Ultimate Marvel System

Chapter 135: Heven

AN: Sorry for the delay. been busy with life and work...too many things happening last month and this month. Got a date, got friendzoned on said date, boardgame day with some friends was revived, cousin got married suddenly, went out somewhere with my cousins to celebrate, work OT, more OT, some more OT...well, you get the point.

Anyway, here's the chap!

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Chapter 135: Heven

Heven.

A place where angels roam free and soared the skies at every corner.

Atop one of the buildings stood a certain wingless figure with long red hair, golden armor, and flowing ribbons around her. 

Her head tilted upwards as she looked at the stars.

“Angela, what’s on your mind?”

A similarly wingless angel with black hair standing beside her asked.

Angela turned to look at her.

“Sera…it’s nothing. I just feel like I should be out there.”

“Doing what exactly?”

“Something. Not just standing here doing nothing while watching the Odinforce, the very energy that is powering Heven, slowly diminishes.”

Angela groaned in frustration.

Back during the war between Heven and Asgard, Odin had cut off Heven from the Ten Realms but not only that, but he also used all his power, the Odinforce, to curse the angels to never return to the World Tree.

However, angels were nothing but resourceful.

Only they could use the very same power that had cursed them and turned it into their very own power source.

And so the Heven of today is completely reliant on the Odinforce to power everything.

Without it…Heven would soon crumble.

Which was what was happening now.

It started some time ago.

Everything was normal at Heven when suddenly, the whole land shook.

Upon investigation, it was found that the Odinforce was slowly withering and their source of energy was slowly being depleted.

The Queen of Angels and her loyal judges convened and discussed.

After some time, they decided to use the energy of the nebulas around them to buy some time.

Because the way the Queen of Angels sees it, the Odinforce withering is a sign that Odin has fallen.

And with Odin gone, they can finally return as part of the World Tree and the issue of lack of power source will no longer be a problem.

Not to mention…they can finally get their revenge after so long!

Now, they only needed time.

Time to gather their forces to prepare for war!

Both Sera and Angela knew this but Angela could not understand the reason.

Why was there a need for war? What can they gain from it?

Nothing for Nothing.

That was the motto of the angels.

To the angels, if you wanted something, you must pay the price.

Doing something for nothing is an absolute folly.

Legends had told them that Odin, the King of Asgard, would order his armies to fight for him in exchange for nothing except the so-called Honor.

But what was honor?

Something that cannot be seen or quantified…wasn’t that just nothing?

His soldiers would fight for him and die for him yet get nothing in return…how evil!

That was Odin, the King of Nothing.

And so…what of this so-called upcoming war?

What can they gain from it?

Angela wanted no gold or land. The Queen of Angels had nothing to offer her. So why must she fight?

Angela looked to the stars again and wondered.

She had this feeling deep inside her that she wasn’t meant to be confined here.

Surely, there were more satisfying and exciting deals to be made outside Heven.

Sera saw her like this and sighed.

She thought for a moment then asked.

“How about we head over to Omnipotence City? Maybe there’s something fun to do there.”

Angela groaned and shook her head.

“No. If I have to see that sorry excuse for a God of Lightning for one more second, I’d rather chop my own head off and deliver it to Odin for free.”

“Come on, it can’t be that bad. Just ignore that guy.”

Sera chuckled as she grabbed Angela’s hand and led her to the waypoint for Omnipotence City.

However, just as they were about the enter, the space in front of them flashed and several figures appeared in front of them.

Two females with long black hair and a man with white hair.

These were naturally Lucas along with Selene and Hela.

Seeing unknown people seemingly appearing from the waypoint to Omnipotence City, Angela frowned and quickly unsheathed her sword.

“I suggest you announce yourselves quickly or taste the metal of my sword.”

Lucas, upon seeing the wingless red-haired woman in front of him, was a bit surprised.

Huh, and here I thought I’d have to search for a bit.

Seemingly not minding her threat, Selene and Hel simply looked around them.

Selene was also surprised.

“I have to say, I thought we’d end up in an island on top of some fluffy clouds or something…I didn’t expect to be in such a sci-fi place…”

As she mentioned, Heven was actually a technological wonder. It was like a huge metal island or a huge spaceship.

Hela also looked around with a bit of disdain in her eyes.

“This is it? And to think my dear father had so much trouble with them. He’s really gotten old.”

Angela’s eyes narrowed and pushed her sword forward, touching Benjamin’s throat.

“Who are you people? Why have you come to Heven unannounced?”

Benjamin showed a wry smile.

“Well, we don’t really know the proper process to visit here so…we just came from Omnipotence City. As for why we are here…it is for you.”

“Huh?”

Not only Angela and Sera, even Selene and Hela were surprised.

Hela knew what Benjamin meant so she looked at this woman in front of them again from top to bottom.

“Is it her?”

Benjamin nodded.

“You must be Angela, is that right?”

“...Who is asking?”

Benjamin smiled and introduced himself.

