"I thank you on Laufey's behalf. He was a respectable King, and he shouldn't have died with humiliation and regret."
At Asgard's Bifrost Bridge control console, Odin slowly opened his eyes and spoke.
He was referring to Lucas feigning weakness and failing to dodge Laufey's final blow.
In Laufey's eyes, this battle concerned the fate of the Nine Realms. If he died without contributing anything, he wouldn't rest in peace.
Lucas put on a show, giving him the illusion of temporarily neutralizing one of the opponent's top combatants. It fulfilled his dying wish.
"No need." Lucas shook his head, skipping the topic.
Laufey wasn't a powerful enemy, nor was he particularly annoying. Lucas didn't mind giving him some dignity.
"Did you find anything?"
This time, it was Odin's turn to shake his head. "Still a little short."
"Still a little short, so do I need to—"
Lucas made a gesture.
Odin smiled, a carefree expression on his face.
"No need, I already know what that last bit is missing."
"What's missing?" Lucas prompted, asking.
"Me." Odin pointed to himself, then suddenly sighed, "I really envy Laufey."
Looking at Odin's dejected expression, Lucas chuckled after a moment of silence. "Do you need me to cut you? I guarantee professional technique."
"No, that won't be necessary."
Odin turned back to look at Asgard once more.
Just then, Frigga gracefully approached.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"For Asgard, for the living beings of the Nine Realms. I want to break the cycle of destiny that has enveloped the Nine Realms for billions of years, and I want the Nine Realms to return to peace and tranquility. This is my duty, my mission."
After speaking, Odin turned around, his life force suddenly dissipating, transforming into a cluster of starlight that scattered into the deep space below.
The starlight twinkled, and Odin fell. After his physical body was annihilated, Odin's soul body gave up resistance, allowing itself to drift along with a mysterious guidance.
"Sorcerer Lucas, if I succeed, I will notify Thor and have him come find you."
Norwegian Sea, Earth.
Lucas's attention returned from Asgard, carefully observing the ice-bound situation. No cold currents were further solidifying it.
He looked along the ice pillar and found that the casket of ancient winters in Laufey's hand had vanished without a trace.
No way?
A thief actually infiltrated the battlefield of Asgard and the Four Realms?
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Loki, following in his father's footsteps, who had taken the casket of ancient winters to use.
However, Loki's current situation wasn't looking too good.
...
Angel Queen slowly walked towards Sif. She stepped on Sif's chest, wiping the blood from the bottom of her foot on Sif's chest armor.
"You Vanir really love being dogs for the Asgardians. It was like this thousands of years ago, and it's still like this now."
The Angel Queen sneered, sheathing her longsword, raising her foot high, and stomping fiercely towards Sif's face.
"To share the World Tree with you Vanir, I truly feel ashamed. Killing you would dirty my sword."
"Then don't kill her."
As a mocking voice rang out, golden sparks flickered beneath Sif, a portal opened, and Sif fell downward due to gravity.
However, this falling speed was clearly no match for the Angel Queen's descending right foot.
At that moment, an arm stretched out from the portal, grabbed Sif, and yanked her backward fiercely.
Simultaneously, a golden spearhead jabbed towards the Angel Queen's foot.
"Gungnir?!"
Though surprised, the Angel Queen remained calm, retracting her foot and flapping her wings to dodge.
The one who had timely rescued Sif was Loki.
"Sif, a head of golden hair for a life, you got a great deal." Loki quipped.
After he found the casket of ancient winters, he used it to turn the tide, gaining an advantage in his battle with Sindr.
He used the casket of ancient winters to create a maze, combined with illusions, to make Sindr run around in circles. Thus, he had the leisure to chat with Sif on the battlefield about their foolishness in their youth.
In his youth, Loki once did a mischievous thing while Sif was asleep—he secretly cut off her golden hair.
Of course, Loki had been beaten many times for this, even to this day.
"Go to hell, Loki, what kind of time is this to be joking? Quickly think of a solution." Sif got up and kicked Loki.
