The Dark Elves, a race that has existed for an incredibly long time.
Even earlier than the Asgardians who conquered the Nine Realms.
When there was barely any life in the entire Universe, the Dark Elves had already appeared in the depths of the Abyss.
According to legend, the Dark Elves were born from the initial darkness of the Universe.
And Svartalfheim is the planet ruled by the Dark Elves. Its surface is withered yellow, the land desolate and boundless, overcast and covered with rocks.
It doesn't look like anything that could sustain life.
And in reality, it truly couldn't sustain life.
Therefore, the Dark Elves survived underground on Svartalfheim, developing pale skin, deep-set features, and a pair of blue eyes.
The Dark Elves of Svartalfheim once built an advanced and powerful civilization underground, but with the depletion of resources, their society gradually collapsed, becoming a bandit civilization that survived by plundering others.
And as a bandit civilization, the Dark Elves were once extremely powerful, preparing to use their supreme treasure, the Aether, to seize resources and destroy the entire Nine Realms.
However, they were completely defeated by Asgard. Even the Aether was confiscated, sealed by Bor, ruler of Asgard at the time, and hidden in a secret corner of the Nine Realms.
That place was Midgard. Thousands of years later, it was unearthed by the U.S. military, ultimately triggering the Storybrooke Town Incident.
Now, the Dark Elves have returned, their primary goal being revenge against Asgard.
The branches of the World Tree experience a "Convergence" phenomenon every five thousand years. During this time, dimensional boundaries across the Nine Realms become thin, leading to anomalies like gravity shifts, spatial compression, and the tearing of reality itself.
The Dark Elves use these dimensional anomalies to invade the Nine Realms.
And it has been exactly five thousand years since the last Convergence.
So, immediately, the Dark Elves split their forces into multiple paths. The two largest forces: one infiltrated Asgard for invasion and destruction, while the other headed to Earth to search for the long-lost Aether.
The group that invaded Asgard successfully infiltrated various corners by relying on innate dark magic and advanced stealth technology.
The Dark Elf hiding in Odin's residence had entered this way.
Of course, they weren't arrogant enough to think a single assassin could kill Odin.
So, the moment Hela pinned that Dark Elf to the bed, more than a dozen assassins immediately materialized from the surrounding space, attacking the three Asgardian siblings.
"Weren't the Dark Elves already defeated? How have they returned!?"
Loki unleashed magic from both hands, restraining two assassins, then gripped his daggers and stabbed another that lunged at him from behind.
"Even with their technology, they wouldn't normally be able to infiltrate Asgard silently, but…" Hela activated her Orange Lantern transformation again, several orange light constructs instantly blocking the Dark Elves. "Considering the time, it should be a new Convergence. The dimensional and spatial barriers are weak, letting them invade through those cracks."
At the same time, several Nightswords engraved with orange runes materialized beside her, flying out and easily beheading enemies.
"The key is, where has Father gone?" Thor, holding Mjolnir, smashed an assassin out of Odin's residence. "Father, these past centuries, has intermittently fallen into Odin's Sleep. If he encountered the Dark Elves during that time… Damn it!"
Hela's brows furrowed slightly.
Odin's power increases with age, but his body weakens in old age, gradually unable to bear his own divine power. He enters Odin's Sleep to stabilize his strength and extend his life.
During that period, he is vulnerable.
If assassins discovered him then, the outcome would be grim.
As Hela thought of this, a flash of realization struck her.
She didn't want Odin to die.
At least not at the hands of insignificant Dark Elves.
The battle in Odin's residence started suddenly and ended quickly.
The three siblings were ultimate forces of Asgard.
It was only a dozen assassins. Even in a sneak attack, they were swiftly destroyed.
As the three siblings walked toward the door, Hela's orange constructs of Dark Elves followed behind her.
The moment the door opened, they saw the Star Team, led by Dante, surrounding the God Servant who had just guided them.
"Yo, done already?" Dante put his hand on the Servant's shoulder, pretending to be friendly. "Peter and I sensed danger and rushed over, but this guy stopped us outside, saying Odin wanted to talk to you alone."
He glanced at the orange constructs behind Hela, which dissipated back into her ring, then smiled at the Servant.
"This what you meant by Odin wanting to talk alone?"
"No, no…" The fearful Servant suddenly changed, his eyes bloodshot, screaming, "Everything is for… Lorelei!"
Then he pulled out a dagger identical to those of the assassins and stabbed toward Dante's heart.
"Go to hell!"
Dante looked at him speechlessly and even laughed.
This guy's mind was clearly scrambled.
He sighed, stretched out his hand, and with two fingers pinched the blade.
With a gentle squeeze, he snapped it off.
"Someone knock him out."
He shoved the bewildered Servant aside.
