Chapter 82 - 20

Chapter 194: Mount, Princess Black Dragon!

"I live in a remote place; why not come back with me? Of course, your friends are welcome too, including this monkey with a triangular head!"

"There, I can explain your unique background to you. Finally, I can be the father I always wanted to be!"

What he really meant was—finally, a descendant worthy of being my child!

Rocket bared his teeth but chose to remain silent for Star-Lord's sake.

Seeing that they were about to have a discussion, Ego decided to leave.

"When I was young, I always watched other children playing with their fathers. I envied them and wished my father could play with me. It was my greatest desire at the time."

Star-Lord, silent until now, spoke. His meaning was clear: he wanted to go.

"What if it's a trap?" Gamora interjected, casting doubt.

"But..." Star-Lord could certainly consider this. After all, there are many who want to cause him trouble in the galaxy, such as Yondu, the Sovereign, and various races who have been displeased...

"With his strength, if he wanted to harm me, he wouldn't need to resort to tricks, right?"

"Yes, I am not his match. If he's determined to oppose you, I can't stop him," Thor added.

"Did you hear that?" Star-Lord raised an eyebrow.

Gamora and the others fell silent.

After some discussion, Star-Lord, Gamora, and Drax decided to accompany Ego to his planet, while Rocket and Baby Groot stayed behind to repair the spaceship.

Thor had other matters to attend to.

Ego was naturally pleased to see this outcome; his true goal was only Star-Lord.

As for Thor, it was best if he stayed out of the way. Ego clearly knew Thor was a formidable opponent, and provoking him might be risky.

Despite Odin's limited time, his deterrence was still effective. Even Ego wouldn't want to anger Odin...

Watching Star-Lord and the others depart in Ego's spaceship, Rocket returned to repair the ship, while Thor moved to a nearby open space and accessed the system panel.

"Hey, congratulations to the host for completing the mission: nickname storm. Reward: random mount lottery ticket! Are you sure you want to use it?"

"Yes, use it."

Suddenly, a panel appeared before Thor that was invisible to others. Countless images flashed by, showcasing various mounts from across realms: some from low fantasy worlds, some from high fantasy realms, and some from mythical landscapes.

Sweaty BMW, White Dragon Horse, Kui Niu, Diao Chan, Magic Carpet, Golden Winged Roc...

Uh, it seems there might be something peculiar mixed in?

Well, don't worry about the details.

The pointer spun rapidly before slowing to a stop.

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the mount from the plane 'Azeroth ': Princess Black Dragon, and receiving the item—Onyxia's Reins!"

"Onyxia's Reins: The only item that can summon or recall the mount Black Dragon Princess and compel her to obey the host's commands."

Black Dragon Princess, Onyxia! A formidable guardian dragon, once known as Neltharion, daughter of Deathwing, and sister of the scheming Black Stone King Chen Farley.

As the Black Dragon Princess, she embodied the cunning of the Black Dragon Clan, disguising herself as a human noble in Stormwind City to corrupt the Stormwind Kingdom's elite.

Exposed by Marshal Reginald Wind mage, she became a wanted criminal in Azeroth and was slain by adventurers.

Her head was displayed in Stormwind City.

The worst part? This wasn't the end. She was resurrected twice and entered dungeons three times...

Her fate was tragic, as Vision only mentioned briefly in the past.

Moreover, she was a treasure trove of items: dragon heads could be crafted into Onyxia's headpieces, dragon skin into Onyxia scale cloaks, dragon's breath into the sword Quel Sela, and her tendons used for various crafting.

The Black Dragon's loot included numerous professional weapons, armor sets, Onyxia leather bags, and Onyxia's reins for her dragon mount...

It was as dismal as an elf prince with two mounts...

Thor couldn't help but smirk and briefly mourned her fate.

"Roar----"

In the open space ahead, a massive black dragon materialized out of thin air.

"What happened? Am I heading to Stormwind?"

The enormous dragon turned its head to look at Thor, its face showing confusion and distress.

Now she resembled a lost child.

"Sir... can you tell me where this is?"

As she spoke, she took a deep breath.

In the next instant, a torrent of fire erupted from her mouth, aimed directly at Thor.

----

Chapter 195: Dragon Knight

By Odin's beard, who knew that the Black Dragon would be so cunning? Thor almost got burned.

Who would have thought that the Black Dragon summoned by the system would attempt to kill its master immediately?

Thor dodged the flames, only to find a dragon's tail more than ten meters long sweeping toward him.

"Boom----"

In Onyxia's glaring eyes, she was horrified to see that her dragon tail, which could level a hill, was caught by Thor with his bare hands!

After struggling for a while without success, she couldn't help but beg for mercy: "Master, please forgive me! I know I was wrong! You are truly strong, and you are worthy of being my master!"

Onyxia's words were humble, but if it weren't for the system panel showing:

Onyxia, Loyalty: 0.

Thor might have believed her!

Seeing that Thor did not relent, Onyxia rolled her eyes, opened her mouth wide, and let out a roar that shook the sky.

"Roar--"

In the woods nearby, Yondu and his team approached in shock, preparing to attack Rocket and the others.

"Roar--"

The sound of the dragon's roar echoed from afar, mixed with a mental assault.

In an instant, everyone seemed to hear the most terrifying sound, trembling, with some timid individuals even wetting themselves in fear.

"Damn it, where did that dragon come from!"

Yondu was the first to react, quickly running toward the roar and immediately spotting the massive Black Dragon.

Seeing Thor, his pupils constricted.

The Sovereign's bounty is definitely not easy to deal with!

He hurried back to his men and fled. When gods fight, it's best not to get involved!

Fearful Roar, one of the Black Dragon's signature moves, often caused most people to lose control of their bodies.

Unfortunately, for a god like Thor, this little dragon was still too inexperienced.

"Don't cry until you see the coffin!" Thor said, grabbing her by the tail, swinging her around, and slamming her into the ground headfirst, covering her face in dirt.

"Ah! I'm going to kill you!" Onyxia finally lost her temper. She struggled desperately but couldn't break free.

Seizing an opportunity, she bit Thor hard.

No matter how strong you are, you wouldn't believe that "Crunch" won't still hurt after a bite, would you?

"Bang——" As if she had bitten into a steel plate, Onyxia felt a jolt through her chest and nearly shattered her teeth.

Damn, this guy is definitely not human! Onyxia thought to herself, feeling the pressure from Thor was no less than what she experienced with her father.

"Alright, I won't continue this any longer."

Thor said, pushing her down with all his strength. He then summoned Stormbreaker with his right hand and pressed it against Onyxia's neck.

"You have two options. One, become my mount and wear this." He pulled out the reins with one hand.

"Or two, I'll make you a specimen."

As Onyxia was pressed by the axe, her dragon scales stood on end, like a cat fluffing its fur.

"No, no, no! I choose the first one!"

The Black Dragon was on the verge of panic. Dragons are highly sensitive to danger, and she immediately realized her dragon form was as fragile as paper against Stormbreaker...

To show her loyalty, she quickly put on the reins. Cunning as she was, she knew when to be submissive!

Loyalty: 59.

Thor:

Forget it. She's wearing the reins now. Even if there's some rebellion, it can be managed with training!

