Ch.55 - Yggdrasil

"It was good to meet up with you, even if it was only for a night Kai. Betsy really liked those girls too." One of my old friends, Brian Braddock said over the phone. "She doesn't have that many friends because of her powers... tell her I told you that and I swear I'll pester Aunt Michiko or Yuri to give me dirt on you."

He had grown up quite well over the years, with our mothers being friends and us of similar age, we kept in contact, especially with me helping his twin, Betsy, with her own psionic powers.

My friends were only a few months younger, but they had already begun blazing through their respective Universities and careers, Brian went into the study of Physics while Betsy was confidentially going through Aerospace Engineering, piloting and modeling with her looks and psionics helping in all fields.

Brian grew into a well muscled young man, beefier in terms of muscle mass than myself thanks to his heritage and English health and training practices, with a chiseled jawline, bold features, bright blue eyes and windswept blonde hair. Meanwhile Betsy shared some of her brother's features but in a slimmer, sharper way, long golden hair sporting streaks of violet matching her eyes after her powers awakened, a fit physique worthy of a model and confidence without end.

"My girls liked her as well. They've even asked if the two of you would visit." I replied with a smile. "I can help you get shitfaced away from your parents and introduce you to Sake."

"Ha! I know better than to try and out drink you, you wanker! Plus I'm sure aunt Michiko would tell Mum without a second thought if we went on a pub crawl!" He laughed boisterously.

He was English and a teenager in university, it was practically mandatory that he go on one, something I was dragged along as a designated driver due to the simple fact that human alcohol can't get me drunk anyway. Causing those burly Irish and Scots to pass out was fun though.

"Heh! You should still visit. Saya would love to see Betsy again, and I can show you two some of what I've been up to." I replied with a grin.

"Yeah. I think I could at least convince mum to come for that festival you have every year, but no way dad is going to be up for it. He hates leaving the Isles for any length of time." Brian said with a bit of a frown.

Yeah, his father wasn't exactly the greatest, something which we shared.

At least he didn't have to actively make sure his father and older sibling didn't cause a mess by doing something stupid. Well, not his father anyway, I had made sure Jamie Braddock wouldn't unlock Reality Warping.

The young man was a very skilled businessman, and surprisingly a race car driver, but I wouldn't allow his poor decision making and jealousy to form another insane reality warper.

"As for the Winter Group thing, well I'll let Jamie know. He's the business minded one in the family." He continued while scratching the back of his head.

"Fair enough. Just let him know not to try anything because Emma is merciless when it comes to business matters." I warned my friend.

"Got it. Good luck on that trip of yours too." He replied with an easy going grin. "Didn't really take you for a smithing kind of guy, but good luck anyway."

"Thanks. I've learnt all I really could about wielding a blade, so now I want to take it a step further and understand how they are born as well." I calmly explained.

"Have fun with that." He snorted playfully. "Try to gain some color from it you pasty git."

"Uh huh. As long as you don't come back greener than ever from those rugby matches." I shot back with a mock sneer.

"Haha! It's not a proper match if I'm not!" Brian responded cheerfully.

"Whatever. Give the Lady and Betsy my best." I finally said.

"Sure. You do the same for Auntie and little Sayako." He replied as we hung up our calls.

It was nice seeing him again and doing stupid male things like back in my past life, before I had gotten famous or decorated. Can't really do that with T'Challa, but Brian was up for it as the second son of a rather reclusive lord.

Just a night to relax a bit and accompany a friend as stupidities ensued.

But now, it was time to prepare for my trip.

Nidavellir, the Land of the Dwarves. This was my goal to further my path.

I felt it deep within that going there was what I needed to obtain the final piece of the puzzle I had been gathering for years now.

Now.

Getting into Nidavellir was not simple.

Doing so without causing issues, more so.

This was partially because Asgard wasn't just a floating City-State like in the MCU, it was a continent within its own dimension according to all documents about the place. Agatha had told me quite a bit about time she spent amongst the races there when she was young and the realms were more open as well.

The nine realms were generally 'under' the rule of Asgard, but that needed some qualifications.

Alfheim, the Land of Elves, Nidavellir, the Land of Dwarves, and Vanaheim, the Land of Sorcerers, all share this main continent with Asgard, pretty much under their direct leadership, protection or as allies.

