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{Chapter: 61 - Mess Is On The Way}
After a hearty meal filled with Asgardian delicacies and sweet, burning wine that warmed him from within, Aiden finally returned to the private quarters Thor had arranged for him. The room was grand yet quiet, built of polished golden stone and engraved with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the candlelight. A wide balcony overlooked the ethereal rainbow arc of the Bifrost, giving Aiden a sense of infinite height and cosmic beauty. Yet despite the splendor, his thoughts were elsewhere.
He sat cross-legged in the center of the room and closed his eyes, allowing the hum of ambient energy in Asgard to settle his nerves. Then, he turned inwardâtoward the dangerous treasure that now resided in his body: the Aether.
As he began channeling his focus, the Aether responded sluggishly. It stirred like a wild beast, coiled deep within his soul, half-asleep yet ever ready to bite. A thin thread of its essence oozed into his system, a drop of infinity in a mortal shell. It was slow, far too slow for his liking. The absorption process was like trying to drink lava through a straw made of ice. Not only was it agonizing, but the Aether also fought him every step of the way.
Aiden winced. His veins flared a dark red hue, pulsing with unstable light. He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and endured the sting of raw cosmic power resisting him. It was a battle of will, and he was losing.
"It's stable... barely," he muttered aloud, his voice strained. "But this rate of absorptionâthis isn't progress. It's tormenting."
Despite spending several hours meditating and devouring what little Aether he could, the total amount assimilated was pitiful. He was beginning to understand why so few dared to wield the Aether directly. Even Malekith, the dark elf, had fused with it completelyâ becoming something beyond mortal understanding.
The process is very slow and the effects of devouring have been reduced a lot. As long as Aiden devours its energy, it will resist making the process painful.
It will take a very long time before he completely devours Aether with this pitiful progress, which makes him a little depressed. If he can't devour it, then there isn't really much use, unlike Malekith, who can easily use Aether.
"This won't work," Aiden muttered, falling back onto the polished stone floor, staring up at the golden ceiling etched with depictions of battles between gods and monsters. "If I can't tame this thing, it'll either rot inside me or destroy me from the inside out."
He sighed heavily. For the first time since arriving in Asgard, he felt frustratedâtrapped. The armor he wore now felt heavier, more like a burden than a blessing. He had come here seeking power, and he had indeed grasped a fragment of something ancient. But if he couldn't use it, if he couldn't master it, then what was the point?
"I need something to channel it," he whispered to himself, recalling the legends Thor had once shared with him during a feast. "Malekith had his body... Thanos had the Infinity Gauntlet. I need a conduit. Something built to handle infinity."
But he wasn't a god. He didn't have a galactic forge or legions of servants to create divine artifacts. The idea of building his own version of the Infinity Gauntlet sounded absurdâuntil he realized, maybe it didn't have to be a gauntlet.
"This is not good. If I can't find a way to use this, then my effort will be in vain, but I can't find any reasons to throw such a powerful object." Aiden sighed. Before he could use Aether, he at least had to get something like the infinity gauntlet that could hold the power of the infinity stones. But, finding something like that was not easy.
His eyes lit up with a sudden glimmer of inspiration. He sat up quickly, the pain in his limbs ignored for the moment. "A second planeâŠ" he whispered.
That was it.
---
The night in Asgard passed quietly, cloaked in an unnatural stillness. The celestial city, suspended among stars and flowing with divine energy, rested under a blanket of golden twilight. But in Aiden's chamber, peace was a foreign concept.
He didn't sleep.
Instead, he sat by the wide window overlooking the gleaming spires and celestial bridges, lost in thought. The air shimmered faintly with the power of the realm. Yet, inside him, there was only turmoil. He couldn't stop replaying the visionâthe dark mist, the rising storm, and the monstrous presence breaking through Asgard's walls.
The future was always uncertain, always in motion, but this time⊠something felt inevitable.
As the faint glow of morning light touched the horizon, Aiden rose to his feet. He hadn't closed his eyes once, but fatigue didn't grip him. He felt alive, driven. The Aether within him pulsed faintly, as if reacting to the tension in the air.
He dressed quickly, donning a simple Asgardian tunic with a high collar and silver embroideryâgarb offered to him by Thor's servants. It carried the scent of the Realm Eternal: clean, almost metallic, like the essence of lightning and stardust.
Once ready, he stepped outside, deciding to take a walk through the waking city.
The streets were already busyâAsgardians were early risers, and even the children sparred with wooden swords beneath marble arches. Aiden nodded to passing guards and merchants as he strolled past, appearing calm on the outside, though inwardly he remained sharply alert.
Then, he saw it.
A small procession was heading down a wide staircase carved into the mountain wall. At the front was Lady Sif, flanked by armored warriors of the Einherjar. They were escorting what looked like a prisonerâno, something far more dangerous.
