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Chapter 30: Tangled Odin
🕑 Added 2025-03-11 19:57:28 +0000 UTCLoki was troubled.
Despite using the same illusion magic, why was the gap so vast? Even Irene and Frigga, skilled in the art, couldn’t achieve what Aaron had done.
Loki’s doubts deepened as he tried everything, pouring his magical energy into detecting the truth from the illusion, but no matter how hard he focused, he couldn’t discern one Aaron from another. Each duplicate seemed as real as the original. It didn't matter if they were fake or true—every single one could take a life in an instant.
"So this is how powerful phantom magic becomes when perfected…" Loki mused, a sense of awe creeping into his thoughts. "I need to study this."
Loki was already formulating his plans. If he could master this level of duplication, no one would be able to see through him. More importantly, it would give him an immense advantage in self-preservation. If danger arose, he could always create a duplicate to feign death and escape.
As a god of mischief and deception, Loki held his life in high regard. He always had an escape plan ready before taking any risky action. That’s why he had always survived—unless something unexpected occurred or he chose not to escape.
"If Aaron can master this illusion so quickly, why can’t I?" Loki thought, making a decision. "I’ll learn this magic as soon as I return."
But before Loki could continue his musings, something caught his eye. A dozen identical daggers whizzed past him, heading straight for the enemy—daggers he hadn’t thrown.
"Wait! Who stole my thunder?" Loki muttered, turning to find Aaron smiling and nodding at him, as if acknowledging the shared action.
Loki felt a chill, a wave of unease.
"Is that… psychokinesis?" Loki thought in panic. "Did Amora teach him that? No, he’s better at it than me!"
He felt a deep sense of malice from Aaron’s effortless display of power, and even worse—a sense of competition.
"I need to stop showing off," Loki thought, retracting his daggers. "I can't let him make me look foolish."
He then vanished, using his invisibility magic to retreat. But Aaron’s eyes lit up as he saw Loki disappear. He had long coveted invisibility magic.
“Now that I have some strength, maybe it’s time to approach Loki. I could learn some of his magic, and perhaps... even acquire something valuable like the Infinite Gems or the Casket of Ancient Winters.”
Though Loki’s magical power wasn’t the highest, it was diverse, and Aaron knew he could benefit from it. Even more enticing was the possibility of forging an alliance with Loki in the future. After all, Loki had much Aaron could use.
“The gap in power between us is noticeable, but now I have the upper hand. I can plan further.”
Aaron’s mind raced. He could go to Amora first and, if that didn’t work, turn to Loki. As long as he kept things balanced, there was little risk in making an ally of Loki. Loki, like Aaron, had his own ambitions. His main goal was the throne of Asgard, something Aaron knew Loki coveted more than anything.
Aaron had learned from his time travel knowledge that Loki had no real allies or supporters, and Thor had always been the favored son. However, if Aaron supported Loki, it could tip the balance of power in his favor. In return, Loki could help Aaron gain more magical knowledge or even more powerful relics.
Loki was a smart and manipulative figure, and Aaron knew how to handle him. The two were practically ideal allies: Aaron wanted to collect magic, and Loki wanted the throne. Their goals didn’t clash—they were perfectly complementary.
“Once I gain enough power, the Nine Realms won’t matter,” Aaron thought, gazing at the vast horizons. “I’ll go far beyond that. Asgard will just be a small part of my greater plans.”
But even as Aaron considered his next steps, he knew that now wasn’t the right time to align with Loki too closely. If Odin saw too much of an alliance between the two, it could lead to unwanted consequences. Loki might not be powerful enough to threaten Thor’s position yet, but if Aaron were involved, it could destabilize things. Odin wasn’t likely to ignore that.
“The time isn’t right,” Aaron concluded. “But once I’ve grown stronger, Loki could become a valuable ally.”
Back at the Bifrost Hub...
Odin, watching the battle unfold, felt a headache brewing. Aaron’s surprise attack had been too overwhelming. The magic Aaron displayed was beyond what anyone had anticipated.
Thor had performed well, but he had been overshadowed by Aaron. The true hero of the day was Aaron, and now the whole of Asgard would know it.
Thor had expected to shine in this battle, but now the spotlight was entirely on Aaron.
Odin furrowed his brow. This was a problem. Aaron’s display was so impressive that his reputation would only grow, and Thor had been left in the shadows.
“Should I even publicize this victory? If I can’t properly pave the way for Thor, then what’s the point of a grand celebration?” Odin thought, troubled. "Aaron, you’ve really given me a problem…"
