"Then that means Asgard is gone, and we may be facing creatures from the other Nine Realms in the future, right?"
Tony Stark spoke solemnly. "Whether aliens from other galaxies exist in this world, I can't say for sure. But since the Nine Realms are real, then the creatures from them must also be real."
He paused.
"The dwarves, I won't mention. Based on the myths, they don't seem to be a particularly aggressive race. Plus, they're allies of Asgard. But the others—Flame Titans, Frost Titans, and Dark Elves—pose major problems. Without Asgard's suppression, aren't they already on the move? Do they want to conquer the Nine Realms?"
Tony Stark didn't believe this scenario was far-fetched. After all, it wouldn't be the first time someone in power lit a fire while forbidding others to strike a match.
Asgard once relied on its sheer might to dominate. Why couldn't Earth?
If they could touch the tiger's tail, why not us?
If Asgard could unify the Nine Realms, why can't humanity?
Tony Stark couldn't help but feel a wild impulse in his heart—someday, Earth's humans would become strong enough to unify the Nine Realms too.
Why should that privilege belong to Asgardians alone?
He recalled his earlier conversations with Thor—how Thor was banished to Earth by Odin. Wasn't that because he started a war without authorization?
But as the rightful heir to the throne, why would Thor start a war for no reason?
Sure, Loki's manipulation played a role, but those other realms were clearly stirring too. Though they belonged to Asgard in name, each had their own calculations, their own ambitions. Rebellion wasn't out of the question.
That's why Thor acted—to intimidate them, suppress them, force them to submit to his rule.
If even a behemoth like Asgard, which conquered them in its prime, couldn't keep them fully in check, what chance did Earth have?
Tony Stark was convinced—once Asgard fell, they would waste no time invading Earth.
Why? Because weakness is a crime.
White people understood this best.
These days, they still talk about democracy and freedom. But back then, they didn't even bother. If you were weak, you got beaten. Simple as that.
What did they do to the Native Americans? They skinned them alive, slept with their women, stole their land. Now in America, Native American issues are far more taboo than even the Black issue.
At least Black people were outsiders—some came as slaveowners, others as slaves.
But Native Americans? They were the original inhabitants. And now, even their culture has been almost erased, all so others could become the new masters of North America.
"What to do, what to do!" Tony Stark paced anxiously.
He couldn't control other galaxies, but the chance of an invasion from the Nine Realms was far from unlikely.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., create a new file—one for the Nine Realms. I want profiles on every alien race from there: Flame Titans, Frost Titans, Dark Elves, Dwarves, the Aesir of Asgard—everything. And on that basis, gather every myth and historical document from the Nordic region. I want all the data, even rumors!"
Tony's voice sharpened. "Even if they're unreliable, most screenwriters outside the fourth wall build their backstories off these myths. We can still use them for reference."
"Understood, sir. The files have been created," J.A.R.V.I.S. confirmed.
"And remind me—next time I see Thor, I need to request all of Asgard's archives. Every bit of intel on the Ice Titans, Flame Titans, Dark Elves, Dwarves—everything. No, correction—I want everything about the Nine Realms from him!"
Tony's tone grew grim. "As the Chinese Art of War says: 'If you know your enemy and know yourself, you will not be defeated in a hundred battles.' We can't fight them blind!"
"Understood, sir. The reminder has been logged."
"Also," J.A.R.V.I.S. added, "based on biometric readings, your emotional volatility is dangerously high, and signs of deepening anxiety disorder have been detected. This could affect your physical condition. Would you like me to book a psychiatrist?"
"No need," Tony shook his head.
He knew he was anxious. But more than that, he understood why.
The more he learned, the deeper his dread grew.
In the face of such a terrifying future, how could he not be anxious?
Even though Rowan's diary mentioned saving the world—and saving Tony himself—nothing matched what the diary described anymore.
Any deviation could result in massive changes to the timeline. Tony had no idea how Rowan did it. And at this point, he didn't even want to try replicating it.
That thought alone deepened the pit of dread in Tony Stark's chest.
The only way to fight that anxiety now was to ramp up Earth's defenses—at all costs. Earth must not be defenseless. Even if they were to perish, they should leave teeth marks on their enemies.
"This Rowan... might as well have never come. His appearance only triggered my anxiety!" Tony muttered.
Right now, he'd trade anything for a brain that didn't know such terrifying truths. If Rowan didn't exist, he'd be living his best life—sleeping with women, diving into tech research.
Instead, he was exhausted, sleepless, haunted by nightmares.
Disgusting.
"By the way, has that $100 million we promised him gone through yet?" Tony asked.
"Not yet, sir. The amount is considerable, so Citibank is conducting an extended review," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.
"Those damn bankers!" Tony cursed.
When they begged him to deposit funds, they bent over backwards—nearly bowed down to him. But try to withdraw a cent, and suddenly there were endless complications. "Procedures," they called it. But really, they just didn't want the withdrawal on their books.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., draft me an acquisition plan. See if any of the top 20 banks in the U.S. are up for grabs. I'm done kowtowing to these guys."
"Yes, sir. I recommend Silicon Valley Bank," J.A.R.V.I.S. said calmly.
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