146

Chapter 146: The Future

Thor nodded and said, "You understand now. The Thanos I'm referring to is the most feared tyrant in the universe.

Every planet he invades ends up losing half of its population.

Now, he is tired of conquering planets one by one and has decided to gather all six Infinity Gems. With the power of all the gems combined, he can snap his fingers and erase half of the life in the universe."

He mimicked a snapping gesture with his fingers.

"Rest assured," Strange said. "The Eye of Agamotto is a sacred relic that each Sorcerer Supreme has sworn to protect with their life. Kamar-Taj will do everything it can to safeguard it."

"Then you can trust that Asgard will not remain passive during Thanos' invasion. Many years ago, my father defeated Thanos when he came to seize the gems, forcing him into dormancy. Now that my father is aging, Thanos is stirring once more."

Thor raised his fist confidently and said, "I will ensure that he has no chance of escape." At that moment, the communication device on his suit lit up. Thor glanced at it, and his expression changed.

"As long as you're prepared, I need to leave now."

After Thor departed, Strange frowned thoughtfully before sitting down and beginning to chant a spell.

The Eye of Agamotto spun, its green light flickering.

Wang watched as Strange floated in the air, his face tense.

With a "thud," Strange fell heavily to the ground.

"Are you okay? What did you do?" Wang asked, his voice filled with concern.

Strange took a deep breath and replied, "I ventured into the future and observed various outcomes of this war."

"How many possible outcomes did you see?"

"Fourteen million six hundred and five."

"How many of those did we win?"

Strange hesitated before responding with a strange expression, "All of them."

"Hahaha!" Wang burst into laughter. "It's too amusing to hear it described so dramatically! Thanos is so miserable; he has no chance of winning..."

"However," Strange said seriously, "in nearly all of those futures, winning is extremely difficult."

"At least in the majority of the fourteen million scenarios, it makes little difference whether we win or lose. In most outcomes, Kamar-Taj is destroyed, Asgard falls, and Earth's civilization is annihilated.

"The cost of victory is that humanity would regress to the Stone Age."

Wang gasped in shock.

"Then how many scenarios offer a win for us, or at least an acceptable loss?"

"Somewhat."

Thor returned to Asgard with a serious expression. His mother, Frigga, was waiting for him at the Bifrost, and Loki stood beside her with a troubled look.

"Have you seen him?" Thor asked quietly.

"Yes," Frigga nodded. "He asked to meet you both and speak with you alone."

"Where is he?"

"Midgard."

In northern Norway, on the edge of a seaside cliff, Thor and Loki emerged from the portal and saw the figure before them.

Is this truly my father?

Both Thor and Loki stared in disbelief.

In the past, even if Odin did nothing, his mere presence commanded a powerful aura that felt as though he could destroy the world with a mere gesture.

That was divine power.

But now, what they saw was an ordinary old man.

The greatest power in the Nine Realms, the ruler of Asgard, the All-Father—Odin—had reached the end of his journey!

The end of a legend! Those were the only words Thor and Loki could think of at the moment.

"My sons, come here," Odin's aged voice called out.

Thor approached, and Loki hesitated before following.

"Sit with me; my time is running out."

Odin said calmly, "In these final moments, I need to speak with my children."

Thor hesitated, then said, "Father, I actually have a way to extend your life."

"No need," Odin replied with a peaceful smile. "I know you have changed much through your own efforts, including altering your mother's fate, but not now.

Odin, at this moment, seemed to have seen through everything in the world. "I know your method for immortality, but it has one major limitation: you cannot bestow it upon someone stronger. The only option is for me to live as a common Asgardian, but that is not what I desire.

"I would rather die as the All-Father."

"Furthermore, as the All-Father, I will not truly die. My spirit will endure forever."

Thor remained silent.

Such is the pride of a king!