Chapter 21.
The first thing that catches your eye is the dazzling array of weapons glowing with a cold gleam—golden spears, silver longswords, massive axes, gigantic war hammers... the variety is immense. Each weapon appears extraordinary, with not a single ordinary item among them. All of –them are rare treasures.
"These are all high-quality weapons collected by my father. Would you like to choose one?" Thor introduced them to Li Yue.
"No need. I forgot to mention—your father already agreed to have the dwarves of Nidavellir forge a custom weapon just for me!"
Although Li Yue could see that these weapons were far from ordinary—only slightly inferior to Mjölnir, Thor's hammer—and that they were rare artifacts that would be hotly contested anywhere else, he knew he only had one chance to choose a weapon. Why settle for something already made when he could get something custom-forged? For him, these didn't make the cut.
"What? The dwarves are going to make a weapon for you? What was Father thinking? I didn't get that kind of privilege!"
Thor, who was already envious, now turned completely jealous. Although his hammer had also been made by the dwarves, it wasn't specially crafted for him. Strictly speaking, he was just the current wielder of Mjölnir.
Despite being Odin's son, he didn't receive such a special treatment—yet Li Yue had gotten it just by exchanging a few words. Was his father losing his mind? Thor couldn't help but question what was going on.
Thor stopped talking and led Li Yue further inside. He no longer wanted to guide him around and just hoped he would pick something quickly and leave his sight—otherwise, he feared he might lose control and smack him with his hammer out of frustration.
Along the way, they passed more weapons, armor, and even some peculiar items and rare materials, but nothing seemed to catch Li Yue's interest.
Eventually, Thor brought Li Yue to the deepest part of Odin's Treasury. There, only a handful of items were displayed, each on its own pedestal.
These were Odin's most prized artifacts—each one was valuable enough to spark a war among the Nine Realms.
"This is the Orb of Agamotto. It can detect and pinpoint powerful magical energy, and reveal major evil threats. It can also peer into other worlds and dimensions."
Thor pointed at an object emitting a faint purple glow, resembling a crystal ball.
Li Yue examined it carefully. He recalled seeing it in the Thor movie. The Orb of Agamotto, like the Eye of Agamotto, was said to have been passed down by the ancient sorcerer Agamotto on Earth.
How did Odin manage to collect it here? Li Yue was confused.
Seeing that Li Yue merely glanced at the Orb of Agamotto with curiosity and said nothing, Thor moved on to the next item.
"This is the Eternal Flame, a trophy from Father's battle against the fire giant Surtur. He stored it here afterward. It's said to contain the secret of the cosmic flame source, capable of resurrecting bodies long lost. It holds the power of both destruction and rebirth."
Thor pointed at a brazier where a flame burned steadily—no fuel, no flickering, yet it gave the impression it would never go out.
Li Yue knew of this artifact—Hela had used it to resurrect her mount Fenrir and her ghost army. Later, Thor himself used it to empower the fire giant, triggering Ragnarok and destroying Asgard.
The Eternal Flame was incredibly powerful, but Li Yue felt it wouldn't be of much use to him personally, so he didn't choose it.
Seeing that Li Yue was still uninterested, Thor continued introducing the next artifact.
"This one is called the Warlock's Eye. It can see through all things and trace the origins of the universe. When activated, a third golden eye appears on the user's forehead. At its peak, it emits light that can pierce any illusion. A truly powerful artifact."
"Thor, how do you know the effects of all these items?" Li Yue asked, curious about how Thor had come to know so much about them.
Li Yue stared at the item with great interest. It looked just like an eye—at its center was a white, glowing orb with a black spot, resembling a pupil.
A third eye? Doesn't that perfectly match the weapon I want to create? Was this item waiting for me to choose it?
"Of course I know all about it. My father personally told me," Thor explained. "When Loki and I were young, he used to bring us here often and tell us stories about his battles in the Nine Realms. But now... Loki..." As he spoke, Thor trailed off, clearly saddened by the memory of his brother, whose fate remained unknown.
"Okay, okay, I get it. Just move on to the next item already!"
Li Yue sighed and slapped his forehead lightly. Why did I even ask? Still, he couldn't help but take another glance at the Warlock's Eye, though he didn't choose it just yet.
"The next item comes from your Midgard—from the ancient Atlantis civilization, one of the oldest on Earth. It's inscribed with a biological evolution equation. According to the life equation engraved on this artifact, anyone who understands it can evolve to the highest form of life—gaining infinite wisdom and immense combat power."
