◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon of which 10 are free Chapters. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
Thor finally reacted, hurriedly letting go, flustered: "Sorry… I… I thought…"
"You thought she was dead?"
Anthony landed slowly and walked up to them.
"Luckily… I arrived in time; no vital organs were hit."
Frigga looked at the young man.
She had seen her own future—she had indeed died, run through by that very blade; it was the fate she had chosen.
But now… destiny had been rewritten.
"You saved me, Anthony," Frigga said softly.
"But you shouldn't have changed… fate."
Hearing this, Anthony knew the moment to act had come. He met Frigga's gaze, eyes brimming with deep emotion—twelve-tenths of the prowess of a past-life Oscar king—deploying even his secret art: self-hypnosis.
He slowly knelt, eyes reddening, voice choking.
"I just… didn't want to see tragedy repeat itself."
"I once lost my mother, Martha… and lost my home…"
"Thor—he's an arrogant, reckless bastard," Anthony said, pointing at Thor.
"Right now… he still needs his mother."
"The people of Asgard, facing danger… they can't be without their Queen."
"And you—you're too wonderful… you deserve all the love in this world; you shouldn't… simply lie here like this."
As he spoke, Anthony clasped Frigga's blood-stained hand.
"And I… couldn't watch the most beautiful soul in existence simply fade away."
"Even if the Goddess of Death herself came to claim someone, she'd have to step over my body first."
Even… if it meant defying so-called 'fate'!"
Silence fell across the hall.
Even Odin, who had just arrived and stood in the doorway, felt his single eye tremble slightly at those words.
Frigga looked at the utterly sincere man before her, feeling the warmth in her hand.
She had already prepared herself for death.
But now…
"Mr. Starr," Frigga smiled, weak yet incomparably noble.
"You're right."
"Perhaps… destiny truly can be changed."
She let go of her burden, silently admitting she had indeed been selfish to think of abandoning everything she loved.
Now, seeing Thor's tear-streaked smile, her heart filled with tenderness.
Yes, he was still just a child of a little over a thousand years; he still needed his mother.
"Thank you… Mr. Starr," Frigga whispered.
Ding!
A crisp, melodious notification exploded in Anthony's mind.
It was a full-screen spam of alerts!
"Ding! Fate defied: successfully saved story character Divine Queen Frigga!"
"Ding! New ability unlocked: Source of magic Power."
"Ability description: Increases affinity with all magical elements, accelerates magic growth, allows learning and using any magic system without rejection."
"Ding! Special Popularity +15,000! (From Frigga)"
"Ding! Special Popularity +20,000! (From Thor)"
"Ding! Special Popularity +5,000! (From Odin)"
"Ding! Current Special Popularity: 49,500!"
Anthony kept his head lowered, face a mix of grief and relief.
But inside, he was already setting off firecrackers and laughing wildly.
"Holy crap… this haul is insane!! Hahahaha—!"
…That night, in the Heavenly Palace, a victory feast was held.
Though Asgard had suffered heavy losses—defense towers toppled, the Palace damaged, many civilians dead or wounded—
what mattered was—the Queen had survived.
For Asgard, that was a blessing amid misfortune.
Odin sat high on his throne, his single eye fixed on the Midgardian in the center of the hall currently drinking Thor under the table.
His feelings were complicated.
As a king of nearly five millennia, he instinctively reviled this mortal so blatant with desire.
But… he had saved Frigga.
For that alone, Odin could not raise gungnir against him.
"Odin."
Frigga, now much recovered and dressed in full regal attire, walked to Odin's side and gently clasped his hand.
"He's a good child—just… a bit special."
Odin grunted. "He's a dangerous one; I know him as well as I know myself."
"But he stands on our side," Frigga said softly.
"At least for now."
In the center of the hall—
"Cheers!!"
Thor hoisted a colossal tankard, laughing heartily.
"To the Homelander—friend of Asgard forever!"
"To the Homelander!!"
The surrounding Asgardian warriors roared in unison.
They had witnessed this Midgardian's valor on the battlefield; more importantly, he had snatched their Queen from the God of Death.
In warrior-loving Asgard, that made him a hero.
Anthony raised his cup, perfect smile in place, while another huge wave of popularity rolled into his account…
Three days later.
Asgard's Palace Square now bathed in solemn, resplendent glory.
A giant pipe organ thundered forth the triumphant anthem of the Aesir.
Thousands of gold-armored guards stood in perfect ranks, spears striking the ground in thunderous rhythm.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Odin Borson, the All-Father, sat upon the highest throne.
The Eternal Spear in his hand shimmered faintly, his single eye surveying the assembly below.
The first half of the ceremony was long and tedious.
Name after name was called; one battle-scarred Asgardian after another stepped forward, knelt, and received Odin's blessing and medal.
Anthony stood in the front row, posture impeccable, flawless smile in place.
But inside he was yawning.
"This old man sure can ramble," he mused. "This is like the technical awards before the Oscars—nobody cares who wins Best Editing; everyone's waiting for Best Actor."
At last, the moment arrived.
"Tyr, stand down." Odin waved, dismissing the one-armed God of War to the side.
The hall fell silent.
Odin slowly rose, gungnir striking the floor with a heavy thud.
"People of Asgard!" Odin's aged voice rolled like thunder through the Palace.
"Yesterday, darkness fell. The foe history had swept into the dust sought to steal our light."
Odin's single eye swept the crowd, finally resting on Frigga. The Queen sat beside him, pale yet still dignified and noble.
"We bled, we sacrificed. But we did not fall!"
"Because a warrior from Midgard stepped forward."
Odin stood, the Eternal Spear pointing at Anthony.
"Anthony Starr—also known as… the Homelander!"
He, in mortal flesh, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with gods."
From certain death he wrested back the life of Queen Frigga."
Odin's single eye fixed on Anthony, gaze complex yet regal as ever.
"Step forward, Anthony Starr—Homelander."
Anthony straightened his collar; in that instant, the Oscar king possessed him.
He did not fly; instead he mounted the steps with measured, solemn strides.
Reaching the throne, he offered a slight bow.
"You have every right to pride, child," Odin intoned.
He raised the Eternal Spear, its tip lightly touching Anthony's shoulder.
"I, Odin, the All-Father, hereby proclaim—"
"I welcome you, Homelander, as an honored member of the Aesir."
I bestow upon you the title—'God of Earth'."