'Risking my life?'
Lucas's expression was strange, he guessed that Matt seemed to have misunderstood something.
"It's alright, we're buddies. Just a mere demon, a former Hell Lord, nothing worth mentioning."
"Lucas, then how does one obtain a physical body that matches the soul?" Wanda interrupted Lucas and Matt's reminiscence, continuing to press for answers.
Hearing this question, Matt also looked at Lucas.
Although he said it was good this way, how could this soul state, unable to touch entities, unable to communicate with ordinary people, be good?
"Two methods. Scientific cloning technology and reality alteration."
Lucas didn't keep them in suspense and directly gave the answer.
"Cloning?!"
Everyone's attention was drawn to this familiar term.
Wanda asked in confusion, "Then why didn't Tony Stark clone a physical body for his parents?"
Lucas shrugged, "Who knows? Maybe he tried and found other problems, cloning technology is very complex."
"However, I do know where there is mature cloning technology, and I'm currently looking for them."
"Who?"
"The Inheritors, a family from the Multiverse."
"The Inheritors? What kind of family is that?" Erin asked in confusion.
As for the Multiverse, having stayed in Kamar-Taj for several days, she already had a preliminary understanding of it.
"Does it matter?" Lucas countered.
Erin was speechless.
Matt worried. "Lucas, will this Inheritors be very difficult to deal with?"
From Lucas's tone, he knew that it certainly wouldn't be a matter of simply showing up and discussing it nicely to borrow the Inheritors's cloning technology. Lucas most likely planned to seize it by force.
Matt didn't want to implicate Lucas in confronting a powerful force spanning the Multiverse because of himself.
"Don't worry, I have a ninety-eight percent chance of success." Lucas smiled confidently.
"Their strength lies in absorbing life energy. Coincidentally, my strength is also absorbing energy. I am their natural counter."
As the group conversed, a portal glowing with sparks opened.
Ancient One emerged from it.
Wanda, Matt, Erin: "Ancient One."
Lucas: "Master."
The Ancient One smiled and nodded, responding to each of their greetings.
"Master, aren't Thor and Loki coming back with you?" Lucas asked.
Although he hadn't greeted Thor and Loki back on Japan, it didn't mean he hadn't seen them.
"They stayed at S.H.I.E.L.D. to receive hospitality." The Ancient One replied with a smile.
—
S.H.I.E.L.D., helicarrier.
"Director Fury, the council has decided that S.H.I.E.L.D. will be changed from a combat unit to a rescue unit."
"Before the council's joint fleet arrives, no destruction of the battle scene is allowed, nor is the salvage of the Takamagahara and Yomi wreckage allowed."
"Yes, Director Pierce."
Nick Fury ended the call, his face grim, but he still had to relay the order.
A moment later, the helicarrier disengaged from combat readiness.
Nick Fury sighed in the command center. He had piloted the heavily armed helicarrier, leading the fully equipped Avengers team, full of vigor and high spirits.
He wanted to achieve great things in the battle between Kamar-Taj and the Japanese pantheon.
Unexpectedly, not a single shot fired, not a single cannon discharged and the war was over.
His helicarrier and the combat personnel on board were also changed from combat units to rescue units.
As for salvaging the wreckage of Takamagahara and Yomi after they were breached by Lucas?
Such good things certainly wouldn't fall to S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D., fully known as the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, is a special force of the International Security Council specifically used to deal with various strange events.
Nominally, it is directly under the Council and the big five, and has law enforcement power all over the world.
In reality, it is mainly controlled by the U.S., and its law enforcement power cannot cross the sovereignty of the other four big five.
And within the U.S., S.H.I.E.L.D. can only be considered a lackey. When it comes to taking the blame, S.H.I.E.L.D. is the top choice. When it comes to sharing the spoils, it's told to get lost.
In response, Nick Fury remained calm.
By accident, S.H.I.E.L.D. also had an unexpected gain.
Inside the helicarrier's lounge.
Three groups of people were sitting in different directions, eating snacks, drinking beverages, and chatting.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s side: Senior Agent Coulson, Commander Hill.
Avengers' side: Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Blade Eric.
Asgard's side: Thor, Loki.
Coulson's gaze lingered on Thor and Loki, still somewhat disbelieving.
A while ago, the two Apprentice Sorcerers he saw in Kamar-Taj turned out to be Thor and Loki from the Norse Pantheon, and not just a coincidence of names.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked hesitantly, "Thor, Loki. Are you the God of Thunder and the God of Mischief from Norse mythology?"
Thor put down his snack and wiped the corner of his lips. He showed his signature friendly smile.
"Authentic."
"So, you are also Earth gods, belonging to the Norse Pantheon?" Natasha asked.
Compared to the obscure Japanese Pantheon, the Norse Pantheon had a much greater reputation.
Loki smiled and shook his head. "We are gods from Norse mythology, but not gods of Earth. Or rather, there has never been a Norse Pantheon, only the Gods of Asgard."
"Asgard? Isn't that the realm of the Aesir and Vanir in Norse mythology?" Natasha continued to ask.
"Mythology comes from us, not us from mythology." Loki's tone carried a hint of arrogance, but it also perfectly explained Natasha's question.
Thor added, "Asgardians are the Aesir in Norse mythology. Asgard is the home of the Asgardians."
"Thousands of years ago, the Asgardians and Midgardians joined forces in Norway to fight the Frost Giants of Jotunheim."
"Since then, Asgardians have visited Norway many times. Slowly, the stories of Asgard formed a mythology there."
Although Thor explained Natasha's question, the others became even more confused.
"Thor, can you tell us in detail what Asgard, Midgard, and Jotunheim are all about?"
After a moment of contemplation, Thor slowly began, "This first involves a concept, the Nine Realms. The world tree connects nine regions in the Universe, collectively known as the Nine Realms. Asgard, Midgard, and Jotunheim are all part of the Nine Realms."
"Among them, Asgard is the Guardian of the Nine Realms."
"Midgard, also known as Middle-Earth, is your Earth."
"Jotunheim is the world of Giants. The Frost Giants are one branch of the Giants."
Guardian of the Nine Realms?
Hearing this title, everyone's eyes flickered.
Guardian, in another name, is ruler.
Natasha continued to ask, "Since there are Nine Realms, what are the other six?"
Thor continued to explain, "The other six are..."
"Vanaheim, the home of the Vanir."
"Nidavellir, the world of Dwarves."
"Alfheim, the home of the Light Elves."
"Svartalfheim, the home of the Dark Elves."
"Helheim, the home of the dead."
"Muspelheim, the home of the Fire Demons."
Coulson asked, "Then, Thor, Loki, why did you appear in Kamar-Taj? And dressed as Apprentice Sorcerers? Shouldn't you be in Asgard?"
Thor continued to explain, "Loki and I were instructed by our father to go to Kamar-Taj to learn magic knowledge."
Coulson showed a thoughtful expression. 'Father? It seems it's not entirely the same as Norse mythology. In Asgard, Loki is Odin's son, not his brother.'
'And Kamar-Taj, outside of Earth, within the Nine Realms, also has great influence and is on good terms with Asgard.'
'But that's normal, after all, they are a group of sorcerers who have mastered the magic of traveling between different Universes.'