"What a merciful king — rushing to stop me personally for the sake of a bunch of mortals and a rival heir to your throne."
Laufey's grotesque face twisted with delight, the eerie green flames in his pupils burning with pure satisfaction.
"Do you see the projection in the sky?"
"A gift I prepared for you!"
"Odin never imagined the war from a thousand years ago would replay here."
"Except this time — I will be the victor!"
As he spoke, Laufey drove a fist into Loki, sending him hurtling backward. His gaze drifted skyward, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"Watch closely. See how Odin's son — who once protected you a thousand years ago — meets his end on this very land he swore to defend."
"BOOM!"
A thunderous crack split the air. Golden light erupted from the tip of Gungnir, blasting the sneering Laufey away.
Loki dragged himself upright through sheer will, his breath ragged, his chest heaving.
"Big words from you, Laufey."
"When did it become acceptable to frame bullying the weak as something admirable?"
"Heh heh."
The airborne Laufey rose slowly to his feet. His scarlet eyes fixed on Loki, that grotesque face made even more monstrous by the grin spreading across it.
"Well spoken, new King of Asgard."
"Let's see how long you can keep up that tone."
"RUMBLE—"
The war erupted again.
"Loki…"
Thor's gaze was a complicated tangle of emotions as he watched the projection — Loki locked in brutal combat with Laufey, ignoring the wounds crisscrossing his body, gripping Gungnir and driving the Frost Giant king back again and again.
Sif and the others wore matching expressions of conflicted realization.
They could no longer deny what they had always assumed about Loki. The Loki before them now — as a king — was worthy.
Whether it was defending Asgard's honor or protecting this land — he was worthy.
"Don't you dare die, Loki."
It was all they could pray, even as Thor's supporters.
"CRACK!"
Just then, a man in a suit, thin on top, and wearing sunglasses pushed through the tavern door and approached their table.
"Apologies for the interruption, everyone."
"But it seems you folks have some knowledge of what's up there."
"If possible, could I trouble you for an introduction? Who are these beings that clearly aren't human?"
"…"
After roughly ten minutes of conversation, Coulson thanked them politely.
His eyes drifted to Thor beside him — who had ignored every word Coulson said, completely absorbed in the sky projection. Every time the man in the green cloak took so much as a scratch, Thor would cry out:
"Loki!"
Raw fury and grief, both at once.
Coulson let a hint of无奈 slip across his face, but having heard their story, he could understand Thor's anguish.
The older brother sealed and exiled. The younger brother ascending to the throne, bearing the weight of protection alone.
Now war had come — and the older brother could only watch as his brother bled defending what should have been his own burden to carry.
For an older brother, it was truly a cruel blow.
Of course, the real problem was their father — the king who couldn't be bothered to stay alive.
He just had to seal Thor's powers right before entering his slumber.
And now no one even knew if he was alive or dead.
Otherwise, this war would never have happened.
Gods and their royal dramas — how is this supposed to be training?
Coulson shook his head and dialed a private number.
"Sir, I've got a general picture now."
"The two sides in the projection are Asgard and Jotunheim."
"The one wielding the spear that emits golden light — that's the current king of Asgard, Loki. His opponent is Jotunheim's king, Laufey — a Frost Giant."
"The missing hammer? Turns out it was taken by King Loki here. The man we initially mistook for a chuunibyou — the one who's actually Thor, God of Thunder."
"Their relationship differs from the myths we've recorded. Loki, who should be an evil deity, appears to be a just god. And he's Thor's younger brother, not his uncle."
"Thor lost his powers when Odin sealed them, becoming mortal — unable to participate in this war. So we're relying on them…"
"Since there's no way to guarantee the Frost Giants won't turn on Earth after finishing with Asgard."
"The projection? They don't know anything about it either."
"They say Asgard has no interest in technology — they prefer fighting and feasting. And, of course, drinking."
"Laufey in the projection mentioned they were behind it. Though I have no idea why these gods have powerful technology at their disposal."
After finishing his report, Coulson relaxed. He looked back up at the sky projection.
Our ancestors really let their imagination run wild when they wrote those myths…
"Get out of the way!"
At the heart of the battle, Loki shoved an Asgardian warrior aside.
"Go fight your own opponent."
"He's not someone you can handle."
Loki's voice was ice cold.
"Your Majesty!"
The shoved warrior stared at the wounds covering Loki — not just from Laufey's strikes, but injuries sustained shielding weaker warriors.
Words failed him.
"Shut up!"
"Keep fighting!"
"I cannot lose this war — and neither can you!"
"For the glory of Asgard!"
Loki raised Gungnir, the Eternal Spear, high above his head.
"For the glory of Asgard!"
One by one, the Asgardian warriors raised their weapons, their voices ragged but roaring the reply.
Their recognition of Loki as king — their respect for him — deepened by the moment.
He lacked Thor's overwhelming strength. But in every other respect, he was unquestionably a worthy sovereign.
For Asgard's glory. For this king — they could not lose!
Beyond the battlefield.
Brandon watched the figure in the war — Loki, grievously wounded but still commanding the battlefield with a king's authority, caring for every warrior as a hero would.
An involuntary smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Is this what we expect from the God of Lies? Using this power for the first time, and already so skilled — deceiving everyone.
No one knew that the Loki on that field was merely a perfectly realistic illusion, a duplicate conjured by sorcery.
The real Loki stood safely beside Brandon White at this very moment.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Roxie, Tony, Tokisaki, and the others were carving through the remaining Frost Giants.
Their section of the battlefield was shrouded in a mysterious power — invisible to any watching eye.
(This chapter is complete.)
———
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