Towering among the others was a hulking figure, bound in thick chains that crackled with runes of suppression. The creature's face was hidden behind a jagged helmet, his body radiating restrained rage.
Aiden narrowed his eyes. So, he's here already...
That wasn't just any prisoner. It was Algrimâsoon to become Kurse, the monstrous champion of Malekith. A servant of destruction and vengeance, capable of tearing through Asgard's finest like parchment.
"He's acting so soon?" Aiden whispered to himself, his brow furrowing.
This was no coincidence. The wheels of war were already turning. Malekith's plans had begun, and the signs were everywhere for those who knew what to look for.
"It seems I have to hurry," Aiden muttered. His pace quickened, his mind racing. There wasn't much time left.
---
Yesterday, Aiden had spent hours wandering through Asgard's outer districts, not merely to observe but to listen. He asked questions under the guise of curiosityâabout the city, the defenses, and more importantly, about the legendary Odin's Vault: Asgard's treasure house.
It was said to hold artifacts from forgotten erasâremnants of wars between realms, enchanted relics, and even ancient weapons forged in the heart of dying stars.
Now, without hesitation, Aiden made his way toward the Vault. Once inside he will wait for the right time and chaos. The guards at the entrance did not stop himâword of his identity and his past deeds had spread fast. But as he approached the final steps, a familiar figure stood waiting.
Thor.
Clad in battle gear and his crimson cape billowing in the wind, the God of Thunder looked more like a warrior king than a prince. His arms were folded, expression calm but unreadable.
Aiden didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"You know who I am," Aiden said flatly. "So I assume you're aware of my abilities."
Thor gave a slow nod. "The one who found the Aether through dreams."
"Exactly. I can foresee glimpses of the future. It's not always precise, but enough to find truth in the fragments." Aiden stepped closer, eyes serious. "And I've seen what's coming. Asgard is on the brink of disaster."
Thor's brow lifted slightly, a skeptical look flashing across his face.
"If this is some jest, it's not appreciated."
"I wish it were," Aiden replied grimly. "Malekith isn't just biding time. He's already infiltrated your city. Algrim is hereâsoon, he will become Kurse. The prisons will fall. The dark elves are coming."
Thor's jaw clenched at the mention of Malekith, but the amusement in his eyes faded.
"I appreciate the warning, but Asgard has faced Malekith before and endured. If he dares to return, he will be reminded of that cost." His voice rang with divine pride, heavy as thunder.
Aiden stared at him, silently gauging. Thor didn't truly believe him. Or perhaps he believed in Asgard too much to be shaken.
'Arrogant godâŠ' Aiden thought. 'You'll learn soon enough.'
Then it happened.
A deafening bell tolled across the skies, its deep echo shaking the clouds. The air itself tensed as people froze mid-step. Alarm swept through the streets like wildfire.
Thor's expression darkened instantly. "That's the warning bell."
He summoned Mjolnir without another word, the mighty hammer spinning into his grasp. "Stay safe, Aiden." With a roar of wind and lightning, he shot into the air, disappearing into the clouds.
Aiden watched him go, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Too late for warnings now."
He turned toward the Vault's massive golden doors. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding."
---
Meanwhile, chaos had erupted elsewhere in the city.
Deep in Asgard's prison halls, Kurse had shed his true power. The transformation was completeâthe cursed stone embedded in his chest pulsed with dark power. Prison walls cracked as he tore through the guards like paper, his strength now monstrous, unstoppable.
Freed prisoners surged behind him, adding to the mayhem. Fire and blood filled the corridors. Among the chaos, Kurse passed a cell encased in a shimmering magical force fieldâinside stood Loki.
"Well, well," Loki said with a grin, eyeing Kurse with mischief. "Here to set me free, beast?"
Kurse glared at him in silence, then turned away without a word.
"Oi! Come back here!" Loki shouted, offended. "Do you know how boring it is in here?"
But Kurse was gone, leaving Loki to stew in his cell, his grin fading into a grim frown.
---
Above, a warship pierced the clouds.
Malekith's vessel, cloaked in shadows, slipped past Asgard's defenses. Heimdall spotted it too late, and despite striking at it with his blade, he failed to stop the invaders.
Dark elves rained from the sky, landing across the golden bridges and market plazas. Explosions rippled through the city. Screams echoed. The city of the gods was under siege.
In minutes, Asgard's glory was swallowed by fire and war.
And while God's and warriors battled dark elves in the streets and warriors fell defending their homes, Aiden moved deeper into the heart of the Vault.
He walked calmly, yet his heart beat faster with anticipation.
"Don't disappoint me now, All-Father," he murmured, eyes scanning the shimmering relics. "Show me something goodâŠ"
*****
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