Omniscience in Marvel

Title - Invitation

…

"Alright then…Tell me Peggy, how much do you know about Alien Life?" Lucas regarded Peggy for a good while before he asked that question. 

"What do you mean, Alien Life?" Peggy's face scrunched up in confusion upon hearing the question. "Are you about to come up with another conspiracy theory?"

"Hey…despite those stories being a bit unrealistic, they did exist…in a universe far from ours." Lucas' lips twitched at Peggy's question.

Why couldn't she understand that some messed up kids in some messed up neighborhood in Tokyo could turn out to be a revolutionary. 

"There's no way middle school kids could create a Mafia group in a lawful society without the authorities knowing." Peggy rolled her eyes at Lucas' reaction. 

'Tell that to Mickey, woman.' Lucas thought to himself before shaking his head. "This is not some conspiracy theory though. How about I rephrase that question. What do you know about Gods?"

"What? The Mythological ones or the real God?" Peggy tilted her head to the side and asked.

Lucas' lips curled up to a smile as he heard Carter's words.

She was basically saying that he was the original God while the others were myth. For a moment he thought of recording this moment but did away with the thought as soon as it came.

"In reality, they are all Myths."

"God's existence is more substantial than others." 

"That's because there are better records of him than the rest. Think of it this way, while the rest played a short game, God played the long one." Lucas tried to reason with her. He wasn't about to expose himself to someone and shatter their entire life's belief.

Peggy looked at Lucas for a good while before sighing and walking away. "So much for the long game. Look at the world as it is."

Lucas watched Peggy's back as she walked away, a thoughtful expression settling on his face.

He pushed off the railing and followed her, his steps unhurried. "The world's a mess, I won't argue with you there," he said, catching up to her side. "But just because the game has a few bad plays doesn't mean it's over."

Peggy slowed her pace, glancing at Lucas out of the corner of her eye. "You always have a way of looking at things from a different angle, don't you? But this…" She paused, searching for the right words. "This feels different. Gods, aliens… What are you really getting at, Lucas?"

He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I'm trying to get you to see the bigger picture, Peg. The world, the universe, it's so much more than what we've been led to believe. I'm not saying you should start worshiping some alien deity or anything, but… things are changing. And fast."

"Changing how?" Peggy asked, her tone more curious than skeptical now.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Let's just say… we're not alone in this universe. And soon, that's something everyone's going to have to come to terms with."

"There are forces out there, powers beyond anything you've ever encountered. Things you thought were nothing but myths. And they're starting to take an interest in our little corner of the galaxy."

With Red Skull's death at the hands of the Tesseract, the space stone resonated with its sibling at the other side of the universe and sent Red Skull's entire existence over. 

That little act alone made some interested eyes look over to this side of the world, but that wasn't what Lucas was getting at. 

Peggy stopped walking and turned to face him fully, searching his eyes for any hint of deception or exaggeration. "And you know this… how?"

A small, almost sad smile tugged at Lucas' lips. "Let's just say I've seen things, Peggy. Things that would make even your wildest conspiracies seem tame by comparison."

Peggy rolled her eyes and turned to leave only for Lucas to move and intercept her. "Move." She said sternly.

"Whoa, take a chill pill. I'm only here to offer you an opportunity you'll be interested in." Lucas said and continued. "What exactly are your thoughts on Steve?"

Peggy frowned slightly at this question, for a moment, she thought Lucas waa going to rub upon her insecurities but quickly dispelled the thought. Lucas wasn't like that and he was a friend of Steve. 

"What do you know?" Peggy asked back, causing Lucas to smile. He knew he'd gotten her attention now. 

"Well, for one, he's alive and well but he can't be retrieved." Lucas said, causing Peggy's emotions to spike, and with a near desperate movement, she grabbed a hold of Lucas. 

"You're not messing with me, are you?" 

Placing his hands calmly on hers, "I wouldn't dream of it." He said and pushed it down. 

"Why?"

"The technology necessary for such a project hasn't been envisioned yet." Lucas threw out a random excuse without batting an eye.

Truthfully, the machine exists, but it wouldn't be able to reach the level Steve was without receiving some level of damage.

