160

Chapter 160: Traces of the Infinity Stone

Morag, once home to an advanced civilization, shone brightly in its prime.

The planet was known for housing divine artifacts like the Power Stones, which were revered across the universe.

However, at some point, this once-thriving civilization fell, and Morag became an abandoned world.

The Power Stone, stored within a cosmic artifact, attracted the greed of countless factions. Numerous forces flocked to Morag, seeking to claim the power capable of ruling the universe, igniting an unprecedented conflict.

As one of the most volatile of the six Infinity Stones, the Power Stone's energy proved too destructive for mortals to handle.

Eventually, the stone's immense power spiraled out of control, engulfing Morag in a cataclysmic surge of energy that obliterated all competing forces.

When calm finally returned, the planet's surface was covered by a fiery inferno, and the seas were filled with residual, insurmountable energy.

Fortunately, the tides eventually receded, but the cycle was so prolonged that almost all records of the event had vanished with time.

The history of the Power Stone, along with its connection to the cosmic artifact, had been obscured by the ages...

Only a few ancient forces or individuals retained fragments of the truth.

For instance, the Titans, nearing extinction...

Asgard's records on this matter were preserved because Odin had once collected the Infinity Stones and forged the Infinity Gauntlet.

This was an arduous task requiring him to defeat guardians, traverse the tides of the Qualification Star, and complete the final trial of Mir.

Odin's initial target was the Tesseract, which he successfully secured, repelling Thanos's attempt to seize it.

The second destination was Vormir, a location shrouded in secrecy, but Odin was determined to acquire it...

Ultimately, Odin's ambitions faltered, and his quest ended in failure.

These records were found in the ancient, weathered tomes of Asgard.

Upon discovering these records, Thor unraveled some long-standing mysteries.

It became clear why many knew the location of the Power Stone, yet so many forces sought it almost simultaneously. Even Thanos, who most needed the stone, didn't start his pursuit early...

Now, Thor understood that it wasn't a matter of reluctance but of capability.

Thor felt a pang of regret. The plan to obtain the Power Stone in advance seemed increasingly unfeasible...

He knew that when the waters on Morag's surface receded was the time Star-Lord would take the stone in the original timeline.

Given that timelines can shift slightly, Thor could only be sure that the Power Stone and the Aether appeared around the same time, making it impossible for him to guard Morag.

"My lord prince, what troubles you so?"

Lorelei's voice was soothing as she brought a plate of fruit and began to massage Thor's back.

Sif, sitting across the table, clenched her teeth in frustration at this audacious witch. She was reluctant to do this task.

The three warriors marveled at Thor—having subdued the fearsome Lorelei six hundred years ago and now having her serve as a maid...

Yet, they dared not intervene on Sif's behalf. Lorelei was too intimidating. Fandral, who fancied himself a gentleman, had suffered social humiliation after a single statement led him to publicly confess his love to numerous women, only to receive a multitude of slaps.

Too dangerous to provoke!

Thor silently avoided Lorelei's touch.

It seemed as though Lorelei had embraced a spirit of manipulation; she appeared to be in charge, though she was clearly subservient.

Moreover, her constant pretense of being the hostess was enough to cause issues...

While Sif was unmatched on the battlefield and was Asgard's finest female warrior, she might struggle in palace politics compared to Jane Foster, who, despite being academically focused, was straightforward.

Speaking of Jane Foster, she recently traveled to England, claiming she was studying a rare natural phenomenon—the Convergence.

Thor, familiar with the plot, knew this was a precursor to the appearance of Dark Elves.

The Power Stone's emergence remained a critical concern. Thor reflected for a moment and retrieved a communicator from his clothing.

---