Chapter 16: Laura and Gambit's Team
"What's that?" Erica frowned, holding up her binoculars.
Blade Warrior Eric took the binoculars and had a look.
"...A dancing tree."
Erica: "I know. My question is, why is it dancing?"
Remy LeBeau leaned in to take a look.
"Maybe it's celebrating something."
A kilometer away, Erica and the others watched Grootdancing wildly on the grass through the binoculars. They were silent for a moment before starting to complain.
"Erica, you're overreacting. In this junkyard, what haven't we seen?" Blade Warrior Eric said, biting on a cigarette he had managed to find, looking unbothered.
"No, I'm just reflecting." Erica put down the binoculars. "I'm just glad I'm not from the same Earth as them. I can already guess that surviving on their Earth must be very difficult."
Laura didn't speak, she just focused on packing supplies into her backpack.
Remy LeBeau picked up the binoculars and looked through them.
He only glanced at the dancing Treant Groot before skipping over him, and did the same after eyeing the blonde powerhouse next to the little guy.
Until he saw the White Queen and Psylocke. His pupils contracted instinctively, and he murmured, "Emma Frostand Elizabeth Becky Braddock?! They were thrown in here too?!"
"You know them?" Laura raised her head to look at Remy. She rarely saw him looking so shocked.
Remy LeBeau took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I don't just know them; we were once comrades-in-arms. Well, at least in my Universe."
"What? Are you going to see your ex-girlfriend, or maybe a little lover?"
Blade Warrior Eric's serious expression softened slightly as he made a rare joke.
Gambit looked back and glared. "No, we were just comrades. My girlfriend is Rogue Anna."
"So? Do you want to go up and catch up with them?"
Erica crossed her arms.
"No need." Remy LeBeau shook his head. "I can't be sure if they are good or bad."
"I have a barrier in my mind that can interfere with them to some extent, but I'm afraid you guys would be led away by them the moment you meet."
Erica frowned deeply. "Mind control like that monster Cassandra?"
"Pretty much. Both of them have similar abilities—one is a near-Omega, and the other is an Omega Level."
"Hey, Remy, I remember you saying that 'Omega Level' among you Mutants means unlimited potential, right?" Ericstill had his unlit cigarette in his mouth.
"Right. So I don't recommend contacting them. We'll leave as soon as we finish gathering the supplies."
"True. In this hellhole, living one day at a time is enough." Eric nodded in agreement.
"I was wondering who was peeping. So it's you guys!" Thor's voice rang out from behind them.
"Who?!"
Erica turned decisively and pulled out her knife. Lauradidn't speak, but four Adamantium claws extended from her hands. The long sword on the Blade Warrior's back was already out of its sheath, pointing directly at Thor.
The staff in Remy LeBeau's hand glowed with a faint purple light. He looked solemnly at the blonde powerhouse who was with Emma and the others:
"Who are you? What is your purpose in finding us?"
Thor sized up the group of four. Only Gambit and Laurawere worth noting. The other two, while skilled in combat, lacked strength—to put it simply, they hadn't reached the level of Captain America.
He figured that if it were Captain Hydra, he might be able to take on all four at once.
After all, these people had returned for nostalgia; their actual combat power wasn't that strong. Of course, if you were talking about Gambit's strongest form in the comics, then forget it. If that form could be thrown in here by the Time Variance Authority, then what would Cassandraeven matter?
"Nothing, I just felt someone watching me. Remy, aren't you going to see your two comrades?"
"You know me?"
"Of course. Although you're a bit of a niche character, you're not that niche." Thor saw through the other's concerns. "Don't worry, those two should be the comrades you know."
Blade Warrior Eric didn't fully believe this explanation and stepped forward. "Who are you?"
"Me? You should have heard my name. I am Thunder God Thor."
"How can you be sure you have no ill intent?" Ericaremained vigilant, looking ready to strike at any moment.
"To be honest, I don't quite understand your logic." Thorscratched his head. "I could appear behind you instantly without you noticing. If I had ill intent, you'd already be in pieces."
Laura immediately retracted her claws and said to her teammates, "Don't worry, he really has no ill intent."
"Laura, you're much more pleasant to look at than your old man, Logan."
Snikt!
The claws Laura had just retracted snapped back out instantly as she glared fiercely at the protagonist.
"Tsk... So fierce. Not cute like Emma at all."
Thor didn't bother explaining further and waved his hand. The Law of Space activated instantly. These people would be perfect for clearing out fodder when he had his final battle with Cassandra; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered with them.
The group felt a moment of daze. In an instant, they had crossed a kilometer to the place they had just seen through the binoculars.
Remy didn't even have time to be surprised by this god-like scene because he had clearly heard this Thunder God Thorcall Emma cute?!!"
Emma Frost and the word "cute" didn't go together at all! Wasn't he afraid of making Emma angry?!!"
Emma's temper was almost on par with Wolverine Logan's!
"Thor, are you talking about me again?"
Emma walked over with a look of displeasure, but her expression turned to surprise when she saw the people Thor had brought.
"Remy?!"
"It's me, Emma, and Betsy. I really didn't expect to run into you in this hellhole."
Their reunion didn't cause much of a stir in their hearts. This was the Land of Nihility; meeting was normal, and not meeting was also normal.
"Call me Elizabeth. In my Universe, we weren't that close," Betsy interjected.
"Alright, Elizabeth." Remy LeBeau didn't press the issue of the name. "These are my teammates here. This is Laura, this is Erica, and this is Eric."
Betsy sized up the three and said, "I'm Elizabeth."
Emma gave a faint glance. After finding that these people posed no threat, she spoke with a distant and haughty tone, "Emma Frost."
"Thor, do you know this girl? She feels very familiar to me." Betsy looked at Laura, only realizing who she was when she saw the four Adamantium claws on her hands.
Thor explained, "It's just as you think, Betsy. She was cloned using Wolverine Logan's genes. Um... cloned by whom? I forgot, probably not someone famous."
"Her Universe was a bit tragic. Wolverine went back in time in 'Days of Future Past' and stopped the development of the Sentinel Robotss, but humans then developed food that suppresses or even eliminates the Mutant gene."
"In short, the Wolverine of that Universe eventually died in battle to protect this group of cloned new Mutants."
"As for how she was thrown into this place, I don't know." Thor spread his hands, indicating that was all he knew.
Laura silently retracted her claws and stood there, saying nothing.
Suddenly, her nose twitched. She smelled a very familiar but even more bloody and evil scent. She looked up following the scent, and with just one glance, she froze in place.
The other person was wearing a pure black tactical suit with some wet bloodstains on it. The most striking feature was the six Adamantium claws extending from his hands!
Seeing Laura and the others, the person gave a very cruel and frenzied smile.
"Found you."
Chapter 17: Evil Wolverine is full of confidence, Evil Wolverine is utterly defeated
"Speak of the devil." Thor glanced into the distance at the guy who was clearly an evil variant of Wolverine and complained, not taking him seriously at all.
"Laura, are you interested in a 1v1 Zhenren (Immortal)Brawl with your father from another Universe?" Thor joked, looking at Laura beside him.
