At this moment, the Inhuman guards on the battlefield had all been silenced by the metal arrows.
A thick scent of blood hung in the air.
Harvey looked at the sensible Crystal with interest, his eyes full of playfulness:
"It seems we've successfully earned our residency. Our thanks to the Royal Family for the hospitality."
Wanda, who had been intercepting the perimeter guards, stopped using mind control to stun enemies and landed expressionlessly by Harvey's side.
Hermione and Cho Chang also ceased their combat, returning to Mariko and Yukio.
Outside the palace, more guards were still arriving, but faced with Crystal's direct command...
No matter how much they wanted to avenge their fallen brothers, they had to lower their weapons and dejectedly lead Harvey and his group to a side wing.
By demonstrating his power, Harvey had secured a place in the Royal Palace.
Finally in a stable location, Hermione and the other girls immediately agreed to go to the baths to soak in the hot springs and wash away their mental fatigue.
Changing into skimpy, revealing bikinis, the girls' exquisite bodies were displayed fully before Harvey.
Accompanied by their playful scoldings, a certain scumbag who couldn't stop groping them was kicked out of the guest chambers.
Considering the women hadn't had a peaceful night's sleep in a week, Harvey didn't force things.
"Hmph. I'll be generous today and let you rebellious women off the hook!"
Along the corridor, Harvey strolled leisurely through the palace gardens paved with cobblestones.
He felt several wary gazes tracking him from the shadows—Inhuman lookouts, obviously.
He acted as if they weren't there, eventually arriving before a magnificent palace deep within the complex.
Queen Medusa and Princess Crystal had received word and were waiting at the doors.
As the losers of the battle, and with their strongest—Black Bolt—easily defeated...
Medusa knew that if they didn't satisfy this terrifying man today, the Inhuman race would face extinction.
Thus, they had already resolved themselves to sacrifice their bodies for their people.
Harvey scrutinized the mother-daughter pair with their distinct charms. Under their humiliated and angry glares, he brazenly walked into their bedchamber.
Above Attilan, the brilliant stars seemed eternal.
A familiar rainbow bridge extended from outside the solar system all the way to the disaster-stricken, azure Earth.
Thor had learned from the new Bifrost guardian, Skurge, that Earth was undergoing a massive crisis.
Worried for Jane, Thor proactively requested "Odin" to exile him to Midgard.
Loki, disguised as Odin, had been worried Thor would eventually see through his mask; hearing the request for exile, he issued the order without a moment's hesitation.
Before all of Asgard, he announced Thor's eternal exile.
And so, Loki finally cleared the threat to his throne, and Thor got his wish to reunite with his girlfriend on Midgard.
...
January 26th.
The ninth day since the disasters began.
The Bifrost pierced the heavens and earth, cutting through the leaden sky to reach Southwark Street near the University of London.
This was Jane Foster's address; as a famous astrophysicist, she was an honorary professor at the university.
Thor stepped out of the rainbow bridge only to see the buildings on the street in total ruin, reduced to a wasteland overgrown with weeds.
The sidewalks held no life, save for a few rotting corpses buzzed by flies.
Fissures of varying sizes choked the center of the street, blocking dozens of abandoned cars.
In the driver's seats of these vehicles sat only long-dead bodies.
"What happened here?"
Thor's expression was grim. He had never seen such a vision of doom; the prosperity of London was still fresh in his mind.
How had it become such a desolate ruin in just a few days?
Just then, the roar of a Quinjet's engines approached from the distance.
Thor looked up, gripping Mjolnir as he prepared for combat.
The Quinjet slowed down; with no level ground to land on, it hovered twenty meters up.
The rear ramp lowered.
A very familiar face appeared.
His vigilance vanished. He spun his hammer, whoosh-whoosh-whoosh, and flew toward the jet.
Two minutes later.
The Quinjet was breaching the exosphere, heading for deep space.
"Natasha, what exactly happened to Earth? Why is London a wasteland?"
Black Widow, in her black combat suit, explained the recent natural disasters and their causes with a heavy heart.
"We are currently researching spatial transport technology to solve the super-gravitational source caused by the planet Cybertron."
Hearing the impact Cybertron was having on Earth, Thor—who held a deep affection for the planet—spoke in a fury:
"I knew of the Cybertronians, but I never thought they would dare invade Midgard. This is an insult to Asgard! I shall lead an army..."
At that point, Thor remembered his situation.
He was a criminal exiled by his father; he no longer had the right to lead the warriors of Asgard to crush invaders.
Natasha sensed his shift in mood and probed: "Where does Cybertron come from? Is Asgard not confident in handling it?"
"Impossible! The Cybertronians are nothing to the great Asgardians!"
Thor spoke with certainty, then paused again, his head low.
"But I have been exiled. As a criminal, I have no right to return home."
Natasha didn't know the details of what had happened in Asgard. "You were cast down by Odin again?"
Thor sat dejectedly on the alloy floor of the jet, shaking his head. "No. This time is different. I am exiled forever."
Seeing his distress, Natasha comforted him: "Don't be sad. At least your Jane is alive. Once the Cybertron issue is solved..."
"You and Jane can spend your lives together on Earth. Is that not a kind of happiness?"
Hearing news of Jane, Thor's mood brightened instantly. "She's alive? Where is she?"
Natasha pointed out the porthole toward a nearing Helicarrier.
"As the disasters grew more frequent, we had to move the Avengers headquarters to this space base modified from a Helicarrier."
"To maintain order, the Director had the families of our personnel brought here as well."
"So, your Jane is right here in this base."
Thor looked at the crude space base with anticipation, though he voiced a worry: "The hull looks thin. Can it withstand the dangers of space?"
Natasha said helplessly: "We're lucky just to be alive. Resources are critically low; we were fortunate to manage even this."