Sparking Soul: Ch.19

“Father, can I know where we are heading?” I asked with a frown as I followed after Odin, who simply hummed while the Einherjar saluted as we walked past.

“The process that one must undergo to become the next All-Father and King of Asgard is not a process that is made available to all that wish to know of it. Therefore, the heir next in line for the train is trained in a location only known to the present All-Father and all those that came before him.”

“I see. And what exactly will I be training?” I asked as we turned the corner and he glanced at me before I raised an eyebrow as I saw the corners of his lips shifting upwards slightly.

“You shall see because we are here.” Turning to see at what he was looking, my second eyebrow joined the first and a confused hum came from my lips as we stood still in front of a wall just below the staircase that led inside of the palace.

“A wall…No, secret entrance?”

“Correct.” He nodded as he pointed Gungnir at the entrance and I rose an eyebrow as the wall warped before I stumbled as we got pulled through the wall and into a dark void.

Other than Father and I standing in the void itself, nothing living nor non-living could be seen no matter how far I looked and as I focused on the Space Stone, my eyes widened as I looked down and saw the stones gone.

“Do not worry. Our physical bodies are still at the castle, but our astral forms have left the physical world to enter the spiritual one. Behold, my son, Yggdraisel.” With that single word, my eyes widened as I watched the void light up.

A pulse of cosmic, otherworldly light rippled through the void like waves on the surface of a lake and in its wake, countless golden strands shimmered into existence.

Each wove and intertwined to form an intricate web and slowly but surely, the web began to twist and warp upon itself to take the form of a massive celestial tree, its branches stretched out far into the darkness.

The first I noticed was the grandiose elegance of Asgard, its golden halls reflecting the shimmering light of the leaves from the branches as it was situated at the top of the tree.

To the lower right of it shone the beautiful green forests of Alfheim, the planet's purifying energy connecting it to Asgard with an iridescent strand of light whilst ig glowed with the soft luminescence of the Light Elves' energy.

To Asgard's lower right and completing the triangle with Asgard and Alfheim was Vanaheim, which exuded rich beauty as its lands and surface teemed with a cosmic energy similar to that of Asgard.

The next realm was at the very middle of the tree trunk, encased with a blue gentle glow and always astonishing me with its breathtaking beauty as Midgard was surrounded by the vast cosmic energy of the other planets while being connected to Asgard with a rainbow-like light.

Directly below Midgard burned the neutron star of Nidavellir, a multi-ringed megastructure surrounding it as cosmic rays was being shot out from the star itself.

Further down and just above the roots stood Jotunheim, vast and pulsing with a cold, untamed energy that pierced the ethereal plane around it.

Finally, in the very roots of the tree itself were three planets, the dark expanse of Svartalfheim looming at the middle and its surface shimmering with a dark corrosive energy.

To its direct left, the molten and desolate planet of Muspelheim burned with an intense, ever-raging inferno that even singed the roots of Yggdraisel around it and to Svartalfheim's direct right, the frozen wastelands of Niflheim was veiled in an eternal cold as a chilling and eerie mist rippled across the planet.

“These are the Nine Realms?” I asked even as I knew the answer to my question, Father nodding with a soft as a branch grew out from the centre of the tree before surprising me as it rubbed around Father.

“It is. This is where I hung myself for nine days and nine nights with one of its roots and sacrificed an eye to gain an understanding of the universe itself.”

“So…if I were to achieve the same results, I must do the same?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I'm just very fond of my eyes.” I spoke with a sheepish smile and he let out a soft chuckle while patting me on the shoulder.

“Fear not, my son. It is merely a jest in poor taste. You of all should know that my eye was taken by Laufey during our great battle on Midgard against him and the Frost Giants.” Father spoke with a slight smile and I sighed as I shook my head.

“I mostly tune out whenever you speak of your battles.”

“That is a false statement.”

“It is. I was just in awe of Yggdraisel that my brain was not working.” I answered and he just gave me a doubtful yet amused look before I watched as another branch grew out from the first one and slowly reached for me.

“Do not fight it. Do not try to take it off. It simply wishes to assess you.” Father spoke and I tensed as I felt the branch slowly wrapping around my arm.

Despite the tight grip the branch had on me as it crawled up my arm, it did not feel painful and had more of a comforting aura exuding from it as it slowly wrapped around my neck.