"No, that's not the Logan I know." Laura spoke up for once, her claws extending again, her gaze turning cold. The Wolverine across from them felt very dangerous!
"Hey! Logan! What message did that bald lady Cassandrasend you here to deliver?"
Evil Wolverine instantly flew into a rage upon hearing this; he hated these Telepathy users who read minds at will the most!
He opened his mouth with a curse, "Fuck you...!"
Remy shrugged and spoke to lighten the mood, "Well, that's the Logan-style greeting I'm familiar with. It seems every Universe's Logan has a bad temper."
"So? Who's going to deal with this unkillable cockroach?" Erica looked on guard. She knew Laura's abilities all too well, which meant the guy opposite them was very hard to kill. Fighting such a monster meant there was no room for error.
"Emma, Betsy..."
Before Thor could finish, Emma gave him a faint glance, her tone cold and devoid of emotion:
"You deal with it."
Betsy was looking at the chibi version of herself and Grooton her palm, the two little things playing happily. "Thor, he smells too bad. You go."
"Wait? You guys are superheroes! How can you be lazier than the next?"
Thor was glared at by Emma as soon as he finished speaking. Betsy didn't even look at him, let alone Lauraand the others; their combat power couldn't be counted on at all.
Unfortunately, he didn't have a handy weapon right now. He didn't like Mjolnir much, but he personally preferred stormbreaker. It seemed he would have to find a Universeto snag one from when the time came.
Evil Wolverine cursed on the spot for a full two minutes without repeating a word. Seeing the people opposite him looking absent-minded and not taking him seriously, he became even more furious.
He crouched slightly, his Adamantium steel claws sinking effortlessly into the ground. On all fours, he gathered strength, and in the next second, he shot forward like a cannonball with a loud bang.
Evil Wolverine treated himself entirely like a projectile. He even adjusted his angle mid-flight, hands out front, his six Adamantium steel claws stabbing forward fiercely.
Thor simply shifted his body slightly to let him brush past. He reached out with both hands to grab Evil Wolverine's arm and leg, then easily kneed him up into the sky.
Although he wasn't particularly specialized in strength, with his current power recovered to just over half, he still easily had thousands of tons of strength. A mere Wolverine is just weak!
Remy LeBeau raised his head, watching Evil Wolverineblast into the sky like a Rocket. He found it absolutely incredible and then remarked, "Only Logan's physical constitution could use this method to go into the sky!"
Erica and Eric only now fully realized Thor's terror. With this kind of strength, if a slap came their way, they really would be scattered in pieces—or more likely, turned into a pile of meat paste.
Is this the god from myths and legends?
Laura's face still showed no expression, but her slightly trembling body proved she wasn't as calm as she appeared.
The moment Thor moved just now, the Beast Sense in her mind felt like it was going to explode, ringing frantically. The hair on her body stood on end, and she couldn't help but take several steps back.
Oh? I have an idea!
Thor still remembered Doctor Strange making Loki free-fall for 30 minutes in the movie. Although he hadn't fully mastered the Law of Space yet, based on his current progress, achieving this scene was effortless.
Evil Wolverine flew in the sky for dozens of seconds before falling. Thor, very mercifully, set up a Portal at his landing spot and another one in the sky.
Consequently, the scene became a bit strange. Laura and the others looked up one moment and down the next, their eyes following Evil Wolverine as he bobbed up and down.
Whenever Evil Wolverine tried to adjust his direction in the air to avoid the teleportation, he would be struck by several bolts of lightning from the sky, keeping him in a straight-line fall.
Logan's very "warm" greetings echoed from the air, "Fuck your...!"
Facing such a loud voice, Thor chose to pretend he couldn't hear, shouting loudly at the unlucky guy in the sky, "What?! You're saying it's not fun enough and you want to extend the time?!"
"Don't worry, I love helping others the most!"
Evil Wolverine's very "considerate" and "warm" greetings upgraded again. No matter how intense his greetings were, he couldn't escape the fact that he was in an infinite loop of free-fall.
Emma watched this absurd scene, her eyelashes fluttering. She glanced at Thor, who was as excited as a child, and said faintly, "Childish fellow, how boring."
Little Treant Groot was also attracted by this scene and stopped playing with the chibi Betsy. With a few leaps, he climbed from Betsy's body onto her head, sitting in the best viewing position to watch.
"I am Groot!!"
After playing for a full 45 minutes, Thor felt a bit bored and retracted the Law of Space. Evil Wolverine crashed to the ground with a bang, kicking up a large amount of dust.
Immediately after, with a wave of his hands, a long whip of pure purple energy bound Evil Wolverine and pulled him close.
Remy's eyes widened at the sight, and he looked at the nearby Elizabeth. "Elizabeth? How does he have your ability?!"
Betsy glanced over, her tone flat. "He learned it after seeing me use it once."
Learned it after seeing it once?!!
This single sentence directly shattered Remy LeBeau's decades of established knowledge. Weren't their abilities all obtained through the Mutant gene?
What kind of nonsense was "learning it at a glance"?
Even Mystique and Apocalypse weren't this ridiculous, okay?
Is this the mighty power of a god?
Thor picked up the still-cursing Evil Wolverine, too lazy to say another word to him, and raised his hand with the Law of Annihilation.
In the next instant, Evil Wolverine's body began to slowly dissipate.
For the first time, Evil Wolverine experienced the arrival of death. In his eyes, there was no fear, only relief.
As he was about to vanish, he finally spoke of Cassandra's purpose.
"That old woman told me to give you a message. She's waiting for you in her Fortress..."
Chapter 18: Female Loki and Mobius
As the body of the Evil Wolverine dissipated into specks of starlight, Laura and the others didn't know how many times they had been shocked today.
Thor Odinson, the Prince of Asgard from norse mythology, not only controlled thunder but also possessed so many strange abilities. Every single one of those abilities felt extremely dangerous to them, especially the method he used to kill the Evil Wolverine at the end.
Gambit, Remy LeBeau, was the one among them who had been in contact with Wolverine for the longest time. He knew very well how terrifying Wolverine's heaven-defying self-healing ability was; even when Phoenix went berserk, her Phoenix Force hadn't been able to destroy him.
Now, he had been killed just like that with a wave of the hand by this blond hunk calling himself Thunder God Thor. This was truly a bit too terrifying!
He suddenly felt that compared to the person in front of him, Cassandra seemed a bit subpar.
Erica didn't speak, only lamenting once again that, fortunately, these monsters weren't on her Earth.
Eric's expression remained cool, but his slightly trembling fingers clearly betrayed him.
Laura didn't think too much, only glancing at Thor before putting on her backpack, intending to leave.
"Laura, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Do me a favor, and I'll take you to find Logan. Not the kind like just now; he's someone despised by the people of his World. I think you'll get along with him."
Thor called out to the departing Laura, beginning his riddler-like behavior.
Laura turned back, quietly looking at Thor for a good while before spitting out one word: "Fine!"
"What about you guys? I plan to go kick Cassandra's ass, and I need some help." Thor looked at Gambit and the others.
