As the visions faded, the projected screen disappeared, leaving Thor standing there, stunned. Wow, to think I turn into the dark side—guess the ancients one was right! he thought, half-amused, half in awe. For someone who always considered himself straightforward and, honestly, not the sharpest when it came to schemes, the idea of such hidden malice was slightly unsettling.
With a grin, Thor turned to the Ancient One. "Well, thanks for the movie. But since you don't seem keen on stopping me, why bring me here? Just for a chat?"
The Ancient One shook her head, her voice soft but serious. "Some time ago, I sensed… cracks in the timeline, anomalies that resisted closure. Twelve years ago, your transformation made these fissures even more pronounced. For years, I struggled to understand the cause. Only recently did I realize that you are the key to mending them."
Her eyes met his with a grave intensity. "You alone can restore balance. If the timeline collapses, everything—everything—could be lost. I don't think you'd want to risk that."
Thor nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her words. No signal on the last part, but he got the gist. "Right," he said. "So… what do I need to do?"
"Relax and accept the Eye of Agamotto's guidance."
As the Ancient One's chest glowed with a brilliant green light, Thor started to protest, "Wait—let me tell my people first!" But he barely got the words out before his vision faded to black.
A distant chime sounded as he regained consciousness, followed by the soft hum of the system prompt:
"Congratulations, host, on triggering the Ancient One's exclusive mission: Eternal Secret—By harnessing Dormammu's dark power, the Ancient One achieved a form of immortality. Help her, and you may gain insight into that mystery."
"Mission Objective: Complete the timeline repair. Mission Reward: Active Skill—Immortality."
"Immortality: Gain eternal life, resisting aging. This power can be granted to others, provided they are weaker than the host. It will not work on targets of immense strength."
Immortality! Thor nearly laughed aloud in excitement. For countless beings, eternal life was the ultimate dream—one even Odin and the Ancient One couldn't achieve. And here he was, offered the chance to attain it.
But as he read the mission details, his excitement dimmed. Fixing the timeline? That didn't sound straightforward. What did she think he was, an anti-virus program?
Looking around, Thor noticed he wasn't in Kamar-Taj anymore. Instead, he stood on a narrow street lined with low, dusty buildings, the kind you might see in old history books. Where did she send me?
He pulled out his phone, only to discover a dead signal. "Great," he muttered. "The universe's most advanced phone can't get a bar here?"
Suddenly, sounds of a scuffle reached him from a nearby alley. Ordinarily, he would have ignored it, but today, his mood was sour after being whisked away without warning. Maybe dealing with some bullies would help him blow off steam.
In the alley, he saw what barely qualified as a fight: a towering brute of a man, well over six feet, pummeling a much shorter, scrawny guy who stubbornly held a trash can lid in front of him as a makeshift shield. The brute swiped it away and threw another punch, sending the smaller man sprawling.
Thor couldn't help but shake his head, amused and exasperated. Who picks a fight when they're outmatched like this?
When the brute raised his foot to deliver a kick, Thor stepped in, yanking the man back. The thug turned in confusion to find Thor grinning at him. "How about showing some class and not picking on someone half your size?"
"Mind your business!" the thug spat, taking a swing at him.
Thor dodged easily, delivering a counter-punch that sent the brute staggering backward. Then, with a bit of flair, he unleashed a rapid series of blows that left the bully reeling, barely able to stay on his feet. Finally, with a decisive right hook, Thor sent him sprawling.
The scrawny young man, still on the ground, watched the spectacle wide-eyed as Thor dispatched his would-be assailant. Dusting himself off, he got to his feet, muttering, "I almost had him that time."
Thor chuckled. "Right. But, you know, a bit of backup never hurts."
The young man extended his hand with a crooked grin. "Steve Rogers. And you are?"
…
[Read up to 60+ chapter more on p@treon.com/goldengaruda]