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Link felt somewhat odd at the moment, as the crises across the universe seemed so easy for him to solve. It felt like he was invincible.
However, he quickly discarded his swelling ego. After all, he hadn't encountered the truly powerful beings in the universe yet. This mindset could become dangerous. The absence of the Ancient One troubled him—he needed someone to throw cold water on his inflated sense of superiority and bring him back to reality.
Looking at the stone in his hand, then at the giant starfish still playing in the water, Link chuckled.
The Reality Stone was more entertaining than he had imagined, and maybe keeping it wasn't such a bad idea. He even wondered if the stone could serve as a source of magic. Should he seek out the Ancient One and study magic? After all, he could learn almost anything quickly, as long as he avoided borrowing power from entities like the Vishanti.
Meanwhile, Asgard's army began to gather, boarding ships to capture the remaining Dark Elves, while Odin handled the palace invaders, ensuring that Queen Frigga survived this ordeal.
Thor had also subdued the prison riot, and just like that, a looming catastrophe was averted.
Malekith was already dead. He had been in one of the ships Link shot down, dying as the vessel was destroyed. That was one problem solved.
As for the rest of the Dark Elves, how Asgard chose to deal with them was no longer Link's concern. He had once again been welcomed warmly by Asgard, though this time he didn't display as much of his power—yet it was more than enough.
In the following days, Link began studying the Dark Elf technology. The massive battleship lay half-submerged in the lake where the starfish had disappeared.
After tinkering for a while, Link used the ship's systems to make it fly again, temporarily docking it alongside Asgard. Asgard itself was a massive landmass floating in space, its foundation composed of a giant crystal structure, making it more like an enormous space station. From a distance, even the battleship seemed small next to it.
But now the question of what to do with the battleship remained. It was a fully functional ship, but its technology was far removed from Earth's.
---
"Do you have any requests, Link?" Odin asked one day, summoning him to the throne room. "You saved Asgard once again."
Link shook his head. "I have no demands. We're allies; it's only natural that we help each other."
"However, I do have a suggestion: Asgard's external defenses seem a bit vulnerable. While Heimdall's abilities are indeed remarkable, I don't think they are enough on their own."
"I believe you're aware of Thanos. As long as you are here, he won't dare to attack. But what happens when you're no longer around?"
Odin hadn't expected Link to bring up this topic.
Link continued, "I know Asgard prides itself on its strength, and with the Bifrost, you can appear anywhere in an instant. But this latest attack should serve as a lesson."
"The Dark Elves made it to your doorstep, and your only warning came from Heimdall."
Odin sighed. "I know. But, my boy, you've overlooked one problem—Asgard doesn't have many resources."
Link blinked in surprise. Asgard wasn't exactly a large realm; it wasn't even a complete planet.
Curious, Link asked, "Asgard rules over the Nine Realms. Why not extract resources from other planets?"
Odin shook his head. "Asgard doesn't want to enslave the realms. Some things are best left unsaid, but I won't burden you with that knowledge."
Link had a general understanding of what he meant. Odin had once led Hela, his firstborn daughter, in a conquest of the Nine Realms, after which he established this grand palace. But then he had changed, abandoning war in favor of diplomacy. After thousands of years of peace, and now that he was aging, resource extraction wasn't on the table anymore.
"In that case, take the battleship," Link offered. "I have nowhere to store it anyway, and Earth lacks the personnel to man it. Asgard has both the people and the capability."
"Thank you," Odin nodded. "It was your rightful prize, but Asgard will not forget its friends."
Link smiled and added, "There are some things Asgard can improve, like installing perimeter scanners or additional defense turrets."
"I'll have someone handle that," Odin agreed, recognizing the wisdom in the suggestion. This attack had indeed been a wake-up call, and the universe was full of threats. While he could still keep Thanos at bay for now, what would happen once he passed? Odin's days were numbered, and Thanos wouldn't simply disappear.
Moreover, Heimdall had admitted that he hadn't been able to detect the Dark Elves' cloaking technology—he had only sensed their presence by instinct. Asgard needed to evolve.
Link's advice had been well-received, and though he had no immediate plans to leave, he continued to study the Dark Elf technology. One month passed before he finally returned to Earth.
---
Upon arriving at the top of the Osborne Group building, Link found both Jessica and Tracy at home.
"Hey, Tracy!" Link greeted with a grin.
Tracy jumped, startled. "When did you get here?"
Link chuckled. "You were both so engrossed in your conversation that you didn't notice."
Jessica knew how Link had returned, but she didn't say anything, instead changing the subject. "Honey, a TV station invited Tracy to do a talk show. What do you think?"
Link shrugged. "Why not? Tracy's been a star her whole life. She'll shine at anything she does."
"That's what I said," Jessica nodded before turning to Tracy. "You should give it a try."
"We'll both support you," she added.
Tracy hesitated. "I'm just worried the only reason they invited me is because of your sponsorship."
"Don't think like that," Jessica reassured her. "We were going to run ads anyway. You have a huge following already; going on TV is the natural next step."
"She's right," Link chimed in. "You've always had a fan base."
As the sisters' bond grew closer, Link stepped out onto the balcony with a cigar and a glass of bourbon. He pondered the idea of upgrading the Avengers' stealth technology, which would need to be adapted and installed on their ship. Fortunately, the Avengers' vessel still had space available from previous modifications, leaving room for future upgrades like a light-speed engine.
The Avengers' ship was essentially an experimental platform, a prototype for future ships. The plan was to continue integrating various technologies until they could eventually design a more permanent vessel.
Finally, Link glanced at the Reality Stone in his hand. It was time to seek out Kamar-Taj.
(Chapter End)