Nidavellir was yet to be invaded by Thanos, and the slaughter that Thanos would perform on the dwarves was yet to happen. This place was brimming with activity.
Nidavellir was not an ordinary planet: it was a burning neutron star surrounded by several immense rings. The dwarves lived on these rings.
The burning neutron star was the energy source of the dwarves. With their advanced technology, the dwarves used the neutron star's energy to melt all kinds of metals and forge powerful weapons.
It was Li Yue's first time in Nidavellir. He had seen it in the movies, of course, but the scene from the movie was a far cry from the real thing.
Li Yue felt the power radiating from the burning neutron star that sat right in the middle of the rings. He felt that its heat would be enough to burn anything and everything into ashes, its immense energy equal part shocking and intoxicating.
...
Thor looked at his surroundings with a dumbfounded expression. A second ago, he was still in Asgard, but now he was here. He really was on Nidavellir, or at least an extremely convincing illusion of it!
Thor came back to his senses and looked at Li Yue in shock. He finally recalled that Li Yue had mysteriously appeared on Asgard without using the Bifrost.
And today, Li Yue had brought Thor to Nidavellir in an instant. Thor immediately smiled. He thought that he would have to wait until the Bifrost was fully rebuilt before he could return to Earth and see Jane again. He had spent the last few days agonizing about it. But now...
"Li Yue, after we're finished here, can you use your ability to take me back to Midgard?" Thor interrupted Li Yue's thought, a big dumb grin on his face.
"Hmm? I don't know; I feel that after today, you wouldn't even need my help to see your girlfriend," Li Yue evaded Thor's request.
Of course, Li Yue knew that Thor just wanted to see Jane.
"I wouldn't need his help? what does that mean..." Thor whispered, confused by Li Yue's words.
Before Thor could ask Li Yue for clarifications, a burst of hearty laughter suddenly interrupted them.
"Hahaha!! Thor, my friend! Have you come to see me?"
A giant nearly three meters tall laughed heartily as he walked towards Thor and Li Yue.
"If this is a dwarf, then what are we..."
Li Yue couldn't help but complain in his heart.
...
"Hello, Eitri, my old friend. It's been a while since I saw you. How have you been? I brought a new friend to you!"
Thor's behavior might be silly at times, but he wasn't a total idiot. He knew how to get along with his friends. He couldn't just bring up his real purpose of coming here; he had to be polite first!
"New friend? Is it him?"
The giant that greeted Thor was the Dwarf King, Eitri. He curiously looked at Li Yue after hearing Thor's words.
"Yes, it's him. His name is Li Yue. Eitri, you would do well to not underestimate him. His strength is even greater than mine!" Thor introduced Li Yue to Eitri.
Eitri was shocked to hear Thor openly admit that Li Yue was stronger than the God of Thunder. Thor was the son of Odin, the king that had united the nine realms. He inherited the true bloodline of the Asgardian gods, and his strength only grows by the day.
Eitri also knew full well about Thor's arrogance. He couldn't believe that the weak-looking mortal in front of him was actually able to make Thor admit to being inferior in strength.
It was more or less the same for Thor himself. Before yesterday, Thor would never admit that Li Yue's hidden strength was superior to his own.
Thor, who was so confident of his own power, was forced to admit defeat to Li Yue. However, Thor was still confident that he would eventually surpass Li Yue. For he was mighty!
...
"Li Yue, this is the king of the dwarves, Eitri. He is the best weaponsmith. Even my Mjolnir was forged by the dwarves!" Thor introduced Eitri to Li Yue, gesturing to his Mjolnir hammer.
"Greetings!"
"Hello!"
Li Yue and Eitri greeted each other.
"Hahaha, so it's the first time that Li Yue has come here. Let me show you where we live. There are more than three hundred dwarves living here now!" Eitri laughed heartily.
Of course, Li Yue wouldn't refuse Eitri's offer to be guided around the place. With Thor trailing behind them, they began their tour around Nidavellir.
...
During the tour, Thor explained his and Li Yue's objective to Eitri.
"What? The Allfather agreed to let you forge a King-grade artifact?"
Eitri was stunned by Thor's explanation. As the king of the dwarves, Odin had instructed him to forbid the creation of King-grade artifacts for anyone. To stay on the good side of Asgard's protection, the dwarves followed Odin's prohibition from forging King-grade artifacts. Yet today, Thor had come with a request for such an artifact from Odin himself!
Eitri was understandably shocked by this change of heart. Is Odin planning to pass the throne to Thor?
Despite his shock, Eitri didn't refuse the request. He trusted that Thor would not lie about this matter, and Odin truly did approve of the weapon.
Despite his shock, however, Eitri was also very happy. Forging an artifact fit for a God-King was the dream of the dwarves, who lived for little more than forging all kinds of divine artifacts.
"Would I ever lie to you, my friend?"
"Haha, I know you, Thor. You would never lie to me. I was just a little surprised. Let's go! To the place where weapons are forged!" Eitri Laughed again. He couldn't wait to go and build the weapons!
"By the way, my father also said to build a weapon for this guy!" Thor added something he had just remembered on their way to the forge.
Eitri paused and looked at Li Yue in surprise, but he didn't say anything.
...
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the forge. Dozens of dwarves worked at the large facility, busy making weapons.
The facility was different from what Li Yue remembered. The weapons were forged in a process resembling an assembly line, with each dwarf having a clear division of labor. They quickly forged weapon after weapon using high-tech equipment.
"Everyone, stop for a moment. We are here for a big business!" Eitri shouted at the busy dwarves, interrupting them.
"By the way, what kind of weapon do you want to forge?" Eitri turned around and asked Li Yue.
"I need to forge a..."