The news about Odin's elder brother, deliberately revealed by Hela, was clearly meant to stir trouble. Her intentions were transparent: she wanted Robert to confront either Odin or his sealed sibling. After all, as Hela had pointed out, with Odin nearing the end of his life, her own seal would soon weaken and eventually disappear. Wouldn't the same apply to Odin's brother, who was also sealed away by him?
Moreover, while both Thor and Hela were heirs to Asgard, Odin's elder brother had an even higher claim to the throne. If Odin had indeed usurped the throne from his sibling all those years ago, then, in terms of legitimacy, Odin's brother would have a stronger claim to Asgard than either Thor or Hela.
Thus, to Hela, both Thor and Odin's elder brother were obstacles. If Robert were to eliminate Odin's brother, it would greatly benefit her plans.
This was an open scheme. Odin's elder brother had been sealed on Earth, and no matter what, Robert couldn't ignore the situation. Odin was at the end of his life, and the seal would inevitably weaken. It was only a matter of time before Odin's brother broke free.
Unlike Hela, who could project her consciousness into the Hell Dimension, Odin's brother was completely isolated from the world. He likely had no idea of the monumental changes Earth had undergone over the millennia. In his mind, Earth was still a pasture under Asgard's rule. When he broke free, he would see no value in the lives of Earth's inhabitants. Fueled by centuries of fury, he could unleash a massacre that would claim countless innocent lives.
However, one question still lingered in Robert's mind: if Odin was approaching death due to his age, wouldn't his brother—who was even older—also be near the end of his lifespan? Couldn't he simply die within the seal?
"Wait a minute. This elder brother of Odin… isn't he older than Odin?" Robert asked Hela, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course, he's older than that old fool," Hela replied, nodding. She quickly guessed what Robert was really asking and smirked knowingly. "I know what you're getting at. Yes, the gods of Asgard are not immortal. But the position of All-Father comes with immense power and authority—along with significant consequences."
Seeing Robert's curiosity, Hela elaborated, "Normally, the gods of Asgard grow stronger with age, as their bodies and divine power evolve in tandem. Their longevity ensures that their increasing power doesn't overwhelm their physical forms."
"But becoming the All-Father changes that balance completely. Once a god ascends to the throne, their divine power surges drastically and receives the full blessing of Asgard's realm. The rate at which their power increases far outpaces their body's ability to keep up. That's why you see Odin now—his divine power is vast, but his body has become frail and aged. It's not because of time, but because his mortal vessel can no longer bear the weight of his power."
"But his elder brother is different…"
"While he doesn't possess power on par with Odin's, his strength hasn't grown at an unsustainable rate either. As long as his power doesn't strain his physical form, he can continue living for millennia. He won't age as rapidly as Odin has until he reaches the natural lifespan limit of an Asgardian god."
"So, theoretically, if Odin hadn't become the All-Father, he could've lived much longer?" Robert asked, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Yes, that old man could've lived a lot longer," Hela confirmed, her tone dripping with mockery. "But tell me—who could resist the allure of the All-Father's throne, with its unmatched power and authority?"
As Hela finished speaking, her form began to fade away. She had already shared all the information she intended to reveal. What Robert chose to do next with this knowledge was entirely up to him. As long as Robert acted, it would benefit Hela's plans.
Hela was certain that Odin's elder brother would inevitably clash with Robert. Locked away for millennia, the elder brother would still view Earth as Asgard's property and its people as expendable. Much like Hela herself had once planned to massacre Earth's inhabitants to fuel her own power, she knew Odin's brother would likely do the same.
But unlike her, Odin's brother had no knowledge of Robert's strength. Ignorant of the current state of the universe, he would underestimate Earth's protectors—something Hela was counting on to lead to his downfall.
"Interesting," Robert mused as he watched Hela's form vanish into thin air.
"Looks like the All-Father's throne comes with its downsides," Thor said with a sigh.
"Downsides?" Robert quipped, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you were calling Odin 'the old man' just a moment ago. What happened to that energy?"
Thor chuckled sheepishly. "That's because I was speaking from Hela's perspective. In her case, Odin's actions were unfair. She was only pursuing her path to power—there's nothing wrong with that. Even if Odin was trying to protect Asgard from a greater threat, sealing her on Earth was unnecessary."
Thor shook his head, clearly conflicted. "With the power Odin wielded back then, he could've stripped her of her claim to the throne and exiled her to Helheim. That way, she wouldn't have been trapped for thousands of years with no hope of growth or freedom."
"It all boils down to Odin's fear," Thor continued. "He was afraid she'd grow too strong and return for revenge."
Robert listened in silence but made no comment. Thor's perspective was certainly interesting, though Robert doubted he'd maintain this stance if he ever ascended to the throne himself. Power had a way of altering one's priorities.
"Let's head back," Robert said finally, turning to look at Kaecilius.
With a flick of his hand, Kaecilius opened a fiery portal. Robert, Thor, and the rest stepped through, returning to Earth.
"Finally, they're gone," one of the Hell Dimension's rulers muttered, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Back on Earth, the Avengers were still cleaning up the battlefield left behind by Steppenwolf's invasion. When they saw Robert and the others return, Tony Stark immediately approached.
"Is it done? The Mother Boxes?" Tony asked urgently.
"They're dealt with," Robert confirmed with a nod. "Their destructive power is… impressive. If they had been detonated on Earth, even with its current durability, the damage would've been catastrophic."
"Good, but it's still not over. Darkseid's still out there," Tony said, sighing heavily.
"That's where the Green Lantern Corps comes in," Robert replied, turning to Kilowog and Tomar-Re. "Once we're done here, I'll take you to the coordinates of the Parademon planets. You can begin your reconnaissance from there. But remember—if you encounter anything beyond your ability to handle, especially Darkseid, don't act recklessly."
"Understood," Kilowog and Tomar-Re replied in unison, their expressions serious.
Satisfied, Robert turned his attention back to Thor. "Let's deal with Asgard next," he said.
Thor nodded. "I'll admit, I'm curious about this long-lost relative of mine."
"Alright, let's go," Robert said, placing a hand on Thor's shoulder. In an instant, the two vanished from sight, reappearing moments later in Asgard.
This time, Robert chose not to teleport directly into Odin's presence. He didn't want to risk startling the aging All-Father.
"Robert? Thor… your highness?" Heimdall's voice broke the silence, his hand instinctively gripping his sword as he recognized the two figures.
Though he quickly lowered his weapon, Heimdall's unease was evident. Thor was no longer the man he once knew, and Robert's reputation as Asgard's nemesis needed no introduction.
"Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble," Robert said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I just have a few questions for Odin."
He turned toward the palace in the distance, his gaze unwavering. "It's been a while, Odin…"
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.