Sigurd also began training his wife, Natasha, for future troubles. He even asked Odin to bless her with power, which accelerated her growth. She also started learning magic from Frigga, which kept her busy and integrated within Asgard.
With his multiverse-level power, Sigurd started to feel life was too easy. There were very few beings left who could challenge him, yet he maintained his vigilance.
Time passed. Asgard, often a center of conflict, experienced a period of unusual peace. Hela was focused on catching up to her uncle's strength, so she did not agitate for war. However, there were still instances of conflict between Odin and Hela, though Sigurd's presence always helped defuse them. Ragnarok, which had been Sigurd's main concern, never came to pass—a outcome he attributed to his own overwhelming strength.
Similarly, the enigmatic beings known as Those Who Sit Above in Shadow did not appear to feed on the cycle of Asgard's destruction, likely because the prophesied Ragnarok had been averted.
Sigurd began to roam across the universe with Natasha, even visiting different realities. He was enjoying his existence, basking in the glory of his power and station.
This peace was disrupted when Sigurd learned that Odin had imprisoned Hela—an outcome he hadn't foreseen. The reason was Hela's slaughter of the Valkyrie warriors, an act that had enraged Odin. Sigurd looked upon the situation with regret, but he couldn't control everything. He consoled himself with the thought that at least lives had been saved.
As more time passed, Odin's second son, Thor, was born, accompanied by grand phenomena across Asgard with thunder echoing everywhere. Sigurd observed this and knew Thor was a central figure in this world, his entry as grand as ever. Soon after, Odin brought the infant Loki to Asgard, which surprised Sigurd, as Odin had not consulted him.
Sigurd settled into a life of leisure, though his married life was not without its own turmoil. Natasha expressed a desire for a child, but as a powerful god, producing an offspring was inherently difficult. Still, he sought counsel and tried.
Years flowed into centuries. Odin ruled the Nine Realms as a wise king, while Thor was nurtured with the belief that eliminating enemies was the wisest course. Loki, too, began his own complex journey, maneuvering to be seen as a worthy prince and future king.
As the modern era began on Midgard, Sigurd and Natasha visited to witness the first public appearance of Captain America. Sigurd, who had always been content, began to feel as if the world was moving in fast-forward, hurtling toward an unseen destination.
A deep unease settled over him. Something felt fundamentally wrong. He began to meticulously recount his past, searching for the point where things had diverged, but he couldn't pinpoint it.
Determined, Sigurd began to observe his surroundings not with his power, but with his soul, peering through the layers of reality itself. What he saw shocked him.
"What the hell is leaching into my body? What is happening?"
His entire form was covered in a clinging, inexplicable black mist, as if some entity was feeding on him directly.
Now, Sigurd began to recall what was missing.
"The Correct God told me the trial would be difficult, but I passed it easily. That shouldn't be right."
Then, as if remembering a crucial detail:
"No, God told me he needed me to assist his friend. So how did I end up in a different Marvel reality? Could it be... that I am still in the trial? Am I still being tested?"
With this horrifying realization, Sigurd, once so confident, began to focus all his will on clearing his mind and shattering the illusion constructed by the God Quarry. If he failed, he would be nothing more than a puppet.
As Sigurd struggled within his mind, his physical body in the real world began to stir.
At the same time, outside the God Quarry...
The God looked at Sigurd's body, which was now almost completely covered in the black mist.
"Little guy, you need to break free from this illusion before the mist consumes you completely."
God knew Sigurd was trapped in an illusion, but he could not interfere. Strength could not be forged without pressure, and even as the creator of this Marvel universe, he could not break the very laws he had established.
As he watched, the God suddenly saw a tremor run through Sigurd's body. He knew then that Sigurd had realized the truth of his predicament.
"So, he's starting to break the illusion. Good. I bet on the right person after all. I was beginning to doubt if he could survive the pressure." The God laughed heartily, watching as the black mist began to recede from Sigurd's form.
Elsewhere, the One Above All, who had claimed indifference, was nonetheless observing the progress.
"So, the little guy is breaking free. Excellent. I must go there myself; otherwise, that fellow will never introduce us."
With that thought, the One Above All vanished from his domain.
Simultaneously, deep within the Earth's core, a dark creature sensed a shift in her power.
"That 'God' is using my domain as a trial ground? He still doesn't take me seriously. But this little one... he has a formidable will. If he had been corrupted, I might have gained a powerful weapon to use against that bastard."
The Mother of Horrors then reflected on her past conflict with the One Above All and shook her head in resignation.
"Let this pass. I am still not his match. I shall wait."
She then turned her gaze toward the edge of all existence, where a immense barrier stood. Even her eyes could not see what lay beyond it.
"So, trouble is coming."
A low, chilling laugh escaped her. "Hehehe. So, those guys are finally going to have a tough time. But if 'they' truly break through, even I will not be spared."
Her attention returned to Sigurd, who was fighting desperately to free himself from the black mist.
"Let me give this little one a nudge. After all, he might just be the variable that changes the situation."