Gambit, Remy LeBeau, grinned and agreed without hesitation. "Perfect. I've wanted to kick Charles's sister's ass for a long time. After all, other X-Men don't get this chance."
"I'll follow your lead," Erica said with an indifferent look.
Eric didn't speak, only nodding.
Thor felt quite gratified seeing this; his elaborate display of power hadn't been in vain.
Cassandra was clearly stronger than she appeared in the movie. Even if he killed a bunch of her subordinates, it was generally just treating the symptoms rather than the root cause.
And he also needed manpower to deal with Cassandra's lackeys. Since both sides had a common goal, wasn't working together perfectly normal?
"Are we going now?" Erica asked.
Thor shook his head. "No rush. For a gentleman, three days is not too late for revenge. Let me farm for a bit."
Once he absorbed a few more Law Fragments, he could be completely arrogant. What he needed to be wary of was that Cassandra might also send her subordinates to collect these Law Fragments.
But with his current strength, whoever came would be insta-killed!
He had only recovered a bit more than half of his strength and was already invincible in the Land of Nihility. Once he left and went to the Multiverse to absorb more complete Laws, how powerful would he become?
"Oh, right. Do you guys have those pretty-looking, slightly shimmering, multi-colored crystal fragments?"
Thor asked, looking at Erica and the others.
Erica thought for a moment before replying, "I've encountered them before, but they seemed useless, so I didn't take them."
Thor's expression became excited upon hearing this. He slapped his hands onto Erica's shoulders, his eyes burning. "Where are they?"
Erica was a bit unnerved by such a heated gaze and immediately gave the answer. "Not far from where we were hiding. Are we going now?"
"Of course! The sooner I get them, the sooner I can take down that bald woman!"
"Alright, follow me."
Erica turned around to lead the way when she heard Thor's voice from behind.
"No need for that trouble. Just point in the direction, and I'll take us there directly."
Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!
Before Erica could reply, a very piercing car horn sounded, instantly breaking the atmosphere.
An old-looking Jeep was speeding toward them, and behind it followed the true big boss of the Land of Nihility, Alioth!
"Oh ho! A classic 'picking up an NPC to trigger a game plot' moment!"
The Jeep quickly pulled up and stopped in front of them. The driver was a middle-aged man with short black hair, a signature beard, and wearing a shirt and suit that looked like they were from the 1990s.
In the passenger seat sat a blonde woman in a black and green skin-tight suit, with a green hood on her back.
"What are you standing there for? Get in!"
The middle-aged man looked them over, his tone very urgent.
The blonde woman also followed the man's gaze to the right, but with that one look, she froze.
"Thor?!!"
"Sylvie?!"
Thor and the Female Loki stared at each other.
Although Sylvie was confused as to why this Thor Odinson knew her, the situation was indeed urgent.
She didn't have time to ask more and hurriedly spoke, "Thor! You and your companions get in the car! Any later and that monster will catch up!"
Thor had no intention of getting in the car. He carefully sized up Sylvie: slightly messy long blonde hair, features with standard golden proportions, a somewhat thin build, overall clean and sharp, yet carrying the fierce aura of a wanderer. Hmm... her pectoral muscles probably weren't as prominent as his own.
"I know Loki is a narcissist, but this is too much. He actually fell for a variant of himself from a parallel Universe? Tsk tsk..."
Sylvie was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that this Thor was different. He actually knew about her and Loki?!
"Thor! Get in the car! It'll really be too late!" The middle-aged man's tone was extremely urgent, looking back from time to time at the approaching dark cloud.
This must be that TVA Agent Mobius, right?
He was also one of the good friends of his foolish brother from that parallel Universe.
Emma walked to Thor's side and looked at the approaching Alioth. "What? You want to clash with it?"
Thor shook his head. "No need. That thing is just a watchdog. Its Master behind the scenes is a bit troublesome. There's no need to provoke it for now."
After saying that, Thor casually picked up a branch from the ground and threw it not far away. A green light flashed in his hand as the Law of Time and Law of Life were instantly activated. Within a few breaths, that withered branch rapidly grew into a towering tree hundreds of meters tall.
Ignoring the shocked duo in the Jeep, Thor waved his hand again. The Law of Space flickered, and everyone present instantly vanished from the spot.
As soon as Alioth arrived, it saw the massive tree and wasn't polite at all, taking a bite.
After finishing the main course in a few bites, its gaze moved to the nearby Jeep and swallowed it in one go. Barely ten percent full, it wobbled away, occasionally opening its mouth to swallow some spaceships and debris.
After Alioth had gone far away, a flash of green magic light appeared on a patch of grass a few hundred meters from where Thor and the others had been.
Four figures appeared silently.
Leading them was an Old Loki with a weathered face, wearing a green and gold classical cloak, his eyes full of experience and caution.
Beside him stood Young Loki, with cold eyes and a ruthless aura; despite his young age, he exuded a sense of slaughter.
Crouched at their feet was an Alligator Loki, entirely emerald green with sinister eyes—quiet but dangerous.
And standing in the very center, looking toward where Thor had disappeared with a complex expression, was the Loki who had just escaped from Alioth's pursuit.
Old Loki narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice deep and solemn:
"That Thor... his power is very strange. He is stronger and more dangerous than any man or god we have ever seen."
Chapter 19: Isn't this my foolish brother, Loki, the God of Assassins?
Crackle, crackle...
Led by Erica, Thor and his group finally found the place with the Law Fragments.
"Well, when we came to scavenge supplies last time, we saw those fragments in that clay pot. I don't remember exactly how many, but there were definitely about a dozen."
Erica pointed to a clay pot buried under a tree stump not far away and said to Thor.
Hearing there were about a dozen fragments, Thor grew even more excited. He flashed to the tree stump and lifted the clay pot. However, when he saw it was empty, his disappointment in the next second was as great as his excitement in the previous one.
Seeing Thor's expression change, Erica also stepped forward, took the clay pot, and peeked inside.
"Sorry, Thor, I made you come all this way for nothing."
Thor's expression was solemn; he sensed the lingering mental energy of Cassandra and the spatial fluctuations left by the Red Devil.
For cat's sake!
That evil bald woman actually dared to steal his things!
She is simply courting death!
Betsy noticed Thor's expression was off and asked, "Thor? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. That scoundrel Cassandra sent someone to snatch my things ahead of time. I'm thinking about how to settle the score with her."
Emma stood not far away, elegantly leaning against a small tree. She was pinching and playing with Little Groot's head. His face was full of unhappiness and reluctance, looking completely dejected as he helplessly complained about his dissatisfaction.
"I am Groot—!"
"Sylvie, does the Thor you remember know how to accelerate plant growth and teleport?"
Mobius approached Sylvie and whispered. The impact of that scene just now was far too shocking for an ordinary person like him; he hadn't yet recovered from it.
He wanted an answer from Sylvie. After all, wasn't Thunder God Thor usually in control of lightning? Those two abilities just now seemed completely unrelated to lightning!
"Mobius, you should ask Loki, not me. Have you forgotten that I've been hunted by the TVA since I was a child?"
