"Syd said slowly, "Compared to the Rune King Thor, who has mastered the power of runes, you are truly weak…"
He was referring to the Thor from the comics.
The Rune King Thor is one of the most powerful forms of Thor.
The Twilight of the Gods in Asgard is far more exaggerated and brutal than depicted in the films.
Most myths don't have a definitive end, but Norse mythology is different. The Twilight of the Gods is inevitable; when it arrives, all the Norse gods will die, and the Nine Realms will burn in Surtur's flames.
However, even though the Norse gods die, they will be reborn after a time! They will start anew, completely forgetting the previous Twilight of the Gods, and the cycle will continue until the next Twilight of the Gods, followed by rebirth—an endless cycle!
This cycle has occurred countless times, and the Asgardian gods were unaware for a long time, until Odin, the All-Father, discovered the truth!
Syd contemplated this.
The real truth was even more brutal, described vividly as a dish named the Twilight of the Gods.
In the Marvel Universe, there are many gods, but the Asgardian gods are considered ordinary. In the comics, there's a hidden group called the 'Gods Above Gods,' who secretly control Asgard.
Although the Marvel Universe is quite unscientific, it still adheres to the law of energy conservation. The Gods Above Gods need energy to become stronger and to survive.
The Twilight of the Gods is their source of energy and sustenance! They treat the Asgardian gods as crops, sowing seeds and waiting for them to grow. When the Twilight of the Gods arrives, it's time for harvesting; all the energy the gods have accumulated throughout their lives is consumed by them at the moment of death!
Destruction, rebirth, and continuous cycles of being devoured…
Until Odin discovered the truth…
When the Twilight of the Gods came around again, Thor sacrificed his eye, drank from the Well of Wisdom, and uncovered the reality of the Twilight of the Gods.
He hung the World Tree upside down for nine nights and days, comprehending the power of the runes like the Runes of Yggdrasil, and on the brink of death, fused his divine power with rune magic.
Thus, the Rune King Thor was born!
In this form, Thor's power surpassed Odin's, reaching a level above the Father of the Gods!
Ultimately, he shattered the spindle of destiny and ended the cycle of the Twilight of the Gods, achieving what Odin could not.
However, the Gods Above Gods were merely driven back temporarily…
This shows the extent of their power.
Of course, these are just stories from the comics, unrelated to the main universe, where there are no Gods Above Gods in Asgard.
Syd wondered about this with some uncertainty.
But he believed that beyond the main universe, such a universe must exist.
"If I get the chance, I should see for myself and learn about these so-called Gods Above Gods…"
Syd's lips curled into a faint smile.
After considering this, he refocused on Thor.
Upon hearing Syd's words, Thor was taken aback and muttered, "Rune power? Rune King Thor?"
"What are these things?"
Thor was confused, not understanding what the mysterious person was referring to.
Syd glanced at him and casually revealed some surprising insider information.
"Runes, such as the Runes of Yggdrasil, contain mysterious powers. Rune power is essentially rune magic."
"I assume you know what the Runes of Yggdrasil are."
Thor looked enlightened but then showed a troubled expression.
As an Asgardian god, he was certainly aware of the Runes of Yggdrasil, but these were only studied by his mother; he had never studied them himself and didn't know how to use them.
Moreover, he thought having a powerful body and a hammer was sufficient; why would he need the power of runes?
Syd glanced at him and guessed his thoughts, calmly saying, "That's why you're so weak."
"Once you comprehend rune power, awaken your divine strength, and combine them, then you will be a true deity."
In the distance, Loki, who had been listening quietly, narrowed his eyes with a flicker of curiosity and mischief.
Thor was momentarily stunned. While he didn't understand rune power, he knew a bit about awakening divine power from what he'd heard from his father.
He was well aware of the difficulties in awakening divine power and didn't know when he would achieve it.
So, combining rune magic with divine power—this so-called Rune King Thor? Is it really that powerful?
Thor was hesitant and doubtful.
At that moment, the mysterious figure continued in a slow, deliberate tone, "As for now, your strength is truly embarrassing for a deity; you can't even defeat two mortals."
"You're so weak, I'm ashamed for you."
Syd shook his head.
Just as he finished speaking, Thor's eyes flared with anger.
Before Thor could respond, Tony Stark, ever the talker, remarked, "So you're just another actor?"
"Are you also some kind of god?"
"What era is this? You're still playing the god game?"
Tony Stark couldn't help but tease.
As an atheist, Tony viewed these beings as aliens, not gods.
Steve Rogers, although thinking similarly, recognized the situation was serious and kept a wary eye on the mysterious figure.
Hearing Tony Stark's comment, Thor and Loki both felt discomfort and frustration. How had they, as Asgardian gods, come to be mocked by mere Midgardians?
Yet, these mortals did have impressive abilities. They didn't have overwhelming strength to instill fear or demonstrate the might of the gods.
Thor and Loki felt a bit thwarted, wanting to prove themselves but unable to do so at the moment.
Unexpectedly, the mysterious figure's voice broke the tension with a soft laugh.
"Is that so?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Loki all felt a shock.
Boom!
A violent thunderstorm erupted.
White lightning flashed, leaving them unable to react.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Lightning crackled through the forest, striking Captain America, Iron Man, and even Thor.
Zzz!
Iron Man was immediately knocked to the ground by the lightning.
As for Captain America, although his shield blocked most of the lightning, part of his body was still exposed.
End of Chapter