Thor continued, "It's called the Monument of Life and Time. Unfortunately, Father couldn't decipher the ancient text, so he couldn't unlock its power. But even so, its potential was so immense that he decided to keep it stored here."
Thor sighed with a hint of frustration. But when he noticed Li Yue wasn't responding, he turned and was surprised by what he saw.
At that moment, Li Yue was completely captivated by the artifact. His eyes were locked onto the seemingly unremarkable object.
As he stepped within a few meters of the monument, he felt his entire body being drawn to it. An intense desire welled up from deep within, overwhelming his senses. It took a moment before he snapped out of it.
"Thor... I want this one!" Li Yue said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"You're sure? You're not going to look at anything else? You really want to choose this useless thing?"
Thor asked in disbelief. As much as he secretly hoped Li Yue would pick a dud and leave, now that he actually had, Thor couldn't help but voice his concern.
"I've made up my mind. This one. I don't need to see anything else." Li Yue's voice was resolute. The closer he got to the monument, the stronger the pull he felt from his body. He couldn't resist anymore—he extended his right hand to touch it.
Thor watched intently, holding his breath. This was an artifact even Odin couldn't unravel. Why was Li Yue so drawn to it? Was it really that special? Hadn't he even checked the treasures further back?
As Li Yue's fingers finally touched the monument, at first, nothing happened.
Thor felt disappointed—it was just as he'd thought. Nothing strange or exciting.
But then, something bizarre occurred. A visible blue energy began to radiate from Li Yue's fingertip where it made contact with the monument. The energy surged into the artifact, flowing in like a stream of light.
A burst of blue brilliance surged through the Monument of Life and Time, as though searching for an outlet. But as more and more blue energy poured into it, the monument began to tremble, as if it could no longer contain the immense power and was on the verge of shattering.
Boom!!!
Whether it was real or just an illusion, a deafening sound rang in Thor's ears. Yet there were no signs of an explosion—only the Monument of Life and Time breaking apart into countless glowing blue fragments that surged into Li Yue's palm and vanished without a trace.
Something unknown and monumental was happening inside Li Yue's body.
The moment he touched the Monument of Life and Time, Li Yue felt as though he had lost control over his body. He couldn't even pull back his right hand. In the vast sea of stars within his –spiritual consciousness, a surge of blue energy spiraled out of control, racing from his arm straight into the monument.
Li Yue didn't know exactly what happened once the energy entered the artifact. All he could do was watch helplessly as more and more blue energy poured into it—until the monument actually exploded. He was stunned. If he had been able to move, he would've instinctively leapt away.
But this explosion wasn't violent. No fragments flew outwards. Instead, the monument dissolved into dazzling blue particles—tiny points of light that floated gracefully in the air like a swarm of glowing, cheerful fireflies.
Li Yue –stared at the strange scene, completely confused. Why had the energy in his mind gone out of control? Why had the Monument of Life and Time exploded? And why was this beautiful, dreamlike scene unfolding afterward?
Just then, Li Yue realized something—he could move again. Quickly, he tried to withdraw his right hand. But at that very moment, the floating blue lights reacted like soldiers receiving a command. They rushed toward his palm with incredible speed.
Everything happened so quickly, Li Yue had no time to react. He could clearly feel the blue energy gathering in his palm, then flowing up his arm, surging through his veins like a current.
Eventually, all the energy converged at his heart. There, each point of light split into countless smaller ones. But they didn't linger. It was as if each had a purpose—starting from the heart, they flowed into his arteries and were carried throughout his body, reaching every organ, every muscle, even every single cell.
In that moment, Li Yue felt weightless—as if his entire body was being cleansed and reborn.
But what thrilled Li Yue the most was this, the evolutionary power he inherited from Darwin was now completely under his control.
This revelation brought enormous benefits. For example, in the past, he could only transform his arms into Adamantium metal.
But now, with just a thought, his entire body—his skin, organs, even blood vessels—instantly shifted into a metallic form, gleaming with a brilliant silver light that radiated an awe-inspiring aura.
And this transformation wasn't just on the surface. Li Yue could feel every part of his body—his inner organs, blood vessels, every single cell—had evolved into a metallic state.
In this new form, Li Yue was virtually indestructible.
Feeling the changes within himself, Li Yue couldn't help but clench both fists. A sharp, metallic creaking echoed from his hands. Then, with a casual motion, he knocked his fists against his own head, producing a resounding dong dong—a metallic symphony. Yet, to his surprise, he felt no pain at all.
