Chapter 104: The Attack on Fury
"What do you think about the Insight Plan? I find some of its concepts quite appealing, but they might have significant side effects."
In Trudheim Manor, Sharon Carter was seeking Thor's opinion. Implementing this plan would undoubtedly bring monumental changes to the world, and once started, there would be no turning back. This uncertainty made her uneasy, so she sought Thor's perspective, believing someone from a higher-level civilization might grasp the essence better.
"To me, this is a very flawed plan. While the intention to prevent crime is admirable, the key issue is the lack of measures to address potential future losses once possible crimes are discovered."
"If someone is arrested or even killed before committing a crime, the crime never actually occurs. So, what is the basis for their guilt? Modern criminal law rejects such preemptive guilt."
Sharon was somewhat enlightened. She continued, "Then let me offer an example. If we could have acted against a dictator before the war, wouldn't it have been justified?"
Thor smiled. "Don't forget, that dictator also rose with the support of the Germans. If the Insight Plan's algorithm had been applied, it would have resulted in the destruction of Germany. It would have been genocide."
Sharon Carter felt a shiver run down her spine.
Thor added, "Have you considered that a crime prevention system lacking effective oversight or misused could become a tool of totalitarianism to maintain control? Are you certain that every individual managing the Insight Plan has no personal agendas?"
"Needless to say, I understand!" Sharon Carter turned and left, intending to discuss her concerns with Nick Fury regarding the Insight Plan's safety.
The discussion between Nick Fury and Steve Rogers ended poorly. After Steve left, Nick Fury was left in deep thought, acknowledging that Steve's points were quite valid.
"Dinglingling—" The phone rang. He answered, listened for a minute, and hung up expressionlessly.
"Where's Minister Pierce?"
"In the conference room, meeting with the council."
"Tell him I need to speak with him urgently."
"I must request a vote to postpone the Insight Plan! We need to further confirm its safety," Nick Fury insisted.
"And if something goes wrong with the inspection?" Pierce narrowed his eyes.
"Then we're fortunate to catch it now before the space carriers are launched."
Pierce was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright, I agree. But you'll need to invite Iron Man or Thor to my nephew's birthday party."
Nick Fury left, and as soon as he did, the smile on Pierce's face vanished. He picked up a secondary phone with a grim expression.
Shortly after Nick Fury left, he was assassinated before he reached home by a masked man with metal arms. He rushed to Steve's house to deliver important information but was killed by a second wave of attackers, this time with an unclear gunshot wound.
Sharon Carter arrived, gun drawn, scanning the area cautiously.
"I'm going after the enemy," Steve said, and hurriedly left.
Sharon Carter called for emergency assistance and noticed a phone in the victim's hand with a note: "Let Thor collect the body."
Steve chased the Winter Soldier down the street. Initially, he had a chance to catch him, but during another close encounter, he pulled off the Winter Soldier's mask and then...
"Bucky? Is that you? Great, you're alive!"
The Winter Soldier seized the opportunity, subdued Steve, and vanished into the night.
Nick Fury's death deeply affected Steve. Though still grieving, he was informed by Rumlow and returned to S.H.I.E.L.D under the "protection" of a team of agents.
Alexander Pierce took advantage of the situation, framing Steve for Nick Fury's murder and placing him on the wanted list.
"This USB drive has a special code programmed into it. Once we insert it into a computer, the location will be revealed immediately."
"And how much time do we have before S.H.I.E.L.D arrives?"
"There's more time. I met a highly skilled hacker two days ago," Natasha said with a smile, pulling out her communicator. "Hey, Skye, could you do me a favor and set my coordinates as S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters?"
After a minute, Skye responded, "Okay, we're ready to start reading the USB drive."
They traced the former S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters, only to be met by a figure who had been dead for many years.
---
Chapter 105: An Old Acquaintance 70 Years Ago
At the moment, S.H.I.E.L.D. was in chaos. Captain America, the symbol of American ideals, had not only turned traitor but had also infiltrated the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters?
Little did they know, Skye had deliberately misled them.
Rumlow, or Crossbones, with a scowl on his face and a team of HYDRA agents, searched the building.
"Clatter—" A basin of water was thrown on Nick Fury.
"Uh—" With a groan, Nick Fury jolted awake to see a smiling Thor.
"Good to see you, old friend. I would be happier if you hadn't woken me up this way."
"But you asked me to handle your funeral arrangements. Why are you pleased I didn't incinerate you?"
Sharon and the others nearby burst into laughter.
"Tell me, why did you fake your death and come to me?" Thor asked, clearly annoyed. This old man could be quite troublesome.
Nick Fury sighed. "Since there has been an assassination attempt, the threat won't vanish, and it's impossible to defend against entirely. Only Deadman is safe from assassination. The reason I came here is that this is the only place where HYDRA would hesitate to reach."
"Fine, you can choose any room in the small building next door. But I don't offer my hospitality for nothing—what will you contribute?"
Nick Fury looked a bit embarrassed. "I don't think there's anything you'd find of interest right now."
"Well, for instance, my estate feels too empty. I could use a pet."
"A pet?" Nick Fury was confused. What kind of request was this? And he, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., had to comply?
He hesitantly asked, "You don't want a panda, do you?"
"What are you thinking? I want that orange cat," Thor said, exasperated. What was this man's thought process?
"Orange cat?" Nick Fury was momentarily taken aback before realizing, "You mean the Flerken?"
Since that unfortunate incident years ago, Nick Fury had avoided cats, but he had made sure the Flerken was well cared for at S.H.I.E.L.D., providing it with the finest food and drink. After all, it had been Captain Marvel's pet.
"Well, if you take care of it, I'll be more at ease, and it'll be easier to explain if Carol comes back."
"Meow—"
Thor looked up to see a competent woman carrying the orange cat into the manor's yard...
"I just promised, and you've already sent it? "Nick Fury's forehead was lined with frustration.
"Director Nick? You're not dead?" Maria Hill was shocked. The recent S.H.I.E.L.D. incident had left her bewildered, and she was further confused when she received a call from Thor.
"If you want to know the truth, go to that location and bring the orange cat to Trudheim Manor." Thor hung up, leaving her puzzled, and she received an address on her phone.
As an alien visitor, she still believed in Thor, so she hurried over to retrieve the Goose. Unexpectedly, she found a live, Nick Fury.
Nick Fury explained the situation, and Hill's expression grew somber.
"So, what do we do now?" Hill asked, looking at Nick, who in turn looked at Thor.
"What should I do? You're the Director! Don't tell me you have no plans."
"But I feel you must have a better solution," Nick Fury said with conviction.
"There is a solution, but you might not like it. The space carrier probably hasn't launched yet, so I could destroy it right now, and the issue would be resolved in less than half an hour..."
Simple and brutal—this was very Hulk-like! No, this was Thor! While this approach would indeed eliminate the Insight Plan, it would make Washington completely intolerant of super-powered individuals...
Hill laughed, and Nick slapped his thigh in frustration—how did he forget that this guy always went for the direct approach if he could?
…
At the abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff walked into the hall, where three portraits caught their eye.
"Admiral Jack Thompson, the World War II leader; Howard Stark, Tony's father; Peggy Carter, my predecessor."
Natasha introduced them.
"I still remember during my last mission, they watched me board the plane. Unexpectedly, it was all a dream, and things changed," Steve said, somewhat emotional.
Fortunately, Bucky was still alive, though turned into an enemy. Steve believed Bucky was merely misled for a time.
Inside, they found a room filled with old-fashioned computers, with a USB interface that seemed out of place.
Natasha stepped forward and inserted the USB drive into the slot.
The screen flickered, the program started, and a skull-like face slowly appeared.
"Steve Rogers, we meet again."
---
Chapter 106: Hydra List
"Arnim Zola! I recognize his voice!" Steve exclaimed.
This was someone he would never forget for as long as he lived—the one who had caused him to lose Bucky.
"Dr. Zola? Isn't he dead? Is this a video?" Natasha asked, puzzled.
From what she knew, Dr. Zola had been a key military scientist under Red Skull during World War II, committing many atrocities before being captured by Thor. Later, due to his expertise, he was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D.
Natasha explained to Steve what had happened to Dr. Zola afterward.
"I'm not a video, young lady. I may not be the man your friend took to prison in 1945, but I'm still me," Dr. Zola's deep voice resonated.
"In 1972, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Science could not save my body, but my mind was worth preserving, so I was stored in a 200,000-foot-long database."
Dr. Zola's voice grew enthusiastic. "They thought I could advance their agenda. But I have always had my own plans!"
The screen on the computer began to display the evolution of HYDRA over the years.
It had all been set in motion when Dr. Zola was recruited. With the aid of insiders, HYDRA had gradually inserted its own personnel, infiltrating unseen. Today, HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. were merely two sides of the same coin.
"HYDRA has created a chaotic world, and people are finally ready to trade their freedom for security. Once our purification process is complete, the new world order established by HYDRA will be born! We have won. Hail HYDRA!"
"What exactly is the data on the USB drive?" Natasha asked, focusing on a crucial point.
"The Zola Algorithm. As for its purpose, you don't need to know. Apologies, I was stalling. A missile will detonate here in 30 seconds."