Sylvie felt a bit annoyed at the thought of that damned Time Variance Authority, but she was equally curious about this strange Thor variant in front of her.
Not only did he know about her and Loki, but the abilities he possessed were also far stronger than the Thunder God Thor she knew.
If she could recruit him, would overthrowing the Time Variance Authority be a bit easier?
Everyone present had their own thoughts, and for once, no one spoke. There was only the sound of footsteps on the dirt and the rustling of withered branches and fallen leaves.
As Thor walked, he expanded his perception. He could now sense the energy emitted by Law Fragments within a five-kilometer radius.
Unfortunately, tens of minutes passed, and they even reached the cave where Erica and Laura had once rested, yet they hadn't found a single Law Fragment.
While the others were resting, Thor flashed away to search for Law Fragments nearby. However, he had almost searched the entire valley and still hadn't sensed any energy fluctuations from Law Fragments.
Instead, he occasionally encountered Cassandra's lingering mental energy. After all, that trace of frenzied and evil mental energy was highly recognizable. Only a lunatic like her would be so arrogant as to leave a trace of mental energy wherever she went, as if afraid people wouldn't know she was the ruler of this Land of Nihility.
To this, Thor's assessment was that this bald woman's heart was damn fragile; her psychological fragility was on par with a three-year-old child's.
Just how starved for love must she be to do such things?
Actually, she probably really was starved for love. She probably hadn't sensed what love was like since birth, right?
He remembered that Cassandra apparently tried to kill Charles when she was still a fetus, but was killed by Charles's passive counterattack and then cast into the Land of Nihility.
If he remembered correctly, this monstrosity Cassandraseemed to have no physical body at all; she was a being composed entirely of mental energy. He wondered if a wisp of the Law of Annihilation could take this thing down.
While Thor was thinking and searching for Law Fragments, a cluster of multicolored points of light suddenly lit up in his perception, only about two kilometers away.
It seemed hard work paid off. Perhaps after absorbing this batch of fragments, he would be able to return to his prime.
The original strength of this body was roughly at the peak of the Odin-level, or one could say quasi-Single Universe Level. Now that he had Heaven-Defying Comprehension, perhaps taking another step forward was no longer just a dream.
The next moment, Thor vanished and reappeared near the cluster of Law Fragments he had sensed.
As soon as he landed, Thor felt something was wrong. After all, having absorbed so many Law Fragments, he was as familiar as one could be with the energy fluctuations they emitted.
The Law Fragments he perceived in front of him looked identical on the outside, and even their aura was the same, but the inside was empty. This meant someone had used some means to forge the Law Fragments to lure him here.
Thor was unusually angry. Which son of a bitch was this? How dare they use fakes to fool him!
Multicolored lightning instantly appeared in Thor's eyes, and slender arcs of electricity wrapped around his body one after another. The sky within a five-kilometer radius darkened instantly.
However, before this world-destroying lightning could pierce the earth, an old and urgent voice came from behind him, "Wait! Thor! Don't do it! It's me, Loki!"
The divine power gathered throughout Thor's body didn't dissipate completely; instead, he remained ready to release it at any moment.
He turned around to see the large tree behind him vanish, replaced by four Lokis of different ages and species.
The one who had just called for him to stop was Old Loki, dressed in gold and green robes similar to his comic book attire—the true First Magician of the Nine Realms.
To his left was an alligator wearing a Loki crown, and to his right was a child of about seven or eight years old, holding a longsword and wearing Loki's signature crown.
Behind these three Loki variants was an ordinary Lokiwearing a white shirt and suit trousers.
Before the other party could speak, Thor had roughly guessed their purpose. That incredibly realistic cluster of Law Fragments just now had clearly been the work of Old Loki.
"So? Old Loki, the grand First Magician of the Nine Realms, what do you want by using such a method to lure me here?" Thor's gaze was fixed on Old Loki, completely ignoring the other three. In his eyes, the combat power of the other three Lokis was no different from a stray dog on the side of the road.
At most, they had the strength of a Captain America.
Seeing that the other party didn't take him seriously at all, Young Loki, wearing the crown and holding the longsword, immediately stepped forward. His small body stood straight, his face full of defiance and arrogance, and his tone carried unabashed contempt.
"Thor? Just a loser I killed with my own hands, and you dare to strike such a pose before me?"
"In this Land of Nihility, might makes right. You'd better understand—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Thor merely gave him a cold, sidelong glance.
There was no roar, no attack, not even a true eruption of divine power.
But in that glance, the pressure of a Odin-level, the coldness of Law energy, and the killing intent from countless battlefields crashed down like a mountain!
The arrogance on Young Loki's face froze instantly. His neck felt as if it were being squeezed by a pair of invisible hands, and the rest of his sentence was stuck in his throat.
"Enough." Old Loki stepped forward and pulled Young Lokiback. A wave of divine power, no less than Thor's and perhaps even stronger, radiated from him, effortlessly helping Young Loki resist the terrifying pressure.
"Kid, you need to understand one thing: the Thor of your Universe was killed by you because he was stupid, but I won't make such a low-level mistake."
The divine power wrapped around Thor's body gradually subsided as he gave Young Loki a disdainful glance.
What a joke. How dare he be so arrogant without the strength to back it up?
Then, Thor's gaze fell on the very back, on the ordinary-looking Loki.
"Yo! Isn't this my foolish brother, the most pathetic God of Assassins in the Nine Realms, Loki? Are you looking for me because you want to see your little girlfriend?"
Loki was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, but he quickly reacted. Without overthinking the details, he looked at Thor and said very sincerely and seriously:
"Thor, I need your help."
Chapter 20: In the Name of the King of Asgard, I Grant Your Request
Thor didn't answer. Instead, he looked up and down at this Loki, who appeared to be the most ordinary of the ordinary.
Knowing the plot, he naturally knew that it was this unremarkable, ordinary Loki who would eventually climb his own Divine Ascending Steps for the free will of the entire Multiverse.
He would become the God of Time in the truest sense, or more officially, Loki, the God of Stories.
"Asking for my help? My foolish brother! You all just played me, and some reckless rookie even provoked me. Why should I help you, my dear brother?"
Thor took a step forward, coming before Loki and looking down at this ordinary Loki, who was a head shorter than him.
Loki wasn't intimidated by this overwhelming pressure. He stared back into Thor's eyes and said word for word:
"It's simple. Because I need you, Thor. In the name of Loki, the God of Mischief of Asgard, I ask for your help."
"Haha, how interesting." Thor laughed after hearing Loki's answer, as if he had heard a grand joke. "Loki is actually asking someone for help? And such a sincere, earnest plea? This is the first time in my five thousand years of life!"
"So I refuse, because you are not my brother."
Loki ignored Thor's teasing. With a wave of his hand, he conjured the standard attire of a legitimate Prince of Asgard.
A golden horned helmet, a deep green robe, and a golden staff inlaid with gems.
His expression was solemn, his voice filled with majesty and sincerity. He looked earnestly into Thor's face, the staff in his hand emitting a faint green glow.
