All good things must come to an end!
After the meal, the Avengers went their separate ways, returning to their own lives.
They didn't know when they would reunite—perhaps soon, perhaps much later—but when the world needed them, they would surely gather again.
Natasha asked enticingly, "Rimuru, do you want to go on vacation with big sister? To Hawaii? There are lots of girls in swimsuits there!"
Rimuru's eyes lit up, but he still reluctantly shook his head.
"Jotunheim still has a thousand loose ends to tie up, and I, as the King, must be crowned. It's not yet time for me to be a hands-off boss!"
Natasha nodded, full of regret. "That's too bad, big sister was planning to help you apply sunscreen."
Rimuru: "..."
He hated honey traps the most!
Besides, Natasha was the famous Black Widow. Once she decided to use a honey trap, who could resist her?
Rimuru waved his hand and directly opened a portal, disappearing from San Francisco immediately.
Seeing Rimuru's disappearing back, Natasha couldn't help but purse her lips.
Is it not working?
A threat that even Rimuru found troublesome would be difficult to deal with!
New York.
Stark Tower.
After Tony returned and had a brief reunion with Pepper, he plunged into his laboratory.
Jarvis: "Sir, you have just experienced a high-intensity war, and your nerves are too taut. I suggest you rest for a while before starting work."
Tony Stark said gravely, "Jarvis, help me categorize and organize the gains from this war. Analyze the Asgardian weapons, Frost Giant bloodline, and Fire Giants' magic that were collected. My armor also needs a comprehensive upgrade. New challenges are very likely coming!"
Jarvis: "Yes, sir!"
Bang bang bang!
The Base's gym.
Captain furiously punched the sandbag, sweating profusely, breaking one sandbag and then hanging up a new one.
Canada.
In a vast, pristine forest, Dr. Bruce Banner emerged slowly from a small wooden cabin, holding two puppies.
"Hulk, we need to talk!"
Hawkeye, War Machine, and even Thor, who was far away, all began a new round of training.
Although Rimuru said nothing, and everyone asked nothing, they all had an understanding in their hearts.
Odin, as the God King of Asgard, would not give Rimuru a treasure that could peer into the dangers of the universe without meaning.
The profound meaning behind it was obvious.
After receiving Agamotto's Orb, in his brief moment of distraction, he must have seen a new threat in the universe!
The Avengers—the time for their reassembly might not be far off!
Triskelion.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
After reading the reports submitted by Natasha and Hawkeye, Nick Fury fell into boundless shock.
Nick Fury had always known that Earthlings were not alone in the universe, but he knew very little about the Nine Realms.
What he never expected was that just as he learned that myths and legends were not entirely legends, but high-civilization alien races, a war of gods and demons spanning the Nine Realms had begun.
The Avengers, which he personally formed, also participated in the war!
The war did not happen on Earth, but in Asgard, yet Earth nearly entered an Ice Age along with it.
Fortunately, the Avengers performed well on the Asgardian battlefield, even capable of fighting against legendary gods and demons.
The process and outcome of the war were even more fantastical.
Rimuru alone against an army, transforming into a hundreds-of-meters-tall Fire Giant, devouring and then mimicking magic, becoming the King of Jötunheimr…
Just the issues on paper were dreamlike, making it hard to imagine how shocking the actual scene must have been.
After defeating Laufey, Laufey instead passed the throne of Jotunheim to Rimuru. Honestly, Nick Fury found Laufey's thought process somewhat difficult to understand!
But considering Rimuru's impressive combat record, and Jotunheim's reliance on the Casket of Ancient Winters, perhaps it could be understood.
One had to admire Laufey's courage; he could even do something so unconventional!
The relationship between Rimuru and Earth needed to be redefined!
Nick Fury trusted human nature the least; he had never truly trusted anyone.
It was hard to imagine what changes the throne would bring to Rimuru!
"A great threat that even Rimuru feels is dangerous?"
Nick Fury's expression became solemn. Earth must strengthen its armaments, and the research on the Tesseract must be restarted!
New Mexico.
Sam Elliott Cemetery.
An old man with white hair and a beard, murky eyes, looking like he suffered from Alzheimer's, was squatting on the ground, clearing weeds with a shovel.
Just then, a portal opened.
Rimuru, wearing a mask, walked out of it.
"Carter Slade, the previous Ghost Rider, give me the Contract of San Venganza!"
Boom!
As Rimuru spoke, he unhesitatingly released his powerful aura.
Carter Slade swallowed, instinctively tightening his grip on the shovel.
Rimuru shook his head and sighed, "As expected of someone who secretly guarded the Contract of San Venganza for a hundred years, even daring to trick the Hell Lord Mephisto. I admire your perseverance!"
Carter Slade was greatly alarmed. "Wait—"
Clang clang clang!
Carter Slade was then used as a sandbag by Rimuru and given a thorough beating.
Here, only the clang of bone on flesh, the roar of thunder, and the sound of breaking bones remained.
Ten minutes later.
Rimuru sighed, "As expected of the previous Ghost Rider—what an unyielding man. He's been beaten like this and still won't speak!"
Carter Slade, bruised and swollen, his face beaten beyond recognition, cried!
"Wuwuwu, as soon as I sensed your aura, I wanted to give you the contract, wuwu, you didn't even let me speak, you just beat me up. I'm innocent!"
Pfft!
Rimuru spat blood and blurted out, "You know me?"
The bruised and swollen Carter Slade said, "The famous Blue Angel, the King of Jötunheimr—who doesn't know him?"
Rimuru looked embarrassed and said apologetically, "Uh, I'm sorry! It's just that the rumors say you're too great. Facing the Hell Lord Mephisto, you'd rather break than bend—unyielding! Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!"
Wuwuwu~~~
Carter Slade was speechless, looking up at the sky. He still wanted to cry!
Was being unyielding wrong?
Was it wrong?
Kamar-Taj.
Rimuru had already given notice, and Sorcerer Supreme Yao had been waiting for a long time.
"Is everything ready that needs to be prepared?"
Rimuru nodded.
The Ancient One smiled. "Then let's begin. I guarantee you won't be disturbed by anyone!"
"Thank you, Master!"
Rimuru expressed his gratitude solemnly.
Upgrading to an Awakened Demon Lord was a top priority for Rimuru and could not be taken lightly.
Rimuru had once thought of doing it in Asgard or Jotunheim, but ultimately gave up.
Kamar-Taj, with Sorcerer Supreme Yao overseeing it, would be much safer comparatively!
"It's time to upgrade to an Awakened Demon Lord!"
Rimuru slapped his hand on the ground, and thousands of magic runes immediately spread out in all directions.
Rimuru no longer suppressed it, and a vast and magnificent aura shot up into the sky!