Syd even suspected that the Time Stone might not be able to monitor him.
With these thoughts, he turned his gaze to the Tesseract, glowing with blue light, and the Scepter.
He hesitated, considering whether to break open these artifacts to retrieve the Infinity Stones within.
After a while, he shook his head.
The Tesseract and the Scepter, much like the Eye of Agamotto, were not just artifacts but also tools that assisted their users in harnessing the power of the stones.
The raw Infinity Stones themselves were not something just anyone could wield. For example, the Power Stone could cause severe harm or even death upon contact!
"It's better to keep them for now. Once I get the Infinity Gauntlet, I can destroy the artifacts."
As for where to obtain the Infinity Gauntlet, Syd immediately thought of Asgard. In Thor: Ragnarok, there was indeed an Infinity Gauntlet displayed in Odin's vault.
Hela had commented that it was a fake, and she casually knocked it over.
However, Syd believed that Hela was referring to the stones embedded in the Gauntlet being fakes, not the Gauntlet itself.
After all, it seemed unlikely that a fake artifact would be stored in Odin's vault.
So, it was highly probable that the Gauntlet was genuine.
"Just don't know when I'll get a chance to visit Asgard…"
Syd mused.
Of course, even with the Infinity Gauntlet, he still lacked several stones. Moreover, using them with his current Level 4 divine body, though not as fatal as Tony Stark's experience, would likely take a heavy toll.
Tony Stark had his armor for protection and had suffered injuries even with his formidable physique. Syd didn't think he would fare any better.
"It seems I need to reach Level 5 for my divine body. I wonder what changes that might bring?"
With this thought, Syd glanced at his interface, noting that he had accumulated a substantial number of energy points. This should allow for significant progress in unlocking new abilities.
Perhaps a new power for Balder would appear?
At the same time, although he had not practiced deliberately, his experience in Level 3 Light God's Power was nearing its threshold for leveling up.
What improvements and changes might come with Level 4 Light God's Power?
Syd's eyes revealed a glimmer of anticipation.
As time passed, countries around the world began to respond to the recent battle in New York.
Television stations and news websites globally began extensive coverage.
In America, a white male news anchor reported:
"Although this recent event has been confirmed as an alien invasion, resulting in tremendous losses, the superheroes known as the Avengers have provided many with a sense of relief and reason to celebrate…"
The broadcast included interviews with people on the street.
"It's great to have them around."
"You know, having someone to protect us is really fortunate…"
"I love you, Thor…"
Some members of the public were supportive, but there were also dissenting voices.
"Superheroes in New York? That's impossible…"
"These so-called superheroes should be held responsible for the damage to the city!"
"They caused all this, but where are they now?"
"There's so much news about superheroes, but it's like they've vanished without a trace…"
While opinions on superheroes were mixed, the appearance of the White Knight, the Omega mutant, shocked many.
"My God…"
"The White Knight actually appeared…"
Everyone who saw the Omega mutant's image displayed a look of terror.
Although the result of the battle between the Avengers and the White Knight wasn't broadcast, people assumed it must have been a monumental clash.
At this moment, many felt a deep sense of dread and suffocation.
What was the White Knight's purpose in appearing on the battlefield in New York?
Did he have a role in all of this?
Even news anchors began reporting on the White Knight's appearance.
"Irina here, currently investigating the White Knight's appearance on the battlefield in New York. We will provide our viewers with an answer soon."
"What exactly is the White Knight's objective, and what is his connection to the New York battle? We will reveal all in due course…"
The popular host Irina was not about to miss out and joined in on the speculation, once again promising answers to her audience.
As global news buzzed with discussions about the Avengers and the White Knight, Nick Fury was having a video conference with several American legislators.
One of the legislators spoke up.
"Where are the Avengers?"
"I haven't tracked their whereabouts. I believe they deserve some rest," Nick Fury replied.
A female legislator then asked, "What about the Tesseract?"
Nick Fury sighed, "The White Knight has taken it. You should know that Captain America and the others couldn't stop him."
"You should accept it as the will of the gods. That item no longer belongs to us…"
Unfortunately, the legislators didn't share this sentiment. "You don't have the authority to decide. We need to get the Tesseract back!"
Nick Fury responded, "You can ask the White Knight for it."
The legislators were at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.
Of course, measures against Omega mutants, including the Messiah and the White Knight, were already being planned, and specific strategies would emerge soon.
In the meantime…
As they discussed, the Chitauri commander was in a special prison cell.
The room was entirely white, with minimal furnishings and no windows.
Despite strict supervision, Nick Fury had not been overly harsh with the special prisoner, even accommodating a few of his minor requests.
For instance, he was currently provided with an offline laptop.
The laptop displayed images and documents related to the Omega mutants, the Messiah, and the White Knight.
Having seen the formidable abilities of the Omega mutants, the Chitauri commander had become curious and wanted to investigate further.
Though imprisoned, he had managed to persuade the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel to provide him with a laptop containing information about the Omega mutants and the White Knight.
"Let me see what this Omega mutant is all about…"
The Chitauri commander began browsing the laptop.
(End of Chapter)