Christmas in 2013 was different from previous Christmases.
In previous Christmases, Hawk would usually spend the holiday with his sister Anya at her tombstone.
After all, Anya was his only relative in this World.
But this year was different.
Hawk had one more relative now.
Gwen.
His fiancée.
At home on Palm Street, the big fat snowman on the lawn outside hadn't melted much and still stood firmly on the grass.
There were also glowing reindeer.
The string lights on the porch were lit, and Nutcracker soldiers in bright uniforms stood with guns on either side of the door, looking very cute.
Gwen had personally arranged all of this in the past few days.
Such was the outside.
Inside, it was not only completely refreshed but also filled with a festive atmosphere.
There was a small Christmas tree ornament at the entrance.
In the living room, near the fireplace, a Christmas tree that had been brought back from Jersey City just yesterday was now adorned with various decorative balls.
There were also clay Angels and bead strings that Gwen had made herself these past few days.
Little Angels, Nutcrackers, snowflakes, and stars were now hanging on the branches.
Most importantly.
Various mini photos of Hawk and Gwen were also hanging on the Christmas tree branches, including one family photo of three, which Gwen had Photoshopped using pictures of Hawk and his sister Anya, prominently displayed in the most conspicuous position.
A shining Star of Bethlehem solemnly stood at the top of the Christmas tree.
Underneath the tree, a fluffy tree skirt was laid out, and gift boxes of various sizes and colors, waiting to be unwrapped, were piled there.
But the room was empty.
Hawk and Gwen were nowhere to be seen.
Because... the two were invited by Thor, who was also alone on Earth, to celebrate Christmas together with Thor and Jane in their new district in Manhattan.
Tony Stark and Ms. Pepper Potts were also there.
At this moment, in the small kitchen, gathered a top female CEO with the World's highest market value, a female Dr. with extremely high renown in the field of astronomy, and a female student who had just completed her first year of university.
Uh... The three women did not show any animosity due to the difference in their statuses; the atmosphere was quite harmonious, full of laughter and conversation, as they worked together to prepare delicious food.
Pepper Potts needs no further explanation; she is a clever woman who subtly won over a top playboy.
Jane Foster also needs no further explanation; being able to win over a God is enough to explain everything.
As for Gwen, who managed to get along with all her neighbors in the community within a week, successfully making them think of her whenever there was an event, she also needs no further explanation.
Moreover, this was not the first time the three women had met.
When Thor and Jane returned to New York City, they immediately organized a gathering, and it was that evening, a happy Thor remembered his scheduled fight with Hawk, so he went to the atmosphere to start their first duel.
In short.
The three women were having a great time in the kitchen.
The three men, on the other hand, were drinking and bragging in the living room.
Alright.
Mainly Thor and Tony were drinking.
Hawk didn't drink.
He would only be nineteen after this Christmas, still three years away from the legal drinking age of twenty-one.
The Hell Pub on the Edge of Life and Death doesn't count.
In a word.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The Hell Pub didn't have a law against drinking under twenty-one.
Hawk was currently holding Mjolnir on the table, trying to lift it.
Thor, sitting beside him, held a beer and watched the scene with composure, seemingly not at all worried that Hawk could lift his Mjolnir.
And indeed, that was the case.
Even with his current strength, capable of lifting a hill with one hand without breaking a sweat, Hawk still couldn't budge Mjolnir.
After all... the head of this hammer was forged from a dead star.
Simply put, there are only two ways to lift this Mjolnir.
The first is Mjolnir's self-recognition, such as Thor and the future Jane.
The second is if you have a righteous heart and pure intentions, meeting the conditions to wield Mjolnir, such as Captain America.
But besides these, there is a third way.
To wield this hammer with absolute power.
When you can lift a star with one hand, you can lift this Mjolnir with absolute power.
However, the current Hawk clearly couldn't.
But... on the way home after the dinner.
Gwen, driving towards Palm Street, curiously glanced at Hawk sitting in the passenger seat: "Hawk, you've fought Thor so many times, your strength should be on par with his, right?"
Hawk nodded: "Yes."
In these ten fights, assuming only the Little Universe was burning without fully erupting, his win-loss record against Thor was basically fifty-fifty.
Gwen blinked.
"So you're a God now too?"
"No."
"Then you and Thor..."
"He hasn't fully mastered his divine authority."
Hawk already knew what Gwen wanted to ask and explained with a smile: "If Thor had completely mastered his divine authority over lightning, out of ten fights, I'd be lucky to win once."
Even though he now possessed the two authorities of the Phoenix, Immortality and Nirvana.