He nodded. "Alright, you are now my mount. Can you change into human form?"

Although a dragon is more impressive than Hela's giant wolf, Thor couldn't have her dragging him around like a pet when not in battle.

Princess Black Dragon nodded. Her enormous form quickly shrank into a beautiful woman with black hair.

She saluted gracefully. "Countess Katerina Prestor, greetings to you."

This was the identity she had assumed before being summoned, but she could no longer use it.

Despite her less-than-perfect demeanor, the female dragon in human form was undeniably attractive.

Thor nodded in satisfaction. "Thor Odinson, son of Odin, Lord of the Nine Realms, God of Thunder, heir to the throne of Asgard, and also—your master."

Onyxia's eyes lit up.

It seems he's not an ordinary human but another powerful race with a noble status, which is relatively acceptable!

Thor noticed that Onyxia's loyalty had increased slightly to 60, which was just enough to pass.

---

Chapter 196: Knight Riding Dragon

In a dilapidated factory on Earth, several people in camouflage uniforms were assessing their latest haul.

"Not bad, another big find!"

"It's absurd that they're using this treasure as a farm tool. It's worth more than what a museum would pay for it."

A portly man picked up a hoe-like instrument and struck it with a special device. Instantly, the stones on its surface fell away, revealing the gleam of metal.

The most precious metal on Earth—Vibranium!

The fat man, Ulysses Crow, was wanted by Wakanda for stealing Vibranium.

Ultron's Vibranium had been sourced from him.

"It's a shame. The United States is a mess right now. Otherwise, this could sell for a fortune!" He gestured expansively.

A young man with pigtails suddenly said, "I think Wakanda would be more interested in this."

"Hey, are you crazy?" The fat man glared at him. "We're wanted by Wakanda. Why would we walk into a trap?"

"No, not us—just you."

The young man sneered.

"Little brat, what do you mean..."

The fat man turned sharply and saw a black hole in the muzzle of a gun.

"Bang bang bang."

After a burst of gunfire, the young man aimed his weapon at Ulysses Crow, who lay on the ground, unable to move.

"Eric, handing me over is pointless. The isolation and exclusion of that country is unimaginable. They won't let an outsider in."

Ulysses Crow made one last attempt.

"Yes," Eric said impassively, "But I'm not an outsider."

He pulled down his lip with his fingers, revealing a hint of purple.

Ulysses suddenly understood and gave a wry smile. "So that's it. I always thought you were just a crazy guy from the United States..."

"Boom--"

.....

"Black Dragon Princess, Loyalty: 70"

A night of hard work had earned ten points of loyalty.

Thor, looking at the blushing Black Dragon Princess beside him, thought privately, "I did this for loyalty!"

"Master, do you have any orders?" Onyxia asked cautiously.

"Don't call me master, address me as Your Highness. I will arrange an identity for you, Countess Katerina Prestor of Asgard."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Thor gazed at the sky and said to himself, "It's time to check on the Rocket."

Approaching the spaceship, Thor was taken aback to see Rocket with a pensive expression. "Um, Pippi Bear, what's wrong with you?"

Rocket glanced at him and complained, "I've noticed you're better than Quill. Every time you show up, you're accompanied by different beauties."

Rocket stared at Onyxia suspiciously for a few seconds, then his eyes widened.

"F**k! She's not alone, she's not alone!"

His animal instincts made the little raccoon's fur stand on end.

"What's wrong with you?"

Thor was puzzled.

Princess Black Dragon answered his unspoken question: "Most animals react to higher beings on the food chain. Dragons are at the top of that chain."

Thor understood and moved on. He asked Rocket, "What were you thinking just now? Isn't the spaceship already repaired?"

Rocket shook off his thoughts and ran over, speaking in a low voice. "Don't you think something's off?"

"How so?"

"Quill's biological father—doesn't it seem a bit odd? Why did he leave after Quill was born and only return after his mother died?"

"Also, Yondu doesn't seem that bad. He's been good to Quill, hasn't handed him over to his biological father for a long time. There shouldn't be any secrets, right?"

Although Rocket was a raccoon, he was very perceptive and had noticed several inconsistencies. He knew he couldn't dissuade Star-Lord, and even if he voiced his doubts, they might not be believed.

Thor nodded. "You're right. I didn't see any real affection from Ego towards Quill. He seemed to be looking at something else."

"What?" Rocket's ears perked up instantly. "Is Star-Lord in danger? Damn it, how can there be such a father!"

He kicked the grass in frustration.

"What's so surprising?" The silent Black Dragon Princess said with a sneer, "My father was like that. He treated me as a tool; my life and death were no more significant than a few servants."

Thor responded, "Every family has its own struggles. Nebula and Gamora have their issues with Thanos, and my father also imprisoned my sister, although he does seem to regret it somewhat now."

---

Chapter 197: Father's Responsibility

"Oh, it's a shame, Quill still owes me two meals! I'm going to rescue Quill and have a good laugh about it!"

"But you don't know where he is right now."

"Ego once hired Yondu to wait for Quill; Yondu must know his whereabouts!"

At this moment, Yondu was in trouble.

His repeated protection of Quill had led to increasing dissatisfaction among his subordinates.

"I'll tell you why I didn't let you do it—because I saw the man who killed Ronan!"

Confronted with his subordinates' doubts, Yondu roared, and the embroidery needles hidden in his sleeves flew out and spun around.

The rebellious subordinates quickly fell into line. In a fight, none of them could match Yondu's skill.

Seeing them bow their heads, Yondu nodded in satisfaction. He didn't notice the wary glances from his crew.

That night, he was betrayed. He was stabbed in the back, and the fins on his head were knocked off, rendering him unable to control the embroidery needles.

His few loyal subordinates were executed one by one and cast into space.

"Hahaha, damn it!"

Late into the night, the rebels celebrated their victory and drank to excess.

A small soldier quietly brought Yondu's fin to where he was being held.

"I'm sorry, boss. I... didn't want to rebel. But they killed all my friends..."

Yondu put on the fins with a heavy heart, looking at the soldier with a complex expression. This was probably the last loyal person he had. He never imagined that after working so hard for so many years, he would end up like this.

"It's alright. The boss will take care of this. We'll deal with them!"

Yondu patted the soldier's shoulder, a cold smile appearing on his blue face...

"Clang—"

The spaceship trembled suddenly.

"What happened?" Yondu asked, surprised.

A golden circle appeared beside him, and Rocket emerged, saying, "If you have any questions, I suggest you hold them. This spaceship is about to explode!"

"Dragon! Black Dragon!" On the spaceship, exclamations filled the air.

The leader of the rebels—who called himself Electric Shock Face—looked in shock at the enormous creature tens of meters outside the spaceship.

Onyxia took a deep breath, and a massive column of fire erupted from her, causing a large section of the spaceship to explode.

Princess Black Dragon felt a sense of satisfaction. A spaceship this large, and I just flatten it like it's nothing...

"It's useless," Thor said, taking a swing. "Watch me!"

He picked up Stormbreaker and charged towards the spaceship. Moments later, a huge explosion engulfed the entire vessel.

"See? It's like paper!" Back on Onyxia's back, Thor mocked.

Black Dragon Princess Loyalty +1!