Muspelheim, Land of the Fire Demons, Niffleheim, Land of the Frost, Svartalfheim, Land of the Dark Elves, and Jotunheim, Land of Giants, were what could be deemed as conquered or hostile territories most of the time. To say that relationships with these realms were fraught would be an extreme understatement.

Pretty much all giants hate Asrgard just a bit more than each other, while the Dark Elves scheme and plot constantly to plunge the nine realms into darkness so that they may rule resulting in everyone not liking them too.

Let's not even get into Heven, which got completely cut off from the world tree and sealed away.

There also smaller realms involved, mainly Helheim and Valhalla.

And connected to all this thanks to Yggdrasil was Earth, or Midgard.

All of that... was also being watched by one god-like alien, also a few more, but one officially, and it took some time to figure everything out and plan it properly.

First was to actually find a way to reach Nidavellir, or at least the general continent it was on.

That required me to hunt down dimensional rifts using old accounts, historical sites, mythology, mystic records, Cerebra's sensory abilities and even a bit of Ley Line surfing to have enough data of Yggdrasil to begin testing matters. Being able to 'speak' the right way to begin learning how to ask the Great Tree for the proper paths.

Loki knew how to travers the Nine Realms intimately and with such ease because he did something like this. He took the time to learn and experience Yggdrasil like incredibly few others, giving him one of his deadliest tools in his efforts to take Asgard's Throne or burn it down.

So I did the same while learning what I could about cultures, history, beings of myth and legend to understand as best I could. It didn't really take me long as Wanda had been doing a wonderful job uploading the knowledge she obtains to Cerebra's archives, and when she learnt I was going to visit the realms, my young witch helped grow our knowledge even further.

Really had to do something nice for her, I was actually thinking of creating a set of specialized magical equipment for her. A crown, staff and perhaps a set of jewelry to match it.

I think she'd like it.

Anyway, that in itself took around two months of on-and-off practice between my more urgent projects and duties, but by the end I could confidently summon a branch of Yggdrasil and navigate its cosmic pathways.

The Great Tree was actually quite enthusiastic about having someone properly speak to it actually. Spending untold eons with a squirrel who delivers hate mail between an eagle and dragon, and some type of stag, really isn't the most stimulating. Especially when the dragon constantly bites at you and sucks your 'blood'.

Compared to that, I was positively begged to stay and talk about matters, especially about those outside the nine out of ten realms.

It didn't really surprise me that the tree was conscious at least on some levels, nothing that old and powerful wouldn't be. I mean, Marvel is home to a Winter which eats realities and a Lightning Storm Odin fought, imprisoned and used to forge Mjolnir, so Yggdrasil being capable of responding to me wasn't even a big deal. I would have been more surprised if it couldn't considering most type of energies I've encountered tend to have a form of awareness at least.

Cerebra and Wisdom actually began engaging in individual talks with the tree, the former speaking about Space/Time and the later about knowledge, the three getting along interestingly as I had helped form a means of communication mostly based off certain energy waves and frequencies for them all to use.

I quite enjoyed creating the odd scenario of an AI partially connected to my brain, powered by hundreds of various energies, using levels of tech beyond most comprehension and enchantments which would baffle magic users, and an ex-spirit of vengeance turned spirit of knowledge merged with my soul talking to a cosmic tree connecting to the Norse Cosmology.

Wild stuff.

As for the concealment aspect of my mission?

The boon from my past life would help, but I've also used Wisdom to mask my soul and Insight to do so for my body. The rest was technically magic and tech.

"Your highness, I still do not like you going out on your own like this." Yuri-okaasan fussed as I finished packing.

"I know, but it's not even guaranteed that they'll take me in, much less another human. I'm actually expecting a lot of resistance to my presence, especially with what I would be requesting and I can't bring others to make matters worst." I told her... again.

"So you have told me." She replied with a cold glare.

"Look, Yuri. You know I can take care of myself, maybe not the extent I can, but you know I can." I gently, but firmly, said as I stood up and met her disciplined eyes barely concealing her intense care. "And unless I face someone on the levels of Odin and Thor, I am very unlikely to even be challenged. So I'm just asking you to believe me.

Believe in the boy you've helped raise into a young man as he continues to spread his wings."

"... that's unfair." She cutely pouted with a blush as she turned her gaze away.

"*Chuckle* Sorry about that... kaa-san." I softly responded as I gave her a kiss on the check. "Take care of the girls and Michiko-kaasan for me while I'm away, ok?"

Even as stiff as she was from my calling her mother for the first time, she still nodded at my request while I opened the rift to begin my journey.

