Sigurd, sitting in his spaceship, looked toward the map of the nearby galaxy. After the celebration, he had said goodbye to his family and left Asgard to seek new opportunities.
"It has been more than a week, but where should I even begin? If I am looking for rare ore, Midgard might be the best place."
Sigurd shook his head, reconsidering.
"Earth's resources are somehow linked to its corresponding superhero development. It wouldn't be good to destroy the future for a few ores, and the quantity isn't enough for bulk use. Why waste time?
"Should I look for an Infinity Stone? Although the power contained within them is enough to pose a universe-level threat..."
Then he thought of the TVA.
"...Even Infinity Stones are just a bunch of paperweights there. But why am I thinking so much? At the rate my strength is increasing, even if I don't actively search for opportunities, I will still become powerful enough to handle multiverse-level threats."
Just as Sigurd was lost in his thoughts, he realized someone was sitting beside him. Or rather, he was no longer in his spaceship at all.
The All-Above God looked at Sigurd.
"So, how has your journey been treating you till now?"
Sigurd looked at the same being he had met during his brother's marriage. Then he observed his surroundings. This time, he was in a different place, one he couldn't quite describe. The place sent a chill down his spine, yet his body was devouring cosmic energy as if it had been starving for centuries.
"It has been great till now. But what should I call you? Last time, I didn't even get a chance to ask you a question."
The All-Above God looked at Sigurd, knowing his questions were numerous, but now was not the right time for them.
"You can call me God, if you wish. Your questions will be answered, but today I am here to conduct a trial, one that could be greatly beneficial for you."
Hearing that his questions would go unanswered for now, Sigurd didn't know what to say. But when he heard about a trial, he focused.
"God, what will this trial be about?"
Sigurd looked at God with anticipation.
"This trial will test your will. It will determine whether you can withstand the temptations of power, lust, and whether your moral values will be corrupted."
God looked at Sigurd and spoke again.
"So, do you wish to take part in this trial?"
Sigurd looked at God, uncertain. After all, the being before him was powerful enough to have reincarnated him into this world. But he always felt that this trial contained a real risk, one that even a powerful being considered a genuine chance for his corruption.
If the chance were low, they wouldn't even mention it. He thought for a few minutes, then looked at God.
"What are the chances of me being corrupted?"
God looked at him, as if calculating something.
"If your thoughts are as steadfast as you believe, then fifty-fifty. But as you also have a love for power, the chance of corruption is high. Think carefully."
Sigurd heard this and couldn't help but feel a profound sadness. He had always sought to increase his strength to protect his family, yet in this trial, that very desire might be what corrupts him. He didn't know what to do.
Then he thought of Asgard's fate—in some universes, his father's death was unknown, while in others, it was tied to Loki. His mother's fate was never clearly written. Odin himself died to his son in the cycle of Ragnarok. Frigga also died. And Asgard was ultimately destroyed by Surtur.
Sigurd looked at his hands.
"Destiny can be forged, but without enduring the rough tribulations, no powerhouse is born."
He then looked at God.
"Yes, I will go through the trial."
God looked at him.
"Good. This is the correct choice. Had you said no, this would have been the last time you saw me. I brought you here for a reason. Although it will take a long time, I do not want someone who lacks the guts to move forward."
God didn't give Sigurd a chance to speak further.
"Your trial will be divided into two phases. In the first, you will accompany me to a trial ground where you will be tested to see how much you can resist the corruption of the world. The second phase will be a test of the strength you gain from the ordeal."
Sigurd looked at God with doubt.
"God, am I going to a God Quarry, where ancient gods have fallen?"
God looked at Sigurd and shook his head.
"The place you are going is a God Quarry, but it is very different from the one you know from Thanos's story. Although they share a similar function, this one can corrupt even those who have passed the trial. After all, when large number of multiverse-level powerhouses die, their uncountable numbers enrgy generate a supremely high negative energy that has developed its own consciousness."
Sigurd then recalled the information about the God Quarry.
"According to Thanos's story, when he lost his power, he went to the God Quarry, also called the Quarry of Creation. It is located beyond time and space, accessible through a black hole at the end of the universe.
"Over millions of years, the Quarry of Creation became a place where ancient gods went to die. It was guarded by the Cosmic Coven, a trio of powerful witches who fed on the souls of dead gods. As divine corpses accumulated, it became known as the God Quarry. It also serves as the boundary between all realities and the First Firmament.
"Thanos, who lost his power, went to the God Quarry and faced a trial. He was forced to experience an illusion where he was a member of the Avengers and a celebrated hero on Earth, eventually realizing that none of it was real."
Thinking of this, Sigurd felt more complicated. After all, God was taking him to a God Quarry, but a more dangerous one. Yet, the thought that he might gain power beyond what Thanos ever imagined made him hold his hopes high.