"You actually destroyed my spaceship!"

On the Milano spaceship, Yondu complained helplessly to Thor.

"Well, it's not your spaceship anymore. You've been overthrown and you're no longer the captain!"

Rocket delivered his criticism with sharpness.

"Yeah..." Yondu hung his head dejectedly, lost in thought.

"I was a slave to the Kree for 20 years, and it was Stakar who rescued me and took me in as a Marauder. He said as long as I followed the code, it was my home.

"But I broke the code, and they exiled me. I deserved it..."

"Wait, when you say 'violating the rules,' do you mean helping Quill's father find his child?" Rocket interrupted.

"How did you know?" Yondu was surprised.

"He found his father yesterday and took Peter Quill to meet him..."

"Damn it! Don't hand him over to Ego!" Yondu was shocked. "Although I don't know why he's looking for Quill, it's definitely not for anything good!"

"So we need to go and stop him! Yes, save him. I'm going to laugh at him for the rest of my life for this."

Yondu stared at Rocket for a few seconds, then burst into laughter. "No! You're lying!"

"You act like the worst and cruelest person, but you're actually the most cowardly! You push away everyone who's willing to be with you because even a little affection reminds you of the deep emptiness in your heart! You don't want to accept friends because you're afraid of losing them! I understand you because..."

Yondu looked down at the stunned Rocket and said softly, "I'm just as troubled as you are!"

He placed his hand on the control panel and said quietly, "Ego's power is immense, and we probably won't make it back. I haven't done much good in my life, so let's at least do my best to take responsibility for Quill as a father this time!"

--

Chapter 198: Old Scumbag

On Ego's planet, Mantis shook Drax awake.

"Drax, wake up! We need to talk!"

Drax opened his eyes groggily and said, "Sorry, I don't like you. You're so ugly... ouch..."

As he spoke, he suddenly tilted his head and vomited.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Ouch... I was having this terrible vision... It was like I was with you... That's disgusting."

Mantis said urgently, "That's not what I'm here to talk about. I need to tell you that Ego has achieved everything he wanted, and you're in danger now! I'm sorry, I should have warned you sooner!"

Meanwhile, Gamora was in a cave, staring in shock at a pile of bones.

"Broken..."

"You need to adjust your outlook on life, still!"

At the same time, Ego was brainwashing Star-Lord.

"Everything around us is temporary, including that girl. Only we are eternal! Oh, perhaps that Asgardian from yesterday might live a long time, but that doesn't matter."

He spoke passionately: "Many years ago, I sought out the essence of life. But what I didn't tell you is that when I finally found it, I found life to be... disappointing!"

"At that moment, I understood—searching for life doesn't mean I want to keep it! I sought the ultimate goal—eternity! And that is now your goal."

Countless images flashed around, and Ego's voice was filled with enthusiasm: "For thousands of years, I have planted my seeds on countless planets. They will grow and cover [until the entire universe is destroyed] and become me!"

He looked troubled: "However, there's a problem. A god's energy alone isn't enough to achieve this. I need a helper. So, I mated with different species, trying to create a new god."

Some rather explicit images appeared. Ego certainly had varied tastes, and any race seemed to be fair game. Star-Lord's galactic escapades were probably part of his legacy!

"I asked Yondu to bring me my offspring and assured him they wouldn't be harmed. I kept my word, and none of them felt anything."

"But to my disappointment, none of them inherited my genes—until you, Quill. Only you are the true son of a god!"

Star-Lord suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Although Ego spoke lightly, he could still sense the grim fate of his siblings...

He lowered his head so Ego couldn't see his expression and muttered, "What about my mother? Did you ever truly love her?"

Ego rarely showed sadness.

"Indeed... I visited Earth three times to see her. I knew that if I visited her a fourth time, I would never leave again. My dream would end."

Star-Lord had a terrible premonition.

"So, I implanted a tumor in her brain. It pains me, but it was necessary..." Ego said chillingly.

"What!?" Star-Lord felt as though he'd been struck by lightning.

He never imagined his mother's death was due to his father—the very man who claimed to love her!

Even if I, Quill, am a scumbag, I'm not this much of one!

"You killed my mother!" Star-Lord roared in anger.

Once the mask of civility was removed, Ego's face twisted into a vicious snarl, and he roared: "Is this my reward from you?"

Massive tentacles erupted from the ground, reaching out to stab Star-Lord.

"I intended to fulfill my dream with you, but now, at least for a thousand years, you'll serve as my battery!"

The tentacles lashed out, and before Star-Lord could evade, he was pierced. Divine power surged through the tentacles, causing Ego's energy to spike dramatically.

With a resounding "clink," a battle ax descended from the sky, severing the tentacles. Beams of multicolored light rained down, destroying Ego's palace in an instant and enveloping him completely.

From Bifrost came Thor's voice: "I'm not late, am I?"

Gamora and Drax rushed to help the fallen Star-Lord.

Rocket's ship landed on the ruins, and Gamora helped Star-Lord aboard.

"This is just one of his projections; he'll be back soon!" The Mantis Girl expressed her concern.

Several tentacles emerged from the ground, wrapping around the ship.

A grotesque humanoid figure appeared in front of the ship, snarling at them.

"Ahhh! That's my biological father?" Star-Lord shouted in disbelief.

"How do we defeat a god?"

"Simple. We need to hitch a ride with another god!"

---

Chapter 199: Silver Guardian Steals The House...

In truth, Thor couldn't handle this alone...

The Power Stone could indeed destroy a planet, and with Ego's constant output through the Bifrost, it could be done. However, this only applies if the planets don't actively resist, and the core's energy detonates instead. Clearly, someone like Ego doesn't fit this scenario.

In space, numerous Sovereign spaceships appeared, following Star-Lord and the others.

"Damn, there are too many of these pests! I haven't even fixed the weapon systems yet!"

The spaceship, just restored to basic functionality, was nearly defenseless against the swarm of unmanned fighters.

On the ground, countless tentacles stretched out, ensnaring the spaceship.

"Let's unite!"

Finding such a powerful adversary was rare; it was an opportunity to test one's strength.

Thor roared, his entire body surrounded by purple lightning, his eyes covered by a purple hue.

His armor crackled with electric light, scorching everything it touched.

Thor leapt high into the air, and the previously dark night sky was suddenly illuminated by thunder, as if it were day. Dark thunderclouds formed a vortex, exuding a sense of apocalyptic power.

With howling winds, he struck down heavily, and the entire sky was oppressed by a torrent of purple lightning that spanned hundreds of miles.

"Boom..." The Sovereign fighters were the first to succumb, continuously exploding in the thunderstorm.

In the control room of the Sovereign planet, the high priest's face turned pale. This wasn't the first time the screens had gone dark...

Thor's powerful strike not only obliterated all Sovereign fighters but also reduced all visible energy tentacles to dust.

"Let's move!" Yondu shouted.

"No! He aims to destroy the universe we're in; we have to stop him! We need to go to the planet's core and destroy it to truly defeat Ego!" Star-Lord yelled, pointing at another attack on the ground.

"Good idea, this is the second time we're saving the galaxy!" Rocket said excitedly, turning the spaceship around and flying towards the planet's interior through the massive fissure created by Thor.

