The silence among the Avengers was palpable, the weight of Michael's words sinking in like a stone in deep water.
Bruce was the first to speak. "You're saying this Chthon… could actually come through? Physically?"
Michael nodded. "If the Darkhold is used too many times, or if someone powerful enough finishes the rites in its final pages—yes. The veil will break. And when it does, he won't sneak in like Dormammu tried. He'll walk in, and everything—magic, science, gods, humans—will be irrelevant."
Steve stood rigid. "And you thought stealing it yourself was the answer?"
Michael met his gaze evenly. "I didn't steal it to use it. I stole it so no one else could."
Natasha narrowed her eyes. "You could've told someone. Anyone."
Michael's expression soured. "Would they have listened? Would Fury have handed it over? Would the Council have said, 'Oh sure, mysterious sorcerer man, take our cosmic evil book?' No. They'd run experiments. Try to harness it. Like they always do."
Tony rubbed his temples. "Unfortunately, he's not wrong."
Thor finally broke his silence, stepping forward with a solemn look. "I have heard whispers of Chthon in the Halls of Asgard. A name spoken only in old prophecies. Even the All-Father feared him."
Michael gave a dry chuckle. "Smart man, your All-Father."
Clint looked around, still stunned. "So what now? What's the plan, oh mysterious sorcerer guy?"
Michael's smirk returned. "Now? Now we make sure no one finishes what SHIELD accidentally started. I've hidden the Darkhold where no one—no one—can reach it."
"And we're just supposed to leave it in your hands?" Natasha asked, arms folded.
" The Sorcerers have kept the Stone hidden from anyone , So, you can believe me I can keep it hidden too"
"What stone?" Steve asked.
"The Infinity Stone," Michael replied. With a wave of his hand, their souls returned to their bodies in a soft flash.
"Now let me show you something else," Michael said, lifting his hand and conjuring a projection of the Tesseract, glowing blue and pulsing with power.
"You all know this as the Tesseract. A cube, yes—but more than that. It's a vessel that holds an infinite source of power," he began.
"And it is Infinity Stone of Space" he continued.
Thor tensed. "Infinity Stone!" he exclaimed.
"Infinity what now?" Cap asked, looking at Thor.
Thor nodded grimly. "Infinity Stones are legendary. Said to be shards of the primordial forces of the universe. Each one holds dominion over an aspect of reality. In the wrong hands… even a mortal can kill a god."
"That's an exaggeration," Michael said. "But not by much. A mortal trying to wield one without preparation? He'll likely blow himself apart. But in the hands of someone powerful—it can elevate them beyond comprehension."
With another flick of his fingers, Michael reshaped the cube into the shining blue Space Stone.
"There are six Infinity Stones," he explained. "Time, Space, Soul, Reality, Mind, and Power. The Tesseract you all knew was actually the Space Stone. It bends and warps space to the user's will."
He pointed to Thor. "And Asgard was tasked with protecting it after it as discovered but somehow, it ended up on Earth. And in the hands of humans."
"I didn't even know it was from Asgard," Thor muttered. "We thought it was just some powerful relic from Ancient time of Earth."
Michael nodded. "Earth is unique. It's linked to things far older and darker than most understand. The Time Stone, for instance, is housed in the Eye of Agamotto—wielded by the Sorcerer Supreme."
"And who is this… Sorcerer Supreme?" Natasha asked, frowning.
Michael raised a brow. "Don't worry. You'll know her when you see her. She can see across time, space, and into your soul."
Natasha muttered, "Wonderful."
"As if the present situation wasn't bad enough, now we're supposed to worry about a woman who sees time itself," Tony said with a sigh.
"Don't worry she only see future to Protect Earth" Michael waved his hand and said "Anyway, back to the point—the Mind Stone was in Loki's scepter."
"I knew it!" Tony snapped his fingers. "I always thought there was more to that thing."
Tony paused, then glanced at Michael. "Which means, as of now, you have two Infinity Stones in your possession—the Space Stone from the Tesseract, and the Mind Stone from Loki's scepter."
"And?" Michael replied, tilting his head casually.
"Don't 'and' me," Tony snapped.
"You now hold three weapons of mass destruction," Steve added firmly. "It's only natural that we're concerned."
Michael rolled his eyes. "At least I'm not experimenting on them like your precious Director once did."
"Still," Steve continued, "we can't just let all three remain in your hands. There needs to be some oversight."
"None," Michael said flatly. "They're mine, and I'm keeping them safe."
Thor stepped forward. "You said Asgard was tasked with keeping the Space Stone safe. So shouldn't it be returned to me?"
Michael raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? You mean the same Asgard that let it fall to Earth and didn't even know it had left your vault?"
"I had been lazy and prideful foolish prince, but now I'm here to make it right," Thor said, firmly. "I ask you to entrust it to me, as its rightful keeper."
Michael considered him for a moment. "Alright then, but I'll set a condition."
"I didn't agree to any conditions," Thor said.
Michael smirked. "Then don't bother asking. But if you do want the Space Stone... find and defeat your sister first. Only then will I allow you to claim it."
"It's an impossible condition!" Thor slammed his hand on the table. "Just say you don't want to give it to me."
"What's impossible about it?" Clint asked, raising an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you don't have a sister?"
"I don't," Thor said firmly. "I would know if I had one."
"Okay, that's either denial," Clint muttered, then shot a glance at Michael, "or some well-hidden royal secret."
Michael folded his arms and gave a dry look. "Don't stare at me like I made it up. He does have a big sister. Just because he doesn't know his own Asgardian history doesn't make it my fault."
Clint blinked. "Wait—you're serious?"
Michael gestured vaguely. "It's not a bedtime story they tell in the golden halls of Asgard, I guess. Doesn't change the truth."
Thor looked visibly unsettled, unsure whether to deny it again or press further.
*******
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