"Relax, Heimdall, it's us," Robert said, raising his hand in a calming gesture as he observed Heimdall gripping the Rainbow Bridge sword with tense caution. "We're just here to ask a few questions, not to destroy Asgard."
Heimdall's lips twitched slightly at Robert's words. Despite Robert's attempt at reassurance, Heimdall couldn't help but think to himself, "That's exactly why I'm on edge! Who in Asgard could stop you if you really wanted to attack?"
He kept these thoughts to himself, however, and maintained a composed expression. "So, it's the Saiyan Lord himself. What brings you to Asgard today?" Heimdall asked, cautiously measuring his words. While he acknowledged Pietro and the others present, he paid little attention to them compared to Robert. Only Kara and Diana caught his attention, as they were the only ones with power levels that could rival Asgard's greatest defenders.
"We're here to ask about the gods of ancient times," Robert explained. "Specifically, the gods from the Age of Myth and where they might have gone. Heimdall, you were around back then, weren't you? You've served at Odin's side for quite a long time."
Robert had initially planned to question Thor, but after considering Thor's limited knowledge of Asgard's history, he decided Heimdall would be a better source of information. Heimdall's role as Asgard's all-seeing guardian and his extensive experience made him far more likely to know the answers they sought.
Before Heimdall could reply, a loud boom of thunder echoed through the skies of Asgard. A blinding flash of lightning lit the area, and in an instant, Thor appeared beside them. His arrival was so swift that even Pietro, with his enhanced speed, failed to react in time. Only Robert had sensed Thor's approach.
"Not bad," Robert remarked approvingly. "You've made more progress. You're at the Skyfather level now."
Thor nodded humbly. "Still far from what my father was capable of," he said with a hint of melancholy.
Since breaking free from the Mind Stone's control, Thor had crossed the threshold to the Skyfather level, though he knew he had a long way to go before reaching Odin's former power. Odin had neared the pinnacle of Skyfather strength, while Thor had only just begun his journey down that path.
"I'm sure you'll get there. You're still young," Robert encouraged, unaware of how his words sounded to the others. Thor, Heimdall, and even the Avengers present twitched uncomfortably at the remark. They had to bite back their amusement at the irony of Robert calling Thor "young." By Asgardian standards, Thor was a seasoned warrior who had lived for centuries—far older than Robert by any human reckoning.
But considering Robert's overwhelming strength and his interactions with Odin in the past, it wasn't entirely inappropriate for him to speak in a paternal tone.
"You're here to inquire about the whereabouts of the gods? Hmm... many of you seem to have ties to divine power," Thor observed, glancing at Diana, Frank, and the other Shazam-powered heroes.
"Wait a second… are these children of Shazam?" Heimdall suddenly realized, his sharp gaze focusing on Frank and his companions.
"Yeah, how do you know about Shazam?" Frank asked, surprised by Heimdall's recognition.
"I'm familiar with the concept," Heimdall responded with a nod. "In the past, several pantheons—including Asgard's—entered into a pact with the ancient wizards who created the Shazam power. However, not many of our gods met the specific criteria for that pact. That's why Shazam's champions typically draw power from gods of Olympus rather than Asgard."
"So… if the Shazam powers are still working, that means those gods aren't dead, right?" Pietro pressed. "Where are they?"
Heimdall paused before replying, "The survival of the gods isn't necessarily tied to your ability to wield their powers. Once the pact was forged, the divine essence became separate from their physical existence. However, if they are still alive, they likely reside in the Realm of the Gods."
"The Realm of the Gods?" everyone echoed in unison. Even Thor appeared puzzled, having never heard of such a place.
Robert sighed internally. Good thing I didn't rely on Thor for answers.
Thor's limited knowledge of Asgardian history was no surprise to anyone. In fact, it was often Loki who handled matters requiring cunning or a deep understanding of Asgard's past. At this moment, however, Loki was too busy with his responsibilities in Asgard to involve himself in the current situation. He had perfected his use of clones to assist the realm's people and keep things running smoothly—a far cry from his days of mischief.
Meanwhile, Thor's interest was piqued. The mention of a "Realm of the Gods" stirred a desire within him to explore further. Perhaps this place held the key to Asgard's revival and growth. If gods from many different pantheons had gathered there, Thor reasoned, it could provide both valuable alliances and new opportunities for Asgard's future.
"Where exactly is this Realm of the Gods? Why have I never heard of it?" Thor asked urgently.
"It's also known as the Hall of All Gods or Omnipotence City, located in the dimension of Indigar." Heimdall explained. "Long ago, after the threat of the Celestials, Zeus and the gods of Olympus led the initiative to create a sanctuary where the gods could unite for mutual survival. They recognized that, despite their power, no single pantheon could withstand cosmic threats alone—not with beings like the Celestials and other galactic forces at large."
"In space, there are countless civilizations and planets," Heimdall continued. "Many of them have their own local gods. If the gods of Earth didn't consolidate their power, they would have been at a disadvantage. This led to the formation of the Pantheon Alliance in Indigar. However, Odin refused to join. He believed in Asgard's strength and sought to conquer the Nine Realms instead."
Hearing this, Thor nodded thoughtfully.
"So that's why Father never mentioned it. He didn't want to share power with the other gods."
"Exactly. Odin saw himself as one of the mightiest of all gods, especially after defeating a Celestial—though it took the combined strength of multiple gods to accomplish it," Heimdall confirmed. "At the time, Asgard was at its peak, both in military strength and ambition. Odin saw no reason to ally with other pantheons."
Thor sighed deeply. He now understood the burdens of leadership that Odin had faced, as well as the difficult choices made to protect Asgard's sovereignty. Yet, he also recognized the potential benefits of reconnecting with other gods in the present era.
"Can we travel to this Realm of the Gods?" Thor asked eagerly.
"You'll need a powerful spatial artifact to enter Indigar. The Bifrost can open the way, but only with the coordinates stored in Gungnir, the Spear of Odin," Heimdall replied.
Hearing this, Thor extended his hand. A moment later, Gungnir—the Eternal Spear—flew from Asgard's great hall and landed firmly in his grasp. Concentrating his divine power, Thor activated the spear's latent magic.
A brilliant surge of rainbow light erupted from Gungnir, forming a radiant pathway. The entrance to Indigar—the Realm of the Gods—was now open.
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