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CLANG!
Eitri, the Dwarf King, brought his massive forging hammer down for the final strike.
In that singular instant, the intricate relief of the immortal bird etched into the center of the breastplate seemed to awaken, looking as if it were about to tear itself from the metal and take flight.
It was breathtakingly lifelike!
At that same moment, Hawk hovered inside the burning star's core and felt a powerful, deep resonance move through him as Eitri's hammer struck the anvil for the last time.
It was a feeling he couldn't describe, like a deep harmony with the universe.
Hawk opened his eyes the next second.
VMMMM!
As his eyes opened, the eyes of the Phoenix etched onto the breastplate far below began to glow, whirling with gathered golden light.
The golden light pulsed rapidly at first, but quickly found its rhythm, synchronizing perfectly with the beating of Hawk's heart.
Hawk's heart beat.
The Sacred Armor breathed.
Eitri lifted the completed breastplate—the final, masterfully crafted piece bearing the Phoenix relief—and slotted it into the empty space among the other 3,650 components that made up the full armor.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A colossal pillar of crimson-gold light sprang from the newly born Phoenix Gold Cloth, piercing the roof of the forge and shooting straight into the cosmos!
Within that blinding pillar of light, a magnificent, spectral Phoenix, radiating endless golden fire, spread its wings wide. It let out a piercing cry that sounded through the stars. Then, the phantom bird folded its wings and dove, merging seamlessly into the assembled armor below.
Eitri stared at the creation before him, his eyes illuminated with deep excitement.
Another god-tier artifact had been born by his hands.
Feeling the overwhelming presence emitted by the armor, Eitri was completely convinced of one thing: this masterpiece was immensely powerful—much more so than Odin's Gungnir.
Hawk emerged from the stellar forge. He drifted down, his eyes locked on the magnificent creation hovering before him.
His true, destined Gold Cloth!
As the cosmic phenomena surrounding its birth slowly faded, the Phoenix Gold Cloth hovered silently in the air.
But it wasn't truly still. It was breathing. With every beat of Hawk's heart, a liquid, fire-like luster flowed across its golden surface.
It was nothing like the crude, gold-plated Bronze Cloth he had hastily manifested with his Cosmo in the beginning, nor was it like the dark, menacing Black Phoenix Surplice he used as a fallback.
This true Phoenix Gold Cloth lacked the bulky, utilitarian feel of his first creation. Instead, it exuded a deep divine aura, featuring a smooth, flowing design that harmoniously combined sacred elegance with wild intensity.
In short, the Phoenix Cloth before him wasn't just an armor shaped like a phoenix.
With just a thought, Hawk made the Phoenix Cloth break apart. In an instant, all 3,651 pieces flew toward him like a swarm of golden, fiery meteors.
The pieces locked into place, fitting perfectly onto Hawk's body.
As piece after piece covered him, the final components—the breastplate and the visor, crafted exclusively by Eitri's own hands—snapped down.
Hawk and the Phoenix Cloth became one!
He could sense it—a clear, joyful feeling of vitality emanating from the armor surrounding him.
Simultaneously, the armor pulsed in time with Hawk's heartbeat, golden, fire-like energy flaring at every joint and seam.
Hawk looked down and slowly clenched his fist.
As his fingers closed, he felt it: overwhelming power rushing through him. It was enough to crush a star with his bare hands.
This time, it wasn't just a sudden rush of imagined strength.
It was simply the return of the power that was rightfully his.
Once again... A Saint is only truly complete, only truly at the apex of their power, when they don their Cloth.
SKREEE!
A huge, ghostly golden Phoenix burst from Hawk's body, soaring high above Nidavellir. As it spread its wings, the whole Dwarven realm was covered by its golden shadow.
The giant, glowing image of the golden Phoenix was so bright and large that it could be seen even from the farthest parts of space.
The Phantom Phoenix beat its wings, shedding golden, fire-like light. As the light drifted down toward Nidavellir, it transformed into a shower of golden sparks. To anyone standing on the ground looking up, it appeared as if the realm was being bathed in an eternal, golden meteor shower.
And with the appearance of the golden Phoenix came Hawk's voice.
"In the name of the Phoenix, Nidavellir shall reside under my eternal protection!"
His voice sounded divine and allowed no challenge.
Hawk was sending out his first official decree as a new God to the whole World Tree cosmos and beyond, into the main universe.
Yes.
Ascended!
He had comprehended the Seventh Sense, taking his first steps on the path to divinity. True Godhood would only come with the Eighth Sense.
But... By combining what he learned about 'Life' from the Celestial Ego and God King Odin, Hawk had already touched the basics of the Eighth Sense. Now, wearing the Phoenix Gold Cloth.
The synergy between a Saint and their Cloth isn't a simple addition.
It's multiplication.
So, upon donning the Phoenix Cloth, Hawk had effectively ascended.
He might be a temporary God, but Dimensional Gods remain true Gods. A temporary God still holds divine status—and more importantly, he was a Chief God!
Hawk's declaration spread out from Nidavellir in all directions at the speed of light, followed by the sharp, metallic cry of the Phoenix.
