Clatter!
The glass dropped.
There were countless broken glasses on the floor, but this one was different.
The wine in this glass was still full.
The wine spilled out, wetting Thor's pants.
Thor forced open his hazy, sleepy eyes. "Huh? Didn't I just finish this cup?"
Beside him, Sif spoke up, advising, "Thor, stop drinking, you're already drunk."
As for Loki and The Warriors Three, the four of them had already passed out before Thor. They were now sprawled haphazardly on the ground.
"Then... hiccup! I won't drink anymore."
Thor listened to Sif's advice.
He wobbled to his feet, intending to walk towards his bedchamber. However, he hadn't taken two steps before he fell to the ground with a "bang" and immediately passed out.
Sif shook her head helplessly.
If she had known this, she would have simply let Thor get drunk at the table. Lying on the table would look better than lying on the ground.
Afterwards, Sif looked at Lucas. "Sorcerer Lucas, that's enough drinking for today. I'll leave Thor and the others to you for now."
Lucas nodded, raising his glass to bid Sif farewell.
Sif turned, and the tap-tap-tap of her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Just then, a pair of eyes quietly opened.
Loki, who had seemingly been drunk and unconscious much earlier, suddenly sat up. His eyes were clear, showing no sign of being drunk.
Loki glanced at Lucas, making a shushing gesture. Then he slowly walked towards Thor, and midway, divine power flowed, conjuring a pair of scissors.
A mischievous smile appeared on Loki's face as he reached his wicked hand towards Thor's lion-like golden hair.
"My dear brother, what are you trying to do?"
Loki's wicked hand was caught, and Thor also opened his eyes.
Thor's eyes held a hint of drunkenness, not as clear as Loki's. But without a doubt, this was completely different from being uncontrollably hungover.
Loki gave an embarrassed smile. "Nothing, I saw you were drunk and wanted to help you up."
Thor's lips curled up, and he teased, "Is that so? Then what's that in your hand? By Odin, you wouldn't be secretly cutting my hair like you did to Sif, would you?"
"Oh, damn it, who put this thing in my hand?"
Loki cursed, then raised his hand and threw the scissors far away.
Afterwards, he tried to pull his hand free, only to find that Thor was still gripping his wrist tightly, showing no intention of letting go.
Furthermore, Thor was staring directly at Loki, as if saying: Guess if I believe you.
Loki shrugged helplessly, guessing that Thor didn't believe him.
His prank discovered, Loki didn't panic in the slightest.
Given his brotherly bond with Thor, this was a small matter.
Snap!
Thor exerted force on his wrist, pulling Loki to the ground beside him.
The two brothers lied side by side, looking up at the night sky.
As a civilization with more advanced technology, Asgard's night sky was not obscured by light pollution.
Lying on the ground, looking at the stars embedded in the night sky like rare treasures, Thor slowly spoke, "Brother, you said earlier that Kamar-Taj needs help. I'll lead the team there."
"Hmm?!"
Loki turned on his side, looking at Thor with a surprised expression.
Hela's forced abdication today was very successful, but not entirely successful.
Its success lay in Hela's defeat of Thor and her subsequent coercion of the Asgardian populace into submission, successfully planting a seed of awe in their hearts.
Its failure lay in the fact that, after thousands of years, Hela had no power base left in Asgard.
Whether it was the Asgardian Military or the other Asgardians holding power, they were still more loyal to Thor.
Though Thor was defeated, a single defeat would not completely destroy his image in the hearts of Asgard's subjects.
Moreover, Thor's battle with Hela was not a crushing defeat. He only narrowly lost due to his stamina giving out in a prolonged fight.
But if Thor were to leave Asgard now, the signal it would send would be somewhat subtle. This might mislead the Asgardians into thinking that Thor was leaving disheartened after his defeat.
The subjects of Asgard could accept a King who narrowly lost after a valiant fight, but they could not accept a King who became disheartened and gave up because of a single defeat.
"Brother, do you know what it means for you to leave Asgard now?"
"I know."
"Then you… are you really going to withdraw voluntarily?"
"Listen to me, Loki."
Thor paused, then slowly said, "I want to go to Earth first and check the situation of the portal there. Then, based on the situation of the alternate dimensions around reality, I will decide whether to withdraw."
"If the alternate dimensions around reality are in chaos, then Hela succeeding as King of Asgard might not be a bad thing. She is the God of Death of Asgard, and her authority is more suited to dealing with those demons from hell."
