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The search for this mysterious person the Spirit had mentioned brought Natasha to Kamar-Taj in Nepal, Kathmandu.
Now she stood in a circular chamber that seemed to play with perception. The walls seemed to have impossible depth, as if they opened the door to another dimension. Maybe the thick incense around made her hallucinate. Or something else was up with this religious sanctuary.
Across from her stood the Ancient One in strange robes. She was bald, but her skin was smooth and ageless. She looked no older than forty, perhaps younger.
"Pardon me, but… how old are you?"
It was a rude question, but Natasha didn't care. How could the Ancient One know of the Spirit, who had only awakened a few months ago after being dormant for centuries? What's more, the Spirit had talked about the Ancient One like an old acquaintance.
"That is not why you are here." The Ancient One lifted a finger and pointed at the empty space beside Natasha. "Why aren't you showing yourself, Demoness?"
Flames erupted from Natasha's shadow and swirled upward into the grinning skull-face of the Spirit of Vengeance. The Spirit hovered there, her skeletal jaws laughing without a sound. "It's been a while, Ancient One. Feeding off of him seems to be doing wonders for you."
The Ancient One's composure cracked, but only for a moment. She turned around and sat on a cushion placed on a small, low table. She gestured to a cushion across from her. "Sit."
Natasha sat down and looked between her Spirit and the Ancient One. Whatever the Spirit said targeted Ancient One's secret. Perhaps her greatest secret that she couldn't reveal to anyone.
'What a way to start the conversation.'
The Spirit flew over to the third side of the table. "This place still gives me creeps. You sorcerers need to relax with anti-demon propaganda. Not every demon is evil, you know?"
"Quite strange coming from a demon who can bypass our ancient seals," the Ancient One said sarcastically. "Trying to incite demons to invade Earth isn't evil?"
The Spirit chuckled. "Next you'll say judging sinners is also evil… You damn sorcerers are unbearable."
The Ancient One seemed like she wanted to banish the Spirit somewhere. She folded her hands in her lap. "What brings your host to my sanctuary?"
"She needs to go to Asgard," the Spirit said before Natasha could answer. "Can you arrange it?"
The Ancient One smiled softly. "Give me one reason to help your host."
Natasha finally saw a chance to speak, "I have to save someone."
"Her groom," the Spirit added. "Do it—"
"He isn't," Natasha interjected, shaking her head. "He is a friend. You might know him as Skullfire. He's been helping out against the symbiotes."
The Ancient One's expression softened as she nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, he is a soul worth saving. But that still does not answer my question. Why should I help you?"
"Do it on the account of my good deeds for this realm," the Spirit said. "I'm like this because I helped you fools."
"What did she do?" Natasha directed the question to the Ancient One since the Demoness had been really guarded about her past.
"She saved the world from the Hell Lords' invasion."
Natasha's brows jumped in surprise. "Did you fall in love with a human or something?"
"Nope. I just hated those jerks," the Spirit said with a chuckle. "Ancient One, help out my host, or she will be doomed to stay a bride for eternity."
"The end of your contract." The Ancient One looked at Natasha. "Will either bring a calamity or unleash a monster."
The Spirit turned left and right under their focused gazes. "I won't stick around once I recover. I have a debt to settle in Hell."
The Ancient One continued staring at the Spirit. "What if you changed your mind?"
"I won't."
"Write it down in your contract with your host," the Ancient One suggested in a soft voice, yet it made the Spirit's flames flicker in hesitation. "I know that your contract can be modified under mutual agreement."
"Can't you trust my reputation as the most kind Hell Lord in Hell's history?"
"No."
Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Do it."
"@#$%&!@#$%&!"
Natasha had an inkling the Spirit cursed them both in Hell's language.
The Spirit drifted closer. Natasha saw a piece of paper sticking out of her chest. The skull-face bit into the paper with her skeletal jaws and put it on the table. New strings of glowing words appeared on the paper.
"Done."
The Ancient One nodded, pleased with the results. "Anything else you would like to offer? Creating teleports to other realms is taxing."
"In fact I have something."
The Spirit returned the contract back to Natasha's chest and flew to the Ancient One's side to whisper something. The Ancient One's eyes widened the more she listened.
"I already have my eyes on an excellent candidate," Ancient One said in a somewhat… pleased tone. "It wouldn't hurt to have another."
"Some of his accomplishments in sorcery surpass you," the Spirit boasted proudly. "You'll know when you meet him."
