"Master God-King!"
Heimdall wore plain cloth clothes, his messy hair casually tied back. His once-majestic armor had long since disappeared, and his linen garments, stained with oil and dust, revealed the hardship of his escape.
Only his golden pupils still showed his unyielding pride.
"I saw the Avengers from Midgard, Thor's group of friends, rushing to Asgard. But Hela was nowhere to be seen and did not stop them, correct?"
Odin wore a neat light-pink suit, with a small blade of grass pinned to his jacket pocket. He had brought it from Norway. It was green and full of life. His gray hair was neatly combed, and he squatted on the steps of Vanaheim, one eye staring fiercely at the Asgardian people below.
"I... can feel that Hela has not left. She is still in Asgard," the old man said, his voice as low as a lion's—an old male lion who had slept for a long time, entering his twilight years, lifeless, yet still fighting to keep his temper and endure until the young lion grew into a male strong enough to stand on his own.
"She has entered Odin's vault, where that beast is imprisoned." Odin lowered his eyes. Gungnir had been casually discarded beside him like a fire poker, and Sleipnir knelt behind him. The divine horse's face carried an unimaginable fatigue. It was old, as old as Odin. When Odin reached the end of his life, Sleipnir would follow him, carrying him across the Bridge of Death to the Hall of Valor.
Heimdall immediately grew anxious after hearing this. He stood up and asked in bewilderment, "Once that beast is released, the entire Nine Realms will face catastrophe. We cannot allow this. We must stop her."
Odin glanced at Heimdall. With just that one look, he calmed the panicked veteran and said calmly, "That was the sin I committed, and Asgard should repay it. Now that Hela has returned there, let her atone for my sins on my behalf."
The old man smiled slyly, completely different from his kindly appearance now.
"Do you think... Hela will be that creature's opponent? You used all your strength to seal it back then." Heimdall was still somewhat worried.
"Do not worry. Hela's strength will only grow stronger and stronger in Asgard. Perhaps she truly can stand equal to it." Odin's gaze turned straight ahead. "As for Thor, Surtur is the one who will end everything."
"I am dying. I will die soon," Odin suddenly sighed with melancholy. "Thor and Loki... I hope everything goes well for them. Hela's strength is far greater than imagined. Even those old opponents from the past have all become much stronger now."
Odin had a feeling that a storm was approaching. The Ancient One had come to see him before and told him about abnormalities in other dimensions. Dormammu was beginning to make moves. Cyttorak, Nightmare, the Dweller-in-Darkness... those dimensional demons were eyeing this universe and could attack and invade at any time.
When the Ancient One was alive and Odin was in his prime, those beings had not dared invade Earth.
But things were different now. The Ancient One had retired to follow Eternity, and Odin was about to depart for the Hall of Valor. There were almost no high-level combat forces left that could protect Earth.
There might be a few figures in the universe who could rival them, but there were too few...
Odin felt a sense of weakness welling up in his heart. He could barely control the speed at which his divine power was dissipating.
"I..." Heimdall wanted to say more, but a vortex suddenly appeared before him. The civilians below were frightened and fled in all directions, at a loss.
Odin also lowered his eyes and watched the sudden change quietly. Heimdall immediately raised his sword and stepped forward, preparing to meet the enemy.
The door of the spaceship slowly opened, and a figure rushed out. Heimdall immediately became extremely vigilant and guarded the God-King. The other homeless civilians huddled together, hugging one another. Asgardian soldiers and warriors of the Vanir also stepped forward, raising their weapons and preparing to face the enemy.
"Blech!"
Carter found a place and started vomiting. He casually grabbed someone's hat and said, "Thank you... blech!"
Renzo flew out first, his feet rising off the ground. His eyes immediately locked onto Odin. Dr. Banner rubbed his hands and walked out in a restrained manner. Skurge followed at the back, wearing some kind of baggy hat from who knew where, tightly covering his face.
