Lucas said, "Severing the Loom of the Fates can free you from the manipulation of those behind the scenes, ending this endlessly repeating destiny. However, I have visited some worlds where the Loom of the Fates was severed."
"What happened to them?" Thor asked eagerly.
"Did most of them perish?" Odin speculated in a somewhat somber tone.
"Indeed, most of the Asgards in those worlds perished." Lucas confirmed Odin's guess.
"Impossible! How could Asgard...?" Thor found it hard to believe.
Odin sighed, about to instruct Thor, but Hela spoke first, "Why not? When I conquered the Nine Realms and swept across the Universe, countless Kings, even as their nations fell under the iron hooves of the Asgardian army, refused to believe the truth of their demise."
"My dear brother, leading a nation is not child's play. Becoming a King requires more than just courage. Strength and tactics are even more important."
Hela approached Thor, speaking into his ear with words that aimed to kill his spirit, "My dear brother, you wouldn't want to become a King whose nation perishes, the culprit behind Asgard's demise, would you?"
Odin sighed again, beginning to instruct Thor, "Thor, no matter how powerful something is, there will be a day of its demise, and Asgard is no exception."
"Mortal kingdoms last for thousands of years. But even as dynasties rise and fall, some races endure. As long as there are Asgardians in this world, Asgard has not perished."
Odin looked at Lucas. "Sorcerer Lucas, in these Universes where the Loom of the Fates was severed, did the Asgardians completely perish?"
Lucas shook his head, he hadn't paid attention.
"So, your decision is to sever the Loom of the Fates?"
Odin shook his head. "No. Wait a moment longer. This Loom of the Fates is not only a crucial tool for those behind the scenes to control Ragnarok, but also key to the connection between the Nine Realms and the World Tree. If it is severed, I fear something bad might happen."
"Moreover, Gods are inherently dependent on the World Tree for their existence. Becoming nourishment for the World Tree after death is not entirely unacceptable."
"I just cannot accept that destiny is secretly manipulated, and the Gods and Giants repeatedly reenact the cycle of Ragnarok."
"What great spirit." Lucas praised.
Thor and Hela also nodded in agreement.
Asgardians, especially the Asgardian royal family, though not born as 'Gods', were stronger than most races in the Universe.
Having enjoyed the benefits of the World Tree, they naturally had to bear the responsibility.
"Sorcerer Lucas, you flatter me. I hope you can quickly uncover the truth of Ragnarok. During this time, if there's anything Asgard needs to cooperate with, please say so. The fate of Asgard, for now, is entrusted to you."
"Rest assured. I promised you before that whether my plan succeeds or fails, I will do my best to preserve Asgard. Now, let me fulfill part of that promise. Odin, Hela, please relax your minds and do not resist."
Lucas activated his talent [Energy Absorption]. He reached out and drew the energy attached to Odin's spirit body and Hela's body, absorbing and converting it.
Afterward, he walked towards the deep pit next to the Loom of the Fates, a trace of pain flashing across his face, which was turned away from Odin and the others.
The energy he had just absorbed, before it even warmed up, had to be given away and he even had to add some of his own.
The next moment, points surged, mimicking the forms of Odin, Frigga, Hela, Thor, Loki, Sif.
And a series of other well-known Asgardians he recognized.
With another wave of his hand, he feigned generosity, sending these mimicked spirit bodies into the deep pit.
Then he walked towards the Loom of the Fates, gently pressing his hand upon it.
Divine power surged, and threads of glowing white energy eroded the main body of the Loom of the Fates.
Spreading out, it dyed the invisible threads that wrapped around the Asgardians.
"Alright, this way, the World Tree will believe you are already dead. When Ragnarok is pushed forward, it will also ignore your existence."
Withdrawing his right hand, Lucas explained to the group.
Previously, he thought Ragnarok was constantly being watched by someone behind the scenes, and not knowing who they were, he dared not casually tamper with it.
But upon discovering that the Gods in the Shadow Dimension were merely a group of fallen Elder Gods and Ragnarok involved trillions of worlds, with the manipulators behind the scenes only grasping the general trend, he naturally felt free to do as he pleased.
