"Are you really sure that was just a dream?"
Loki looked at Arthur with an odd expression, like a child who has secretly hidden candy and tries to fool their parents with an innocent face.
It might sound like a strange comparison, but from the way he lightly pressed his lips together and the faint smile in his eyes, that's exactly the impression he gave.
Arthur found it a little odd. He tilted his head, glanced at Loki, and shrugged. "If you have another interpretation, I'm willing to hear it."
"Then my answer..." Loki raised his head and looked at the sky. "It was a kind of prophecy."
"So, what did you see?" Arthur asked.
Loki didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at Arthur. "You promised that you would guard the peace of Asgard. But if Asgard is ever destroyed by an overwhelmingly powerful force it cannot resist, then what will you do?"
"I won't let that happen," Arthur said.
Loki smiled faintly. "I think I'm starting to understand your perspective. I've agreed to help you stay here, waiting for the person who may eventually come..."
As he spoke, light began to flow over his body. A pitch-black cloak and a blood-red figure appeared.
"Like this?" he asked.
"When did you see him?" Arthur asked expressionlessly.
"When we came here...the first time," Loki replied with a smile.
Arthur looked at him. Loki met his gaze calmly.
After a moment, he added two more words. "In the dream...or rather, in the prophecy. What puzzles me is this: If this stone really is the Soul Stone, as you say, then why does it also possess the power of prophecy?"
Arthur was momentarily speechless.
Loki could transform into Red Skull's appearance because he had seen Red Skull in the first illusion trap.
In other words, did that illusion involve everyone?
To be honest, Arthur was starting to regret his decision. Stepping onto Vormir had been somewhat rash, as he had insufficient intelligence and understanding of the Soul Stone. These factors, combined with his carelessness and growing self-confidence, had led him to bring the team here so hastily.
He had considered this beforehand, but it was clear that Mordo wasn't suited to that role.
The situation now seemed to be teetering on the edge of losing control.
Arthur pulled his thoughts back, looked at Loki seriously, and said, "Don't believe too much, but don't deny it completely either. Many things need to be verified personally."
He didn't say more. For Loki, this was enough.
Saying more would only have the opposite effect.
Loki said nothing, merely spreading his hands.
Arthur then took out the Pen of Thoth. To be honest, he hadn't used it much lately.
With Camp Lehigh's technological advancements, many things seemed close to being phased out of history.
Moreover, this item's quality had actually reached Carina's level, to the point that, the moment Arthur took it out, the Disassembler showed clear signs of "hungry anticipation."
Upgraded to the Advanced level, the Disassembler was indeed feeling unsatisfied. After all, it had been a long time since it had Disassembled anything.
In fact, this once dazzling, golden, finger-like ability had begun to lose some of its shine.
With his thoughts in disarray, Arthur reached down and drew a magic array on the ground.
Heimdall's Bifrost could have teleported him directly, but Arthur felt that people should rely on themselves sometimes.
After finishing what he had to do in front of Loki, Arthur paused for a moment. Since he likely wouldn't need the pen anymore, he casually tossed it into the disassembler.
After that, Arthur quietly let out another sigh of relief.
The Soul Stone's illusion trap was certainly powerful, but it might not be able to simulate the Disassembler's disassembly of an item. Since the Disassembly state was now completely normal, that alone was likely enough to prove that it was a genuinely awakened, conscious state.
"All right, I should be going now." Arthur patted Loki on the shoulder. "But we'll probably meet again very soon."
Loki looked at the faded array diagram on the ground and said with a strange expression, "Why do I feel like your real objective was to claim this planet as your own?"
"Who knows?" Arthur said as he turned around. "Good luck."
Still in Red Skull's form, Loki waved at Arthur's back without much grace. After a moment, he raised his hand, and a magic staff appeared in his grasp. He glanced down at his appearance, still feeling that something was off.
"Why do I have to look so miserable?"
His pitch-black, tattered robe vanished and was replaced by a luxurious sorcerer's robe inlaid with gemstones. His bare head was now adorned with a peculiar, magical crown.
"I wonder if Thanos will be startled when he arrives...assuming that really is a prophecy."
Loki reined in his wandering thoughts, turned around, and walked toward the mountain peak. As he went, he pondered how to modify the surrounding environment, making it more comfortable and suitable for long-term habitation.
"If I'd known, I should've played more survival-in-the-wild games. Those people always manage to create enviable living environments with limited resources."
…
…
Arthur didn't pay much attention to Loki's side of things, though he wasn't completely unconcerned.
He left behind a teleportation array, meaning he would return later, and not alone. Once energy supplies were sufficient and conditions permitted, many people might set foot on the planet in the future.
But first, the most important thing was to head back!
On the return journey, Arthur had to figure out what was going on with his so-called "talk no jutsu."
There was no such thing as pie falling from the sky. Arthur wasn't a dreamer who believed he could conquer the world by dreaming alone.
The trials of blood and fire had made him more aware of reality's cruel nature.
Because of that, he wanted to know what was wrong with this stone.
Arthur had another destination planned for this trip, but it would have to wait until they returned to Asgard.
As they boarded the spaceship, however, everyone's expressions were different as they looked back on this journey.
Arthur couldn't help but feel that this long, arduous trip was all for…
have a dream?
(End of Chapter)
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