Marvel: Rise of the Ultimate AI

Gene naturally knew of Nidavellir—a realm among the Nine Realms and the homeland of the Dwarves. In every myth and legend, Dwarves are revered as the most skilled craftsmen. The weapons they forge are always among the finest, and Norse mythology is no exception.

Odin's spear, Gungnir, and Thor's former hammer, Mjolnir (better known to us as the Thunder God's hammer), were both masterpieces crafted by Dwarven artisans. In Avengers: Infinity War, the Infinity Gauntlet wielded by Thanos was also a Dwarven creation—a divine artifact capable of withstanding the power of all six Infinity Stones. And let's not forget the incredibly dramatic entrance of Stormbreaker in the film, another weapon forged by the Dwarves.

Now, Gene's interest was piqued. His thoughts turned to his own armor.

"That's actually a good idea. But how are we supposed to get to Nidavellir?" Gene asked. "As you mentioned, the Bifrost has been sealed by Loki. So how are we getting there?"

Sif smiled knowingly, her expression full of mystery. "Midgardian, the Bifrost isn't the only way to travel between realms."

Then, she whistled sharply.

From the skies descended four majestic white winged horses. They landed gracefully before them, settling down on the icy ground, their moist, intelligent eyes gazing calmly at the group.

Riding flying steeds to Nidavellir—it certainly had the flair of true Asgardians.

The white, winged Pegasi soared through the darkness of space. Upon their backs rode four Asgardians, their silhouettes a picture straight out of myth. Thanks to powerful magic, the steeds moved with astonishing speed. Beside them, the jets on Gene's armor flared with a brilliant blue light, propelling him smoothly across the cosmic expanse.

Out of curiosity, Gene scanned the four winged steeds. As expected, he detected strong magical fluctuations coursing through their bodies.

His analysis concluded that these Pegasi relied on both spells and magic to traverse space. It wasn't surprising. After all, this was the vacuum of the universe—flapping wings alone wouldn't get you very far. As creatures native to the divine realm, these steeds were born infused with tremendous magical power. Flying spells were instinctual to them, just as eating is instinctual to humans. From the moment they're born, they can fly through space with ease.

But to the Asgardians, this wasn't something to question. To them, Pegasi had wings and thus should naturally be able to fly through galaxies. Nothing mysterious or surprising about it. They never bothered to explore the deeper truths behind such things.

Perhaps this was the fundamental difference between Midgardians and Asgardians.

The Pegasi were incredibly fast. Before long, a colossal dying neutron star came into view. Though it was nearing the end of its life, in astronomical terms, "soon" might still mean tens of thousands or even millions of years.

The glowing red star radiated waves of energy. Massive surges of cosmic turbulence erupted from its core, showcasing nature's raw, breathtaking power. Inside Gene's armor, sensors were actively analyzing the neutron star. Streams of data flickered across his HUD, detailing the star's energy output in real time.

Orbiting the neutron star was a pitch-black ring—that was Nidavellir, the home of the Dwarves. This was where the Dwarven race had dwelled for generations.

Gene and the others descended and landed on the forge's platform.

There, standing in front of the forge, they met the leader of the Dwarves—Eitri.

Eitri looked like a classic eccentric craftsman. His hair was wild and unkempt, as if it hadn't been washed in ages. His thick beard danced with every step he took, and when he spoke, his voice buzzed like metal grinding on stone.

Eitri didn't look particularly pleased to see Sif and the others. In fact, he seemed rather annoyed, or perhaps just deeply unimpressed by Asgardians in general.

"Hmph, here we go again. The mighty Asgardians, always remembering the Dwarves only when they're in trouble," he scoffed.

Hogun stepped forward. "Eitri, Loki has gained unimaginable power. I'm sure you've sensed it. The Nine Realms are all in danger. If we join forces, there might still be a sliver of hope."

Eitri sneered. "Arrogant Asgardians. Maybe you should get your own affairs in order before coming to us. With protectors like you, why should we place our trust in you again? Perhaps it's time we consider changing sides. As you said, Loki now commands limitless power. Wouldn't it make more sense for us to pledge our loyalty to him instead?"

"Eitri!" Volstagg's temper flared. He roared, "Are you saying you'd betray Asgard?!"

"I serve Asgard," Eitri replied coldly. "But it seems Loki is now its ruler. Perhaps my loyalty should follow accordingly. Besides, let's be clear—this is Nidavellir, not your precious divine realm."

Gene stepped between the two, halting the confrontation before it could escalate further.

Eitri glanced dismissively at Gene—at first.

But then something changed. His eyes began to widen, sparkling with curiosity and a strange gleam, as if he'd just discovered something... fascinating.

--------------

T/N:

Access Advance Chapters on my

P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics