Asgard was the realm of the Aesir, often called the Domain of the Gods. It was the world where those who worshiped Odin as their supreme ruler lived and thrived. Figures such as Thor, the God of Thunder, Loki, the God of Mischief, and Heimdall, the eternal guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, all belonged to this legendary civilization.
There were many others as well, each possessing power that far surpassed ordinary beings.
Of course, the title of "god" was largely something they gave themselves. Yet even so, the Aesir were undeniably a powerful race. They possessed mastery over complex magic, and their physical bodies were extraordinarily strong.
From the perspective of normal humans, calling them gods was not entirely unreasonable.
But in Ethan's eyes, things looked very different.
To him, these so-called gods were nothing more than particularly powerful creatures. At best they were dangerous beasts with greater intelligence, but they were far from being true divine beings.
Ethan and Jean appeared within the vast city of Asgard itself.
The city stretched across a massive plateau, its architecture formed from enormous stone structures and shining golden metals. The buildings radiated an atmosphere that felt both ancient and noble, yet also wild and untamed.
At the center of the city stood a colossal palace.
Layer upon layer of giant stone terraces rose toward the sky, forming a monumental structure that towered thousands of meters high. At the very top of the palace stood something resembling a giant eye-shaped structure.
From it radiated brilliant golden light.
The glow shone like a miniature sun, illuminating the entire world of Asgard.
"This must be Asgard," Ethan said while observing the surroundings. "The ambient energy here is incredibly dense."
He slowly nodded while sensing the environment.
"In a place like this, even ordinary people would naturally live longer lives," he continued. "Their bodies would gradually grow stronger simply from existing here."
As he spoke, Ethan suddenly sensed something probing toward him.
The sensation was faint but unmistakable. A strange mental force attempted to brush against his consciousness, as if someone were trying to examine his thoughts.
However, the moment the foreign power touched his mind, Ethan's telepathic senses immediately detected it.
In the very next instant, his mental defenses reacted.
The probing force was crushed completely.
Ethan then followed the origin of that power using his own telepathy. His consciousness traveled along the faint trail until his perception reached the heart of the palace.
There he saw a figure.
An old man sat upon a magnificent golden throne.
Despite his age, the man radiated an overwhelming sense of authority. His long white hair draped across his shoulders, and his right eye was covered by a golden eyepatch.
His remaining left eye burned with majestic power.
"Odin," Ethan murmured.
At that same moment, the old man lifted his head.
His gaze crossed the vast distance between them and met Ethan's eyes directly. A faint smile appeared on Odin's face as his voice echoed through space.
"Guests from afar," he said, "please come in."
Ethan smiled in return.
In the next instant, both he and Jean vanished again.
When they reappeared, they were already standing inside Odin's throne hall.
Ethan disliked the feeling of looking up at others. Because of that, he simply hovered in midair along with Jean, positioning themselves slightly higher than Odin's throne.
From this position, Odin had to look upward to meet Ethan's gaze, while Ethan looked down at him calmly.
"Two unexpected guests," Odin said, his voice steady. "How exactly did you arrive here?"
Despite the unusual situation, Odin appeared remarkably calm. The natural authority of a king radiated from him, preventing any hint of panic from showing on his face.
Yet beneath that composure was clear curiosity.
"I used the Cosmic Cube to lock onto Asgard's spatial coordinates," Ethan said with an easy smile. "I came here because I need to ask you for something."
Odin's eye narrowed slightly.
"And what is it that you seek?"
"The Eternal Flame," Ethan replied calmly. "And the complete system of Asgardian magic."
For a brief moment, silence filled the hall.
Then Odin suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
He shook his head slowly, his smile carrying both amusement and disbelief.
"The Eternal Flame is one of Asgard's greatest secrets," Odin said. "And the magic of the Aesir is the very foundation of our civilization."
His expression gradually grew serious.
"Both of those things are extremely important to us," he continued. "I cannot give them to you."
"So please, do not treat this matter as a joke."
Ethan's smile did not fade.
"I'm not joking," he said.
The humor slowly disappeared from Odin's face.
After a moment, the All-Father rose from his throne.
He grabbed the spear that rested beside him and slammed it firmly against the floor.
"Boom!"
The impact echoed through the hall like thunder.
A powerful shockwave spread outward from Odin's position, rolling across the chamber like an invisible storm. Yet when the wave reached Ethan and Jean, it did absolutely nothing.
Their clothes did not even flutter.
Ethan remained perfectly still, calmly observing Odin. After several seconds of silent tension, Odin finally spoke again.
"Do you understand how rude your request is?" Odin asked gravely. "What you are doing is a direct provocation against Asgard."
His eye hardened.
"Are you trying to start a war?"
Ethan simply shook his head.
"Whether it becomes a war or not doesn't matter to me," he said calmly. "I'm acting on my own behalf."
Then he added another sentence.
"But if you want war…"
"I'll give you war."
The air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly.
A heavy tension filled the space, pressing down like an invisible weight.
At that exact moment, the doors of the throne hall burst open.
A large group of warriors rushed inside.
Each of them wore brilliant golden armor and carried long spears. Their presence radiated discipline and deadly experience, the unmistakable aura of soldiers who had fought countless battles.
Every one of them was an elite warrior of Asgard.
They had been forged through blood and fire.
"War leads to terrible consequences," Odin said with a stern expression. "Have you truly thought this through?"
"Then let it happen," Ethan replied casually.
He turned his head slightly toward Jean.
"The ones below are yours."
Jean nodded once.
She didn't speak.
But the moment Ethan finished speaking, her eyes changed.
Darkness swallowed the warmth within them, replaced by something terrifying and ancient. A destructive will surged from her body, making the atmosphere itself tremble.
She slowly raised her hand.
Behind her, blazing streams of energy erupted outward.
The light spread like a pair of enormous wings, and an overwhelming pressure descended upon the warriors in the hall.
.....
Want to read ahead. Then Join my P@treon 60+ exclusive chapters that are waiting for you.
Free members can get 2 advanced chapters FOR FREE.
Link: ptreon.com/Lotus_Lover
Join Right Now