“I am Benjamin Freed. EPD…err, God of Nature. I am from Earth.”

Angela and Sera were surprised.

Angela looked at Benjamin from top to bottom and asked again.

“You’re a God?”

“Yes. As are you.”

Angela frowned.

“I do not know what you need of me, God of Nature. But I am no God. I am an Angel of Heven.”

Benjamin nodded.

“Well, if you consider yourself as one, then you are an Angel. Anyway, it’s just labels. Even I don’t care much for the God title. You can just refer to me as Benjamin. Or Ben, for short.”

Angela fell silent for a moment before laying down her sword.

Having had a brief exchange, Angela could feel that this man before her bore no ill intentions.

But should that be proven incorrect, she was confident that she could quickly raise her sword again to attack.

“Very well, Benjamin Freed. Now speak. What is it you want from me?”

“Well, that’s a very long story…but before that…”

Benjamin looked around and felt a familiar feeling.

“Is that…the Odinforce?...But it feels like there’s only a trace of it…”

“You can feel it?”

Benjamin nodded.

The Odinforce is basically Odin’s godly power and is capable of a wide variety of things.

Among them is purely as a power source.

Like the star that powers Nidavellir, the Odinforce can be used to power an entire planet.

Of course it would depend on how much Odinforce there is.

In this case, it seems only a small trace is left and it would soon be gone.

By that time, Heven would need another power source or it will decline and eventually die.

“It’s quite amazing. Did you use the Odinforce Odin used to curse you and turned it into something you can actually use instead?”

“...You can even tell that. It seems you were not merely boasting when you claimed to be a God.”

Sera said in amazement.

Benjamin shook his head.

“I only knew since I’m a bit familiar with the Odinforce. I should know it since I killed Odin.”

“I see…wait what?”

Benjamin ignored their reaction and continued to look around with his mental vision.

“It seems you guys are preparing for war…is it when you rejoin the Nine Realms? So that’s why you’re only slowing down the progress of the Odinforce’s depletion.”

“...”

Angela and Sera both frowned.

Looking at Benjamin’s eyes, they felt that everything they did could be seen through.

In the end…just who is this person!?

Benjamin noticed their looks and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I mean no harm. Rather, I have a proposition. Can you kindly lead us to your Queen?”

“...”

Angela thought for a moment before reaching out her hand.

Benjamin looked at her hand in confusion.

Looking up, he saw Angela was looking at him in silence.

Benjamin was confused and ended up placing his palm on her own palm.

“Paw?”

“???”

“Pft-!?”

Angela tilted her head in confusion while Selene nearly busted a laughter when she saw that.

Such a serious and tense conversation and it was broken just like that!

Angela frowned.

“I am asking for payment.”

“Payment?”

“Nothing for nothing. Angels do not do anything with nothing to gain. Pay me and I will lead you to the Queen.”

Benjamin was a bit surprised.

So…kinda like a deal?

For angels, they do seem to act like devils and their contracts…

“Are you sure? What if we’re enemies? Will you still do it as long as I paid?”

“If you were an enemy, the price would be higher.”

…But still fine?

Benjamin shook his head.

However, this makes things easier.

“By payment, do you mean currency? I don’t know what currency you angels use here.”

“It doesn’t have to be a currency. It can be anything. Or you can be in debt.”

“Debt?”

“You will owe me. And one day, I will come to collect it.”

“Collect it how? Kill me?”

“I will lead you to the Queen. And so one day, if I should need it, you will lead me somewhere I need to be.”

Benjamin nodded in understanding.

“So it’s like Eye for an Eye? I see.”

However, Benjamin does not like the feeling of being in debt.

If it can be anything…

“How about my signature? Or a photo with me? You might not know it but I’m pretty famous you know?”

At the side, Sera rolled her eyes.

“Please, what use is that even? I doubt anyone will recognize you if we show it to the Gods in Omnipotence City.”

…

Benjamin, Selene, and Hela fell silent.

Oh, they’ll definitely recognize it…they might even start treating you all as royals…

“Well, if you don’t want that…how about an Infinity Stone?”

“Ben!”

Selene quickly interjected.

“Joking, joking…uhh, oh, this one looks good.”

Benjamin took out a bluish casket from his inventory.

He’s almost never used this thing anyway.

“The Casket of Ancient Winters! This should be a decent treasure, no?”

Hela looked at the casket in surprise.

“Why did you even have that…did you raid Odin’s treasury?”

Benjamin rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t steal it. This is just a spare one that I have.”

“Spare…”

Hela was speechless.

Angela took the casket and looked at it with satisfaction.

“Good. I am pleased with this treasure. Come, I’ll show you to the Queen.”

“Wait, are you really leading them?”

Sera was surprised and quickly asked as she thought Angela was only tricking them earlier.

Angela shrugged.

“Well, I was going to say it wasn’t enough but…”

Angela looked at the casket in her arms.

“I can’t say no to this, right?”

“...”

Sera was speechless.