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Chapter 38: Guardian Responsibilities

"Who is that?"

It wasn't just Thor who was disturbed; Betty Ross was also perplexed and anxious. Tonight, she had finally gathered the courage...

A somewhat hoarse female voice called from outside the door. "I'm looking for Mr. Thor. Is he here?"

Betty Ross was momentarily stunned, her expression one of confusion.

Thor was equally surprised. He hadn't disclosed his whereabouts for the evening. Maya Hansen was preoccupied with addressing the changes on Earth over the years. The only person who might have guessed his location was Natalia, making the identity of the visitor outside the door uncertain...

Thor approached the door with a resigned expression.

With a "squeak," the door opened. The visitor outside stared in astonishment at Betty Ross in the living room, their eyes wide with surprise...

Who had opened the door?

…

The space was a hall imbued with strong Oriental influences, surrounded by a piano, chess set, calligraphy, and paintings. The sun streamed through the windows at noon, bathing the room in warm light.

For a moment, Thor thought he had traveled through time once more. He had been at Betty Ross's house, opening the door for an unexpected guest who had interrupted their peaceful evening. However, as soon as the door opened, a golden halo appeared beneath his feet, and then the floor seemed to vanish.

The surroundings turned dark, and when Thor opened his eyes again, he found himself in an entirely different place.

Before him stood a white figure… or rather, a white woman with a shaved head. Thor said, "I was brought here without warning. Is this how Kamar-Taj treats its guests?"

Most bald heads are usually strong, but Fury is exception! The woman in front of him was none other than the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj—the Ancient One.

Putting aside her bald head, the Ancient One was actually a British beauty with an aura of mystery surrounding her.

The Ancient One poured Thor a cup of tea and said, "Thor Odinson, I've been observing you for quite some time, since 1995."

Thor's heart skipped a beat. 1995? Wasn't that around the time I traveled through?

"I've been monitoring those and things from other realms, as they might pose potential threats to this world," the Ancient One continued.

"Wait," Thor interjected, "But I am not from another realm."

People shouldn't be able to find his secret as he had perfectly merged with Thor's soul , to others he should be thor and no one else.

The Ancient One nodded slightly. "Yes, you are the son of Odin, and you are indeed from this world. However, ten years ago, a peculiar change occurred in your soul."

Can you tell me what happened?"

Thor pondered for a moment and replied earnestly, "You could understand it as a influence of other me in a parallel world."

The Ancient One nodded slightly but did not press further. She continued, "Since then, the timeline of this world seems to have shifted. Initially, I was puzzled, but later I discovered that all the shifts pointed to you."

"It is my duty to protect the Earth from other realms."

Thor suddenly felt a surge of wariness.

At this moment, the Ancient One was as powerful as Odin at his peak. If she intended to harm him, Thor knew he would be no match for her!

Moreover, Kamar-Taj had blocked Heimdallr's sight, preventing him from summoning the Bifrost.

The Ancient One made no aggressive move; instead, she asked calmly, "Why do you wish to alter the course of history? Every timeline has its own established path. Forcibly changing the trajectory of time violates natural laws. Sooner or later, there will be a cost—the greater challengers will arrive —our world will be upended, and countless lives will suffer."

"Hahaha—" Thor suddenly laughed. "But as Sorcerer Supreme, you too have defied the rules. In the future, your successors will also break the rules to fight against Dormammu!" The Ancient One possessed some of Dormammu's power. While others might be unaware, Thor knew.

"Perhaps, to you, this is all about maintaining the timeline you know. That's why you can accept your own death and the betrayal of Mordo…"

"But I cannot! I will not accept the death of my family, the slaughter of my people, the destruction of my homeland in Ragnarök, or Natalia dying in space!"

"If the future must be like this, then such a future is not worth having!"

The Ancient One fell silent for a moment, while Thor remained on high alert, searching for a way out of the situation.

After a while, the Ancient One looked up and smiled.

"You're right."