On the other side, Heisenberg couldn't care less who Quill had contacted or what kind of chain reaction the people he'd reached out to might set off.
After ordering Heimdall to lock Quill up, Heisenberg walked over to Loki and quietly gave him his instructions.
"You know what the dwarves of Nidavellir charge to forge a suit of armor. Find some time to pick through the treasury and pick out something appropriate—give the dwarves what they're owed for their work."
Loki nodded as he took in Heisenberg's words.
"Rest assured, I'll pay them to the highest standard. After all, that armor of yours…"
Loki trailed off mid-sentence, unable to resist sneaking another couple of glances at Heisenberg's armor. His Adam's apple bobbed with undisguised envy before he continued.
"That suit of armor on you… It completely shatters every idea I've ever had about what armor can be!"
Heisenberg smiled with satisfaction at Loki's appraisal. Just as Loki said, he couldn't be more pleased with his armor. The Gothic styling, the dark theme, the visual interplay of molten lava and drifting ash.
Perfect.
So Heisenberg grinned and clapped Loki on the shoulder.
"You're right. This armor turned out even better than I imagined. The dwarves have more than earned an above-standard reward! And furthermore, let's establish a higher level of cooperation with the dwarves. From now on, I don't want their exceptional craftsmanship falling into the hands of anyone outside the Nine Realms!"
As he spoke, Heisenberg summoned Gungnir and casually stuffed the divine spear into Loki's hands.
"Take my Gungnir, bring along enough Berserkers, and have Sigmund assist you on a little tour through the universe. Find every race or individual that has ever purchased or commissioned a divine artifact from the dwarves in the last century!"
Heisenberg's expression hardened, his voice turning ruthless. "Track them down. Eliminate them. Seize their dwarf-forged artifacts, and send the message I want. Let the entire universe know that Asgard has a new master, that I have long since defeated Odin and now sit upon the throne of the Lord of the Nine Realms! From this day forward, Nidavellir belongs solely to Asgard, and solely to me and the gods and warriors under my command! Within three years, I want the dwarves of Nidavellir to reforge the weapons and armor of every single Asgardian warrior!"
Heisenberg looked deeply into Loki's eyes. "If you do this well, I will give you a reward you could never refuse. A true godhood, Loki—one you won't have to share with anyone!"
The moment the word "godhood" left Heisenberg's lips, traveling through Asgard's restless air and into Loki's ears, which had been parched for countless years, Loki's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. He swallowed hard and asked, cautiously, "Your Majesty, do you mean it?!"
"I have no reason to lie to you."
Heisenberg smiled at Loki and explained.
"I have been close to Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Asgard. I sensed a countless number of divine powers upon it. The Rainbow Bridge, the divine artifacts in the treasure vault—nothing in Asgard can compare to the godhoods resting on the World Tree! That is the true treasure of the Aesir. But sadly, Odin let them gather dust."
Heisenberg shook his head. "I don't know why Odin clung to those godhoods so tightly. All I know is that I am not Odin, and I won't be as miserly as he was when it comes to rewarding my subordinates. Loki, there is no need for you to keep sharing the power of Wisdom with Frigga. Nor do you need to rely only on Vanir magic and the Casket of Ancient Winters to fight. I want you to choose between water and fire—one element to become your future godhood. Do you think you are worthy of that?"
"Of course, Your Majesty!"
Loki answered without hesitation, veins even bulging on his neck. He clenched his teeth fiercely, then dropped to one knee before Heisenberg with a thud. Struggling to control his chattering teeth, he declared loudly, "Your Majesty may not know this, but everything I have sought in my life—it has been nothing more than a measure of regard, a form of recognition, and a godhood! Whatever I must pay, I will earn your recognition. I will, Your Majesty!"
"Good. I like that attitude. Remember how you feel right now, and put all of it into your mission, Loki."
Heisenberg gently crouched down to meet the kneeling Loki's eyes. He smiled softly and added, "Loki, God of the Sea, or Loki, God of Fire. As long as you work hard enough, you can start thinking about which one sounds more pleasing to your ear."
As his words faded, Heisenberg had already left that spot, floating off toward the giant dragon in the distance.
Loki remained kneeling there alone, leaning on Gungnir as he shouted after Heisenberg, "The God of the Sea, of course, Your Majesty! The resonance between my frost power and the ocean will make me the sharpest spear and the strongest shield in your service!"
Heisenberg heard Loki's words and paused for a moment. For some inexplicable reason, scenes of yachts, fishing boats, and tridents kept flashing through his mind. He further imagined Loki in his green armor, trident in hand like some sea king…
Heisenberg pressed his lips together and managed to force his laughter back down.