Odin stretched out his hand to stop Heimdall, who was standing ready. A smile appeared on the old, wrinkled face. "I have not seen you before, but the Ancient One mentioned you to me." The old man stood up. Seeing this, Heimdall quickly tried to support the God-King. Odin waved his hand and walked tremblingly toward Renzo with a cane transformed from Gungnir.
Partly because of his age, the old God-King tried his best to straighten his body. Time made people grow old, and his now-shortened frame was no longer enough to support his former majesty.
Odin stared at Renzo with burning eyes. The Infinity Stones so close at hand held no attraction for him at all. At his age and with his experience, everything was nothing more than passing clouds.
"Should we bow?" Dr. Banner asked nervously. Standing before him was Thor's father, the legendary God-King Odin, the supreme ruler of the Nine Realms. Although Dr. Banner usually got along well with Thor, one thing was one thing and another was another. Respect had to be shown to the God-King.
Renzo did not answer Dr. Banner. His eyes remained fixed on the not-so-tall old man in front of him as he pondered for a long time.
"Where are Thor and the others? They don't seem to be here."
"I sent him away. He went to Muspelheim with Loki to bring back Surtur's crown," Odin said with a kind expression. "Hahaha, if he were here, he would probably fight Hela to the death. We would not have evacuated here either."
"Oh, by the way, Hela is my daughter, Thor's biological sister." Odin explained as if afraid Renzo would not understand.
"Thor, my child, is also my favorite child. He is not as cruel and bloodthirsty as his sister, nor as careless as Loki. Reckless, arrogant, warlike... just so you know, all these flaws were inherited from me! Haha!"
Odin sat down, and Renzo sat down as well. It was as if he were facing his own grandchildren. Perhaps Odin truly was old; he nagged without stopping.
"What I hope most is for Thor to inherit Asgard. He is so much like me. Sometimes when I see him, it feels like looking into a mirror. But his warlike nature troubled me, so I exiled him to Midgard, hoping he would learn humility and respect."
"It seems he really has made many good friends." Odin smiled and looked at Banner. "I hope that in the future... when Thor is in crisis, you can help him. He is a good boy."
Odin's eyes suddenly turned lonely. "So is Loki. He is also a good boy. He was only crying when I picked him up. He was only this small." The old man frowned and gestured with his hands, as if trying to recall Loki's appearance back then.
"I raised him... Frigga raised him, so he was very close to his mother. He played all kinds of tricks on Thor, but he was afraid of me. He did not dare let me discover the little animals he threw into my bedroom, and he never wanted to scare Frigga."
"To be honest, Loki is actually more suited to inherit the throne. He is cunning, knows when to be soft and when to be hard, and understands people's hearts... He is like a mouse hiding in a gutter, concealed behind Thor, the lion, using that enormous banner to play his own tricks."
"His personality is perfect for becoming a king. Unfortunately, he is too jealous. He could even attack his own brother. He is so ruthless that he hardly seems like a child Frigga could have raised. She was very kind."
Odin was just like an ordinary old man, rambling on and on.
Renzo did not dislike it. He only listened silently, laughing heartily when he heard embarrassing stories about Thor and Loki's childhood.
No one knew how long Odin had spoken. Eventually, he seemed tired. He held his forehead and leaned against the steps with some exhaustion. Heimdall's pupils shrank. He clenched the divine sword in his hand, lowered his head, and then loosened his grip.
Odin gently placed his hand on Renzo's shoulder. Renzo was too tall, a full head taller than Odin even while crouching.
"Next... I will entrust Thor and Loki to you..." Odin smiled and stood up. His staff instantly transformed back into Gungnir. Sleipnir behind him seemed to sense something, and the brilliance of the divine horse shone as it carried Odin on its back.
"I want you to tell Thor and Loki something." Odin held the reins, causing Sleipnir to neigh proudly.
"Home is where the people are!" Odin roared, his one eye scanning the people below. A flash of sadness passed through it, but he immediately became determined.
"And also, I love my children!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Odin raised Gungnir and summoned the Rainbow Bridge. Colorful light enveloped the dying old man. He planned to spend the last of his life, squandering his remaining strength to give his people and children one final bit of power.