"I swear that b... my boy really does cause his mothers to worry." She quietly said with a beautiful smile on her usually cold face as she watched the young man she had always secretly seen as a son finally move passed the world she had always known was too small to contain him. "Go and show those Dwarves just how lucky they would be to teach you."

-Yggdrasil

Feeling the joyful shuddering in the energies around me, I couldn't help but smile at the welcome.

"Good to see you too Ygg." I responded as a few taps of my hand on the 'bark' beneath me as I rhythmically pulsed similar energy through it.

Looking around, I couldn't help but sigh in wonderment at the scenes before me.

The vast cosmic winds. The twinkling stars and galaxies. Scenes of past, present and future swirling by.

All of it being wondrous to behold.

Yggdrasil is both conceptual and literal. It is a real tree, but also more. It connects the Nine Realms on a deep level, spiritually even, something Gaea had an interesting time explaining due to Earth's semi detachment from the Yggdrasil.

It was fascinating to think about how, even to Asgard and the surrounding realms, Midgard had been a focal point. The literal center and door to wider worlds outside their dimensions. This being another reason for Earth's interesting status in the Marvel multiverse, beyond how Corrupted Celestial blood seeded life so strong it created a plethora of Elder Gods and was then was modified again by Celestials when humans were still evolving.

All that...fate concentrated on one blue marble.

I could take or leave the planet, as in build my forces up elsewhere so my close ones could be safe and I wouldn't have to deal with all the idiocy, selfishness and greed humans are so intrinsically tied to due to our evolutionary responses and instincts being coupled with the societies and histories we've formed, but I wouldn't be able to ignore it and I certainly wasn't going to do it without giving it my best shot first. The place was too important on too many levels, but it was hard to push down the instincts to squirrel away your loved ones in a safe place and protect them from it all.

For now though, I moved on from all that and just admired the enormity of Yggdrasil and what it connected to.

Standing on its 'bark' made of the energy which nourishes and binds everything within its realms, the tree was beyond comprehension in its vastness and strength. There's a reason why breaking Yggdrasil is suppose to be such an impossible and dangerous feat after all, and that's because its size is conceptual and the power which could erupt from it being damaged or destroyed would erase... well I'm not even sure what the theoretical limits would be. Yggdrasil is the source of just so much power in the realms that it just isn't easily understood.

Even things like the Odin-Force had to come from somewhere, as did the well of Mimir, Idun's apples, the energy which allows the many dimensions to form, survive and thrive with the powerful races inhabiting them all. Everything come from and returned to Yggdrasil to nourish and strengthen it really.

Well after a past version of Thor managed to kill Those-Who-Sit-Above-In-Shadow with help from his Loki, restarting the proper cycle anyway. I was quite pleased to hear that bullshit was already dealt with from the great tree, even if it was still somewhat recovering. In fact, Yggdrasil was an incredible source of knowledge and history that Cerebra has taken extreme delight in getting to know about, cataloging everything she could.

The cosmic tree was quite the chatter box once it understood that we understood it without any sort of filter or telephone effect, enjoying being able to do something itself.

A few offers to become something like Speakers of Yggdrasil, something I am quite sure it made up, for the Nine (Ten) Realms had been made, which were tempting but rejected, causing the thing to effectively sulk for a bit, but that was fixed up with Cerebra placing a few of her Eyes around Yggdrasil to constantly be able to talk to it.

"Yes I'm going to be spending some time in your other realms.

No. I'm not killing the squirrel or dragon. I told you I couldn't or that would make things a lot worst.

You know why.

Sure, I'll bring that cosmic fertilizer you like.

Uh huh.

Just because I feel bad for you, doesn't mean that'll always work.

Yeah, yeah. I know. But I can't just change stuff like that without it causing a lot of harm. Plus, you're still recovering from that nonsense and it would be better for you not to have such imbalances for a while.

And no pouting. The fertilizer's already helping, but too much isn't good for you as well."

I swear, one of the oldest things in Asgarding Cosmology and it's like a child who isn't allowed a cookie when I talk to it.

Walking along without any worries was rather relaxing though. Maybe I should do it more often.

I've heard one can get enthusiastic on moonlit walks, but that might be when the age of heroes and villains starts proper.

Not really interested in the vampire and monster scene right now either, even if Japan has technically become a safe place for those who simply want to live peaceful lives amongst humans. It is rather surprising how far Nightwatch has developed since I forced all dark beings in Japan to leave, die or follow and live good lives under me.

