American Comics: Heaven's Reward

Agatha was undoubtedly bold.

Despite knowing that Aaron was the God of Magic in Asgard and backed by Odin himself, she still dared to challenge him.

But she was also intelligent. From small details, she deduced that Aaron was a newly ascended god and that Asgard currently lacked the resources to intervene in other realms.

Losing Bifrost was like an eagle losing its wings. Though Asgard could still see into the Nine Realms, it couldn't travel freely.

The only means of travel left were through Odin and Heimdall, who could use immense amounts of dark energy to teleport one or two individuals.

But such an action would be equivalent to sending them to their deaths.

Odin was weakened and couldn't afford to overexert himself.

That left only Thor—but one man alone couldn't solve every problem.

Otherwise, Asgard wouldn't have simply watched as Vanaheim and Muspelheim rebelled during the time Bifrost was lost. Instead, they had waited to restore it using the Space Stone before launching their counterinsurgency.

Thus, this period was indeed the best time to target Aaron.

Aaron didn't deny it.

It wasn't difficult to figure out, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had likely already considered this possibility.

But they wouldn't dare to gamble.

Agatha, however, did.

She had even set her sights on the Scarlet Witch's Chaos Magic, proving she was a gambler in the world of sorcery.

For the sake of power, she was willing to risk everything.

Aaron's lack of denial only reinforced Agatha's claim: Asgard was in trouble.

Who could possibly make the legendary gods too preoccupied to care about Earth?

No wonder Thor hadn't returned since leaving, despite having come down previously to teach Magneto a lesson. It turned out that after returning, he was unable to descend again for some time.

Now, Aaron was the only Asgardian god remaining on Earth.

And he was a newborn god.

Nick Fury, listening in through Phil Coulson's headset, mused over the implications.

Pierce chuckled to himself.

With the gods unable to interfere, HYDRA's path to unification would face fewer obstacles.

"It seems you've decided to make a move against me?" Aaron sighed for some reason.

The others nodded inwardly.

Would Asgard's God of Magic really be afraid of an Earth witch?

Ridiculous.

Gods were gods—immortal beings of myth, living for untold ages.

Even if Earth's witches possessed magic, how could they possibly compete with a god?

"You're right. I've made my decision!" Agatha exclaimed, unable to hide her excitement as she laughed triumphantly.

"You may be a god of magic, but you're still new. And I am no ordinary witch."

"More importantly, you've already fallen into my web!"

As her words fell, a massive purple magic circle spanning several kilometers suddenly surged into existence.

It formed a dome, blocking everyone's view and sealing off the outside world, leaving only a vast, violet-hued space.

"You are a god."

"But you are the God of Magic."

"Which means you are destined to be my feast!"

"This magic circle was created using the very runes left behind by your so-called King of Gods!"

"Here, only I can use magic!"

"Maybe you should try breaking it? After all, you're the God of Magic of Asgard!"

Agatha laughed wildly, but she was also probing.

Creating this enormous magic circle had taken immense effort.

This was a gamble—a magical gamble.

She was trying to absorb all the magic of a god.

Before meeting Aaron, she hadn't even decided whether she truly wanted to challenge him.

If he displayed divine magical insight or if the risk wasn't worth exposing herself, she would have walked away.

But now—

She was intoxicated by Aaron's immense magical power.

It was vast.

If she could absorb it, even the Sorcerer Supreme would be her equal!

Moreover, she had observed Magneto's diamond cage.

Aaron's magic could create real objects!

That was the power of creation.

Turning the intangible into the tangible, bringing forth everything from nothing.

Wasn't that the magic she had been pursuing for centuries?

For that power, Agatha was willing to take this gamble.

Besides, as she had said, she wasn't just any Earth witch.

She was a dark witch—a follower of the great dark god Chthon.

A being far more exalted than Asgard.

That was why she had survived all these years, even under the watchful eyes of Kamar-Taj.

Even with the Ancient One guarding the realm, she had remained untouched.

Now, she was testing whether Aaron possessed the knowledge to break her magic.

After all, runes were an Asgardian invention.

Perhaps, without realizing it, she had already given him the key to dismantling her own spell.

Still, Agatha wasn't concerned for her safety.

