The Ancient One intended to take on the task of rescuing Thor and assign it to Lucas.
Just as Odin needed to hold Thor's coronation ceremony to build momentum for Thor, the Ancient One also needed a suitable opportunity to build momentum for Lucas, allowing him to fully display his strength and deter the surrounding Extra-Dimensional Beings.
Colluding to extort Mephisto was not an option, it would tarnish the image of Kamar-Taj's Sorcerer Supreme.
The Frost Giants were the target the Ancient One chose for Lucas. Their individual strength was generally average, relying on numbers to win. The high-end combatant, Laufey, had significantly weakened since the Casket of Ancient Winters was taken by Odin.
From a combat power structure perspective, he was completely outmatched by Lucas. No one could break through Lucas's defenses.
More importantly, it was a righteous cause.
A thousand years ago, the Frost Giants invaded Earth, attempting to turn it into an ice age, a paradise for Frost Giants.
Kamar-Taj was also a member of the allied forces that resisted the Frost Giants a thousand years ago.
As a member of Kamar-Taj, Lucas was now representing Earth to go to Jotunheim to collect a debt. It was reasonable in every way.
The Ancient One pretended to be concerned and asked Frigga, "Queen Frigga, have you encountered any difficulties?"
After a moment of hesitation, Frigga frowned and slowly nodded.
Concerning the safety of her two sons and future daughter-in-law (Sif), she no longer cared about violating principles and revealing the future.
She needed to seek Odin and ask him to rescue Thor and the others.
Frigga stood up and bid farewell to the Ancient One. "Sorcerer Supreme, I have something else to attend to, please excuse me."
The Ancient One asked, "Are you going to see the Allfather to discuss the rescue of Prince Thor? Why don't we go together?"
Frigga asked, "Does the Ancient One know?"
The Ancient One nodded. "I guessed it."
Frigga assented, "Then we shall go together."
With that, Frigga lifted her skirt, quickened her pace, and headed towards the hall where Odin often stayed.
The Ancient One followed, her steps seemingly slow but actually swift.
Passing through several palaces, the two saw Odin, who was looking down at Asgard, reminiscing about the past.
Frigga disregarded etiquette and went straight to the point, "Thor and the others are in trouble in Jotunheim and need our rescue."
Odin frowned, and anger silently surged in his heart.
He had actually thought Thor had matured yesterday.
"How did they get to Jotunheim? Through the Bifrost Bridge? Why didn't Heimdall report it to me? Does he think I, the Allfather, have grown old and senile?"
In an instant, Odin understood the cause and effect.
"Sorcerer Supreme."
Hastily greeting the Ancient One, Odin picked up Gungnir and was about to fly to the Bifrost Bridge.
Angry as he was, he couldn't possibly watch Thor fall in Jotunheim.
"Allfather." Ancient One called out to Odin.
"If you trust me, why not let Lucas try? He is the next Sorcerer Supreme, and in a few years, he will succeed me."
"At that time, he and Thor will jointly protect the peace and prevent the erosion of the mystic side in this world."
"Why not let them try fighting side-by-side now, in advance?"
These were the Ancient One's polite words.
What she truly meant was to prepare Thor in advance to rely on him.
"Thank you, Sorcerer Supreme, for your help." Odin agreed, his furrowed brow slowly relaxing.
The Kamar-Taj lineage truly were all good people.
The Ancient One smiled, not responding to Odin's thanks. "Lucas has already arrived at the Bifrost Bridge, please let Heimdall grant passage."
On the Bifrost Bridge, Heimdall, who had received Odin's message, stepped aside to let Lucas pass, then followed behind him.
Looking at Lucas's back, Heimdall's eyes were filled with incomprehensible doubt.
From Lucas's aura, he could sense that he was a warrior stronger than him, and even stronger than Thor. But could he go to Jotunheim alone to rescue Thor?
It wasn't just Heimdall, Frigga was also puzzled.
The difference was that Heimdall's doubts could only be kept to himself, while she could ask directly.
"Sorcerer Supreme, Lucas..."
Ancient One naturally understood the unspoken meaning in her words.
"Although Lucas has not yet succeeded as Sorcerer Supreme, his strength has long surpassed mine. He is the most outstanding among us (Sorcerer Supreme)."
If the Elder Gods didn't appear, Lucas would be unrivaled in this world.
The last sentence was a bit chuunibyou, and Ancient One was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
But that was the meaning.
Odin and Frigga glanced sideways, they both heard the trust in the Ancient One's words for Lucas.
'Could it be that Lucas's strength has already surpassed mine? That's unlikely.' Odin couldn't help but mutter in his heart.
He was confident he could defeat the Ancient One, but he couldn't say his strength definitively surpassed hers.
The Ancient One actually thought the same.
The strong are always confident in their own strength.
...
Jotunheim.
Thor, with his extraordinary power, charged through the Frost Giants, defeating every opponent with ease.
The other five, however, were already engaged in a bitter struggle.
Except for Loki, who was maneuvering with illusions, the other four had all been injured.
Among them, Fandral, one of The Warriors Three, was severely wounded in the melee, impaled through the chest by a multi-faceted ice shard, almost losing his ability to move.
"Break through!"
Thor roared, raising Mjolnir to the sky, and a terrifying lightning bolt struck down, blasting away countless Frost Giants.
Then, with another swing, he dragged Mjolnir, smashing through a beast blocking their path.
Thor led the charge. Along the way, he knocked down and sent countless Frost Giants flying, carving out an escape route for his teammates.
The others, supporting Fandral, quickly followed.
The Frost Giants pursued closely, pressing in step by step.
Fleeing all the way, Thor and his companions were forced to a cliff.
Behind them were Frost Giant pursuers, and in front, a beast blocked their path.
"Heimdall, open the Bifrost Bridge!"
Thor roared to the sky, trying to get Heimdall to open the Bifrost Bridge and send them back.
But Heimdall gave no response.
Evidently, he had forgotten Heimdall's words before sending them to Jotunheim—if your return threatens the safety of Asgard, the Bifrost Bridge will not open for you.
The beast blocking the way raised its claw, poised to crush them all.
Seeing this, Thor disregarded his continued shouts for Heimdall to open the Bifrost Bridge and swung his hammer to meet it.
Among everyone present, only he had the ability to deal with this beast. But he couldn't cover both front and back. Thor was, after all, only one person, unable to simultaneously resist the beast in front and the Frost Giants behind.
Under the siege of countless Frost Giants, the four Asgardians huddled together, desperately resisting.
As for Loki, at some point, he had used illusions to slip away.
Crack! Crack..
The glacier beneath their feet suddenly fractured, and caught off guard, their formation was broken, leaving the severely injured Fandral exposed alone before the Frost Giants.
Slash!
A sharp blade pierced through him, piercing his heart.
At the critical moment, Volstagg used his body to shield Fandral from the attack.
"No!"
Witnessing his friend's death, Thor went berserk.