A Quiet Hunt
The next morning, I woke to the sound of rain tapping against the windows. Zürich in December was a study in grays—soft mist clinging to the rooftops, the lake a rippling sheet of steel. I stretched, feeling the pleasant ache of yesterday's training (even demigods needed to keep in shape), and walked into the kitchen.
Coffee brewed as I scrolled through my tablet, pulling up historical archives. The reason?
The Norn Stones they were essentially marvels lesser infinity stones, scattered across Europe, their locations lost to time.
Specifically they were capable of increasing ones magical abilities to untold amounts and-
No I mean that quiet literally they never told us how much, it exasperates me to this day.
But the important thing is if I could find them before HYDRA, the Hellfire Club, or some overly ambitious sorcerer with a penchant for chaos could.
I would probably prevent a few European threats from arising in, keeping the peace was preferable over having the EU be the next NYC.
And it wouldn't be that bad if I could get a power boost, I mean most of my abilities were generally magical in nature, I could even get more insights into Aether.
Oh and speaking of the Archon Biology, I've noticed I can sense not only Aether but different types of magic too.
I can feel the haki in my body beating like a heart I can feel the magic in the air, it felt alive...
Well as live as an inanimate object can be, it's difficult to put into words but it felt like it was living clay; it was... waiting for me to command it, to mold it.
It was no reality warping but I feel like... I could copy the Quadra Elemental abilities of Arthur pre-ascension.
It was intriguing to say the least, but it felt like I hit a wall in attempting to control it, but that was not the same for my Aether techniques.
Burst Step, was easily replicable, along with Burst Strike, those I could easily do, but Aether Swords took time, it wasn't too hard all things considered but it takes concentration, but I was able to find a work around.
Using Conquers haki along with Aether I could use my will the shape aether on an entirely different scale.
In due time I could most likely replicate a God rune, and with the Norn stones that process was expedited in leagues untold.
Hunting them down would help me leaps and bounds into being prepared for future threats, I don't want to be forced to face any threat capable of threatening the world, but if I had to I will face them and I will not take any chances.
But back to the hunt lets follow the process.
Step One: Research.
I bit into a buttery Gipfeli and began cross-referencing Norse myth with my personal knowledge of them.
The Bookshop
Bücher am Münsterhof was one of those old shops where the shelves groaned under the weight of centuries. The bell jingled as I entered, the scent of yellowed paper and leather binding thick in the air.
The owner, Herr Weber, peered over his glasses. "Ah, Dr. Kaslana. Here for your usual?"
I smiled. "And something extra. Do you have anything on Scandinavian relics? Pre-Christian, ideally."
He hummed, shuffling toward a back aisle. "For you, I might have a few special texts."
Ten minutes later, I left with a 17th-century grimoire tucked under my arm, its pages whispering of "the stones that bend fate."
The First Lead
Back home, I spread the book open on my desk. The ink was faded, the Old Norse nearly illegible, but my Visionary-enhanced perception pieced together fragments:
"The Eye of the North sleeps beneath the black river…"
"Where the serpent's spine meets the sky, there lies the Hand…"
Cryptic, but not impossible.
I traced a finger over a map of Scandinavia, using all 13 of my bodies I could enhance my Observation Haki 13 times.
I could feel the migraine kicking in, I groaned. "Ughhhh.... Fuck me I should focus on attaining King's Gambit I do NOT want to feel this again" dismissing the migraine I began searching with my gloablly sized haki.
The stones pulsed in my mind's eye like distant stars—one in Norway, buried under a forgotten church; another in the Swiss Alps, in a dragons horde, and the last in Sebastion Shaws Auction.
Fuck alright I can get the first one but the last 2 will be difficult... how should I do this...
If I want Shaw's stone... I could try and do some mind trick... ah they have Emma so she'll most definitely be able to sense any foul play using my mind... what should I do.
I could try and steal it but that's very dumb especially considering their influence. Hmmm I could try to befriend them but that'll lead me into direct conflict with the X-men which I don't want... Or I can go into a bidding war...
Actually that might work, I've been stock trading for a while and my investments have wet sky high particularly my stocks in Baidu which have gone from 15 to 150 usd in price.
An absolute upset if I do say so myself, I invested 3 million in it and I've come out of it 25 million dollars richer, which is to say I'm getting rich fast.
If I use this I could get my way into the Hellfire club. But the question now is how I find a way in.
-
A knock at the door interrupted my plotting.
Lena from the catering stood there, holding a paper bag. "You forgot your lunch."
I blinked. "I… didn't order lunch."
She tilted her head. "You always order a sandwich on Tuesdays."
Ah. Persona #3's habit.
I took the bag. "Right. Thanks."
She lingered. "You're different today."
I tensed. "Oh?"
"Less… blurry."
Shit. Psychological Invisibility was slipping.
I offered a laugh. "Must be the coffee."
She left, but not without a backward glance.
The Plan
I charted a route:
Norway first—the church was remote, unlikely to be guarded.
Hellfire Club next—a quick go in go out and auction scenario.
Swis Alps last—Kill a mythical Dragon in a 1v1
God I need to make this more detailed or I'm going to find myself at the end of my life or at least peaceful life.