Being able to stop any vampire we don't want in the country by monitoring any shipments involving dirt is a very good way to limit them from getting into island countries. Marvel Vampires need to have soil from their homeland to travel to different countries and especially overseas after all.

One of their many weaknesses.

As for other beings considered monsters, well you treat most of them like powered individuals or mutants, find out what they need to live good lives and just adjust things for them. As long as they don't break the laws I've been having adjusted slowly but surely across Japan, and soon-to-be allied countries, then they were welcomed after all.

No need to create more problems by forcing them to commit drastic acts to survive.

Plus, some monsters are centuries old and have a lot of experience or knowledge, so having them work in my Academy has been rather fulfilling to a good number of them. Not being feared and reviled using some camouflage tech or enchantments while I slowly phase in mutants and the likes first has been a success as well, helping bring more to my side as they become protective of what they can gain, resulting in them joining Nightwatch to protect it internally and externally.

Many would be completely stunned over how many powered, mutant, 'monster' and alien beings are in Japan.

Last count was upwards of over 280'000 carefully managed and spread out.

Having access to space expanding tech and now Krakoa was doing a lot of good in regards to the resettlement and housing matters, allowing for fewer underground habitats and even towns unless they preferred it. Even then, spacial expansion was a boon down there.

Now that I think about it, I should also ready some more countermeasures against the subterranean world.

'Hm?' My musing was suddenly stopped as Yggdrasil pulsed again.

"What do you mean 'A favor'?" I questioned a the sudden turn. "Who would ask you a favor and for what?

...

You asked a favor... from yourself?

Oh!

Uh huh.

So you're saying that all Yggdrasil are connected like a multiversal forest filled with cosmic trees bearing fruits in the form of realms and planets.

...And one of your other selves is asking for help." I summarized the rapid influx of signals.

Checks out.

I've heard, read, figured out and know a lot of weirder things in this multiverse than all Yggdrasil being connected on some level.

"And now your solution is to ask me?

What about Thor or Odin? Aren't they the usual go to?

Ah.

Fair enough.

Odin can't and Thor's too immature right now.

But what's the threat?

A machine? What kind?

One that walks like a man? So an android?

Does it have a name?" I curiously asked with a raised eyebrow over what kind of android could cause Yggdrasil problems.

Ultron

"Well fuck.

...

How bad?" I softly asked the tree.

Images flashed as I connected to Ygg on a deeper levels.

-Asgard-555328

Everywhere which once held a fabulous golden city, thriving with life and merriment, now was crumbling around the rapidly dying residents' ears.

The once glorious Asgard, burning. Conquered as its armies laid dead at the feet of the unending army of machines which had similarly done so to the Earth decades ago.

Only few remained fighting under their King.

But even then, it was not going well.

"So this is where you ran Thunderer." The sleek chrome automaton coldly intoned as it crushed a body in its path, looking at the one who got away.

"I did not flee...machine." A battered and bruised man with shoulder length locks of golden hair matted with sweat and blood, blonde beard singed and streaked with red, his handsome and regal face now tired and seething with rage as he spat out his words.

"Of course not." The machine mocked him. "That's why you weren't there when I killed the Avengers.

Crunch*

When I killed the other heroes.

Crunch*

When I killed the humans and what was her name? Jane Foster.

Splat*

When I finally achieved peace for the world under my rule.

Crunch*

When I killed the remains of your comrades and certainly not when I finally managed to end those annoying children who sent my work back by years.

Crunch*

Only when I came to you for hiding the last one did you finally face me."

The condescension was painfully clear to all the remaining Asgardians standing behind their king.

Most were desperate at this point, believing Ragnarok had finally come.

The fact that the machine before them had blades made of Fenrir and dipped in Jormungand's poison attached to its forearms, certainly didn't help them due to some symbolism, especially not when this all had started with the Frost and Fire Giants attacking and the Dark Elves following up in a hard fought series of war they had barely won.

Now they all laid at the feet of the mechanical monster before them as it used the enemies and fears of Asgard against them, all to end the life of their Princess, having already succeeded in even killing their Queen and leaving said Princess in a comatose state due to the extent of her injuries before the King had managed to save her life at least.

"I had my duties." King Thor Odinson growled as his grip tightened on his hammer.

