To Loki, the Frost Giants were a primitive, backward race that brought him nothing but shame. Their very existence threatened Asgard's stability.
If he exterminated them all, he wouldn't be an outsider anymore. He would be the hero who ended the war.
It was a simple, brutal logic.
Loki wanted to be King of Asgard for two main reasons. First, to erase the stain of his Frost Giant blood. Second, to prove he had merit.
Thor might think Odin was disappointed in him, but over the last thousand years, Thor had led Asgard's armies across the galaxy, racking up victories and fame. Statues of Thor were worshipped on countless planets.
What did Loki have?
"God of Mischief." A title that commanded no respect.
No achievements. No prestige. And a bloodline that was a liability.
"Come on! Fight me!" Loki roared, blasting Thor off his feet with the scepter. "I never wanted the throne! I just wanted to be your equal!"
For Loki, the throne wasn't about power. It was about validation. He wanted to prove he could take it. He wanted Odin to offer it to him, even if he refused. He wanted to be worthy of it.
"I don't want to fight you, brother!" Thor shouted, scrambling up.
"I am not your brother!" Loki sneered. "Didn't you hear me? I am a Frost Giant! We were never brothers!"
"Loki, stop talking nonsense! Even if you're a Frost Giant, it doesn't change the fact that you're my brother!"
Thor shook his head. "I'm taking the throne back, not because of your bloodline, but because you don't understand what it means to be a King! If you rule with this mindset, you will bring disaster to Asgard!"
"Is that so? Is it?" Loki's eyes filled with tears, his voice trembling. "What kingly qualities? What made you so soft after one trip to Earth? Don't tell me it was that woman! Maybe when I'm done here, I'll pay her a visit myself!"
That did it.
Thor's expression hardened. The brothers clashed, shockwaves rippling across the Observatory.
From a distance, Lucas watched the fight. He had to admit, Thor 1 Loki was actually a decent fighter. He was holding his own against Thor.
This wasn't the "puny god" Loki who got ragdolled by Hulk later.
Of course, this was also "God of Hammers" Thor—Level 1, Starter Edition. He hadn't unlocked his true lightning potential yet.
Still, Thor was stronger. But the dynamic was fascinating.
Neither of them really wanted the throne for the sake of ruling.
Loki: "I don't care about the throne, but you have to give it to me to prove I'm equal. To prove it, I'll scare my adoptive dad into a coma and murder my biological dad." A ruthless attention seeker.
Thor: "I don't care about the throne, but you'll be a terrible king, so I have to take it back. Watch me save the day." The responsible older brother cleaning up a mess.
Other royal families fought for power. These two fought for daddy issues.
What a painfully filial family.
While Lucas was lost in thought, the fight spilled out onto the Bifrost Bridge. Loki was knocked off the edge, dangling over the abyss.
"Fake!" Lucas's eyes narrowed.
Loki's illusion magic was incredibly realistic. To the naked eye, it was perfect. But Lucas had high-level magic resistance and enhanced senses. He didn't need to analyze it; he just knewit was fake.
Thor, however, fell for it. He reached down to pull Loki up—only for his hand to pass through the illusion.
STAB!
The real Loki appeared behind him, driving Gungnir into Thor's side.
As Thor crumpled, Loki multiplied. Dozens of illusionary Lokis surrounded him, laughing maniacally.
Thor gritted his teeth. "Enough!"
He slammed Mjolnir into the ground, unleashing a massive lightning shockwave.
BOOM!
The illusions vanished instantly. The real Loki was blasted backward, hitting the ground hard.
Thor walked over and placed Mjolnir on Loki's chest.
Loki froze. Pinned by the enchantment, he couldn't move an inch. But his mouth still worked.
"Look at you! The mighty Thor!" Loki shouted, struggling under the weight. "With all your strength, what can you do now? Can you hear it, brother? The bridge is building! You can't stop it!"
The Bifrost energy was critical. In moments, it would destroy Jotunheim.
Thor looked at the portal, then at the bridge beneath his feet. He had no other choice.
He summoned Mjolnir back to his hand.
"What are you doing?" Loki's eyes widened. "If you destroy the bridge, you'll never see her again!"
Thor hesitated for a fraction of a second. Jane.
But then he swung.
CLANG!
"Forgive me, Jane," Thor whispered, raising the hammer again.
This was something Loki could never understand. The sacrifice of a superhero. To save a world of strangers, Thor was willing to cut off his only path back to the woman he loved.
CLANG!
CLANG!
With a final, earth-shattering blow, the Rainbow Bridge shattered.
CRACK-BOOM!
The energy beam cut off instantly. The portal to Jotunheim closed. The threat was over.
But the bridge collapsed, sending both Thor and Loki tumbling into the cosmic abyss below.
In that split second, Lucas moved.
He flashed to the edge of the broken bridge, grabbing Thor's ankle.
At the same time, another hand grabbed Thor's other leg.
It wasn't Lucas.
It was an old man with one eye, holding Gungnir.
Odin.
The All-Father had awakened.
Lucas looked up and met the old man's gaze. He could feel the terrifying ocean of power rolling off him.
This was the King of Asgard. The Lord of the Nine Realms. A being who, even in his twilight years, stood in the top ten powerhouses of the current universe.
Skyfather Odin.