Marvel: Starting as a Time Criminal, Stealing Powers

Strange's pupils contracted slightly.

At that moment, he became certain—the man outside was looking directly at him through the spell. Not just seeing him, but reversing the direction of the viewing magic.

It was hard to imagine the level of mental strength and spell sensitivity needed for that.

Even more puzzling—he had never met Loki before.

So how did this man know him?

And more importantly, right after the Bifrost fell, Strange had used the Time Stone to peer into the future and had clearly seen Loki's position.

But now, Thor had vanished, and this guy showed up instead.

Why had the future changed?

Strange took a deep breath.

In any case, this was the Sanctum Sanctorum. Even if Loki was a bit strange, Strange believed he had the upper hand here.

So why not meet him in person and clear up the confusion?

With that thought, Strange manipulated the space using the Sanctum's energy, shifting the spatial coordinates.

Russell raised an eyebrow as the surrounding environment suddenly changed.

In the process of teleportation just now, he clearly sensed the spatial changes—folding, shifting, resetting—all real-world manipulations via the Mirror Dimension.

It was difficult.

But also brilliantly subtle.

Russell felt his understanding of spatial magic deepen on the spot, like he'd instinctively absorbed something new.

Then, as if following a reflex, he snapped his fingers.

At the Sanctum's window—

Strange hovered in the air, striking a majestic pose, ready to surprise Loki like a true Sorcerer Supreme.

But instead of awe, Loki—recently teleported upstairs—just looked enlightened.

Then he casually raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, spatial fluctuations identical to the teleportation spell pulsed through the air.

Strange watched as Loki vanished on the spot.

He turned around and looked out the window—and sure enough, Loki was back downstairs where he started.

"…Unbelievable."

Strange rubbed his nose awkwardly. Not only had his dramatic entrance failed, but it looked like Loki had learned spatial shifting just by experiencing it once.

He had spent ages studying this stuff.

One use on Loki—and the guy just learned it?

What a loss.

At that moment, spatial ripples appeared again—Loki teleported back upstairs, standing in front of him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Strange," Russell greeted politely.

Why did it feel like the guest was the host? Strange sniffed and replied calmly:

"Not Mr. Strange—Sorcerer Supreme.

By Asgardian custom, I believe that's what you're supposed to call me."

Russell smiled mildly.

"Then what should the Giants of Jotunheim call you, Doctor Strange?"

Strange studied him with a serious expression, then answered,

"That depends… on their attitude."

Russell chuckled.

"Relax, Mr. Holmes."

"You probably already know why Thor and I came to Earth."

Strange winced inwardly—he'd been called three different names in one minute.

He didn't answer. Instead, he teleported them both into a small tea room. They sat across from each other.

"Tea?" he offered.

Russell smiled. "No need. I prefer helping myself."

He placed a bottle on the table with a casual flick.

"That Chivas bottle is excellent."

As he tapped the table lightly, a translucent bottle of aged whiskey appeared, glowing warmly.

"Drink, Sorcerer Supreme?" Russell asked while opening it.

That's my limited edition 63-year-old scotch! Strange nearly screamed internally.

But he kept his composure and nodded stiffly.

"Sure. Let's drink."

He was the Sorcerer Supreme. He wouldn't be stingy. Even if the bottle was already opened.

Russell ignored the simmering resentment in Strange's eyes, summoned two crystal glasses, and poured himself a full one first.

Then, half a glass for Strange.

"Cheers."

Strange felt like he'd endured more emotional damage today than in the last year combined.

This man… he was like his karmic nemesis.

He drained his glass and muttered:

"Cheers."

Russell nodded with satisfaction.

Strange exhaled and got to the point.

"If you must know, as Sorcerer Supreme, I monitor beings and events from other realms. They can be potential threats to our world."

"I was informed that—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

He had planned to declare Loki a threat. That was the official narrative.

But… the man was sitting right here. Watching him. Smiling.

Russell leaned forward, still smiling.

"No need to beat around the bush, magician."

"Thor and I came to Earth to find Odin. That's it."

