After the enthronement ceremony, a massive celebration feast erupted throughout the palace celebratory halls.
The Vanir were remarkably similar to their Asgardian cousins in this regard - when they celebrated, they did so with legendary excess. Each feast stretched for days, sometimes even lasting a full month.
With lifespans stretching over five millennia for even ordinary Vanir, time held little meaning during such celebrations.
Aegir also found himself swept up in the infectious atmosphere, genuinely enjoying the company of his people after a long time since his early birthdays. He laughed, drank, and even participated in several boisterous toasts that had the entire hall roaring with approval. For one blissful day, he allowed himself to simply be present, to feel the weight of celebration rather than responsibility.
But duty called, as it always did. After ensuring his presence had been properly felt by all, Aegir slipped away from the festivities to handle the endless stream of administrative tasks that came with ruling a realm. Behind him, the sounds of merriment only grew louder - apparently, his departure had been the signal for the truly wild celebrations to begin.
In the quiet of his private chambers, Aegir finally had a moment to breathe.
"System, start a check in!"
The familiar, emotionless voice responded immediately:
[Check in successfully. Analyzing location... Assessment: Standard administrative area. Notable characters in proximity: None detected. Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Super Soldier Serum (No side effect).]
Aegir stared at the small vial that materialized before him, his expression flat. "Seriously? That's it?"
The serum glowed with an otherworldly blue light, undoubtedly the pinnacle of human enhancement technology from Earth. Any human would kill for such a gift. To Aegir, it might as well have been a particularly expensive energy drink.
The fundamental issue was simple biology. The Vanir and Asgardians possessed inherent physical capabilities that dwarfed anything Earth's science could produce. An average Vanir warrior, equipped with basic enchanted gear and minimal training, could single-handedly dismantle Earth's most elite military units. Every soldier in Vanaheim was essentially a superhuman by Earth standards.
The truly elite fighters, like Asgard's famous Warriors Three, possessed strength comparable to Spider-Man. The super soldier serum was utterly useless for beings who already operated at such levels.
This difference explained how Asgard, with merely a couple thousand soldiers at their peak, had conquered and maintained control over the Nine Realms. Well they also had many powerhouses like Hela the goddess of death and even the elite army Valkyrie.
While other realms scrambled to mobilize vast armies, coordinate supply lines, and transport forces across interstellar distances, Asgard simply pointed the Bifrost at an enemy capital and deposited their entire military force directly into the heart of their opponent's power structure. Wars ended before they truly began.
And if direct assault seemed too messy, the Bifrost could simply be used as the universe's most devastating artillery piece, capable of reducing entire worlds to cosmic dust.
"Vanaheim and Asgard are operating in completely different leagues," Aegir muttered, tossing the serum vial onto his desk. "We're not even playing the same game."
The bitter truth was that Vanaheim, despite its ancient glory, had stagnated. During their golden age, they'd possessed magical barriers capable of repelling the threat of Bifrost and any other invasion. But centuries of internal division and civil conflict had left those defenses in ruins, their knowledge scattered or lost entirely.
Most of their technology remained frozen at the level it had reached during their last great war with Asgard. In some areas, they'd actually regressed. The most glaring example was their complete loss of space-faring capabilities. A realm that is still counted among the major powers of the Nine Realms could no longer even leave their own world.
Meanwhile, Asgard possessed the Bifrost - instantaneous travel across galaxies, capable of moving armies or obliterating stars as needed. They also maintained a fleet of ships, as evidenced by their evacuation during Ragnarok. Comparatively, the Vanir lagged behind in every conceivable metric.
The personnel gap was equally daunting. Aegir might currently be the only Vanir capable of standing against Asgard's champions, but Asgard boasted a terrifying roster: Odin the All-Father, Thor the Thunder God, Baldur the Brave, and somewhere in the depths of Hel, the sealed but ever-present threat of Hela, Goddess of Death, commanding her undead legions.
Aegir's worry wasn't entirely misplaced - he could handle Thor in his current state. But that had more to do with Thor's own limitations than Aegir's overwhelming power. The Thunder God was still too arrogant, too reliant on the Mjolnir, too inexperienced in fighting naturally with his element.
Odin, however, was an entirely different proposition. The All-Father wielded Gungnir, channeled the Odin-Force, possessed the Destroyer armor, and had access to Asgard's legendary treasure vault containing artifacts like the Eternal Flame and the Casket of Ancient Winters. Against such accumulated power and millennia of experience, Aegir's raw potential meant little.
Even his newly acquired abilities - divine power rivaling Odin's own and time authority borrowed from Nozdormu, the Dragon of the Ages - were barely developed. He could probably avoid death in a confrontation, but victory was another matter entirely. His inexperience with these powers would be brutally exposed against an opponent of Odin's caliber.
Reliable power was the crucial factor he lacked. There simply wasn't anyone reliable for him to ignore everything and fully master his abilities before the inevitable confrontation.
But Aegir had already begun formulating a strategy. The System, for all its mechanical responses, followed certain patterns. The quality and relevance of rewards increased dramatically when he checked in at locations of significance or in proximity to important individuals.
Also the probability of getting the ability he wants is also more guaranteed if he checks according to the settings like he was too worried about being crowned and the TVA, so he got the power from Njord and Nozdormu.
The implications were clear: if he wanted enhanced time abilities, the Time Variance Authority or the Void where pruned targets end up would be ideal targets.
For technological advancement, Stark Tower or the Baxter Building offered the best possibilities.
Remaining in Vanaheim, waiting for gradual improvement through time and luck, was a losing strategy. He needed to actively seek out opportunities across realms and realities.
A busy life indeed, but the only path forward.
"Sea Lord, there you are!"
Skirnir's voice cut through Aegir's contemplation. The older Vanir approached with his characteristic solemnity.
Aegir suppressed a groan. Skirnir's timing, as always, was impeccable in its inconvenience. "Skirnir, drop the formal title when we're alone. You've known me since I opened my eyes." He gestured toward the distant sounds of celebration. "And why aren't you enjoying this rare moment of actual happiness? The people are celebrating, the realm is united, and for once, we're not dealing with a crisis. Can't whatever serious matter you're brewing wait until tomorrow?"
The moment he saw Skirnir's expression, Aegir's stomach dropped. That particular combination of determination and discomfort meant only one thing - a conversation he absolutely did not want to have.
"My lord—Aegir," Skirnir corrected himself with obvious effort, "while delicious food and fine wine can be enjoyed at any time, there are matters that cannot be delayed indefinitely." His tone carried the weight of absolute conviction. "Some responsibilities transcend personal comfort."
"Oh, great. Here it comes." Aegir's voice dripped with preemptive sarcasm. "What earth-shattering crisis requires my immediate attention this time?"
Skirnir straightened his shoulders, meeting Aegir's gaze directly. "The continuation of the royal bloodline."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
Aegir stared at the old man, his mind completely blank for several long seconds. Of all the things he'd been mentally preparing for, it seems the old man had finally lose it.
"I'm sorry, what?