Space travel is not as joyful as imagined.
At least that's how it is after the initial excitement wears off.
After all, the cosmos is vast.
Very vast.
A planet in the cosmos is akin to a rare animal on an expansive prairie, let alone a planet of life.
Especially closer to the Solar System, the cosmos appears more desolate, just as the aliens met on Sandaar Star had said.
Earth is completely situated in a remote corner where even birds pass by without stopping, a place so isolated that traveling there feels like a waste of energy and life.
Gwen, sitting on the captain's chair, looked at the desolate universe before her, recalling the bustling star system of Sandaar, resting her chin in her hand, "Why is Earth's location so remote?"
Hawk, sitting beside her, glanced at his wife, who had become sentimental due to pregnancy, and said with a smile, "Because the World Tree Cosmos is over there."
It's well known.
No one is allowed to snore beside the bed!
Perhaps, in today's Nine Realms, God King Odin rules with poetry and flowers, but in the eyes of other divine spirits in the Main Cosmos and strong individuals who have lived long enough, God King Odin's throne is built with blood and bones.
Therefore...
The entrance to the World Tree Parallel Cosmos is within the Solar System, so naturally, the Solar System is considered God King Odin's territory.
Indeed, that is the case.
When God King Odin was alive, though occasionally there were aliens or Dimension Gods running rampant on Earth.
But aliens are ordinary beings, while Dimension Gods are not gods.
However, after God King Odin's departure, all sorts of monsters sprung up, and even Thanos dared to massacre Odin's personal blacksmith, the Dwarf tribe.
If the Ancient One's departure initiated Earth's unveiling.
Then God King Odin's departure marked the tragic beginning of the World Tree Parallel Cosmos truly falling into the Main Cosmos.
One in a hundred of the Nine Realms' creatures survived.
The remaining Asgardians could only eke out a miserable existence in a corner of Earth.
Yet, the creatures of the Nine Realms are not limited to Asgardians.
Off on a tangent.
Hawk timely retracted his wandering thoughts, looked at his wife watching him, and said with a smile, "Besides, remoteness has its advantages."
Gwen was curious at his words.
"What advantages?"
"If Earth weren't in a remote area, the cosmos slaver ship would target Earth."
"…You're right."
Listening to Hawk's mention of the cosmos slaver ship, Gwen recalled related legends heard on Sandaar Star and instantly realized, "Remote is better, safer."
Seeing Gwen's improved mood, Hawk chuckled, stood up from the seat.
"I'm returning to the room."
"Alright."
Gwen responded, watching Hawk leave the bridge room.
Returning to the room, Hawk crossed his legs on the bed, then slightly closed his eyes, letting his mind dive into the Little Cosmos, continuing to comprehend the insights on 'life' obtained from Ego's essence.
Two days ago, after the Guardians of the Galaxy and others departed the ship, thus parting ways, Hawk and Gwen embarked on the journey back to Earth.
During these two days, the Enterprise was basically under Gwen's watch, while Hawk focused intensely on understanding 'life.'
Though Hawk hasn't yet grasped the true meaning of the Eighth Sense.
But...
Within these two days of comprehending 'life,' he understood why previously his Sixth Sense warned him when he sought Dwarf King Eitri's help in forging the Golden Holy Armor.
Previously, he didn't know the specific reason.
But now, he knew.
Life!
It is widely known.
Each piece of Golden Holy Armor representing the Zodiac, while called battle armor, each is more a battle armor living with life.
Indeed.
The Golden Holy Armor itself possesses life, which is why Golden Holy Armor is so rare and uniquely distinctive.
Thus...
For the past two days, Hawk's mind continuously immersed in his Little Cosmos, using the power of the Mind Gemstone, to comprehend the insights on 'life' obtained from Ego's essence.
It's due to his constant contemplation of 'life' these past days that his thoughts became somewhat scattered.
Simply put, he thinks one thing and swiftly moves onto another.
In the Little Cosmos.
The Phoenix's shadow covered the entire universe, like it's breathing, rhythmically appearing and dissipating.
With each appearance of the Phoenix shadow, the Eyes of the Soul and Eyes of Reality alternately appeared, casting ghostly yellow and deep red rays across the cosmos.
The intersection of yellow and red rays ultimately formed a golden glow, dyeing his Little Cosmos in shades of gold.
Hawk's mind was seated cross-legged on his Time Galaxy, eyes slightly closed, directing the flow of life.
Time ticks away!
Given the Enterprise's speed, returning to Earth wouldn't take many days.
But in Gwen's words, since it's already delayed, whether two days or ten days late returning to Earth makes no difference.