The room's door closed immediately. Steve moved toward the sewer entrance, but Natasha stopped him, and a female voice came through the communicator.
"I've activated the signal jammer. The missile will arrive at least three minutes late. The door lock has been disengaged. Go now! HYDRA will soon realize something is amiss!"
Inside Trudheim Manor, Skye wiped the sweat from her brow. She had just managed to hack into Dr. Zola's supercomputer and take over the old S.H.I.E.L.D. control system.
"I didn't expect the system left behind by someone dead for decades to be so advanced!" Skye said with lingering apprehension. Without the high-tech computer integrated with alien technology, her success would have been unlikely.
"A dangerous organization like HYDRA being able to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. is truly frightening!"
Nick Fury's expression darkened. The HYDRA infiltration had started half a century ago. How many trusted allies were left in S.H.I.E.L.D.? He dared not imagine.
After a moment's thought, he stepped aside, picked up his phone, and dialed: "Sam, the Captain needs assistance..."
Falcon was one of the few people he trusted.
Meanwhile, Skye handed Thor a USB drive.
"Here, I copied this from Dr. Zola's database. It contains a list of nearly all HYDRA members."
"Good work!" Thor took the USB drive and ruffled Skye's hair in satisfaction.
Skye looked indignant as if her tail had been stepped on. She put her hands on her hips and said, "I worked so hard for you, and that's all I get?"
"Okay, what reward do you want?" Thor asked, looking helpless.
Due to Peggy Carter's influence, Thor often treated Skye like a child, though she was in her twenties.
Thor patted her on the shoulder, and a magical energy flowed through Skye: "There, your reward has been given."
Skye, bewildered, looked at Thor, who said meaningfully, "Do you now know the secret to Aunt Peggy's youthful appearance? You're the same as her now."
!!!
Though not widely known, Peggy Carter's ageless appearance was a topic of curiosity. Skye, who had grown up with Peggy, was one of those intrigued by it.
Over the years, she had asked Peggy about it many times, but Peggy had always smiled and deflected. Skye hadn't been sure until now.
Skye's eyes widened with delight. "So Aunt Peggy stayed young because of you? That's amazing! I was worried at first, but now I can look forward to being a youthful thirty-year-old!"
"Is it really necessary to be so excited? Everyone in my manor shares this blessing," Thor said, squinting. What sort of thirty-year-old lady is she imagining?
Skye gradually calmed down. Wait, everyone in the manor has this blessing?
She recalled the relationships between the girls living in the manor and Thor, and her cheeks flushed.
---
Chapter 107: Action
"By the way, I must remind you that immortality isn't free."
Thor added, "As a counterbalance, the reproductive capability of most races is inversely proportional to their lifespan. Just like my father, the king, who has been with my mother since the Bronze Age, we now have only three children, one of whom is adopted. When you gain eternal life, the chance of conceiving a child approaches zero."
"So, I should expect a child-free life?" Skye said indifferently.
In fact, in Western countries, people aren't as eager for children, and Skye was no exception.
Alexander Pierce acted swiftly. With Nick Fury absent and Captain America and Natasha Romanoff being hunted, he quickly persuaded the council to launch the Insight Plan.
At the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Pierce took a sip of champagne and excitedly addressed the council members who had arrived. "Soon, we will witness the dawn of a new era! From this moment on, there will be no more crime in this world. A new world is coming! To the new era, cheers!"
As a high-level agent and head of HYDRA, he seldom showed much emotion, but his inner excitement was hard to conceal. As soon as the Helicarrier reached a certain altitude, its weapons would activate, instantly obliterating all HYDRA's enemies!
The congressmen were also thrilled, raising their glasses and toasting, "Cheers to the new era!"
Little did they know that the so-called new era was not the hopeful one they imagined, but rather the rise of HYDRA.
At that moment, a clear voice came through the radio.
"I'm Steve Rogers, Captain America. You must have heard a lot about me recently. Many are hunting me, but now it's time for you to know the truth. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been taken over by HYDRA, with Alexander Pierce as its head. Many of the Special Forces and Insight Project personnel are also HYDRA agents."
The council members glanced at Pierce in surprise. Pierce remained expressionless as his phone quietly sent out a few messages.
"The Insight Plan's goal is not to deal with criminals but to destroy all of HYDRA's enemies and bring the entire world under its control."
"I know it's a tough situation, but the price of freedom is high, and I'm willing to pay that price."
"I believe I'm not alone in this."
Though the speech was impromptu, it was compelling. Despite being wanted by S.H.I.E.L.D. just moments ago, many chose to trust Captain America and their spiritual leader.
Crossbones burst into the command office of the space carrier with a team of agents and ordered the technicians, "Start the launch sequence and get the spacecraft ready for takeoff."
The room fell silent. The head technician looked at him in surprise but did not respond.
"Launch the spacecraft. Is there a problem with what I said?" Crossbones demanded, his voice growing louder.
The technician, sweating profusely, took a deep breath and replied, "I'm sorry, sir. I can't launch. This is Captain America's order."
A gun was suddenly pressed to the back of his head.
The same gun was held against Crossbones' head.
"You're on the wrong side, Agent Sharon," Crossbones said coldly.
He signaled to drop the gun he was holding and, as the gun fell, shot Sharon, knocking her to the ground.
The scene split into two factions; gunfire erupted, and Crossbones used the chaos to activate the launch system.
"Unfortunately, you're on the wrong team." Crossbones raised his gun indifferently, aiming at Sharon's head.
"It's you who are on the wrong side," a voice came from behind. Before Crossbones could react, he was grabbed by the collar and thrown through the air.
Sharon looked at the tall figure in front of her and smiled. "I'll take you down in the next second, if you don't believe it?"
"I'm sorry for taking your head."
With a wave of Thor's hand, the surrounding HYDRA agents fell to the ground, convulsing.
"Bang—" A figure with a metal arm knocked Falcon to the ground.
"Sam, go and insert the chip. He'll give it to me!"
Steve stood in front of him.
"Okay!" Falcon didn't hesitate, quickly taking off and heading towards the space carrier.
Steve looked at the familiar figure with affection. "Bucky, it's me, Steve. Have you forgotten?"
The answer was a hard punch.
At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, an elderly congresswoman suddenly sprang into action, swiftly taking down a HYDRA agent, while Natasha Romanoff confronted Pierce.
He wiped his face, revealing a visage that was disastrous for both country and people.
"Your Excellency, it's over."
---
Chapter 108: If This Isn't Love
"What should we do? The space carrier has already started and can't be stopped!" Sharon Carter was frantic, sweating profusely as she typed frenetically on the keyboard.
"It's fine; let them take off normally. If necessary, I can make them crash," Thor reassured.
"Finally?" Sharon paused, "Do you have any other plans before that?"
"Of course I have a plan. Do you think I came here just to save you?"
"I thought so, given the number of people chasing me."
On the space carrier, Falcon inserted the last chip and activated the communicator. "It's done!"
In the command center below, Maria Hill quickly seized control of the Helicarrier from HYDRA. She worked efficiently, turning the numerous targets on the screen into three space carriers.
"Hold on a moment," Thor said as he appeared behind her, holding a USB flash drive. "This contains the HYDRA list from Dr. Zola's database. Since the space carrier is about to be destroyed, we might as well use this information first."
Hill nodded in agreement and stepped aside, knowing she couldn't prevent the situation even if she tried.
On the space carrier, weapons suddenly began firing—bullets, rockets...
Thor noticed a blank area on the map, which seemed to block the detection of the space carrier.
SOKOVIA!
"Hahaha! I won! It's pointless to chase me now. The Insight Plan has been launched, and soon, HYDRA will rule the world!" Alexander Pierce laughed triumphantly, while the councilors turned pale.
But Pierce's smile froze as a bullet shattered the window of the S.H.I.E.L.D. building, piercing his heart.
"The villain died from talking too much," Natasha Romanoff remarked, then added, "But even if he didn't talk, he couldn't escape."
Nick Fury looked at Pierce's lifeless body and sighed, "Thor has cracked Dr. Zola's knowledge base and obtained the HYDRA list."
Pierce's expression was dazed before he closed his eyes for the last time.
Nick Fury stared silently at the corpse. Once, he had been a tool for this senior.
"Bucky, wake up, we're friends!" Steve Rogers pleaded, slapping Bucky repeatedly.
Though Steve's strength was enough to prevail, his opponent was Bucky!
Despite his efforts to revive Bucky's mind, he kept getting hit...
"Boom!"
Missiles flew over, bypassing Captain America and Bucky, taking out all the nearby HYDRA agents who had rushed to assist.
Captain America was momentarily stunned, then glanced at Bucky, who was also dazed. He was puzzled why Project Insight had eliminated HYDRA instead of targeting him.
Before he could think further, Bucky attacked him again.
With this wave of attacks, the HYDRA operatives hidden around the world were nearly wiped out. Dr. Zola's database contained more lists than anyone else's.
Even many HYDRA agents who had been undercover for years, including the original informants, were dead, and those poised for an explosion were all eliminated.
Except for SOKOVIA, which was shielded from detection.
After clearing out HYDRA, the Helicarrier's weapons turned on each other. Even without HYDRA, Thor didn't want the Insight Project to fall into the hands of the Council.
