him within 48 seconds.

And it wasn't over yet.

After absorbing the Titan Bloodline, his Extremis temperature surged again—now reaching 9000 degrees.

Russell stared at this entry, currently the only one with unlimited growth potential.

"At this rate, I might become a walking sun someday."

15 million degrees... doesn't sound so impossible anymore.

The void had entered nighttime.

Russell decided not to keep pushing.

He wasn't Iron Man—he needed rest when it was time to rest.

So he jumped to the timeline, had a hearty feast, and brought back an ice-cold Coke for the Little Wolf Girl.

After eating, it was time to replenish some physical strength.

It had been 24 hours since their last sparring match.

Time for exercise!

As usual, the Little Wolf Girl started out strong—her strikes were aggressive, aiming straight for weak spots.

Russell seemed completely on the defensive.

But as time passed, her stamina faded.

Her hits grew softer… she was cornered… and finally, she collapsed and surrendered.

Then came the second battle of the X-Men.

The third battle.

The fourth battle.

The X-Men were utterly defeated.

Over ten minutes later, the Little Wolf Girl had regained some strength, but she looked at Russell—still brimming with energy—and felt a bit disheartened.

She could clearly feel his power continuing to grow. She couldn't keep up anymore.

A 1v1 was no longer feasible.

And thinking back, if Russell hadn't come into her life, she wouldn't be living so peacefully now—no more constant crises, no more life on the edge.

That made her feel even guiltier.

"Maybe... I should find a teammate for him."

"Someone who's worthy of him..."

The Void - Morning

Russell grabbed some breakfast and returned to the timeline.

Still the timeline of Asgard's apocalypse—Ragnarök.

Considering what happened when he previously obtained the Power Stone, he now wanted to test how the Infinity Stones affected time branches.

He stealthily approached the Asgardian treasury and quickly located the Tesseract.

There was no security—he just picked it up directly.

The Time Tablet instantly vibrated.

Russell opened it and saw the timeline branching rapidly—much faster than before!

"Looks like Infinity Stones are major triggers for timeline distortion. Any small change causes massive divergence."

Without hesitation, he stashed the Tesseract.

Since the damage was already done, leaving it would just be wasteful. Plus, he had the Infinity Gauntlet—it could serve as a trump card if needed.

He sighed again.

If he hadn't seen how the TVA handled Khonshu, he might've already started planning their downfall.

But that negative time energy was terrifying.

He still had no counter to it—for now, the best strategy was to stay low and keep growing stronger.

Next Goal: Hela.

Her divine power was top-tier.

And Russell remembered the legendary Aesir Royal Bloodline entry—which, when unlocked, might trigger the awakening of the Divine Calendar.

Combining those entries might increase the probability of awakening.

With this in mind, he adjusted the Time Tablet, rewinding to three days before the events of Ragnarök.

He didn't know the exact location or time of Hela's release, but following the plot was reliable enough.

He also hoped to earn the prerequisite Flame Giant (Pre-Ragnarök) entry along the way.

And so… his next "friend" would have to suffer.

Asgard

Timeline: September 23, 2017

Deep in Asgard, the air was filled with soft music, the breeze carried the scent of flowers, and the artificial sunlight was warm and pleasant.

The All-Father, Odin—looking old but full of energy—lay comfortably on a reclining couch.

He occasionally opened his mouth, waiting for the fairies beside him to feed him grapes imported from Vanaheim, as he enjoyed the music performed by the Asgardian band.

Until—

A man with a tattooed totem on his bald head suddenly rushed in, clearly panicked.

He knelt with one knee on the ground, his voice trembling:

"God-King Odin!"

Odin's eyes opened slightly, irritation flashing within them.

Still, he slowly sat up and said with a majestic tone:

"Skulk, didn't I assign you to guard the Bifrost?"

"You left your post without permission—do you understand the seriousness of that?"

Skulk was drenched in sweat and stammered:

"Forgive me, Your Majesty—it's urgent!"

Odin suddenly stood up:

"Thor is back?!"

But realizing how that sounded, he quickly cleared his throat and rephrased:

"I mean… has my impetuous eldest son returned?"

Skulk shook his head.

Odin exhaled in relief and sat back with a smile.

"Then there's nothing to worry about. You may go."

In his mind, unless Thor returned, nothing else could be so pressing.