Loki raised his staff and slowly knelt on one knee before Thor in the most formal royal etiquette. This wasn't an act of humility, but Asgard's highest-specification ritual for a request.
"By Odin!"
Loki looked up, his gaze firm and his tone solemn to the extreme.
"I, Loki Odinson, Third Prince of Asgard, God of Mischiefand Wisdom, formally request aid from Thor Odinson, King of Asgard and God of Thunder!"
"In the name of Odin, in the name of the Asgardian Royal Family, and in the name of the order of the Nine Realmsand the Multiverse—I need your strength."
Nearby, Old Loki and Young Loki watched this scene with complex expressions. As Asgardians themselves, how could they not recognize this ritual?
However, they never expected that this Loki, who had only recently entered the Land of Nihility, would be willing to use the most traditional royal etiquette to plead for Thor's help.
As Loki Variants, being prideful was perfectly normal. Yet here was a Loki who had cast aside his so-called pride right in front of them, personally kneeling to seek Thor's help.
Alligator Loki lay quietly in place, watching this absurd scene—absurd, at least, for a Loki.
Thor had originally just wanted to tease this Loki, but he didn't expect him to go this far. He truly lived up to being the future God of Stories.
He didn't speak, but simply stood with his hands behind his back. A majestic divine power and the aura of Laws surged from his body, instantly covering the entire valley.
After a long moment, he finally spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable solemnity that echoed everywhere.
"Loki Odinson."
Thor looked at him levelly, his gaze deep as if spanning across eternal ages.
"You swear by Odin's name, by the rites of the Asgardian Royal Family, and by the order of the Nine Realms and the Multiverse. You have set aside the pride of the God of Mischief to perform this highest ritual of plea—I have seen it."
He raised a hand, and a faint golden divine glow appeared in his palm. It was the recognition of a legitimate God-King of Asgard.
"I, Thor Odinson,"
"King of Asgard, God of Thunder,"
"Swear by the glory of Odin, by the throne of Asgard, and by my five thousand years of divine life and power!"
"I grant your request."
"I shall aid you, protect you, and walk with you."
"Until you achieve your desire, until this void, this timeline, and this Multiverse reach the conclusion you seek."
As his words fell, Thor gently raised his hand. A soft but irresistible divine power supported Loki's arm, slowly helping him up.
"Rise."
"From this day forth, you are not a Variant, nor a prisoner."
"You are... the brother recognized by me, Thor, King of Asgard and God of Thunder."
Loki slowly stood up. Looking at this Thor, who was not the God of Thunder he knew from his own Universe, a trace of warmth quietly rose in his heart. Stunned, he stared at this incredibly terrifying Thor.
It took a good while before he snapped back to reality.
"Thank you, Thor, my brother."
Thor no longer held back either. He reached out and slapped Loki's shoulder hard twice. "We're damn well brothers, what's with the politeness? Come! I'll take you to find your little girlfriend!"
Elsewhere, near the cave where Erica and the others were, the dozen or so people were eating their food.
Halfway through their meal, a loud boom echoed in the sky. A massive, pitch-black cloud suddenly appeared above the valley.
Faintly visible within the dark clouds were flashes of colorful lightning, accompanied by the constant roar of thunder.
Immense divine power and the aura of Laws swept through the entire valley. Fierce winds howled, kicking up sand, stones, withered branches, and fallen leaves from the ground.
Following closely was a majestic voice, sounding like a promise from a god above the nine heavens:
"I, Thor Odinson..."
Remy LeBeau didn't know how to express his shock anymore. He looked at Emma and Betsy nearby and murmured, "Ororo isn't even on the same level as him! Is this the gap between a god and a human?"
Emma felt the terrifying energy fluctuations. She looked up, her beautiful eyes flickering, while waves of emotion surged in her heart.
Did this big oaf actually hold back when he fought her before?
He probably had a clear goal all along.
Emma withdrew her gaze and gave a soft "tsk."
"This guy... hides his depth well."
Betsy glanced at the sky, then at Emma.
"Your heart is beating faster."
Emma paused.
"It's not."
Betsy: "It is."
Emma: "...Shut up."
The corner of Betsy's mouth curled up.
"Fine."
Sylvie watched the colorful lightning flashing in the sky. She turned to Mobius, her curiosity impossible to hide:
"So? How did you guys throw him in here in the first place?"
Mobius's mouth hung open in shock. He shook his head and replied in a daze, "I don't know. To be honest, I'd like to meet the Agent who was so capable they managed to throw this God of Thunder in here."
Sylvie listened quietly to Mobius and didn't speak again.
It seemed the Time Variance Authority was even more difficult to deal with than she had imagined. But then again, she had nothing left to lose, did she?
Chapter 21: The True Worth of The First Magician of the Nine Realms, Asgard Rises from the Ground
"Sylvie!"
"Loki!"
Thor returned to the cave with four Lokis. Sylvie and Lokilocked eyes, ran toward each other, and embraced tightly.
Remy LeBeau appeared out of nowhere, looking at Thorand then at the two hugging. "So? That's your brother from your Universe, and your brother's girlfriend?"
"No! That's my newly-recognized brother, and Sylvie is a female variant of my brother Loki from the Multiverse."
Thor was in a good mood. Although he hadn't found the Law Fragments, he had just agreed to the request of the future God of Stories. Now, he had a big shot backing him!
In just a few short sentences, Thor explained the relationship between the two.
"Oh...? Hmm? Wait? You mean...?"
Remy LeBeau froze for half a second before reacting, feeling like his CPU was about to fry.
Wait? What's the situation? Dating yourself?!!!
Is this right? Is this even logical?
Even Emma, who was still playing with the little Treant Groot, cast a glance over after hearing this.
Everyone's reaction was more or less the same; after all, it was the first time they had heard of someone dating a female version of themselves from a parallel Universe.
Was it because they were essentially the same person that they knew exactly how to please each other?
Thor continued to defend his brother, though he was clearly making things worse.
"Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. My brother Loki is quite narcissistic. Did you know? When he was a kid, he loved standing in front of a mirror and turning himself into a girl... Ugh!"
Loki decisively stepped forward and covered Thor's mouth. Although parallel Universe variants were diverse, some details didn't differ much.
If he didn't stop him, he might truly face social death. Lokicould swallow his pride and ask a brother from a parallel Universe for help, but that didn't mean he had no shame!
But when he covered Thor's mouth, everyone's expressions became even stranger.
Forget it, it was just losing face in front of a dozen people. He was the dignified Third Prince of Asgard, Loki, the God of Mischief! He could bear it!
Sylvie leaned into Loki's embrace, her breathing slightly hurried. Those eyes, which always carried vigilance and a sharp edge, finally let down all defenses.
She gently pushed Loki away a bit, her fingertips grazing his cheek, her gaze serious and tinged with lingering fear.
"I thought... I would never see you again."
Loki was about to say something, but Sylvie suddenly gripped his arm, her tone abruptly becoming solemn.
"Listen, Loki, I have something very important to tell you—it concerns all of us, this void, and the truth at the end of the timeline."
