Jason grew wary, his expression turning solemn. Through that brief exchange of blows, he realized he had encountered an unprecedented enemy—one who might even be stronger than himself. He didn't speak, choosing instead to stand his ground and observe.
The mysterious figure didn't rush to attack. She focused entirely on the task at hand. Rotating her right hand in a circular motion, a brilliant green light pulsed from the pendant at her chest.
Then, a scene that defied all logic unfolded.
Thor—whose heart had been pulverized and whose body had gone cold—suddenly gasped and snapped his eyes open.
"Is that your superpower?" Harley asked, stunned.
"No, that's impossible. My power can't bring the dead back to life," Christine said, shaking her head in denial.
Jason, hearing their exchange, muttered to himself, "That means she isn't using a superpower."
Thor, resurrected, stood up with a look of utter bewilderment. The bloody cavity in his chest had vanished; the lethal injuries Jason had inflicted were completely mended.
"Thank you... May I ask who you are...?" Recognizing that the mysterious woman had saved him, Thor's tone became incredibly respectful, using honorifics usually reserved only for his father, Odin.
"Thor Odinson, you will learn my identity in due time." The figure kept her face hidden, but her voice confirmed she was female.
"As you wish." The normally brash Thor offered the highest salute of Asgard.
The mysterious woman nodded in approval, then traced a sigil in the air with her right hand. With a flick of her palm, the Tesseract materialized.
"Your brother's mess is yours to clean up. Take the Tesseract back to Asgard and deliver it to Odin. Humanity is neither ready nor qualified to wield such power."
Thor reached out with both hands, taking the cube with deep reverence. He had come to Earth via a massive expenditure of energy by Odin—a one-way ticket. To return home, he needed the Tesseract.
Glaring once more at Jason, Thor swung his hammer and took to the skies. He had a task to finish: deal with Loki, pack up the chaos, and bring his brother home to face Odin's judgment.
"Safe travels! Come back and play anytime!" Jason didn't stop him; instead, he waved mockingly at the departing god.
"Now then. Thor and Loki are settled. It is time to deal with you." The woman turned, her eyes scanning the group from beneath the shadow of her hood.
Jason stared back, demanding, "Dressing up in a cloak and playing ghost in the middle of the night... who the hell are you? And why save Thor?"
The dynamic between her and Thor suggested a hierarchy that placed her far above a mere bodyguard.
Still reluctant to reveal her name, she shook her head slightly. "My identity is not for public disclosure. As for why I saved Thor and cleaned up your mess... it is because I have no desire to see Earth embroiled in a cosmic war."
Jason weighed her words. Her tone was incredibly lofty, speaking of humanity as if she were the planet's silent guardian.
"Then why pick a fight with me? I remember your threat from a moment ago," Jason asked.
She began to walk forward, her pace measured and calm. "I am troubling you because your actions have severely compromised the safety of this world."
Jason smirked, looking quite pleased with himself. "Oh, so I'm that dangerous? I'm flattered."
"You are indeed," She acknowledged. "To kill the son of Odin, the All-Father... few in the universe possess the courage or the strength to attempt such a feat."
Jason took it as a compliment. However, her voice turned sharp and stern. "But do you have any idea what would happen if Thor died on Earth? What would the All-Father do?"
She answered her own question: "I suspect you know exactly what would happen. Odin would lead the armies of Asgard in a war of vengeance. You, the culprit, would certainly deserve your fate, but countless innocent lives on Earth would burn in the crossfire of your making."
Jason let out a long sigh. "So after all that talk, you're just a coward. I didn't think the Sorcerer Supreme, the supposed guardian of Earth, would be so afraid of Odin."
The mysterious woman stopped in her tracks, her voice tinged with surprise. "You know who I am?"
Jason's tone was dripping with irony. "The way you talk, as if you're above everyone else, prattling on about the fate of the human race... plus that little trick of bringing Thor back. I figured there wasn't a second person on Earth who fit that description besides the Sorcerer Supreme."
"Did Loki tell you?" She guessed.
Jason nodded. "Loki said his invasion was a front—he was sent by his master to test you. To see if the Great Guardian was still watching over Earth."
"And why would this master want to test me?"
"Because of this!" Jason pointed to his own chest.
"Ah..." she breathed, realization dawning. "Since you have already surmised my identity, there is no longer any point in hiding it."
She raised her hand and slowly lowered the hood of her cloak. Jason and his followers leaned in to see.
A bald head that caught the moonlight and a distinct air of ancient calm. Seeing the Sorcerer Supreme's true face, disappointment was written all over their expressions. In their minds, a Sorcerer Supreme should have been someone as imposing and handsome as Jason, or as noble as Christine.
Instead, they got... a bald lady. The fantasy was thoroughly shattered.
"And what is the Great Master's name?"
"Ancient One."
"Well, Ancient One, is this a case of premature balding, or just old age?" Jason snarked.
She looked barely forty, but Loki had claimed she was a thousand years old. If that were true, it was clearly magic-induced longevity. But if magic can make you live a thousand years, why can't it fix a bald head?
The Ancient One offered a kindly smile, choosing to ignore the jab.
"Fine, I won't ask. I know it's a sensitive subject for your self-esteem," Jason added, twisting the knife. "Back to business: what do you actually want from me? If you just wanted to save Thor and stop his dad from invading, you've done it. You can go home to bed. I'm taking my two wives home to sleep too—staying up late causes hair loss, you know."
The Ancient One raised a hand to stop him. "Saving Thor was merely a courtesy. The reason I am here... is primarily because of you."
Jason's face was a mask of mock-flattery. "I'm honored. You found me. And now what? Don't tell me you want to take me on as an apprentice."
The Ancient One chuckled softly. "Forgive me, but I already have a candidate for my successor. And quite frankly, in terms of both talent and character, you are utterly unqualified to enter my order."
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You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
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500 power stones.
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