He would die gloriously, like a god.
As Odin openly departed in front of everyone, the civilians below did not know what had happened. The departure of the God-King meant their backbone had also collapsed, followed by endless panic and unease.
"Has the God-King abandoned us?"
"Does Lord God-King want to leave alone?"
"Asgard is no longer our home..."
The people of Asgard suddenly panicked, kneeling and crying in the direction the God-King had left. They were like a herd that had lost its leader. Without someone to drive them forward and guide them, they became like loose sand, liable to be swept away by the downstream current at any moment.
"Shut up!" Heimdall raised the divine sword high. His golden pupils flashed as he scanned the panicked expressions of the civilians below. Odin was going to die. Thor and Loki were gone. The only person left who could become their leader was Heimdall. Before Thor returned, he had to fulfill his duty as leader.
"The God-King has gone to remove the final obstacle for us and build a bridge back to Asgard's pride and glory!" Heimdall drove the divine sword into the earth. "Asgard is not a place. It is where the people are!"
"Everyone, wait until the prince returns, and then follow us back to Asgard!"
"For the glory of Asgard!"
Heimdall was like a god of war. His eyes seemed to contain golden flames, his beating heart like a roaring fire, and passionate war drums seemed to sound in people's ears.
Renzo was unmoved. He had heard speeches like this many times in his previous life, and they did not stir his emotions at all.
What moved him was Odin's love for his children, his love for his people, and his love for Asgard.
...
Loki fled across the land of Muspelheim and hid in disgrace. His handsome, charming face was stained with ash and scars. He was like a homeless marmot, busily digging holes, desperately fleeing, and turning around in panic to avoid a predator's attack.
In fact, Loki was indeed dodging an attack. But it was not a predator—it was a giant dragon, a true dragon that could breathe fire from its mouth.
Scorching dragonfire rushed toward Loki and swallowed him whole.
But how could Loki die so easily? In the blink of an eye, the second prince appeared behind a narrow mountain rock, breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell violently, and his beautiful black hair had long since been covered in volcanic ash. Even graceful beauty could not withstand the ravages of wind and rain.
"Stupid dragon. As stupid as that idiot Thor!" Loki laughed and cursed. The God of Mischief and the foremost mage of the Nine Realms was not famous for nothing. His illusions were so good they could deceive even that idiot Thor.
The moment he thought of Thor, Loki's mood instantly sank. He could no longer feel Thor's breath, but his intuition told him that the idiot was not dead. At least, he was still alive.
Roar...
The dragon's roar lingered near Loki's ears, frightening the second prince into crouching down instantly. He covered his mouth tightly and did not dare make a sound, fearing that he would attract the dragon's attention and then be cooled down by a blast of dragonfire.
The body of an Asgardian was extremely hard and strong, but the problem was that he was a Frost Giant and feared fire the most.
The giant dragon pressed its huge body close to the ground. Its rough skin and scales looked like flowing magma, covered in scorched black volcanic ash. Its ferocious dragon head lifted, staring with enormous sharp vertical pupils. Its gray-black eyes closely watched every movement in the surrounding wind and grass.
It smelled the scent of a Frost Giant. It was very faint, but it was there.
Loki did not dare move. His body seemed frozen. His entire body was covered in thick volcanic ash. The unpleasant burnt smell made His Royal Highness the Second Prince, who had always remained clean and elegant, extremely uncomfortable. He felt the dust clogging his pores, making him miserable.
After waiting for a long time, Loki's scent gradually seemed to be covered by volcanic magma, and the dragon slowly lost its target. Its violent temper meant it could not compare with the patient Loki. It unfolded its enormous, torn dragon wings, which looked like a layer of skin stretched over a frame, and a violent wave of heat instantly swept across the surroundings.
Watching the dragon's retreating figure, Loki was so frightened that he finally had time to calm down. He lay on the ground, his eyes blank.
"Father... Mother... Asgard... I miss you!"
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