In an instant, a layer of pure white fluid enveloped her entire body.
The "White Moon" tactical bodysuit activated, sparing Kagura from the embarrassnt of being completely exposed.
"Phew... Alright, let's see what kind of bizarre place I've ended up in this ti."
The bodysuit ca equipped with a half-mask tactical visor, which not only concealed her identity from the public but also provided a full suite of reconnaissance data.
[Activating composite scanning sensors.]
This high-performance micro-sensor embedded in the visor could detect its surroundings using infrared, electromagnetic waves, ultrasound, and visible light.
Unless sothing was deliberately cloaked across all frequencies, nothing could escape its search and tracking system.
Before long, the analyzed results appeared in her holographic UI.
First observation, she was completely alone.
This temple-like space seed to have been abandoned for millennia, devoid of any signs of life.
Strictly speaking, this place wasn't accessible in the conventional sense.
With no visible entry or exit, it appeared to be a forgotten location, hidden deep within the cosmos.
As the UI continued compiling environntal data, more details surfaced.
The temple and the floating rectangular platform beneath her feet were composed of an unknown material, one as indestructible as vibranium.
The pitch-black substance didn't resemble tal or stone but sothing between organic and inorganic matter, a composition that certainly didn't exist on Earth.
"Well... at least one thing is certain—I'm definitely not on Earth."
Kagura took a step forward.
The sound of her high-heeled boots echoed through the vast, empty space, sending a faint chill down her spine.
The sheer emptiness amplified the eerie sense of solitude.
She placed a hand gently on the central stone pillar of the floating platform.
"Now that I think about it, this dark place seems oddly familiar. Isn't this where the Aether was sealed? But my mory of it is pretty hazy—it's been years since that movie ca out."
'Beep! Beep!'
Suddenly, her holographic UI signaled a new detection.
A red scanning fra flashed across her vision, marking an anomaly within the pillar's seal.
[Unknown High-Energy Fluid Detected. Threat Level: Unknown.]
"Oh? What do we have here..."
Her silver brows furrowed slightly as she crouched to take a closer look at the crevices of the seal.
A crimson glow flickered within, pulsating in tandem with the movent of the red fluid inside.
"Heh... So it really is the Aether. Looks like I hit the jackpot! This is none other than the sealed Reality Stone!"
The Aether, a cosmic weapon forged by the ancient Dark Elves at the dawn of the universe, born from the primordial darkness itself.
Unlike solid gemstones, the Aether maintained a fluid-like state, activating only when rged with a living host.
Once inside, it granted unfathomable power at the cost of consuming the host's life force, even allowing them to warp reality itself.
In essence, anyone bonded with the Aether beca nearly invincible.
Though the host's life would be fleeting, for that brief mont, they could do the impossible.
And at its core, the Aether was, in fact, one of the six Infinity Stones—the Reality Stone.
Now, it lay sealed before her, just within reach.
'What should I do?'
'Should I take it?'
'Would that be dangerous?'
'Could this put Earth or the entire universe at risk?'
'No.'
A new thought crossed her mind.
If she left the Aether here, wouldn't Thanos just waltz in a few years later and take the Reality Stone effortlessly?
Everyone knew that stashing powerful artifacts in obscure locations was the dumbest idea imaginable, it was practically an invitation for villains to steal them.
The whole "let's hide this and hope no one finds it" strategy never worked.
Sohow, soone always found them.
Like her, for example.
Maybe this was fate.
In this tiline, Jane Foster, who was supposed to stumble upon the Aether, was probably still in London, busy with her dating life instead of researching gravitational anomalies.
With no connection to Thor, she had no reason to seek out interdinsional rifts.
But destiny had a way of ensuring the Aether would resurface, one way or another.
This ti, instead of Jane, it was Kagura who had discovered it.
So rather than leaving the Reality Stone here, only for Thanos to claim it later, wouldn't it be smarter to take it now?
She swallowed hard.
'Still... it's a little nerve-wracking.'
She had never attempted to harness an Infinity Stone's power before, let alone the Aether, the only one known to actively consu its host.
But so what?
One way or another, she'd have to fight Thanos.
If she couldn't handle an Infinity Stone's power now, then victory in the coming war was hopeless.
Before wielding an Infinity Stone, she first had to prove she could endure its power!
The silver-haired girl nodded to herself.
'Yes! My core energy is telling I can do this!'
Besides, wasn't her current mission to obtain an Infinity Stone?
This was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. No hesitation. No regrets.
She reached into the ancient seal, hand extending toward the crimson light.
'Co. Let experience the power of the Reality Stone!'
The scarlet fluid responded as if summoned, beginning to stir.
Boundless power surged forth, shattering the ancient seal effortlessly.
The Aether coiled around her hand, hovering like liquid stardust in the air.
'Look at this. What a flimsy, useless seal.'
Had it been Thanos standing here instead of her, their defeat in the Infinity War would have been sealed right then and there.
For the first ti, Kagura felt relieved that she had made the decision to take it.
This place's defenses were pitiful, there was no way it could have prevented the Aether from falling into the wrong hands.
If she had ignored it, Thanos would have claid the Reality Stone without resistance.
Besides, she and Jane Foster were fundantally different.
Jane was just an ordinary human.
Kagura was an automaton.
A normal human might not withstand the Aether's power, but she might.
If she could harness its strength, her own abilities would skyrocket, and her chances of winning the Infinity War would drastically improve.
[Foreign high-energy matter detected]
[Identified as core energy analog]
[Infinity Stone]
[Initiating seal....]
Wait. Seal?
What?
Shouldn't this count as completing the mission?
And what did it an by "core energy analog"?
Was her core energy...
An Infinity Stone?!
She clutched her chest, feeling an unexpected surge of anxiety.
She had always had her suspicions, but to have it confird like this...
Then... which Infinity Stone was inside her?
And why was it sealing the Reality Stone instead of absorbing its power?
[This Infinity Stone's ownership remains unsevered]
[Intervention and utilization are currently restricted]
[Sealing process initiated...]
[Core energy calibration complete]
[Target sealed.]
A faint pain pulsed in her chest as her core energy instinctively locked away the Aether's power.
Unsevered ownership?
That ant...
The Aether still had a master.
Unless she eliminated its rightful owner or severed their claim the Reality Stone's power would remain beyond her reach.
She narrowed her eyes.
Looks like she'd have to deal with a certain ancient king before she could claim the Aether for herself.
Malekith, King of the Dark Elves.
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