"What do you mean?" Peggy asked but Lucas merely put his finger on his lips. Understanding that he can't talk about It, she rephrased her question. "How long are we talking about?"

"60-70 years." Lucas replied

"Oh my God." Peggy, seeing and sensing no traces of deception in Lucas' words gasped in shock and took a step back. "That's…that's.." she stuttered as she tried to make sense of what Lucas just said. "We.. had a date." She said, tears already pooling in her eyes.

It was one thing to know that her loved one was dead, but it was another to know that he was alive, but so far away. To make matters worse, it wasn't a distance of Space but Time.

"I know. Which is why I'm here to offer you something." Lucas said and pulled out a ring from his jacket and showed it to her. 

"What's this?"

"Alien Tech, or as it is known to the mystic society, a Divine Artifact so to say." Lucas said and threw it to her.

Peggy caught the ring, her fingers closing around it instinctively.

She lifted it to eye level, scrutinizing the object with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

The ring was sleek, almost otherworldly, with a glow that seemed to pulse faintly, as if it had a life of its own.

"Divine Artifact?" Peggy echoed, her voice laced with doubt. "What exactly does it do?"

Lucas took a deep breath, clearly measuring his words with care. "This ring is your ticket into a world far beyond anything you've ever imagined. A world where the rules of reality bend, where myths walk among men, and where the impossible becomes possible."

Peggy's eyes narrowed as she continued to study the ring. "You're being vague again, Lucas. I need details, not cryptic hints."

"Fair enough," Lucas conceded with a chuckle, crossing his arms as he leaned back slightly.

"What I'm about to tell you might sound insane, but you need to hear me out. There's a war coming, a war that most of humanity will never know about. It's a conflict beyond our dimension, one that's been raging for eons in a universe known as Yggdrasil."

Lucas began as he casually came up with a catching intro. 

"Yggdrasil?" Peggy repeated, the name tugging at the edge of her memory, like a half-forgotten story. "As in the World Tree from Norse mythology?"

"Yup," Lucas nodded. "But it's not just a myth, Peggy. Yggdrasil is real, a vast and ancient construct that connects multiple worlds, each one more fantastic than the last. And within that universe, a war is about to commence, a Holy Grail War."

Peggy frowned, confused. "Holy Grail? Like the one from Arthurian legends? The cup of Christ?"

Lucas shook his head slightly. "Not quite. The Holy Grail I'm talking about is an ancient, almost omnipotent artifact, capable of granting the deepest desire of the one who claims it."

"It's said to be a gift from the primordial forces that govern the Yggdrasil universe, entities far older and more powerful than any god worshiped on Earth."

"And this war, the Holy Grail War, is a contest where the most powerful beings in existence, heroes, mages, and even deities, battle it out for the chance to make their wish come true."

The weight of Lucas's words sank in, and Peggy's frown deepened. "And this ring… what does it have to do with that?"

Lucas's gaze turned intense. "This ring is your invitation, Peggy. It's a key, a symbol of your participation in the Holy Grail War. With it, you'll be recognized as a competitor, a Master, to be exact, and you'll have the right to summon a powerful being, a Servant, who will fight by your side. Together, you'll have to face other Masters and their Servants in battle. The last one standing wins the Grail and the wish."

For a moment, Peggy could only stare at him, her mind struggling to wrap around the enormity of what he was saying. "You're telling me… I could fight in this war, win, and make any wish I want? That's… beyond anything I've ever imagined."

Lucas nodded, his expression grave. "It is. And that's why it's so dangerous. The stakes are unimaginable, and the beings you'll be up against won't hesitate to kill you and your Servant to claim the prize. But the reward… the wish… that's what makes it all worth it."

Peggy's grip tightened on the ring, her mind racing.

She had faced countless dangers in her life, fought against the worst humanity had to offer, but this… this was something else entirely.

The idea of being able to wish for anything, was almost too much to comprehend. But it was also a temptation she couldn't easily dismiss.

"And if I win… if I claim this Grail," Peggy began and swallowed nervously, her voice steady but low, "I could wish for my aging to stop? To be able to wait for Steve?"

Lucas nodded again. "Yes. You could wish for that, and the Grail would grant it. You could live on, unchanged, until the day Steve is found and brought back."

