Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Chapter 144: Chapter 145: Weight

"Once you can read the stars, there's not much you cannot become."

"Really, Mum?" Thor exclaimed, clutching his mother's lap even tighter, his wide eyes filled with hope and innocent wonder.

His mother smiled softly, patting his head with the warmth only a mother could give. She turned to Loki, who wore the same eager expression as his brother. "Yes, my boys. And as long as you remember, I'll always be there to help you climb those stars. You won't do it alone."

***

Thor's eyes shot open, his chest rising and falling heavily. The memory—no, the dream—lingered in his mind like a fleeting ghost. For a moment, he lay still, staring at the dark ceiling, piecing together the fragments of a simpler time, a time when he believed in those sweet promises. But reality crashed down like a weight.

'A mother's wish is to see her children reach the stars, isn't it?' he thought bitterly as he sat up. 'But not my mother... she's not like that. She's a monster.'

He threw off the thin blanket, the cold metal floor biting against his bare feet as he stood. The stark contrast between that tender memory and his current existence gnawed at him. His muscles tensed as he made his way to the small, sterile bathroom attached to his quarters. The sound of water running was the only thing to drown out the thoughts swirling in his head.

After a quick, robotic shower, he dressed and left his room, moving through the dimly lit corridors of the spaceship. Everything around him felt heavy, suffocating even. The weight of their mission—of the losses they'd already suffered—pressed on them all like a vice. Axel was in a coma, his body partially mutilated, and no one knew when or if he would wake up. And then there was the facility.

*Rika Zero*, the place they had staked so much hope on, was obliterated before their very eyes.

'This kind of pressure could drive anyone to madness,' Thor mused, his hands clenched into fists as he walked. 'But we're stronger than that. We have to be.'

He stopped in front of the glass automatic door that led to the clinic. Inside, Axel lay motionless on a sick bed, hooked up to machines that beeped rhythmically, as if mocking the silence of the room. Beside him was the stranger they had found, equally unresponsive. Sarah and Trisha hovered over Axel, doing everything they could with the limited resources available to stabilize him.

Thor watched them through the glass for a few moments, his jaw tightening. He felt useless. There was nothing he could do here—no battle to fight, no enemy to defeat. He was just... standing there, a bystander in a war he had no control over.

'If I go in, I'll only slow them down,' he thought, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He turned to leave.

"Didn't know that devil frame of yours had a heart," came a voice from behind, dripping with that all-too-familiar sarcasm.

Thor stopped, his shoulders stiffening at the sound. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Loki," Thor said, his voice low and calm. He took a deep breath before replying, "Of course I do. Maybe you should stop seeing me as an object. I'm as human as you are."

Loki leaned lazily against the wall, arms folded over his chest, his smirk barely concealed. "Human? You?" he scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. You'll never be more than a mindless brute to me. You should be grateful for what little you've got."

Thor's gaze darkened, a feeling bubbling up inside him, something sharp and unfamiliar. He turned slowly, meeting Loki's eyes. "Is it because of what happened to Mum? Or is there something else? Something deeper?"

For a moment, Loki's smug expression faltered. His hands clenched tighter against his arms, but he didn't move. "Honestly," Loki muttered, his voice unsteady, "I don't even know anymore. I've hated you for so long, it's just... part of me. But yeah, it's worse because of what you did to her."

The words hung in the air, cold and accusing. Thor's jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing. The familiar rage churned inside him, but he held it back, his expression neutral. Without another word, he turned away, walking down the long, sterile corridor.

The passway felt endless as he moved, his footsteps echoing in the silence. When he finally reached the common area, he found Josh and Andre seated at a large white table, engaged in a chess match—or so it seemed at first glance. But as Thor approached and sat down beside them, he noticed they weren't playing a real game.

They were simply moving the pieces around, testing formations, mapping out strategies.

