While Nick Fury was busy preparing to locate and capture Loki, the true guardians of Earth stood in space, observing the planet.
“They are quite spirited. It seems I can rest assured that Earth will be well-protected in the future,” the Ancient One said softly, her eyes peering through the atmosphere at the actions of Tony and the others.
“What do you think?” she added, seemingly speaking to no one, for there was no one beside her—not even air in the vacuum of space.
A brilliant display of colors lit up the space around her in the next instant as a rainbow bridge materialized nearby.
Moments later, Odin emerged from the rainbow, clad in armor, exuding an aura as imposing as ever, though with a subtle hint of decay that hinted at the ravages of time.
“Have you dealt with Dormammu?” Odin asked, his question seemingly unrelated.
“Almost,” the Ancient One replied, turning to the formidable yet visibly aging, Asgardian king.
“Loki is your son’s brother, right? Are you not planning to do anything about him?” she asked.
“They must handle their affairs on their own. I can’t protect them forever,” Odin responded sternly, his face as severe as ever.
“Sigh, yes, and you’re leaving soon. The children must grow up,” the Ancient One sighed.
She had known Odin for a long time. Although their stances often differed and sometimes clashed over the years, a relationship akin to mutual respect had developed between them.
Odin remained silent, unsure of how to handle the situation with Loki.
“What about Thanos? Do you plan to take any action against him?” the Ancient One asked after a while.
“No. As long as we live, he won’t dare to come,” Odin said, using the most authoritative tone to express his helplessness.
“Indeed, as long as we live,” the Ancient One echoed, feeling a pang of melancholy.
Having guarded Earth for so long, it was finally time to pass on this responsibility to others.
“And what about the Main God Space? Do you have any leads?” Odin asked suddenly.
The Ancient One shook her head. “There is no trace of it on the timeline. Beyond the timeline, I don’t care. Sometimes, change is not a bad thing.”
“You’re right, but it seems someone is about to explain it to us directly,” Odin said, looking into the void.
Qi Yun paused his steps, shaking his head. As expected of Odin, even in his weakened state, he was not to be trifled with.
“Greetings, Odin, and Ancient One,” Qi Yun said politely, stepping out from the void.
“Speak plainly. Skulking in the shadows isn’t appreciated!” Odin declared, his chest puffed out as he faced Qi Yun, divine power surging within him.
“Calm down. Besides, I doubt you’re here to see the funerals of the last two standing,” the Ancient One said with a smile.
Despite her seemingly amiable demeanor, Qi Yun had already sensed her subtle movements within the few seconds of his appearance as the Ancient One traversed multiple timelines, attempting to trace Qi Yun’s origins.
“Of course not. I’m not that bored,” Qi Yun replied, unfazed by her efforts.
If the Main God Space were so easily uncovered, it wouldn’t stand a chance against various worlds. Many beings controlled timelines more adeptly than the Ancient One.
“I’m here to return something.”
With a gesture, Qi Yun reached behind him and pulled, revealing the Destroyer the next moment.
“Return something?” Odin scoffed. This seemed more like a show of force.
However, Odin refrained from conflict. His time was limited, and any unnecessary battles would shorten the time left for Thor and others.
For this reason alone, Odin held back. Otherwise, the moment the Destroyer was taken, he would have confronted Qi Yun.
“Indeed, the young ones didn’t know its value, so I kept it safe. Now, it’s back where it belongs,” Qi Yun said, gently pushing the Destroyer toward Odin.
“No need. Keep it,” Odin waved dismissively.
The Destroyer flew back at high speed.
With a snap of his fingers, Qi Yun retracted the Destroyer. It was a powerful artifact, and he had no intention of refusing it.
“Besides that, is there anything else you want to discuss?” Odin asked.
“Just one small thing,” Qi Yun said, moving to stand beside Odin and looking down at Earth.
“As you know, my organization is still developing. I don’t have many capable hands. Could I borrow some help?”
Qi Yun had refrained from involving the Ancient One or anyone from Asgard in the Main God Space for a long time. While recruiting them wouldn’t be hard, the aftermath would be difficult to manage.
The Ancient One and Odin weren’t just powerful; their influence extended far beyond mere combat abilities.
“I don’t mind, as long as you can handle it,” the Ancient One said, observing Qi Yun.
In her perspective, countless threads from Earth were entwined around Qi Yun.
These threads made the entire world reject Qi Yun. If this continued, it wouldn’t be long before Qi Yun could no longer freely enter the Marvel Universe.
This was a concern for Qi Yun. The Main God Space was entirely in the void, making it susceptible to invasions. He couldn’t handle every challenge personally.
“I’m healthy enough to manage,” Qi Yun said, turning to Odin.
After a moment’s silence, Odin realized that having another force provide some protection while Thor matured wasn’t a bad idea. Moreover, Qi Yun’s coming forward now indicated a level of respect.
“Do as you wish, but they must join willingly. No coercion,” Odin said.
“Thank you both,” Qi Yun said, smiling.
Then Qi Yun glanced to the other side of Earth. Ever since he appeared in space, he felt Thanos’ gaze. Thanos had not ceased his focus on Earth and Asgard.
This was understandable, considering several Infinity Stones were located here.
Qi Yun’s appearance would certainly attract Thanos’ attention, but it was also a statement to the Ancient One and Odin.
Qi Yun needed to measure himself against a strong opponent. As long as Thanos didn’t have all five stones, Qi Yun wasn’t worried about losing.
And if he did lose, he’d flee. Without the support of a world, Thanos’ power would significantly decrease in the void, giving Qi Yun a chance to counterattack.
“Dormammu has returned. I must go,” the Ancient One said, disappearing instantly.
Odin turned and left without a word, acting like a sulking child.
Qi Yun shrugged. Two old souls but quite interesting.
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