"Hey, Sif. I just saved you and even healed you, and this is how you treat me?"
Loki still wore a playful smile, but he soon couldn't keep it up.
Sindr had seen through his trick and flown out of the Ice Maze towards him.
The Angel Queen, enraged that Sif had escaped from under her foot, also flapped her wings and flew towards them.
While Loki and Sif were talking, the attacks from Sindr and the Angel Queen came one after another, in quick succession.
In front of Loki was a fire phoenix, spreading its wings and swooping down, bringing with it rolling waves of heat.
Behind him was the Angel Queen, flying with beating wings, the blade of her sword glinting with a terrifying cold light.
Loki didn't want to face both attacks simultaneously, so he slipped away, creating several illusions that fled in various directions.
Each illusion dragged a Sif, lifelike and indistinguishable from the real thing but they were too slow.
Compared to Loki alone, the escape speed of two people with Sif was too slow.
The fire phoenix flapped its wings, unleashing a fiery sea of heat that engulfed all of the illusory Lokis and Sifs created by the magic.
"This is bad!"
Seeing that there wasn't enough time to dodge, Loki had no choice but to activate the casket of ancient winters, using its cold current to resist the heatwave.
A white cold current burst from the casket of ancient winters, instantly dispelling the heatwave, dousing the flames, and colliding with the fire phoenix.
Ice and fire, white and red, two energies of diametrically opposite natures collided, both vanishing into nothingness, leaving only mist rising.
With the casket of ancient winters, Loki held his own against Queen Sindr in their clash.
But at this moment, the enemy he had to face was not just Sindr alone.
No sooner said than done, the moment Loki's true body was exposed, the Angel Queen gracefully arced through the air with beating wings, changed direction, and lunged at Loki, her sharp blade chopping down overhead.
So fast!
Facing the Angel Queen's sword, Loki was greatly alarmed.
He had underestimated the Angel Queen, who, despite her seemingly ordinary moves, could unleash such terrifying speed.
Loki quickly held Gungnir horizontally, using its shaft to block the blade.
Seeing this, the Angel Queen instinctively wanted to change her move to sever Loki's fingers. But then she remembered it was Odin's Gungnir, and a fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she increased her strength and chopped straight down.
She wanted to cut off Odin's weapon!
Clang!!!
The sword blade and spear shaft collided, and a deafening explosion rang out.
Loki's hand trembled, almost losing his grip on Gungnir. But remembering that it was the symbol of the Asgardian King, Loki ultimately held on tightly and did not let go.
A tremendous force struck, and Loki, along with his spear, was smashed to the ground, creating a deep crater in the ice.
Loki lay in the deep pit, beside him the casket of ancient winters, which he had thrown down, unable to put away as he needed both hands to block the Angel Queen's attack.
The Angel Queen looked down into the pit, and seeing Gungnir completely unharmed, she couldn't help but curl her lip.
"Is that all Odin's boy is capable of? Get up, let me hack a few more times, and have some fun." The Angel Queen looked down, sneering at Loki.
Loki was unmoved by the Angel Queen's taunts. He merely stared blankly, muttering to himself, "Father, how could this be? Alright, I understand, I won't let you and mother down."
On the other side, Thor also entered a state of longing for his father.
He, along with Loki, had been pulled into the mental realm by Odin.
"Father, why have you called us in now? The battle on the field is fierce, I need to quickly deal with Surtur and go support Loki."
As soon as he entered the mental realm, Thor stepped forward a few paces, speaking in a hurried tone.
"Thor, calm down."
Odin slowly turned around. In the mental world, he had shed his golden armor and changed into simple white robes, appearing somewhat more benevolent.
As his voice sounded, a gentle breeze swept through, rustling the waist-high green grass on the ground.
Thor's state of mind shifted accordingly, and he remained silent, waiting for Odin to speak.
Odin's gaze swept over Thor and Loki, and once he confirmed they had both calmed down, he had them sit and recounted his plan with Lucas in detail.