“This is where your true training begins.” Father continued speaking as if both of us did not have ethereal branches wrapped around our necks, but I ignored it like he did and paid attention to his next words.

“For one to truly rule Asgard, one must not only wield immense power but also understand the delicate balance that holds the realms in harmony.” As he spoke, Yggdraisel pulsed with a deep hum as if acknowledging his words, the void rippling with an ancient energy so potent it sent a shiver through my very being.

“What must I do?” I asked, clenching my fists at my side and having a determined look on my face as Father's lips lifted into a knowing smile before his twin ravens Hugin and Munin appeared on his shoulders.

“Stay still and let Yggdraisel judge you.” He spoke and I watched as hundreds of branches erupted from the tree, each shining brightly with a golden energy as they wrapped around my body like cocoon.

Forcing my body to stay still and not retaliate, I took a deep breath as I felt the vines sinking into my skin, a final thought flashing through my mind before I gasped as an absurdly potent cosmic energy surged through my body.

'I really hope this is worth it.'

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My vision spun as I felt my mind slowly waking up, stumbling and barely able to steadily make it to my feet after being wrenched through what felt like hundreds of thousands of glimpses into the past, present and future.

'Why is it that I always get pulled…where the hell am I?' I thought as my mind fully woke up, now shocked at the fact that I was no longer in the void next to Father.

Instead, I found myself standing on a field of golden grass that stretched endlessly in all directions, the sky above me a swirling kaleidoscope of colours that were all present yet not at the same time.

What I was most focused on was the silhouette of the massive figure looming in the far distance, its form stretching far beyond the heavens as a pair of abyssal black and snow white eyes stared down at me.

“Who are you?” Its voice felt ancient and infinite and the sheer weight of the question bore down upon me as it was not a simple question, but a demand made by the very fabric of the cosmos.

“I am Thor, son of Odin B-!”

“Do not take me for a fool, -----, son of…” The more it spoke, the more my eyes widened as I realised I was not speaking to just a cosmic being or something similar.

No, what I was speaking to was something that was truly omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. Something that most likely was also the reason I was here as it knew every little detail from my past life.

“Who are you?” The God asked once more and I took a shaky breath at the shock I just experienced. before speaking.

“That…that was my previous identity. Now, I am Thor, son of Odi!”

“Twice, I have asked and twice you have tried to deceive me, child. I will ask once more and only once. Who are you?” The voice spoke and I gritted my teeth as I looked up at the ancient being, trying to figure out what would be the right thing to say.

“I am Thor! Son of Odi-!”

“You are not ready.” Once again, before I could even finish my sentence, the being spoke, but this time, it didn't have the calm intensity to its voice.

Instead, it sounded as if it was disappointed in my answer and I was unable to process it further as the golden field shattered and I found myself plunging into an abyss.

Even as I fell, it also felt as if I was standing still, the void pulling and pushing endlessly at my form as I stared at the endless array of beautiful stars that were in all directions.

'No, not stars. Thrones.' I thought as I stared at the stars slowly converging into two giant ones, each one slowly twisting and rumbling to take the form of a throne as two gigantic ethereal figures appeared from the darkness and sat down.

'The All-Fathers.' I realized as I saw one wearing the familiar helmet that Bor wore during his reign with the horns on the side pointing out and curving downwards and the other wearing the familiar diadem with the motif of a snow-white snowflake on the front of it.

However, the weight of their gaze stopped me from looking further, my soul trembling with their burning gazes as both took a breath before speaking in unison.

“Unproven. Unfinished. Unworthy.” Each word struck me like a hammer, but unlike the mind-control of the Mind Stone, I gritted my teeth as I faltered slightly before forcing myself to meet their stares.

“I do not care what that bastard thought. I am Thor Odinson and I will not break. If you wish to judge me, then do so, but do not think that I will cower before the ghosts of those long gone!” I growled and for a moment, silence reigned.

Then the void rumbled as both stood up from their thrones, an ice pick and a spear appearing in Buri's hands while an axe and the same spear appeared within Bor's hands.

“Then face the trial of the All-Fathers. Let your soul be tested and let Yggdraisel decide if you are worthy to walk this path.” As both declared their words, the feeling of weightlessness vanished from my form before I wheezed as I got dragged through the void once again.

