"Of course, my king.
But the Asgardian army is currently at war with the Chitauri!
Are you certain you wish to set that aside and go to Nidavellir to forge your armor?"
"You're right."
Hearing Frigga's counsel, Hesenberg finally remembered Earth's dire predicament.
While he had been thoroughly enjoying his fight with Odin, Earth was still facing two waves of terrifying aliens.
Even though he had already arranged everything, he ought to return and see what had become of Earth.
Once this matter was settled, he could consider the armor further.
With that thought, Hesenberg looked toward Frigga, about to tell her to activate the Bifrost so he could return to Earth.
But at that very instant, a dazzling golden portal abruptly manifested inside the treasure vault of the palace.
On the other side of the portal, the Ancient One, her face wreathed in smiles, narrowed her eyes and gave Frigga a glance.
Then she nodded toward Hesenberg.
"The Godfather of New York has become the God King of the Nine Realms.
So, does His Majesty still enjoy the sights of Earth?"
"Absolutely!"
Hesenberg chuckled and strode through the portal. In the blink of an eye, his figure had vanished from Asgard entirely.
As for Frigga...
The Queen of Asgard furrowed her brow briefly, then let it go, her eyes narrowing with acceptance.
"His Majesty's armor certainly cannot be forged from ordinary materials, so I must prepare sufficient Uru alloy.
And His Majesty's divinity is the sun, radiant light and heat.
What could possibly be more fitting as a combustion aid for the armor than the Eternal Flame?
However, that flame must be forged together with Surtur's blade to unleash its greatest power.
Thor, now that you have lost your father, do you still possess the strength to defeat Surtur?
Or should His Majesty take action himself?
Or perhaps... that Hela, the Princess I have never met, said to possess a tyrannical and violent temperament..."
Frigga, murmuring to herself, shook her head and let out a sudden bitter laugh.
"I can feel the fate of Ragnarok steadily fading away, yet the troubles ahead for Asgard remain far from few.
You, who have triumphed over the fate of Ragnarok, seem to have taken its very place.
For if you are made displeased, then Asgard will truly face its twilight...
Ah..."
On Earth. New York. Inside a theater.
The appearance of the Ancient One and Hesenberg's return made Tony, who was sitting not far away, heave a sigh of relief.
"Finally, you bastard, you're back.
If you hadn't come back soon, I would've suited up and gone back to being Iron Man!"
Tony spoke as he rose and embraced Hesenberg.
Hesenberg clapped Tony on the shoulder armor, then frowned at the goateed man and asked.
"Gone back to being Iron Man?
You've always been Iron Man, haven't you?"
"Not anymore!"
Tony shook his head and casually pointed toward the distant sky.
Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, Hesenberg could see four or five streaks of light tearing through the sky in the direction of Stark Tower.
With his super vision, Hesenberg recognized those figures as his own subordinates.
But why would Tony hand out his suits in bulk?
Part confusion, part understanding. Hesenberg said to Tony, half-teasing.
"You've changed."
"I had to change. After all, I've met my future self.
And besides, I got married."
Tony spoke as he took a glass from Billy.
He passed one to Hesenberg and another to the Ancient One, who was smiling calmly not far away.
The three of them moved to the sofa with their glasses and toasted from a distance.
Setting down his glass, Tony continued, a trace of melancholy in his voice.
"From my future self, I realized that no matter how outstanding I continue to be, I still can't prevent humanity's catastrophes.
I can only ever be myself. I have the resolve to save everyone, but I alone lack the ability.
And Pepper has shown me that my life now holds an attachment more important than anything. She needs me more than anyone else does.
Maybe that's what made it click. I create the suits, I hand them over to people I trust, and together they can accomplish far more than I ever could alone.
I can stay by my loved one's side and my future child's side, and I can still save the world. Isn't that pretty amazing?"
"It truly is amazing!"
Hesenberg nodded and clinked glasses with Tony once more.
Just as they set their glasses down, Pepper, having changed her clothes, emerged from the bathroom.
The moment she saw Hesenberg seated on the sofa, Pepper paused in surprise.
Then, just like Tony a moment ago, she let out a long breath.
"Our Superman is back. Looks like I can finally return to the company and take care of all those damn matters!"
She spoke as she approached Hesenberg and gave him a polite embrace.
Then she glanced around and waved at Tony.
"Honey, New York is safe now, so I'm going back to the office to calm the employees down.
You two talk. I'm off to work..."
Pepper bid them farewell directly. She could tell Tony had important matters to discuss with Hesenberg.
So she would never be the wife who interrupted her husband's serious business.
Beside her, Tony watched Pepper's departing back, unable to shake the deep reluctance in his eyes.
Only after Pepper had completely left did Tony turn back, his face brimming with pride as he said to Hesenberg.
"She always understands me like this. She gives me space, gives me respect, and gives me freedom.
If I were to betray a partner like her, then I... I would bring shame upon the Stark name!"
