"This spell is strong… too strong to be in the hands of commoners," my father said thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on the aftermath. "Although compared to my strength, this is nothing… but too many people casting such magic would surely cause widespread destruction."
He fell silent for a moment, then added,
"But for you to create a magic system this powerful on your own… that is impressive." There was a trace of pride in his voice. "On our next conquest, you will be the general of the army. I expect great things from you, my heir."
A smirk tugged at my lips. "Yes, Father, I will definitely bring glory to Asgard."
Welp, dictatorship is great—I casually became the general of the army…
Continuing, I explained, "Don't worry, Father. Hardly anyone can reach this level. Even though this system allows everyone to use magic, talent is still necessary. It just relies on intelligence instead—a kind of talent that most lack. And then there's the issue of energy reserves. They simply don't have enough magic power to unleash anything like this."
I let the words settle before finishing, "So, in that sense, it's safe to distribute among the populace. They won't be able to reach the level we could. And I would never reveal all of its secrets to them—just enough to make them strong, but still under our control."
That made my father smile, even more than the magic itself.
"Hahahaha! Good… good. Now you are thinking like a prince, my son." His laughter carried satisfaction. "We don't need an uncontrollably strong population. They should be powerful, but never beyond our grasp. Remember son, A kingdom without control is a kingdom lost."
His expression shifted slightly. Just enough to put me on edge.
"But even if they master this magic system," he mused, "they have no hope of threatening us."
He raised his spear.
A strange energy, unlike anything I had encountered before, surged from him.
Then—without warning—a ray of light shot out.
It was just a casual strike. I was sure of that. And yet…
I turned toward the mountains.
Or rather—where the mountains were supposed to be.
That section of the mountain range was completely gone. Not shattered. Not obliterated. Simply erased.
'Raphael, did you catch that? What the fuck was that?!'
[Yes, Master. I analyzed it. Based on your memories and cross-referencing all possible energy signatures…]
A brief pause. Then—
[That energy is, without a doubt, The Odinforce. Its extreme potency explains everything. It is the reason Odin is feared across the universe. If fully unleashed, it possesses enough power to casually eradicate entire planets.]
"The Odinforce, huh…" I muttered under my breath.
I hadn't expected my father to use it.
Something felt off. He wouldn't just randomly demonstrate his strongest power for no reason…
This was a message.
A warning.
A way to remind me that I was not his opponent by any stretch of the imagination.
[You are correct, Master. Your father likely suspected that with this new magic system, you might overestimate yourself and begin to challenge him. If that were to happen and you lost, as a monarch, he would have no choice but to either kill or seal you. But as a father, he does not want that. This was likely a preemptive display to curb any thoughts of rebellion before they could even form.]
I exhaled slowly, my fists clenching.
'Well… can't say I hate him for that.'
Because if I were in his position, I might have done the same—or worse.
At the very least, he made an effort to guide me onto the best possible path. Unless I was an idiot who wanted to break apart my own family, challenging him now would be nothing short of foolish.
And I am the very God of Wisdom.
Maybe… this was what Hela did in the original work.
She is quite foolish even now…
Then I quickly schooled my expression into one of awe and excitement.
"Wow…! What was that?!" I exclaimed, eyes wide in admiration. "Father, how did you do that? I can tell this was just a casual strike… How did you get so strong?! Please train me too, Father! I want to become as powerful as you one day!"
Odin studied me for a moment. Then, he chuckled.
"Become as strong as me?" He rested Gungnir against his shoulder. "Hah! You have much to learn, son. But… you will start learning soon enough. Your training begins tomorrow."
Perfect. That would also give me the chance to study his runes firsthand.
But before that…
'Raphael, it's time to get to work.'
[Yes, Master. What are your orders?]
'You analyzed the Odinforce, right? Start a project dedicated to replicating it. Codename it: Project GodForce. I want to create a divine force similar to Odinforce, something that manifests uniquely in each god. It will be our trump card—our ultimate symbol of divinity.'
[Understood. Defining parameters…]
'My own will be called Magnarforce. I'll also grant it to Hela—Helaforce. Mother will have Friggaforce, and Freyja will have Freyjaforce. The GodForce should become the definitive distinction between gods and lesser beings.'
[A force unique to each god… A brilliant concept, Master. Beginning full analysis on how to create a divine force within one's divinity.]
'Good. Now, another thing—I want some adjustments to my previous order regarding the Viltrumite gene research. Instead of creating a separate Viltrumite gene and fusing it with Aesir DNA, I want the Viltrumite's capabilities integrated directly into the Aesir genes. That way, we enhance our race while keeping our bloodline pure.'
[Understood, Master. The Viltrumite gene research is currently 31% complete. Adjusting the methodology to integrate their abilities directly into the Aesir genome. Estimated completion time: 50 years.]
'That works. Also, apply the same principle to the Royal Aesir's genes. Try incorporating Life Divinity's power to induce natural evolution. If we can push both the Aesir and Viltrumite genes to their peak potential, then evolve them even further, we might not even need enhancements in the future.'
[Understood, Master. Implementing evolutionary parameters. Shall I prioritize any project?]
'Yes. Project GodForce takes top priority, followed by the Royal Aesir and Viltrumite gene integration. Those two will have the biggest impact on my power, so they need the most focus.'
[Understood. Prioritizing Project GodForce. Master~]