This time, though, an unfathomable cosmic energy ripped through my form and surrounded me from all sides, the darkness swallowing me up as I felt Yggdraisel's presence appearing within my mind with a simple few words.

It sounded as if it was speaking to me, but my mind could not comprehend the meaning behind its words. Instead, it felt as if the meaning itself was seeping into my soul.

A second later, the fall stopped and I grunted as I landed on my feet, the sky a deep grey and the silence being deafening as I stared at the weapons, shields and broken banners scattered around me.

For most, they would be confused at what they were looking at me, but for me, it was all too familiar. After all, this was a battlefield that was the location for one of my many victories.

'It appears this is going to be a battle of the mental capacity.' I thought with a frown as I stood straight, staring at the thousands upon thousands of warriors that I had defeated in the past.

Some were honourable and some were wicked, but as they lay motionless on the ground with their lifeless eyes staring into the heavens, their faces that were once distant memories were now vividly clear.

“A king must bear the weight of all who fall under his rule. Do you?” Before I could respond to the ancient voice of Bor that spoke, the bodies began to rise. Their wounds remained, but their lifeless eyes instantly locked onto me as they spoke.

“You were faster than I was.”

“You were stronger.”

“You led me to my death.”

“You did not care for us.”

As I stared at the thousands of voices speaking at me from all directions, I couldn't help but feel a strange emotion I had never felt before when I led Asgard to victory with my strength.

Regret.

Not for the battles, but for never once thinking of the fact that each life was not just a necessary pawn I needed to use to win a war.

“I did what I needed to do to win.”

“And what will you do now?” The warriors asked in unison as they took a step closed and the battlefield felt as if it was trying to suffocated me, pushing away my instincts to declare my strength and push forward as I always did.

“I regret your sacrifices dearly and I will remember each of you for as long as I live. Every victory I have achieved was only because of you brave warriors I had sacrificed. I will not pretend that strength was the one thing I did not seek above all else, but I understand now that true strength is not power.” Looking down from the sky and back at the warriors, I smiled before lowering myself to my knees and lowering my head to the floor.

“Power is knowing that every life must be nurtured and cared for, not ignored and manipulated.” Silence hung in the air as I took a deep breath when the fallen warriors stopped moving, lifting my head and staring at their lifeless eyes that now shone with a faint golden light.

The battlefield itself shimmered and the broken weapons cracked and crumbled, fading away like dust in the wind as a single warrior stepped forward, one that I recognized instantly.

“A King does not seek power for himself alone.” The younger Odin in front of me spoke with a knowing gaze as he was draped in the battle-worn armour of his past and I met his gaze before nodding.

“I understand.” With a nod in return, he raised his hand and the world around me fractured before shattering like glass, the battlefield fading into golden dust and as I looked up, I saw one last thing before darkness took me once again.

I saw the approving and proud smile my Father Odin gave me.

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A gasp escaped my lips as feeling returned to my body again, my mind wide awake as the golden branches of Yggdraisel unwrapped from my skin and withdrew back into the tree.

I couldn't help my slight stumble as the vines let me go, but looked to the side when a hand caught me, Father smiling down as his one eye observed me carefully.

“You did not fight.” He spoke and I exhaled, shaking off the weight of the trial as I slowly stood up.

“No. I listened.” I answered and for the first time since my banishment, I saw the same approving and proud smile on his face that the younger Odin gave me as he nodded.

“Then you have taken the first step towards becoming more than just Asgard's strongest warrior.” As we stood in front of the colossal cosmic tree that is Yggdraisel, his smile never waned as he placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded.

“Well done, my son. Now, let us continue.”

A/N: And we end off the chapter with Thor taking that first step!! He has met the former All-Fathers, spoke to them and now he's on his way to slowly but surely becoming…The Cosmic King~!!

If you know, you know.

Anyway, next chapter: Finishing the rest of the training for the first step, the hunt for the stone continues and our first encounter with the Black Order.

Also, just to add, just like how Thanos got a big buff, ALL of Thor's villains are getting a buff.

That includes but not limited to Malekith, Hela, Surtur, Gorr, The Black Winter, Galactus, All of the Black Order, Thanos(As previously mentioned), Mangog and many others.

Like I said, this is a mixture of the MCU and the comics so expect Thor to face off against a plethora of cosmic-level beings.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!