"I have no malicious intentions toward Earth."

Strange hesitated for a moment, then admitted:

"I met Odin before. He awoke from the spell—but chose to exile himself."

"His decision was final. He didn't want to be disturbed."

Russell's expression turned serious.

"The All-Father's body is near its limit. He doesn't have many days left."

"And if he dies on Earth, it could cause a diplomatic catastrophe between Midgard and Asgard."

Strange stood up, solemn.

"Kamar-Taj respects family matters. People make mistakes.

I'll take you to him—now."

Russell looked at him with approval and said,

"Don't rush. You still need to return Thor to me."

"Oh."

Strange suddenly remembered the big guy.

He quickly summoned a spark portal.

A loud scream came from inside as a figure fell through.

"AHHHHH!"

Thor crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Russell glanced at the broken tiles and raised an eyebrow.

"Do you need Asgard to compensate for the floor?"

Strange looked at his shattered imported Italian floor with heartache—then forced a smile and shook his head.

Thor stood up, brushing off dust and cracked tile from his armor.

He looked at Loki in amazement.

"Brother! You were right! There was magic on that ground!"

Russell grinned.

"Was I?"

Strange now understood what had happened. Loki had sensed the magic trap in advance and baited Thor into stepping on it.

And this was supposed to be the Loki he remembered?

The one obsessed with mischief and illusion magic?

He tried to examine Loki again—but unless magic was actively in use, even the Sorcerer Supreme couldn't tell for sure.

In the end, Strange reminded himself—he had no business interfering in Asgard's domestic affairs.

Whether this was the real Loki or not, it didn't matter.

As long as Odin was on Earth—it was his responsibility to act.

"Oh, before we go—can I borrow a hair?"

Strange turned to Thor and asked:

"To locate Odin, I need something from a blood relative. Hair will do."

After Strange finished speaking, he noticed the large man in front of him—wearing a hat and sunglasses—lower his head shyly.

Strange looked to Loki in confusion.

Russell shrugged. "This might be a bit tricky… unless you have a spell to grow hair."

Thor immediately perked up, eyes gleaming with hope.

Only then did Strange realize that not only was Thor bald under his hat, but his thick sunglasses—clearly stolen from some Toad lookalike—couldn't hide the fact that he had no eyebrows either.

It looked like he'd been scorched by fire—and the result was hilariously bald.

Unable to face Thor's expectant, pitiful expression, Strange turned to Loki.

"If that won't work, just clip your nails. Not as effective, but close enough."

Thor's hopeful look collapsed into disappointment—before determination flashed in his eyes.

He reached down...

He, Thor Odinson! The God of Thunder!

He wouldn't let himself be looked down upon by some Earth necromancer! It was just hair—what did it matter where it came from?

Strange's eyes widened in horror and he shouted frantically:

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop! I have other ways to find him!"

Fearing Thor might actually pull something out, he immediately cast a spell. With the aid of the Window of the Worlds, he located Odin standing alone on a Norwegian beach.

Without wasting another second, Strange opened a portal and—without even saying goodbye—shoved the brothers through it.

"This necromancer's manners are terrible," Thor huffed. "Asgard would never treat guests like that."

Russell nodded.

"You're right. But now's not the time to argue."

Thor sensed something and turned to look.

Under the gray sky, an old man stood silently facing the sea, his figure stiff and unmoving.

"…"

Thor murmured and slowly walked forward.

Russell followed, curious. He wanted to see whether Odin would see through his disguise. And if he did—so what? The old king was at the end of his life. He was no threat anymore.

As for killing him to gain a power-up or entry… Russell had never considered that. Not once.

When they reached Odin, they heard him sigh softly:

"Look at this place… how peaceful it is. This kind of stillness doesn't exist in Asgard. My soul feels free here."

Thor frowned.

In his memory, Odin had never spoken with such weary emotion—more like an old mortal than the indomitable All-Father.

He stepped forward.

"Father…"

Odin turned around slowly—and froze.

"…Wow."