The most crucial point.
When on honeymoon, Gwen took leave for a month, but she arranged laboratory work on a two-month basis.
Hawk didn't express any opinion on this.
A case in point.
Upon entering the Solar System, as the Enterprise began smoothly advancing toward Earth, Gwen's greatest pleasure was to sit on the captain's chair watching the boundless starscape outside.
As the Enterprise sailed past Jupiter's orbit, Gwen halted the ship.
When Hawk emerged from the room to the bridge, he saw Gwen standing by the window, watching the celestial body ahead without blinking.
Hawk walked to Gwen's back and embraced her.
Gwen felt Hawk's embrace and continued to gaze at Jupiter in front of her.
"So beautiful!"
"Beautifully terrifying!"
Jupiter may be beautiful, but it harbors great terror within.
Everyone knows.
Jupiter has no solid surface, beneath its dazzling clouds lie countless gigantic storms, especially the Great Red Spot that could swallow two Earths.
Put it this way.
Any living creature that goes to Jupiter is doomed.
Of course.
Except for gods.
Hawk smiled, following Gwen's gaze at the terrifying Jupiter reflected in her eyes: "I can take you inside for a look, if you're not afraid."
Gwen withdrew her gaze, turned smoothly in Hawk's embrace, and then naturally wrapped her arms around Hawk's neck.
"You know I'd be scared."
"Sorry."
"Why aren't you meditating today?"
"No need."
Hawk smiled: "What can be understood, I've already understood. What can't be, no amount of meditation will help."
In a word.
Do not force it.
With his current strength, he was already capable of protecting himself and those he cared about. There was no need always to feel like a mad dog was chasing him, pushing him to improve desperately.
Most importantly.
Haste makes waste.
Sometimes, retreating a punch is not giving up the attack, but to ensure that the next punch is more accurate and powerful.
Understanding the Eighth Sense is the same.
Listening to Hawk's words, Gwen contemplated for a moment, then seemed to think of something: "Hey, Pluto isn't far from here, do you want to go have a drink with your good friend Mephisto?"
Upon hearing this, Hawk raised an eyebrow, didn't speak, and just smiled at Gwen.
Their eyes met.
Gwen blinked.
"What's up?"
"Darling."
"Hmm?"
"I feel like you don't want to go back to Earth so soon."
"That's not a feeling, it's an illusion."
Gwen corrected seriously, but didn't hold it for two seconds and shrugged under Hawk's gaze: "Alright, you always talk about Mephisto, but I've never met him. I don't even know what he looks like."
Hawk laughed.
"Very ugly, but ugly in a special way."
"Uh..."
"Just especially ugly!"
Hawk said so, then laughed: "But, you won't get to see Mephisto; that guy's still refining the Heaven Dimension."
Gwen was slightly taken aback.
"Wasn't it said he already devoured the Heaven Dimension?"
"Devouring is devouring, and refining is refining, it's different."
"...Alright."
Seeing her idea of a short trip to Hell falling through, Gwen shrugged it off without much concern.
"Enterprise!"
"Ma'am."
"Set course for Earth, full speed!"
"Understood!"
The Enterprise, suspended in Jupiter's orbit, fully powered up and, with a buzz, in Gwen's command of "return home," vanished instantly from Jupiter's orbit.
Soon.
The blue little planet quietly floating in the Cosmos appeared on screen, as box after box of honeymoon gifts purchased by Gwen in the Enterprise's warehouse disappeared into thin air.
Once the honeymoon gifts were completely gone, Hawk wrapped his arms around Gwen, just as when they set out, and left the Enterprise, floating in the Cosmos.
The next second.
Gwen saw the Enterprise, quietly floating in sight, vanish like a dreamy bubble, leaving no trace of its existence.
The Enterprise was materialized by Hawk using the Reality Gemstone.
It constantly required Hawk's energy to maintain its existence.
Though this energy was negligible for him, if he wished, he could genuinely keep the Enterprise in existence.
But...
No need.
They're home, and the next time Gwen needed to go to the hospital for a checkup on Sandaar Star would be in six months. Rather than letting the Enterprise rust above Earth, it was better to dismiss it and conjure another when they headed to Sandaar Star in six months.
So...
After retracting the existence of the Enterprise, Hawk turned his gaze to Gwen in his arms.
"Let's go home."
"Mm."
Gwen looked down at the blue planet beneath her and thought of her mom Helen, dad George, and those two silly brothers, nodding: "Home."
Without hesitation, Hawk held Gwen and instantly broke through the atmosphere.
...