"No, it wasn't us who defeated Ronan last time..."

Drax bluntly pointed out.

"Asgardian, you cannot kill me!"

Ego's massive transformed figure appeared in mid-air, waving his arms triumphantly.

"Foolish, with your virtues, you dare to call yourself a god?"

Thor spat and called, "Onyxia!"

A massive black dragon emerged in the night sky, taking a deep breath before unleashing a fiery breath towards the ground. Ego's figure shattered once more.

Thor wasn't hurried either. Ego's attack methods were truly incomprehensible to ordinary beings, but not to him.

Although Ego had immense power, he had a significant disadvantage.

One major flaw was his attack range. For ordinary foes, no matter how many, they were just numbers to him, and he could annihilate an army in an instant. But against a sufficiently strong opponent, all attack methods became futile.

Thor had encountered this weakness before; it prevented him from fully exploiting his advantage against Thanos.

Now, however, the only disadvantage had been countered by Stormbreaker.

"This is bad!" Ego's face suddenly changed; he felt a severe threat as if something had entered his body that could endanger his life at any moment.

With a roar, the tentacles on the ground retracted instantly, and his consciousness rushed underground.

This was another flaw.

Although the planet's generated consciousness had a remarkably high energy limit, the core of his body remained immobile.

Once detected, it became a living target, and even the mighty Celestials could be outmatched by civilian heroes like the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Onyxia reverted to her human form and followed Thor underground, attacking Ego's core.

Ego's body extended throughout the planet, and the underground space resembled a vast underground city.

Debris rained down overwhelmingly, almost impenetrable, but it was merely a minor inconvenience to Thor and the Black Dragon Princess.

Creating a maze with changing terrain?

Useless; wielding Stormbreaker, gods are slain by gods.Whatever obstacles arise, they are cleaved through with the axe, leaving no need for detours.

Let him try to resist; I'll bulldoze through!

Ego had no time to deal with Thor now.

Deep within the planet, Ego's body began to reform. Theoretically, his main body was still intact, and he could regenerate infinitely.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a scene about to tear apart.

"Stop!"

---

Chapter 200: The Man Who Unleashed the Avengers Alliance with One Punch

"See that metal sphere? That's Ego's core. Just blow it up."

"Quill, you said it was from the heart."

"Don't worry about the details! Just blow it up, that's all!"

"Good idea. I've restarted the weapon system. It'll be ready shortly—hold on tight!"

Rocket pressed the button, and amidst his shouts, a hot laser from the spaceship's front fired at the metal core.

The hard shell was continuously melted under the intense laser.

"Yes, that's it! If it penetrates to the core, he'll be finished!" Star-Lord whispered. "Zero Three Zero" "No, stop!" Ego's roar echoed as an energy tentacle shot toward them, piercing the spaceship instantly.

The spaceship erupted in flames and plummeted to the ground.

Yondu and the others scrambled out of the wreckage, the ground gradually bathed in divine energy, as a massive human face slowly materialized before them, radiating a terrifying pressure that nearly flattened them.

"Didn't you say you could put him to sleep?" Drax turned to Mantis.

Mantis shook her head in fear. "No, he's too powerful. I can only do it when he's willing. In his current state, I can't manage it!"

"No, you must believe in yourself." Drax shouted, "Because I believe in you!"

As the overwhelming energy was about to surge forward, Mantis gritted her teeth, her forehead tentacles glowing. She placed one hand on a stream of energy flowing through the ground and shouted, "Sleep!"

The terrifying energy vanished instantly, as if time had stopped.

Mantis staggered and said weakly, "I can't hold it for long. You need to act faster!"

"But our weapons have failed. What now?"

"I have a solution!" Rocket produced a control panel he had somehow acquired from the spaceship and connected it to an explosive device.

"I brought a small detonator. There's a crack in the protective shell. We just need to insert the explosive device and detonate it. If it works, it will cause a chain reaction in his entire nervous system, and the entire planet will explode!"

"But those holes are too small for us to enter," Yondu said, "unless..."

He glanced at Baby Groot.

"Oh, that's our only option left."

Rocket grumbled, took Groot with a puzzled expression, and headed toward the metal core.

"Groot, handle these two buttons. This one will explode immediately. Once you press it, we'll all be finished. So, you need to press the one next to it first to delay the explosion, and then run out immediately, understand?" Rocket instructed Groot.

"I'm Groot."

Baby Groot stared at him blankly, pointed at the explosion button, and looked at Rocket uncertainly.

"Oh, no no no! This is the instant explosion button! Did I not make it clear? You need to press this one!"

"I'm Groot."

Baby Groot nodded, appearing to understand.

"Okay, let's go over it again. Which button should you press first?"

Groot's tiny finger pointed to the blast button...

Nearby, Star-Lord glanced at Yondu and then at the unconscious Ego.

Yondu sighed and said quietly, "Quill, do you really think I kept you around because you're small and can steal things others can't?"

Star-Lord shook his head. "But that's what you said back then."

Yondu smiled sadly. "When I saw what happened to the other kids, I couldn't bring myself to give you up."

"But you still said you were going to eat me."

"Haha," Yondu chuckled. "I was just joking. Who thinks about eating people all day?"

"I didn't take it as a joke. Besides, there aren't many normal people in your crew."

Yondu looked taken aback and said with a complex expression, "Yeah. That's why they revolted, and Asgard cleaned them up. Now, aside from a horse boy, I'm the only one left."

Star-Lord was also taken aback and smiled wryly. "My father wanted to train me to be like him, to destroy the entire universe with him."

"For that, he killed my mother!"

With that, Star-Lord's anger flared. He rushed at Ego and roared fiercely, "You bastard, you killed my mother!"

"Wait, Quill, what are you doing? Don't be impulsive!"

Yondu and Gamora sensed something was wrong and rushed to stop him, but it was too late.

"This punch is for my mother!" Star-Lord declared through gritted teeth and slammed his fist hard into Ego's massive face.

--

Chapter : Killing a God

Star-Lord's punch did not cause any damage.

But it had a serious consequence—Ego woke up.

The overwhelming energy surged once more. Rocket no longer cared about guiding Baby Groot. With Ego now awake, asking Groot to carry the explosives was an act of recklessness.

Thor, who had just arrived, was speechless at the scene. If he weren't familiar with Star-Lord's reckless nature, he might have thought he was dealing with an inexperienced rookie...

Ego's face glowed with divine power again. He laughed maniacally and said, "Quill, you've done well!"

"I know you don't want to be like this, you don't want to be a mortal! Soon, we will be the masters. Stop messing with me!"

The energy tentacles surged forward.

"Crack..." The flash of the axe sliced through the tentacles.

"People of Asgard, don't test my patience! If you leave now, I'll forgive your intrusion!"

Ego's furious voice echoed, and as he spoke, the entire underground space violently shook, resembling an apocalyptic collapse.

"If you die here, even Odin can't save you!"

Thor sneered, "You probably don't realize who's in charge now. You lack the power to kill me, but I can utterly destroy you!"

Thor's mockery only fueled Ego's rage.

If it were Odin suppressing him, he wouldn't be this furious. What infuriated him most was that the person before him, though clearly weaker and restrained by the energy reserve of a planet, was managing to resist him effectively.

