◇ 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
------------------------------------------------
Bzzzz—!
A golden pillar of light erupted from the Eternal Spear, instantly enveloping Anthony's entire body.
"As long as Midgard exists, as long as its human civilization continues to thrive, your strength will flow without end, everlasting."
Odin's voice brimmed with majesty.
"You are Midgard's Guardian; from this day you are a god recognized by the divine realm."
A system notification rang out simultaneously inside Anthony's mind!
The crisp system tone sounded like celestial music.
"System notice: High-dimensional cosmic divine power infusion detected!"
"Congratulations, Host! You have gained the epic buff—God of Earth (Asgard-certified)!"
"Buff Effect 1: You are now linked to Earth's origin. While on Earth, your vitality receives an epic boost—base recovery rate +1,000%. You are extremely hard to kill outright. So long as human civilization endures, you will return from death after a long passage of time."
"Buff Effect 2: Popularity-point conversion rate +20%!"
"Holy crap…"
Anthony lowered his head, staring at his faintly glowing palms as a storm surged inside him.
This old man… really came through!
Tied to Earth's civilization? Meaning as long as I don't blow up the planet myself, Earth becomes my respawn point?
The light faded.
Anthony slowly straightened, facing the tsunami of cheering people.
"God of Earth! God of Earth! God of Earth!"
The frenzy here felt purer, fiercer than on Earth.
Anthony raised a hand and gently pressed down.
The plaza gradually quieted.
He spoke without magical amplification, yet his voice now carried a natural, divine clarity.
"Thank you."
He looked around, meeting every warrior's gaze.
"His Majesty Odin calls me a god."
He shook his head, pointing to a scarred veteran below who still stood ramrod-straight.
"You—when the ship's cannons came, shielded three falling children with your body—you are a god."
He pointed to a young mother still wiping away tears.
"You—facing Dark-Elf guns, never flinched, still protecting your child—you are a god."
He spread his arms, his cape blazing in the sunlight.
"This honor, this title, doesn't belong to me alone."
"It belongs to every soul who, when darkness fell, stepped forward to face the abyss!"
"It is your courage that forges Asgard's glory!"
"All of you—"
Anthony drew a deep breath and shouted the never-fail line:
"—are the true gods!!"
Crash—!!!
At that moment Asgard's emotions ignited completely.
"Hoo—ha!!"
Thousands of warriors roared in unison, spears raised like a forest.
"For the Homelander!!"
"For Asgard!!"
Commoners wept. Even on his throne, Odin's single eye glinted with approval.
"This punk…" Thor laughed beside him, clapping loudly. "Damn well said! I feel like kneeling myself."
Frigga watched with a smile and murmured to Odin, "See? I told you—he's a good boy."
Odin grunted, offered no retort, only tightened his grip on gungnir.
"Ding! Asgard popularity +35,222!"
"Ding! Asgard popularity +41,212!"
"Ding! Asgard popularity +38,127!"
"Ding! Gaining…"
"Current regional popularity in Asgard: 5,652,012!"
"Ding! Popularity rank in Asgard: Household Name!"
"Ding! Ability upgrades: Steel Body (stellar), Super-Strength (5,000 tons), Heat Vision (18,000 °C), Super-Speed (Mach 255)…"
The apotheosis ceremony ended amid popular jubilation… yet once the climax faded, gloom shrouded the war council room of the Heavenly Palace.
On the vast holographic sand-table, Asgard's defense system showed its helplessness.
"The situation is dire, Your Majesty."
Vandar, one of Asgard's Warrior Trinity, reported with a grave face, unease undisguised in his voice.
"Cursed Warriors destroyed the energy-core hub of the Heavenly Palace; the barrier generators are down. Our cannons can't track them—Heimdall can't even see them…"
"Your Majesty… we have no fortress left to hold…"
Dead silence filled the chamber.
Everyone knew what that meant.
Present-day Asgard was like a giant stripped of armor, naked beneath the Dark Elves' blades.
Should Malekith return, he could drive straight in and park his ship outside Odin's bedchamber.
"We must strike first."
Thor slammed the table, breaking the silence.
"Malekith comes for the Aether Particle; while it remains, he won't stop."
"Then what do you propose, Thor?" Odin sat at the head, voice low, fury leashed.
"I take Jane and leave."
Thor pointed to a dark zone on the sand-table.
"I'll go to the Dark World—Svartalfheim. It's their nest, the place Malekith is sure to return."
"I bring Jane there, take the Aether Particle away from Asgard."
Mad light flashed in Thor's eyes.
"Malekith will appear to draw the Aether out of Jane. The instant he extracts it… it will be most vulnerable."
"I'll seize that moment to destroy the Aether—and slay that Dark-Elf bastard!"
"Preposterous!!"
Odin's beard bristled, his single eye wide, a roar that shook the hall.
"Should you fail, Malekith will wield the weapon to unmake everything! Then not just Asgard—all Nine Realms will sink into eternal night!"
"So we wait here to die?!" Thor stood unflinching, every inch the stubborn Thunder God. "Wait for him to blast our home to rubble? Wait for him to murder Mother again?!"
"We will fight!" Odin thundered. "We will stand upon Asgard's soil and spill every last drop of our blood!"
"That would be pointless sacrifice!!"
"That would be GLORY!!!"
Father and son glared like two bulls, the air reeking of gunpowder.
Anthony stood in a corner, watching coldly.
This old man… isn't merely stubborn—he's terrified.
Millennia ago his father, Bor, paid a bitter price to seal the Dark Elves. Now age and the shadow of Ragnarok haunt him; he dares not gamble.
At that moment a gentle hand settled on Odin's trembling shoulder.
"Calm yourself, my king."
Frigga stepped forward, her voice a clear spring quenching Odin's rage.
"Anger clouds your wisdom."
"Thor's plan is risky, but not without hope." Frigga glanced at Anthony. "And we do not stake everything on one throw."
Frigga turned to Anthony, who had been leaning on a pillar enjoying the show.
"We have… the God of Earth."