As for private embezzlement? Thor didn't care much about the spaceships aside from their vision plan.
"Boom—"
An explosion rocked the Helicarrier, causing Captain America and Bucky, who were still locked in combat, to fall together.
Thor took Maria Hill into the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, while Natasha Romanoff and Sharon Carter managed the aftermath.
...
"How's the situation?" Nick Fury asked.
"HYDRA has been largely cleared worldwide, except for one location where the signal is blocked—SOKOVIA. The scepter embedded with the Mind Stone is there."
"What about S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"Over half has been lost. Most were HYDRA agents, and some were unfortunately killed in the battle," Thor said with a sigh. "S.H.I.E.L.D. can essentially be disbanded. This is a major issue; the Council won't let it go. Do you regret it?"
"I won't regret it. It's painful to root out the infection, but only this way can we recover and thrive."
In a forest, Winter Soldier dragged the unconscious Captain America to the riverbank.
He was ordered to kill him. However, a voice inside kept telling him—if he dies, you will regret it!
He sighed and decided to follow his heart.
If this isn't love...
---
Chapter 109: Saving People
Nick Fury's fears were realized. With such a massive incident, the council's trust in S.H.I.E.L.D. had plummeted. After more than fifty years of existence, S.H.I.E.L.D. was on the brink of dissolution.
He used his hidden authorization to release all the information about S.H.I.E.L.D. In the end, he destroyed his concealed arsenal, disguised himself, and left, effectively dismantling S.H.I.E.L.D.
But this was only part of the story.
Peggy Carter, the founder who had been retired for many years, stepped up once again to take control.
With the support of former key figures such as Phil Coulson and Sharon Carter, S.H.I.E.L.D. transformed from a prominent force to a covert organization, handling the tasks the Avengers could not.
As Thor's partner, Peggy Carter became a crucial link between them.
Meanwhile, Nick Fury remained responsible for the Avengers.
"It's a shame that after all my efforts to build S.H.I.E.L.D., it has come to this," Peggy Carter lamented in the living room.
Skye, who was standing nearby, expressed her frustration: "You don't know how those old council members questioned us. They were furious, even though they were the ones who insisted on bringing Dr. Zola into S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, when things go wrong, they blame us!"
"I'm embarrassed to talk about the safety of the people, especially when I don't know who nearly dropped a nuclear bomb on New York."
Though Skye joined S.H.I.E.L.D. at a young age, she had not dealt directly with the higher-ups and had never experienced such political disgrace.
"Now we are all without a home. You have to take me in..." Peggy said with a smile, looking at Thor.
Historically, after S.H.I.E.L.D. was disbanded, some senior executives, including Maria Hill, moved to Stark Industries. Howard Stark, the former president, was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders, and relations between the two parties were amicable.
However, Peggy Carter was not part of that equation. Given Stark's personality and his experience with Obadiah Stane, he might be uncomfortable with another senior figure like Peggy.
The current Avengers base was an adaptation of the Stark Building. In the future, as the number of Avengers grew, they planned to relocate to a new base in the suburbs.
Thor intended to personally invest in the construction of this new base. He didn't like relying on others. As for the funds...
The United States, as a country where guns are legally owned, has relatively poor nighttime security, leaving streets empty late at night.
In a secluded alley, a group of armed men in black surrounded a mother and her child.
"Run, keep running!" The leader of the men sneered.
The woman looked desperate. Her husband had always been vigilant about their safety, employing many bodyguards, but this group had clearly come prepared.
She pleaded, "Please, let my son go! I'll give you as much money as you want!"
The man in black laughed heartily, "Money? While I like it, today I only want your son's life!"
He raised his gun, ready to shoot.
"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, but the expected death didn't occur. The woman looked up to see a figure in front of her, catching the bullet with one hand.
The man in black was startled by this scene. A subordinate angrily shouted, "Who are you? Get lost and mind your own business!"
He aimed his gun at Thor's head...
Thor sneered, "How dare you point a gun at me? Your boss hasn't said anything, so who are you to act so boldly?"
With a swift motion, Thor struck the man's head, spinning it around like a top. After a while, his head fell to the ground, his neck twisted and not a drop of blood spilled...
Terrified, the men in black recognized Thor and shouted, "Fall back!" They quickly turned and fled.
Thor didn't bother to pursue them; their fate was sealed. He turned to the mother and child.
"Thank you for saving my son. I am so grateful!" The woman clutched her ten-year-old boy, unable to stop thanking Thor.
"It's nothing," Thor was about to respond when bursts of submachine gunfire and screams erupted outside the alley.
The gunfire ceased within ten seconds.
Thor regained his focus, waved his hand, and said, "It's okay, it was just a small effort."
"It might be easy for you, but for me, they mean everything."
An extremely burly middle-aged man walked into the alley, followed by a group of bodyguards armed with submachine guns.
One of the bodyguards carried a dying man, the leader of the group who had just fled.
It was the burly middle-aged man who spoke.
---
Chapter 110: The Underground King
Wilson Fisk, a well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist in the United States, enjoys a stellar public reputation. If all goes according to plan, he will become the mayor of New York in the future.
To the casual observer, Fisk appears to be a simple, honest, slightly overweight bald man. However, beneath this facade lies the truth: he is the most powerful underworld leader in New York and even the world—Kingpin.
Many are deceived by Fisk's appearance, mistakenly believing he is merely a rotund man. In reality, over 90% of his body is muscle, granting him extraordinary strength—he can punch through walls with his bare hands and is a world-class fighter.
Without any superpowers, Fisk is an incredibly formidable human being. He can be likened to a low-profile version of the Hulk.
Like many villains, Fisk has a loved one—his wife and son.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness Thor! Vanessa informed me of what happened. If it weren't for your assistance, I would have lost my most cherished ones today."
Fisk expressed his gratitude, even addressing Thor with the honorific "Your Highness."
Thor glanced at Fisk's wife and child nearby.
Observing Thor's look, Fisk immediately ordered: "Protect them and take them back. Clean up the blood, and then head to the police station to report it as a gang fight."
All his subordinates left with his family.
Only then did Fisk turn his attention back to Thor, his cold demeanor softened with humility: "If there's anything you need, I will do my utmost to fulfill it, especially after you've saved my wife and child."
Thor replied, "Should I address you as Wilson Fisk or Kingpin?"
Fisk was momentarily taken aback but responded quickly: "If Your Highness prefers me to be Wilson, then I am Wilson. If Your Highness prefers Kingpin, then I am Kingpin. In fact, I am willing to give everything I own to you."
If anyone saw Fisk's behavior, it would undoubtedly be shocking regardless of his identity.
Thor nodded in approval. Fisk's ability to rise from nothing to become a powerful figure in both the legal and illegal realms spoke volumes about his intelligence and bravery.
Fisk knew that Thor taking over his empire would be futile. Even if Thor took control, it wouldn't be effective. The underground realm couldn't be managed without Fisk's expertise and gold.
Even if Thor were to take over, the management would still rely on the same networks and resources that Fisk controlled.
Fisk understood that the benefits Thor provided were beyond mere monetary value.
Thor shook his head: "You are the only one who can be the king of the underground. There is no need for me to take over."
"Then, no matter what you require, as long as it is within my power, I will not disappoint you!"
Thor, satisfied, handed Fisk two small bottles and turned to leave.
"Is this—undiluted Extremis?" Fisk exclaimed in surprise. Unlike the diluted versions available on the market, the genuine Extremis was rare, with fewer than twenty doses ever produced.
Previously, Fisk had only acquired one through various means. With Thor's gift of two more, the safety of his family was significantly assured!
As Thor walked away, Fisk quickly picked up his phone and made a call: "Thor Odinson, transfer ten billion dollars to this account."
The person on the other end of the line nearly dropped the phone in shock...
Back at his manor, Thor received a notification of the account transfer and smiled in satisfaction.
Fisk's value was immense—both in wealth and in his control over the underground world of the United States. He had influence over numerous officials and even many within the FBI.
Thor had initially planned to approach Fisk directly, but an accidental assassination had simplified matters.
Fisk was astute; by positioning himself as Thor's subordinate without making any demands and directly transferring a large sum of money, he secured his position. While it might seem foolish, it ensured that Thor would not directly intervene in his power structure. This move would stabilize his position and mitigate potential issues with the Avengers.
--
Chapter 111: The Present Aether
S.H.I.E.L.D. has just disbanded, and there are many details to manage. About a month later, Nick Fury, having settled back into a routine, is preparing to tackle HYDRA. They must not be allowed to make a comeback, as the past lessons are still fresh.
"I'm going to ask the Avengers to go to Sokovia and deal with HYDRA once and for all."
From the list Thor provided earlier, HYDRA still has a significant stronghold in Sokovia that has not been cleared. The Mind Gem has blocked the insight plan, rendering this area undetectable.
It's clear that the last HYDRA stronghold's security is beyond stringent, especially with the Mind Gem in their possession. This is beyond what S.H.I.E.L.D. can handle; the Avengers must be dispatched.
Nick Fury went to Thor's residence to discuss plans for eradicating HYDRA, but was met with a refusal.