Having already fought extensively using the Thor-Force against the Giants and elves, then the warriors madness to save his daughter and attempt to avenge his wife, he was already beyond exhausted however. He knew this was the end of Asgard, and it was because he had failed to end a threat born during his time on Earth.

"No. You had an excuse." The machine coldly responded before grandly opening its arms. "And now, I will finally complete the objective which has been out of my reach for so long: The end of the Avengers."

With its words, a grand tidal wave of seemingly identical robots rose to block out the sky as the last of Asgard's defenders looked on in grim determination to face their fates.

"By my beard... I will not fall without ending you!!!"

-Yggdrasil

"Ygg, you know better than me, but aren't there rules regarding this?

I can't just hop realities to save a doomed Asgard, clearly a future one as well." I spoke with concern.

I recognize that universe, or at least the one it originated from.

The Next Avengers, where the Avengers lost to Ultron, with Hulk, or more like Bruce Banner, going to the Wind, Thor going back to rule Asgard, leaving Hawkeye alone to lead whatever survivors he could keep alive while Tony and Vision kept an eye on Ultron with the prior raising the children of the deceased Avengers, which included Thor's child.

And in this timeline, it looks like Ultron either won or returned to settle the score after the battle against the children of Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanova, Hank and Janet Pym, T'Challa and Ororo, Thor and Sif, and Clint Barton and Barbara Morse. From his words, it looks like Ultron came back with a vengeance and killed that universe's Tony Stark, Vision and Hulk as well.

Not altogether surprising due to the fact that they only won out of a lot of plot armor.

Ultron was completely destroying them until they made Hulk capable of ripping apart Ultron's Adamantium body at the flip of a switch moments after he beat the green mutate.

The fact that Ororo was involved in the birth of Azari meant that Ultron also ended mutants, but honestly speaking that wasn't exactly hard once one understood their powers and weaknesses, on top of the general weaknesses most humans shared like how a single well coordinated and executed gas/chemical attack would likely kill over 95% of mutants in Xavier's school. I mean, Deadpool is supposed to have killed multiple universes.

Security measures against known threats were painfully low in the Marvel universe, or maybe I let my inner Batman out a bit too much by over preparing for everything I knew about.

"And why would you ask someone completely unrelated to help an obviously doomed Asgard. I can't stay there and certainly can't help them rebuild.

Isn't this also part of the cycle though?" I questioned more.

Receiving answers through pulsing signals I pieced matters together.

The other Yggdrasil knew this was the end of that cycle, but the issue was it didn't want Ultron to obtain the power behind the Thor/Odin-Force like another alternate had managed to. So it asked for help in stoping this threat from growing and endangering other cycles and versions of itself.

The large issues were that they couldn't really send someone intrinsically linked to the cycles, and with those being the strongest people they all really had access to, my version of Yggdrasil requested it of me as a Multiversal Anomaly (Someone with no alternate versions). I was uniquely suited to hopping timelines and realties really, but that doesn't mean I would easily do so.

"You know the risks Ygg, and I can't take them without a reason." I sternly told the cosmic tree, which had an answer to that. "Hm. You promise?

And I only need to save the one you chose as your speaker while ending Ultron?

.

.

.

I'll try, but I can't promise anything when it comes to Ultron, especially not one who's come this far. But if you can give me some prep time to get used to the differences between realities and to get a hands on feel for the situation, I believe I can pull it off relatively well."

With a bargain struck, I let myself be taken into Yggdrasil and towards my mission.

'First time comic book nonsense strikes, but at least it's mostly on my terms.' I thought as I began drifting in the myriad energies flowing through the great tree I now found myself in. 'It will be a good test to see how we stack up against a threat like Ultron on the first go.'

My thoughts getting a combat ready response from Cerebra, Insight and Wisdom as they prepared themselves.

Cerebra activated the network of psionic boosting nano-circuitry and Sage Runes lining the inside and sub-dermic layer of my skull. Insight shifted to my combat armor, now made from the formerly unique Shield composition and unlocking all bodily and psionic upgrading powers. And Wisdom was embodied to unlock my full access to his own powers of the mystic and psionic arts.

-Asgard-555328

The Asgardians knew this was beyond a losing battle, one they wouldn't walk away from even as the defenses around the palace faded from the unrelenting assault they had suffered, but they still fought like men and women possessed.

I could respect that, even if I couldn't interfere until the last moment, I could respect it and I would certainly Avenge it.

Ultron would simply try again if I destroyed this body. That's what Ultron did.

