The Omnipotent System

The party was in full swing before anyone could even comprehend how it all came together. One moment, the battlefield was a mess of cracked ground and flickering void, and the next, Asgard stood resplendent under a night sky filled with swirling lights. Tables groaned under the weight of roasted meats, fresh bread, and more mead than anyone thought possible. Music filled the air, lively and wild, as gods from every pantheon mingled like old friends.

Adams leaned back in a massive, throne-like chair that Thor had insisted he take. He sipped a mug of mead and watched as Loki challenged Hermes to a drinking contest. The two tricksters were already halfway through their third barrels, and neither showed any sign of slowing down. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

"This stuff's not bad," Adams said, glancing at Thor, who sat beside him with his own tankard. "Better than I expected, honestly."

Thor chuckled, his booming laughter echoing across the hall. "Told you! The mead of Asgard is unmatched. You keep drinking like that, and you might even feel it!"

Adams smirked. "Doubtful, but I appreciate the effort."

Nearby, Athena and Anubis were locked in a heated debate over strategy games, their voices rising above the general noise. Freya and Aphrodite had taken over one corner of the hall, turning it into an impromptu dance floor, while Ra and Zeus were arm wrestling in another. The atmosphere was electric, alive in a way that none of the gods had experienced in centuries.

Adams watched it all with an amused expression, occasionally nodding at gods who came by to thank him or offer a toast. He waved them off with a grin, not bothering with formalities.

"Adams," Odin said as he approached, his one eye glinting with curiosity. "I must admit, I didn't expect you to call for a celebration like this."

"Why not?" Adams replied, taking another sip. "Life's too short—even for gods—to dwell on the serious stuff all the time. You save existence, you celebrate. Seems logical to me."

Odin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "An interesting perspective. Perhaps we have been too solemn for too long."

"Exactly," Adams said, gesturing to the lively scene around them. "Look at them. They're actually enjoying themselves. When's the last time you saw that?"

Odin glanced around and nodded slowly. "You may have a point."

Just then, Thor slammed his tankard on the table and stood up. "Who's ready for the hammer toss?" he roared, holding Mjolnir high above his head. A cheer went up from the crowd, and several gods scrambled to join him outside.

Adams chuckled, shaking his head. "This ought to be good."

He followed the group out, arriving just in time to see Loki trying to convince Ares to take the first throw. "Come on, god of war," Loki said, grinning. "Show us what you've got!"

Ares rolled his eyes but stepped up, cracking his neck as he prepared. Thor handed him Mjolnir with a grin, and the war god hefted it with a grunt. "Heavy," he muttered, planting his feet firmly.

"Just don't drop it," Thor teased.

Ares glared at him and hurled the hammer with all his might. It shot through the air like a comet, disappearing into the night sky. The crowd cheered as it vanished, but Thor held up a hand, silencing them.

"Wait for it," he said, smirking.

A second later, Mjolnir came rocketing back, slamming into Ares's chest and knocking him flat on his back. The crowd burst into laughter as Ares groaned, sitting up with a scowl.

"Should've warned me about that," he muttered, brushing himself off.

"Where's the fun in that?" Thor replied, laughing as he caught the hammer.

Adams leaned against a nearby pillar, shaking his head. "You gods really don't do things halfway, do you?"

The night wore on, the party growing louder and more chaotic with each passing hour. Adams found himself dragged into a dozen different conversations, challenges, and games, each one more ridiculous than the last. At one point, he ended up in a dance-off against Shiva, and while he couldn't match the god's grace, his sheer audacity had the crowd roaring with laughter.

As dawn began to break over the horizon, the gods started to wind down, many of them slumped in chairs or sprawled on the floor. Thor snored loudly in a corner, clutching an empty barrel of mead like a pillow, while Loki and Hermes were passed out on top of a table, surrounded by empty cups.

Adams stood on the balcony overlooking Asgard, the first rays of sunlight painting the sky in shades of gold and pink. He stretched, feeling oddly satisfied.

"Not bad," he said to himself, a small smile playing on his lips. "Not bad at all."

Adams was still taking in the serene view of Asgard's sunrise when he felt a sudden shift in the air. It wasn't loud or dramatic—just a quiet ripple, like a stone tossed into a still pond. The energy in the air twisted, faint but unmistakable, and Adams turned his head slightly, already knowing he wasn't alone anymore.

The ripple grew, bending the space in front of him until a figure stepped out of it as casually as if he'd been taking a walk. The man was tall and lean, dressed in a sharp black suit that seemed just a little too perfect, like it wasn't made of normal fabric. His hair was slicked back, dark as midnight, and his piercing blue eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and mischief. There was an aura around him—not threatening, but playful, almost mocking. It felt like he knew something no one else did and couldn't wait to use it.

The man tilted his head, a sly grin spreading across his face as he looked at Adams. "Well, well," he said, his voice smooth and warm, carrying just the slightest hint of amusement. "You and I have a lot to talk about."

Adams raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of mead like he wasn't fazed at all. "Is that so?" he said, his tone calm but sharp enough to cut through the air. "And who might you be?"

The man chuckled, a sound that seemed to carry its own rhythm, almost like music. "Let's just say I'm someone who's been watching. You've stirred up quite a bit of excitement, you know." He stepped closer, hands in his pockets, and glanced out over the balcony like he was admiring the view. "Not every day someone turns a battlefield into a party for gods."

Adams shrugged. "Figured it was better than all the brooding and endless debates."

The man's grin widened. "Exactly. That's why you and I need to have a chat. There's… potential here. Opportunities." His eyes flicked back to Adams, gleaming like he was seeing right through him. "And I'm very good at making the most of opportunities."

Adams stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "You've got a name, or should I just keep calling you 'the guy who walks out of ripples'?"

The man laughed again, this time leaning forward slightly, his grin turning into a smirk. "Call me… Magnus. For now, at least."

Adams leaned against the balcony railing, his gaze steady. "Alright, Magnus. What's so important that you had to show up uninvited?"

Magnus's grin didn't falter. If anything, it grew. "Oh, trust me, Adams. You're going to want to hear this."