[The golden trait "Secondary Bio-Engine" has been locked in. Navigation initiated. Estimated total distance: 87,000 light-years. Route requires passage through two dimensional space layers and two world portals. Estimated energy cost: nine planetary units. Host, please prepare accordingly and proceed along the designated path.]
"…Did it learn this from Google Maps or something?"
Yamanaka Shinno stared at the multicolored navigation path rising into the stratosphere, visible only to him, and twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth.
Eighty-seven thousand light-years? Just how far was that supposed to be?!
Two dimensional layers, two world portals, nine planetary energy units...
Good thing the Marvel Universe was overflowing with energy sources.
Since the Wanderer of All Worlds existed in another dimensional layer of the Marvel Universe—and he was intrinsically linked to it—his recovery rate wasn't bad either.
The origin energy he spent last time connecting two world portals had more or less fully regenerated.
Otherwise, burning through so much energy just for a single golden trait, he might have—
...Fine!
He'd do it.
To play it safe...
After a moment's thought, Shinno returned to Kamar-Taj and burned through seven planetary energy units to forcibly carve open a world portal within the Wanderer of All Worlds, connecting directly to an underground chamber beneath Kamar-Taj.
This way, no matter where he was, if something went wrong on Earth, he could instantly return through the portal.
He ordered Wong, Mordo, and Kaecilius—who had returned with him—to guard the portal.
Then, with his eyes closed, Shinno summoned the image of Odin, King of the Gods, that he had seen before. He raised his right hand—bearing the Sling Ring—and drew a circle in the air, locking onto Odin's position as an anchor to open a space portal.
With the Sling Ring assisting him and skipping most of the casting steps, the secret magic of Kamar-Taj really was powerful.
Though it wasn't as quick as space-time jutsu like Yomotsu Hirasaka...
As long as he had intel on the destination—or the anchor target was a native of the Marvel Universe—opening a cross-dimensional space portal was just a matter of drawing a circle. At worst, it would cost more energy.
Of course, this magic had its flaws.
If there was no confirmed destination—or the target wasn't from this world—it could only awkwardly brute-force its way forward, opening portal after portal blindly.
Eighty-seven thousand light-years?
He'd have to be an idiot to just stand there drawing circles.
Wouldn't it be easier to borrow the Bifrost and zip directly to the system's designated point?
...
Sparks flickered along the rim of the portal.
Despite being anchored to Odin's location, the one standing before it wasn't the King of the Gods.
Instead, it was Queen Frigga, dressed in elegant royal robes, her meticulously styled curls giving her an air of graceful dignity.
Though time had left its marks on her face, the Queen still radiated an indescribable gentle warmth and serenity. Just one glance at her would unconsciously draw you in.
"Supreme Sorcerer," Frigga greeted with a soft, graceful smile, lifting her gown slightly and offering a polite curtsey. "Odin is currently resting. With anchor-based magic, the target defaults to me in his absence."
"I haven't had the chance to thank you for looking after Thor. I believe this experience will be a meaningful one for that child."
"You flatter me, Your Majesty. It was a small thing."
Shinno replied with the customary sorcerer's salute—hands clasped in front of his chest as he bowed slightly.
He didn't bring up the fact that he'd sent Nick Fury off to do the dirty work.
After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn't even arrived where Thor was yet. By the time they showed up to arrest him, drag him back, and start drawing blood...
Well, Shinno would already be long gone from Earth. What did any of that have to do with him?
"And what brings you here today, Supreme Sorcerer?"
"I'd like to borrow the Bifrost to travel to an unknown location. Would it be convenient at the moment?"
"Of course. It would be Asgard's honor."
Frigga gave a small, serene smile and extended her hand in welcome.
"Then I shall impose."
Shinno stepped into the portal.
With a flick of his fingers, the doorway vanished from the secret chamber beneath Kamar-Taj.
Wong, Mordo, and Kaecilius watched the portal close—and let out a collective sigh of relief.
Then, they exchanged glances and gave a simultaneous bitter smile.
As three of Kamar-Taj's most prominent sorcerers, they had really lost face this time.
On the Sorcerers Alliance forums, threads detailing the latest "Demon Trials" had already exploded in number.
The posters didn't just share their personal experiences—they described the environments, weapons, gear, and potential enemies involved. They even chronicled the grisly deaths of various sorcerers in vivid detail.
As famous secret-arts sorcerers, the three of them had become prime targets of debate.
Some mocked them for dying pitifully. Others defended them.
But if the Supreme Sorcerer threw them into the next Demon Trial and they didn't put on a dazzling performance...
They'd be laughed out of the magical world.
"For Kamar-Taj," Wong said solemnly.
"For the name of secret-arts sorcerers," Mordo nodded with intense focus.
"For honor and victory," Kaecilius clenched his fists.
Having steeled their resolve, the three immediately set off to learn all they could about those infuriating modern weapons.
...
At the far edge of the Nine Realms, connected by Yggdrasil—
Having used the power of the Bifrost to cross two dimensional layers, Yamanaka Shinno stood silently as the glowing rainbow bridge slowly faded behind him.
His eyes shimmered with thought.
By now, he was certain of one thing—everything happening in Asgard was orchestrated by Odin.
From killing Laufey to forging Thor's trial...
"It's not really any of my business though, is it?"
He scratched his head.
Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, wasn't his subordinate. They'd even tried to kill each other before. Whether the guy lived or died had nothing to do with him.
Besides, someone like that—fated to die and with little influence on the timeline—wasn't worth wasting effort on.
As for Thor...
With his battle-hungry personality, and his recent brush with death at the hands of the Ten Rings during the Demon Trials, the guy would probably beg to join the next trial himself.
Changing his fate wouldn't be hard at all.
With that, Shinno cast aside his wandering thoughts and turned to the space before him.
Activating the multicolored trait [Wanderer of All Worlds], he followed the system's designated path and forcibly traversed the Marvel Universe's own world portal.
...
He moved through the swirling chaos of dimensional turbulence.
In just a few minutes, he reached the spot marked by the system's navigation.
And there, he saw it:
A solid, unblemished wall of reality. Not even a crack in sight.
Yet the destination marked on the map was less than five meters ahead.
Only now did Yamanaka Shinno understand why the system said it required nine whole planetary energy units.
This so-called navigation wanted him to force open a world portal.
You've got to be kidding me!
He had to carve a path by brute force?!
Placing his palms against the seamless world barrier, Shinno endured the chaotic space turbulence while unleashing massive quantities of origin energy.
Activating [Wanderer of All Worlds], he began forcibly tearing open a portal.
His energy clashed with the world wall, distorting and pulling at the protective fabric of reality.
Time passed—who knew how long.
Until, like metal finally bending past its breaking point, the wall gave way with a thunderous crack.
Under the power of his trait, the gap widened slowly, just enough for a person to pass through.
But before Yamanaka Shinno could step into the World ahead...