She took a deep breath and lowered her voice so that only Loki, the nearby Thor, and several Loki variants could hear:
"I tried to use Possession Magic to get inside Alioth... and I succeeded.
I controlled it, and I saw very clearly—behind it, in the deepest part of the void, lies a massive Black Fortress."
"That's no ordinary building; it was hidden there intentionally.
Alioth isn't the end of the void at all; it's just a barrier, a watchdog!
The real secret is in that fortress."
Sylvie's eyes were sharp, each word spoken with unquestionable certainty:
"If we want to survive, to leave this place, and to find out what the TVA is really covering up...
...we must pass through Alioth and break into that fortress."
After listening to Sylvie, Loki pondered for a moment and then asked, "Then tell me, Sylvie, what do I need to do?"
"I need you to enchant Alioth with me, but someone has to help us distract it."
Sylvie earnestly explained her plan.
Loki turned to look at Thor.
"I won't break my promise. Tell me, Sylvie, what do I need to do?"
Thor didn't plan on spoiling too much, because this was something Loki and the others had to experience, and it was the key to becoming the God of Stories.
For now, he just needed to follow the original plot. Even Cassandra was much stronger than in the movie, so Kang the Conqueror's performance would certainly not be as lackluster as in the films.
He hadn't fully mastered the complete Law of Time yet, so his chances of winning against that man were quite slim.
Now there was a chance to avoid a direct confrontation with these big bosses while also gaining the favor of a future top-tier existence in the Multiverse. This deal was not a loss at all!
Once he fully grows up, whether it's Kang the Conqueror, Domestic Abuser Kang, or Pharaoh Kang, I'll lock them all up to pick cotton!
Is the power of the Multiverse something you little punks can handle?
"Thor, I need you to help create a big enough commotion to distract Alioth and buy time for Loki and me to enchant it."
Before Thor could speak, Old Loki, standing nearby, stepped forward.
"Leave this task to me. I've lived too long and run away too much; I'm getting a bit tired of it. I'll create a big enough distraction to help you draw Alioth's attention."
He gently stroked his robes, his green and gold cape fluttering without wind. His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of obstacles to look at the monster deep within the Land of Nihility.
His tone was calm yet filled with power.
"This time, I don't want to run anymore."
Beside him, Young Loki gripped his longsword, his small face full of stubbornness and defiance, showing no sign of backing down.
"I'm going too. I've killed Thor before; I can handle this monster."
Hearing this, Thor glared back fiercely. You little Loki, always talking about killing me—you're just asking for a beating!
Young Loki was startled by the glare and stopped acting tough, hiding behind Old Loki.
Alligator Loki let out a low growl and flicked its short tail, putting on a fierce front as if to say, "Leave it to me!"
Thor nodded slightly, then turned to look at Emma and Betsy.
"Emma, Betsy, this mission is quite dangerous, so you..."
Emma stepped up to Thor and interrupted him ruthlessly:
"Thor, are you saying that I, Emma Frost, am too weak to help you?"
Thor didn't know how to respond for a moment, having almost forgotten that the White Queen was such a stubborn person.
His head was throbbing.
Thor looked at her and remained silent for two seconds.
"Fine, then you go."
Emma was clearly stunned for a moment.
Thor continued, "Actually, I need someone to help me monitor the situation on the other side."
He pointed into the distance.
"As soon as Alioth approaches, notify me via Telepathy."
Emma frowned. "That's it?"
Thor nodded.
"That's it. Only you can do this. Betsy's spiritual power can't reach that far, and my spiritual power isn't as strong as yours."
He paused.
"Emma, I need you."
Emma stared at Thor for a few seconds, then turned her face away. "Fine, I'll help you."
She stopped, then added one more thing.
"Don't forget our deal. You can't die until the transaction is complete."
Thor looked at the tsundere White Queen Emma and smiled.
"Fine, I won't die that easily."
Betsy walked over and said only one sentence: "I'll wait for you to come back."
"Okay."
Gambit and the others knew their strength wouldn't be of help and planned to stay behind. Thor glanced at them, waved his hand, and disappeared from the spot with the others.
Soon, they appeared on a broad grassland. Thor didn't speak further but channeled all his divine power. His body slowly floated into the air, with Seven-colored Thundercoiling around him.
Rumble!
A massive thunderclap instantly exploded, and countless dark clouds began to gather. It even started to drizzle lightly.
Thor completely altered the weather of the Land of Nihilitywith his own divine power. A terrifying thunderstorm was brewing; for a time, wild winds howled, and a torrential downpour swept in.
"Thor! I don't sense any sign of Alioth approaching!"
Emma's voice rang in everyone's minds. Thor was also a bit bewildered—could it be that the commotion he created wasn't big enough?
Just as he was distracted, another even more vast and boundless divine power, seemingly infinite, rose from the ground, followed by an extremely terrifying magical surge that rapidly spread.
Old Loki closed his eyes and thrust his arms upward. His aged voice, sounding as if it spanned across ancient eons, boomed throughout the entire Land of Nihility!
"I, Loki Odinson! With all the magic, all the years, and all the obsession of my remaining life as a sacrifice—"
"Recreate—Asgard!!!"
Boom—!!!
With a loud bang, the world turned upside down, and the heavens and earth seemed to shatter!
The darkness and silence of the entire Land of Nihilitywere instantly torn apart!
The ground rose frantically, and the golden light of the Divine Realm soared into the sky!
Majestic palaces, towering spires, golden walls, and the sprawling mountain ranges of the Divine Realm...
A complete, glorious, and billion times more real Asgardian Royal City actually rose out of nowhere in this silent Land of Nihility!
Paved with gold, illuminated by divine light, the Heavenly Palace stood tall, surrounded by a sea of clouds!
That was a miracle that even Odin had never achieved!
That was the most brilliant, tragic, and shocking finale bloomed by a Loki variant using his life's strength!
Emma Frost instantly froze in place, her psychic power nearly spiraling out of control.
Sylvie, Loki, Young Loki, Alligator Loki... everyone stood frozen with their heads tilted back, their minds completely captivated.
Even Thor, floating in the air with Seven-colored Law Thunder coiling around him, paled in comparison at this moment.
This was...
...the true power of Loki, The First Magician of the Nine Realms.
The ultimate of the God of Mischief—a lie is reality!
And at the end of the startled void, the endless black mist rolled, roared, and approached frantically!
Alioth was finally thoroughly enraged and came sweeping in!
Chapter 22: Loki, You Will Eventually Become King
Sylvie stood there in a daze, staring in disbelief at this familiar yet strange building—it was the home she had left for a full six hundred years, the divine realm of Asgard!
Sylvie's voice began to tremble, "How on earth did he do it?!!"
Loki was also shocked by this incredibly absurd scene; he could even see every blade of grass and tree inside, as well as the unique textures of the Asgardian architecture.
This was a true miracle! It was also the great power belonging to them, the Lokis!
"I don't know, but I think we are more powerful than we imagined."
Loki immediately snapped back to his senses and said to Sylvie beside him, "Quick! We can't let him down!"
"Okay!"