After marveling at the transformation, Li Yue let his thoughts settle and instantly reverted to his normal human appearance. His skin returned to its natural tone, but the changes within his body weren't finished yet.
Curious, Li Yue decided to test his –transformation into Thor's form. In the past, after his evolutionary ability had progressed a bit, he could unleash about 60–70% of Thor's power.
But now, almost instantly upon transformation, Li Yue felt a surge in every single cell of his body. Arcs of silver lightning burst across his skin, crawling like silver serpents, crackling with power. The storm he summoned far surpassed any thunder Thor had ever conjured.
Yet, despite the terrifying display, the electricity didn't damage a single thing around him—not because it lacked power, but because Li Yue could now control every last spark with absolute precision.
To demonstrate, he simply willed the current into motion. The lightning slithered like silver snakes across his body and instantly gathered in his palm, forming a glowing silver ball of lightning no bigger than a ping pong ball. With a grin, he tossed it into the air and caught it playfully.
The orb seemed small, but its power was anything but. Thor, who stood nearby, immediately felt its energy—it made his face turn serious. As the God of Thunder, Thor knew better than anyone the immense danger of concentrated lightning.
If that orb were to explode, the entire vault of Odin's treasures would be obliterated—reduced to dust. And even Thor himself might not escape unscathed. A serious injury would be the best-case scenario.
"L-Li Yue… be careful… seriously…" Thor stammered, his voice weak, heart pounding as he watched Li Yue juggle the orb like it was a toy.
"Relax! My hands are steady. I won't drop—"
Before Li Yue could finish, he missed the catch. The glowing orb fell.
"Holy—!!!" Thor's eyes widened in panic. Lightning flared around Mjolnir in his grip as he prepared to flee with all his might.
But then—
"Gotcha! Haha, made you jump!" Li Yue's voice called out, halting Thor mid-action. When Thor looked down, the ball of lightning was hovering calmly, just ten centimeters above the ground.
With a slight wave of his hand, Li Yue summoned it back into his palm effortlessly.
Then, to Thor's utter disbelief, Li Yue tossed the orb into his mouth, crunched twice, and swallowed it.
Thor stared, stunned. In all his life, he had never seen anyone eat lightning.
Li Yue patted his belly and let out a burp.
"Tastes like chicken. Crunchy, too!"
"Alright, let's go," Li Yue said casually, turning away. "I've picked my treasure. No need to stay here any longer."
Having gained such a tremendous power upgrade, Li Yue was eager to leave and explore the full extent of his evolution. What he had just demonstrated was only the beginning. The true depth of his transformation remained to be discovered.
"Let's go! I'll lead the way!" Thor said abruptly, already turning to leave. Truthfully, he wanted to get out before Li Yue did—maybe even get away from him. The display of power just now had shaken him more than he cared to admit. He walked briskly toward the exit, not even checking if Li Yue was following.
Far away, in the halls of Asgard, deep within the throne room, the ripples caused by the treasure's activation had not gone unnoticed. Odin stood silently, his single eye open and glowing faintly, the other closed as he sank into deep contemplation.
The energy signature from the treasure vault had been unmistakable. He knew exactly what had happened.
"Are you truly placing your faith in that mortal?" Frigga's voice broke the silence as she stepped beside him, her expression mixed with curiosity and concern. "You gave him one of your most ancient relics… entrusted him with part of Asgard's future… even Thor's growth. Why?"
Odin remained silent for a moment longer before speaking, his voice deep and deliberate.
"You know I know the future," he said slowly. "The twilight of the gods, Ragnarok is coming. I've seen it clearly—but there are things even I cannot interpret. Shadows where there should be clarity."
He turned his head slightly, gazing toward the sky as if looking beyond it.
"But ever since that mortal—Li Yue—appeared… the threads of fate began to change. After he arrived, the future around Thor blurred, became uncertain, unreadable even to me. That, in itself, is a sign. Thor walking with him… that is the path most likely to lead us away from ruin."
Frigga frowned slightly, still trying to understand. "So you gave him that artifact because you saw no other way?"
Odin looked at her then, his gaze solemn.
"And more than that he told me something I never foresaw."
Frigga raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Odin's expression grew darker.
"He told me your fate."
Frigga's breath caught in her throat. Silence hung in the air like a stormcloud, heavy and charged.
Odin didn't elaborate—not yet. But Frigga knew, from the look in his eye, that whatever Li Yue had said it wasn't just about Asgard. It was something personal—something even Odin hadn't dared to confront.
...…..
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