"You forced me, ah..."

Ego's roar of agony was followed by a massive eruption of energy. The earth trembled, the oceans boiled, and volcanoes around the planet erupted.

Yondu was the first to suffer, completely immobilized by an energy-encased boulder. As he attempted to activate the invincible arrow, a stone crushed the arrow into pieces.

Gamora, Drax, and others were buried under rubble, unable to move.

Mantis had transformed into her original form, struggling against the energy storm.

Several energy tentacles pierced Star-Lord, draining his divine power. A skeleton emerged slowly, and its flesh and blood gradually reformed into a human shape.

"I said, I don't want to do this alone. You can't ignore the mission the universe has given you!"

"It's not necessary, Quill. Why are you sabotaging our chance? Stop denying your identity. You're unique among billions, trillions, or even countless others! How can life be less significant than mine?"

"Boom..."

Large boulders shattered under Stormbreaker's force, but Ego remained unaffected.

He couldn't harm Thor, but as long as Star-Lord's energy was replenished, he could completely block Thor from destroying his core.

Yondu struggled to speak, "Kid, I didn't control the yaka arrow with my voice, but with my heart!"

Star-Lord closed his eyes in a daze, sensing the divine power within him. He clenched his fists, feeling a terrifying force awakening inside him.

He slowly raised his head, fixed his gaze on Ego, and said, "No matter what, you shouldn't have killed my mother!"

"Bang—" The energy tentacles embedded in his body snapped. Star-Lord shot out like a bullet, grabbing Ego by the neck, and they engaged in a fierce struggle...

"Leave it to me. You all need to get out of here," Thor said, freeing his hands. "This place will be completely destroyed soon!"

Realizing the urgency, everyone rushed to the ground, including Yondu. In the original story, he stayed to save Star-Lord, but with Thor here, he was less concerned.

As everyone evacuated, Thor gripped his battle axe tightly and watched Star-Lord and Ego fighting desperately.

Although Star-Lord was not as strong as Ego, he was a formidable opponent in his own right. The two fought viciously, with their divine powers clashing in a brutal contest.

Seeing Thor out of the corner of his eye, Ego panicked. Having witnessed the power of Stormbreaker, he knew his core wouldn't withstand it, so he struggled desperately.

"No, we must stop him! We can't let him touch my core!" Ego yelled as Star-Lord held him from behind and fell to the ground.

Thor took a deep breath, raised his weapon, and leaped high.

Rocket, Yondu, and the others hurried to the spaceship on the ground. Yondu shouted to the pilot, "Start the spaceship! This place is going to be destroyed soon."

Without further delay, the spacecraft ignited and took off.

In the underground world, Ego desperately pleaded with Star-Lord, "No, stop! Quill, listen to me. You're a god! If you let him kill me, you'll be no different from an ordinary person!"

Star-Lord remained expressionless, murmuring, "What's wrong with that?"

"No!!!"

Stormbreaker struck the core with immense divine power. The protective shell barely held for half a second before it exploded...

--

Chapter 202: Going Home

"No!"

The core of the planet was struck by Stormbreaker, causing massive explosions. Flames and lava engulfed the entire planet, turning it into a fiery purgatory.

Ego looked at his hands in disbelief as they slowly turned to ashes. He knew that this time, there would be no recovery.

As the sensation of death approached, he finally understood the despair of those he had killed...

In his final moments, he wondered what might have happened if he hadn't left Earth after his third visit.

"Boom..."

The planet shook violently, signaling its impending collapse.

"Congratulations on completing the task related to Star-Lord: Destroy Dad! Reward: Challenge Ticket for the Alien Arena."

"Challenge Ticket for the Alien Arena: Randomly selects three alien characters. Choose one to challenge. Win the challenge to receive the corresponding hero call."

"Note: You cannot carry any equipment during the challenge, and the challenge ticket will not be refunded if you fail. Choose wisely!"

When Thor received the task completion notification, he ignored it for now and focused on Star-Lord nearby.

Star-Lord stared blankly at his hands, the divine brilliance fading away.

"Do you regret it?" Thor asked softly as he approached.

Star-Lord didn't respond.

"Sorry, I didn't let you avenge yourself."

Star-Lord shook his head. "It's okay. When it comes down to it, I don't know if I could have done it myself."

Thor didn't say anything more and handed Star-Lord a spacesuit.

"This place is going to collapse soon. If you don't want to die, leave quickly."

Star-Lord nodded, took the spacesuit, and gave a rare serious expression. "Thank you."

Aboard Yondu's spare spaceship, Thor had left, and Star-Lord sat silently, lost in thought.

Baby Groot was eerily quiet, holding his small hands as if to comfort him.

"Child, remember, he may be your biological father, but he should never be your father!"

Star-Lord looked up at Yondu and asked, "What are your plans now?"

Yondu smiled wryly and said softly, "I'm going to find Stakar. No matter how he feels about me, I'm going home..."

"Well, I need to go home too..."

....

On Earth, in Wakanda's meeting hall, Erik was being interrogated with his hands bound.

"If you have the ability, ask me who I really am!"

Erik lifted his head and looked at everyone present.

"You are Erik Stevens, an American secret agent, a mercenary known for his crimes. This is your identity."

Princess Shuri sneered.

"That's not my real name, little princess. Dare to ask me my real name?" Erik sneered back.

An official spoke sharply, "Who are you really?"

At this, Erik broke free from his guards and declared loudly, "I am N'Jadaka, son of Prince N'Jobu!"

"What?!" Everyone stood up in shock, staring at Erik. No, it should be N'Jadaka!

"On my father's chest are Black Panther's claw marks! Your father isn't a king; he's a murderer!"

"You're speaking nonsense!" the queen yelled, and the hall fell silent. The people in the hall, especially the former king, would not believe the outsider's claims.

However, Wakabi, Wakanda's military minister, held up a necklace and said, "What he says is true."

The hall fell silent, save for Erik's voice.

"I want to challenge the bloodline for the rights to the throne. I challenge you for the title of king and Black Panther!"

Everyone looked at T'Challa, then at Erik.

As the son of a prince, Erik had the right to challenge, a tradition in Wakanda.

Usually, such challenges were just formalities, with the Black Panther being the strongest by default.

An official said, "The challenge will take a few weeks to prepare..."

"No, I don't need that long or any preparations," Erik replied. "I just need him alone and someone to help me untie."

"T'Challa, don't agree to this!" the Queen whispered urgently.

T'Challa, the current Black Panther, examined the necklace carefully, as if recalling something.

After a long pause, he finally released his grip and looked directly at Erik, his cousin, with a determined expression.

"I accept your challenge!"

A smirk appeared on Erik's lips.

"Father, I'm home!"

---

Chapter 203: Waterfall Challenge

At the edge of a cliff, in a pool, many female guards from Wakanda watched the scene with serious expressions.

The voice of the ancestral spirit echoed, "The power of the Black Panther in the king's body will be stripped away..."

T'Challa sat quietly for a moment, feeling the power of the Black Panther leaving him. He approached Erik and said in a deep voice, "This is your last chance. Put down your weapons; we can find another way to resolve this."