Natasha realized what the Demoness had done—she sold Dante, a sorcerer, out to Ancient One. The Demoness didn't have to reveal Dante's sorcery talent, but she did just so he would get hounded by the Ancient One.
'She is petty.'
The Ancient One drew a circle in the air with two fingers. Golden sparks spilled, forming a spinning ring. Through the ring, Natasha could see the golden towers of Asgard.
Natasha steeled herself. This wasn't a mission where she could fail and come back alive. Failure would probably mean death or rotting inside Asgard's prison. But she couldn't back out. He had fought the Spirit to bring her back.
She would do the same.
For the ledger.
And maybe a little bit for the man who kept flirting with her all the time.
"Wait," the Spirit's skull bounced on the table for attention. "Don't send her in like that—wait!""
The Ancient One snapped her fingers. The portal rushed forward and swallowed Natasha.
***
Natasha found herself staring at Asgard from the skies. The wind screamed in her ears. It wasn't a hundred or two hundred meters, but close to miles.
"That bald bitch!" The Spirit roared in her ears. "Transform now!"
The flames erupted and the Demoness' power transformed her. Hellfire chains uncoiled from her waist and entered her grip.
She hit the ground like a meteor.
BOOM.
The marble cracked outward in a thirty feet radius. The Asgardian guards nearby were horrified and shocked. They snapped to attention and formed a perfect phalanx, pointing spears at her from behind shields.
She wasn't in some remote corner of Asgard. This was Asgard's palace.
Before the guards could advance, two pillars of rainbow light descended from the sky. When the light faded, Thor and Loki stood there.
Loki greeted her with a bow and a warm smile. "Weren't you so eager to return home? Why come back so soon, Lady Romanoff?"
"Who is she, brother?" Thor asked. "And why is she on fire? Could she be… Surtur in disguise?"
"No, brother. I cannot reveal her identity. Father warned me so."
Natasha didn't have time for games. "My friend wasn't with me when I returned."
Loki's smile went stiff. "How is that possible? Heimdall does not mess up—"
"It was your father," Natasha interrupted his hollow justifications that he himself couldn't believe in. "Odin sent Skullfire somewhere."
"Hold that thought for a moment." Thor pointed his strange hammer at her face. "Who is this Skullfire you speak of?"
"Her husband," Loki said with a grim expression. "If what you claim is true... you should not have returned. Father does not grant mercy twice."
As he finished speaking, another pillar of light descended. Odin appeared, Gungnir planted firmly on the ground. His single eye locked on Natasha as he muttered something under his breath.
Natasha let her burning chain hang down her hands. "Odin, where is he?"
Odin raised the golden lance and pointed its glowing tip at her. A beam of radiant energy was fired at Natasha. She whipped her chains forward. Hellfire blocked the beam and the shockwave staggered the guards.
Natasha was left standing in a smoking crater. "Spirit, is there a chance?"
"None," the Spirit replied grimly. "Which is why I wanted you to take the spy approach. That bald sorcerer ruined it."
Natasha had one last trump card, which she had no desire to use. It would result in half the Asgard going up in Hellfire.
Odin tapped Gungnir on the ground. "Take her down."
Thor hesitated for a fraction of a second, showing a conflicted expression. But his duty to his father suppressed his doubts. He rushed forward with Mjolnir, lightning crackling around him.
Loki, meanwhile, offered Natasha an apologetic smile. Then he turned and walked away. Going against Odin's order in public would have severe consequences. So he decided to do the wisest thing possible—stay neutral.
Natasha clenched her chain. She looked at Thor and Odin. "I'm not leaving without him."
***
Dante sat on the roof of his previous apartment, slowly purging away the mystical energy in his body. Full exposure to sunlight slowly replenished his emptied out Helio Reactor.
'Null, attribute screen.'
[Core Attributes (Non-Resonance State)]
Intelligence: 35 (1 point to reach Genius-level)
Class: Gifted
…
Vitality: 51 (30 points to reach Cosmic-level)
Class: Superhuman
Effects:
Muscles produce very low fatigue waste and clear it out almost instantlyCan function at 100% effectiveness for 24 hours without sustenanceFull stamina recovery in two hours under normal conditions. Recovery further enhanced under solar exposureAging slowed down to 1/100th due to cells vitalized by solar radiationPassively replenishes cellular energy, extending endurance thresholds under solar exposure
Strength: 30 (6 points to reach Class 2 Superhuman)
Class: Class 1 Superhuman
Effects:
Normal lifting capacity of 3100 lbs under optimal conditions
Speed: 27 (points to reach Mid-Superhuman level)
Class: Low-Superhuman
Effects:
Sustained 60 mph; burst acceleration of 75 mph in short dashes
Durability: 38
Class: Bulletproof (12 points to reach Superhuman level)
Effects:
Resist small firearms (new)
…
Willpower: 37
Class: Unbreakable Resolve (23 points to reach Superhuman Will)
…
Energy Capacity: 1 Exajoule
Class: Superhuman
Effects: Full release is capable of city-wide destruction
[All physical attributes can be further amplified through solar radiation. The maximum enhancement currently recorded is fifty five times.]
