After leaving the Avengers base, Ethan followed his planned route and headed for Asgard.
Aside from a few minor misunderstandings at the beginning due to his childlike appearance, Thor was very happy about Ethan's arrival. He became even happier when he learned the purpose of Ethan's visit, realizing it meant he could drop by and chat with him anytime in the future.
Although he had become the God-King of Asgard and was more composed than before, Thor was still the same enthusiastic and straightforward man. That trait would probably never change.
After receiving Thor's warm hospitality, Thor also mentioned something to Ethan.
The Chitauri had been unusually active recently, launching several probing attacks against the Nine Realms.
"How has your father, Odin... been doing lately?"
At the mention of Odin's health, Thor's mood became much heavier.
"Father's health is getting worse and worse."
"If you need any help, just ask me directly."
Thor hesitated for a moment. He had actually wanted to bring it up earlier but was worried it would be asking too much, so he hadn't said anything.
He knew Ethan could travel to many different worlds and might be able to find some special treasure to restore his father's health.
However, Odin wasn't suffering from an injury or illness. His life was simply reaching its natural end. This kind of situation was not easy to resolve. For ordinary beings, there were plenty of ways to extend life, but for a god, especially a God-King at his peak, it was a different story.
Thor was afraid his request would put Ethan in a difficult position, so he had kept it to himself. He hadn't expected Ethan to notice it anyway... Loki, who stood nearby, rolled his eyes. Anyone who wasn't blind could see the troubled expression on Thor's face as he struggled to speak.
"This... is it even possible?"
"It should be. Even if the body can't be saved, as long as the soul core is intact, there's still a chance for rebirth."
Compared to mortals, the soul core of a god was stronger and more stable. However, preserving it was also more difficult and troublesome.
But for the specifics, Ethan would have to see Odin in person.
Since stepping down as God-King, Odin and Frigga had not appeared in public again. When Ethan expressed his wish to meet Odin, Thor gave him a strange look and told him that Odin was not currently in Asgard.
"Not in Asgard? Then where is he?"
Running around while in such poor health? Could it be that the former God-King of Asgard wanted to enjoy his final days by traveling and sightseeing?
"He's on Earth."
"Huh?"
Loki, who was standing nearby, then handed Ethan a small piece of paper with a string of numbers on it.
"What's this?"
"A phone number."
"..."
Ethan put the paper away, then waved goodbye to Thor and Loki. Because it was about Odin's health, Thor didn't try to keep him, so Ethan's stay in Asgard was shorter than expected.
After returning to Earth, Ethan looked at the number on the paper and dialed it directly.
He had plenty of things stored in his space ring, including a mobile phone that worked in this world.
After the call connected, Odin on the other end sounded energetic, not like a frail old man at death's door. That was expected, though. After all, he was a former God-King. Even if his life was near its end, he wouldn't be weak like a regular human.
Of course, compared to his prime, Odin was clearly much weaker now.
"You want to meet?"
After Ethan revealed his identity and said he wanted to visit, Odin immediately understood why he was calling. He didn't say a location, but instead used another method to let Ethan know where he was.
As the God-King of Asgard, Odin was skilled in both combat and magic. To let a mage know his location, he didn't need to speak.
Ethan hung up, took one step, and in the next instant, he appeared in a completely different place.
Looking around, he saw a lush green grassland and a vast sea. Odin and Frigga were sitting on a large rock near the edge of a cliff, gazing out over the water.
Ethan approached Odin, quietly observing his physical condition, while Odin also turned to study Ethan from head to toe.
"You've finally taken this step, young man."
Odin could see Ethan's current state at a glance. Compared to before, when he had only touched the edge of the divine realm as a demigod, Ethan had now fully crossed that threshold and become a true god.
"Truly an astonishing achievement."
Thinking back to the first time he saw Ethan, he had just been a tiny, insignificant mage.
