Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Odin’s Request
Bang!
The Secretary of State slammed his fist onto the table in a fury after witnessing the scene before him.
"What is that Emperor doing?!"
"Does he not want our United States to become great?!"
No matter how meticulously the Secretary had calculated, he never anticipated that Emperor would brazenly beat a diplomat half to death.
The man was now plastered against the jet's hull like a dead fly.
The other members of Congress also wore dark expressions.
One of them, an older general with greying hair dressed in a green uniform, spoke up:
"So this is the Avengers that Nick Fury has been so keen on forming?"
"They've barely won their first battle, and already they're openly defying orders from their superiors."
"What's next—are they planning a rebellion?"
The weight of this accusation made the Secretary's expression even darker.
For years, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been a thorn in his side.
Though he had managed to plant some operatives within the organization, as long as Nick Fury remained in charge, gaining full control over S.H.I.E.L.D. was impossible.
But now…
Nick Fury's so-called subordinate had openly defied orders and personally attacked a superior officer.
In a military-controlled state like the United States, this was a grave offense of the highest order.
Without hesitation, the Secretary picked up a satellite phone and immediately called Nick Fury.
---
At S.H.I.E.L.D.'s command center, Nick Fury noticed the incoming call. With his sharp instincts, he immediately understood the Secretary's intent.
Answering the call, Fury's tone was calm and indifferent.
"Sir."
The Secretary wasted no time and erupted in anger.
"Nick Fury! Is this how you train your people?!"
"Openly defying superior orders is bad enough, but attacking a superior?!"
"This is the Avengers you swore would protect the United States?!"
Despite the Secretary's outburst, Nick Fury wasn't angry. In fact, he found it amusing.
After the recent nuclear missile incident, Fury had realized S.H.I.E.L.D. had been infiltrated.
And the likely culprit? The very Secretary now yelling at him.
So Fury saw no need to be polite.
"Sir, I think you've misunderstood something."
"What's that?"
The Secretary's tone faltered.
In his plan, Fury was supposed to defend Emperor, giving him the perfect excuse to send Fury to a military tribunal.
"If you had properly reviewed the Avengers roster I submitted…"
"I'm sure you'd know…"
"Emperor is not part of the Avengers. He's a free agent."
The Secretary's face froze, and he turned to a file on his desk.
It was the Avengers roster Fury had submitted.
He had opposed the initiative from the start and never bothered to examine the details.
But now, things were different.
Dropping the phone, he hastily flipped through the documents.
The Avengers roster included: Captain America (Steve Rogers), Dr. Bruce Banner, Spider-Woman, Iron Man (Tony Stark), and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s former senior agent, codename Black Widow.
Reaching the final page, it was as Fury had said—there was no mention of Emperor anywhere in the file.
This meant he had no grounds to use Emperor's actions as a pretext to move against Fury.
Now, not only had he lost an exceptional diplomat, but negotiations with Asgard were entirely derailed.
"Damn it… Emperor!"
The Secretary glared at Alan on the screen with venomous hatred.
Meanwhile, Nick Fury, still on the line, listened to the Secretary's impotent rage with secret delight.
"Perhaps I should be thankful…"
"That Emperor never joined the Avengers…"
---
Alan had no idea that he had just become a bargaining chip in the power struggle between Nick Fury and the Secretary of State.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
The same principle applied as always: as long as no one provoked him, Alan wouldn't stir up trouble unprovoked.
But if someone crossed his bottom line, Alan wouldn't hold back.
Odin looked at the Emperor's Sword in Alan's hand, its blade hovering dangerously close to Loki's neck. For a moment, Odin was caught in a dilemma.
On one hand, Loki was his adopted son, someone he had raised for many years, and a bond of affection had long been established.
On the other, Loki's identity was the keystone of the fragile peace between Asgard and the Frost Giants.
If Loki were to die…
The Frost Giants would immediately retaliate against Asgard.
For Odin, whose current physical state was far from optimal, it was uncertain whether he could even handle such a calamity.
