52 - Cloaks and Conundrums

The notion of Asgard's warriors—already formidable in defense and attack—gaining the stealth of an assassin mage was staggering.

While enemies stood vigilant, an invisible strike could catch them off guard.

Asgardians were near-unstoppable as it was. If they could all turn invisible, they'd be invincible!

"Did you succeed?" Loki's voice carried a hint of gloom.

The invisibility cloak's success was unwelcome news for him.

Invisibility magic was his signature; if everyone could wield it, his uniqueness would vanish.

Aaron nodded, passing the cloak to the group for inspection. "Here it is."

"Can I try it?" Thor asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Of course."

Thor snatched the cloak, draping it over his shoulders, muttering, "The color's off. It doesn't match mine. Red would suit my armor better."

"Thor, this wasn't made for you. If you don't like it, let someone else try," Aaron said, reaching for the cloak.

Thor dodged nimbly. "Just kidding! Black's fine. Maybe add some color later."

"By the way, can you still see me?"

"Say 'invisible' in your mind to activate it. Say 'disable' to turn it off," Aaron explained.

Thor raised an eyebrow. "Sounds fancy."

"Invisible!"

A golden shimmer enveloped the cloak, and Thor vanished.

"It worked! I'm really invisible!" Thor's voice echoed.

The others were astonished.

Fandral stepped forward, probing where Thor had stood.

Nothing.

"Huh?"

"Thor, you—hey, don't touch my butt!" Fandral yelped as a hand patted his back. He drew his sword, spinning warily. "Alright, Thor, I'm finding you today, and those hands are coming off!"

Fandral lunged, searching for Thor, but found nothing.

Vostagg, seeing Fandral's plight, drew his axe, guarding his rear. "Stay back!"

Sif unsheathed her sword, her gaze sharp. "Thor, you know what's off-limits."

Even Hogan, typically silent, readied his meteor hammer, swinging it defensively.

Thor, watching their reactions, felt a twinge of trouble. His eyes landed on Loki.

The perfect target.

Loki was focused, scouring for Thor's traces, oblivious to the Three Warriors' actions.

As an archmage, he scoffed at needing such defenses against Thor.

He could forgive failing to spot Aaron's invisibility, but missing an enchanted cloak? Unacceptable.

Logically, an enchantment's power shouldn't rival the caster's.

But with Aaron, Loki wasn't certain.

Lost in thought, Loki didn't notice Thor creeping behind him.

Smack!

A sharp slap disrupted Loki's focus.

He turned, teeth gritted. "Brother, you dare…"

Smack!

"…"

"I'll end you!"

Furious, Loki unleashed an energy explosion, chaotic power surging around him.

A blast rocked the area, scattering debris.

"Stop, stop! It was a joke!" Thor reappeared outside the blast radius, pleading with Loki.

"A joke? Try this!" Loki's expression was cold as he summoned a writhing venomous snake beside Thor.

"Not again!" Thor groaned. "You won't stab me this time."

Summoning Mjolnir, Thor swatted the snake away. "Loki, you turned into a snake and stabbed me when I was eight. You think I'll fall for it again?" he said smugly.

"Hmph!" Loki snorted, frustrated.

He couldn't overpower Thor physically.

Drat! Thor had bested him!

And it was Aaron's fault!

Loki shot Aaron a glare. Without that confoundingly effective invisibility cloak, he wouldn't have been humiliated publicly.

Worse, the Three Warriors witnessed it.

By tomorrow, Asgard would buzz with the tale: Shock! In broad daylight, Prince Loki was publicly schooled by Thor!

No, he couldn't dwell on it.

Perhaps staying indoors for a few days was wiser, given the "unfavorable" weather.

"This is fantastic, Aaron! Can I keep it? It's so much fun," Thor said, fondling the cloak.

"No way!" the others shouted in unison.

"Anyone but you!" Vostagg added.

