Dante's POV
Magneto followed me through the crack in space I'd formed in the bathroom of a small restaurant. It led to the desert. I'd set a table for us—two chairs, drinks, and a spectacular view of the stars and moon over the Sahara sands.
Magneto's drink of choice was coffee, of all things. I floated it over to him as we settled in. Then I snapped my fingers, erecting a silencing barrier and tapping one of the many runes woven into my leather jacket. Nearly everything I owned was covered in them now. They'd become especially useful since I'd expanded my deck—even to the point of creating storage runes. Only the Widows and my inner circle had those for now.
"You've been busy," Magneto said, eyeing me. "Getting S.H.I.E.L.D. to back off, running that little team of yours."
"I try," I said, sipping bourbon. "How goes the search for the mutant homeland?"
"I followed your tip on Krakoa," he said slowly, shooting me a stare. "You didn't tell me it was underwater."
I blinked. Right—Krakoa sat within the Republic of Kiribati in this universe, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. It had sunk decades ago, its population relocated.
"Then it shouldn't be too hard to haggle for land they can't use."
"You'd think," Magneto smiled. "They want me to raise and reinforce the bedrock of all thirty-three islands, build higher seawalls, and expand the landmass so they can terraform their nation and stop importing food."
"Actually, it's pretty generous considering what we'll be getting," I said. "Voluntary secession of land and recognition as an allied state."
"You understand this is only the beginning?" Magneto asked.
"I imagine the U.S. and its allies will threaten to cut them off—pull military and financial aid," I said. "Tourism will probably collapse once the media starts spreading propaganda. It'll be an uphill battle, but I'm certain we'll succeed regardless."
"The world governments will hate you even more than they already do if they find out you're connected to this," he said. My Widows and I were already wanted in five countries.
"Which is why we're meeting here," I smiled. "Besides, I'm working on an offer they can't refuse."
Magneto gave me an appraising look. "Speaking of offers—how much longer do you plan to dangle your transformation deal? I can't accomplish what they want without it."
I nodded, standing. "We can start tonight, but there will have to be... concessions."
Magneto frowned. He didn't like the sound of that.
"You have to understand," I said, "I'll be making you one of the most powerful beings on the planet—expanding your powerset, turning back the physical clock, and giving you the durability, regeneration, and strength to fight just about anyone who doesn't have some kind of strength mutation."
"What are you asking of me?"
"Not done yet," I said, raising a hand. "I'll also be throwing in a few enchanted adamantium weapons and a suit of armor that can amplify your power and protect you from attacks—even from me."
Magneto's eyes brightened, though caution lingered.
"What's the catch?"
I produced a ring with a black gem at its center. Telekinetically, I pulled it apart, revealing a delicate network of runes etched into the metal. "This is a monitoring ring containing an enchantment that keeps people honest. It guarantees you can't lie to me, and it will paralyze you and alert me if you ever try to double-cross me or take it off."
Magneto's expression darkened. "You know me well enough to know I'll never agree to that."
"I could've lied to you," I said, reassembling the ring. "Slipped that command into your mind while you were unconscious—along with a thousand others. Hell, I could do it now if I wanted. But I have no desire to be like Charles. So, I'm making my terms clear. Light surveillance and the threat of paralysis are the price of power. Take it or leave it."
I floated the ring toward him. He observed it for a long time, face ashen, before speaking. "It's easy to forget what you are with a face that young."
He finally took it.
"When do we start?"
"Tonight," I said. "I've got somewhere to be in the morning."
Odin's POV
My son strutted into the hall, flanked by the Warriors Three, Loki, and Lady Sif. I resisted the urge to grumble as they traded barbs. They'd just returned from another feast celebrating their latest triumph over a roving band of demonic giants off-world.
Thor hefted his hammer and brought it down in a deliberately showy fashion, stopping short of cracking the marble floor. The air rippled with a sonic boom. Only Loki winced before Thor wrapped an arm around his brother.
"You should've seen the look on the demon's face," Thor laughed. "I've said it before, brother—your illusion work is unrivaled."
Loki gagged, pushing him away. "Almost as legendary as your lack of hygiene. Couldn't you have bathed before the feast?"
Thor sniffed his armpit and shrugged. "I did. Must've worked up a sweat from all the eating and singing."
"It's a miracle Sif continues to fight alongside your motley crew," Loki muttered.
"I've smelled worse," Sif said offhandedly.
"He's a verdant spring compared to the stench of death on the battlefield," Volstagg boomed. "Of course, if you fought with us more often instead of burying your head in magic books—"
Loki's face turned red. Thankfully, Fandral intervened before the blowout began.
"My King!" Fandral called, offering a gracious knee. "It's an honor to receive another task so soon after completing the last."
My eyes narrowed in amusement.
"Fandral, always a pleasure. If only my children shared your disposition, I might look forward to these meetings."
"Father," Thor bowed his head awkwardly, and kneeled, and Loki followed, as did the rest. I let them stay there a heartbeat too long before rapping Gungnir against the golden floor.
"Stand," I commanded, my voice echoing through the hall. "I have a task for you—one that may prove your most difficult yet."
That caught their attention. Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir. Sif's expression hardened. The Warriors Three brightened with excitement. Only Loki seemed wary—a good instinct, considering the target.
I pointed Gungnir and spun an illusion spell, taking a page from Loki's book. A white-haired young man appeared, draped in a dark green and black leather jacket crafted from the mutated remains of some monstrous spawn that emerged on his world months ago. His eyes glowed faint purple; his grin was wicked.
Sif and Fandral gasped. Volstagg grinned. Hogun remained stoic. Thor smiled.
Loki voiced their collective question. "You're sending us after the Moon Breaker?"
Thor snorted. "I wish people would stop calling him that silly name. They'll start mistaking him for a god."
"Vergil is not your target," I said, meeting my son's eyes. "His brother is."
Confusion rippled through them. Few knew Vergil had a twin—and those who did knew him to be the weaker of the two.
"I was under the impression the Moon Breaker was the fighter of the brothers," Loki said.
"The blood of an Archdemon flows through their veins," I said. "All he needed was the will to use it."
Thor raised his brows. "You can't be suggesting he's stronger?"
"Put that out of your mind, Thor. I'm not sending you to Midgard to fight him. I want you to fight beside him."
"All-Father, why?" Sif looked up from the illusion.
"Because it is our duty to protect Midgard," I said. "The planet will fall if he dies in his upcoming invasion of Limbo."
Thor's eyes gleamed. "The whelp is invading the demon dimension?"
"He's already driven them out of Midgard," I said. "Killing their leaders must have seemed the next logical step."
They looked impressed now—Thor especially, laughing loud and proud.
"I like the boy already," he said.
Loki frowned. "Weren't you just offended by the suggestion that he's stronger?"
"No way to know until I fight him," Thor grinned.
"I advise against provoking him," I warned. I shifted the illusion, showing glimpses of Dante's battles—the Antarctic invader, the young Ascendant, Storm.
"He's a master of five schools of magic, runes, and smithing. Underestimate him, and you'll be dead before Heimdall can pull you back with the Bifrost."
They looked more cautious now—all except Thor, of course.
"When do we leave?" Hogun asked.
"Immediately," I said.
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