But Skulk was clearly agitated.

"It's not Thor... it's Loki!"

Odin shot to his feet again, stunned:

"What!?"

Everyone nearby turned toward them.

This time, Odin didn't care.

"You're certain? Loki Odinson is back?"

Confused murmurs spread among the nobles.

"Loki Odinson? Who else would he be?"

"Didn't he die?"

After all, the opera memorializing his sacrifice had already been performed hundreds of times.

Skulk replied:

"It's him. He suddenly appeared on the Bifrost and is headed here now. I took a shortcut to report it first."

He knew Odin's secret—hence his privileged position in Asgard.

Naturally, he was shocked by Loki's return.

Meanwhile, "Odin" frowned in thought.

He expected Thor... or even Odin himself.

But Loki? That was unexpected.

And he was sure the approaching Loki was fake—he himself was the fake Loki!

Why someone would impersonate him, he didn't know.

Still, he had to act.

He couldn't order a direct arrest—no one else knew he was an imposter.

If he moved too hastily, it might backfire.

He composed himself and smiled at Skulk:

"It seems our trickster god is quite lucky to have survived."

"Thor must have misunderstood."

"I've missed my second son dearly. Bring him to me—I'll meet him at the temple."

Though puzzled, Skulk obeyed and ran off.

At the Bifrost

Skulk found Loki—actually Russell in disguise—standing still, staring into the distance at the waterfalls beyond Asgard.

He hadn't moved at all.

"Your Highness? The All-Father awaits you at the temple," Skulk said again, nervously.

Russell didn't respond at first—his eyes were fixed.

He had seen something.

The World Tree.

It wasn't a normal tree.

It was pure energy—rainbow-colored, dreamlike branches stretching across his entire field of vision.

Magnificent.

But Skulk clearly couldn't see it. Why could he?

Then, a shimmering branch extended and touched Russell's body.

He instinctively raised a hand, but the energy simply passed into him.

The system chimed:

[Warning: Foreign energy detected...]

[Source confirmed—gift from the World Tree.]

[Warning canceled.]

Russell blinked, confused.

A gift?

He felt no changes in his body.

The tree soon dimmed and vanished from sight—like it had slipped into another dimension.

It hadn't done this the last time he visited this timeline.

He gave up thinking about it for now—maybe Odin would know more.

Skulk was close to losing it when Loki finally turned around.

"What did you say just now?" Russell asked, having been too distracted to hear him.

"The All-Father awaits you in the temple, Your Highness."

Russell smirked.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Soon after, Russell entered the temple and walked up to the throne.

Everyone turned to look. Curiosity was thick in the air.

Wasn't Loki dead?

On the throne, "Odin" rose with a warm smile:

"Loki Odinson, my second son."

"You don't know how much I missed you these past three years. Thor himself told me you died."

He intended to unmask the imposter step by step.

But before he could act—

"Shut up, you fraud!" Loki (Russell) suddenly shouted, pointing at him.

"Odin" was stunned.

You're the fake—calling me a fake!?

Then Russell turned to the people:

"People of Asgard, you've been deceived!"

"That is not Odin! He's an imposter!"

The guards raised their spears toward Russell.

They were loyal to Odin—words alone couldn't sway them.

"Odin" shouted:

"Seize him! He is not Loki!"

Hundreds of guards moved at once.

Russell didn't flinch.

He simply grinned.

That smile sent a chill down Loki's spine.

Then, right before the guards reached him, Russell vanished—green light flashing as he disappeared.

Loki's heart dropped.

Illusion magic.

He hadn't even realized the other wasn't really there.

Then a voice whispered behind him:

"Tsk tsk... You can't even see through your own magic."

Loki nearly screamed.

He felt a cold blade touch his neck.

His dagger.

His own illusion, his own blade—used against him.

In that moment, he felt like the fake.

The crowd gasped as Russell dispelled the illusion.

"Odin" was revealed—just a stranger, someone they'd never seen.

The real Odin would never be taken hostage this easily.

The temple erupted in chaos.

Loki, pale and trembling, cried:

"No—I'm not a fake!"

"I'm not Odin, I'm Loki!"

"Please, you must believe me!"

Russell rolled his eyes and smacked him with the flat of the dagger.

"You're Loki? Then who am I?"

"You pathetic imposter!"

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