CHAPTER 208

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[Alex Walker POV]

So much knowledge.

So much to see.

The knowledge within the roots of Yggdrasil was… for the lack of a better word, beautiful. I could see beyond the limits of my imagination, and still fail to comprehend so many things, and yet, somehow, I would as time passed within this marvelous dimension, understand it all.

I couldn't help but wondered, was this how being omniscient felt?

Was this feeling of bliss a common occurrence for an event like this?

I just couldn't… it was all, so… addicting.

The more I learned, the more I wanted to stay. That was dangerous, a terrifying side effect.

If it weren't for my WILL being as high as it was, this trip could've and would've become a permanent arrangement.

I mean, even now, with all my supposedly unshakable will, I was feeling anxious at the thought of leaving.

The worse kind of disease is that which brings addiction.

I wonder if Thor is experiencing the same feeling.

I hope he doesn't succumb.

I chuckled, feeling my mind getting more and more knowledge about the runes, I was so close to having what I wanted, so close to being able to leave, but it almost seemed like Yggdrasil was trying to seduce me into staying, by extending my trip within it, for as long as possible.

I was learning so much.

But not about what I wanted.

Yggdrasil was showing me things, things of great value, but in the process, it was purposely hiding the knowledge I was seeking.

"I won't stay," I muttered, "No matter how much you tempt me," regardless of how good it felt to be here, to be enlightened, I had things to do, and a job to finish, after all, being a dad, it's a full-time job.

—------------

Two hours later.

I pushed myself out of Yggdrasil and entered my body.

Then, I shuddered.

"Fucking tree," I sighed, my hands shaking. My entire body was craving to enter that state of enlightenment, of nirvana I had a few moments ago been.

Thankfully for me, my mind was clear.

[New Ailment Acquired = The Curse of Yggdrasil 

Yggdrasil offers those who entered it infinite knowledge and power, However, the drawback is that its usage places great strain on the user's mind and spirit, eventually overpowering their will and causing the victim to succumb and become a part of Yggdrasil itself.

Curse = For the next twelve hours you will feel the unshakable need to enter the roots of Yggdrasil once again. This curse while active will give the user the following debuffs.

-30% INT

-55% DEX

-45% WILL

-78% PER

Duration = 12H

The curse only affects those with high enough WIS, and INT.]

Fuck that.

Taking a deep breath, I equipped the Time Stone and aged myself a day, and just as I had expected, the debuff curse was gone.

Now to help Thor.

Turning around, I approached Thor, and placed my hand on his head, before sending a pulse of mana through his body, trying to locate his soul.

It took a bit, especially considering how big the roots were from a spiritual sense, but after a few pulses, I found Thor, or rather his essence.

"Thor, you need to get out," I thought, connecting my mind to the roots through Thor's body.

"Brother?" Thor replied, sounding surprised. 

"The roots will try to snare you into staying," I replied.

"Worry not! I'm almost done!" Thor replied, and I could almost feel him grin at me.

I sighed, "Very well, I'll give you some extra time. But if you don't come out, I will drag you back." I stated.

"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Thor laughed, as I closed the link.

With that out of the way, I took a seat on the ground and wondered, why did he sound more… stable, it was almost as if the roots were not even trying to snare him. I felt no hesitations on his words, he was the same.

"I'm back!" Thor shouted, snapping me out of my long reverie before he started coughing and gagging, "Chain! Neck!" 

Right, the chain he had used to hang himself.

Sighing, I destroyed the chain with a move of my hand, and immediately used observe on him.

And just like I had suspected, he was… okay.

No curse affecting him.

"So, the big ol'tree tried to snare you?" Thor asked, cracking his neck.

I nodded, wondering why it had only affected me, and not him. Wait, could it be… that Thor has so little INT and WIS the roots were unable to get through his thick skull…

"I can't believe it, you avoided the curse, because you counter the curse!" I laughed.

Thor furrowed his eyebrows for a second before he started laughing, "Of course, how could such a thing affect me! I am mighty!" 

He indeed was.

Mighty lucky.

"So, did you learn about the runes?" I asked.

At this, Thor grinned, "I did,"

I chuckled, "Me too."

I wonder what will come from here.

I also wonder, will this be enough to face that monster?

Now that my mind was clear, and fully awake, and not drunk with the power the roots offered, I was able to remember everything it showed me, amongst those things. The inescapable awakening of Knull, the King in Black.

"Don't worry," Thor said, putting his hand on my shoulder, "We will face that beast, together."

So he had seen it too.

I smiled, "We will," maybe for good measure I should just blast the symbiote planet away, it would certainly weaken his reach once he awakens, that or seriously piss him off.

Maybe I could try and break his connection them… who knows…

"Let's go," Thor spoke.

I nodded, it was time to go home, and take a break… before things once again went south.

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[Hela Odinsdottir POV]

Battered.

Broken.

Weakened.

But alive.

I had taken the coward's way out.

But had successfully tricked everyone into thinking I was dead.

Sadly, I had lost in the process the Odin Force.

Meaning my chances of getting the throne were slim to none, and I was being, magnanimously generous, Alex alone was stronger than me, and now my pathetic little brother was by all rights, the King, sporting all the power one should have.

I guess it could be worse.

I could be dead.

As humiliating as it was using cheap tricks to survive, I had conquered death.

Again.

Never before I had been so grateful Asgard and my life were still linked, even without the Odin force, a curse given to me by my father, that came as a blessing to me that day.

A curse he engraved in my soul to ensure I would never destroy Asgard because destroying it… would destroy me. A bit overkill if you ask me, considering that at the time he cursed me, I only had haft of the Odin force, therefore giving me the same ailment. It was like putting salt over salt.

Oh well.

I suppose I ought to thank the old man for his terrible parenting, otherwise, I would be dead.

"Hela," And talking about the devil.

"Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes, father," I replied, turning around.