The guards protecting the palace saw Shen Mu with a woman they didn't recognize and, out of duty, tried to stop them.
However, at that moment, Thor came out of the palace!
Because Heimdall had already informed him of Shen Mu's return.
"Shen, long time no see!"
"Is this your companion?"
Thor was already aware of Shen Mu's new appearance, so he wasn't surprised in the slightest.
However, Jean, who was by Shen Mu's side, made Thor's expression somewhat unusual.
Because he could keenly sense a dangerous aura emanating from Jean, giving him a feeling of trepidation.
"This is Jean Grey, a student I took in on Earth. I'm her magic mentor, though I haven't really taught her anything!"
"Jean, this is Thor, Son of Odin, the future God King of Asgard. He is the Thor from Norse mythology on Earth!"
Shen Mu introduced Thor and Jean to each other.
"Thor!"
"I've heard your name from Nia, she and the others said you are a God of Heroes."
"However, you seem a little different from the image Nia described; you should have a red cape behind you!"
During her years with Sylphania, Jean had learned about the Nine Realms, but she had never truly set foot in these places.
Now, being able to see a figure from mythology with her own eyes, she was a little excited, but after the excitement came disappointment.
Because Thor's appearance was somewhat different from what the Little Elves had described; he seemed to lack a bit of divine majesty, and she had a feeling that the Thor in front of her wasn't necessarily stronger than herself.
Hearing Jean's words, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Thor's face.
After all, the cape behind him was merely a decoration. After being swung around twice by Shen Mu holding his cape, he had grown accustomed to life without a cape.
But since it was brought up now, Thor's divine power stirred, and a bright red cape appeared behind him.
Jean nodded in approval, indicating that it should have been that way, while Shen Mu smiled and shook his head.
However, Shen Mu did notice a difference in Thor; he seemed to have matured.
And within him surged a powerful force in addition to his lightning divine power—that was the Odin Force, which surprised Shen Mu somewhat.
After all, over a thousand years hadn't truly matured this muscle-bound oaf, yet now, without the tempering of Earth, he had achieved such growth.
"Thor, it seems you've grown quite a bit during this time!"
Shen Mu said to Thor with a hint of deeper meaning.
"My Father has been in Odin's Sleep for long periods over the past few years, and he has entrusted Asgard to me."
"I once thought I was ready to become the God King, but I realized I wasn't yet."
"mjolnir helped me defeat countless enemies, but it couldn't make me an invincible king."
"More than ten years ago, I encountered a powerful opponent named Thanos. He came with an entire fleet, and I was defeated again!"
"If Heimdall hadn't opened the Bifrost Bridge in time, I might have paid the price of my life for my arrogance."
"But, Volstagg..."
Thor hesitated before recounting his experiences over the years, with a trace of sadness in his eyes and an undisguised anger.
Shen Mu was stunned to hear that Thor had encountered Thanos.
It seemed that this Universe had experienced too many butterfly effects due to his appearance.
And the Death of his friend made Thor realize the flaws in his rash and reckless character.
This was what prompted him to slowly mature.
"Thanos, huh!"
Shen Mu softly spoke the name.
However, in Shen Mu's mind, Thanos, who was destined to never collect all six gems, posed little more threat to him than an ant.
When he met him later, he would just send him to meet Death, though he didn't know if this Universe's Thanos had hooked up with Death.
"Teacher, who is Thanos!"
Jean, who was beside him, saw Shen Mu utter the name and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"A Universe tyrant, but his entire life has been dedicated to the sustainable development of the known Universe."
Hearing Shen Mu say this, not only Jean but even Thor was full of questions.
"Teacher, isn't it good to make the Universe sustainable? Why call him a Universe tyrant?"
Jean didn't understand what this meant.
"Because the methods he uses are very simple and crude!"
"He commands the Dark Quadrant, and every time he invades a living Planet, he purges the life on that Planet, either killing all of them or randomly killing half."
"With fewer lives, fewer resources are consumed, which naturally delays the Planet's demise due to resource depletion."
"By the way, the first Planet he annihilated was his own home Planet, Titan, and he is the last survivor of the Eternal Titan race."
Shen Mu briefly introduced the life of this Universe's population control committee.
Jean was instantly dumbfounded upon hearing this!
Although they were simple words, the bloodshed they contained was chilling.
Annihilating all life on an entire Planet—that was a number Jean couldn't even imagine.
Shen Mu wasn't surprised by Jean's reaction; after all, the so-called wars on Earth were mere child's play compared to interstellar wars in the Universe.
"By the way, Thor, what exactly happened to Odin? His condition shouldn't be this bad!"
Shen Mu asked Thor the doubt in his heart.
"My Father wouldn't tell me, and Mother was the same."
"However, according to Heimdall, it might be related to my sister, Hela, the God of Death, whom I've never met."
Thor also said with a bitter expression upon hearing this.
To protect Thor, Odin had completely erased all records of his brother, Kuurth!
And he had never revealed the deeds of his eldest daughter, Hela, to Thor and Loki.
Frigga, at Odin's behest, also firmly refused to tell Thor and the others the truth.
Thor could only ask Heimdall, who knew many things.
However, even Heimdall wasn't too familiar with some secrets; he only knew about Hela and told Thor about her.
But even knowing he had an ambitious older sister, Thor was completely helpless.
After all, she was sealed by Odin himself, and he couldn't even find a single clue to the sealed place.
"Hela! Perhaps it's more than that!"
Shen Mu had already thought of the information he received when he talked with Odin earlier, knowing that there was another fellow sealed by Odin on Earth.
"Shen! Do you know something? Tell me quickly!"
Upon seeing Shen Mu's expression, Thor immediately said anxiously.
However, Shen Mu shook his head. He planned to let Odin tell it himself after he met him!
This time, he could repay Odin's favor.