Thor was completely stunned by that blow.
From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever dared to hit him like that.
Not Odin. Not Frigga.
Not even his combat instructors had ever struck him in the face.
All of Asgard knew that Thor, the God of Thunder, was a bold and straightforward man—
and that same straightforwardness also meant a fiery temper.
A surge of anger rushed straight to his head. His eyes turned bloodshot in an instant.
It felt as if a volcano were erupting inside his chest.
Thor suddenly turned and stared at Mjolnir.
"I was wrong. I won't do that again!"
He gritted his teeth, eyes red as if tears were about to fall, looking utterly aggrieved.
Mjolnir seemed quite satisfied by this reaction. After sensing Thor's remorse, it turned toward Kara and gave a subtle nod, then flew back into Thor's hand.
Seeing this, Thor burst into tears of joy.
To everyone present, the scene felt as though they had just finished watching an episode of a melodramatic romance drama.
"Alright," Thor said, lifting his head to look at Lucas,
"how are we getting to Asgard next?"
Lucas did not answer immediately.
Just as everyone began to feel puzzled, sparks suddenly flickered in the empty air.
The sparks expanded, spinning rapidly, forming a golden ring of fire.
The scene within the ring shifted—and a bald woman in pale yellow robes stepped through.
"I'm here, Lucas," she said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Ancient One," Lucas replied with a respectful nod.
Indeed—since the Bifrost could no longer descend, the only way Lucas could think of to reach Asgard from Earth was through the Sorcerer Supreme.
"Your thinking is correct," the Ancient One said calmly.
"On Earth, aside from the Bifrost, I am the only one capable of reaching Asgard instantly."
She spoke politely, yet with quiet confidence.
"You are…?" Thor asked, looking at her with faint familiarity.
"You are Midgard's Sorcerer Supreme of this era!" Thor suddenly realized.
It was not her appearance, but her attire—and the amulet at her chest.
These were unmistakable symbols of the Sorcerer Supreme.
Earth's Sorcerer Supremes had all visited Asgard before and were honored guests of Odin himself.
Thor was therefore quite familiar with them.
"Yes," the Ancient One replied.
"Prince of Asgard, I am the Sorcerer Supreme of this generation—the Ancient One."
"Greetings, Sorcerer Supreme," Thor said solemnly.
Despite his blunt personality, Thor still possessed the proper etiquette of Asgardian royalty.
He nodded in realization.
"I should have thought of it earlier. On Midgard, only the sorcerers are capable of such long-distance movement."
"And only the Sorcerer Supreme would know the path to Asgard."
His tone carried genuine respect.
Few knew this, but Asgard's queen, Frigga, was herself a sorceress of the Vanir.
Thor had once heard his mother say that the Sorcerer Supreme's strength lay in the multiversal realm.
The order she led—Kamar-Taj—protected Earth from invasions by interdimensional and higher-dimensional threats.
In some aspects, even Queen Frigga admitted she could not compare.
"Alright, Lucas," the Ancient One said seriously,
"sending so many of you to Asgard will exceed what I can manage alone."
"So we must go to the Sanctum Sanctorum. With its formations, I'll be able to send you all to Asgard together."
With a wave of her hand, she opened a portal and stepped through.
Lucas turned to Kara.
"I'll be heading to Asgard. I may not be back for some time," he said.
"I'll have to ask you to take care of the two children while I'm gone."
Kara wanted to go with him, but hearing this, she could only nod.
"I understand. I'll look after Carrie and Elaine."
She stepped forward and held Lucas's hand.
"But promise me," she said softly,
"you'll be careful. Alright?"
Lucas smiled confidently.
"Don't worry. When have I ever lost?"
"How about I go with you?" Clark suggested from the side.
"That's a great idea!" Kara said brightly. "Clark can help you!"
Lucas shook his head immediately.
"No. Clark has to stay."
Seeing Kara and Clark's confusion, Lucas explained,
"First of all, Clark isn't familiar with magic. And more importantly, if something happens on Earth, we'll need him to hold the line."
"You're strong too," Lucas said to Kara,
"but having Clark here guarantees Earth's safety."
What Lucas didn't say was that if he and Clark both went to Asgard—and Zod happened to arrive on Earth at that exact moment—
Things would spiral completely out of control.
Lucas never placed Earth's fate in anyone else's hands.
He looked at Kara with a serious expression.
"I don't want to come back and find that you—and the kids—are gone."
Tony opened his mouth, about to say I'm still here,
but after recalling Clark's battle earlier, he wisely shut up.
Coulson nodded as well.
If both Lucas and Clark left, and another threat like the Destroyer appeared—
Earth would be in serious trouble.
Clark hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"Don't worry. While you're gone, I'll watch over Philadelphia."
"Thanks, Clark."
Lucas bumped fists with him.
Thor laughed loudly.
"Relax. Once Asgard's situation is settled, I'll send you back with the Bifrost. It'll take no more than a single breath."
Lucas merely nodded.
After all—
in the movies, the Bifrost was destroyed by you personally.
Without further delay, Lucas and Thor's group stepped through the portal, arriving at the New York Sanctum.
Watching the sorcerers arriving through portals from Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One turned to Lucas.
"Alright. With fifty senior sorcerers, my control, and the Sanctum's ancient formations, we can send you to Asgard."
"But this requires an enormous amount of magical energy to construct the interdimensional passage."
She looked at them solemnly.
"I won't have enough power left to shield your minds."
"So remember this carefully."
"No matter what you see," the Ancient One warned,
"you must maintain your will and mental clarity."
"Do not allow the filth of alien dimensions and higher planes to contaminate your minds."
_____
T/N:
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