"The time isn't right yet. HYDRA is very cautious right now. An attack now would only alert them, causing them to scatter and create chaos worldwide. We should wait until they let their guard down and then strike suddenly, leaving them no chance to escape."
In reality, this was just him stalling.
While others might be unaware of HYDRA's activities in Sokovia, he was not.
They were using the Infinity Gems to conduct human experiments in an attempt to create a superhuman capable of confronting the Avengers.
By the end of this experiment, only two subjects survived: one is Quicksilver, a minor player; the other is Wanda, who would become one of the most powerful members of the Avengers in the future.
"And one more thing," Thor lowered his voice. "If we engage now, we risk losing two future Avengers, one of whom is a superhero stronger than me and Carol!"
Nick Fury, ever perceptive, knew well the power of both Captain Marvel and Thor, who had previously destroyed countless Chitauri with a single blow. It was clear that either of these two could potentially destroy the earth.
Imagining a superhero even stronger than them was beyond his grasp.
At this time, Thor could not leave.
This morning, Sif delivered troubling news—Jane Foster had gone missing.
Last night, Jane had gone to investigate an anomaly near Stonehenge in England. She lost contact suddenly, and Sif's attempt to locate her through Heimdall proved fruitless; it was as if she had vanished.
Knowing the plot, Thor was not overly worried. He traveled to England, checked into a room near Stonehenge, and awaited Jane's return.
In a dark and oppressive realm, Jane was fully armed, holding Mjölnir tightly as she advanced cautiously.
Though now a female Thor, her greatest interests remained astronomy and space science. When she heard of the anomaly at Stonehenge, she rushed over, only to find herself trapped in this strange dimension.
This place exuded a sense of dread. All means of communication had failed, and the realm seemed boundless, with no apparent way out.
Jane gripped Mjölnir tightly, remaining vigilant to any sounds around her.
Suddenly, a rune stone pillar appeared, split by a narrow gap in its center. Within this gap, strands of red mist swirled ominously.
Jane approached cautiously, her tension palpable...
Without warning, the red mist surged towards her, enveloping her completely. Jane was caught off guard as the mist invaded her body.
"This is bad!" Jane's face went pale. Although she didn't understand the nature of the red mist, its malevolence was unmistakable.
Before she could assess her condition, she felt her consciousness fading and lost consciousness.
This was a barren world, devoid of life.
Svartálfheim, once the domain of the Dark Elves in the Nine Realms. Since the last king of Asgard, Bor, led a successful campaign against them, this place had become a forsaken land.
A massive spaceship suddenly appeared.
Onboard, a pale figure slowly opened his eyes.
He parted his withered lips and spoke in a raspy voice: "The Aether has awakened us. The celestial bodies are about to align. This time, we must reclaim the Aether, restore our former glory, and plunge the entire universe back into darkness!"
"People of Asgard, you have enjoyed peace long enough. This time, your end has come!"
King of the Dark Elves, Malekith!
---
Chapter 120: Returning to Asgard
Jane slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling above her.
Where am I?
"The funds have been transferred to your account. I will be away for a while, so you will assist in constructing the new Avengers base. The venue should be as large as possible, and money is not an issue. In the future, S.H.I.E.L.D. can also relocate there," Thor's voice came through.
"Damn it, where did you get so much money? Don't tell me it came from the research center!" Natalia complained from the other end of the phone. While Maya Hansen's research earnings are substantial, it's impossible they amount to ten billion...
"Don't worry, the money was obtained through legitimate channels, and there won't be any issues."
This was not a lie. On the surface, Kingpin's identity is that of a major entrepreneur and wealthy individual, making the funds he provided entirely plausible. Even if there were problems, they could be managed.
In fact, his wealth might surpass even Tony Stark's.
"By the way, remind Nick Fury about Sokovia. He shouldn't act rashly until I return. Unless he's prepared for the Avengers to be in danger."
This wasn't alarmist talk; Wanda's abilities are as volatile as a roller coaster. Without someone of my or Jane's strength, a reckless attack could lead to disastrous consequences.
After ending the call, Thor turned to the bewildered Jane Foster and asked with a smile, "How do you feel? Any discomfort?"
Jane shook her head. "I'm okay, but I'm a bit tired. I fell into a strange space, and it was filled with gray silence. Before I lost consciousness, a red mist entered my body. Do you know what that was?"
Thor leaned in and said, "It's not your fault. The space you described is likely related to the Dark Elves. They are a malevolent race determined to plunge the universe back into darkness."
"Many years ago, the former king of Asgard, my grandfather Bor, led an army against them. During that war, the Dark Elves used a treasure called the Aether to create a large number of cursed warriors. We eventually won, but the Aether went missing."
"If I'm not mistaken, the red substance in your body is the legendary Aether, also known as the Reality Gem, which has the ability to alter reality."
Jane's interest was piqued. She was no longer the naive scientist she once was and had learned about the Infinity Gems from Asgardian texts.
Jane Foster asked curiously, "But if the Dark Elves had a treasure that could alter reality, how could they lose?"
Thor tapped her lightly on the head. "Do you really believe a gem is invincible? Altering reality is a powerful ability, but it has limitations. Otherwise, the other Infinity Gems would be pointless."
"Firstly, the greater the modification, the more energy is required. When energy is insufficient, it drains the vitality of the user. Secondly, the effects of modification are temporary. When the Dark Elf was transformed into a cursed warrior, the effect was brief. Once it wore off, the warrior would die."
"This is why Thanos needs to collect all six gems to snap his fingers. The Reality Gem alone is somewhat limited; it needs support from other gems."
"The Power Gem provides the energy needed to eradicate half of all life. The Space Gem extends the range of the snap to the entire universe. The Time Gem makes the alteration of reality permanent."
"As for the Mind Gem and Soul Gem, I don't know their exact roles in this context."
Jane's mind seemed to be racing with thoughts.
Thor noticed and said with a smile, "Don't even think about exploiting any loopholes. It won't work. I checked, and when the lifespan becomes infinite, it won't be recognized by the Aether."
Jane stuck out her tongue, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"What are we going to do now? I heard you mention you're leaving. Where are you going?"
Jane, though assertive and independent, was used to deferring to Thor.
"I'm taking you back to Asgard. Although the Aether won't harm you immediately, it's not advisable to leave it in your body for too long. I'll get the magicians to examine it."
Thor picked up the still-weak Jane and leaped out of the window, calling out, "Heimdallr, take us back!"
The bright light enveloped them, and Thor and Jane vanished from sight.
---
Chapter 133: Dark World
"Hello and welcome to Asgard, valiant humans! I am Heimdallr, the Asgardian of the Bifrost."
Heimdallr greeted Jane Foster warmly. In the original story, his politeness towards Jane was due to Thor, and now, with Mjölnir approving the new Thor, his respect is heartfelt.
On a faintly glowing platform, Jane Foster lay on her back while several witches examined her.
"A certain substance in her body is extremely dangerous and could cause an explosion at any moment. If not for the divine power protecting her, she would be in severe danger."
One of the witches spoke gravely.
Thor nodded and asked, "Can you extract this substance?"
The witch remained silent.
Thor was troubled. As far as he knew, there were only two methods to extract the Aether: one was to resonate with Malekith's energy and draw it out, and the other involved seeking a specific raccoon. Thor doubted that the Aether could be removed with a regular syringe...
"If it is indeed the Aether, there might be a way to extract it," Odin's voice echoed.
"Uh... who are you?" Jane asked, looking at Odin who had entered the room.
"I am Odin, the All-Father, king of the gods, and father of Thor, ruler of the Nine Realms."
Odin entered and said solemnly, "The Aether is the Reality Gem among the Infinity Gems.
We call it the Aether because, unlike other gems which are typically stones, the Aether is a liquid that constantly changes. It only takes on the form of an Infinity Gem under specific conditions.
It converts various substances into dark matter, seeks out new hosts, and covertly absorbs energy from the host's vitality."
"Then how do we remove it?" Thor asked with concern.
While Jane would not be drained due to her eternal life, having the Aether linger in her body as a parasite was problematic.
"The Aether's function is to alter reality, which consumes the host's strength or vitality.
In simpler terms, it grants wishes.
If the wish is simple, it consumes less energy.
Once you take her to your mother, she is skilled in many things.
With dark magic, she can guide how to mobilize energy to make a wish to the Aether and expel it from the body."
Thor nodded.
...
"The Nine Realms are preparing to unite, and we will soon be able to invade Asgard. I can sense that the Aether is there!"
On the massive dark elf spaceship, Malekith held a dark red gem and said in a low voice, "This is the core that we obtained by sacrificing many of our compatriots through the Aether. Algrim, you will finally accept the Curse and become a cursed warrior! Are you ready?"
Algrim, the strongest fighter under him, looked fanatical: "I am willing to give my life, just as our people did!"
Malekith nodded in satisfaction, took out a silver dagger, cut Algrim's body, and placed the red gemstone exuding a dark aura into the wound.
He whispered in Algrim's ear, "You will be cursed by this world until you are fully assimilated."
Algrim responded slowly, "At that point, our enemies will no longer be able to stop you. I will completely destroy them and create a new universe full of darkness for you!"