"Thank you, Sorcerer Lucas." Odin said politely.
He had initially thought that not severing the Loom of the Fates and allowing Ragnarok to continue would lead to more sacrifices. It might even affect Thor, Loki, Frigga, and others.
That's why he hesitated for a long time, not immediately severing the Loom of the Fates.
He didn't expect Lucas to directly help resolve this hidden danger.
Lucas smiled. "You're too kind. The matters here are temporarily concluded. Asgardian King, would you like to return to the 404 Universe with me?"
"No need, Sorcerer Lucas. You can take Thor and Hela back. Since I am already dead, there's no need for me to return."
"Besides, staying here allows me to observe the situation of the Loom of the Fates. If anything unexpected happens, I can inform you immediately."
"Alright. Thor, Hela, let's go."
Lucas locked onto the location of Asgard and Earth in the 404 Universe.
Buzz!!!
A magical and powerful energy surged, and dazzling silver-white light enveloped the three of them.
In the next instant, the three transformed into a silver stream of light, tearing open a spatial rift and disappearing from that area.
At the same time, in a corner of New York on a certain Earth in the Multiverse.
Strange, clad in black and looking haggard, watched Christine from afar like a perverted peeping tom. But he only watched from a distance, never thinking of tidying himself up or going over to say hello.
After all, this was not his Christine.
Suddenly, he turned his head sharply, looking towards a distant, unreachable point.
There, a familiar aura quickly passed by.
It was an aura full of infinite possibilities, nurturing life. It was the aura he had been desperately searching for since leaving the desolate Universe.
Golden-yellow sparks flashed, and a portal opened.
Strange stepped through, arriving at the place where the aura had disappeared.
"Finally!"
"I've finally found your trace again!"
The next moment, Strange opened his mouth and spat out a terrifying energy, tearing open a spatial rift.
He stood still for a moment, hesitated, then chose a direction and followed the aura.
The aura's speed was too fast, he couldn't distinguish which was the head and which was the tail.
...
Asgard, a training ground.
After Lucas brought Thor and Hela back to Asgard, the two, after exchanging only a few words, clamored to go to the dueling arena to determine who was superior.
At the Loom of the Fates, when facing the crisis of Ragnarok that threatened Asgard, their opinions were mostly the same.
But as soon as they left there and returned to Asgard, Thor found Hela annoying everywhere he looked.
No other reason, Hela was too arrogant. She would open her mouth with 'Asgard's legitimate heir' and close it with 'kneel and greet your Queen.'
This greatly displeased Thor.
He was the heir personally appointed by his father, Odin, the one desired by the Asgardians, the inheritor of the power of all previous Asgardian Kings.
On the training ground, Hela taunted Thor, "My dear brother, if you cannot even defeat me, how will you protect Asgard?"
"How about this? If you win, I will submit to you and yield the title of King of Asgard to you. If I win, you submit to me."
Loki, who had rushed over after hearing of Thor's return, shouted from afar, "Thor, don't agree to her!"
"You are already the King of Asgard, she is a usurper. This condition is unfair to you."
Long ago, Loki had painstakingly vied with Thor for the right of succession to the throne. Now, facing the sudden appearance of Hela, he instead began to defend Thor.
"Oh, is this my other brother? However, you are truly not likable."
Hela looked at Loki in the distance, raising her hand and firing several spikes.
After returning to Asgard, her divine power was replenished. Her injuries were healed, her clothes were intact, and her attacks became more unrestrained.
Facing the sudden attack of spikes, Loki's expression changed. Then he seemed to freeze, standing still.
Swish... Swish...
Several whooshing sounds rang out as the spikes passed through him, yet not a single drop of blood was drawn.
"Don't worry, brother, I know what's important." Thor said in a deep voice.
"Sister, I understand the weight of a King. This is not something that can be casually negotiated or exchanged."
Unless I myself no longer want the position.
"If you wish to become the King of Asgard, then use your actions to win over the people of Asgard. As long as they agree, I am willing to cede the position of King to you."
"Heh, then let me conquer you first."