"Are you sure you don't want this one?"
Aaron's expression grew even more peculiar—after all, this was the genuine article, the real deal: Thor's hammer!
"No, I specifically want Thor's version!"
Once again, Loki emphasized his requirement. "If it's not Thor's hammer, then I don't want it!"
When it comes to wielding a hammer, Thor's the true expert.
Even he likes that hammer—so it has to be something good!
This one here is so plain. It can't compare to the sparkle of a golden or silver hammer.
To be honest, what Loki really wants is a golden hammer.
Because he's currently standing in for the King of Asgard, only a brightly polished golden color befits his status as the King of the Gods.
Never mind the other details—
If he and Thor appear at the same time with their hammers, and people see Thor with a gold and a silver one, while Loki is stuck with some plain, unremarkable hammer, what are they going to think?
Hmph! So this "Ruler of the Nine Realms" can only swing a junk hammer, while Thor remains the true face of Asgard, the one most deserving of the Asgardian throne!
Who could stand for that?
With that thought in mind, Loki changed his request. "Could I get two golden hammers? The kind that can unleash the power of Thor."
"Suit yourself."
Seeing Loki's insistence, Aaron said nothing more. After all, Loki had chosen it himself—Aaron couldn't be blamed.
"You're certain it's Thor's golden hammer?"
"Absolutely!" Loki was a bit suspicious—was something off?
Aaron waved both hands, and once again, two golden hammers appeared out of thin air.
"Try them first."
Overcome with excitement, Loki planted the Gungnir in the ground and accepted the two golden hammers.
In the next instant:
"I've got it!"
"I can feel the surging vitality!"
"The power of thunder… Finally, I, Loki, have gained Thor's power!"
Loki could no longer contain the excitement in his heart.
He was certain he didn't imagine it—the thunderous power was so strong, so mesmerizing.
He could even sense Thor's aura in it.
Goodness, that's exactly the sensation, that familiar energy! Now Loki, too, could run rampant through tens of thousands, becoming the center of the gods' attention!
Seeing Loki caught up in his own ecstatic high, Aaron's expression grew strange. He glanced at the Gungnir and made a sudden move.
Before Loki could react, Aaron's right hand had already drawn out the Gungnir and begun fiddling with it.
Loki's face changed drastically. "That's really off-limits!"
"Why?"
Aaron retorted. With a deft motion of his right hand, he directly swallowed the Gungnir, melting it down.
"Hey, where's the Gungnir? Spit it out. If there's anything to discuss, let's talk it over."
"The Gungnir is of extraordinary significance—it represents Asgard's royal authority and is also my father's personal weapon. He would never allow it to fall into the hands of someone else!"
"It might even trigger a war between Midgard and Asgard—everything here could be reduced to rubble!"
Once again, Loki brought Odin's name into the mix.
Gripping his newly acquired "Thor's Hammer," lightning flickered faintly in his hands.
He had never been this strong before. Even his physical might was boosted by Thor's power. He had no idea how many times stronger he had become.
But he still didn't dare act rashly.
Aaron was too mysterious; he could effortlessly produce more Thor's hammers. Besides, Odin had long since confirmed that this golden hammer was actually Thor's, so the thunder power couldn't be fake.
Moreover, Loki himself had never actually used Mjölnir and wasn't familiar with its exact properties, so he didn't realize that a golden hammer was simply a golden hammer—who knew how much Uru was actually in there.
Just as Loki was spinning around anxiously—
Aaron sensed a familiar golden flash.
[Sure-Hit: A similar ability detected, now fused (Ultra Aim). You have acquired the Sure-Hit trait. Your attacks will never miss their target—no matter how the enemy dodges, they cannot escape your blow!]
[Energy Ray: A similar ability detected, now fused (High-Temperature Heat Vision, Energy Bolts/Cannon). You have greater mastery over energy control. Any part of your body can serve as a firing point, making your attacks virtually impossible to defend against, while also further increasing their power.]
[In the Name of the King of the Gods (Complete): You fully possess the rights and qualities of a true King of Asgard. You can enchant any magically imbued weapon, summon the Bifrost, and in the name of the King of the Gods bestow or strip away someone's powers (drawing upon Asgard's energy). When you are away from Asgard, your strength will grow even more quickly!]
[Key to the Destroyer: You can control the Destroyer Armor at will. It can become the most terrifying weapon under your command!]
[Token of the Oath: Never lightly make a vow. Once you promise something, you must uphold it or suffer the consequences. From now on, you are the new God of Oaths!]
Not bad! He'd directly unlocked an ability akin to "cause-and-effect" attacks!
Aaron was quite pleased.
To an extent, Sure-Hit is already at a conceptual level.
If I target you, it's guaranteed to land!
No matter how you dodge, you can only resign yourself to taking the hit.
Whether it kills you depends on your own vitality.
Against enemies whose vitality isn't high, it's a perfect critical strike!
