Tony and Pepper looked up at Frigga, who smiled gently at them.
After Thor introduced them properly, he explained the situation—how Dormammu had cursed the unborn child in Pepper's womb.
Tony and Pepper watched Frigga closely, hoping to hear good news.
"I can sense a large amount of dark energy inside her body," Frigga said calmly.
"Let us go to the medical chamber first."
"I cannot yet say whether I can remove the curse completely."
"It will depend on how powerful the curse remains once the dark energy is expelled."
Although her answer was uncertain, Tony and Pepper were not discouraged.
Any hope was better than none.
They followed Frigga to the royal medical chamber.
Soon they arrived.
Frigga gently helped Pepper lie down on a healing bed.
Then she asked Tony and Thor to leave the room.
Once they were gone, Frigga began her examination.
Using powerful Asgardian magic, she slowly attempted to expel the dark energy from Pepper's body.
As the spell progressed, black energy began emerging from Pepper's abdomen.
Gradually, the dark power was pushed out of her body.
However—
When Frigga examined the curse within the unborn child, her expression changed.
She was clearly shocked by what she saw.
Some time later, Frigga brought Pepper out of the medical chamber.
She sighed softly.
"I'm afraid my strength is insufficient to completely remove this curse."
"However, I have weakened it significantly."
She then looked toward Tony.
"There is someone who could remove it completely."
"His name is Karl."
"He is also from Midgard."
Frigga paused.
"You may know him."
"With his power, removing this curse would be effortless."
"Unfortunately, I do not know where he currently is."
Before Tony could respond, Frigga continued speaking.
"I will also search through Odin's ancient library."
"There may be forgotten purification spells capable of removing the curse."
With that, Frigga left the room accompanied by several attendants.
She headed toward Odin's former vault and archives.
As the Queen of Asgard, she had full access to them.
And now that Thor was king, no one would deny her entry.
Thor sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Tony."
"I didn't expect my mother to have so much difficulty with it."
Then he added quickly:
"I'll ask Heimdall to search for Karl across the universe."
"As soon as we know where he is, I'll use the Bifröst to send you to him."
Tony shook his head.
"It's okay, buddy."
"The fact that the curse has been weakened is already a big help."
Tony looked toward Pepper.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Pepper can stay here in Asgard."
"Could you arrange a few attendants to take care of her?"
He took a breath.
"I'm going into space to find Karl myself."
Tony looked at Thor seriously.
"Can you tell me the last place Karl was seen?"
Thor hesitated for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
"I'll arrange more attendants for Pepper."
He continued:
"You can ask Heimdall."
"He knows the last place Karl appeared."
Thor placed a hand on Tony's shoulder.
"Good luck."
"And if you ever need to return, just call Heimdall's name."
"He will open the Bifröst for you."
Tony walked toward Pepper.
He kissed her gently.
His eyes were slightly red.
Pepper did not stop him.
She understood him.
She also wanted to protect their child.
All she could do was watch him leave.
Tony felt the same determination.
Even if the child were aborted, they could not be certain the curse would disappear.
The only reliable solution was to find Karl.
No matter the cost.
Soon afterward, Tony arrived at the Rainbow Bridge wearing his vibranium armor.
Ten additional suits of armor followed behind him.
Heimdall stood waiting.
After receiving Thor's instructions, Heimdall nodded.
Then he activated the Bifröst.
A rainbow beam descended.
Tony and his ten armors disappeared into the light.
Moments later—
A seven-colored beam appeared above a distant planet.
Tony and his armors emerged from it.
This was the last known location where Karl had appeared.
Not long after Tony landed, several strange alien aircraft approached his position.
They quickly surrounded him.
Without hesitation, Tony flew toward them.
His ten armors followed closely.
The two sides confronted each other in the air.
But there was a problem.
Tony could not understand their language.
After a brief moment of confusion, Tony pulled out a holographic projection of Karl.
He displayed it toward the aliens.
Then he asked if they knew where Karl was.
Even if they could not understand him, he hoped they might recognize the image.
To Tony's surprise—
The alien aircraft immediately lowered their weapons.
Then they gestured for Tony to follow them.
Tony frowned slightly.
But he still followed them.
Meanwhile—
Far away in space.
Inside the research laboratory of Skyblade VII, Karl was conducting an experiment.
Two people lay on experimental beds:
Yelena and Natasha.
Now that the Graviton Gene had been perfected, Karl decided to inject it into them.
Once the gene integration was complete, they would gain the ability to survive directly in outer space.
This was part of Yan's improvements to the gene system.
At the same time, Karl was researching several other genetic enhancements.
His goal was to allow May, Raven, Zhao Hailun, and the others to also survive in space and increase their strength.
Karl had absolutely no idea what was happening on Earth.
Nor did he know that Tony had already come to the universe searching for him.
As the silvery-white genetic solution entered their bodies, Yelena and Natasha's veins immediately changed color.
Their blue veins turned metallic silver.
Both women clenched their teeth.
The transformation was painful.
Soon, sweat covered their bodies.
Karl looked slightly embarrassed.
The experiment chamber had grown rather… revealing.
After spending too much time recently with Black Phoenix and the others, Karl found it increasingly difficult to ignore such things.
Seeing his reaction, Yan rolled her eyes at him.
About thirty minutes later, the process finished.
Yelena and Natasha both exhaled in relief.
Their clothes were soaked with sweat.
But they didn't seem to care.
Soon, they began testing their new abilities.
Their bodies lifted gently from the experimental beds.
Floating in midair like curious children—
They experimented excitedly with their newfound power.
...
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