Arthur's words were a blow delivered straight to the heart.
Both Thor and Loki froze, staring at him, dumbfounded. It was Loki who finally reacted, leaning close to Thor to hiss, "See? He looks down on you."
"You think I'll be shaken by simple words?" Thor shot a glare at Loki, then turned his focus back to Arthur. "But the fact remains, up until this very moment, Asgard has always been safe and unharmed."
"And can you promise that Asgard will always remain so?"
Arthur let out a quiet, measured breath. "What guarantees Asgard's everlasting peace isn't prayer, it's strength. The reason Asgard is untouched today is that Odin still lives. Hela is still chained in Hel, and your enemies remain intimidated by the All-Father's power, not daring to seek their vengeance… The most terrifying shadow has yet to fall upon this realm. But can you guarantee that when that day finally comes, you will be able to withstand the enemy's full assault? Will you be able to protect the hope of your people?"
Thor closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
Loki also fell into a rare silence.
After a long moment, Loki finally broke it. "Odin is truly still guarding Asgard?"
"As long as he draws breath, his presence will always cover the realm," Arthur replied. "But eventually, that day will come when you lose him… I only hope you can think clearly about what happens next."
"So in your complex plan, Hela is the future ruler of Asgard?" Thor asked.
Arthur shook his head. "She is too powerful, too aggressive. She cannot become the King of Asgard. Both Odin and I believe that future stability is far more important. If Hela becomes the new God-King, the only possible outcome is that Asgard will once again follow Odin's old, blood-soaked path, waging war across the universe and unleashing endless slaughter."
"He's done something like that before?" Loki's eyes suddenly sparkled with fascination.
Arthur raised a knowing brow. "How else do you think the Frost Giants were defeated so utterly?"
Loki immediately lost his arrogant composure. He rolled his eyes. "I don't want to discuss this anymore."
Thor continued, "So her true role is to become Asgard's protector? But who can guarantee, "
He stopped himself mid-sentence. He was about to ask who could guarantee that such a fierce protector would not eventually covet Asgard itself, but as he looked at Arthur, the answer clicked into place. He suddenly understood the full weight of the agreement Arthur and Hela had made.
The three battles, if Arthur was the ultimate victor, it proved he possessed the power to defeat Hela. As long as Arthur remained undying, Hela's position would be stable, her power held in check.
The most dangerous being in the Nine Realms would become the very guardian deity protecting Asgard.
Conversely, if Arthur eventually lost, it meant neither Earth nor Asgard possessed anyone capable of restraining her. She would be completely unshackled, free to return to Asgard and pave her path to the throne with the blood of her enemies.
"I have no objections… In fact, I'm mostly just frustrated," Thor admitted. "Perhaps, from the moment you two made that agreement, you had already thought everything through. And I, only now, am finally catching up."
"I figured it out ages ago," Loki stepped forward proudly. "That's why I was agreeing with you."
Thor glowered at Loki, feeling certain that he understood nothing at all.
Then he turned back to Arthur. "In that case, are we truly able to face the final outcome?"
Arthur's response was calm and steady. "We will use every ounce of our combined strength, prepare as thoroughly as humanly and divinely possible, and wait for that moment to arrive… So don't ask me too many questions right now, I don't know the ending either. Everything can only unfold step by step…
Before then, if you have no objections, there is something that may seem insignificant now, but in the future it will be vitally important, and I will need your help."
"Such a powerful… human, actually needs the help of a god?" Loki just couldn't stand Arthur's composure; though he knew saying such things was pointless, he still wanted to land a few jabs.
Arthur merely shrugged. "If I could do everything alone, why would I need to arrange and plan so much?"
Thor glared at Loki. "Keep talking," he urged Arthur.
"Come on, we'll talk along the way," Arthur said. He then fixed Loki with an intense look. "And Loki, I need you to think very carefully. The importance of this matter directly concerns whether you live or die. If you are unwilling, I will not force you, walk away now and I won't say another word. But if you agree to this, and later you back out halfway, or fail to act according to the plan, believe me, the one who will kill you in the end will be me. Not even Thor will be able to protect you. No, not even your mother will be able to save you."
When Arthur spoke those final words, the killing intent rising from him was overwhelming, sharp and visible like shattered glass.
Loki froze. But facing the combined, unwavering gaze of Arthur and Thor, he could only respond grudgingly. "Then at least you should tell me what exactly I'm supposed to be dealing with, shouldn't you?"
"Something extremely important," Arthur repeated. "I need you to trick someone."
"Ha! His absolute specialty!"
Thor burst out laughing.
"That's easy," Loki said, suddenly cheerful. "Who am I tricking?"
"A few years from now, I need you to deceive a big guy who is completely purple."
Loki muttered under his breath, "A big guy… who's purple… purple…"
Suddenly, his steps hitched, and his eyes went wide with pure terror. "Goodbye!"
He spun on his heel and moved to flee.
Thor immediately grabbed him by the back of his collar, but Arthur simply said, "Let him go. If he's unwilling, forcing him is useless."
Thor looked at Arthur, hesitated, then let go. Loki, however, didn't actually bolt. "If I'm not mistaken," Loki said, his voice strained, "this person is someone I know, isn't he?"
"Yes, you know him," Arthur said lightly. "This person has a very direct connection to your invasion of Earth."
Thor's eyes flashed with fresh interest. "Oh?"
Loki said helplessly, "Someone I absolutely cannot afford to offend."
"That's fine. Then just wait for death," Arthur said, the option simple and cold. "In my script, you play a crucial role. If you succeed, everything will come to an end, and you will become the greatest hero in the entire universe!"
"Being a hero means nothing to me. What I really want to know is, why in the Nine Realms would you want to provoke someone like that?" Loki thought for a moment and added, "Wouldn't simply staying alive be a nicer option?"
But Arthur shook his head. "You're wrong, Loki. It's not that I want to provoke him… It's that he is already coming to provoke us."
(End of chapter)
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