Of course, for opponents like Deadpool or Hela, it might be a bit less effective, but it was still pretty decent!
Combined with the Energy Ray, he could become a mobile sniper-and-artillery platform on the battlefield, guaranteeing hits with every shot. Whether facing men or women, they'd all have to take one shot from him!
The common denominator is that both scenarios threaten lives—one literally ends a life, the other might create life. Truly evil!
When Aaron noticed the third ability, his expression changed instantly.
So that means…I'm the King of Asgard now?!
In theory, even though he doesn't have Asgardian royal blood, Aaron already possesses the authority of its king!
Which means he's more qualified than either Thor or Loki!
"Maybe I should go claim the throne!"
Aaron imagined heading to Asgard now, probably leaving Odin completely dumbfounded.
He might suspect Aaron is some long-lost half-brother, or the descendant of an old enemy named Melkor who'd been wandering in exile.
Otherwise, a total outsider could never truly earn Asgard's acknowledgement and the authority of its king.
That's the main reason Loki never really stood a chance of becoming king.
Even Thor only gradually gained that power much later, and he never fully got to exercise it.
Certainly nowhere near Aaron's current level.
Aaron closed his eyes to sense it carefully, faintly feeling a vast reservoir of energy in the far reaches of space, countless light-years away.
Clearly, that was Asgard calling out to him!
Calling its master who roamed far beyond its borders!
Aaron even felt that if he unleashed his divine powers, he could summon the Bifrost right here!
Though it would require a hefty amount of energy, it wouldn't be all that difficult for Aaron.
He opened his eyes, looking toward Loki, who still didn't dare move. With a flick of his right hand, the Gungnir reappeared. He tossed it back to Loki.
Loki hastily caught it, carefully checked it, and after some time finally breathed a sigh of relief.
No problem—still the real spear!
"Honestly now, the thunder power's authentic, right?"
"Have you considered my payment? Maybe you could try defaulting on me?"
Aaron eyed Loki with a half-smile.
Loki's heart clenched—he had the distinct feeling Aaron could see right through him.
For a moment, Loki had indeed planned to renege.
He already had what he wanted; he'd just say it was a gift to celebrate the new king's enthronement.
What? You want me to pay? Where do you get the nerve?
If you're so capable, come across light-years to reach the mystical palace of Asgard, appear in the Golden Hall before all those armored soldiers, and demand it from me in person!
Loki wouldn't believe Aaron would truly show up in the Golden Hall to confront him face to face.
However—
As soon as Aaron began to speak, Loki suddenly felt that maybe this wasn't the person to try pulling cheap tricks on.
This guy was too uncanny!
Loki's eyes darted briefly. Then he forced a grin. "Of course not! A king's first requirement is moral character. If the Ruler of the Nine Realms doesn't keep his word, how would any realm obey?"
"In that case, let me swear by the Gungnir! I, Loki, hereby establish our transaction. As long as no unforeseen complications arise, I will definitely fulfill my promise!"
Gripping the Gungnir, Loki swore solemnly.
The Gungnir is a symbol of oaths. Long ago, Odin, King of the Gods, and Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, used it to seal a truce in Jotunheim—an unbreakable oath that lasted a thousand years.
"If it weren't for my foolish brother charging recklessly into their stronghold and breaking the treaty, thus violating the oath, he might never have been punished for it."
"So rest assured, I'll honor our deal. After all, I'm a proper King of the Gods, someone who follows the rules and keeps his word!"
With a fake smile, Loki pledged his vow.
He had lied countless times over the millennia, and feigning sincerity was second nature.
Yet Aaron still noticed that hint of uneasiness flashing across Loki's face.
He said nothing, merely stepped up to Loki in a flash.
Just like before, he gently patted Loki on the shoulder.
"Of course. After all, you are the King of the Aesir. I'm sure you wouldn't want the entire universe—from the Nine Realms outward—spreading talk that the King breaks his word or casually lies, would you?"
Loki tightened his grip on the Gungnir, still smiling.
Even with the boost from Thor's power and his enhanced physique, that gentle pat from Aaron still weighed on him like a heavy burden.
It felt as though, even stronger than before, he was still frail before Aaron, as if he hadn't improved at all.
"But so what if you're strong? I'm a proud sorcerer!"
"In this day and age, why use brute force if you can use magic?"
"At worst, I'll just activate the Bifrost. No matter how strong you are, if I threaten to blow up a planet, you'll have no choice but to kneel, powerless!"
Loki's expression did not change, but inwardly he felt he'd already won.
"Anyway…shall I be off now?"
He smiled inquiringly. "I'll go fetch that treasure from the palace, one of my father's most prized items, just for you."
Aaron nodded. "Certainly. I do have one condition, though."
"Name it!"
"Don't you dare bring me a fake. Otherwise…"
With a casual swipe of his right hand, Aaron sliced open Loki's expensive Asgardian leather as though it were paper, even drawing blood.