Since persuasion wasn't working, Odin resolved to confront Emperor with force.
His expression turned serious as he struck his staff against the ground. A wave of golden ripples spread outward.
A powerful divine aura erupted from the top of Stark Tower, and countless golden lightning bolts converged behind Odin, forming the figure of a giant.
The giant resembled Odin himself in every way.
Everyone present, except Alan, felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything they had experienced before.
Black Widow and Hawkeye collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by fear.
Even Tony, aided by his suit, could only barely remain standing.
J.A.R.V.I.S., being an AI, was unaffected by Odin's divine aura.
Gwen, whose suit was made from symbiote material, found the aura laughably ineffective.
Looking at the others in confusion, she asked, "What's going on?"
Tony, still stunned, replied, "I don't know."
"It feels like a mountain just landed on me."
Bruce Banner, managing to stay upright thanks to the Hulk within, analyzed, "This seems like some kind of mental suppression."
The golden giant then spoke in a deep voice:
"Emperor, don't push your luck!"
"Do you want to spark a war between Earth and Asgard?"
"Can you bear the consequences?"
Alan was fed up with Odin's posturing and scoffed, "Stop putting on a show!"
"Fine!"
Pointing the Emperor's Sword at Odin, he declared, "Let's do this!"
"I don't need anyone else. I alone can take on all of Asgard!"
"If you want a fight, I don't mind bringing Ragnarok to you ahead of schedule!"
As if sensing Alan's surging battle intent, the LightShadow Steed beside him activated on its own.
It leaped into the air, spinning once before transforming into a golden blank seal. After passing through the seal, it turned into a golden-silver mechanical dragon.
Hovering beside Alan, it let out an earth-shaking roar at Odin's lightning avatar:
"ROAR!!"
Even Alan hadn't expected the LightShadow Steed to be influenced by his fighting spirit, transforming into the Light Emperor Battle Dragon.
A powerful shockwave emanated from the dragon, hurtling toward Odin's thunderous form.
Odin's expression tightened as he raised a massive lightning hand to block the attack.
Boom!
The clash erupted in mid-air, sending countless golden sparks flying.
When the light finally faded, Odin's golden giant had lost an entire shoulder.
Below the shattered giant, Odin gripped his staff tightly and glared at Emperor.
"How do you know about Ragnarok?"
"Take a guess," Alan said with a cold smile.
Just as Alan raised his Emperor's Sword, preparing to drag Odin into space for a decisive battle, Odin shouted, "Wait!"
"I'll agree to your demands! I'll repair all the damaged buildings in New York."
"And I'll resurrect those who died in the war."
"But you must promise me one thing..."
"You're negotiating with me?"
Odin's expression shifted between emotions before he finally admitted, "No. Consider it a request."
"Let's hear it."
Taking a deep breath, Odin seemed to age by centuries in an instant.
"If Asgard faces a disaster in the future…"
"I hope you won't interfere."
Alan sheathed the Emperor's Sword and replied indifferently, "I have no interest in your affairs."
Even without Odin's request, Alan had no intention of meddling in Asgard's petty problems.
With that, Alan waved his hand, and Loki, who was lying in the pit, was lifted into the air and floated back toward Odin.
He trusted that, while Odin might be shameless, he was a man of his word.
Odin caught Loki and glanced at Thor, who had completely lost his confidence and now appeared utterly defeated.
He realized that using Midgard as a trial for his two sons was the greatest mistake of his life.
But what was done was done.
The earlier confrontation had taught Odin a harsh truth:
If he were in his prime, perhaps he could take Emperor on in a cosmic battle.
But now…
Odin struck his staff against the ground once more.
Clang!
Golden ripples radiated from Stark Tower, spreading across all of Manhattan.
The ruins and debris began to repair themselves.
The injured and even the dead were instantly restored.
However, as this magic unfolded, Odin's wrinkles deepened, and he appeared significantly older…
—(To be continued)—