En Dwi Gast, also known simply as the "Grandmaster."
One of the primordial cosmic entities that have existed since the dawn of the universe — a being of the same rank as his brother, The Collector.
But unlike his brother, who is obsessed with acquiring mysterious artifacts and curiosities, the Grandmaster's passion lies elsewhere: in gathering the mightiest beings from across the cosmos and pitting them against one another in brutal gladiatorial combat.
A compulsive gambler, he's also the hidden hand behind the betting markets surrounding his cosmic arena.
That's one of the main reasons he took over Sakaar.
The ones exiled to this wasteland are all dangerous individuals, and their vicious duels are a source of endless delight to the Grandmaster.
There's something intoxicating about the sound of fists slamming into flesh. He can't get enough of it.
"Lothar… and Hela…"
"Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating."
As he studied their profiles, the Grandmaster's eyes sparkled with growing excitement.
These two weren't nobodies, far from it.
"Son of Thanos who destroyed Planet N52 and Planet U40, and nearly destroyed Svartalfheim."
"Daughter of Odin who slaughtered countless souls during the Nine Realms War."
The Grandmaster could already imagine the spectacle these two would provide.
It would be a savage, blood-soaked feast for the senses, a visual banquet destined to captivate.
Provided, of course, they stepped into the arena.
As his thoughts reached the most critical part of his plan, the Grandmaster finally broke free from the euphoric haze and fell into contemplation.
Should he just abduct them outright?
He certainly could. They were, after all, mere juniors compared to him, he could seize them with ease.
But if he forced them in, they might hold back. What if they faked their performance? Played possum?
He had no leverage over them.
"No, that's not right. These people were sent here by that old man on Gafa. There must be a reason."
The Grandmaster didn't buy for a second that the man cursed by Death herself had sent Lothar and the others to Sakaar for sightseeing.
"Why… what's the real reason…"
Tapping his chin with slender fingers, the Grandmaster murmured to himself. Then suddenly, a spark of realization.
He spun around and summoned the interface to his private archive.
Rummaging through the inventory, he flipped through the stored visuals of skulls and bones he had long tossed aside.
"Of course… knowing that old man's personality, the only thing on Sakaar that might interest him would be the remnants of dead gods."
"That must be why he sent his disciples here."
Narrowing his eyes, the Grandmaster found the idea increasingly plausible.
Which meant, if he held a Grand Tournament and offered divine remains as the grand prize…
And simultaneously opened a high-stakes betting pool for each match…
He'd be hitting both of his remaining pleasures at once.
The Grandmaster grew more and more thrilled by the thought. He immediately began drafting the rules for Sakaar's very first Gladiator Championship.
To further motivate the participants, he would erect an Honor Roll within the arena. Champions would have their portraits immortalized for future generations to behold.
"Yes… yes, that's exactly it…"
With inspiration pouring in like a spring, the Grandmaster licked his lips and continued refining the structure of the championship.
And of course, once he was done, he made sure to include one final clause at the bottom of the ruleset:
"Final interpretation of all tournament rules lies solely with the Arena."
Just in case. He had no intention of giving away divine bones that easily.
He still needed to use them for broth.
Those bones made damn good soup.
...
"The way for you to forge divinity… is to boil the bones of gods into soup."
The wreckage of the junkyard lay flattened. Now that the energy barrier was down, Jennifer, noticing Lothar looking at her, pursed her lips and picked up where she had been interrupted.
"Soup…?"
Lothar furrowed his brow, dubious. Such a bizarre method couldn't be real.
Was Jennifer just stalling?
"The Other."
"Yes, Prince Lothar!"
Shivering as he deactivated the energy field, The Other stood straight, holding his staff toward the suddenly uneasy Jennifer.
"I'm telling the truth," she said, her face paling.
She had no desire to be mind-controlled.
"You're someone rejected by this universe. Trying to forge divinity from nothing is practically impossible."
"Even if you manage to reach the threshold of divine condensation, the existing cosmic laws won't let an outsider disrupt their equilibrium."
"Which is why… you need a cover."
"That cover… is the lingering divinity in those god bones."
"By preparing them in a special culinary process, you can ingest the divine essence along with the bone broth and lock that energy inside your body."
"When the time comes for you to begin forming your divinity, you must release that stored essence at the precise moment your own godhood begins to manifest, tricking the universe's laws into accepting the divine signature as native."
"By the time cosmic law senses an external divinity has emerged, it will be too late."
"Once divinity condenses, it cannot be shattered… unless you die."
"But once that happens, the universe will begin to reject you, because by its rules, an outsider like you isn't meant to exist."
"In other words: if you never forge godhood, you might live in peace. But the moment you do, every breakthrough will pit you against the universe itself."
"If you can endure that, you'll gradually rewrite cosmic law. But if not, you'll die."
"Your true enemy… is the universe."
Fearing for her autonomy, Jennifer spilled everything her master, Gubo the Great Sage of Gafa, had told her.
"And what's the special cooking method?"
"I'm not telling you now, and don't think about controlling me."
"My master shielded that part of my memory using the Power Stone. If you try anything with the Mind Stone, the embedded safeguard will erase it."
Gubo had planned meticulously. Though he'd chosen Lothar as the third candidate, his hopes still rested on the disciple he had raised for a thousand years.
"Once we obtain the divine remains, we'll split them fifty-fifty. Then I'll share the method."
"What do you want with the bones?" Lothar frowned.
"Isn't it just like you said? My future is mine to decide."
Jennifer met Lothar's gaze head-on, unwavering.
"…"
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