Time stood still.
An eerie silence engulfed the great hall of Asgard.
The elites of the realm—gods, warriors, and nobles—were all paralyzed by a wave of terror they couldn't quite understand. But it wasn't just them. Even the Earth's representatives—Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Reed Richards, and the others—were stunned.
What just happened?
A moment ago, everything was civil. A negotiation. Words traded between Odin and Joseph, tense but orderly.
Then suddenly—silence. A glare. And after a few seconds of eye contact between the two, the skies outside Asgard had erupted into a tsunami of starlight.
A cascade of astral brilliance now spiraled around the floating continent, like the universe itself had decided to watch from the edge of reality.
Everyone turned toward Joseph.
There was no evidence—no spell circle, no incantation—but they instinctively knew:
He was the cause.
Among them, the more magically attuned—Wanda Maximoff, Wonder Woman, and Doctor Strange—could feel the terrifying magical power now emanating from him like a second sun.
"What's he doing?" Wanda murmured.
Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, stood frozen. Her red lips parted, her eyes wide in disbelief. It wasn't the first time she'd seen Joseph pull off something audacious—he had proven himself capable of the impossible before—but this? This was cosmic.
And what truly disturbed her was Odin's reaction.
Even the King of Gods… looked startled.
He hadn't moved.
He hadn't fought back.
He… hesitated.
"Why hasn't he responded?" Natasha whispered. "He's the King of Asgard…!"
According to Thor, Odin was still the most dominant divine presence in the Nine Realms, even in his twilight years. Even those who refused to bend the knee to Asgard bowed before his power.
And yet…
He just stood there.
Was the starlight outside… truly beyond even his control?
Was it possible that Odin—the All-Father—wasn't confident he could stop it?
Black Widow shook her head, trying to expel that idea. It was irrational. Impossible. And yet…
Her heart pounded.
Nick Fury had sent her here as a precaution, a representative of Earth's interests. She had expected tension—perhaps even hostility—but never imagined this outcome.
Now, faced with this unimaginable display of power…
She realized just how helpless she truly was.
Not even qualified to speak, let alone intervene.
Her eyes darted toward the Invisible Woman and the Human Torch. But both of them looked pale, overwhelmed. Even Johnny Storm's cocky grin had vanished.
"Damn it," Natasha muttered. "Superpowers… Why didn't I get one?"
In this moment, she cursed her own humanity. Even if a power wouldn't change the outcome against Odin or Joseph, at least she wouldn't feel so helpless.
Driven by instinct, she rose from her seat and stepped quietly toward Joseph, wanting—perhaps needing—to say something.
But before she could speak—
Joseph raised a single hand.
With elegant calm, he placed one finger gently against her lips.
"Shhh. Don't speak."
His voice was steady. Calm. Final.
Natasha's heart skipped a beat, her body going rigid. All she could do was nod and step back silently.
Joseph, meanwhile, never once looked away from Odin.
He was studying him. Testing him.
All of this—this dramatic surge of magic—was a calculated move. A chess piece deliberately advanced across the board.
He had already suspected Odin's weakness, but now he was confirming it. If Odin truly still possessed the strength of old, he would've unleashed the Eternal Spear already.
Instead… he hadn't.
So Joseph slowed the ring of starlight.
Let it circle. Let it threaten. Let it squeeze the King of Gods.
Time trickled by like honey in the air.
Everyone's gaze locked on Odin.
At the edge of Bifrost, Heimdall had already activated the palace's ancient defenses. The golden sword in his hand blazed with light, summoning a dome of golden magic that slowly expanded from the earth, wrapping the palace complex in a glowing shield.
Below, Asgard's citizens stirred in panic, their frightened cries growing louder as they saw the stars swarm like a galactic storm.
"Father?!"
Thor's booming voice broke through the tension.
He gripped Mjolnir tightly, muscles tensed, lightning crackling at his fingertips. His hammer was pointed directly at Joseph.
He'd seen enough.
Even on Earth, Thor had never seen Joseph act so brazenly. But he'd heard the reports. S.H.I.E.L.D's highest clearance file on him was short and cryptic:
"Subject: Joseph. Classification: Mutant. Threat Level: Unknown. Magic - Unquantified."
Thor didn't understand all the politics. But if Odin gave the command, he would act.
Even if it meant going to war with the very man he'd brought to Asgard.
Odin finally stirred.
He turned to look at Thor. The Eternal Spear in his hand flashed—briefly condensing into radiant light—
And then…
The light vanished.
"Father?!"
"God-King?!"
Shock rippled through the hall.
The Asgardians' voices rose in disbelief.
Then—
A single, quiet sigh echoed through the chamber.
"Perhaps… I truly am old."
The words struck like thunder.
Thor stood paralyzed. The others—Lady Sif, King Eitri, even Heimdall—could hardly believe what they'd heard.
For over a thousand years, Odin had reigned supreme over the Nine Realms. His spear had ended wars, his gaze had shattered rebellion, his very presence inspired awe.
And now, he admitted weakness?
Publicly?
Odin… the All-Father… bowed?
"I am not afraid of war," Odin continued. "Asgard has never been. But we can no longer afford to start one lightly."
He looked at his people. Then turned back to Joseph.
His next words were almost a whisper.
"I wonder… why do you wish to help?"
In that sentence, everything became clear.
This was no longer about dominance or pride.
It was survival.
One Ancient One was difficult enough. Now a second magician—possibly even stronger—stood before him.
Odin had once ruled over all. But now, age and time had eroded his throne. His spear felt heavier. His power dimmer.
He could still fight.
But what if Joseph wasn't alone?
What if others, like the Ancient One, interfered?
What if he exhausted his last strength… and Thor wasn't ready to claim the throne?
That, above all, terrified him.
Joseph, however, offered something completely unexpected.
"Ancient One never helped me," he said calmly.
"She simply watched the river of time… hoping to glimpse a new branch. One where Earth no longer depended on gods."
The implication was clear:
Joseph stood alone.
He didn't ask for help.
He didn't want interference.
He was his own force of change.
Odin was silent for a long moment. He stared at Joseph as though seeing him for the first time. Then slowly… his expression shifted.
Respect.
"You truly are remarkable," Odin said at last. "I understand now."
He stepped forward. "Tell me your final condition. There must only be one more."
Joseph smiled, the pressure in the room lifting like a veil.
"I promise," he replied. "There are only seven in total."
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
The vast ocean of starlight outside Asgard began to dissolve like mist in sunlight.
"The last condition is simple," Joseph said with a smirk.
"The Mind Stone."
Odin blinked.
Then—to everyone's surprise—he chuckled.
"Agreed. But… I have a condition as well."
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