Moments later, several dark elf fighter planes with strange shapes flew out of the spaceship.
"Odin keeps sending me new neighbors. How considerate," Loki remarked with sarcasm in Asgard's dungeon as he observed the new batch of prisoners.
"Aren't you interested in the request I sent?" Frigga's voice came from behind him.
"Heh, do you want me to be a bookworm forever?"
"No, I'm just trying to improve your situation."
"Really?" Loki sneered. "What about Odin? Does he think the same? And Thor? Heh, I'm truly sorry to trouble them so much."
"Loki!" Frigga's tone grew more serious. "It's entirely your fault that you ended up here."
"Oh? Didn't Odin say I was born to be king? I was just following his directive..."
"You have caused countless deaths on Earth. A true king must be able to admit his mistakes. Your father..."
"He's not my father!" Loki shouted suddenly.
Frigga paused, looked into his eyes, and asked, "And me? Am I not your mother?"
Loki and Frigga stared at each other for a few seconds before he turned his head and said coldly, "Neither are you."
"Hey, mother, I finally found you. I was wondering where you were."
Loki paused, hearing the last sound he wanted to hear.
---
Chapter 144: Dark Elf Invasion
In Loki's cell, a brutal and relentless assault was taking place.
Loki felt as though he was back in the days when he was routinely beaten, but this time it was a mixed match. The difference was that Sif had been replaced by the more aggressive Jane Foster.
"This one is for New York!" Jane declared as she landed a slap, finding her hands growing tired.
"It's one thing to disrespect your older brother, but how dare you show such disregard for your mother?" Thor was attacking from all directions.
Frigga did not intervene; Loki had gone too far and deserved the punishment.
Thor created a portal: "Jane, you and the queen should return first. I need to discuss things with Loki." He sent them both away.
"She's not my mother! You're not my brother!" Loki roared angrily. His outburst sounded more like the cry of a victim than a strong condemnation, and it only made Thor's attacks more intense...
"Hmph..." Thor rubbed his sore arms and complained, "I'm done beating you for now. I'm exhausted—beating people is hard work..."
Loki's expression was one of intense anger.
"Alright, we're not in a good mood today, and we can't have a meaningful discussion. I'll deal with you another time."
Thor turned and left... Meanwhile, he remained hidden in the shadows, observing a burly dark elf in the cell opposite Loki. It was clear that this dark elf was about to become a cursed warrior.
"Hello, I'm Jane Foster, Thor's girlfriend from Earth..." Jane said nervously to Frigga.
Unlike Odin, who saw her as a potential new goddess, Frigga's gaze was more focused on her future daughter-in-law.
"Thor, you scoundrel, you don't even accompany your parents when they visit!"
"Don't be nervous, my dear. Thor has told me about you, and I am aware of your experiences together."
A loud noise interrupted them.
"Is something wrong with the prison?"
"Thor is still there, and there shouldn't be any major issues."
Inside the prison, the cursed warrior suddenly broke out, smashed through the prison gate, and released a large number of prisoners.
Most of these prisoners were vicious and malevolent, and their sudden freedom led to an immediate riot. They rushed towards the door, which was blocked by Thor.
"If you go back to your cell now... forget it, it's too crowded. Just make some room."
Thor punched the prisoner in front of him, smashing his helmet and forehead with a single blow.
The prisoners were terrified by his decisive action, but soon, they surged forward in a desperate mob, including the cursed warrior.
As for Jane, Thor wasn't worried. Firstly, the cursed warrior was being held back, and secondly, Jane's strength was comparable to his own during the original events.
Loki watched the scene in silence. His brother once again displayed his cunning, effectively managing both the confrontation and the enforcement.
Thor, who had been hiding in the shadows, deliberately waited for the prisoners to riot before making his appearance.
On the Bifrost, Heimdallr suddenly sensed an unidentified flying object approaching.
He swiftly climbed a nearby tower, leaped onto an invisible object, and struck it with his guardian sword.
The invisible object revealed itself as a black fighter plane unlike any seen before.
As a warrior nation, Asgard's response was swift. Almost immediately after the fighter plane appeared, alarms began to sound.
Realizing that the stealth attack had failed, the dark elves no longer hid their presence. Countless black fighter planes surged to confront Asgard's forces.
On one side, there was a hasty counterattack; on the other, a meticulously planned assault. The two sides were evenly matched, with Asgard's strength and readiness on full display.
Heimdallr recognized that halting the dark elf invasion was becoming increasingly difficult. He raced to the Bifrost control room, raised the guardian sword, and prepared to activate the switch to open the protective shield around the Golden Hall.
If the protective shield was activated and Thor could hold back the cursed warriors from destroying the shield generator, the dark elves' invasion would end in failure.
At that point, they would face Asgard, which would have fully unleashed its military might. A steel torrent of countless fighter planes and spaceships would overwhelm any enemy.
At that moment, a dark elf fighter suddenly changed direction and hurtled towards Heimdallr. The dark elf pilot shouted an incomprehensible slogan.
Caught off guard by the incoming fighter plane, Heimdallr was knocked aside. The guardian sword fell from his grasp before he could insert it into the switch.
---
Chapter 115: Variables, Cursed Warrior Malekith
"Boom..."
The invasion of the dark elves was overwhelming, with countless fighter planes wreaking havoc over Asgard.
In addition to targeting the Golden Hall, there were efforts to bomb the civilian areas below to divert attention.
Driven by centuries of hatred, Malekith showed no concern for civilian casualties, even in enemy territory.
Despite the large number of fighter planes being shot down, the damage below was relatively contained.
In front of the Golden Hall, anti-aircraft guns inscribed with runes fired continuously, launching golden shells. The dense barrage of artillery nearly covered the entire sky.
A group of elite commandos maneuvered their fighter planes through the barrage, creating an opening for the planes behind them. More fighter planes crashed directly into the main entrance of the Golden Hall, charging toward a temple that had never been breached by foreign enemies.
The grand entrance of the hall was shattered, and the black fighter planes surged inside like a bulldozer.
Malekith disembarked from his fighter plane, gazed at Odin's throne, and laughed maniacally.
Odin was absent, and the guards at the throne quickly drew their swords.
"The aether is in that direction; you must hold the line here!"
While Odin's throne remained in sight, Malekith knew the true objective. As long as he reached the location of the aether, regardless of whose body it was bound to, the dark elf's dark magic could extract it along with the host's life force.
The dark elves clashed with Odin's Guards.
Though outnumbered, the strength of the Guards far surpassed that of their foes. They infused their divine power into their shields, resisting the dark elves' laser weaponry.
If not for the more terrifying black technology—the black hole grenade—the dark elves would have been easily defeated.
Relying on their numbers and the support of black hole grenades, the dark elves barely managed to suppress the guards.
Then, Odin, who had quelled chaos across the realm, arrived.
It took Odin and his guards more than ten minutes to reach the scene.
With a wave of his holy spear Gungnir, a thousand dazzling golden lights erupted, turning the dark elves into dust.
After dispatching this group of dark elves, Odin suddenly realized—Frigga!
Given that the dark elves were attacking, their target was likely the ether, and Jane Foster, the current host of the ether, was in Frigga's palace!
Odin rushed away.
Malekith burst into the bedroom, and a middle-aged woman came into view.
"Step back, monster!" Queen Frigga, regal and commanding, brandished a long sword. "Leave now, and I might spare your life!"
Malekith sneered. "Hand over what I want, and I might let you witness the destruction of Asgard."
In response, Frigga's sword flashed with incredible speed. If it weren't for Malekith's heightened instincts, that blow would have seriously injured him.
Missing her strike, Frigga lunged again, and Malekith narrowly avoided the attack. He was visibly struggling to defend himself.
"You've enraged me, old woman!" Malekith knew that if Odin arrived, he would lose his chance, so he had to risk everything now!
Algrim was no longer reliable. Facing Frigga's fierce assault, Malekith sneered and crushed a cursed core that resembled a walnut in his hand.
He had prepared for this moment. If he couldn't win, he would transform himself into a cursed warrior.
A bright red light spread from his arms to his entire body like lava, further expanding his already imposing figure.
Frigga's sword struck, but it felt like piercing metal, and a burst of flame appeared from the blade.
Malekith writhed in agony as a terrifying roar erupted from his expanding body. It was clear that a monstrous power was awakening within him, as if a colossal beast that had slumbered for ages was stirring.
A tremendous roar echoed through the sky.
In the dungeon, the head of the cursed warrior Algrim hung lifelessly.
Thor drew his sword and beheaded him with a single strike.
From the direction of Frigga's bedroom came Malekith's roar.
Thor was startled and realized that there might not be only one cursed core. In this situation, Malekith had likely transformed himself entirely.
Seeing the chaos in the dungeon, Thor broke into Loki's cell and freed him.
Loki looked confused.
"Listen, I'll only say this once. The dark elves have invaded, and they're now attacking Mother's bedroom. She's in danger, and I need to save her. You can choose to stay here and cause trouble if you wish!"
After speaking, Thor turned and rushed towards Frigga.
---
Chapter 166: Showdown
The palace of Asgard is unlike any other place. To ensure its safety, Odin had a multitude of spatial barrier magic circles constructed, which prevented any form of spatial movement within the temple.