Back then, Odin had learned a few things from the Ancient One and knew that Ethan might have a significant influence on Asgard's future. That was why he had gone out of his way to build a connection. Otherwise, why would the God-King of Asgard value a little human mage?
"I also have to thank you for your help back then."
"So, are you here to repay that favor?"
Odin had lived long enough. Ethan's little intentions couldn't escape his notice.
"I've always believed in returning kindness with kindness."
Odin smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze back to the sea. "Although I appreciate your willingness to repay the favor, I don't think it's worth wasting your energy on this old man."
He understood his condition very clearly. The long passage of time had worn down both his body and his soul. It wasn't just a matter of physical deterioration. Odin's soul had lost its vitality. Extending his life couldn't be solved by physical means alone.
After watching for a while, Ethan also saw the root of the problem.
The soul was weak. The fundamental issue was that Odin's spirit was tired. He had simply lived too long. And how could that be fixed?
Having lived for countless years, even if the body remained in its prime, the mind and soul wouldn't stay untouched.
Especially when one had done everything there was to do and seen everything there was to see, it wasn't hard to understand why some would find life more burdensome than fulfilling.
From this perspective, it made sense why some gods preferred to sleep for centuries, or even discard their powers and memories to reincarnate as mortals and experience new lives.
Ethan didn't have this problem yet. He had only lived for a few decades and was far from being tired of life.
Moreover, unlike Odin, who had spent most of his time governing Asgard or conquering the Nine Realms, Ethan had countless interesting things to keep him occupied. Even if he got bored, he could just follow those gods' example and reincarnate into a new world to play around. Of course, he wouldn't erase his memories. He liked to keep them all. As for the body, it would just be like making a new character.
"Maybe you could try a long nap?"
As soon as Ethan said it, he realized Odin's condition wouldn't allow it. If he went to sleep now, he really would never wake up again.
"Or, a long slumber while preserving the soul core?"
Odin had originally intended to say that he had lived long enough, but Frigga quietly tightened her grip on his hand. That made him realize that while he may have accepted leaving this world, many people still hadn't accepted losing him.
Looking at Frigga, who had stayed by his side for so long, Odin finally nodded.
"If you can do it, preserve my soul. I think... I'll have a good sleep."
With that, the decision was made.
Ethan would preserve Odin's soul core, allowing him to enter a long slumber that was nearly indistinguishable from death. But because the soul was safely sealed and protected, he could be awakened if needed.
However, Ethan could guess what Odin really wanted. This was likely just his way of helping others get used to his absence. He would sleep, and once Thor and the others had adjusted to life without him, they wouldn't try to wake him again. In the end, it would be no different from truly leaving.
Just as the decision was made, a portal suddenly opened nearby, and the Ancient One walked through, wearing the robes of Kamar-Taj.
"You don't need to make your decision so quickly. You could always go out and see the endless, wondrous new worlds."
The Ancient One had once been someone who had lived long enough. But ever since she realized that the multiverse was far more vast than she imagined, her thirst for knowledge had reawakened.
Odin was briefly stunned. That idea hadn't occurred to him.
"Go visit other worlds?"
If this had been his younger days, he might have even tried conquering them. But now, he was calmer, and his health truly wasn't great.
"I think I'll just rest."
Even though he said that, his words carried a little more vitality than before. This showed that he was tempted. If he went into slumber now, he might not reject being awakened. Previously, even if someone had tried to wake him, he wouldn't have responded and would have treated himself as truly gone.
"I look forward to exploring new and wondrous worlds with you after you wake up."
Odin nodded, accepting the Ancient One's invitation. Almost at the same moment, his body began to gradually disintegrate into countless points of light.
These glowing fragments didn't immediately disperse. Instead, they slowly condensed into a ball of golden flame, floating quietly in the air.
The Ancient One and Frigga made no move. Instead, they both turned their eyes to Ethan.
Ethan, however, was panicking inside.
Grandpa Odin, you died way too quickly! I wasn't ready yet!
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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