"But make no mistake, Peggy, winning won't be easy."

"You'll be up against some of the most formidable beings in existence, beings who will stop at nothing to claim the Grail for themselves."

A silence fell between them, Peggy lost in thought as she weighed the gravity of Lucas's words.

It was an opportunity that felt too good to be true, and yet, the weight of the ring in her hand was undeniable proof that this was real.

"What's the alternative?" she finally asked, looking up at Lucas. "You mentioned another option."

Lucas's expression softened slightly, though there was still a serious edge to his gaze. "The alternative is that you simply put on the ring. Doing so would draw you into the supernatural world, but without the immediate danger of the Holy Grail War."

"The ring has its own powers, primarily, it would slow down your aging process significantly. You'd still be part of this world, Peggy, but you'd be connected to something much bigger."

"However, once you put it on, there's no going back. You'll be inextricably linked to the supernatural forces that govern our world, and you'll be pulled into conflicts and dangers that most people can't even begin to imagine."

Peggy's fingers traced the smooth surface of the ring, her thoughts a whirlpool of emotions and considerations.

The choice before her was stark: either enter a war with unimaginable stakes or put on the ring and embrace a life tied to the supernatural. Both options were fraught with danger, but they also offered possibilities she had never dreamed of.

"Why me?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you offering this to me, Lucas? Why aren't you using it?"

Lucas took a step closer, his expression filled with a mix of sincerity and urgency. "Because I know you, Peggy. I know your strength, your determination. You're the kind of person who could win this war, who could make a difference in ways that go beyond just our world. You're the kind of person who deserves a shot at this."

'In a whole other universe, you're Captain America/Carter after all.' Lucas thought to himself.

Despite how he made the war to be some big deal, it was just a normal Level Up game where Carter would be granted a summon based on the ring he'd given her. 

Additionally, as the creator of the Universe(Game) he could make her the protagonist.

As for the being linked to the ring, it was someone Lucas had been trying to chase out of Heaven on a solid and reasonable ground. 

Peggy felt a lump form in her throat at Lucas's words.

She had always seen herself as a soldier, someone who fought for what was right, no matter the cost. But this… this was a battle unlike any she had ever faced.

And yet, a part of her, the part that had never shied away from a challenge, felt drawn to the possibilities laid out before her.

"What if I say no?" she asked, her voice steadier now, her resolve hardening.

"Then nothing changes," Lucas replied, his tone calm but firm. "You continue living your life as you always have, doing the work you're so damn good at. But the world will keep moving forward, and these supernatural forces will continue to play their games. You'll be on the outside, but you'll still be a part of it, whether you're ready or not. And Steve… Steve will remain lost to you, a memory frozen in time."

Peggy closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her.

It was more than just a choice between two paths; it was a choice between who she was and who she could become. 

She had fought so hard for so long, sacrificed so much, and now she was being offered a chance to change the course of her life, and perhaps the lives of countless others.

When she opened her eyes again, her decision was made. She looked at the ring in her hand, the glow that seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat, and then back at Lucas.

"If I'm going to do this," she began, her voice strong and clear, "I need to know everything. I need to understand what I'm getting into, who my enemies are, and what I'll need to do to win. I won't go into this blind."

Lucas's lips curled into a small, approving smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Peggy. I'll tell you everything I know, help you prepare as best as I can. But once the war begins, it's all on you. Your strength, your willpower, that's what will get you through."

Peggy nodded, slipping the ring onto her finger. As it settled into place, she felt a surge of energy, a connection to something… vast and powerful, but she couldn't tell yet.

It was as if the universe itself had acknowledged her decision, and now she was part of something much bigger than herself.

"Alright, Lucas," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "I'm in. Whatever this means, whatever comes next, I'm ready."

Lucas's expression softened, a mix of relief and admiration in his eyes. "I knew you would be. Welcome to the next level, Peggy."

She nodded, determination hardening her resolve. "Let's make sure it's worth it."

Lucas reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We will, Peggy. Together, we'll make sure it's worth every damn moment. However, there's a tiny weeny problem."

Carter scowled at him but Lucas chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry. The war isn't for another two years so we have all the time in the world. For now…how about I introduce you to the very myths you've heard so much about…"

...

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