In Asgard's palace, only one person could activate spatial teleportation with the defense mode engaged—the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One. Thor, despite his considerable abilities, was not capable of such magic.
Now, it seemed as though their efforts were in vain, with Thor's portal remaining closed.
Fortunately, Thor possessed a flight ability similar to that of Captain Marvel.
The roaring chaos also alerted Odin, who was far off. An ominous premonition gripped him, prompting him to quicken his pace. However, a relentless wave of dark elves continued to surge forward, causing delays.
Odin was deeply anxious. Throughout his life, he had calculated many things—people, enemies, allies, and even his own daughter. If it weren't for the fleeting nature of mortal life, he would have been suspicious of the heir who displayed such sharpness.
But he had never imagined putting Frigga in danger.
Inside the bedroom, Malekith, transformed into a cursed warrior, laughed maniacally as he grabbed the queen with a claw.
Frigga raised her sword to block, but Malekith twisted her with his claw and struck her heavily on the chest. She vomited blood and was thrown backward. Malekith advanced, seized her by the neck, and lifted her up. "Tell me, where is the aether?"
"You'll never get it!" Frigga glared defiantly.
"You won't be seeing it again!" Malekith raised his dagger threateningly. "I'm eager to see Odin's reaction when he finds your corpse!"
"If you kill her, you'll never get the ether!"
A sudden voice interrupted Malekith's threats. Jane Foster appeared at the door, holding a vial of potion.
Having just retrieved the ether, Jane looked exhausted and weak.
"Give me the ether! I'll let her go," Malekith demanded, pinching Frigga's neck to silence her, while pressing the dagger against her chest.
Jane focused intently on him, then suddenly flicked her wrist, tossing the ether out of the door. As Malekith turned to follow the ether, Mjölnir flew from Jane's hand, striking him and causing him to stagger.
Malekith stretched out his hand, dark red energy wrapping around the ether, pulling it back to him.
"Stay back!" An intensely concentrated lightning bolt struck Malekith's face, causing his cheeks to burst open.
Had Malekith not been enhanced, this blow might have been fatal. Yet, despite being a cursed warrior, he merely staggered.
"I admit I underestimated you, woman!" Malekith growled.
He had noticed Jane Foster's divine power but had assumed she was merely another pampered second-generation deity due to her youth. After all, he had observed that Asgard's overall strength had diminished compared to the past.
Being so thoroughly outmatched by her only fueled his anger.
"Foolish woman, I..."
With a sharp "clang," Mjölnir flew in from behind, striking him hard on the back of the head before returning to Jane's hand. Caught off guard, Malekith was momentarily disoriented.
A brilliant thunderbolt enveloped Jane, encasing her in protective black battle armor.
Frigga, clutching her chest, looked at the formidable Jane with admiration, muttering, "Thor, you truly have good taste."
She then shouted, "Go, you're no match for him!"
Jane ignored the warning, unwilling to leave Frigga behind. Spinning quickly, Mjölnir flew out, striking Malekith with a powerful blow.
"Bang—" Jane was thrown backward, crashing into a pillar.
Protected by the power of thunder, Jane was unharmed but her expression grew serious. The monster before her was far more powerful than she had anticipated.
Her strength was comparable to Thor's at the same point in history, adequate for dealing with ordinary cursed warriors. However, against Malekith's super-enhanced form, she found herself outmatched.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
The cursed warrior, now covered in dark power, dragged a stone pillar across the room.
The pillar crashed down heavily. Jane swiftly rolled to avoid it and, seizing the moment, struck Malekith on the chin with Mjölnir before retreating to avoid his counterattack.
While his strength and endurance had vastly increased as a Cursed Warrior, Malekith's agility had significantly decreased. His movements were slower and more cumbersome, leaving him vulnerable.
Jane Foster continued the fight...
---
Chapter 170: Anger
Every move Malekith made was powerful and forceful, but his large, sweeping actions made it difficult for him to hit Jane Foster.
Jane's smaller size allowed her to slip through the gaps in his attacks, and she managed to strike him with Mjölnir now and then. Though these blows were not damaging, they infuriated him.
If Jane were facing a muscular opponent like the Hulk, she might have worn him down slowly.
But unfortunately, Malekith was not such an opponent. Even before becoming a cursed warrior, he was a cunning strategist. The mastermind behind this dark elf invasion had retained his wits even after transforming. He quickly devised a new strategy.
Massive stone pillars began to rain down on Frigga with relentless force.
As a sorceress, Frigga lacked agility, especially when injured. She was unable to evade the attack and shut her eyes, bracing herself.
"Bang——" A deafening crash sounded as Jane Foster blocked a stone pillar with Mjölnir. The immense force made her blood boil, but before she could catch her breath, Malekith attacked again.
"Bang—bang—bang—" Three successive heavy strikes left Jane's legs sinking into the floor, and her hands began to bleed from the strain.
Mjölnir buzzed and vibrated, attempting to pull her away, but Jane remained steadfast.
A cruel smile played on Malekith's lips. The primary goal of this invasion was to seize the aether ether. If he could eliminate this promising new deity, he would be quite pleased.
"It's over for you, woman!"
Thor rushed in just as Malekith raised a stone pillar high, ready to bring it crashing down. Jane Foster was already bleeding from the corner of her mouth.
Without hesitation, Thor transformed into a streak of lightning and charged toward Malekith, striking the stone pillar infused with dark energy.
With a "crack," the stone pillar shattered completely.
Before Malekith could react, Thor grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. Thor slammed him down onto the ground, causing a deep crater to form in the solid Asgardian floor.
Thor pounded Malekith's head with powerful blows. Within moments, Malekith's face was a mess of blood.
A burst of red light from the ether pushed Thor away.
Realizing he was no match for Thor and sensing an immense aura approaching rapidly, Malekith gritted his teeth and leaped off the balcony.
An invisible dark elf fighter appeared, scooped him up, and flew away, vanishing into the sky.
As the celestial bodies aligned, the spatial distortion made pursuit impossible.
Watching Malekith escape, Thor chose not to follow. He turned to Jane and Frigga, asking, "Mother, are you alright?"
Jane's condition was not the primary concern for Thor, given his extensive battle experience.
Frigga coughed a few times and replied, "I'm fine. I just need to rest for a bit. Thanks to Jane."
Jane apologized, "I'm sorry. The aether was taken, and I couldn't stop him."
Thor reassured her, "It's not your fault. You protected the queen. No one can blame you."
Thor could surmise that Frigga wanted Jane to leave with the ether, but staying behind without protection would mean losing the ether. Even if forced to choose, he would have opted to relinquish the ether.
"Don't worry. I will make the dark elves pay dearly. Their invasion has enraged Asgard completely, and I will eradicate their race from the universe!"
Thor's face was etched with deep anger.
In the previous life's movie, the dark elves' assault on the Golden Hall was depicted with many details omitted.
In this life, the tragedy of the war was felt firsthand. To contain the dark elves, they deployed numerous fighters and attacked civilians, plunging the Golden Hall into chaos.
As one of the most powerful realms in the universe, Asgard had not been subjected to such a large-scale attack in years. The Jotunheim giants' assault seemed trivial in comparison. This dark elf invasion was a direct affront to every Asgardian.
Frigga's severe injuries only fueled Thor's anger.
"So what if they have the aether ether? No matter how many cursed warriors they create, they cannot defeat us. After we secure Asgard, I will convince my father to declare war on Svartálfheim."
Odin's voice suddenly resonated: "I will not permit such a challenge."
Odin, clad in battle armor and wielding Gungnir, appeared with a serious expression. After a moment, he continued, "This war will be led by me. We will annihilate this evil race once and for all!"
---
Chapter 180: Are You A Devil?
"The dark elves were defeated by the former king Bor tens of thousands of years ago. Now, their remaining forces are hiding in Svartálfheim," Thor stated.
"It's not difficult to defeat them. The challenge is finding them in their familiar dark environment. This time, we will eradicate them completely to ensure that nothing like this happens again. This is not a battle of defeat but a battle of annihilation."
In the conference hall, Thor was discussing the battle with many soldiers. The three warriors had arrived, and Sif had returned from Earth.
"Well, I have a question. Since we know their lair is in Svartálfheim, why can't we use the Bifrost to destroy it, just like we did with Jotunheim?" Loki asked.
Loki had proven his worth during the recent Dungeon crisis. He managed to maintain order and control the situation, allowing others to focus on removing the dark elves from other locations.
Additionally, Frigga had pleaded with Odin to give Loki another chance, so Odin decided to allow him to participate in this war, treating it as both a punishment and a chance for redemption.
Thor explained, "The dark elves are not like the Giants of Jotunheim, who lack technology. The Bifrost doesn't unleash its power instantly. There's a process of ramping up to full power, during which they can escape using their spaceships. Moreover, during the convergence of celestial bodies, space between the Nine Realms becomes chaotic, making the Bifrost ineffective."
At this moment, Odin, seated on the throne, spoke: "The task is to destroy their fighters and troops and eliminate every exposed target. They cannot hide from us."
Thor paused for a moment before continuing, "Then, I want to discuss our route…"
"Hey, what does Odin mean? I always feel he has other plans," Loki asked Thor after the meeting.
