While a great storm was brewing, Sean remained unaware. As one of the towering figures atop Earth's power pyramid, he was not at Umbrella or S.H.I.E.L.D. at that moment...
After touring the Chicago space shipyard with Reed, he had accepted Odin's invitation and traveled to Asgard.
The white-haired, one-eyed old man strolled through the garden. Exotic flowers and rare herbs bloomed in vibrant profusion, their rich, intoxicating fragrance filling the air with a refreshing, subtle scent.
"This 'Garden of Spring' was once tended by my wife, Frigga. She was always so patient, just like she was with Loki, never growing weary or angry." Odin reminisced about his wife.
When Thanos and the Black Order descended, the courageous Queen of Asgard had lost her life in that brutal war.
Sean followed behind the King of Asgard.
Even to the naked eye, it was clear Odin was not in good condition. His aging body was surrounded by swirling golden motes of light, emitting chaotic fluctuations.
Even as the All-Father of Asgard, Odin could no longer control his own power, allowing his immense divine energy to leak and dissipate freely. This revealed just how dire his physical state had become. It wouldn't be surprising if his body disintegrated into motes of light at any moment, returning to the embrace of the World Tree.
Time is fair to most living beings. Even Odin, the mightiest in the Nine Realms, feared throughout the galaxy, had to face the cruel reality of aging. This was why he periodically entered long periods of Odinsleep... he attempted to slow the dissipation of his divine energy through this method.
"I hear Prince Thor is pacifying the Nine Realms, uniting the various kingdoms, and building immense prestige among the people of Asgard." Sean said with a faint smile.
Asgard and Earth had now established a cooperative relationship, initially formulating the Nine Realms Strategic Defense Plan to address potential future crises.
To demonstrate sincerity, Asgard had proactively provided considerable advanced technology and data on the Nine Realms, greatly filling gaps in Earth's cosmological knowledge.
This was something that had surprised even Sean.
"Thor is a born king. He will do better than I did." Odin said with a gratified smile.
Since the Chitauri invasion, Asgard had suffered heavy losses and was severely weakened. If not for its deep reserves built over millennia, its position as ruler of the Nine Realms would likely already be crumbling.
Later, Thor quelled conflicts across the Nine Realms, journeyed to Earth as an envoy of peace to extend friendship, and through a series of actions, won the collective admiration of Asgard's people.
This was all part of Odin's plan. Knowing his time was short, he sought to build momentum for Thor, ensuring his eldest son would ascend the throne unquestioned as the revitalizing leader of Asgard.
"And what of Loki? I heard he vanished after the Chitauri forces withdrew, his whereabouts unknown." Sean's eyes flickered subtly as he strolled through the garden with an air of ease, as if he were its master.
"That is precisely what I wish to discuss with you," Odin's expression turned grave, "Loki may very well be the one who triggers the prophecy. I can feel it... Ragnarök approaches."
His urgency in forming an offensive and defensive alliance with Earth, even surrendering some of Asgard's advanced technology, stemmed not only from fear of Thanos's return, but more importantly, from a terrifying prophecy nearing fulfillment.
The shadow of the goddess of Death was slowly rising, and Asgard would be reduced to ashes.
When that time came, all things would perish, and living beings would wail in despair.
To counter this prophecy, Odin had to seek allies. Thor alone could not withstand his sister, Hela.
"Hela is my eldest daughter, the first in line to the throne of Asgard." Odin said bitterly, recalling the past.
Unless necessary, he truly did not wish to speak of this history to outsiders. Asgard's path of conquest was not entirely glorious or righteous... on the contrary, it was filled with bloodshed, brutality, and savagery.
Odin's father, King Bor, defeated the Dark Elves and sealed away the Aether, establishing Asgard's prestige and status. But that was far from enough.
Upon inheriting the throne, Odin exhibited even greater ambition than his father, a desire for conquest. He wanted Asgard to become the sole ruler of the Nine Realms. So, while the Nine Realms were recovering, Asgard proactively launched a war of conquest.
"Hela inherited everything from me. She wielded Mjolnir, commanded the Valkyrior, and continuously expanded Asgard's territories; but she became obsessed with the awe and fear brought by death, fixated on ruling over more beings. Even after conquering the Nine Realms, she remained unsatisfied."
"So you began to fear." Sean remarked.
Odin did not deny it. Indeed, he had grown fearful of Hela's escalating power and ambition. After careful consideration, he finally made that difficult decision.
The King of Asgard wanted to exile and imprison his own daughter. He dispatched the invincible Valkyrior, paying the heavy price of their complete annihilation to temporarily defeat Hela and imprison her in Hel.
This chapter of history was thus buried, unknown even to Thor, who never learned he had a sister...
"Once Hela returns to Asgard, her power will be greater than ever. I am now old and frail." Odin looked at the smiling Sean.
The key reason Asgard lowered its proud head and proactively sought cooperation with Earth was the Sentinel.
As King of Asgard, Odin had encountered many powerful beings in his lifetime: ancient cosmic entities, direct descendants of Celestial bloodlines, even technological creations from advanced civilizations.
Yet facing Sean, who was the powerhouse, Sentinel, Odin still felt a sense of trepidation. It was as if the other's body contained terrifying destructive force.
After Thanos's defeat, Odin became even more certain of this, hence his desire to bind Sean to Asgard's cause.
"Why shouldn't I collaborate with Lady Hela? Comparatively, she seems more qualified to inherit the throne." Sean asked with an amused tone.
Though Asgard and Earth were currently in a honeymoon phase, peace between civilizations is never eternal.
Rather than following Odin's plan to help Thor resist Hela and prevent Ragnarök, it might be better to ally with the goddess of Death and watch Asgard tear itself apart in civil strife.
"Hela sees only conquest. How do you think she earned the title 'goddess of Death'? It was built upon the decay of civilizations one after another, the wretched wails of countless souls." Odin's voice was strained, a bitter smile appearing on his aged face.
It was almost laughable... his eldest daughter Hela inherited his ambition, his eldest son Thor inherited his courage, but it was Loki who mastered the essential royal skills of strategy and cunning.
"Had I indulged Hela back then, she would have led Asgard into the abyss of destruction." Odin stated firmly.
He looked at Sean's calm expression, sighed deeply, and played his trump card, "I can provide clues to the next Infinity Stone. It has fallen into the hands of a bounty hunter. The Collector, Taneleer Tivan, is willing to pay a high price for the Orb, that is the Power Stone, which contains terrifying energy capable of destroying planets."
"What is this bounty hunter's name?" Sean raised an eyebrow, asking with keen interest.
"Star-Lord." Odin replied.
Hearing the expected answer, Sean nodded slightly. It seemed he would be venturing into the starry seas ahead of schedule...