The world had changed.
The New York Chitauri Incident wasn't a skirmish or an isolated terror attack. It was a revolution.
The existence of extraterrestrial life, the collapse of urban infrastructure, and the footage of gods and monsters battling above Manhattan, all of it was broadcast live.
The fallout was… world shattering.
Civil unrest ignited in every major city. People demanded accountability. Protestors filled the streets, crying out.
"Where was our government?"
"Who are these aliens?"
"How do we protect ourselves?"
In the aftermath while the world reeled from the revelation of aliens, another name began echoing through the city streets~
Osborn Enterprises.
Public trust in the government plummeted after the battle. The scale of destruction caused the near-total collapse of infrastructure, left the people angry and afraid.
But as the city threatened to fall into chaos, Osborn Enterprises stepped in.
Through its biotech subsidiary, Audiben Industries, Osborn released a new line of advanced therapeutic agents and regenerative serums, free of charge.
These so-called "healing potions" were distributed across emergency shelters and hospitals, offering rapid recovery to thousands injured during the invasion.
For many, it wasn't the government that saved them.
It was Osborn.
When the federal response failed and supplies dwindled, Osborn Industries stepped in. They distributed life-saving healing potions, developed from formulas provided by a mysterious consultant.
Soren Macaluso.
The wounds that should've taken months to heal… recovered in days. Some in hours.
People began to ask.
"Who is Soren?"
"Where is this Everlife Medical Center?"
"Is he human?"
Publicly, officials showered Osborn Enterprises with praise, calling their emergency response "a shining example of corporate responsibility."
The company's swift action and free distribution of advanced healing serums helped calm public outrage and restore a semblance of order.
Privately, however, whispers began to circulate. Many were intrigued if not outright obsessed, with the idea of replicating or acquiring Osborn's "miracle potions."
But the curiosity quickly faded once a certain name came up…
Soren Macaluso.
Word spread that the formulas behind the potions were developed by him. And just like that, the ambition backtracked into hesitation.
To the public, Soren was still seen as a brilliant medical mind, mysterious, yes, but respected. Yet among high-ranking officials and military brass, the truth was different.
They knew what he truly was. And they knew better than to go poking around uninvited.
Everlife Medical Center
Soren stood calmly in his usual lab coat, sipping tea as Thor entered, dragging a handcuffed, scowling Loki behind him.
Thor.
"Healer… I mean, Soren." He gave a short nod.
"I've come to bring Loki back to Asgard. He'll face judgment in the Hall of Gods."
"Oh, how delightful. Maybe this time they'll let me choose my chains."
Soren chuckled softly. "Most minds break down when they lose so badly. Yours... merely got snarkier."
Loki offered a theatrical bow, restrained as he was.
"I live to disappoint expectations."
Loki's recovery had been unusually fast, and that was thanks to Soren.
Loki might only be a B-level asset, but the rewards were Illusion Lv 8 and some of mission points, more than enough to make it worth the effort.
With the Bifrost destroyed, Asgard was effectively cut off.
Repairs would take time… for now, the only known ways back to Asgard were through the Everlife Medical Center's unstable portal… or the secret passage only Loki knew about.
And judging by the look on Loki's face, he had no intention of telling anyone where that passage was.
Typical.
Thor grunted, nudging him forward.
"Thanks to your treatment, he's back on his feet. I owe you for that. So does Asgard."
Soren nodded slowly.
"I'm glad I could help. But before you go~"
He raised a finger. "I have a small request."
Thor tilted his head. "Anything."
Soren's eyes locked onto the blue cube floating gently inside a containment device on Thor's belt.
"I need the Tesseract."
The room went still. Even Loki stopped moving.
"You… want the Tesseract?"
When Loki used the Tesseract to tear open a portal and unleash the Chitauri invasion on Earth, a system notification caught him off guard and making his pulse quicken with excitement.
[Congratulations, Host. You have triggered a World Mission]
[Collect the Infinity Stones. Complete the full set of all six, and receive the System's Ultimate Reward Package.]
The system never gave out junk. And this time, the reward was labeled as "ultimate."
That alone was enough to set his bloodlust racing.
So far, two Infinity Stones had already made their appearance.
One, the Tesseract, containing the Space Stone, was currently in Asgardian custody. The other, the Mind Stone, was embedded in Loki's scepter, temporarily held by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Soren knew he had to act fast.
Now when he crossed paths with Thor, he saw his chance.
"This?" Thor said, holding the glowing blue cube carefully in both hands.
"This thing… is dangerous. Misused, it could wipe out half the planet."
Soren gave him a calm smile. "I understand your concern, Thor. But you know Asgard only keeps the Tesseract to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, yes?"
Thor nodded slowly, cautious.
"Then consider this, the Tesseract would be ten times safer under my care. It's being transferred to my hospital facility… Everlife."
"No realm, no force, not even Asgard, can breach its security without my permission. Can you say the same for Odin's vault?"
Thor hesitated. He'd known Soren for some time.
If Soren had ever wanted power or influence, he could have taken it long ago.
But he hadn't. And if anyone had the ability to guard something as volatile as the Tesseract… it was him.
Thor's grip loosened as he made his decision.
"Alright, Soren… I trust you."
He handed over the cube.
Loki watched the exchange from the side. He didn't say a word, but the frown creasing his brow said enough.
[World Mission: Collect Infinite Gems1/6]
"Go."
With a simple wave of his hand, a shimmering portal unfolded in the courtyard, its surface rippling like water. It was the gateway to Asgard.
Loki blinked, momentarily surprised. He hadn't expected Soren to wield such power. But as he glanced at Thor's trust, he quickly lowered his gaze, saying nothing.
He wasn't a fool.
From the tone of the so called Avengers conversations, the respect they showed Soren, the decisions that were made without hesitation, Loki pieced it all together.
His grand invasion, the rise of the Chitauri, his shot at glorious purpose… it had all fallen apart.
Because of this man.
The portal began to glow brighter as Thor gave Soren a respectful nod, then gripped his brother by the arm.
Thor dragged Loki into the portal. The light flared, then folded in on itself, leaving only silence in the courtyard.
Soren gazed at where the portal had been.
Then, a small smile crept across his face as he turned the Tesseract over in his hands.
"I'm really looking forward to this."
With a casual push, he opened the doors of Everlife Medical Center.
Time to start another day.
Or at least… let the world think it was just another day.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream