Chapter 96 His vacation was canceled
"I know," Leon calmly interrupted him.
"You are afraid of war."
"You are afraid that your creations will bring destruction."
Leon shook his head, his expression like he was looking at an ignorant child.
"Faustus, you've got one thing wrong."
"Do you think your weapons bring war?"
"No."
"It's weakness."
Leon's words reached everyone present.
"It was Midgard's weakness that attracted Thanos's covetousness."
"It was you, Faustus, your inaction, your evasion that put you and your family in a situation where you could be slaughtered at will."
"You…" Faustus opened his mouth, but said nothing.
"And I, Leon Odinson."
Leon's tone was calm.
"I will grant you order."
"I will crush all those who dare to covet Midgard with fleets and armies."
"And you, Faustus…"
Leon stared at him.
"You will build that invincible fleet for me."
Faustus gave a bitter laugh.
"A fleet?"
"Who do you think I am? What do I use to build it? Your backyard swimming pool?!"
"I need a forge!"
"A truly cosmic-level forge!!"
Faustus was practically roaring, venting his despair.
"I need Nidavellir! I need the core of a star!!"
"Can you afford it?!"
Dead silence fell on the terrace.
Tony, in the Quinjet, covered his face.
"Oh! Shit, this guy, he's dead."
Druig closed his eyes, unable to watch.
Makkari stopped teaching and looked over playfully.
Wanda also walked out of the greenhouse, watching the scene nervously.
This new Eternals… he dared to yell at Mr. Leon?
However… Leon.
He wasn't angry, he smiled.
"A star?"
Leon's smile held a hint of amusement and pity.
"Faustus…"
"You are too limited."
Leon turned and walked off the terrace, stepping onto the beach.
He faced the sea, his back to the crowd.
"Your so-called stellar forge is nothing more than a bit of dross begged by the dwarves from dying stars. Is your vision only about begging?"
Faustus was stunned.
He… what was he saying?
Leon raised his right hand.
His palm faced the bright moon.
Leon's voice deepened.
"Humans, Eternalss, you look up at the stars."
"You chase light."
"And I…"
"Buzz!"
The waves froze.
The sea breeze stopped.
The moonlight dimmed!
No, not dimmed!
It was all the light!
The lights of the Villa, the searchlights of the Quinjet, the reactor of Tony's armor, the light on Adam's body… all the light twisted!
They were submitting!
They transformed into billions of streams of light, forcibly pulled towards the beach!
Pulled towards Leon's palm!
"Sir! Warning! Energy drain! Reactor is shutting down!!"
Jarvis's urgent alarm sounded.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!"
Tony watched helplessly as his armor disintegrated piece by piece, falling to the ground!
The light on him was being drained!
"This, this is…"
Faustus, Druig, Makkari… the cosmic energy within their bodies was boiling!
It was wailing!
It was afraid!!
"I am the sun."
Leon's voice, like an oracle, exploded in everyone's mind!
The point in his palm where all the light converged burst open!
There was no sound.
No Shockwave.
Only light.
A tiny sun appeared in his palm!
It was no bigger than a basketball.
But it was incredibly dazzling! And very real!
It floated quietly, radiating the breath of life.
That was tamed Sun god power!
Leon smiled slightly.
Nidavellir's forge? Eitri, that fool, hammering away at a dying, broken star.
How primitive.
Why borrow?
Faustus… he stared intently at the small sun.
As a craftsman, a creator… he… he saw a miracle.
That wasn't energy! That was a rule!
He created a sun with his hand?!
"Faustus."
Leon turned around, his face still bearing a gentle smile.
He walked slowly.
The small sun floated quietly in his palm.
He walked up to Faustus.
"The forge you wanted."
Leon's tone was understated, as if he was just handing over a glass of Water.
"No, no! This, this is impossible…"
Faustus broke down.
He tremblingly reached out his hand.
His fingers stopped about a centimeter from the sun.
He could feel the destructive yet incredibly stable divine power contained within it.
"I, I…" He knelt down with a thud.
He wasn't kneeling to Leon.
He was kneeling to truth.
"What can I make with it?" he murmured, lost in thought.
"Anything."
Leon, like a deity, looked down at his worshipper.
"You can use it to build warships that tear through dimensions."
"You can use it to forge weapons that slay gods."
Leon withdrew his hand.
The small sun floated in front of Faustus, quietly suspended.
"This is your welcome gift."
"And your shackles."
Leon said gently.
"Now, craftsman."
"Tell me your choice."
Faustus looked at the sun.
Then he looked back at his son, who was huddled in his family's arms, scared.
Did he… still have a choice?
"I, Faustus…"
"The Eternals's craftsman…"
"Am willing to serve you."
…In the Quinjet.
Tony Stark shrugged.
"Jarvis…"
"Yes, Sir. Backup power activated."
"Book me a flight to Hawaii."
"I think Earth is too dangerous."
Tony felt that science was not even a joke in front of Leon.
On the terrace.
Leon smiled contentedly.
"Very good."
He patted Faustus on the shoulder, helping him up.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, Sir."
"Arrange rooms for Mr. Faustus and his family. Right below mine."
"Jack's ice cream should be Häagen-Dazs. Install all models of gaming consoles."
"Understood, Sir."
Leon's gaze swept across the lawn again.
Druig was still sitting numbly.
Makkari had stopped teaching, looking thoughtfully at the small sun in front of Faustus.
Pietro slid down from the wall, his eyes filled with deeper despair.
Wanda stood not far away, looking at Leon's back, her small face flushed, her legs squeezed together, her eyes filled with almost fanatical adoration.
"Druig," Leon said.
The gloomy man's body trembled, and he stood up.
"Faustus needs an assistant."
"His forge requires mental power to control."
Leon's tone was unquestionable.
"You are very suitable."
Druig's face turned liver-colored!
He!
The Eternals's spiritual leader!
To be a laborer for Faustus?!
But he… he glanced at the sun in front of Faustus.
He didn't dare to resist.
"Yes."
"Very good."
Leon nodded.
"Makkari."
Makkari immediately straightened up.
"Pietro is too slow."
Leon shook his head.
"Your teaching intensity is not enough."
"Starting tomorrow, Tony's treadmill is yours."
"You are responsible for running on it."
"And he…"
Leon pointed at Pietro.
"Is responsible for chasing outside the treadmill."
"If he can't catch up to you, or rather, if he is shaken to death by the aftershocks you leave behind…"
Leon smiled.
"That can only prove that he is useless."
Makkari: … Pietro's eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.
"Wanda."
"Here! Mr. Leon!" Wanda responded nervously.
"Your reconstruction is too slow."
"Starting tomorrow, your training volume will be increased tenfold."
"Before Tony returns, if you still can't perfectly reconstruct that pot of orchids…"
Leon's smile remained benevolent.
"I will make you reconstruct your brother."
Wanda nodded.
"Yes! I will definitely do it!!"
"Very good."
Leon turned around contentedly and walked back into the Villa's main hall.
"Jarvis, call Tony in."
"Tell him his vacation is canceled."