CHAPTER 172

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After inviting Bucky to our leveling group, I moved to invite the next person on the list, the Ancient One.

The woman that had filled many roles in my life, she had been a teacher, a counselor, a friend, and above all, a trusted ally. I needed her, in more ways than one, without me even noticing she had become an irreplaceable part of my life.

So here I was, knocking outside her office door, waiting for her to answer.

"Alex," The Ancient One greeted me, opening the door with a wave of her hand.

"Hi," I smiled at her, walking into her office.

"So, what brings you here today?" The Ancient One asked as I took a seat.

"Well… I'll go to the point," I sighed, "Do you want to become stronger,"

"I'm in," The Ancient One nodded.

As I stood there like the Pikachu meme, looking at her.

"Alex, I have noticed the growth within you, within Thor," She smiled, "And it flatters me you have decided to offer me, what you have offered, your brother," 

I laughed.

"Well, that was fast," I sighed with a smile.

"Well, the older you get, the less time you like to waste, besides, why would I even need to think of such an offer?" The Ancient One chuckled.

"I mean, you don't really know what I'm offering," For all she knew, I could've been offering something dark, and yet she accepted right away.

"Mr. Walker, I know you, I trust you, isn't the time stone in your hands enough proof of that?" She replied.

"I guess I'm lucky then," I smiled at her.

"Indeed you are," The Ancient One shot back with a playful wink.

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With Bucky and the Ancient One already on board, it was time to invite the last member of my leveling group, Sif, my girlfriend.

So, eager to recruit her, I opened a portal to Asgard to where she currently was, the training grounds.

"Alex!" Sif waved at me, being the first one to notice the portal opening in the middle of the training ground.

"Sif," I waved back, as Sif trotted towards me, leaving the rest of the Asgardians around to train without her.

"What brings you here?" Sif asked, jumping into my arms.

"Well, first, this," I replied, giving her a kiss, "Now with that out of the way, we can talk,"

"Or kiss more," Sif winked.

"That for later, for right now, I have a proposition for you," I smiled, giving her another kiss, just because.

Sif smiled, "What proposition, dear boyfriend?"

"Well, how would you like to become stronger?" I replied.

"Well… seeing how I train every day, I suppose very much," Sif chuckled.

"Well, what I'm offering you is something far more effective than traditional training," I nodded.

Sif paused, giving me a long look, before she asked, "What?"

"Can't really explain, but long story short, you'll get more results in a month, than a year out here," I replied.

"That sounds like a scam, but seeing as the proposition it's coming from you, and how strong you currently are, well, I have no other choice but to believe you," Sif replied, looking at the training grounds, "Thor is doing what you're offering me, right?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"Well then," Sif smiled, giving me a long aggressive kiss, "I'm in," she added, breaking the kiss for a moment before she started kissing me once again.

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Three hours later, where Sif and I trained, other things, I was ready to go back to earth with her, first, of course, I had to clear her with Odin, who gave her permission to stay on earth for as long as she needed, clearing her of any responsibilities on Asgard, for the moment.

After clearing her with Odin.

Well, I opened a portal to my house, where the rest of the team was waiting to start.

"Sif!" Thor barked with a grin, "I'm so glad you're here!"

"Same," Sif smiled.

"A group of five," The Ancient One commented, "It's been a while since I'm not the oldest person in the room,"

I chuckled, remembering that Thor and Sif were indeed older than her.

"Thor is a toddler a best," Bucky snorted.

"HEY!" Thor shot back in indignation, as he whispered to Sif a question, "What's a toddler?"

"Thor… how can you… nevermind," Sif sighed in exasperation.

"Anyway, are you all ready?" I asked.

"Yes," The Ancient One nodded.

"Always," Bucky nodded with a grin, cocking his gun.

"You already know brother!" Thor beamed.

"What the big oaf said," Sif chuckled.

"Alrighty then, let's kick some ass!" I chuckled, opening a portal to where the dungeon I had in mind to do was.

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[?????????? POV]

Things were about to get heavy for Alex.

The Beyonder was like a child, once he was fixated in something, in someone, your only hope to survive, to pass his stupid tests, and hope something else gets his attention.

Nonetheless.

The Beyonder had picked a curious individual to be the target of his attention, someone with untold power within them.

I was almost tempted to say, The Beyonder was playing with things he didn't understand, all in the stupid hope of finding something to complete him.

Who knows, if the multiverse happens to be on luck, Alex might just be the one ending that spoiled brat once and for all.

"Will we help Alex?" My companion asked.

I shook my head, "A battle between The Beyonder and me would only result in the end of this universe, besides, right now, he's not acting, not directly, he wishes to push Alex, meaning I have no reason to intervene,"

Besides, I wasn't sure I could even kill the Beyonder.

"Perhaps this little test from The Beyonder will finally break the limiters Alex has put on himself," My companion sighed.

"Hardly," I shook my head, "But, it will push him towards that direction, which is exactly what The Beyonder wants,"

"I will never understand you all-mighty beings," My companion sighed, "If anything Alex would be a threat, and yet, all of you want to see him grow,"

"The top is lonely," I chuckled, "And a challenge is always welcomed,"