Sylvie took the initiative to hold Loki's hand. Their divine powers, originating from the same source, immediately mixed and amplified. The power of their Possession Magicreached its peak at this moment!
Emerald green light instantly enveloped that massive black cloud!
Alioth was opening its bloody maw, devouring the Asgardmanifested by Old Loki bite by bite. Old Loki did his best to continuously repair and rebuild, successfully diverting its attention, as it focused solely on feeding.
And Old Loki's stalling also created a great opportunity for Sylvie and Loki.
Alioth, who was buried in its meal, was suddenly startled and then began to struggle violently.
Unfortunately, its struggle was ultimately in vain; the Possession Magic of the two Lokis working together counteracted it too well.
The dark purple clouds rolled continuously but were eventually completely covered by the emerald green light. It stopped struggling and floated blankly above Asgard.
"Loki! We succeeded!"
Sylvie pointed to the massive dark purple cloud in front of them. Under their control, Alioth's body slowly parted to both sides, revealing a small path, at the end of which was a towering and massive Black Citadel.
"What now?" Loki turned his head to look at Sylvie beside him.
"We go find out who exactly is pulling the strings behind the scenes, and then, settle it once and for all!"
Loki raised his hand and gently stroked Sylvie's long golden hair to comfort her, his tone very gentle and soft:
"Sylvie, don't be afraid. I will be with you."
Hearing Loki's comfort, Sylvie calmed down, turned to look at Loki's face, and kissed him without hesitation.
Thor did not disturb their private moment and instantly appeared beside Old Loki, raising his hand, intending to use the Laws of Time and Life to heal him.
"No need, Thor. I've lived too long, and I'm too tired."
Old Loki spoke softly, his gaze fixed on the gradually dissipating illusion of Asgard, filled with exhaustion and relief.
Thor crouched down, looking at this kinsman who had been on the run his whole life, his voice very soft and deep:
"If you're tired, can you just give up?
Don't you... want to personally see the real Asgard again?
Don't you want to see Father and Mother again?"
Old Loki's body suddenly stiffened.
For the first time, a violent ripple appeared in his cloudy eyes.
Thor spoke slowly, every word striking his heart:
"In the Multiverse, there are still countless Asgards,
Countless homes that will eventually head toward Ragnarok and return to destruction.
Don't you want to save them with your own hands?
Don't you want to go back as a hero instead of dying as a deserter?"
"While you're alive, you still have a chance to see your homeland and family again.
But if you're dead...
Then everything is truly gone, and even regrets can never be mended."
Old Loki smiled with relief, ignoring the blood still flowing from the corner of his mouth, and for the first time, he looked seriously at this Thor from a parallel Universe.
"You are different from many Thors I have seen. You seem to understand each of us very well—our stories, our growth, and our most vulnerable points."
"So now answer me, Thor Odinson, King of Asgard, God of Thunder, are you planning to forcibly save an old man like me for your own selfish desires, or for..."
Thor raised his hand to interrupt, "Loki, I have seen too many tragedies and finally ended Ragnarok with my own hands."
"I'll admit to the selfish desires you mentioned, because I need help. You are the most powerful Loki I have ever seen. The Multiverse is too vast, and the number of future enemies is countless."
"And ask yourself, do you really want to die, or are you still trying to escape reality? Frigga died at the hands of the Dark Elves, Odin died of old age, and Asgard was destroyed by Surtur, Hela, and Thanos."
"Now tell me, are you willing? Are you willing to see our home ruined? Are you willing to let our friends, family, and people die at the hands of others? Are you willing..."
"Enough! Don't say any more!" Old Loki roared. How could he not know what happened to his home?
Seeing the other's reaction, Thor felt the fire wasn't intense enough. After thinking about it, he decided to strike directly at the other's sore spot.
"When the Dark Elves invaded, you were locked in the dungeon and pointed the way for the Cursed Warrior, right?"
Hearing this sentence, Old Loki closed his eyes in pain, a crystal tear sliding from the corner of his eye, as he collapsed on the spot, completely broken.
How could he not remember?!
How could he possibly not remember!
It was because he, Loki, had pointed the way for the Cursed Warrior that his mother, Frigga, died because of him!
How ironic, the person who loved him most in the Worldwas killed by his own hand.
Every word this Thor said pierced his heart!
Thor didn't speak again, because he knew he had administered enough strong medicine. If the other really still wanted to die, there was nothing he could do; he would just have to go to another Universe to recruit someone.
For example, Supreme Strange would be a very good candidate for recruitment. As long as he could resurrect the other's girlfriend—what was that Nurse's name again?
Wouldn't he then have a Multiverse-level fighter and ally out of thin air?
After imagining for a few minutes, Thor finally got the answer he wanted.
"I promise you, I will save the Asgards of all Multiverses. I won't let the tragedy happen again..."
Old Loki slowly crawled up from the ground, his aura changing accordingly. The deathly aura of extreme exhaustion in his pupils melted away like ice and snow.
He straightened his long-hunched back, and a hint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.
The former Old Loki was dead, buried by his own hands just now.
What lives now is The First Magician of the Nine Realms, Asgard's God of Mischief, Loki!
"Very good, Loki. Then, happy collaborating!"
Thor reached out his hand.
Old Loki held it without hesitation. The next second, two colors of law light lit up on his body, and his exhausted frame actually glowed with life again.
...
In front of the Black Citadel, Sylvie broke the kiss and looked at her lover, whose eyes were filled with tenderness. She rarely curled her lips in a tease: "Your kissing skills are really quite poor, Loki."
"Right back at you, Sylvie," Loki Laughing and retorting, his fingers still interlaced with hers. They glanced at each other, turned together, and were about to step onto the narrow path leading to the End of Time.
"Loki! Wait!"
Thor's voice came from behind.
Both turned back at the same time. Loki looked at Thorwalking towards him, followed by Young Loki, Alligator Loki, and the reborn Old Loki. He raised an eyebrow and said, "What? You want to join us too?"
Thor walked up to him and slowly shook his head, his expression more solemn than ever, without a hint of a joke.
"No. This is a path that belongs only to you. I cannot interfere, nor should I."
Loki and Sylvie smiled at each other and said in unison, "Yes, this is our path, and our revenge."
Thor looked at the Loki before him, who had shed his hostility and cunning, and now had responsibility and concern in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly.
The sentence that had been circling in his heart for a long time—both a blessing from an Asgardian elder brother to his younger brother and a realization of an established destiny—finally landed.
It was also what he had wanted to say to Loki when watching the show in his previous life, and now he finally had the chance.
"Loki, you will eventually become king, but your throne was never in Asgard."
The smile on Loki's face suddenly froze.
He was gripped by the solemn and knowing emotion in Thor's eyes. That cryptic sentence was like a bolt of lightning, splitting open a certain destiny in his heart that had been vague and never grasped.
"Thor... what do you mean by that?" His voice trembled slightly. "What do you mean I will eventually become king?"
Thor did not answer, but instead stepped forward and gave him a powerful embrace, one that belonged to Asgardian brothers.
Then he gently raised his hand and gave Loki a push, pushing him toward the path to the End of Time, toward the Stairway to Godhood he was destined to walk.