But he was not a God after all.
After comprehending the Sixth Sense, his life level had undergone a transformation, but there was still a long way to go before he could be called a God.
One must know that comprehending the Eighth Sense merely touched the edges of a God.
The Ninth Sense is known as the realm of Gods; only by comprehending the Ninth Sense can one truly be called a God.
The current Hawk... is still far from the Seventh Sense, let alone the Ninth Sense.
Actually, Thor was pretty much the same.
Both possessed divine authority, but neither of their divine authorities could affect others.
For example, Hawk's Nirvana divine authority currently couldn't be bestowed upon others, and similarly, Thor's lightning divine authority couldn't be given to others.
So... "To say God is not an exaggeration; a false God is still a God, after all."
Hawk thought to himself, chuckled, and then looked at Gwen, somewhat curious: "Why did you suddenly ask about this?"
Gwen opened her mouth and talked about the conversation the three women had in the kitchen earlier.
Mainly, Jane was speaking, recounting what she had seen and heard during her day and night in Asgard, and then somehow the conversation suddenly turned to the difference between mortals and deities.
The life level of mortals dictates a lifespan of no more than a hundred years.
But deities, their lifespans are almost immortal and indestructible; as long as they are not killed, their lifespan is virtually infinite.
"Jane seemed a little worried."
"She should indeed be worried."
Hawk chuckled upon hearing this: "King Odin and all of Asgard have always favored Sif, one of their own, as Thor's wife. And Jane is right, mortal lifespans are only a hundred years at most. Thor might accompany Jane for a lifetime, but Jane cannot accompany Thor for his entire life."
Speaking of which, he reacted.
Hawk glanced sideways at Gwen: "So, you're worried about this issue?"
Gwen also looked sideways, a gentle smile on her face: "No, I'm just glad I can go before you. At least, I won't grieve for you, and you will grieve for me."
Hawk was stunned for a moment when he heard Gwen's answer.
The next second.
He caught a glimpse of a familiar pub through the window on the right side of the vehicle.
"Stop the car!"
"Screech."
Gwen stepped on the brake, looking at Hawk who was peering through the car window at an empty, demolished lot across the road, and blinked: "What's wrong?"
Hawk came back to his senses, smiled slightly, and said to Gwen, who was looking at him curiously: "Wait for me here."
With that.
He unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed open the car door, and after getting out, walked towards the Hell Pub in his eyes, which was an empty lot in Gwen's eyes.
The next second.
Just as Hawk pushed open the door of the Hell Pub, the real Hawk also abruptly disappeared from Gwen's sight.
Gwen raised an eyebrow at this scene.
But she wasn't surprised.
Again, the current Gwen felt that her surprise threshold had risen to a very high level.
Indeed.
This Hell Pub was a projection of Mephisto.
After entering the Hell Pub, Hawk felt the familiar aura of the Edge of Life and Death, then saw Mephisto already sitting at the table, raising a glass and smiling at him. He thought to himself and then walked towards Mephisto.
Mephisto smiled and raised his glass to greet Hawk.
"Merry Christmas, Hawk."
"Merry Christmas."
After sitting down, Hawk picked up the glass in front of him, clinked it with Mephisto's, celebrated for a moment, and then curiously said: "Projecting the Hell Pub to New York City, where Kamar-Taj is located, Mephisto, aren't you afraid the Sorcerer Supreme will come and beat you up again?"
Mephisto said disdainfully: "What else can she do besides repeatedly making me submit using the Time Stone? I'm just too lazy to waste time with her."
Hawk recalled Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, who would be tormented by the Time Stone in the future.
So Mephisto was also a victim of the Time Stone.
Hawk thought to himself, then got straight to the point: "Your appearance this time, have you changed your mind? Can you help me revive my sister?"
Mephisto didn't speak immediately, but first refilled Hawk's glass, then placed the bottle aside, and then picked up his own glass.
"Hawk, I always thought you were a smart man."
"Hmm?"
Hawk raised an eyebrow at this, picked up his glass, and clinked it with Mephisto's again: "What do you mean?"
Mephisto drained his glass, then leaned back into the sofa behind him, crossed his hands in front of him, and smiled at Hawk: "Releasing your sister's soul is very easy for me. I don't need to offend a future God for one soul."
Hawk didn't speak.
Because he knew there was a 'but' after that sentence.
Indeed.
"But—"
Mephisto changed his tone, then a hint of helplessness appeared on his face, he shook his head, and looked at Hawk: "You want me to release your sister's soul, you should at least prepare a body to house the soul first."
Hawk: "..."
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