Chapter 356: Alchemical Research

It was a brutal battle. Of the hundred soldiers Asgard sent to Earth, more than half were lost. Yet, they felt no sadness for their losses; their accomplishments were truly honorable. Not only did they annihilate the soldiers who descended from the Dark Elf flagship, ending the eternal enmity between Asgardians and Dark Elves, but they also hunted many beasts from other realms—another problem caused by the Convergence. Numerous creatures from other worlds had entered London, leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. and the British government to handle the aftermath. Some of these creatures were extremely dangerous, so even as the portals in the sky over London began to close, the citizens could not yet lower their guard.

Firearms were not common in London. If this had happened in Manhattan's Clinton district, the residents would have likely taken up arms against the alien creatures. Of course, the number of accidental injuries would also have been higher. Agent Coulson wanted the issue resolved as quickly as possible. During a food resupply mission, he sought the assistance of Thor and Solomon, who were still on Earth.

Loki wanted to respond, but his brother stepped on his toes, holding him in place. Thor volunteered for the task, and the Einherjar warriors resting in the cargo bay did not object. Defying the monarch's orders would amount to treason, and they were not foolish enough for that. Moreover, Thor would fight alongside them, and as long as they were careful, creatures from Jotunheim, Muspelheim, and Alfheim wouldn't pose much of a threat.

Regarding the handling of the Aether, Agent Coulson initially wanted to propose a plan, but under Solomon's icy gaze, he refrained. Solomon already had a plan, one he had prepared during his studies at Asgard's palace: four vials engraved with seals representing the four elements. These vials would harness the power of the elemental planes to divide the Aether into four parts. Two would be stored in Asgard, and two in Midgard. This arrangement satisfied the requirement that the Infinity Stones not be kept too close together while ensuring the Aether's safety.

The days of simply hiding such items in an uninhabited place with a booby trap were long gone. Humans had proliferated across Earth like rabbits, and who could guarantee that a hiding spot wouldn't be stumbled upon in a few hundred years?

Kamar-Taj and the Asgardian vault were the safest locations in the Nine Realms. Storing the Aether in Kamar-Taj was far better than leaving it in the wilderness, where it might be discovered by some nameless adventurer.

"We've brought in a few experts from London to help S.H.I.E.L.D. handle the incident," Coulson said with a tinge of helplessness.

In the past, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s goal was always to keep ordinary people away from supernatural events. But whether it was New York or this time in London, ordinary citizens needed only to look up to see aliens, leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. scrambling to clean up the aftermath. Issues like biohazard containment, cultural shocks, and economic repercussions (London property prices would inevitably drop) were now their responsibility. Dr. Erik Selvig had also joined the team of experts. His disdain for pants made him stand out among the well-dressed older specialists.

Another person who stood out was the youngest member of the group. She wore a black jacket and had her dark hair tied back in a ponytail. When Melinda escorted them onto the aerial bus, this young woman stayed at the back, walking alongside the cultural experts. Supposedly, she was the daughter of a friend of an archaeologist, had just graduated from university, and even held a noble title.

To Solomon, however, the woman seemed somewhat foolish. The moment she boarded the aerial bus, she was captivated by the design and patterns of Solomon's armor, particularly the holy sword at his waist, which captured all her attention.

"That's the Sword of Breaking Steel, isn't it? I remember seeing it on TV," she asked suddenly, pointing at the holy sword. Her face immediately turned red, her youthful awkwardness contrasting sharply with the old experts in suits. "I'm sorry, I should introduce myself first," she said shyly. "Hello, I'm Lara Croft... Do you mind telling me your name, or should I just call you King Arthur?"

"King Arthur was blond, actually. I'm still an apprentice in the Knights of the Round Table. For the record, I only heard about Arthur's hair color; it's not historically accurate. Solomon Damonet, pleased to meet you, Miss Croft. If you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to."

"Of course, of course."

Skye led the experts up the spiral staircase, throwing an exasperated look at the mystic. "I have no idea what's in store for your future," the rookie S.H.I.E.L.D. agent said in an oddly mature tone. "Why didn't you talk to her for a bit longer? That girl seems really interested in you, and she's a noble, too!"

"So am I," Solomon shrugged, remaining where he was. Sif, who had just awakened, was now tasked with watching over a freshly shackled Loki. Agent Melinda May was busy hunting wild alien creatures in London alongside Thor and some veteran Asgardians.

"You know that's not what I meant!" Skye stomped her foot in frustration.

"Uh-huh." Seeing Agent May return with Thor, Solomon decided to end the conversation. "Next time, Skye. I suggest practicing your marksmanship—you're probably the weakest one on this plane."

"I think that girl's nice," the Sorcerer Supreme teased, clearly enjoying the drama. "Just let her see your holy sword, and she'll probably never leave you. You've got so many antiques around, and she's even older than you. What more do you want? You're far too serious, my dear apprentice. I promise I won't tell the witch about this."

"You said that last time, too." Solomon rolled his eyes, not believing a word. He was currently in a small wooden cabin in rural Norway, delivering the Aether to the Sorcerer Supreme. His method of dividing the Aether had been approved by both the Allfather and the Sorcerer Supreme. After seeing Thor's group off as they returned to Asgard, Solomon had rushed here to hand over the Aether.

The Sorcerer Supreme praised Solomon's sealing magic. As Solomon had suspected, all Infinity Stones possessed consciousness, and the Aether was no exception. His seals effectively suppressed its power and sentience, significantly weakening the crimson liquid within the vial. The Sorcerer Supreme handed one of the vials to her apprentice.

"You can study this Philosopher's Stone," she said. "It will help you make great strides in alchemy. One day, if you achieve the level of Paracelsus, I wouldn't be surprised. You can even use Paracelsus's dagger to assist your research, and your homunculus could use a slight upgrade. But first, you'll need to return to New York—" she pulled out the phone Solomon had left there "—the witch has called you several times. I'm not against setting your girlfriend's photo as your wallpaper, but doing so like this is really lacking in manliness."

Lara was born in 1992, graduated in 2013, and had just begun her adventures.

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