Sigurd, who was struggling to free himself from the illusion, started to feel it breaking slowly.
Just then, the One-Above-All appeared near the quarry.
The One-Above-All observed the situation, then turned his gaze toward the center of Prime Earth, where the Mother of Horrors was detained by him.
"She helped him. Has her insanity returned? After all, she has been looking for ways to defeat me. She changed her mind. If so, it might be beneficial for the future."
God looked at the arrival of the One-Above-All. The Mother of Horrors had interfered in the process of the trial, which was a dangerous act. She was the only being the One-Above-All did not create. Her existence was natural, something even he could not define.
"What do you think we should do? Even if we torture her in the future, it might not be useful. After all, what you and I cannot interfere with, she can. But her character is one of the most dangerous aspects."
Hearing God's words, the One-Above-All shook his head.
"I will try to minimize the punishment so as not to break her spirit. But she must at least feel the danger approaching. Let's see if she can truly change her nature. Still, these things are for the future. Can we guarantee he will survive until the time comes?"
Then they stopped speaking about her and looked toward Sigurd, who was breaking free from the illusion.
Sigurd looked at the world crumbling around him and knew he had broken through. Yet, he still looked toward the visages of his family and his wife from the illusion.
Sigurd couldn't help but feel a heavy weight. Although it was an illusion, he had stayed within it for a very long time, making him feel lost. While everything had been constant, his soul had gained a profoundly different perspective on life.
"So, everything was just an illusion. What an illusion... I became arrogant after gaining just a small amount of power, feeling no one could compare to me."
Sigurd sighed, realizing everything was created from negative energy, yet a few things must have been drawn from his own heart's desires; otherwise, it couldn't have felt so surreal.
"What a coincidence that my wife in the illusion was Natasha. This can't be done without knowing my inner thoughts. But why did I stop talking with Odin? That can't be possible. Sigh... I can't even say if that was also my inner desire."
Sigurd then looked at the black mist that had covered his lower body. Now, as if purified, it began to fade, albeit very slowly.
"So, I survived this time. Did the One-Above-All save me? I don't think they would, or did I break free from the illusion myself?"
He assessed his situation but doubted he had completely broken free on his own. After all, he had been enjoying a life that contained everything he thought he wanted. Just as the mist cleared from his body, a huge amount of divine energy began pouring into him. Simultaneously, his divine form started to grow at an extremely fast speed.
Sigurd began to feel his strength soaring, and the magic that had been slow to comprehend was now processing automatically, as if learning on its own.
While Sigurd tried to focus on his runic magic, he was unaware that outside, in the quarry, his body had begun to devour every powerful figure's essence—their body, soul, and the negative energy contained within the quarry.
God looked at Sigurd's situation, then turned to the One-Above-All.
"Did she even let him devour the negative energy? She has become quite generous. Do you think the energy he has gained will exceed the multiverse level?"
The One-Above-All shook his head.
"He will be powerful enough to handle peak multiverse-level threats, but his chances against anything beyond that are hard to say."
Then he thought of something.
"You don't need to worry. By the time the original plan is set in motion, you just need to give him the prepared artifact. It will be enough for him and his allies. But the question remains: what will his choice be?"
God looked at Sigurd again.
"But I still think he will be a good choice. What I truly wish is for the plan to be postponed indefinitely. Why create such mass destruction if there is no real benefit?"
The One-Above-All looked toward the vast multiverse.
"To satisfy someone's ego. But the final result will be in the hands of the winner. Neither I nor they can change the decision. Let's hope he is the correct choice."
Sigurd, who had been in a deep meditative state, woke up and looked at the quarry, where nothing was left.
"The cosmic energy in my body feels endless. Did I become a Celestial? That can't be possible. They have their own origin. How can I become one? But the power I've gained is almost similar to a Celestial's. Even mystic arts are there."
He looked around again, considering the possibilities.
"Did I devour their power as well? But that shouldn't be possible with my original cosmic energy devouring ability."
Just as Sigurd was lost in thought, his body disappeared from the quarry. He found himself standing in front of God, but he saw two figures. He couldn't believe it.
"Am I still on trial? Why are there two One-Above-Alls in Marvel comics?"
Sigurd started to feel his surroundings, but he didn't even know where he was.
"Relax, boy. We are the same; one is a clone, the other is the original," the One-Above-All spoke.
Sigurd heard the words and suddenly remembered he hadn't spoken the name "One-Above-All" until now, having only met with "God" or "All-Above-God."
The One-Above-All looked at him.
"Yes, our presence changes the narrative for the viewer. If he is here, you will think of the creator as 'God.' If I am present, you will think 'One-Above-All.'"