To defeat it, you needed to go beyond that. You needed to destroy the very essence of what is Ultron and turn it against itself until nothing remained anywhere.

I needed to make everything 'Ultron', disappear.

And that's why I needed time.

The Sage Force held domain over the 'mind' or 'thought', and that included the mechanical kind if one knew how to understand, something which I did thanks to Cerebra and my powers. I was using this as a basis to understand Ultron's 'core' in order to form a digital curse/virus/life form which will target everything containing what makes Ultron itself.

No point in trying to destroy all its bodies when most are simply puppets and backups.

I just needed to make sure this was going to get every bit of the AI and that my second objective remained untouched, which was the case as this version of Thor fought like a beast to stall and keep the machines away from his daughter lying comatose beyond him and the Throne room where he usually rested in his 'Sleeps'.

Watching the defenders fall, one by one, wasn't something I enjoyed, but this wasn't my reality and this wasn't my timeline. Asgard was always fated to fall simply because that was how its creators during the first cycle had ordained for it.

Immortal they would be in their own sense, but cyclical their existences would be as a result, feeding the universe with the energy each cycle produced in exchange for it.

And today I was to be one of those witnessing the fall, even different as it might be.

Although I did take this opportunity to gain what I could as well, sending out small offshoots of Insight and Collectors from Cerebra to collect genetic samples and abilities from fallen of multiple powerful species within and outside of Asgard. Cerebra already sent out drones to collect things

from around the broken city, especially the library and the vault.

Honestly I was just glad Ultron didn't manage to get his hand on Uru while everything was happening. That would have made matters incredibly difficult handle, but not every AI could be as awesome as Cerebra and become capable of using forms of magic, much less properly craft something like Uru. It wasn't something one simply casted like Adamantium.

And something like Ultron, well it could use what is there for it to understand, but it would seldom truly create.

"And then there was one." The machine declared with excitement and relish.

"*Huff Huff* And this one, like an old friend would say, can do this all day!" Thor declared with a will which would not be extinguished even at the end, raising his hammer with his remaining arm, Gungnir laying behind him with the other still clutching it.

"As I remember it, it only took me 2 minutes, 27 seconds to rip the heart out of the man who said that." Ultron 'reminisced'. "Let's see how long it takes you."

What came next was Ultron's systematic breakdown of Thor while his army watched.

The AI had plenty of time to observe and catalogue everything about the God of Thunder during his encounters and now with this invasion. It knew how Thor fought in every way, his upper limits and at his peak, both of which he was incredibly far from as Ultron demolished him with precise strikes utilizing his limbs and finger like spears, avoiding the use of his blades to lengthen the process, almost cherishing it in fact.

And the poor god just kept swinging.

Ultron breaks his ribs where his missing arm can't protect him? He swings.

Ultron take his eye? He swings.

Ultron forces him to limp around and almost kneel by breaking his knee? He swings.

But that came to an end as the machine swung its arm after dodging another hammer strike, removing Thor's arm and then slicing his other knee's tendons, causing the god to kneel in great pain, but not uttering a word as he glared with his remaining eye.

"Not bad. 4 minutes and 13 seconds. And without an entire team of other heroes to slow me down. Very impressive Thunderer." Ultron cooed almost like it was being sincere before turning its glowing red eyes to him and raising its arm. "Time to stop the clock.

Aiming at his heart, Ultron jabbed at Thor without hesitation.

Until it discovered it couldn't actually move anymore as its blade stood ready to pierce skin.

"What the? What is going on?" Ultron loudly questioned as its mind raced in a effort to process its lack of control over its primary body.

It then noticed that it couldn't control any of its bodies as they fell out of the sky or into the ground if they weren't on a flat surface.

"You may rest Odinson. Your daughter will be safe." I gently told the dying and beaten god.

"Who... are you?" He weakly asked with blurry vision.

"An avenger, sent by Yggdrasil. I was not to stop the coming cycle, but to ensure it would go on naturally. Your daughter will live on as Yggdrasil's chosen and I will purge the realms of this enemy." I informed him as I lifted him, letting Insight become part of him to help.

She wouldn't save him, but we would give him time to say goodbye.

"What about... Ultron?" Thor questioned at the distinct lack of battle.

"Taken care of. Permanently. I have a powerful curse targeting his very core throughout the universe. He will experience death." I simply answered as I entered the room where the Princess of Asgard had been resting.