All the emotion he'd been building up was instantly shattered. He stared at his bald son in disbelief.

"Thor… did you change your style?"

Odin scanned him up and down. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't accept this "new look."

Thor looked embarrassed.

"No, it was the Fire Giant. I got… burned."

Then his eyes lit up.

"You don't know yet! Loki—he killed the Fire Giant! His magic is incredibly strong now! Ragnarök is no longer a threat!"

"Come home with us, Father!"

Odin was stunned.

He had sensed the remnants of Surtur's aura on Thor, but to hear that Surtur had been killed—by Loki?

Could it be… that the boy had truly changed in these past three years?

He turned to look at the one beside Thor—and saw a very familiar face.

But a moment later, Odin narrowed his eyes.

Russell simply smiled and said nothing.

Seconds passed.

Thor started to feel that something was… off. But he couldn't figure out why.

Then Odin spoke:

"The auras of the Aesir and the Jotun are very distinct."

Auras…?

Russell hadn't thought about that. The "Jotunblood" entry affected his Extremis system, but he hadn't realized Odin could detect it so easily.

As expected of the All-Father.

Even stripped of most of his power, he could see through the disguise instantly.

Still—Russell didn't mind being exposed. If Odin knew, so be it.

But to his surprise, Odin's expression shifted. He gently patted Russell's shoulder.

"The view from the World Tree… it's beautiful, isn't it?"

Now that surprised Russell.

Could this old man… actually see the same vision he had?

Thor, confused, tilted his head.

"The World Tree? Jane told me that's not real—just a fancy name for an energy channel."

Odin sighed.

"Humans have narrow minds. Some even think we're aliens."

"The World Tree is real. It is the foundation of the Nine Realms… a gift left to the Aesir by Gaea, Mother of the Earth."

Thor nodded solemnly.

He didn't understand a word of it.

Russell, however, was intrigued.

He'd always known Gaea was one of the Ancient Gods—but the World Tree being her creation? That was news.

He didn't deny it and replied truthfully:

"I saw it.

It was… magnificent. Beautiful. Unforgettable."

Thor's glasses flew off as he stared wide-eyed.

"You saw it?!"

"That's supposed to be our divine gift! I've never seen it—how did you?"

Odin spoke again, his voice quiet:

"He didn't just see it…

He was chosen by it."

Thor turned to Loki instantly.

"Wait—chosen?! Chosen how? What do you get? Can you eat it?"

Russell side-eyed him and ignored the question. He looked at Odin instead.

"A ray of energy entered my body from the tree. But I didn't feel any changes."

"What does it do?"

Odin looked up at the sky, his gaze as if peering through the veil of the mortal world.

After a moment, he answered:

"That is its recognition—a seed planted within you."

"It is the beginning of your awakening… and in time, it will surpass even the power of your bloodline."

"In Asgard's ancient texts, it's known as… the Power of the Ancestors."

He paused, his tone wistful:

"To awaken it, you'll need a ritual.

But there's no time."

Russell sighed with regret—but inside, he was thrilled.

He knew exactly what Odin meant.

There's no time now… but there was time in the past.

And for someone like him? That wasn't a problem.

He was suddenly very glad he hadn't wasted time chasing power at the end of the world. If he had, he never would have gotten this gift—or these secrets.

Even if he failed to obtain Hela's death powers, this alone made the trip worthwhile.

Though… he did wonder—could the World Tree's gift be triggered again?

He quickly dismissed the idea.

Even if he rewound time, with the energy already inside him, it wouldn't activate a second time.

Thor, feeling better, patted Loki on the shoulder and smiled.

"Don't be upset, brother. You saw it—you know what the World Tree looks like."

"Look at me—I've had the power of Thor all my life, but I've never seen it."

"You're much luckier than me."

Russell gave him a glance.

Go ahead. Be happy.

That smile of yours… will be mine in a moment.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can visit my Patreon page:

Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel

I upload 2 chapters daily on Patreon!

There are 70+ advanced chapters available for you to read.

Your support would be greatly appreciated.