SKREEE!
But this declaration wasn't meant for everyone.
Hawk's proclamation of protection over Nidavellir wasn't broadcast on a frequency that ordinary mortal lifeforms could hear.
It was targeted. Aimed directly at the countless Dimensional Lords, planetary Celestials, and Pantheon Heads scattered across the universe.
When his declaration, carried on the cry of the Phoenix, spread across a populated planet at the speed of light, the ordinary citizens went about their day, completely oblivious. But the Celestial residing within that planet paled instantly. Upon hearing the Phoenix's cry, a horrifying montage involuntarily forced its way into their mind.
Battle.
Genocide.
Battle.
Extinction.
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Every Dimensional Lord... planetary Celestial... and Pantheon Head who received the broadcast shared the exact same reaction: dead-serious, grim silence.
Because the montage wasn't a bluff, it was the bloody history of this newly declared Chief God, Phoenix. It was the path he had carved to reach his throne.
Hawk's broadcast wasn't a peaceful introduction. It was a threat.
In a word:
Nidavellir is mine.
Hands off!
Touch it, and your entire race dies.
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"This Phoenix..."
"Where did he come from?"
"A God of the Shi'ar Empire?"
"Aren't the Shi'ar Gods Sharra and K'ythri?"
"Then who the hell is this Phoenix?"
"A new ascension?"
"He's a Chief God, not just a Celestial."
"He moves fast. The World Tree hasn't even fully collapsed into our universe yet, and he's already staked a claim on Nidavellir."
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. I'm light-years away from Nidavellir anyway."
"Same here."
"Show's over, folks. Move along. He's a Chief God. I'm just a Dimensional Lord. 'God' might be in my title, but to a Chief God, I'm just a bug."
"Hey, Dormammu, weren't you just saying..."
As Hawk's warning rippled throughout the universe, the telepathic chatter among the cosmic deities slowly died down.
After all, Nidavellir was part of the World Tree, and the World Tree hadn't fully merged into the primary universe yet. Furthermore, the Solar System sector was notoriously desolate. Very few deities lived nearby, and even fewer had any interest in the area.
So, they simply made a mental note to cross Nidavellir off their lists, acknowledging that it was now under the protection of a Chief God named Phoenix—a God whose debut was defined by war and annihilation. As long as they stayed away, everything would be fine.
At the same time—
A massive dreadnought, having just reduced Xandar to ash, was tearing through space at maximum warp, heading straight for Nidavellir. Upon receiving Hawk's declaration, the gargantuan ship performed an impossible maneuver, going from faster-than-light travel to a complete stop instantly, defying all known laws of physics.
It was like a speeding car suddenly slamming on the brakes after realizing it was about to drive straight off a cliff.
The interior of the massive dreadnought abandoned conventional, scientific layouts. Instead, it was designed to resemble a miniaturized cosmos contained within the ship's hull.
And amidst this simulated field of stars sat a single, imposing throne.
Upon the throne sat a massive, purple-skinned warlord.
Thanos. The Mad Titan. A descendant of the Eternals!
Yes, Thanos was technically an Eternal.
Surprising, isn't it?
But unlike the Eternals currently hiding out on Earth, Thanos, while sharing their lineage, was a mutant.
His signature purple skin, his ridged, formidable chin, and his abnormally massive, imposing physique were all undeniable proof of his mutation.
Rumor had it that this mutation stemmed from the Deviant gene.
The Deviants were sworn, eternal enemies of the Eternals, known for their distinctive purple skin.
As everyone is aware, the Deviants were also formed by the Celestials. They had a uniquely dangerous and powerful trait that was highly disruptive.
The more they killed, the stronger they got.
So, as a mutated Eternal with the Deviant gene, Thanos inherited this frightening power. After destroying his home world—Titan—his strength grew to match that of a lesser Celestial.
And as time went on, his strength only continued to grow.
Finally, with his power at its peak, Thanos was no longer satisfied with purging planets one by one.
He had devised a permanent solution. A plan that, once executed, would allow him to finally retire, watch the sunrise on a grateful universe, and live out his days in peace.
And so, just moments ago.
Thanos had decimated Xandar, successfully acquiring the first Infinity Stone.
The Power Stone.
With the Power Stone in his grasp, Thanos set his sights on Nidavellir, the forge of the World Tree.
He intended to compel the Dwarven blacksmiths to create an Infinity Gauntlet. By doing so, he could harness the power of all six stones, snap his fingers, and randomly eliminate half of all life in the universe to restore balance.
Don't wonder how he discovered the Gauntlet... The Eternals of Titan are known for their very long lifespans. These lengthy lives meant that stories like Odin's effort to collect the Infinity Stones and create a gauntlet became part of their tradition.
So, having just razed Xandar and secured the Power Stone, Thanos ordered his dreadnought to set a direct course for the Solar System.
But just now—
The very second his dreadnought crossed the threshold into the Solar System Sector.
Hawk's declaration slammed into his mind.
"In the name of the Phoenix, Nidavellir shall reside under my eternal protection!!!"
"..."
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