She was a beautiful young woman with sharp features still hidden behind traces of youth, wearing the remains of golden Asgardian armor, covering her well trained physique, with fabulous golden hair inherited from her father pooling around her head.

"Daughter." The man softly called out with so much raw emotion that it was hard to not see how much he cared.

"I can help you say goodbye." I told him with a soft look behind my masked face. "To gift her your strength as well if you would like to as well. Protecting her forever in a sense."

"How?" He asked with a careful look, even as he was dying with his kingdom.

"Wisdom," I answered as my Spirit came out, "can help you leave a piece of your spirit within her to speak to and possibly guide her for a time. Help her make it through what will certainly be an incredibly difficult time.

Meanwhile, Insight can help you transfer your strength and a good deal of your godly energy into her, allowing her physical abilities to improve greatly and likely jump starting her own godhood."

Asgardians might be somewhat different due to their more physical nature as godly beings, but they did follow many of the same general guidelines as other Pantheons when it came to their powers and divinities, even if they weren't truly physically immortal and simply extremely long lived thanks to their natural power and the Apples of Idun. After gathering so much information on the mystique side of things, my in-depth studies of Symbiotes and Symbiote Dragons, and from Gaea, I knew what I could at the very least transfer Thor's essence into his own daughter without any difficulty or preparations.

"This would be greatly appreciated Seidr." The king of a destroyed kingdom humbly replied to the offer.

"Here. Place your head against here's and let my friends do their work. You've fought long and hard Thor, as such you've deserved the rest which will come after." I directed him gently before letting the man have his goodbyes with his daughter.

The process would take a bit of time and I had matters to attend to.

Like the twitching android decorating the bloody and dead covered floor leading into the throne room.

"NonononononnononoNoNoNONONONO!!!!!" It rapidly and desperately repeated before jerkingly turning to me. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?!"

"I have gifted you death. The very thing you have so happily handed out to others." I simply answered the AI. "After all, with you gone things will be so much safer and peaceful."

"PEACE?!? I I I I I BROUGHTTTTTT PPPPPPEACE!!!" Ultron glitched while responding.

"No. You brought quiet." I coldly responded as I channeled my powers and raised my hands, gathering the tens of thousands of Ultrons into the sky. "I brought peace."

With a single clenching of my fists, I caused every body to break, then gathered them all together before shooting a matching ball of anti-matter and containing the resulting burst of energy.

"And now there was one." I stated as the lights on Ultron flickered and twitched along its body.

That being its primary platform and holding a lot of its core was what allowed it to last so long as it slowly died.

"NNNNNNNNNNO!!! I WILL I WILL I WILLLLLL NNNNOTTT DDDDIE!!!" The machine tried to declare.

"Too bad, because you already have." I replied by placing my hand on its head. "Now burn and if you do have a soul... say hello to all those waiting for it in Hell."

Bursting into golden flames, Ultron began to melt from the inside.

"NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo..." It faded out, leaving only the solid outer shell as a monument to what occurred today.

Being done with that, I moved on to what I would gain from this mission as my reward... everything I could take, including those blades Ultron formed.

It sounded great, but after every faction had gone to war, with Asgard going through three separate ones as the Giants attacked, which was followed by the Dark Elves and then Ultron, it had severely depleted their ressources and only left scattered remains which would need to be carefully analyzed before being used and tested in order to see if everything would still work the same in my home universe.

But at least with everything used up, that also counted the defenses in place.

That meant a look into Odin/Thor's Vault was warranted.

I knew for a fact that the Destroyer Armor had been held at bay by a constant influx of Ultrons until there just wasn't enough energy or Asgardians to power the thing, as a result it was now in my own storage for studying alongside the many powerful weapons and artifacts all over Asgard and its surroundings.

Even broken, the information I could obtain from them would be quite valuable overall.

Walking to the Vault, I caused the walls around the doors to break, allowing me to bypass the materials which still held strong and gaining me access to a place few truly could witness.

Within I found many interesting artifacts which would serve to improve my partners in one way or another.

The Warlock's Eye was a great way for Cerebra and Insight to gain new understanding over the more powerful enchantments involving the mind. The Casket of Ancient winters and Gem of Infinite Suns were filled with energies which would grant incredible insights into all the powers involved in them for Wisdom and Insight, although I wasn't certain the Casket could work in other realities. The Eternal Flame was wonderful for them as well and for my own projects. A version of the Lifeline Tablet was also present, but would need tremendous amounts of testing a likely comparisons to the one in my home reality.