He made his way to the dragon Drogon, floated up, and settled onto Drogon's back. From the gaps in his armor plates, an endless stream of molten lava seeped out, lava saturated with the immense power of the sun. It wrapped entirely around Drogon. Moments later, Drogon raised his head, now significantly larger than before, and roared at the sky. Heisenberg patted his neck, signaling him—
"Fly!"
"ROAR!!!"
The dragon shot into the sky, and in the blink of an eye was soaring through the skies of Asgard. Beneath that ceaseless sunlight, Drogon looked as magnificent and imposing as the Nine-Tails wrapped in a Susanoo.
An exhilarated Heisenberg steered the dragon straight out of Asgard's atmosphere. But although he satisfied his curiosity and got a clear look at what Asgard truly looked like from the outside, he was, frankly, disappointed. Viewed from space, Asgard was indistinguishable from any ordinary planet.
Man and dragon roamed the cosmos for a full four hours before Heisenberg used the Bifrost to bring himself and Drogon back to Asgard. Everything in the palace was as usual—four hours was not enough time for anything unimaginable to happen. Dismounting from Drogon and letting the dragon go off to amuse himself, Heisenberg returned to his great hall. He crossed the long main chamber and seated himself upon the throne that only he had the right to sit on. He patted the armrest, leaned back against the seat—nothing special about it; it was even a bit cold. Yet even if it were utterly ruined and freezing, people would always chase after it, fight over it.
"Ah…"
Heisenberg sighed.
As the sound of his sigh drifted out, someone gently asked him, "Is His Majesty troubled by something?"
"It's nothing. Just musing."
Heisenberg glanced at Frigga approaching and offered a faint smile.
Frigga stopped a short distance away and gave Heisenberg a graceful salute. "I have just heard from Loki about Your Majesty's decision. No matter what, I must thank you on that child's behalf. He has suffered far too much unfair treatment. Odin may have taken him into our family, but he did not necessarily ever truly treat him as one of us. I never expected, however, that he would find warmth from Your Majesty. You cannot imagine how happy he was—the expression on his face when he came to tell me he might receive the godhood of the sea!"
At that, Frigga lifted her head, unable to suppress a heartfelt smile.
Heisenberg was momentarily dazzled by that smile. He quickly said, "You have no need to thank me on his behalf. If I decide to grant him something, it is because he earned it."
"I had not realized you had already grasped this principle. It seems Your Majesty's understanding of the throne grows ever deeper."
"Heh, it's quite elementary. The Queen overpraises me."
As he spoke, Heisenberg rose and walked to Frigga's side. Quietly, he said to her, "Regarding the matter of godhood, I was just about to have a proper discussion with you."
"Oh?" Frigga looked at him with mild puzzlement. "Do you have some new idea?"
"Indeed," Heisenberg nodded. "The Aesir have hoarded far too many godhoods. Odin's stinginess with them is truly beyond my comprehension. So, I intend to distribute those godhoods. However, they are, after all, qualifications for divinity—symbols of immense power and extended lifespan. They cannot be handed out lightly."
Heisenberg smiled as he looked at Frigga and asked softly, "So, how should I properly bestow upon them what I wish to give?"
After he finished, he met Frigga's intense gaze. Her expression had turned considerably more serious. She took a deep breath, then sighed. "You want war, Your Majesty."
"Correct. I need war, because warriors need a proving ground! The scorching heat of Muspelheim and the freezing winter of Jotunheim both thrill me beyond measure. Before the flames of war spread beyond the Nine Realms, I will use those two worlds—one of fire, one of ice—to awaken Asgard's heart for war. Our warriors must change their mindset. They have been protectors for thousands of years, but I am going to turn them into conquerors!"
Heisenberg sat back upon the divine throne as he spoke, and a smile brimming with intimidation settled on his face.
"The godhoods stored within the World Tree must become our prizes. Even more, they must become Asgard's weapons, deployed upon the battlefields where they are needed! Not just Asgardians—I will also select a considerable number of Midgardians, or perhaps people of your own Vanir kin. I will grant them the power of gods as well, and they, in turn, will become my power!"
Below the throne, Frigga watched Heisenberg with eyes full of worry. Meeting her concerned gaze, Heisenberg asked quietly, "What do you think of my decision, Frigga?"
"I…"
Frigga hesitated briefly, then walked forward with heavy steps until she stood beside his throne. Then, under Heisenberg's slightly surprised gaze, she seated herself on the armrest of the throne. She stretched out both hands and gently began to press on his shoulders.
"Your Majesty, why are you doing all this? Are you planning to go on a long journey?"
As she asked, she moved her hands to massage his temples and the area behind his ears. She continued, "Loki's work will take time. If you wish to distribute godhoods en masse, those worthy of inheriting them will also need at least some time to prove themselves. You seem to be charting a course for the Nine Realms in the near future, yet the path you are pointing to has no footprints of your own. So, are you planning to leave on a long journey next—to some place I am not meant to know about?"
/-\
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