He had tens of thousands of ways to kill him, but this was his first meeting with his father-in-law. It was still the honeymoon period between Earth and Asgard.
Besides, the Servant was clearly being controlled.
Jessica Jones kicked the Servant into the wall, knocking him out. Dante turned to Hela.
"What happened?"
"The situation is complex, it can't be explained in a word or two…" Hela shook her head. "Simply put, the Convergence has returned, the Dark Elves have invaded, and Father… Odin is gone."
"Isn't that clear enough?"
Dante shrugged, then fell into thought.
The Convergence? Isn't that Thor 2's plot?
He knew about it. It happens every five thousand years. Could it really be that exact?
An invasion of Asgard and other realms… that sounded exactly like Malekith.
A man considered the most despicable even among Dark Elves, with a heart smaller than a needle's eye. Of course he'd seek revenge.
"If the Convergence is happening again, they won't just invade Asgard. They'll likely hit Earth too."
"Earth? You mean…"
"That's right. The Aether. Five thousand years ago, Asgard seized it and hid it in Midgard. Now they'll want it back." Dante smiled. "Of course, they don't know I already have it. But we should warn Fury to prepare defenses."
He opened a portal.
It felt much easier than before.
The Convergence weakening the dimensional barrier was that obvious?
Stepping through, he appeared in front of Fury.
"Fury, I'll be brief. Strange phenomena are happening across the Universe. Earth could experience gravity and spatial anomalies. Inform the FBI branches of every country to take precautions, evacuate, and calm the public."
Dante sat by Fury's bathtub, picked up a martini from the table, and drank it in one gulp.
"Also, the Dark Elves might come to Earth looking for the Aether. Defend Storybrooke Town and other places it was stored. They must have a way to sense its aura."
Fury, not even wearing his eyepatch, was half-reclined naked in the tub, staring blankly as Dante drank his wine.
"This enemy is from a cosmic civilization. Field agents won't cut it. Deploy the X-Men and the FBI Academy recruits. By the way… you bought a music massage bathtub? You old man really know how to live. Don't forget to send a few to our base later. Make sure one's extra-large, or Hulk won't fit."
Dante gave Fury a thumbs up and a sunny smile.
A portal enveloped him, and he vanished.
The whole thing lasted maybe a minute.
Fury looked at the empty spot, then at his martini glass with only ice cubes left.
"Motherfucker… I just got off work."
…
After instructing Fury, Dante returned to Asgard.
Earth would be fine. Fury wasn't stupid, and with enough powerful people available, alien attacks could be handled.
Now, the Star Team's focus was Asgard.
After all, Asgard would become one of Earth's strongest allies. This had to be resolved properly.
"The Lorelei that servant mentioned, she's Asgardian, right?" Dante looked at Thor. "Lorelei the Banshee, and her sister the Enchantress. I've heard of them."
"You seem to know a lot." Thor nodded. "Both are serious offenders personally imprisoned by Father. They can use their voices and touch to make men submit. Lorelei is a strong warrior. The Enchantress is one of Asgard's best witches."
Thor's brows furrowed deeper.
"But for so many years, their imprisonment was handled with extreme caution, without a single mistake…"
"What's there to say? The Dark Elves must have freed them first, to disrupt Asgard and cause chaos." Loki snorted. "I stopped playing games like that seven hundred years ago."
He waved his hands, casting a large spell over everyone.
"I've shielded you from the sisters' enchantment. It lasts three hours."
"How do you know it'll work?"
Dante wasn't doubting Loki's power. He was genuinely curious. In the comics and movies, Loki didn't seem to interact much with them.
"Finally, something you don't know." Loki smiled. "Why do I know? Because practice makes perfect."
"It was by capturing them that Father gave me the title of God of Mischief."
Dante looked at the proud Loki, tried to hold back, but couldn't.
He walked over, patted his head like a husky, and said:
"That's amazing. Truly Asgard's God of Mischief, backbone of the FBI. You'll be promoted faster than Thor."
"Hmph! Brother… Thor! Follow me! The Lorelei sisters are ours!"
Loki snorted coldly and dragged a confused Thor to find the sisters.
Dante watched him leave with the look of an old father, proud his child had grown up.
Hela walked up.
"You shouldn't always tease Loki."
"It's just a small hobby. And it shows you Asgardians what effective family education looks like." Dante held Hela's hand. "After all, he's my brother-in-law."
"Hmph!"
Hela snorted, but her voice carried satisfaction.
Yet faintly, two identical cold snorts seemed to echo behind Dante.
It had to be his imagination.
He told himself that.
At this moment, he looked up.
The spatial distortions in Asgard's sky were becoming clearer.
The Convergence of the Nine Realms had officially begun.
(To be continued.)
***
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