Asgard—Lucci's personal palace.
This had become one of the holiest places in Asgard. An invisible energy field enveloped it in all directions; even the strongest Asgardian warrior could not step within half a pace without permission.
At the center of the palace stood a phantom of the World Tree's roots. Lucci took a long, slow breath, each inhale and exhale resonating as though with the heartbeat of the entire universe.
Endless starlight poured in from the void, becoming visible bands of radiant light, flowing into his body without interruption like gentle streams.
Ever since the creation of the Great Cosmos Meditation Method—a fundamental path pointing directly to the origin of the universe—Lucci's power had entered a shocking explosive phase.
His divine soul could already easily cover all of Asgard and reach the edge of the Nine Worlds. His original true flame, tempered by cosmic energy, had become purer and purer, as if it could burn everything—or create everything.
But at that moment, Lucci opened his eyes from deep meditation.
Those pupils were like deep, boundless starfields, reflecting the cycle of birth and death of the universe. His face held neither joy nor sorrow—only his usual calm, and a faint curiosity to explore the unknown.
"My accumulation of power is enough… but the means of using it are still too simple."
The Origin True Fire Marvelous Art was his foundation, integrating offense and defense. The Nine Realms Cyclic Breathing Method established his connection to the world. The Great Cosmos Meditation Method was the supreme technique that controlled all and drew forth higher-dimensional power.
He already understood part of the laws of space-time, had mastered the laws of lightning and ice, and had even driven runes to their limit.
But he was still missing one thing:
A wielder who possessed all power perfectly—and used it most efficiently…
An artifact.
The Eternal Spear Gungnir was powerful, but it was a symbol of Odin's authority; it did not fully suit Lucci. Thor's hammer Mjolnir was spiritual, but too bulky, with limited patterning. As for the rest of Asgard's armory—before his current eyes, it was merely mortal iron.
His gaze pierced the palace walls, looked beyond the Asgard dome, and fixed upon a special coordinate on the star map of the Nine Worlds.
There, around a dying star, a colossal ring-world rotated slowly.
Nidavellir.
The dwarven realm.
The most authoritative forge in the universe—a sacred place.
"The power of a neutron star… using the star as a furnace, gravity as a hammer… that is true forging."
A faint arc lifted the corner of Lucci's mouth. He wasn't particularly interested in dwarven craftsmanship itself, but he had developed intense interest in their method of harnessing neutron-star energy.
If he could observe it with his own eyes and analyze it, then perhaps…
He could craft an unprecedented ultimate artifact for himself.
It was time to explore a new realm.
Having made up his mind, Lucci vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant, he was already standing before Odin's throne.
Odin was sorting documents from Vanaheim. The moment he sensed Lucci arrive, he set the scroll down in his hand.
He looked at the son before him—ever more unfathomable—and a gentle smile appeared.
"Lucci, have you finished your cultivation?"
Odin's voice was filled with relief. Ever since Lucci created the Secret Codex of Divine Power Refinement, Odin felt his long-standing hidden wounds healing, and the concentration of divine power throughout Asgard steadily increasing.
Lucci's existence had become Asgard's greatest blessing.
"Father."
Lucci nodded calmly without ceremony and went straight to the point. "I want to go to Nidavellir and have a look."
Odin was slightly surprised.
Go to Nidavellir?
He understood Lucci's thought almost instantly. Given Lucci's bottomless wisdom and thirst for knowledge, it was only natural he'd be interested in the dwarven kingdom—the most adept at "creation" in the Nine Worlds.
"Of course!"
Odin agreed without the slightest hesitation. His trust in Lucci now surpassed everything. Wherever Lucci wanted to go, whatever he wanted to do—Odin believed there must be a reason.
Any restriction or doubt would be blasphemy against such a natural supreme god.
"You want to study forging?" Odin asked with a smile.
"Yes," Lucci admitted frankly. "I'm very interested in their technique for controlling the neutron-star furnace."
Hearing that, Odin's approval deepened. Ordinary people went to Nidavellir for the finished products. Lucci directly pointed at the core: the original technology of energy control.
"Good! I'll arrange it."
Odin rose from the throne and said with interest, "I'll take you to the Bifrost."
For Odin, any request from Lucci deserved the highest support—this was not only a father-son bond, but also faith in Asgard's future.
The two crossed the magnificent corridors of the Asgard and arrived at the Bifrost control center.
Beneath the golden dome, Heimdall stood at its center with the Hofund in hand, like an eternal sculpture.
Seeing Odin and Lucci arrive, a flash of reverence that could see through the Nine Worlds crossed his eyes, and he bowed.
"Your Majesty. Prince Lucci."
"Heimdall," Odin said solemnly. "Open the Bifrost to Nidavellir for Lucci."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Heimdall raised no questions. He turned and inserted the Hofund into the core of the console.
In an instant, the entire outpost roared as immense energy began to gather. A colorful pillar of light pierced heaven and earth, forming a grand passage that ran through the cosmos toward the distant starry sky.
Lucci nodded lightly to Odin. "Father, I'm leaving."
"Go, my child."
Odin's eyes were full of expectation and pride. "The dwarves of Nidavellir are proud, but they are Asgard's staunchest allies. King Eitri is an old friend of mine—he will treat you well."
Lucci gave an indistinct acknowledgment and calmly stepped into the brilliant pillar of light.
The light flared, and his figure vanished at the far end of the Bifrost in an instant.
Odin remained standing for a long time, staring at the direction Lucci had disappeared.
Heimdall couldn't help but speak. "Your Majesty, you seem to trust Prince Lucci completely."
"Trust?" Odin turned, a complex smile mixing pride with astonishment even he didn't notice. "Heimdall… you have no idea how great he is. I even feel that because of him, the entire Nine Realms—perhaps even this universe—will be changed."
His tone carried emotions unprecedented for a god-king who had fought for ten thousand years. He paused, then returned to solemnity and warned:
"Still, though I believe few things in the Nine Realms can threaten him, Nidavellir has a special environment."
"Watch closely. Use your eyes. Always pay attention to Lucci's situation."
"If anything abnormal happens, report immediately."
Heimdall felt the gravity in Odin's words. He placed his right hand over his chest and accepted in a low voice:
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. My gaze will follow Prince Lucci forever."
Odin nodded in satisfaction, looked once more toward the distant starry sky, then turned and returned to the Asgardian palace.
…
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