"Go, my brother, Loki Odinson."
Thor's voice was steady and heavy, carrying through the wind to Loki's ear, word by word, resonant and powerful.
"On behalf of Father, on behalf of Mother, on behalf of Asgard, and on behalf of the free will of the entire Multiverse that you protect—I am proud of you."
Loki's whole body jolted, his frame trembling slightly, and his eyes suddenly grew hot.
He wanted to ask more, but Sylvie beside him gently tightened her grip on his hand.
She didn't speak, but simply nodded to him.
Behind Thor, Old Loki, Young Loki, and Alligator Loki also nodded slightly toward him, silently saying, "We are proud of you."
Loki looked at Thor before him, and at the variants who shared the same source as him. Finally, he smiled, the tears in his eyes faintly dissipating, replaced by an indomitable determination.
He stopped seeking the answer to that sentence, gripped Sylvie's hand in return, and turned. Together, they stepped onto that small path.
The dark purple mist slowly closed behind them, and the towering Black Citadel loomed ahead.
The two figures walked further and further away, finally disappearing completely at the End of Time.
Chapter 23: Old Loki's Gift
"It seems it's time for me to leave as well."
Mobius watched the receding figures of Loki and Sylvie, his eyes resolute. Loki had their mission, and he had his own.
With that, Mobius pulled a small device from his suit pocket and pressed it gently with his thumb.
A pale yellow virtual doorframe appeared out of thin air; behind it lay the Time Variance Authority.
"Mobius, wait!"
Thor called out to Mobius, who already had one foot through the doorframe.
"Thor, are you coming with me?" Mobius turned around and extended an invitation to this clearly different Thorvariant.
"No, I want to ask you for a favor. Those Infinity Stonesinside the Time Variance Authority—could you keep them for me?"
Mobius paused, then remembered the piles of Infinity Stones in the drawers of the Time Variance Authority. He replied, "No problem, it's a small matter. Anything else?"
"That's all. Thank you, Mobius. Stay safe."
"Don't mention it. After all, you're Loki's brother, aren't you?"
With those words, Mobius waved to everyone and stepped into the virtual doorframe. A second later, the doorframe vanished, and Mobius disappeared completely before their eyes.
"Thor, let's go. Alioth is about to break free."
Old Loki glanced back at the vast, endless dark clouds behind them and warned.
"Then let's go. Once I deal with that bald woman, we'll go save the Asgard of the Multiverse."
With a single thought from Thor, everyone present—and even Emma, who was several kilometers away—disappeared. In the blink of an eye, they were back near the cave where Laura and the others were.
"Mission accomplished?"
Betsy was the first to walk over. The chibi figure on her head was still in a 1v1 duel with Little Groot. Her smooth, long hair was now a bit messy.
"Yes, Betsy. It seems these two little things have given you quite a hard time!"
Thor reached out, pinched Little Groot by the scruff of his neck, and lifted him onto his shoulder, smoothing down the little guy's ruffled hair.
"I am Groot!!"
Little Groot glared at Thor with great dissatisfaction. He was just practicing his combat skills; why interrupt him so suddenly?
If he didn't get stronger, how could he save Rocket and the others?
"Hey, Groot, I don't like your attitude." Thor crossed his arms and looked at the little thing. "I was actually thinking of helping you get stronger..."
"I am Groot?!?"
Hearing this, Little Groot's expression changed instantly. He blinked his two round, bulging eyes, poked his fingers together in front of his chest, and looked at Thor with a feigned innocent gaze.
"I am Groot."
(Thor, I was wrong.)
"Flora Colossus?"
Old Loki, truly The First Magician of the Nine Realms, recognized the little guy who was intentionally acting cute at a glance.
"I thought their race was extinct?"
"Yes. In most Universes, he is the last survivor of his race and, as expected, joins the Guardians of the Galaxy."
Old Loki's expression turned strange at the mention of the Guardians of the Galaxy. After eyeing the little guy for a few moments, he said, "The same Guardians of the Galaxythat beat Ronan with an awkward dance-off?!"
"Right, you know them?"
Thor was a bit surprised that Old Loki knew about the Guardians of the Galaxy.
"If what you say is true, Thor, then the Guardians of the Galaxy in every Universe should be quite famous—just not for having a good reputation."
"True. After all, you can't even scrape together one living relative among the lot of them."
Thor suddenly cracked a dark joke. The Guardians of the Galaxy were even more tragic than the heroes of the Avengers.
No one in the Avengers should be more miserable than them... wait, that's not right. According to the original plot, he was the most miserable one.
Father, mother, brother, home, people, lover—all gone.
So, summing it all up, the title of Most Miserable Superhero of the Year definitely belonged to him.
Typical Marvel, putting all the sacrifice-themed tropes on Thor, huh?
"I am Groot—!"
Hearing Thor tease the Guardians of the Galaxy like that, Groot got a little angry and let out a "dragon's roar"!
Thor didn't bother with the little guy for now. He raised his hand and applied the Law of Time and the Law of Life, directly buffing Little Groot.
Groot sensed the growing power within his body and was overjoyed. This time, he would never let Thanos have his way again!
However, as his power grew stronger, his body remained exactly the same size. A large question mark appeared in his small head, and he looked up at Thor in confusion.
"I am Groot?!?"
(This isn't right, is it?)
"Groot, you must understand that power comes with a price. This is all I can do for now."
Thor started talking nonsense with a straight face again. The reason he fixed Groot's form as a little sprout was, of course, because it was cute and pleasing to the eye!
It definitely wasn't because this little guy was starting to be rebellious at such a young age.
It didn't matter if his size changed or not, as long as his power increased, right?
"I am Groot???"
(Is this true?)
"Yes! You know about the Infinity Stones, right? The power of the Laws comes with a price. I want to help you return to your peak, but my current strength just doesn't allow it!"
"I am Groot."
Little Groot felt something was off, but then he remembered being killed once by Ronan with the Power Stone. He had a sudden realization—isn't it normal for such terrifying power to have a price?
Groot convinced himself. He reached out toward a nearby branch, and a vine as thick as an adult's palm shot from his hand, wrapping tightly around the opposite branch.
Groot gave it a few hard tugs to make sure it was secure, then leaped from Thor's shoulder. Like a monkey, he swung back and forth through the trees, having the time of his life.
Remy LeBeau leaned in and asked curiously, "Thor, can the little tree-man be accelerated like that?"
"Of course. Groot's true form is still a tree. Simply put, he's no different from a plant."
"This World really is crazy enough!" Remy remarked.
Erica was maintaining her weapons, the sound of metal scraping harsh in the quiet environment.
"Thor, it's time to fulfill our deal."
Emma's cold, haughty voice rang out.
"You're right, Emma. It's time to go cause some trouble for Cassandra."
Thor nodded. Although he hadn't returned to his peak strength yet, he had a heavy hitter on his side. Old Loki's worth went without saying!
Let's just do it!
"Thor, I think you might need these."
Old Loki reached out and opened his palm, revealing multicolored lights. In his hand were the Law FragmentsThor had been longing for!