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The Enigmatic Flower

Upon hearing this, Carter and Old Stark couldn't hide their surprise.

While to ordinary people, Paladins were legendary figures, as high-ranking leaders in the Strategic Science Corps, they knew that Paladins did indeed exist in the world.

There were occasional appearances of Paladins in the Latin American liberation movements, and there were even rumors that Bolivar himself was a Paladin.

However, before this, they knew very little about the Paladins and their true origins. It was unexpected that the mysterious Paladin on Earth had a connection with Forseti.

Old Stark glanced at Carter and remarked, "It appears the historians were correct. This sun god has been quite active in our world and seems to hold a particular fondness for Earth."

Carter nodded in agreement.

The historian continued, "Regarding Forseti, the Norse mythology provides the most detailed descriptions. In Norse mythology, he is portrayed as one of the Aesir who assisted Odin in driving away the Frost Giants."

The name Odin was well-known to most people. Curious, Carter asked, "So Forseti is an Aesir god?"

"Yes, Forseti is indeed an Aesir—specifically, he is known as the sun god Forseti," confirmed the historian.

He concluded, "... Furthermore, we suspect that aspects of Forseti's origins may also be reflected in the image of Apollo, such as associations with light, healing, and his occasional identification as a sun god in Athenian records. However, concrete evidence is lacking, and further research by professional mythologists is needed."

"These are the documents and reports we have compiled." The historian placed a stack of papers in front of Carter.

Carter smiled gratefully. "Thank you for your hard work."

The historians waved off the thanks. "It was our pleasure. I think we can stay up another three nights. To personally uncover the true identity of the ancient sun god—this monumental work has been incredibly exhilarating!"

After they departed, only Carter and Old Stark remained in the room.

"A god..." Carter picked up a medieval painting.

After a moment of silence, Old Stark sighed deeply. "Since the inception of the Strategic Science Corps, you and I have encountered countless mysteries. Never did I imagine we'd one day lay eyes upon the legendary gods themselves... Truly, human progress lies in discovering our own insignificance in history."

"In the presence of such a god, all we can do is marvel at his benevolence toward mankind."

...

Following their departure from the Strategic Science Corps building in New York, Forseti and Starhawk couple remained on Earth for a few more days.

During this period, Starka and Aletta agreed that Earth was a uniquely special planet. Despite its unassuming appearance, humanity had only just begun to ascend to the ranks of interstellar civilizations.

Yet, every visitor to Earth could sense its mysteries, its uniqueness, and the vast potential of human civilization. Otherwise, cosmic powers wouldn't be keeping a watchful eye here, nor would ancient masters of such formidable strength make appearances.

Several days later, they departed with Yondu, returning to the cosmos to unite with allies everywhere in the battle against Thanos' interstellar army.

Kruger chose to remain behind in the Sanctum Sanctorum, hoping to receive tutelage in magic from the Ancient One. It was evident that he harbored a deep fascination with the mystical arts of the Sanctum.

In their ongoing struggle against Thanos, although Forseti's forces were often outnumbered, their strength never faltered, frequently emerging victorious.

Moreover, reinforcements from various star systems continued to join them, gradually closing the numerical gap and repeatedly thwarting the actions of Thanos' legion, thereby bolstering their courage.

In addition to their victories on various planets, Asgard garnered considerable renown.

Previously feared as the realm of gods throughout the universe, Asgard was now not only respected but also increasingly admired by many civilizations. Previously, during Odin's early reign, Asgard had been known as a conqueror, and even an aggressor, actively intervening across the vast universe.

Even before Odin's time, Asgard had been renowned for its valor and martial prowess, compelling many civilizations to approach it with caution.

Aiding weaker civilizations against invaders was a role Asgard had never before assumed, profoundly altering perceptions of it among other civilizations.

Gradually, more and more civilizations, particularly the weaker ones, began to genuinely respect Asgard, a rare windfall indeed.

One particular day,

On a planet within the Milky Way, Forseti led his troops to yet another victory over Thanos' legion.

"Boom!" His figure, resembling a golden-winged angel, streaked across the sky like a vibrant rainbow, piercing through the command ship of the invaders. The battleship erupted into flames, the fiery inferno engulfing the shattered vessel.

With the destruction of the command ship, the battle concluded officially, leaving only the clean-up of debris and the restoration of order.

Forseti descended gracefully from the sky. It was then that a small red light suddenly caught his keen eyes.

"What's that?"

Forseti peered down and noticed the tiny light on a mountain slope below.

In Holy Light's field of vision, the red glow indicated the presence of an evil entity. Oddly, however, the source didn't seem to move at all. Forseti observed it for a while, but it remained inert, resembling an inanimate object.

Puzzled, Forseti turned and flew toward the location. Soon, he arrived at a mountain shrouded in lush vegetation, where knee-high flowers and grasses blanketed the ground, their verdant leaves almost entirely blocking the sun.

At the mountain's summit—a rocky, steeply inclined terrain, relatively barren and secluded—Forseti discovered the mysterious source of light.

As he drew closer, Forseti grew increasingly perplexed.

The object was remarkably tiny, roughly the size of a palm. Forseti struggled to fathom how such a small entity could embody evil.

Soon, the answer revealed itself:

A flower.

To be precise, a flower-like plant unlike any Forseti had ever encountered—a species entirely unfamiliar to him.

The flower was exquisitely beautiful, comprising three distinct layers: an outermost layer of delicate green leaves resembling pine needles, a middle layer of pink, mesh-like petals, and at its heart, a faintly glowing blue orb.

This globular core, emitting a soft blue light, resembled a pulsating heart, radiating enigmatic energy fluctuations...

Gazing at this captivating yet perplexing flower, Forseti furrowed his brow.

An evil plant? What in the universe...