At an Asgardian tavern, Thor sat alone in a corner, his face filled with disappointment. In the past, this had been his favorite place to drink, yet now he had no desire to touch a single cup.
When he looked up, he saw Heimdall walking toward him.
"You didn't attend Father's military council?" Heimdall asked as he sat down across from Thor.
"Father has ordered the Bifrost closed," Heimdall continued. "No one is permitted to enter or leave Asgard."
He removed his helmet and sighed. "An enemy even I cannot see… this situation is truly troublesome."
"Malekith will return," Thor said meaningfully as he looked at Heimdall. "You and I both know that."
"I cannot disobey the All-Father's command," Heimdall replied.
The two looked at each other, then smiled knowingly.
Still in the tavern, night had already fallen. The Warriors Three, Sif, as well as Karl and Tony had all gathered there.
"Didn't my father already give permission for you two to leave?" Thor asked in surprise, looking at Karl and Tony.
Since they were not Asgardians, Odin had allowed them to return to Earth.
"In fact, we were planning to leave," Karl said calmly. "But before we do, I think I should remind you of something."
He glanced at everyone except Sif, as if looking at a group of fools.
"I can more or less guess your plan. So Tony and I intend to go with you."
Karl had seen Thor: The Dark World. He knew exactly what Thor was planning.
"Thank you, Karl," Thor said sincerely. "With you involved, things will be much easier."
Thor then outlined his plan. As expected, it was almost identical to the one from the film.
"One thing to keep in mind," Karl added, "bring Loki with you. Only he knows how to leave Asgard without using the Bifrost."
Thor froze.
His original plan had been to ask Heimdall to open the Bifrost and send them away, but that would have been disastrous for Heimdall. Disobeying a royal command was a serious offense; secretly opening the Bifrost could even be considered treason. After all, the Bifrost was the only openly known means of entering and leaving Asgard—opening it without authorization was equivalent to inviting enemies inside.
Thor quickly realized Karl was right. Given Loki's nature, he certainly knew alternative ways to leave Asgard. After all, he had done so many times before.
Soon, everyone began assigning roles.
The Warriors Three would hold off any pursuers.
Sif would retrieve Jane from her room.
Tony, posing as a tourist, would steal a ship.
Karl and Thor would go to find Loki.
Asgardian ships were used not only for combat, but also for cargo transport and sightseeing. Tony could easily board one as a Midgardian tourist and tour Asgard. Except for the royal palace, he could access nearly every area—even circle the entire realm.
Thor's plan was for Tony to secure a ship and fly beneath the Bifrost, where everyone would regroup.
With the plan settled, they each set off to carry out their tasks.
---
At the Asgardian prison, the recent unrest had been quelled, and silence had returned. Thor and Karl strode openly toward the prison entrance, deliberately drawing attention to themselves to divert notice from the Warriors Three and Sif.
It was also Karl's first real opportunity to properly observe the prison.
They soon arrived at Loki's cell. Loki was reclining comfortably on a chair, casually eating fruit. Even as a prisoner, he was still an Asgardian prince—well fed and well treated.
"Loki!" Thor's booming voice echoed through the corridor.
The grape Loki was about to eat slipped from his fingers and rolled across the floor.
"Thor," Loki said as he stood up and approached the energy barrier, "it's been so long. You only remember to visit me now?"
"What are you here for?"
As soon as he said that, Loki noticed Karl standing beside Thor. His face darkened instantly, and he subconsciously took a step back.
"Long time no see, Atreus~" Karl said cheerfully, waving at him.
He still used the same nickname—after all, the game from his previous life had left a deep impression on him.
Thor and Loki were already used to it. Thor had even once asked Odin if he knew who "Atreus" was, but even the all-knowing All-Father had no answer. He could only say the name sounded like it came from the Olympian pantheon—a group of gods who had long since stopped interfering with Earth.
"You… you're here too?!" Loki stammered, pointing at Karl, his pupils trembling.
Clearly, the events of the Battle of New York had left him with lasting trauma.
"I just came to see how you've been," Karl said, gesturing at the furnishings and fresh fruit behind him. "Looks like you're living quite comfortably."
"Loki," Thor said directly, cutting through the banter. "I need your help."
"Help?" Loki sneered. "You must be truly desperate to ask a prisoner for help."
He deliberately ignored Karl, instinctively trying to erase him from his awareness.
"Listen, Loki," Thor said seriously. "You know about the Dark Elves' invasion. They killed many Asgardian warriors. Though they've withdrawn for now, they will return. I intend to draw them away from Asgard. We cannot allow them to continue destroying our home."
Loki looked at Thor calmly.
"And what does Asgard's fate have to do with me?" he said mockingly. "I'm not even Asgardian. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
He let out a self-deprecating laugh. Loki had always been deeply troubled by his Frost Giant heritage. He believed Odin had only taken him in as a matter of convenience, like adopting a stray animal. He had always thought himself more fit to rule than Thor, yet his origins ensured Odin would never truly acknowledge him.
"Then do you not care about Mother?" Thor said sharply. "She nearly died at the hands of those cursed Dark Elves. If not for Karl arriving in time, you would never see her again."
Thor knew that among all of Asgard, the person Loki cared about most was Frigga.
Sure enough, Loki—who had been about to recline again—spun around instantly. His aura surged.
"How is Mother now?" he demanded, pressing both hands against the energy barrier.
"She's fine. Just lightly injured," Thor replied. "So—are you coming with us?"
"When do we leave?" Loki asked, regaining his composure.
"Now," Thor said with a shrug, turning to deactivate the cell's energy field.
Loki left behind a mirror illusion of himself lying lazily in the cell, while his true body followed Thor and Karl out of the prison.
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