Reborn as the God-Emperor in Marvel

Before hearing Balthazar's recounting of the Battle of the Swordbar and Camelot's fall, Solomon had never realized just how cruel Merlin's tricks could be. The stories left him deeply unsettled, but he knew he couldn't interfere in Merlin's affairs without reason. Although Kamar-Taj served as the governing body for the magical world, it did not interfere with other schools unless they threatened the world or broke laws. So far, Balthazar had managed to handle the mages from Morgan le Fay's faction, none of whom were particularly powerful. In fact, those mages often adhered to Kamar-Taj's laws more strictly than Balthazar and Dave did, never revealing magic to ordinary people—until Balthazar informed Solomon that it was Hofas who had transformed every car on an entire street into taxis.

That incident would warrant a few days of detention. Once captured, the Morgan le Fay mages could be questioned to determine if they had harmed innocents. Under magical influence, no one could lie, and Kamar-Taj would render justice accordingly, from warnings to imprisonment, life sentences, or even the death penalty.

Solomon planned to return to Kamar-Taj to file a report, as capturing these mages from the Morgan le Fay faction was a task too large for one person. He would need to inform the Temple's stewards, who would then deploy available mages to assist. He would brief the Grandmaster on the basic situation, knowing that a more detailed report would follow from the Temple stewards.

After submitting his report on Merlin's faction at the New York Temple, Solomon returned to Kamar-Taj's headquarters, intending to bring up the matter with the Grandmaster. He found her carefully wiping blood from her knuckles and the relic rings on her fingers with a small white cloth dampened with warm tea.

Solomon wondered who had been unlucky enough to take a punch from the Grandmaster. Taking the cloth from her, he continued cleaning the bloodstains, unable to contain his curiosity. The Grandmaster saw this and didn't withhold her story or the identity of the unfortunate victim.

"I took a trip to Wales and entered Avalon from there," she said, producing a dark red apple from nowhere. Even from a distance, Solomon could smell its sweetness. She handed it to him. "This is Avalon's famed apple. And yes, the unlucky one you're guessing was Merlin."

"You fought Merlin?" Solomon paused, stunned. "Why?"

"He's long overdue for punishment," the Grandmaster replied. "I haven't forgiven him for what he did from Camelot's time until now. And I've also found you, my successor, so I went to reclaim what's mine. I'll add that he didn't get a chance to fight back—I'm the ruler here."

"You mean…the Holy Sword?"

"Exactly," she said, spreading her hands as a wooden box made of applewood, lined with silver vine patterns, appeared. She set it on the table and pushed it toward Solomon, signaling for him to open it. Solomon put down the cloth, undid the brass clasp, and slowly opened the box to reveal the Holy Sword within.

The sword wasn't crafted by human hands. Forged by Gaia, the Earth Mother herself, it was a divine weapon meant to protect the planet and was one of the most powerful artifacts in existence. Anyone seeing the sword for the first time would be awestruck by its beauty and majesty. It featured a rounded cross-guard typical of Celtic swords, a four-inch-wide golden cross-guard, a two-inch-wide blade at its broadest point, and a three-foot blade length. Blue enamel decorated the sword's tang, set between the guard and the blade, with a hilt that could be gripped by both hands. Solomon couldn't identify the metal used; the golden cross-guard wasn't as soft as gold, and the blade felt warm to the touch, as though it radiated energy.

The Grandmaster seemed pleased with Solomon's awe. She took up the sword and swung it a few times before placing it in his hands. He accepted it carefully, finding the weight and balance perfect. Following her instructions, Solomon infused a bit of his magic, causing the sword to glow with a radiant golden light.

"Thor has his mighty hammer, so it's only fitting that you, in an equivalent role, have your powerful Holy Sword," she explained. "However, this sword's overwhelming strength comes with certain restrictions, which I think is a good thing. I wouldn't want you turning into someone who only thinks with his weapon, like Thor."

"Restrictions?" Solomon hadn't heard of such a concept. The Grandmaster patiently explained.

"There are thirteen seals on this sword. They'll unlock once you meet certain conditions. With each seal you break, the sword's power will increase. If you can unlock at least half of these seals, you'll achieve its full potential." She grew serious. "I've always worried about whether Odin would keep his promise, but as long as you wield this sword, Odin will be forced to honor his word. When fully unleashed, this sword could shatter stars. Even if Odin refuses to keep his end of the bargain, with the threat of the Bifrost, you'll have leverage to negotiate with Asgard."

The weight of this statement left Solomon silent. The Grandmaster had previously mentioned her arrangement with Odin, who had been wary of her potential wrath on Asgard if he were to die. In response, she agreed to renounce her influence in favor of joining the Eternal Gods. But she worried that Odin might break their agreement after her departure, choosing to conquer Earth to extend Asgard's dominion. As a king, Odin was accustomed to breaking promises without hesitation. This was why she transferred her title and the Holy Sword to Solomon—to keep Asgard in check and remind Odin that, while Kamar-Taj might be unable to defend Earth against Asgard without her, it still had the power to destroy Asgard. If he broke the truce, both Earth and the Asgardian pantheon would face a devastating conflict.

"Even with its restraints in place, this sword is already powerful enough. With sufficient magic, it can match Mjolnir's might," she said, gently ruffling Solomon's hair. "I trust you'll wield it wisely. I have always believed in you, Solomon, but I'm sorry to place such burdens on you that you shouldn't have to bear."

"Teacher, there's no need for apologies. On the contrary, I'm grateful," Solomon replied, his fingers gently tracing the blade. The environment in which he had been raised gave him a unique perspective. Having grown up in Kamar-Taj, absorbing the memories of past spellcasters, he viewed the Grandmaster's teachings as guidance rather than a heavy responsibility. In a sense, he felt driven by purpose, though some might see it as a touch of madness—yet a madness that had its own balance.

"You've given me a sense of purpose. I'm thankful. Without you, I might have starved or frozen to death. Even if I survived, I could have been driven mad by knowledge or aimlessly wandered through life. I'm grateful to have a goal, even if it wasn't one I chose for myself."

"This is your life, but I hope you'll have things of your own," she replied, indicating he should return the sword to its box. The time wasn't right for it to be revealed to the world. She then added, "I know there's an age difference between you and Bayonetta, but if she makes you happy, I won't stand in your way. It's your own choice. Have you two thought about starting a family?"

Solomon hadn't anticipated such a shift in the conversation. One moment they were discussing life-and-death matters, and the next she was asking about family plans. Embarrassed, he wondered if elders everywhere had the same habit of nudging toward marriage. He explained that he and Bayonetta hadn't even confirmed their relationship, let alone thought about children. Besides, he was still in high school.

The Grandmaster, however, thought that someone of Solomon's age, capable of wielding a weapon in battle, should give serious thought to these things. While both Solomon and Bayonetta would live far longer than average people, she wasn't thrilled with the idea of waiting a hundred years for a grandchild. She even mentioned that if it did come to that, she'd be glad to help raise them herself, boasting of her experience from raising Solomon, including changing his diapers when he was still learning to control his muscles.

Solomon beat a hasty retreat.

"Teacher!" He returned a few moments later, calling from the doorway without stepping back into view. "What about the Merlin faction?"

"Let the New York Temple's steward handle it. You can join if you have time. If a Morgan le Fay avatar appears…well, you can decide on the spot."

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