"Thor, you're the God of Thunder. Sneaky tricks aren't your style," Sif said firmly.

"Hand it over for safekeeping," Fandral chimed in.

Sif seized the cloak, her gaze piercing. "I'm reporting this to the God-King. No one uses this without his permission."

"And if I catch anyone sneaking into the women's bathhouse with it…" She glared. "Especially you, Fandral!"

The cloak's primary function—stealth—could enable access to any place.

For women, this was a grave concern.

Sif's stern warning underscored the need to prevent misuse.

Thor's antics had proven the cloak's potency. Even seasoned warriors like them couldn't detect him. Loki, an archmage, had been thoroughly outmaneuvered.

If Thor, typically forthright, could turn mischievous with the cloak, what of others?

Without countermeasures, widespread use could be catastrophic.

Fandral raised his hands under Sif's sharp stare. "I'm not that guy."

"I know exactly who you are, playboy," Sif retorted.

"Alright, you win…" Fandral shrugged, silenced.

Facing Sif's resolve, none dared argue.

Not out of chivalry, but because Sif was the fiercest among them.

She was Asgard's most formidable warrior, having overcome mockery to prove women could be the strongest.

Excluding royals like Odin and Thor, of course.

"Aaron, if you have more cloaks, don't give them out until I return," Sif said earnestly.

"No issue. I haven't made many," Aaron replied nonchalantly.

"Thank you."

Sif strode off with the cloak, resolute.

The others exchanged glances, silent.

After a moment, Fandral's eyes lit up. "Besides the cloak, got anything else?"

"I do," Aaron said with a sly smile.

Asgard

The coronation preparations intensified, the Golden Palace alive with anticipation.

Aaron's return had been perfectly timed.

Loki's scheme was in motion, the Frost Giant incursion imminent.

Aaron would let the chaos erupt, positioning himself to seize the Casket of Ancient Winters.

His encounter with Thor's group had been a minor detour, but the cloak's demonstration served a purpose.

It reinforced his image as a dedicated mage, deflecting suspicion.

More crucially, it sowed a seed of distraction.

If Sif reported the cloak to Odin, it might divert attention from Aaron's true plans.

Loki's reaction was telling. His unease hinted at his awareness of Aaron's growing prowess.

Good. Let him stew.

Aaron proceeded to the Magic Academy, intent on learning from Frigga while monitoring Loki.

Frigga's magic would enhance his arsenal, and keeping Loki in sight ensured he could anticipate the trickster's moves.

The coronation was days away.

When the Frost Giants struck, Aaron would be poised to act.

Jotunheim

Aaron's time at the Fountain of Wisdom had transformed him.

His level 5 skills, bolstered by near-infinite energy, made him a first-class superhero.

Enchantment magic promised to elevate him further.

An artifact imbued with his spells could redefine his combat potential.

But the Casket remained his priority.

Laufey's demise was personal, the Casket his key to boundless energy.

The chaos of the coronation would be his window.

The Galaxy

Ayesha's mages delved deeper into the Magic Network.

Its power was transformative, offering the Sovereign a path to autonomy.

The God of Magic's legend grew, his feats a beacon of possibility.

Betraying the Supreme Evolutionary was no longer a fleeting thought but a tangible goal.

Adam Warlock's mission continued, a facade to mask Ayesha's true agenda.

The Supreme Evolutionary, fixated on 89P13, remained blind to the shifting tides.

The Magic Network's influence swelled, reshaping the cosmos.

Earth

Zola's teleporter was nearly complete.

His spatial experiments had unwittingly fueled the Magic Network's multiversal spread.

Its tendrils now anchored in new realities, awaiting activation.

Aaron, sensing this, finalized his network upgrades.

The multiverse was within reach.

But Asgard's turmoil demanded his focus.

The Casket, Laufey, and the coronation's chaos were his immediate priorities.

In the Golden Palace's festive glow, Aaron moved unseen, a predator poised for the hunt.

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