Aaron had fallen into her trap.

And most importantly—his abilities were magic.

And if it was magic, she could take it.

Aaron knew Agatha was testing him.

She wanted to see if he could alter the magic circle.

If he displayed deep magical knowledge, there was a chance he could tamper with her circle and turn its power against her in ways she couldn't anticipate.

Agatha was a top scholar of magic.

She had studied and absorbed magical knowledge for centuries, greedily learning everything she could.

Yet, in front of Asgard, even an academic genius like her was no different from a wild beast.

But despite being the God of Magic, Aaron's knowledge was still incomplete compared to Agatha's.

That didn't mean he was helpless against the anti-magic circle.

Aaron attempted to cast a spell.

No response.

At the moment, it seemed he had only his physical strength left.

Agatha laughed hysterically.

She had confirmed it—Aaron was completely trapped.

"Don't bother struggling. It seems the so-called God of Magic is nothing special."

"Oh, but I understand. You're a mighty god! Why would you care about an obvious trap?"

"In your eyes, Earth is a primitive, backward land. How could it possibly hold such profound magic?"

"But you didn't expect to be ensnared by the very magic you command, did you?"

"Admit it!"

"Today, you will pay for your arrogance!"

Meanwhile—

Kamar-Taj, ever vigilant over magical disturbances, detected the powerful surge of energy from Westview.

They had been monitoring Thor since his arrival.

The Ancient One had even intervened personally.

Only when Thor and the others left Earth did they shift their attention elsewhere.

Until now.

Agatha's magic circle had once again drawn their gaze.

"The God of Magic has fallen into a magician's trap!"

"Wait… those look like runes. Is this another case of 'our own fighting our own'?"

The well-informed Wong recognized the magic's nature immediately.

"Can you identify it?" Mordo asked.

"It looks like an anti-magic barrier—a spell common among witches. Within its range, only the caster can use magic."

"But this—this is too large! No ordinary witch could conjure such a massive spell!"

"The energy alone would be impossible to sustain!"

Wong was certain.

Hearing this, Mordo suddenly recalled something.

"No… you're wrong. There is one witch who could pull this off."

"You mean… her?!" Wong's expression darkened.

"Agatha!"

"The dark witch who once drained the magic and life from her entire coven!"

"In the years since, she has continued to absorb the power of those she deems unworthy of magic."

"So it's her…!"

There is some information on Agatha in the Kamar-Taj files.

The two sides had clashed before.

However, Agatha's mastery of magic is formidable. She has delved deep into the darkness, mastering forbidden arts.

Apart from the Sorcerer Supreme, no one else possesses the power to challenge her.

Agatha usually hides in the shadows, avoiding the Sorcerer Supreme.

But now, she has suddenly appeared—and even dared to attack the Demon God.

How audacious!

"Does the teacher know? Agatha has finally shown herself. This time, we must take her down!"

Mordo spoke with a determined expression.

He strictly adheres to Kamar-Taj's principles: any magician who consorts with dark forces risks attracting Mephista's dimension to invade Earth. Such a threat must be eliminated.

"I have sent word to the Sorcerer Supreme. She should arrive soon," Wong replied.

At that moment, the magician who had gone to inform the Ancient One returned.

"What did the teacher say? Will she act personally?" Mordo asked urgently.

"Brother, the teacher's instruction is to wait and observe. The power of the God of Magic is not something a mere dark witch can meddle with."

"Huh? The teacher isn't going to intervene?" Mordo frowned.

"But the God of Magic has fallen into Agatha's trap. Even if his magical prowess far surpasses hers, he cannot defeat her without the ability to cast spells."

"Agatha's dark magic is the bane of nearly all magicians!"

Her most fearsome ability isn't just her vast knowledge of magic—it's the unnatural power she gained when she plunged into darkness, allowing her to absorb the magic of other sorcerers.

Most spells are useless against her.

Any magic cast upon her is absorbed, devoured, and turned into her own strength.

For centuries, aside from perhaps the Sorcerer Supreme, no one truly knows how much her power has grown.

However, one fact is undeniable: she has lived for hundreds of years without aging, a testament to the terrifying depth of her magic.

Still, they did not believe she had transcended mortality to become a god.

Before a true god, Agatha would stand no chance.

