Sakaar.
Thor had been here for a full month.
Thinking back to his encounter when he first landed, he still felt like it was an absurd nightmare.
That lecherous old man with the mechanical claw ignored his desperate protests and forcibly shaved off his most prized golden long hair.
He had tried to escape, but every time he ran a short distance, the small disc on his neck would release a strange electric current, shocking him until he trembled all over and passed out.
It made him doubt his status as Thor for a moment.
In the end, he was forced to submit to the arrangements of the Planet's ruler, the Grandmaster, and became a gladiator in the arena.
Relying on the powerful physique of the Asgardian race, he defeated one formidable alien monster after another with his bare hands in the arena.
In four weeks, he had won the weekly championship four times in a row.
He had become the most dazzling new star in the arena.
Tonight, the Grandmaster specially held a luxurious victory banquet for him at the palace.
Inside the banquet hall.
Neon lights flashed everywhere, and the deafening electronic music stimulated everyone's eardrums.
Everywhere were debauched alien dignitaries and scavengers dressed in strange attire.
Thor held a glass of unknown blue liquid, sitting in a corner, bored out of his mind.
Suddenly, his gaze froze.
He caught a glimpse of an extremely familiar figure in the crowd.
The person was wearing a green robe, with his hair neatly slicked back, and was chatting happily with several alien nobles nearby while holding a wine glass.
That proper smile, that relaxed and confident posture.
Who else could it be but Loki?!
Thor widened his eyes, and a wave of resentment surged in his heart.
He was fighting for his life in the arena every day, yet this bastard was drinking champagne here?!
Thor put down his wine glass, pushed aside the aliens blocking his way, grabbed Loki's arm, and dragged him to the corner of the hall.
"Why are you here?!" Thor asked in a low voice, "What is going on?"
Loki straightened his wrinkled sleeve and said slowly,
"Oh, Thor? What a coincidence, I thought I was mistaken earlier."
"Coincidence my ass!" Thor glared at him, "Weren't you kidnapped by Thanos?"
"That is correct." Loki shrugged, "Thanos had his subordinates bring me here, intending to set an ambush to lure you in."
"But they had no idea how terrible the current environment on Sakaar is."
Loki took a sip of his wine and continued,
"This place is currently experiencing a spatial tide that happens once every hundred years, and the flow of time is a complete mess."
"A day outside could be a dozen days, a month, or even a hundred years here. Who knows?"
"After they brought me here, they didn't receive any further instructions from Thanos for many consecutive days." Loki smiled smugly, "Then, we encountered an attack from a large group of scavengers. I seized the opportunity while they were fighting to slip away."
"Later on, I met the Grandmaster and became friends with him."
Thor looked at him in disbelief after listening.
"But he is a madman, Loki."
"But he likes me." Loki answered righteously, quite proudly.
Thor took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to beat him up.
"Oh, that's great. Since you've escaped, let's leave this hellhole right now and go back to Asgard."
Loki shook his head and refused decisively.
"I'm not going back. I like it here very much, I want to stay here."
"What?"
"I like it here, Thor." Loki spread his arms, showing off the luxury around him, "Here, there is no nagging from Odin, no one bossing me around, and I am respected."
"Fine, since you're not leaving." Thor suppressed his anger, "Then go tell the Grandmaster to untie this damn thing on my neck and let me go. I'll go back myself!"
Loki smiled slightly and refused again.
"I can't do that."
"Why?" Thor was furious, "Aren't you friends? You can't even do this small thing?!"
"If I did that, we wouldn't be friends anymore." Loki replied as if it were a matter of course, "Besides, isn't it good for you to stay here? Look around, people are cheering for you; you are a big star now."
"No!" Thor grabbed Loki by the collar, "I am Thor of Asgard, not a clown for people to be amused by! I still have to go back to see Jane. You must help me; I came here to save you!"
Loki pushed Thor's hand away, his face full of feigned apology.
"Oh, that's a pity."
"The only thing I can do now is bet on you to win when you go on stage."
Loki patted Thor on the shoulder.
"Don't let me down, brother."
Just then, a flamboyant BGM started playing.
The Grandmaster walked over in a glittering robe, surrounded by a group of guards.
"Hey! Look who this is! My champion!" The Grandmaster then looked at Loki, "Do you know him? Loki."
Loki denied it without hesitation.
"I have never seen this person in my life."
"He is my brother." Thor immediately refuted loudly.
"Adopted." Loki replied immediately.
The Grandmaster showed an exaggerated expression of sudden realization.
"Oh! So that's it, then do you miss that what's-it-called... um, Ass-guard?"
"Asgard!" Thor corrected with a dark face.
Loki hurriedly replied with a smile: "It's very happy here, I have never missed that what's-it-called... Ass-guard."
Saying this, Loki and the Grandmaster looked at each other and both burst into laughter.
Only Thor stood aside, isolated, trembling with anger.
The Grandmaster finished laughing and turned to look at the furious Thor.
"Listen, Lightning Boy. I know you want your freedom."
The Grandmaster held up a finger.
"The rules are simple! As long as you can remain the champion of my arena for one consecutive year. I will let you leave in glory and regain your freedom!"
Thor knew he had no room to bargain and could only respond coldly: "I hope you keep your word."
...
At night, in the room exclusive to the gladiator champion.
Thor was shirtless, sitting on the edge of the bed.
He reached out his arm, spread his fingers, and tried to summon the Stormbreaker again.
Ten minutes passed, with no response.
Thor sighed heavily: "Maybe I'm not cut out for using weapons; I'll have a chance to let Anthony teach me that Lightning Fist thing sometime."
Loki appeared out of thin air in the corner of the room.
"Good evening, Thor." He greeted with a smile.
Thor said nothing, picked up a metal wine cup from the table, and threw it straight at him.
"Whoosh!"
The cup passed through Loki's body without any obstruction and smashed against the wall with a "clatter".
Loki smiled awkwardly.
"That's normal, isn't it? It's impossible for me to really come in and give you a chance to beat me up."
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