The fear and doubt in Odin's eyes receded like a tide, replaced by an ecstasy like a volcanic eruption!
It was the ecstasy of discovering a new continent!
He had thought a more terrifying enemy than Surtur was hidden in the temple, and he had even been prepared to expend all divine power for a catastrophic war.
But now—what enemy?
This was clearly a sacred life not yet born, already carrying infinite potential and supreme dignity!
Odin's palm trembled slightly.
For a God-King who ruled the Nine Realms with an iron will, this was almost impossible.
But he couldn't control it.
Because he understood what this egg meant.
He himself possessed strength comparable to the All-Father—vast divine power and a long lifespan.
But he knew well: he had already touched the ceiling. Taking another step would be difficult.
His sons—whether the brave Thor or the clever Loki—had talent, but their future achievements likely would not surpass him.
Asgard's glory seemed destined to reach a limit.
Yet the egg before him had shattered that upper bound!
A being of origin-level power—one who could define laws before laws were even born—if it grew up, its achievements would far exceed his!
All-Father?
No.
Its future would never be limited to Father-level.
It might break through an invisible barrier and reach a realm even Odin himself longed for and could only imagine!
In an instant, Odin's gaze changed completely.
From fear and shock to cherishing and expectation.
He was no longer a conqueror-god who subdued all directions.
He was like a collector who had seen a rare treasure—like a master who had discovered an unparalleled genius.
Through this golden eggshell, it was as if he had already seen Asgard's glory and strength for the next ten thousand years—no, for ten thousand ten-thousand years!
"I understand… marvelous!"
Odin could no longer restrain the ecstasy in his heart. A cheerful, deep laugh escaped him, echoing through the temple with unprecedented joy and excitement.
He suppressed the pressure of his entire body, stretched out his hand, and gently wrapped the golden egg with pure divine power.
As if holding the most precious treasure.
The instant his divine power touched the shell, a warm, comfortable, non-repulsed response seeped out from within—like it was satisfied with his kindness.
Odin's heart beat even faster!
He sensed that the life inside the egg was alive—and possessed the purest spirituality.
Solemnly, slowly, he cradled the sacred egg tied to Asgard's future.
At this moment, his voice no longer carried only the majesty of a God-King. It bore the solemnity of an oath and a promise, resonating through the entire Temple of Flame:
"Whoever you are, wherever you come from…
From today onward, you are a part of Asgard!
No—you're not ordinary at all!
You will become Asgard's… future!"
Wrapped by Odin's gentle, pure divine power, Lucci inside the egg felt an unprecedented peace.
This power was utterly different from the violent, mixed flame energy outside—stable and heavy, with an aura of order and protection like the warm sun in winter, nourishing his soul.
Right after that, a solemn declaration filled with expectation pierced through the eggshell wall and entered his consciousness clearly:
"…You are my Asgard's future!"
Asgard?
Lucci's consciousness was slightly startled.
He was extremely familiar with that name.
Thor, the God of Thunder. Odin, the God-King. Loki…
Had he come to the world of Norse mythology?
Or even… the familiar world of Marvel?
But judging from the goodwill in that voice and the content of the declaration, he should be safe for now.
Since he was safe, there was no need to overthink.
The Origin True Fire Marvelous Art had just been created—now was the best time to consolidate his foundation.
With a thought, Lucci's consciousness sank once more into the pure golden sea of flame, falling into deep sleep and cultivation.
…
When Odin carried this sacred egg back to Asgard, the golden egg became plain. All visions and holy light were restrained, and it looked like nothing more than a normal dome with a somewhat special texture.
"Odin, you're back."
Queen Frigga greeted him. There was a hint of worry in her eyes, but soon her gaze was drawn to the egg in Odin's arms.
"This is…?"
Suspicion appeared on Frigga's face. "Spoils of war from Muspelheim? An egg?"
"Hah, Frigga, my beloved!"
Joy was clear on Odin's face as he smiled mysteriously at his wife.
"Don't underestimate it. This isn't spoils—it's Asgard's treasure!"
Frigga grew even more confused.
Seeing this, Odin stopped teasing and told her everything he had seen and heard at the Temple of Flame—from the wonder of ten thousand fires bowing, to the origin-level flame aura beyond cognition, to his judgment of the egg's future potential.
His tone carried excitement… and pride, even if he didn't realize it.
Frigga listened quietly, her beautiful eyes widening with increasing astonishment.
When Odin finished, the knowledgeable, magical goddess finally showed an expression of disbelief.
"Odin… what you said… is it true?"
She stepped forward and carefully examined the plain golden egg, doubt in her voice.
"An egg… how could it defy the heavens? Trigger ten thousand fires bowing? And release that shocking original aura?"
As Odin's wife, she knew his strength and vision well.
If he could use words like "shocking" and "beyond cognition," what kind of terrifying existence would it be?
But this egg—no matter how long she sensed it with magic—only felt hard and solid. Nothing special.
"Haha, you don't believe it!"
Odin laughed proudly. "When the next miracle happens, you'll know whether what I said is true!"
"And Frigga—what I said might even have been an underestimate!"
Frigga could only nod, still doubtful, watching her husband with an excitement like a child's.
"Well, even if what you say is true," she asked, "where will you put it? In the treasury like the Eternal Flame?"
"No."
Odin shook his head immediately, his expression turning extremely serious.
"The treasury is where dead things and weapons are stored."
He looked down at the egg in his arms, his eyes soft.
"This is a living sacred life with infinite possibilities.
I want to give it the best environment to grow."
He raised his head and looked beyond the immortal palace, that majestic existence spanning the Nine Realms.
"I'm preparing to place it beneath the roots of the World Tree.
Use the energy of the Nine Realms to nourish it—
and accelerate its growth!"
Beneath the World Tree!
Frigga was shocked.
That was the core of all Asgard—no, of the Nine Realms. Ordinary beings could not even approach.
Odin truly wanted to place an unknown origin egg there?
She could see it clearly:
Odin's obsession with this egg had already reached the point of no return.
…