26

Sacrifice Square.

The God-King's eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of life as he slowly opened his mouth to reveal a shocking secret to his son.

"My son, you have grown. As my successor, it's time you knew the truth!"

Thor raised an eyebrow skeptically. Was it about Ragnarok? That seemed common knowledge.

"Father, I'm listening."

This area was under the vigilant eye of Yggdrasil's will, hidden from prying eyes and ears, making it the perfect spot for Odin to have this deep conversation with his son.

"Where do we start? Let's talk about the realms. The realms are the domains of intelligent races. Asgard encompasses the outer Celestial Galaxy. Midgard spans the entire Milky Way galaxy, known as Earth..."

"The Mother World Tree is also a realm. She's just larger and more expansive. She too has her dominion."

Thor scratched his head. This groundwork seemed a bit too extensive, even for Odin.

"Father, are you saying Mother World Tree is a giant realm and she nurtures smaller realms like ours? What's the truth in this?"

The God-King glanced at his bewildered son, briefly raised his hand, then lowered it. Thor was growing up; he deserved some respect. Ah... the trials of parenthood!

"Hmm!"

Thor sensed the impending lecture. He instinctively shrank back when Odin's expression darkened. But before he could relax, a cold snort cut through the air, reducing Thor to a mere boy.

"What were you saying just now?"

Odin let Thor fumble for words, his earlier anger dissipating slightly. He had been momentarily distracted, but he quickly refocused on the matter at hand.

Thor looked at Odin with admiration. He was truly his father! Always guiding him!

"Father, I was just..."

Odin's eye twitched with annoyance, his beard bristling. He took a deep breath and thundered.

"Enough! Thor, focus!"

The old man was clearly upset, and Thor, feeling like a scolded child, dared not move, listening intently to his father's revelation.

"Your understanding so far isn't far off. Let's delve into the big and small realms. While we know there are countless smaller realms, is there only one Mother World Tree in the larger realm?"

"No! Although I've only been aware of this for a short time, I know the outer realms (dimensions) are infinite. Ragnarok was a decoy to deceive my enemies. I could defeat ten beings like Surtur!"

An: Yggdrasil in the main marvel dimension that contains Earth.

This was the first time Thor had heard Odin boast since birth, and he quickly chimed in with praise.

"Father, you're the mightiest! You've always been my hero!"

"Silence!"

Odin shot a glare at his cocky son, growing more displeased by the minute. He raised his hand and silenced him.

"Let's start from the beginning. My mother was damaged during the war with the giants. To heal, she used their corpses to birth nine fruits, hoping to rejuvenate herself and expand her realm."

"Unknown entities from outside coveted these fruits. Unable to defend herself, she confided in me during our last meeting."

"Since then, other realms have been infiltrated by these outsiders. My injuries have yet to heal, and the gods have suffered greatly, so I've been quietly amassing strength."

"Your birth was foretold by my mother, signifying the impending maturity of these fruits. Eight are false, one true. I don't know which is real, but I have clues."

"For eons, I've investigated in secret, learning of two entities outside our realm: Dormammu, the Lord of Darkness, and Jörmungandr, the World Serpent. Dormammu rules the Dark Dimension, empowering himself by devouring realms. Jörmungandr, on the other hand, is a colossal serpent in the outer cosmos. If the Mother World Tree were an ordinary tree, Jörmungandr would be a titan."

"My son, this is what I know. It's now your knowledge too. Do you understand?"

Odin reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Thor's shoulder, speaking to comfort not only his son but himself as well.

"These matters are far beyond your reach for now. Mother World Tree healed my ancient wounds before, and with the system constantly enhancing me, I can stand against them!"

His aged face, slightly hunched form, and steadfast expression conveyed the saga of the Twilight of the Gods—the God-King upholding heavens and earth, a father protecting his kin.

Thor looked at his father intently, filled with admiration, respect, and resolve. Stepping forward, he embraced the old man tightly, his voice choked with emotion.

"Father! You are the mightiest!"

"Thor son of Odin will become the second greatest warrior! Together, we shall endure!"

After a long moment, the God-King's stooped figure seemed even more bowed, his voice trembling.

"My son, it's time we return."

Two figures, one old and one young, strode confidently back toward the Golden Palace, their spirits high and their resolve unshakeable.

By the lakeside garden.

After parting ways with his father at the Golden Palace, Thor sought solitude here to reflect and clear his mind.

Mother World Tree had healed his father's old wounds and bestowed upon Thor many blessings. The green luminescence had boosted each of his attributes by 5 points. Of particular benefit were two talents:

**God of Asgard (Atavism) (Infant):** Each natural day increases the upper limit and intensity of divine power by one level unit. As the future king of the Aesir, Odin's son, you possess the purest ancient divine blood, imbuing you with innate power.

**Child of the World:** Turns misfortune into fortune, calamity into blessing. As a child of the World Tree, an enemy to you is an enemy to the world. Beyond your own universe, you are the World Tree's emissary, its chosen. You carry its hopes.

This direct line to his ancestors' bloodline had greatly amplified his natural talents for thunder and storm. The Child of the World offered a glimpse into fate's workings. While it wasn't as dramatic as an Infinity Stone embedding itself in his skull, the potential was evident. The World Tree's agent seemed intriguing. Perhaps crossing borders would prove less troublesome in the future.

The rewards were bountiful, but so too were the trials ahead. He'd once believed the realm here to be the pinnacle, matched only by his father and Thanos. Now he realized he'd been naïve.

The names Dormammu and Jörmungandr rekindled memories deep within Thor. According to Odin's intel, these were just two of many unknowns lurking beyond. Perhaps four awaited them. The enemy was adept at concealment. That much was clear.

On the bright side, Mother World Tree had clearly improved over countless eons, and with his father's recovery and the system's continuous enhancement, Thor felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Giants and Hela had once been his imagined adversaries. Now he understood that potential foes could be several tiers higher. But that was no matter. Just a snake and a dark serpent. He needed only to grow stronger! Stronger still! Ever stronger!

The realm of the gods, one of nine fruits. Family here, roots here. His father wouldn't back down, and neither would he!

Thor skipped stones across the lake, finally setting aside his thoughts and clearing his mind. Tomorrow would be a momentous day for him and his Sif. He had to be ready!

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