Erik ignored him and shouted, "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life! I was trained, betrayed, and fought just to get here!"

He removed his shirt, revealing brand marks.

"I've slaughtered people across many countries and even killed my own kin on this continent. Each kill was marked with a brand on my body. Everything has been leading up to this day, to kill you here!"

Seeing that he couldn't convince Erik, T'Challa nodded to Eric.

"The challenge begins!"

"Challenge Ticket for the Alien Arena: Randomly selects three alien characters. Choose one to challenge. Win the challenge to receive the corresponding hero call."

"Drawing..."

"The lottery is complete. Please select a challenge within ten minutes!"

In a tavern on Sakaar, Thor looked at the three figures displayed on the system panel with a pained expression.

After dealing with Ego and enduring Yondu's previous assault, the task of defeating Dad had been completed. Following the Guardians of the Galaxy no longer seemed meaningful.

Oh, and Star-Lord still owed him two meals, but considering his current state, Thor decided to let it slide for now!

The situation on Earth would take some time to settle, so Thor came to Sakaar to revisit it. Onyxia, obviously very interested in the arena, had eagerly entered the fray.

A black dragon appeared in the arena, attracting many challengers' attention. Whether they could become dragon-slayers depended on their skill.

To Thor, defeating such a fierce competitor as the Black Dragon Princess was no easy feat. Such a formidable opponent would surely be a prominent figure. How could she be here in the arena?

He declined the hostess arranged by the Grandmaster, as Thor's tastes were particular. Even a simple vase wouldn't have pleased him.

Alone in the tavern, Thor used a challenge ticket.

Three names and basic descriptions appeared on the system panel:

- Clark Kent, from the Justice League universe.

- Jean Grey, from the X-Men: Apocalypse world.

- Godzilla Earth, from the world of "Godzilla: King of the Monsters."

Thor: "..."

He used to have no choice but now...

It looked like none of them were beatable!

Thor's frustration grew. Despite being renowned as the strongest Avenger, having made Thanos suffer, and recently killing a god, he still felt invincible...

Clark Kent? Isn't that Superman? Defeating him? Not a chance.

His current strongest skill was copying others.

Snapping fingers with all six Infinity Gems was fine, but the challenge required no equipment, which was problematic!

And choosing a challenge within ten minutes—how could he manage that?

In ten minutes, should he sacrifice Natasha, kill Vision, or take down the Ancient One?

The second choice, Jean Grey, the fifth-level Mutant and famous Dark Phoenix, was formidable. The Man of Steel wouldn't stand a chance!

The third choice was Godzilla, already in a state of full energy. Thor would need to use his fists to defeat it...

The choice was daunting. Although this opponent was the weakest of the three, the challenge was still significant.

It was like having mountains of gold in front of him, but he could only take away scraps because he couldn't carry more...

However, this seemed to be the least difficult option. At least he could withstand the opponent's attacks!

"Countdown... 60 seconds, 59 seconds, 58 seconds left..."

Thor sighed.

"Choose God... Wait!"

An idea flashed through Thor's mind. He stared at the system panel and a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Choose the challenge: Jean Grey!"

The patrons in the bar watched in astonishment as Thor's form slowly became translucent until he vanished.

"That person looked familiar..."

"Ah! I recognize him, the champion from the duel arena over ten years ago, God Pikachu!"

In an arena that appeared unremarkable, Thor faced the apprehensive girl across from him, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

---

Chapter 204: The New King

"Who are you? Where am I?"

Jean Grey asked warily.

She had been in the academy moments ago, so how had she ended up in this strange place?

Her face grew tense. Few could evade the professor and be abducted from the academy without anyone noticing.

Thor smiled. "Defeat me, or be defeated by me. You'll find out soon enough."

"No, I want to know now," Jean said, activating her telepathic abilities.

Thor did nothing, but the system's notification echoed in her mind: "Drip! Psychic energy invasion detected."

"Mental barrier activated!"

"Ugh..."

Jean groaned as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.

Was this opponent skilled in psychic defense like the professor?

Seeing Thor approach, Jean glanced around the empty arena, gritted her teeth, and attempted to manipulate the floor with her telekinesis...

"Warning! Arena environment cannot be damaged!"

A sudden voice spoke in her mind.

Jean: "!!!"

Before she could react, Thor sprinted behind her and struck her on the back of the head.

"You..." Jean's vision blurred, and she lost consciousness...

"Drip! Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the challenge! Reward: Omega-level Mutant, Jean Grey!"

Thor reappeared in the bar, looking at the unconscious girl in his arms, and breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worried that Jean might unexpectedly unleash her full power...

It appeared that Jean had not yet become the Dark Phoenix, or even awakened the Phoenix Force.

The reason for choosing her was that in the "Apocalypse" storyline, Jean didn't fully unleash her powers until the end. Although she was strong beforehand, it was still manageable.

Noticing the curious stares around him, Thor realized that he might be perceived as a corpse collector. After all, Jean Grey's appearance was not considered valuable by many.

.....

On Earth, the battle for supremacy in Wakanda had finally concluded.

Although T'Challa had initially gained the upper hand, his guilt and sympathy for his cousin led him to show mercy repeatedly, only to be overpowered by Erik and left severely injured.

The soldiers surrounding them were silent.

Everyone knew T'Challa was the more suitable king, but Wakanda's tradition was that the victor becomes king. Now, no one could stop Erik.

Princess Shuri nearly drew her hand cannon several times, but the queen stopped her with a shake of her head.

Intervening in a duel could have severe consequences. If she acted, she would have no place in Wakanda.

"It's for my father!"

Erik raised his short sword and looked down at T'Challa's neck.

"Bang—" A spear blocked his dagger.

Zuri, filled with grief, said, "Your father died because of me. He is not your enemy; kill me instead!"

Erik, his face twisted with fury, replied, "You and him will both die. I won't hold back!"

With a swift move, Erik struck Zuri, causing him to vomit blood and fall.

"No!!!" Zuri's death ignited T'Challa's fury, and he tried to fight Erik despite his severe injuries.

Unfortunately, he was too weak to stand, let alone fight effectively.

Erik delivered a powerful punch, knocking T'Challa to the ground, and stomped on his despair. He raised his head and declared to everyone, "This is your king!"

Grabbing T'Challa by the hair, Erik lifted him up and slammed him onto the ground, continuing, "This is the Black Panther who was supposed to lead you into the future! Can he protect you?"

Erik then threw T'Challa off the cliff, announcing, "Now, I am the king!"

A priest draped a necklace symbolizing royal power around Erik's neck, and all the soldiers bowed in submission for the first time.

This was Wakanda.

Both Princess Shuri and the queen were deeply saddened. Realizing they could no longer remain, they covered their mouths and left quietly.

In the dead of night, Erik woke from a dream granted by the Black Panther.

He was now fully reborn.

"Burn the remaining heart-shaped herbs!"

His first order was to eliminate any lingering concerns.

"However, this is against our traditions..."

Erik seized a maid by the neck. "Tradition should have been changed a long time ago!"

Amid the raging fire, Princess Shuri sneaked in and took a heart-shaped herb.

"If you had left during the day, I might have ignored you. But now, you're courting death!"

As Erik's cold voice echoed, Shuri looked up in horror to see his sneering face.