At this point, even he felt somewhat embarrassed, so he took a sip of his drink and shifted the topic, asking Hesenberg.
"Enough about that. Let's talk business.
What do you plan to do about the aliens in Denver?"
"My plan? Kill them, of course. Since they've invaded my territory, my only option is to send them to their deaths."
Hesenberg answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, which made Tony shake his head in exasperation.
"I'll set aside the fact that you calling Earth your territory makes my throat tremble.
Let's just focus on your method. Do you intend to kill the over eight million aliens spreading across the United States all by yourself?
I don't know exactly how powerful you truly are, so of course it's possible. So, should we get moving?"
Tony abruptly donned his faceplate.
"Though Pepper is less than thrilled about me joining the fight, you're my privilege. She still permits me to go into battle if you're there.
The odds of me running into a disaster that even you can't rescue me from are about the same as me contracting a terminal illness.
So let's move. Every second, hundreds of citizens are dying. America is in complete chaos. The White House can't save them, but we can!"
"Emmm."
Looking at the eager Iron Man, Hesenberg ran a hand through his hair and replied calmly.
"But I've already started, Tony."
"You've already started?" Tony was stunned. "Can you make clones?"
"No. It's that Asgardian force. They're my men now. Can't you see them hunting down the Chitauri?"
"The Asgardians are... yours?!"
Tony banged on his helmet in shock and projected the footage from the Denver battlefield.
He then pointed at the unstoppable Asgardian golden-armored legion.
"Aren't they Thor's men?"
"Mm-hmm. They used to be."
Hesenberg casually reached into his pocket and pulled out the divine spear Gungnir.
"Earlier, Loki used the Space Stone to teleport me to Asgard. Unsurprisingly, I ended up fighting Odin."
"Odin. Wow. That is insanely intense. So you stole his weapon?"
"I also killed him and took the seat of God King from him while I was at it."
As he said this, Hesenberg took a satisfied sip of his drink. The matter of defeating Odin and bringing Asgard under his control had indeed put him in a very good mood.
Tony, across from him, was looking at Hesenberg as if he were staring at some primordial beast.
He swallowed hard and pointed at the screen where Thor was currently getting beaten by Loki.
"Then him... Thor, is he no longer the Prince of Asgard?"
"Prince is out of the question. At best, he's an ordinary legion commander of Asgard, and he doubles as the God of Thunder of the Aesir, by the way."
"Emmm. He really is pitiful..."
"Haha, you're right. He is a pitiful man, but also a reckless one. The current outcome is already very good for him."
"This is very good?!"
"Of course. In a future without me, this poor bastard loses both parents, Asgard crumbles, his people are nearly wiped out, and he's covered in the banners of misery.
But now, even though his father died about five years earlier than in that original future, Asgard will absolutely be preserved.
You have my word!"
After speaking, Hesenberg slowly rose from the sofa.
"No point just sitting here. You wanted to have some fun, right? Then let's go.
Leave Denver to the Asgardian legion. As for the Chitauri scattering elsewhere, let's pick a group and have ourselves a slaughter.
How about it?"
"Nothing I'd like more!"
Tony let out a satisfied laugh and shot out of the theater in his suit in a flash.
But before he could fully ascend, Hesenberg reached out and grabbed him right back.
"You idiot. Ever heard of using a portal?"
(°_°)
His excitement morphing into utter bewilderment, Tony was dragged numbly back inside the theater by Hesenberg.
A portal leading near Oklahoma was shining brilliantly in the center of the courtyard.
"We'll head to Oklahoma first. I'll kill, you rescue. Sound good?"
"Fine by me!"
"Then we move."
Hesenberg promptly tossed Tony right through the portal.
Afterward, Hesenberg looked toward the Ancient One and asked.
"And you? Coming along?"
"I'll pass."
The Ancient One shook her head simply.
"Dormammu's activity has grown increasingly intense recently. I need to keep a constant watch on him.
Besides, it's merely the United States. Even if it were to completely vanish, it wouldn't have much impact on Earth.
It's not worth setting aside the threat of the Dark Dimension."
"Okay."
Hesenberg nodded and was about to step through the portal.
But he suddenly thought of something.
He turned back around and gazed deeply at the Ancient One.
In that instant, the Ancient One froze for just a moment.
And in the very next instant, Hesenberg moved before her and gently lifted a strand of her tea-colored long hair.
"Thank you for your trust, Sorceress."
As his words fell, Hesenberg leaned in and softly embraced the Ancient One.
This made the Ancient One smile as she blinked her eyes.
She did not refuse the embrace. She even gently lifted a hand and patted Hesenberg on the back.
"Because of you, this variable, I have experienced future after different future.
And among those infinite futures, I have lived alongside you more and more often. You will make a fine god.
Even Eternity has told me you will do better than Odin.
So continue onward, Hesenberg. I will always remain by your side.
I have seen it. The worlds that have you are, for the most part, especially beautiful.
I like that beauty."
/-\
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