"Then shouldn't Hela go to Earth?" Lucas suddenly interjected.
"Hela becoming King and Hela going to Earth are not in conflict. Asgard has never lacked Kings who personally lead their armies into battle. Or rather, most of the time, the King of Asgard will personally lead the charge, facing the most dangerous and difficult battles."
Thor cited his father Odin and his grandfather Bor as examples.
"Father personally led Asgard to defeat Laufey and his army from Jotunheim in Norway on Earth."
"Grandfather also personally led Asgard's elite in a surprise attack on Svartalfheim, crushing Malekith's evil plan to plunge the Universe into darkness."
"I believe my sister will also personally lead her army of the underworld, stationed at reality and alternate dimension portal, guarding Asgard and the peace of the Nine Realms."
"Heh, that sounds very noble, my dear brother."
The tap-tap-tap of footsteps echoed.
From the corner outside the palace gate, a green-clad figure slowly emerged.
The person who had arrived was none other than Hela, the subject of Thor's conversation.
Hela slowly walked towards Thor and Loki, who were lying on the ground.
"Are you negotiating with me, brother?"
"No, this is just my opinion." Thor still lied lazily.
His battle with Hela was not only a contest of strength and skill but also an exchange of wills.
Thor read Hela's will and determination from it.
Hela was determined to become the King of Asgard and prove to Odin that her ideology was correct. At the same time, she also wanted to restore the glory of the army that once followed her.
Regarding the former, Thor seemed to see his younger self (which was actually only a few years ago). He did not agree with this.
But he agreed with the latter.
Those brave and fearless warriors who once followed Hela to expand Asgard's territory and achieve great military feats should not be buried in history.
Furthermore, Thor fought until he was exhausted and unconscious, yet when he woke up, he was still safe and sound, and even the injuries from the battle had mostly recovered.
Hela's restraint after her victory further strengthened the trust between her and Thor.
Hela walked up to Thor and found him still lying on the ground, gazing up at the stars.
She also looked up for a moment.
But only for a moment.
"What's so good about Asgard's night sky? Thousands of years have passed, and it's still exactly the same as before."
"No, I'm not looking at Asgard's night sky. I'm looking at the peace of the Nine Realms."
Thor sat up, his hands propped behind him, continuing to gaze at the stars.
Hela, however, scoffed, withdrawing her gaze from the starry sky.
"Peace? What's so good about that? How do you think Asgard's current splendor came about?"
"In Odin's prime, he and I drowned countless civilizations in oceans of blood and tears. Asgard's current wealth comes from plundering countless civilizations."
"Look at the things in Odin's vault. Those rare treasures and artifacts don't just grow out of the ground."
Thor nodded.
Having experienced the great war of the Four Realms Alliance, he understood that Hela's words were true.
"I know, but that's the past. What's more important is the present. Now, the Nine Realms are at peace."
Hela sneered, "Is that so? Then what about the war a few months ago that made you famous in Asgard? This world has never truly known peace. Don't lie to yourself, brother."
Then she said with some disappointment, "Brother, I heard people say you drank all day in the palace, and I thought you had already given up the fantasy of being my enemy. If that were the case, I would be somewhat disappointed. But now, your naivety disappoints me even more."
With that, Hela, feeling that their conversation was going nowhere, turned and left.
Behind her, Thor's loud shouts sounded from afar. "Sister, I once longed for glory, for battle, for conquering the Nine Realms, and for the respect of all life in the Nine Realms, just like you!"
"But through battle after battle, losing my closest companions, I understood that the most important responsibility of a qualified King is to protect their people!"
Thor spoke many words, and his voice was loud, but Hela paid him no mind, continuing to walk unhurriedly into the distance.
Once Hela was far away, Thor stopped his futile shouting.
Beside him, Lucas said faintly, "People teaching people doesn't work. Events teaching people, once is enough. One doesn't give up until they hit a wall."
Thor shook his head helplessly.
He now realized that his experience might not apply to Hela.
Seeing this, Lucas asked, "Thor, are you still going to Earth?"
Thor shook his head again, and just as Lucas thought he was changing his mind, he said firmly, "Yes."
Lucas raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you still planning to withdraw from the King's succession and hand Asgard over to Hela?"
"No!"
Thor's answer once again surprised Lucas.
He then explained, "I will take Hela with me."
"Will Hela agree?"
This time, the questioner was Loki.
And the one who answered the question was Lucas.
Lucas's expression was somewhat strange as he said, "She has already agreed."