Thor did not directly address Loki's question but said seriously, "I am quite pleased with your performance in the Dungeon crisis yesterday. With the army preparing to move out, there are some things I need to clarify."
"I don't fully trust you. This war is a matter of pure conflict. Your tricks aren't of much use here. It's mother who believes in you and wants to give you a chance."
Loki noticed that Thor used "mother" rather than "my mother," indicating a deep personal bond beyond mere duty.
For Thor, eradicating the dark elves was more about a personal vendetta than just a military campaign.
"Then what if I betray you?" Loki asked.
"I will kill you without hesitation!" Thor responded.
Loki shivered and gritted his teeth. "Don't worry. You can trust me until we've wiped out these dark elves!"
The two walked toward Frigga's palace together. As they approached, Sif suddenly placed a sword across Loki's neck.
"Uh… what's this about?" Loki asked, bewildered.
Sif's expression was stern. "Your Highness may trust you, but that doesn't mean we do. If you dare to betray us, I will make sure to carry out His Highness's orders and kill you myself!"
"Alright," Loki said, raising his hands in surrender. "Destroying the dark elves is a goal I can support."
Thor patted Sif on the shoulder with a smile. "Okay, let's not intimidate him any further. After the war, I'll join you in dealing with him."
Sif sheathed her sword and gave Thor a reassuring smile.
Loki's face darkened. "Why should your pleasure be derived from my misery?"
The two continued onward, but the three Asgardian warriors also joined in, warning Loki: "If you dare to betray us, we will kill you!"
"Oh, that's truly frightening," Loki replied, "but I'm afraid you'll have to wait in line."
Loki, while apprehensive, knew he was unlikely to be killed.
Thor glanced at him and said calmly, "Don't worry. If you do betray us, I'll use the aether to turn you into a frog and then hand you over to the Hulk."
Instantly, Loki's face drained of color at the thought. The idea of becoming a frog and being given to the Hulk was a terrifying prospect.
"Are you all devils?" Loki muttered.
The three warriors laughed at Loki's discomfort.
Fandral whistled excitedly, "Count me in!"
Volstagg, who had been quiet, added with a grin, "I'm suddenly looking forward to seeing what betrayal looks like."
Loki groaned. "Are you all truly devils?"
In the palace of the Queen of Asgard, Frigga lay in bed, pale and weak, while Jane Foster attended to her.
Thor entered and asked, "How is the Queen Mother?"
A maid at the side replied, "With Asgardian magic, the Queen's recovery is progressing quickly. She will be healed in a few days."
Frigga said, "Thor, you should leave now. I need to speak with Loki alone."
Loki felt a wave of unease.
---
Chapter 119: Divine Might
Thor didn't know what Frigga and Loki discussed, and he didn't ask. When Loki emerged, his expression remained unchanged.
Entering the bedroom, Frigga asked first, "Did your father decide to lead this war personally?"
Thor nodded. "Father's attitude is quite peculiar. I always feel he has other plans."
Frigga sighed. "The dark elves are an ancient race. On their planet, there will inevitably be various hidden defenses. If you charge in recklessly, you will suffer significant losses. Your father is growing older and hopes to leave Asgard in your capable hands."
"Moreover, the 'September 43' incident has deeply affected him. He has decided to set aside his status and follow his instincts."
Svartálfheim, a planet four times the size of Earth, is the homeland of the dark elves, where they have lived for hundreds of millions of years.
It is a dark world. Besides the dark elves, any race entering here is severely constrained by the environment, which greatly diminishes their strength.
Over the years, the dark elves have established numerous fortifications and traps.
Inside a dark elf stronghold:
"When will we strike again? I am eager to destroy Asgard."
"Your Majesty is creating cursed warriors. As long as there are enough of them, Asgard's defenses will be vulnerable!"
"I hope this day comes soon. My great axe is already itching for battle!"
"Ugh…"
Inside the stronghold, a roar echoed, signaling the creation of another cursed warrior.
In a single day, Malekith had created more than a dozen cursed warriors. The cost was a mountain of dark elf corpses piling up outside.
Malekith returned to his original form from that of a cursed warrior. The side effects of life loss had been alleviated through ether.
"Asgardians, you will soon pay the price!" Malekith grinned maliciously.
He was confident in this place; its harsh environment was a natural advantage for the dark elves. Even if Asgard did attack, the outer defenses and cursed warriors would deal a significant blow.
What Malekith didn't know was that his opponents would not give him a chance to execute his plans.
A massive spaceship circled high in the sky, observing the dark planet below.
Everyone had different reactions. Odin's order was to forgo tactics and attack any visible dark elves once the signal was given.
Thor's expression was serious; he had already suspected something.
In the command room, Odin took a deep breath, then vanished from the spaceship and appeared in the vacuum of space.
"Pay attention and remember what you see. It will benefit your growth," Thor said to Jane Foster and Sif.
Loki, listening from behind, also watched Odin intently.
Golden light gathered around Odin, becoming increasingly brilliant until only a blinding golden aura remained. Only Thor could barely discern that Odin's form was rapidly expanding.
Suddenly, the spear of eternity—Gungnir—appeared in Odin's hand.
Despite being in the void, Odin's powerful voice echoed throughout the universe.
"For countless years, Asgard has recuperated and strengthened, perhaps causing many to forget this name."
On Earth, an abandoned warehouse housed the remains of the Destroyer armor. After Thor's battle with it, S.H.I.E.L.D. recovered the wreckage, which HYDRA then seized, hoping to find a way to restore it. However, studying artifacts with intricate magical runes proved difficult.
Eventually, with the Insight plan, HYDRA was nearly destroyed, and the wreckage was left in the warehouse.
At this moment, the Destroyer's wreckage began to tremble as if summoned. Moments later, pieces of the armor soared into the sky and shot off into the distance.
At Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One observed a bright golden light in the sky, growing brighter and resembling a second sun. She sighed and drew a magic circle, causing the space above Earth to warp and conceal the sight.
The majesty of a god-king capable of altering reality overwhelmed even mortals, who would be struck with fear just by witnessing it.
"This old man must be extremely angry for him to display such power," the Ancient One mused.
In the sky, a beam of light streaked across like a meteor. Without the Ancient One's concealment, Earth, belonging to the Nine Realms, would have been illuminated.
"It is time for the universe to remember Asgard once again!"
In the void, the Destroyer armor enveloped Odin, who was now hundreds of feet tall. Bathed in divine brilliance, Odin raised his holy spear and struck down upon Svartálfheim.
---
Chapter 120: Extinct Star
Since Hela was sealed away, Asgard had not waged an external war for thousands of years, dealing only with minor rebellions within the Nine Realms.
During their period of peace, countless ancient forces received the news and paid close attention to the situation. Asgard's shift in policy was seen as a troubling sign by most of these forces.
Odin has been lying peacefully but his body has been gathering immense divine cosmic power with age .
The terrifying explosion of energy nearly shook the entire universe.
"Hahahahaha! Old man, finally stopped pretending?" In the dark world, Hela laughed maniacally, her face twisted with sarcasm and excitement.
"So much has changed, and I'm not sure whether it's for better or worse…" In the main hall of Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One looked at the sky with concern.
"Never mind, Asgard's matters are of no concern to me."
"By completely obliterating a planet, is Asgard signaling a change in their diplomatic stance?"
"It's a pity. If such a powerful being could enter my arena…"
Malekith roared in frustration, "Impossible! Impossible! Odin is old—how can he launch such an attack?"
No one could answer him. Most of the dark elves stared in terror at the golden giant Odin had become in the sky, unable to speak.
The spear of eternity, hundreds of thousands of feet long, struck the surface of Svartálfheim with a destructive aura, breaking through the ground and piercing deep into the planet's core.
In an instant, the entire planet trembled. The solid surface cracked, lava erupted, and a devastating wave of flames spread across Svartálfheim, creating a doomsday scene.
"Quick, all fighter planes, take off now!" Malekith finally reacted.
There was no need for him to shout. Countless hidden dark elves scrambled out of their lairs, rushing towards the fighter planes.
Survival was more important than revenge at this moment.
If they stayed, they would die; if they fled, they had a chance.
"Boom…" Even through the vacuum of space, everyone on the Asgardian spaceship heard the explosion that resonated through the heavens.
Svartálfheim, a planet managed by the dark elves for countless years, lasted only a few seconds under Odin's full assault before quickly disintegrating in the blinding explosion, becoming part of history.
Loki was almost paralyzed with fear. When he used the power of the Bifrost, it wasn't accompanied by such overwhelming force…
"Is this true divine power?" Jane Foster murmured, her astonishment evident as she watched the scene unfold.
"Yes," Thor nodded. "You are still young, but one day, you will be able to achieve such feats."
Thor's words weren't merely comforting; she Thor has great potential for growth, and in the comics, he can even match Odin's power.
Thor wasn't surprised by Odin's performance.
Although he had never seen Odin fully unleash his power, he could infer a lot from Odin's previous battles.
After all, Asgard's geology is far tougher than Svartálfheim's, and Surtur could easily destroy it.
It was no surprise that Odin, who had defeated Surtur and even seized the Eternal Flame, was capable of such overwhelming force.
