Chapter 161 : Space Stone, Mjolnir's Test!
The orange light struggled violently in his palm, tiny cracks appearing on the surface of the Soul Stone, a stark contrast to the golden Cosmo.
A moment later, the light gradually subsided, the Soul Stone returned to its calm state, quietly suspended in his palm; it had, after all, chosen to submit.
Li Yu knew this was just the first step. Obtaining the other Infinity Stones might be easier than the Soul Stone, but the challenges would be no less.
Arishem the Judge's six giant eyes gazed deeply at him, his gaze seemingly piercing through time and space. Not until Li Yu had completely mastered the Soul Stone did Arishem the Judge's voice transmit again.
"Remember your promise, protect Tiamut until it is born successfully."
As the words fell, the massive crimson figure, along with the six stellar rings, began to fade and dematerialize, eventually blending into the cosmic background radiation and disappearing without a trace.
Earth's magnetic field gradually stabilized, previously fallen satellites were pushed back into orbit by an invisible force, and the cracks on the ice plain slowly healed, as if the Celestial Judge had never appeared.
Watching Arishem the Judge leave, Li Yu immediately extended his divine sense into the Soul Stone, attempting to strip away Athena's true spirit imprint deep within his soul.
The Soul Stone emitted a wisp of orange light, like a vine, probing into his soul and tightly coiling around the golden imprint.
Buzz!
Under the stimulation of the Soul Stone, Athena's true spirit imprint suddenly became scorching hot and agitated.
The "Immovable Spirit Pivot Lock God Ring" and "Formless Return to Nothingness" barrier set up by Ade fiercely trembled, and the light blue chains let out a groan of unbearable strain.
A strong sense of detachment and a tearing pain came over him, Li Yu's vision went black, and he instinctively stopped manipulating.
This scene confirmed Strange and Wong's analysis: a single Infinity Stone could not strip the imprint and would instead intensify the conflict.
It seemed that collecting all six Infinity Stones and snapping his fingers was the only solution.
Li Yu's gaze turned towards the Planet Norway below. Asgard's new home was there, and the Space Stone was most likely hidden there.
He raised his hand and drew a circle in the air. Without the Sling Ring, a pale golden portal instantly opened, and Asgard's newly built palace could vaguely be seen behind the portal.
Taking a step, Li Yu's figure disappeared above the ice plain, leaving only the not yet fully dissipated Cosmo energy.
A golden shimmering portal silently opened on the coast of New Asgard. The salty sea breeze, mixed with the charred smell of bonfires, the aroma of grilled fish, and the lingering scent of ale, wafted towards him.
Li Yu stepped out, but the glorious golden palace of Asgard he had envisioned did not appear. Instead, there was a simple village built against the mountains.
The log cabins smelled of damp mildew, their roofs covered with dried seaweed. A few fishing boats gently swayed with the waves in the nearby sea, their sails still stained with uncleaned sea salt.
The air was filled with the resilience of exiles rebuilding their home, yet it also harbored the melancholy of the former divine realm's fading glory, even the wind carried a hint of desolation.
His arrival didn't cause much commotion. Most villagers were busy mending fishing nets and chopping wood for fires. Only the Asgardian warriors guarding the village entrance gripped the battle-axes at their waists vigilantly, their eyes fixed on the suddenly appearing stranger.
"Who are you? This is Asgard's private territory. Unauthorized entry is forbidden!"
After Asgard came to Earth, Thor bought this land with a truckload of gold as the base for the Asgardian Gods.
"Let him in. You can't stop him!"
With a booming voice, the guards made way, and Li Yu stepped into the center of the village.
In front of the largest longhouse, which now served as Asgard's council hall.
A burly figure, yet radiating despondency, was already waiting in the sand, leaning on a silver-gray long axe.
Thor!
He was no longer the golden-haired, red-robed God of Thunder Li Yu remembered!
His once dazzling golden hair had become dry and messy, casually tied back with a hemp rope, with a few wisps falling by his face.
A loose cotton and linen shirt was stretched by a beer belly, its hem still stained with alcohol. His left eye was covered by a black eye patch, and his exposed right eye was murky, as if shrouded in the Norwegian sea fog. The once burning lightning glow was replaced by the daze of a lingering hangover.
Three or four empty beer cans lay scattered at his feet. As the sea breeze blew, the strong smell of alcohol on him dissipated. He looked as if all his spirit had been drained, leaving only the heavy burden of a hero in decline.
Li Yu walked straight towards him, his gaze as calm as Water.
"Thor Odinson!"
Li Yu's voice carried clearly in the sea breeze, without unnecessary pleasantries.
"I've come for the Space Stone."
Thor slowly raised his single eye, his gaze sweeping over Li Yu, without the slightest surprise, as if he had long expected it.
He grumbled in his throat, bent down to pick up a metal flask at his feet, twisted open the lid, and took a big swig. The liquid flowed down the corner of his mouth to his chin, but he didn't care.
The strong scent of ale permeated the air. He didn't answer directly, but merely pointed with his chin to the Meow-Meow Hammer stuck in the sand in front of him.
Mjolnir.
The silver-gray Uru metal hammer body gleamed coldly under the gloomy sky. The leather wrapped around the handle was long worn, revealing the patterns beneath.
It was stuck only half an inch into the sand, yet the surrounding sand was compacted incredibly tightly, as if this seemingly light hammer carried immense power.
"I saw all that just now!"
Thor's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper, with a heavy nasal tone and a weary, almost self-deprecating quality.
Thor grinned, a bitter smile mixed with a hint of playfulness, and tapped the Mjolnir on the ground with his finger.
"Asgard is gone, but the rules of the Gods remain. The Space Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones, is not something anyone can just take."
He paused, his single eye suddenly tightening, a sharp scrutiny emerging from his murky gaze.
"You want it? You can have it."
He drew out his words, his gaze fixed intently on Li Yu.
"Pick it up!"
Li Yu's gaze fell on the hammer handle. He was naturally aware of the legends surrounding this hammer.
The enchantment personally carved by Odin.
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."
This was never a simple test of strength, but a judgment of worthiness, testing the purity of heart, nobility of character, will to protect, and the responsibility of a king.
Thor's request at this moment seemed more like a form of insistence, both a final homage to Asgard's lost glory and a test of Li Yu's worthiness.
An evil person could not lift Mjolnir.
"I only need the Space Stone!"
Li Yu's tone remained calm, yet it subtly conveyed an impatience with being delayed by rules. He didn't consider himself a pure and kind person, so it was unlikely he would receive the Meow-Meow Hammer's approval.
Moreover, he still needed to gather the other Infinity Stones to remove Athena's true spirit imprint. Where would he find the time to spend on the hammer's trial?
"Rules are rules."
Thor took another swig of alcohol, most of the liquid sloshing out of the flask. His tone carried the stubbornness of someone who had given up.
"This is Asgard's last dignity..."