Nidavellir.
Within the space of the [Gate of Babylon], Han Shaoqing stood before a colossal furnace.
This [Synthesis Furnace] was the very reward he had previously obtained through the check-in system.
The furnace towered fifty meters high, appearing to be forged from bronze, with three legs and two handles. A gate that could be opened was set into its center. The [Synthesis Furnace] contained a space of its own, capable of holding objects far larger than the furnace itself.
Over the past few days, Han Shaoqing had already conducted ten experiments using the treasures from the [Gate of Babylon]. Seven had been successful, while three had failed.
After a failure, the items used in the synthesis would be absorbed by the [Synthesis Furnace] to strengthen itself.
After a moment's consideration, Han Shaoqing made his decision and placed both the [Zeus Armor] and the [Destroyer Armor] into the [Synthesis Furnace].
*Clang—*
The gate of the [Synthesis Furnace] shut tight, and a string of text materialized:
[Zeus Armor and Destroyer Armor: Attribute Compatibility 80%. Synthesize immediately?]
[Friendly Reminder: Fusion has a certain failure rate. Investing 80 trillion tons of gold coins can increase the success rate to 90%.]
*Damn it!*
*Where the hell am I supposed to find that much gold?*
Although rare metals and energy materials could serve as substitutes, the required amount would still be an astronomical sum.
The higher the quality of the items, the more gold coins were required to increase the synthesis success rate.
Han Shaoqing could have managed eighty trillion gold coins if he'd taken the time to gather them. But when the cost was measured in tons, even emptying the entire Earth wouldn't have been enough.
*It's a money-burning machine,* he thought.
An eighty percent success rate was already quite high, so Han Shaoqing decided not to invest any more gold coins.
Both the [Zeus Armor] and the [Destroyer Armor] were top-tier suits of armor crafted by gods, representing the pinnacle of Greek and Norse divine craftsmanship, respectively. Their high similarity contributed to the high success rate.
An eighty percent chance was worth the gamble.
Han Shaoqing had always considered himself lucky, but with two top-tier divine artifacts on the line, he couldn't help but feel a mix of tension and excitement.
Success would mean a massive boost in power.
Failure, however, would be a devastating loss.
"Synthesize!"
Han Shaoqing pressed the activation button. The massive [Synthesis Furnace] roared to life, its unique laws of operation churning within.
*BOOM!!!*
An indescribable soundwave rippled outward, shaking the very space of the [Gate of Babylon]. The countless swords embedded in the ground trembled.
Han Shaoqing watched the [Synthesis Furnace] as golden light flashed within, obscuring the process.
A moment later, a blindingly brilliant golden beam shot out from the furnace.
*Creeak—*
The [Synthesis Furnace] slowly opened, revealing a magnificent suit of armor, shimmering in gold and silver, before Han Shaoqing's eyes.
The new armor's exterior was dominated by gold, accented with silver, creating a majestic and imposing appearance. It could be said to combine all the advantages of the [Zeus Armor] and the [Destroyer Armor], enhanced to possess even greater defensive and destructive power.
While preserving the original performance of both, it had also been upgraded. Not only could it wield the divine power of both pantheons, but it could also fight and change forms according to Han Shaoqing's will, or even fight autonomously.
In a sense, this armor could already be considered a mecha god.
The secret methods Odin had left within the [Destroyer Armor] had also been completely erased.
Six pairs of metallic wings sprouted from its back, each representing one of the Twelve Laws of Power. Even a mere mortal wearing it could instantly crush a Heavenly Father-level powerhouse.
Han Shaoqing named the new armor—the Saint King Armor!
The name was derived from the concept of "Saint Externally, King Internally."
With a wave of Han Shaoqing's hand, the [Saint King Armor] attached itself to his body as if possessed by a spirit. At his mental command, the cool armor shifted and transformed into a perfectly fitting suit of clothes.
The surging energy dissipated without a trace, and the world returned to tranquility.
Leaving the space of the [Gate of Babylon], Han Shaoqing took Esdeath back to Asgard.
After all, the environment in Nidavellir was not very pleasant, and staying there for too long would be boring.
***
In the endless expanse of the universe, the Dark Ship, which had been heading toward Nidavellir, came to a halt.
Malekith's expression darkened as he sensed a change in the Aether particles' signal. "Change course," he commanded. "Set a new trajectory for Asgard."
The Dark Elves obeyed without question, immediately altering the ship's course. After accelerating for a short distance, they initiated a space jump.
After several jumps, the Dark Ship finally arrived in the star system where Asgard was located.
Inside the control room of the Dark Ship, Malekith approached his lieutenant, Algrim. "The Great War cost us dearly. Our strength is now a shadow of what it once was. We have only one chance. Are you willing to become the final Cursed Warrior?"
"To plunge the universe into darkness, I am willing to sacrifice everything," Algrim declared fervently.
Malekith nodded, drew a dark red Cursed Stone from his waist, and held it out to Algrim.
"You will become the embodiment of darkness, and you will remain in this form until it consumes your very life."
"Until then, I will eliminate all enemies who stand in your way and help you rebuild a new universe."
Algrim took the Cursed Stone, gripped it tightly in his palm, and departed alone in a small scout ship.
The [Cursed Stone] was a special artifact created by the Dark Elves using the power of [Aether particles]. It could push a user's potential to its absolute limit. Ordinary Dark Elves who became Cursed Warriors gained strength comparable to Thor.
Algrim, the second-in-command of the Dark Elves, would gain three times Thor's physical constitution upon using the [Cursed Stone] to become a Cursed Warrior, making him more than enough to handle most troubles.
However, this power came at a cost: the user's own life force.
Once one became a Cursed Warrior, the transformation was irreversible. They would continue to exist until their life force was completely drained, eventually turning to ash.
In Malekith's plan, Algrim was to disguise himself as a thug from another realm, get captured, and infiltrate Asgard from within, serving as the vanguard for their assault on the city.
Although Han Shaoqing had changed many things, some people and events still followed their original paths. This could be understood as destiny, or perhaps the universe's self-correcting force.
Though the Dark Elves' plan had been moved up, it remained largely unchanged.
But Asgard was no longer the Asgard they knew.
After returning to Asgard, Han Shaoqing transformed into Loki, replacing his clone. As for Esdeath, he arranged a new identity for her, making her a general of Asgard.
Naturally, some people were dissatisfied. After all, the Asgardians didn't know Esdeath, and she wasn't Aesir. An outsider who appeared out of nowhere and immediately became a general was bound to draw gossip.
The problem was easily solved. Han Shaoqing arranged a martial arts competition: anyone who was dissatisfied could step up and let their strength do the talking.
The Asgardians readily agreed. With their long lives, they were often bored and enjoyed watching duels.
The competition turned into a showcase for Esdeath's skills. She single-handedly crushed everyone, winning the championship.
Her victory was partly due to her own immense power, but also because the Asgardians' combat strength was truly mediocre. In the Hulk's words, these so-called gods were "so weak."
After being utterly defeated by Esdeath, the Asgardians finally fell silent.
Only Dominator remained indignant. She believed her strength surpassed Esdeath's, yet she was relegated to guard duty while Esdeath got to be a general. Why? Just because she was older?
What infuriated her most was that Han Shaoqing wouldn't even let her compete, making his favoritism blatantly obvious.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)