--

Chapter 205: New Phoenix

As the princess of Wakanda, Shuri had never been weak. She was equipped with advanced technology and her signature weapon was her hand cannon.

However, she knew she stood no chance against Erik, who had become the Black Panther. Furthermore, any sign of resistance would lead to the soldiers disregarding past loyalties and following their new king's orders without question.

Without hesitation, she turned and fled.

The chase lasted more than half an hour.

Erik had recently become the Black Panther and had not yet fully adapted to his new powers. Additionally, he wasn't wearing his battle suit, which meant he couldn't catch Shuri right away.

But he was undeterred. With a command, the entire Wakandan royal guard began the hunt.

At a crucial moment, the Hulk appeared.

Due to his refusal to comply with the Sokovia Accords and his attack on the island prison, Bruce Banner had become a wanted fugitive in 117 countries.

During this period, he had been hiding out in a small country, similar to Brazil.

Banner had kept in touch with the Avengers and Shuri. When he learned about the upheaval in Wakanda's throne, he realized Shuri was in danger and rushed to her aid.

The Hulk's attack was relentless, and with the soldiers unable to counter him effectively, Hulk easily rescued Shuri.

In a comfortable bed, Jean Grey slowly opened her eyes.

She was disoriented at first, only remembering that her vision had gone black, she had found herself in a strange arena, encountered a mysterious man, and had been knocked unconscious...

Jean: "!!!"

She was startled and jumped up, her first instinct to check her clothes...

Finding nothing unusual, Jean breathed a sigh of relief and felt slightly embarrassed. Why had she jumped to that conclusion?

"Are you awake?" Thor's voice came from beside her.

Jean was startled, instinctively launching a telepathic attack, and then...

"Ah!"

With a scream, Jean clutched her head with one hand, pointed at Thor with the other, and said in horror, "Who are you? Why do you have such powerful mental defenses?"

She was shocked, knowing that even if the professor couldn't penetrate her defenses, he wouldn't cause such a fierce backlash.

Thor looked intrigued. "Young Phoenix, you're really..."

"My name is Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard. You can call me Your Highness or Thor."

"Asgard? Is that a real place?" Jean wondered aloud. "There aren't many countries with monarchies left, but I haven't heard of Asgard."

The world she lived in didn't include Norse Mythology.

"You definitely haven't heard of it because it's not a country on Earth."

Thor scratched his head and said, "Never mind, you can see for yourself."

He relaxed his mental defenses, allowing Jean to access part of his memories.

"The Nine Realms... Thor... The Avengers..."

Jean muttered, "So, I'm not just on another planet, but in a different universe? This Earth is no longer the one I knew?"

Thor nodded. "Yes, this is a similar yet completely different world... There are no mutants here, only people with superpowers. However, sometimes those with superpowers face situations similar to mutants. After all, fear of the unknown is a constant."

"But that's okay. I'm not like the professor. My philosophy is closer to Magneto's. In fact, under certain circumstances, I wouldn't mind adopting Apocalypse's methods."

Jean nodded.

In reality, she often struggled to understand the professor's philosophy. More than once, she felt the professor was too lenient with outsiders.

"Who is Apocalypse?" Jean suddenly asked, tilting her head.

"Just know he's a major antagonist. Didn't Apocalypse show up when you were summoned?"

"You really aren't a good person!"

Despite that, Jean found Thor intriguing.

The atmosphere became slightly awkward.

"By the way, do you know Cyclops?" Thor changed the subject.

"Laser eyes? Who's that?"

"An... individual who shoots red laser beams from his eyes."

"Oh, you mean Scott Summers! Yes, he's a rebellious boy who just joined the academy a couple of days ago and even burned down the professor's favorite tree. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just a bit curious..."

Thor now understood the timeline for this version of Jean Grey.

It seemed the plot was just beginning, and she was still a newcomer! No wonder she appeared so inexperienced.

--

Chapter 126: Before The Storm

In the halls of Wakanda, Erik sat on the king's throne, now the Black Panther.

He surveyed the crowd with various expressions before making his decision known.

"In the place where I grew up, when black people were oppressed and rebelled, they were unarmed and helpless. At that time, where were we in Wakanda?"

No one spoke, except for W'Kabi, who looked hopeful.

"Today marks a new beginning. Those who enslaved us, and their descendants and accomplices, will pay the price for their actions! We will send Vibranium weapons to every colonial nation, arm those oppressed, and overthrow their rule."

The more Erik spoke, the more passionate he became, unable to contain his excitement as he declared, "It's time to show them our true colors!"

"We are warriors, and the wheel of time turns continuously. This time, we will rule the world! Wakanda will become the new empire on which the sun never sets!"

"However, Wakanda has remained as it is because we have never resorted to military action," objected the captain of the guard.

"That was then. Times have changed, my lord!"

W'Kabi, sitting next to Erik, said, "The world is changing, elders. It's shrinking, and other nations are catching up. Soon, this will be an era of either conquest or being conquered. I would rather we be the conquerors!"

He glanced around at the many elders, but no one spoke up.

"Then it's decided. Prepare immediately!"

Walking out of the hall, Erik's expression was grim.

Princess Shuri had escaped, and more importantly, she had taken the heart-shaped herb, meaning she could cultivate another Black Panther to challenge him.

Although Erik believed no one from Wakanda could defeat him in combat.

In an African cave, a group was hiding from pursuit.

This group included Banner, Shuri, and others.

"Erik is a warmonger; he will definitely lead Wakanda into ruin!" Nadia, T'Challa's girlfriend, said worriedly.

"However, we don't have the means to stop him! Even with the heart-shaped herb, it only makes me eligible to become Black Panther, and I still wouldn't stand a chance against Erik."

Everyone fell silent.

Princess Shuri looked around and suddenly her eyes lit up. "Bruce Banner, will you marry me?"

Banner: "?"

Is she still thinking about this?

Seeing his confusion, Shuri said eagerly, "Listen, I am the princess of Wakanda! If you marry me, you will become the prince of Wakanda. As a member of the royal family, you would also be eligible to consume the heart-shaped herb and become the new Black Panther!"

In truth, even if the slender Banner consumed the heart-shaped herb, he wouldn't be able to defeat Erik. But the Hulk could!

Everyone looked at him, and this seemed to be the best solution. Even though Banner was white, their future child would be black and of royal blood...

Banner was momentarily stunned but then smiled wryly, ready to agree.

"Wait, no!"

He suddenly shuddered, his face turning green, his head swelling, and he roared, "No!!!"

Then he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"What's wrong with you?" Princess Shuri quickly rushed to his aid.

Banner shook his head. "It's nothing. However, I might disappoint you. Hulk has told me that the power of the heart-shaped herb will be absorbed by him, rendering it useless for me. For me, the heart-shaped herb would be a waste."

Even without the heart-shaped herb, the Hulk could easily defeat Erik. However, without the power of the Black Panther, he could not be recognized by the people of Wakanda.

"How could this be?" Shuri's face fell.

"I have a solution."

Nadia suddenly spoke up. "M'Baku, he may be our only hope!"

"M'Baku? The chieftain who once challenged T'Challa? But he's a barbarian!" the queen said in astonishment.

