CHAPTER 86

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After Sif returned to Asgard, I went back to my routine, which was to continue researching the super-soldier serum.

I was so close to cracking it, I could feel it.

Unfortunately, I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with it, but I was in no hurry, I would soon crack this baby, one day at a time, I would get closer to the perfect formula.

Though I'm not going to lie, it was pretty annoying, to be honest, it was like having 99% of the picture ready in my head, but missing one piece, one little piece that was crucial.

I guess the best way I can describe my current feeling about the formula is like when you forget a word, and you have it in the tip of your tongue, but can't really remember, more than not, you remember the word after you no longer need it.

"Maybe I should get more blood from Bucky," No, that wouldn't work, no matter how many samples I get, the results would be the same, whatever I was lacking, was not on his blood, or in anyone's blood.

I sighed, what else I could do, with how it was, I could make a bootleg Serum, like the one the Russians used, or an improved version like the one Hydra used on bucky, but those still needed something, they lacked something the original serum had.

"Maybe I should learn necromancy," I chuckled. Then again, it wasn't a bad idea, morally questionable, yes, but it would solve a lot of problems if I resurrected Abraham Erskine, and made him finish what I started.

Though I sincerely doubt the Ancient One will lend me a book about the subject, but then again, I don't need her to get something like that, there are a few dungeons with rewards like that one.

"No, I can do this." I shook my head, while it would surely solve my problems, enslaving those who passed away to help me, would make me no better than Hydra.

So this brought me back to square one.

"Always in your lab," that voice, the Ancient One.

"Well, I have things to do, and besides, I am not always here, I go out with the girls, at least twice a week," I replied, without even turning to meet her, there was much work to do, and little time to do it.

"I know what your little project is missing," The Ancient One commented, stopping me on my tracks.

"You do?" I asked, turning around to see her smirking. 

"I might not be a scientist such as yourself or Abraham Erskine, but I know lots of things," The Ancient One smirked, taking a seat on one of my tables.

"Considering you haven't offered me the information, I will go ahead and assume you want something in exchange…" I sighed, with her, you could never know.

"You are absolutely right," The Ancient One nodded, "I want something, the question is… can you provide it?" ok… this was creeping out.

"Which is?" I asked narrowing my eyes on her.

"I need you to recover a something from me, from a dark… dark place," The Ancient One began, "The Dark Dimension to be precise,"

"So you want me to die?" I snorted, "I might not be as experienced as you with the mystic arts and all, but I know about Dormammu."

"I know you know," The Ancient One smiled, "I also know, you won't die if you go there, Dormammu can't kill you." can't kill me? "Or rather won't kill you,"

"Elaborate?" I asked, pressing the matter.

"I can't," The Ancient One replied with a sigh, "All I can share is that you will be okay, in fact, you are possibly one of the only beings in existence Dormammu would be reluctant to kill."

Well, ain't that ominous as fuck, "Not that I'm saying yes, but what do you need to recover?" I asked.

"A piece of my soul I left there a long time ago," The Ancient One replied as if that answered anything at all.

I rubbed my temples, "Is there anything else you can share?" I asked.

"No, believe me, I wish I could… but I can't," The Ancient One sighed.

"I will think on it," I replied after a brief moment of silence.

"You know where to find me," with that said, she left, leaving me with much to think about.

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[The Ancient One POV]

I teleported back to my chambers to find no other than Odin Borson sitting on a chair with a disapproving look.

"Yao, you are playing with fire," Odin warned.

"I know that Odin," I chuckled, Yao, it has been so long this someone called me that, it feels foreign.

"Then why are you risking it?" Odin sighed, rubbing his temples, "He could die there…"

"You know as well I do, Dormammu won't kill him," I replied taking a seat.

"That is just a conjecture you have," Odin stated with a stern look, "Dormammu can kill him as easily as he can kill a fly, you are betting a lot on him not doing it because of where Alex comes from,"

"I have seen the future, many of them, and in the majority of them… he lives, at least nine out ten, Dormammu does nothing but talk with him," I replied looking away.

"I know," Odin sighed, "I might not have the time stone, but I have also checked his future, more than not he survives, is the futures where he doesn't that I don't like."

"He will be okay," I sighed, Odin had a knack to make me feel bad, "I know I'm using him to avoid my future death in a selfish manner by having him recover the piece of my soul I left in Dormammu's dimension… but while this is indeed selfish, it will help Alex understand his origins,"

"Or kill him," Odin snorted, "You know you are in this position because you are stubborn, I offered you a golden apple a thousand years ago, and you declined my offer, and now look where we are."

"I was young, and prideful Odin, as were you," I replied with a small chuckle.

"I was old enough to be your dad, for Bor's bear, Thor's old enough to be your dad," Odin chuckled, before he let a grim expression settle in, "I hope you know what you're doing."

"I know," I replied looking out the window.