Loki's eyes flickered, and his smile only grew more radiant.
"You know what happens…"
Aaron left the rest of the sentence hanging, and Loki didn't ask.
Still, Loki couldn't help thinking: How does Aaron know so much about Asgard's vault? He even knows there's counterfeit stuff in there.
After some thought, Loki decided he had better play this carefully.
He had already sworn an oath, so an extra condition or two wouldn't matter much.
After all, he was a king who told the truth and kept his promises, right?
Fine, then—he'd take something real. Odin had plenty of items in storage. Handing over one or two made no difference to Loki.
Worst case, he'd try to win a few wars later to replenish Asgard's treasure vault.
Leisurely pondering all this, Loki excused himself and walked away.
He didn't head straight back—he went off to torment his dim-witted brother instead.
Aaron didn't bother following him for whatever melodramatic brotherly drama might unfold.
The blood on Aaron's fingertips glinted in the sunlight.
A moment later, it vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there.
[Frost Control (Frost Giant Bloodline): A similar ability detected, now fused. You have gained powerful frost manipulation and inherited the Frost Giant King's power.]
[Partial Giant Form: When frost energy is sufficient, you can partially become a giant, causing your physical attributes to rise accordingly.]
[Loki's Magic Compendium: You have mastered invisibility, illusions, illusionary clones, telekinesis, levitation, spatial storage, astral projection, shapeshifting, possession, short-range teleportation, hypnosis, energy projection, telepathy, shadow manipulation, and other magical abilities (no incantations required; now integrated into Aaron's own abilities at Loki's level).]
Frankly, Loki's power level at present isn't great.
Compared to the "God of Time" Loki from later in the Loki TV series—who controls time itself, maintaining the sacred timeline across infinite multiverses—he's miles behind.
Right now, Loki hasn't unlocked abilities like possession, telepathy, shadow control, short-range teleportation, or hypnosis. He technically has them, but he hasn't figured them out; it'll take him a few years to master them.
Aaron hadn't originally expected to gain anything too astounding from Loki.
But now—
"I'm sorry, Loki, I owe you an apology!"
"You might not be the Nine Realms' greatest sorcerer, but you're definitely a decent mage!"
Aaron couldn't help sighing in admiration.
Is Loki impressive? No—it's the Primordial Furnace that's impressive!
It even dredged up abilities Loki himself hadn't discovered, then fused them as innate traits right into Aaron's body.
Now Aaron can use them naturally, without all the trouble Loki goes through!
Of course, it still requires energy consumption.
After all, he can't just break the laws of conservation like the true Primordial Furnace, which is practically a bug among bugs.
With a thought, Aaron's clothing changed in an instant.
From a sleek business suit befitting a successful executive, it transformed into a blue uniform with a red cape and the red "S" logo on the chest—Henry Cavill's Superman look!
Moreover, Aaron appeared taller and more muscular than Henry Cavill, and paired with that uniform, he looked even more dazzling and imposing!
"Not bad!"
At that moment—
Darcy, Jane Foster, and the others emerged, escorted by Coulson and his men. Erik was still grumbling:
"I'm telling you, return all our data immediately!"
Jane added, "And give us all the backups as well!"
Darcy chimed in, "And the backups of the backups! Not a single file missing!"
Coulson looked helpless. He wanted to refuse, but Darcy stated outright that she and Jane were indeed in contact with Aaron, and Aaron's driver confirmed that Darcy and Jane were employees of the Osborn Group, personally recruited by the boss.
Given that, Coulson had no choice but to stall them, letting his people copy the data before handing it over.
Under normal circumstances, he would never compromise so easily.
But Aaron… Coulson really didn't want another phone call from the President.
"Once we confirm there's no classified material, we'll— Huh? Aaron?"
Coulson's words froze in mid-air. He noticed Aaron off in the distance, apparently testing a new ability—especially that eye-catching Superman outfit—and Coulson's face turned pale.
You still claim you're not Superman?
In a swift shift, Coulson said, "Please, don't worry. It was a misunderstanding—completely our fault!"
"All right, everyone, immediately return everything you took from these three—every last scrap! Right this second!"
"I'll also offer a little gift, as our apology. Maybe a seven-day trip to Europe, or a vacation in Venice, something like that."
"And Dr. Erik, on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., I'd like to extend an official invitation. Would you be willing to contribute to America's—and the world's—security? We guarantee you the best treatment in the field and top-notch benefits, with no interference in your research!"
Coulson's sudden shift from hard-line to deferential would almost make you laugh.
But no one laughed at him.
Because Aaron really is like a living god on Earth!
Oh, or a "river god"…
Tsk—definitely not someone you want to mess with!
Darcy and Jane were both stupefied.
They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and excitement.
A literal god among humans was speaking directly to them—how else could they respond but accept?
"I'm in!" they replied.
~~~
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