[Core Abilities]
Solar radiation absorption
Solar radiation manipulation
Helio Reactor
Mystic Awareness
Photographic Reflexes
Biokinesis
His stats had improved vastly, especially Vitality. Now that his cells were more adaptive towards solar radiation, he could exert an insane level of strength in his base form. 1/1000th aging rate meant his lifespan had already surpassed Asgardians.
He was a mortal in all but name at this point.
The only downside was the time required to refill his Helio Reactor. Activating Hyperion's Resonance massively accelerated the rate of absorption, but it also put a toll on his mind. Endless vitality didn't mean freedom from mental exhaustion.
'About fifteen hours if I just sit here.'
As much as he wanted to go and destroy Odin, he needed to sit under sunlight to regain his peak condition.
"Death, you're working on that, right?"
A soft, feminine laugh echoed in his head. "You're adorable when you're grumpy."
"...Answer me."
"I'm on it, dear companion. I'll inform you the moment Odin tries to touch anyone in your circle."
Heimdall would've alerted Odin the moment he left Hel. Odin had no solutions to bring him back to Hel since nobody could contend with him in Asgard. Currently, Heimdall couldn't see him under Death's cloak.
The only way for Odin to force Dante's hand was through discovering his real identity and going after those close to him. Which is where Death's cosmic awareness came into play. For Death, just observing the world didn't count as using her powers. She could do it for eternity and it wouldn't disrupt the cosmic balance.
So Death was put on observer duty as a punishment for pitting him against Hela. She had to pay the price for receiving free entertainment out of her former apostle's humiliation.
"Did I injure my Astral body again?"
"Not this time," Death replied, sounding almost proud. "It grew stronger after the strain. It was barely enough to endure the teleportation this time."
"That's nice."
She chuckled. "We should repeat it everyday to evolve your soul."
"I'd rather get that sling ring and keep this for emergencies. Anyway, where is Natasha?"
"Uh…"
"Death, no avoiding."
"Companion, you won't like the answer."
He narrowed his eyes. "Who hurt her?"
"Nobody!" Death replied in a flustered voice. "She is safe but someone imprisoned her."
Despite Natasha refusing the Spirit's help, her contract with the Spirit was very much intact. The Spirit would lend a hand if Natasha found herself in deep trouble. If she couldn't break out of this imprisonment, then someone must've interfered using magic or other mystical means.
"I'll tell you later," Death replied. "She isn't in any danger at the moment."
"Okay, fine. I'll check in at home first."
He was starting to miss Felicia's cheekiness and Silvija's care. Showing his face to the two would make them happy. He was also so damn hungry.
"Companion…" Death appeared standing on the ledge beside him. "One of your girlfriends is in some trouble."
"Felicia?"
The Black Cat just couldn't go two days without causing another mischief. Perhaps some lashes from the eldritch whip would fix her habit.
"Silvija," Death uttered the name of his other girlfriend, the one who always thought before acting—most of the time, at least. Death pointed a finger at a tall building in the distance—Oscorp Tower. "Norman is going on the offense."
"He couldn't wait."
The first thing he had done after returning to Earth was checking the news on a neighbor's phone. For the past twenty-four hours, Norman had unleashed Hell on Manhattan. Criminals, professional mercs, prisoners, and even civilians infected with symbiote caused mayhem everywhere.
Silvija, Felicia, Gwen, Laura, Psylocke, Emma and her Hellions had been working overtime to contain the damage, saving as many lives as they could.
And then, an hour ago, every news channel had run the same headline:
"The mastermind behind symbiote attacks—Sovereign to Address the World. Live Broadcast at 3 PM."
Norman was going public and claiming credit, then probably using the live broadcast to issue a decree to everyone about him being the new king or something. Classic villain stuff.
"Well, too bad. He won't get to go live today."
It was time he dealt with the cancer named Norman Osborn once and for all.
***
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