When it came to raw power, Odin was undoubtedly one of the top dogs in the current universe. He had secured Earth's safety for centuries, and Asgard's dominance for millennia.
Honestly, if not for the grievous wounds he suffered during his war with Hela, he wouldn't be dying of old age so soon.
Look at Frigga—she was still in her prime. Look at Zeus in Omnipotence City—he was still partying like a frat boy, showing no signs of decline.
That war with Hela cost Odin everything. It forced Asgard to shift from strategic expansion to strategic defense, planting the seeds for all the problems they faced today.
Even so, the energy radiating from Odin's body made Lucas's heart race. The old man was still terrifyingly strong.
Underneath that benevolent, grandfatherly face was a ruthless warlord who had drowned galaxies in blood.
Odin's children reflected the different eras of his reign.
Hela was born during the Conquest Era. She inherited Odin's bloodlust and belief in absolute power. She was a weapon forged in war, just as brutal as her father.
Thor was born after the Nine Realms were pacified. Odin's rule had shifted to peace and stability. The old soldiers who remembered the "Bloody Odin" were mostly dead or retired.
But Lucas knew. He hadn't seen it, but he could infer it from Hela. To suppress a monster like Hela, Odin had to be an even bigger monster.
Lucas suspected Odin had been faking the "Odinsleep" just now.
Think about it. Thor smashes the Bifrost, and bam—Odin wakes up instantly and catches them? He moved so fast even Lucas didn't see him coming.
That wasn't physical speed. That was teleportation magic.
Seeing that he had caught Thor, and Thor had caught the scepter, and Loki was holding the other end, Odin finally let out a breath.
He nodded at Lucas. "Thank you, Midgardian. I did not expect Earth to produce such a warrior."
Odin was genuinely impressed. Earth was one of his realms, so he kept an eye on it. He knew Earth had deep waters.
The Ancient One was someone even Odin respected and feared. Then there were the hidden monsters—Dracula, the Eternals, the Deviants. Beings that weren't gods but were just as troublesome.
But usually, Earth's powerhouses relied on magic, like the Ancient One.
A mortal with physical strength surpassing an Asgardian? That was a first.
"You are too kind, All-Father," Lucas nodded respectfully.
Standing face-to-face with Odin felt different from watching the movies. He didn't dare underestimate this dying lion.
Noticing his father's gaze, Loki looked away, shame burning his face like a child caught stealing.
No, he was a child who had done something terrible.
"Father! I could have done it!" Loki shouted, desperate for validation. "I could have destroyed Jotunheim! For you! For all of us!"
He wanted to prove he was worthy. He wanted to wash away the stain of his birth with the blood of his enemies.
"No, Loki," Odin said softly, shaking his head.
He didn't approve. He never wanted genocide. Even in his darkest days as a conqueror, he ruled subjects; he didn't erase them.
Hearing the denial, Loki's soul shattered.
Everything he did was for this moment. He didn't care about the throne. He didn't care about power. He just wanted his father to say, Good job, son.
Instead, he got a "No."
Loki looked at Odin, then at the infinite void below. His eyes went dead.
He let go of the scepter.
"No! Loki!"
Thor screamed, realizing what was happening. But he couldn't reach him.
Loki fell backward, drifting into the cosmic abyss until the darkness swallowed him whole.
A moment later, Odin pulled Thor up to safety.
"Loki... Loki..." Thor stared into the black void, grief crushing his heart.
He never wanted to kill Loki. He never wanted to hurt him. He just wanted to take the dangerous toy—the throne—away from a child who couldn't handle it.
He did it to protect Loki. To protect Asgard.
But instead, he watched his brother choose suicide over salvation.
Odin stood beside him, silent. The grief in his one eye was profound, but as King, he couldn't show weakness. He could only stare into the abyss, his expression complicated and heavy.