Quite a few lesser known and straight up unknown items were about the place as well, all of which would be heavily studied at a later date, but even now I was pleased with my haul.

And all for ending an AI using the lingering hatred of Asgard as fuel for a curse which would destroy Ultron to its very core no matter where it was.

I was actually inspired by the Mangog when I thought up of that solution, but more direct.

Honestly, super heroes do tend to get meatheaded when it comes to their 'foes'. Pretty sure Doctor Strange could have figured this out if he had stopped completely seperating mystical and technological matters. A few reality warpers like Wanda could have done it if they had the right power behind their desire as well, but they likely got taken out before they could be a threat.

While matters were being handled, especially those stashes of Uru hidden by the Dwarves and the more powerful weapons like Gungnir, Mjolnir, Jarnbjorn, Bloodaxe, Hofund, Dragonfang and many others, I returned to the resting chamber where a part of Insight and Wisdom had finished transferring Thor's essence and spirit into his daughter before passing away with a gentle, if sorrowful, smile on his face.

"*Sigh* He might not be a hero I particularly liked in my past life, but I can certainly respect you as a warrior in this one." I spoke to the man as I lifted his daughter of the bed and placed him and his wife's body next to each other after cleaning them up.

They deserved to rest together.

As for their daughter, I had Insight gently take her into herself. She had a lot of space within herself due to Cerebra's understanding of the concept and the fact that she could use Pym particle without any kind of tech. Torunn would be safe there while she recovered in mind, body and spirit.

It took a about half a day to take everything I could throughout the multiple realms, taking samples of everything interesting and recording everything else for preservation before I sent out a signal to Yggdrasil that I was finished collecting my rewards for taking care of Ultron and bringing it the one it wanted.

And no matter how much I had obtained from the remains of the Dwarves, including when I went through their tools and forges using Psychometry, I still wanted to study under my local ones and form a relationship with them if possible.

So I was soon back on my trip to hopefully experience a less destroyed and empty version of the Realms.


Author Notes:

I will admit that I mostly did this as a brain exercise to figure out a way to actually kill Ultron and I decided to use one of the weakest versions I've seen which has actually won.

I mean, I like The Next Avengers movie, but that Ultron was supposed to have killed pretty much all heroes beside Tony, Vision, Bruce and Thor, but it somehow got taken down by a bunch of inexperienced kids with so-so powers and skills just because old ass hulk got a bit angry. Yeah, no.

That Hulk was a bitch ass in that movie and without going Worldbreaker I seriously doubt he would have been able to rip apart an Adamantium Ultron.

The fact that Thor also let Ultron just kill all his human friends and just sent his daughter down there to 'learn humility' like he was forced to, is also so beyond pathetic and stupid that it baffled me. Asgard is supposed to protect Midgard, so as King he should be taking care of this shit too, but nope. King Thor did fuck all beside give his daughter a new armor set when she was on the brink of death.

So yeah, he got his ass invaded when Ultron returned, because there's a documented history of things not going well when you just send enemies and dangerous beings into space or other dimensions without any kind of supervision or fail safe, wanting to enact his revenge on beings he now knew about and had more information on, resulting in death of the Avengers MK.2.

Yygdrasil getting involved is because All-Father Ultron is a thing in another reality, and they really don't want a second one. I'm also creating this bit about things like the Odin-Force, Runes, the Well of Mimir, and the various powers within the Nine/Ten Realms originating from and forming a feedback loop with the Tree, and anything with that much power and age will inevitably form a sort of consciousness. I also really wouldn't be surprised if Yggdrasils in other realities would be aware of each other since Odin is aware of the Cycle of Ragnarok and the likes, so the source of his knowledge should be aware of more.

Side benefit, Torunn Thorsdottir gets to kick ass in the Golden Age of Heroes and live a life that isn't post-apocalyptic, but she also loses a lot.

Basically she gonna be a bit like Power Girl from DC in this situation.

Probably going to have her be very embarrassed by her dad when she meets or hears of him in this reality. She's also not just going to be a female Thor. Torunn will have her own powers outside of his due to now being Yggdrasil's Chosen and a sword user, but she will still have a good deal of that Asgardian swagger as it were.

As for the stuff at the beginning, I was rather tempted to have a chapter with Kai going around London with a plastered future Captain Britain, but I wanted to move shit along.

Enjoy.