"Everything feels like a mistake," Andre said suddenly, breaking the heavy silence Thor had walked into. "We'll probably die out here, exploring the endless void of space for what'll feel like eternity. We're chasing a weapon that hasn't been seen in years. No one knows if it was destroyed or sold to the highest bidder in some distant corner of the galaxy."

Thor leaned forward, his brow furrowing. He had felt this despair too, but hearing it voiced aloud only made the uncertainty more crushing.

Andre continued, his voice low. "This mission feels pointless."

Josh, who had been silent up until now, snorted. "That's not what worries me the most," he said, moving a rook across the board. "What concerns me are the Voidwalkers. From what Loki experienced, Rika Zero wasn't destroyed by just any random enemy. It was a Voidwalker—a being that didn't even have half the energy of an original one.

If that was only a fraction of their power, what chance do we really have?"

Thor's mind raced as he processed their words. He had heard the reports, seen the devastation firsthand. But the Voidwalkers... they were an enigma. More than just some random force of destruction.

"So what are you getting at?" Thor asked, his voice cutting through the tension.

Josh leaned back in his chair, folding his arms smugly. "I'm saying we need to stop thinking of the Voidwalkers as just mindless destroyers. They're not. They're strategic, methodical. They didn't attack us randomly. They have their own civilization, their own agenda.

And I believe they have one goal: to monopolize the universe. They'll eliminate anything—or anyone—that stands in their way."

**Author's Note: A Special Halloween Thank You!**

Hey, dear readers! ?

First, I want to thank you for all your support on this journey. Whether you've been with me since the early chapters or you're just joining now, each one of you is the reason this story keeps growing, evolving, and coming to life. Your feedback, comments, and excitement fuel my creativity like nothing else!

Since it's Halloween, I thought it would be the perfect time to show my appreciation with something fun and interactive! But first, a few words about this spooky season...

Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of year. There's something magical about the air turning crisp, the shadows growing longer, and the thrill of unknown mysteries lurking in the dark.

Much like the journey we've all been on with this book, Halloween reminds me of how important it is to embrace the unknown, face fears head-on, and dive into new experiences—just like the characters in our story.

So, as a token of my appreciation, I'm putting together a little interactive challenge! Below, you'll find some choices that will lead you on your own mini Halloween adventure. Based on what you choose, you'll get a special sneak peek into the world of the story, as well as a hint of what's coming next!

**Choose Your Path:**

1. **A Midnight Stroll in the Cemetery**

- You decide to take a walk in an old, eerie graveyard on Halloween night. The fog rolls in thick, and you feel the presence of something watching you. Suddenly, a shadowy figure appears—one you might recognize from the latest chapter! Who could it be? What secret will they reveal?

2. **Enter the Haunted Mansion**

- You're invited to a mysterious Halloween party at an abandoned mansion. Inside, strange whispers echo through the halls. You open a door and find... a character from the story waiting for you! What do they say? Could this be a clue to the next big twist?

3. **A Potion from the Witch**

- You stumble upon a witch's cauldron bubbling in the woods. The witch offers you a choice: take a potion that will allow you to see into the future of the story or take one that will let you influence the fate of a character. Which will you choose, and how will it affect the next chapter?

**How to Play:**

Leave your choice in the comments! Based on what you pick, I'll be sharing a custom, Halloween-themed mini-scene in the next update that will hint at upcoming events in the story. You can also use this as an opportunity to ask questions about the plot, characters, or anything you've been curious about, and I'll weave some answers into the scenes!

I also want to take this moment to remind you that as we head into the next arc, things are going to get even darker, scarier, and more intense. You've been warned, but I know you're ready for it!

Thank you again for your continued support, your comments, and for sticking with me through all the twists and turns. Writing this story has been such a thrilling ride, and it's all because of you, the readers. I hope this Halloween brings you some chills, thrills, and a lot of fun!

Stay spooky, and until next time!

—Author (aka your guide through this dark, twisted world)