But fate was cruel—this time, she had set her sights on Asgard's God of Magic.

If it were another Thor, there would be no cause for concern.

But if Agatha succeeded in her plan and absorbed the power of a god, who could stop her?

Even if the Sorcerer Supreme took action personally, would she be able to do anything against such a foe?

Both Mordo and Wong shared this concern.

Unlike the Ancient One, they could not remain so calm.

Yet, if the Ancient One had chosen not to act, what chance did they have against Agatha?

"Wong, can you break this magic circle?"

In terms of sheer strength, Mordo surpassed Wong.

But in knowledge, as Kamar-Taj's librarian, Wong was far more learned.

"I'm afraid it will be difficult. The magic I've studied differs from Asgard's system, and my understanding of runes is far inferior to Agatha's."

"Perhaps we could try using external magic to disrupt the circle?"

As Wong pondered a solution, he suddenly noticed another figure appearing outside the magic circle.

"Isn't that the God of Magic? But hasn't he already fallen into Agatha's trap?"

Wong and Mordo exchanged baffled glances.

Inside the magic circle, Agatha also sensed something. She abruptly turned her gaze outward, her expression darkening.

Then she looked at Aaron again, disbelief filling her eyes.

"When did you get out?"

"You shouldn't be able to use magic."

"Why is your magic…"

"So vast!"

From Agatha's perception, the Aaron standing before her and the one outside the magic circle both radiated magical energy far beyond her own.

The realization sent a chill down her spine.

His magic was overwhelming.

Even if it was a magical duplication, the divided energy still dwarfed her own.

The magic she took such pride in—was it truly inferior to just a fraction of his power?

Was this the might of a god?

"Agatha, you truly understand nothing about magic."

Aaron gazed at her emotionlessly, his eyes filled with disdain.

Outside the magic circle, his energy duplicate channeled an immense force and shattered Agatha's spell with a single blow.

The surge of energy dispersed, obliterating the rune-engraved carriers that sustained the barrier.

Agatha's brief panic faded, and she quickly composed herself.

"So what if you broke the magic circle? At most, it just buys you more time."

"What can your magic possibly do to me?"

She raised her hands, conjuring two whips of pure magic, lashing them toward Aaron with a sharp crack.

Aaron took a step forward.

Almost instantly, a portal materialized before him.

When he reappeared, he was behind Agatha—his fist already striking.

Boom!!

Dozens of tons of force slammed into Agatha's back. The impact sent her crashing into the ground, cracking the very earth beneath her.

"Impressive reaction speed."

Aaron looked down at her with mild surprise.

Agatha was a pure magician—by all logic, her fragile body should have been pulverized.

Yet, at the last moment, she had managed to shield herself with magic.

Though she appeared to be in dire straits, she hadn't sustained much damage.

Agatha crawled from the crater, her face contorted in both distress and confusion.

This was utterly shameless!

A mighty magician—resorting to brute force?

How disgraceful for a so-called God of Magic!

"Damn it! Aren't you supposed to be the God of Magic? Why are you fighting like a barbarian? Can't you have a proper magic duel with me?"

"Who said magicians must only use magic?"

Aaron looked at her as if she had asked something ridiculous.

"What kind of magician doesn't use magic?!" Agatha raged.

A magician who fights with fists—what kind of nonsense was that?

"Asgardian ones!"

Aaron declared confidently.

After all, wasn't Loki a grand magician who favored daggers and melee combat?

Frigga too.

Even Odin—the ultimate magician—preferred close combat.

So what was wrong with him doing the same?

Agatha trembled with fury. Was this man even capable of reasoning?

No! Such immense magical power deserved to belong to someone who truly understood magic.

Across from her stood a brute, wasting his potential!

Agatha let out a manic laugh.

"If you refuse to use magic, then why not surrender it to someone who will?"

"I'll even allow you to keep living in this pitiful world."

"What do you say?"

"God of Magic!"

She spat out the last words in a near roar.

Then—

She unleashed an even greater surge of dark magic, tearing stone pillars from the earth.

With a flick of her will, they launched into the sky like cannon fire!

"I refuse to believe you can defeat me without magic!"

"Die!"

"You disgrace the title of magician!!"