From the flames, numerous aircraft emerged.
The first batch of dark elves to react boarded their fighter planes and various transport ships. Faced with Asgard's forces, the already terrified dark elves didn't dare to retaliate and fled in panic.
"Attention, they are trying to escape. My order is: no one is to get away."
Thor said coldly, "There are no prisoners in this battle, and our cells cannot accommodate so many."
"Soldiers, civilians, no one is to be spared—neither the old nor the young, men, women, nor children."
"This race should have been eradicated thousands of years ago!"
In fact, Thor's encouragement was unnecessary. The soldiers were already driven by the invasion of the dark elves, which had plunged Asgard into grief and fury. The massive civilian casualties fueled their desire for revenge, leaving no room for sympathy toward the enemy.
Asgardian fighters surged from the spaceship, pursuing every target relentlessly.
A massive dark elf mothership ascended and fled in the opposite direction. Malekith, taking the last of his elite forces, made a desperate attempt to escape. To Loki, a master illusionist, any attempt at invisibility was futile.
"The last of the dark elves' strength is aboard that mothership. We must act to ensure no one escapes!"
Thor, accompanied by Jane Foster and Loki, boarded a specialized fighter plane and pursued Malekith's mothership, crashing into it…
"No—" Malekith finally roared in despair.
---
Chapter 121: Extermination!
The fate of the fighters outside was sealed, and Asgard's overwhelming space fleet ensured they would not escape. The people aboard this mothership were already the last remnants of the dark elves.
The spaceship was nearly pierced by Thor's fighter plane, with a flood of cosmic rays pouring in. While someone like Malekith could withstand it, ordinary dark elves could survive in a vacuum for only a few minutes at most before perishing.
Seeing the three individuals who disembarked and approached, Malekith had lost all hope; only revenge remained in his heart.
He knew that these three were of extraordinary status—two were the only princes of Asgard, and one was the future princess. If he could drag these three down to hell with him before he died, it would be a significant blow to Asgard.
"Kill them!" He issued his final command, and the remaining dozen or so cursed fighters surrounded them.
With a "click," the cursed core in his hand shattered, and he transformed once again into the Cursed War King.
A cursed warrior charged forward first.
"Leave this to me!" Loki brandished his dagger and took the lead.
Jane Foster gave him a skeptical look. From what she knew, Thor's younger brother was notoriously cowardly; even if he took a chance, he would often retreat even more fearfully the next time.
Thor chuckled silently. The simple Jane couldn't see it, but neither could he. Loki was the first to rush in because he saw that the others were more capable fighters.
"Leave the biggest one to me. The rest are yours!" Jane, having been tormented by Malekith's tactics before, was clearly eager to settle the score.
Thor nodded and addressed the remaining cursed warriors: "I am the son of Odin, the heir to the throne! In hell, remember my name!"
Upon hearing his identity, the cursed warriors' eyes turned red, and they screamed as they charged at him.
As Malekith's former adjutant, Algrim, who had previously wreaked havoc in the dungeon, was extraordinarily powerful. The cursed fighters, transformed from ordinary soldiers, were no match for him. Even a group of them posed little threat to Thor.
Jane faced Malekith, using her agility to contend with him, but she handled the fight with ease.
The situation was worse for Loki; he had chosen the weakest opponent, but even that adversary managed to pummel him. After a brief struggle, Loki was thrown backward.
Fortunately, Loki's Jotunheim heritage and Thor's rigorous training had honed his fighting abilities to an exceptional level. Although he was being overpowered, he remained resilient.
"Crack—" Thor twisted the neck of the last cursed warrior, then watched Jane's performance with interest.
It seemed Jane had the upper hand. Malekith's attacks couldn't touch her, but her hammer was constantly in motion, making for an engaging display.
Jane's appearance was impressive, but it was not enough to break through Malekith's reinforced defenses. Despite Mjölnir's relentless strikes, Malekith's hardened bones proved resilient.
"It doesn't matter. The cursed warrior has a time limit; you will prevail once his life force is exhausted," Loki said with a smile.
Loki had initially struggled against the cursed warrior, but when the cursed warrior's initial team was defeated, he was caught off guard by Loki's black hole grenade.
"Come and help me!" Jane shouted angrily at Thor. She regretted being distracted previously while protecting Frigga and having suffered as a result. Now, under Thor's pressure, she fought Malekith with all her might but still struggled to overcome him.
Thor circled closer, and Loki approached with his dagger, aiming to secure the kill...
With his subordinates defeated and Asgardian fighter planes approaching, Malekith finally realized with sorrow that he might be the last of his race.
Faced with three formidable enemies, Malekith knew he was no match for Thor and found even Jane challenging. In a desperate move, he decided to put everything on the line, dropping all defenses and lunging at Loki.
"Damn it?" Loki, caught off guard while planning to secure the kill, was grabbed by Malekith, who wrestled the dagger from his hand and stabbed him fiercely in the chest.
Loki exploded like a punctured balloon, with ten resounding bangs.
A trap! Malekith had no time to react. Thor thrust his palm into Malekith's back, and the thunder within erupted, destroying his body.
Despite the cursed warrior's strong vitality, there was little magic resistance within his body. Malekith fell, consumed by endless unwillingness.
Thus, the dark elves, who once ravaged the universe, were completely eradicated and became part of history.
---
Chapter 122: The Curtain
The impact of this genocide was immense.
Across the Nine Realms, silence prevailed, except for Earth, which was shielded by Kamar-Taj. Odin's decisive strike seemed to cast them back to an era of conquest.
In the universe, ancient powers raised their threat levels against Asgard and sent envoys to form alliances.
On the ruined Titan, Thanos gazed at the sky in silence, and the Black Order also remained quiet.
After a long pause, Thanos finally spoke: "He is still formidable. Thousands of years ago, if I had fought against Odin to obtain the Tesseract, it would have been a different story."
No one interrupted, except for Black Dwarf, who, despite his lack of insight, tried to flatter: "How strong is he? Even if Odin is strong, he is definitely no match for the master."
Among the Black Order, despite his imposing physique, Black Dwarf's status was the lowest. Unlike others who followed Thanos out of fanaticism, Black Dwarf's loyalty was solely for the survival of his race.
He wore the heaviest armor, endured the most dangerous tasks, and was often the first to charge into battle, which made him survive until now. His flattery was his way of showing loyalty.
But this time, his attempts at flattery only embarrassed Thanos, leading Corvus Glaive to slap him hard.
"Shut up! Just stop talking!"
If Thanos could truly defeat Odin, why would he need to send Loki to Earth to cause trouble? Thanos' expression clearly showed that he had suffered greatly.
Thanos did not attack but spoke gravely: "Until Odin is dead, avoid making a grand entrance into the Nine Realms."
....
"Contact my dear brother Thor and tell him that, for our deep friendship, Sakaar is willing to be an eternal ally of Asgard!"
Grandmaster gave his orders. The first part of his statement was mere pretense, but the latter part was the real deal. Regardless of Odin's strength, Asgard's top-tier war potential made it a worthy ally.
After dismissing his subordinates, Grandmaster watched two gladiators fighting in the arena and sighed: "Alas, no one can beat a group of fighters."
"I wonder when the next champion will appear. It would be best if they looked strong and muscular. Recently, audiences prefer violent aesthetics."
After the war, the aftermath was handled by Sif and the others, and Odin fell into his Odinsleep upon returning. This time, it took longer than usual, and it was seven days before he awoke.
Previously, Odin had exhausted much of his divine power by repairing the Bifrost and using dark energy to send Thor to Earth, resulting in an energy drain. Loki had then trapped Thor on Earth.
In this life, at least on the surface, Odin still had his divine power.
When Odin awoke, he chose to leave for a while, despite his reluctance.
"I have experienced too many changes in my life. Now, I need some quiet time to think, review, and reflect on my life."
He looked at Loki and smiled faintly: "Initially, I saw you as a means to control Jotunheim, but after many years, I decided to abandon this plan and kept it hidden. I didn't expect you to discover it. I apologize for that."
Loki wanted to respond, but Odin's confession left him speechless.
Seeing Loki's reaction, Odin did not say much more and turned to Thor with a complex expression: "Unfortunately, you did not follow the path I set out for you. Asgard is now in your hands, and I am uncertain about what will happen. Restoring its glory is not assured."
"But I hope that one day you will prove yourself to be stronger than I was!"
He no longer attempted to correct Thor's philosophy or argue with him. Everyone has their own path. Since Thor had the capability, he need not follow Odin's plan.
This was the mindset of a seasoned leader.
"Drip! Congratulations to the host for completing the Odin-related mission—War and Peace. Successfully gaining Odin's recognition of his own ideas and receiving a reward: Passive Skill—Man of Steel!"
Fiery energy surged through Thor, and he could feel his body transforming.
"Oh?" Odin also sensed Thor's change and held his arm to check his pulse.
"It's remarkable, your physical strength has reached an exceptionally high level.
Perhaps this is the confidence needed to face Ragnarok?"
Odin exclaimed: "But you must remember, there is no absolute invincible defense in this world, and no truly invincible artifact. Don't let this make you overconfident or underestimate the strength of others in the universe."
Thor nodded; he had always understood this.
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