Hearing Homelander's instructions, Eitri perked up and immediately directed the surviving dwarves to take action.
"Restart the forge rings! Everyone back to your posts!"
The endless metal ring belts began to rotate slowly, and the sights gradually aligned with the black dead star.
"Open the star core iris!" Eitri roared.
The mechanical gears meshed frantically as the massive metal iris slowly opened to both sides.
The terrifying high-temperature energy beam from the dying neutron star shot like a sharp sword directly into the core of the forge.
Just when everyone thought the forging was about to begin smoothly...
"Creak—bang!"
The rotation of the rings suddenly stalled, the energy that had just gathered instantly dissipated, and the core dimmed once again.
After a brief sound of mechanical friction, it went completely dead.
Eitri's face turned livid. After stepping forward to inspect it, he walked back to Homelander, looking dejected.
"I am very sorry, God of Mankind." Eitri said, his face full of dejection. "Thanos destroyed the mechanical structure before he left. The rings cannot gather the energy from the neutron core to heat up, which means we do not have enough temperature to melt the Uru metal."
Thor asked hurriedly, "How long will it take to fix it?"
"A few days, or a few weeks." Eitri sighed, pointing to the broken guide rail above. "Some precision parts need careful calibration."
"Where is the Uru metal? Take me there." Homelander suddenly spoke up. "Perhaps after I take a look, there won't be a problem."
Eitri dared not delay and immediately led Homelander toward the center of the metal forge.
In the center of the furnace, several pieces of dark, heavy Uru metal lay quietly.
"These are them." Eitri said, pointing to the metal blocks.
Homelander stepped forward and, without a word, gathered scorching energy in his eyes.
"Sizzle—!"
Two beams of red Heat Vision shot out, slamming directly into the Uru metal.
In the incredulous gaze of everyone, those few pieces of Uru metal, known as the hardest to melt in the Universe, began to rapidly turn red, soften, and finally turned into a pool of boiling molten gold.
A dwarf warrior nearby opened his mouth wide and rubbed his eyes. "Good heavens... he really just 'looked' at it and it melted."
The scorching liquid metal flowed along the guide channel into the mold of the Stormbreaker.
Cooling, demolding.
Eitri had someone find a branch from the World Tree to serve as the axe handle, perfectly fitting it with the axe head.
Finally, he directed the other dwarves to expertly complete the assembly and polishing.
"Boom!"
The moment the Stormbreaker was assembled, terrifying energy erupted from the axe body.
Azure thunder exploded in mid-air, and electric arcs scurried wildly across the surface of the axe like silver snakes.
Thor, as if drawn by some kind of pull, had white light in his eyes, and arcs of electricity flashed across his body without warning, echoing the lightning from the axe.
He stared fixedly at the Stormbreaker, his eyes burning with desire, drool almost dripping from the corner of his mouth.
He felt that this weapon was simply tailored specifically for him!
Eitri lifted the axe, walked respectfully to Homelander, knelt on one knee, and handed over this peerless divine artifact.
Homelander reached out and grasped the axe handle.
Upon holding it, he immediately sensed the massive magic circuits and power of thunder contained within it.
He played with it for a moment, then copied it into his Unlimited Blade Works Noble Phantasm, recording it.
Homelander carried the axe with satisfaction, waving it casually in the air, creating a sharp, thunderous whistling sound.
Subsequently, he looked at Thor, who was staring at him longingly.
"Want it?" Homelander raised an eyebrow.
Thor's old face flushed, and he looked away unnaturally.
But he quickly came to his senses and shifted his gaze away awkwardly. "Ahem... God of Mankind, this was forged by Eitri specifically for the King of Asgard."
"Don't force it, brother." Homelander's tone became solemn, his eyes full of sincerity.
"I possess the power to protect everything, but I have no way to be in every corner at the same time. This axe can only unleash its greatest value in your hands. Asgard needs you, the Nine Realms need you."
As he spoke, Homelander handed the Stormbreaker over.
Thor's eyes grew slightly warm, his heart churned, and he tremblingly reached out, tightly gripping the axe handle.
"Just consider it... rented to you." Homelander added abruptly.
Thor's hand froze in mid-air, stunned.
"Rented?"
But thinking about it again, he laughed heartily, feeling the surging power, and patted his chest heroically.
"Hahaha! Good! Rented it is! I'll just put it on Odin's tab later!"
Homelander's forehead vein twitched, and he cursed inwardly.
Fuck! This again!
This bastard is path-dependent, isn't he?
Everything in Asgard belongs to me!!
What's the difference between putting it on Odin's tab and taking money out of my pocket?
But on the surface, Homelander adjusted his expression, maintaining a peaceful smile.
"Thor, that won't do. You are the eldest son of Asgard, how can you keep living off your parents?"
Homelander patted Thor's shoulder earnestly.
"Think about it, you now possess this invincible axe, don't you want to prove your own value to the entire Universe?"
"Independence is the attitude a hero should have."
"And you, my brother, you are a true hero!"
Seeing Thor's expression start to become excited.
Homelander struck while the iron was hot: "Come to Vought! Sign up to become a registered hero of Vought."
"Use the salary you earn at Vought to pay the rent. Not only can you be self-reliant, but you can also be worshipped by the people. This is the path you should take."
After listening, Thor fell into deep thought.
If it were in the past, how could the dignified Thor of Asgard stoop to work for Midgardians?
Even becoming allies would have been an honor for the Earthlings.
But now the situation is different!
This is his "own brother's" company.
Is working for one's own brother called working? That's called managing the family business! Not embarrassing!
Thinking of this, Thor suddenly understood and nodded heavily.
"Good! I agree, my brother! I'll join Vought!"
Notification! Gained special popularity value +15,000! (From Thor Odinson)
Homelander chuckled inwardly, done.
"Very good! Then get ready, go to V.G.D. tomorrow to complete the onboarding procedures. I will have Ashley arrange the best treatment for you!"
"No problem!" Thor agreed happily, then his eyes turned sharp and murderous. "However, I must go to Muspelheim first. The mission Odin gave me hasn't been completed yet; there's an old friend waiting for me there. I'll go take care of him first!"
Thor raised the Stormbreaker, and the lightning surged.
Then he turned his head, grabbed Loki by the collar, and walked laughing toward an open space nearby.
"Let's go, Loki! Let's go show those big charcoals a thing or two!"
"Hey! Let go of me! I can walk myself!" Loki shouted, struggling.
Thor ignored him and continued to hold up the axe.
"Boom!"
Violent, colorful rainbow light descended from the sky, enveloping the two. As the light dissipated, the two brothers vanished from Nidavellir.
After they left, Homelander once again drew a circle of magic sparks in front of him.
A portal opened.
"Come back to Midgard with me, Eitri." Homelander said with a smile to the Dwarf King Eitri.
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