Contemptuous attitudes are common everywhere.

The whole world sees Wakanda as a land of savages, and all of Wakanda sees M'Baku as leading a group of savages...

"A fisherman found him by the river and brought him to me. He's still alive, though only barely."

M'Baku, upon seeing the heart-shaped herb, resisted the temptation and led them to a tent in the mountains. Shuri was pleasantly surprised to find that her brother was still alive but in a deep sleep.

"Bury him in the snow so he won't be reunited with his ancestors," she said.

Everyone knew that only medicinal herbs could save him at this point.

The queen prepared the medicine herself and administered it to T'Challa.

"Bless the ancestors, Goddess of the Black Panther, keep my son safe and sound!"

In a daze, T'Challa entered a dream once more and saw a Black Panther nearby transform into his father...

"Son, it's time to go home. Come and reunite with me!"

--

Chapter 127: You Have The Hulk, I Have The Hood

"I always feel like you're deliberately ordering me around and testing my psychokinesis under the guise of training."

Jean Grey frowned, sweating profusely as she manipulated a whole set of cleaning tools to tidy up Thor's villa.

Even though she didn't have to do it directly, it was still exhausting!

Meanwhile, Thor watched her with great interest, maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor.

Thor would not admit it: "No, I'm merely assessing your abilities. You should know that a terrifying force lies within you, one that could erupt at any moment, correct?"

Jean fell silent. After a long pause, she whispered, "Then, can you resolve it?"

Thor shook his head. "The solution is beyond reach.

The Phoenix Force is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.

It originates from the primordial universe and was born at the dawn of all things.

It is an immortal, eternal, yet impermanent presence of Chaos.

It is the child of the universe.

It embodies life and spiritual power in the primordial universe, symbolizing life and emotion."

"The only thing you can do is to control yourself as much as possible and avoid being controlled by the Phoenix Force. In a few days, I will take you back to Asgard. My mother is the wisest person in the world; she should be able to help you."

Like Wanda, Jean possesses immense potential. As long as she can effectively harness her power, it will be incredibly beneficial.

Thor, silently calculating his current power, felt a sense of confidence in the future.

However, Thor had been troubled by doubts during this period. It seemed unlikely that Thanos would remain passive despite the absence of the Ancient One and Odin. Why would Thanos allow himself to develop unimpeded?

Having already left the Nine Realms twice and not keeping a low profile, how could Thanos be so patient and refrain from taking action?

If Thor were in Thanos's position, he would undoubtedly attempt to besiege and eliminate the greatest threat to his plans.

Whether or not he would succeed is another matter.

Was Thanos planning to exhaust himself as he did with the Ancient One and Odin?

Thor shuddered.

"What are you thinking? You seem so preoccupied," Jean asked.

"I was wondering about the situation on Earth."

For Thor, greater strength means increased confidence when facing Thanos, but this might not be true for T'Challa.

When T'Challa awoke from the Black Panther inheritance dream and led everyone to the royal city to stop Erik, he was brimming with confidence.

After all, they had the Hulk!

Outside the palace of Wakanda, fighter planes far advanced compared to European and American technology began to take off slowly.

"Everything is prepared. Have the undercover agents been informed?" Erik asked.

"Yes. Some are disobedient, but many are ready to go, including those in London, New York, and Hong Kong."

Erik nodded. "That's fine. When we act, more people will join in."

"It's time for the whole world to see how powerful we are, for four hundred years of anger and sorrow!"

"Boom..."

On the distant horizon, a fighter plane crashed.

In the firelight, T'Challa in his Black Panther uniform approached slowly.

"Erik! I haven't given up yet!"

"No, the duel is over. I am the king!"

Erik laughed and said, "Though I wouldn't mind killing you again, I have more important matters to attend to now!"

He immediately ordered, "All planes take off and activate the protective shield!"

T'Challa turned pale in shock and rushed forward, but was blocked by an invisible barrier.

"Roar..." Hulk let out a roar, charging towards him and punching the protective shield.

"Bang——" A massive recoil sent Hulk flying several hundred meters.

Wakanda's protective shield has rare defensive capabilities. Except for a few high-level space teleportations, it is nearly impossible to breach intact.

In the movie, even the formidable Black Dwarf was subdued by the shield's power. If not for the constant wave tactics of the vanguards, the outcome for Wakanda would have been uncertain.

If the Wakanda fighter planes didn't need to take off and the shield hadn't yet activated its offensive capabilities, Hulk's punch alone could have severed one of his arms.

"You've already lost. Do you think I would give you another chance to duel? Stop dreaming!"

Erik taunted loudly, "So what if you have the Hulk? You can't stop all the planes!"

Countless fighter planes took off, flying in all directions.

T'Challa and Hulk, along with Princess Shuri armed with a hand cannon, tried their best to block only one direction...

"No! You bastard, you're bringing Wakanda to its ruin!"

T'Challa, who was usually good at controlling his emotions, lashed out. No one knew better than him how powerful Wakanda's technology was, and he had a premonition that a dark storm was about to sweep the entire world!

--

Chapter 208: I'm Here to Negotiate Terms

"Jingle bell...…"

At five in the morning, Stark was jolted awake by his phone ringing.

"Who on earth is calling this early? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Stark looked groggy and irritable.

He had spent the whole night with little Morgan and had just managed to get half an hour of sleep...

"Tony, it's me, Bruce Banner! Something major is happening. Tell the military to prepare for war..."

"What?" Stark was alarmed. "Slow down and explain. What's this about war?"

"The throne of Wakanda is changing hands, and the new king wants to avenge the descendants of all the colonists..."

"Dammit!"

Stark's exclamation was followed by him springing out of bed.

When he had taken Rhodes for treatment recently, he had seen Wakanda's level of technology, and it made Stark Industries look primitive. Not to mention, they have an endless supply of Vibranium!

"Pepper, I have to leave. Stay put and don't go out!"

He quickly donned his armor and rushed out.

In Hong Kong, a bustling metropolis, the entire sky was shrouded in darkness.

Doctor Strange, now the Sorcerer Supreme, stared gravely at Kaecilius across from him.

The surrounding space-time was constantly shifting; it was the ultimate showdown of Kamar-Taj magic.

In the sky, a massive crack slowly appeared, as if a terrifying energy that could destroy the world was emerging.

Fortunately, the time for all mortals here had been frozen; otherwise, it would have been unbearable.

In the distance, more than a dozen Wakandan fighter planes were approaching.

They were fortunate to arrive late, as Doctor Strange's spell had already concluded, and their time was not frozen.

However, they were equally unfortunate, as it meant they would face the brunt of the pressure!

Dark energy radiated out, turning the fighter planes into ash in moments.

Simultaneously, in Wakanda's control room, more than a dozen flight crew members screamed and collapsed, unconscious.

Strange could neither stop this nor prevent it.

He glanced at Wong and Mordo beside him and sighed.

With the strongest Avenger not on Earth and even if present, unable to match Dormammu, only the Eye of Agamotto remained.

He donned his cloak and flew towards the crack.

"Dormammu, I'm here to negotiate terms!"

"You're here to die!"

"Boom..."

"Ah--"

"Dormammu, I'm here to negotiate terms!"

"You can't stop me! No matter how many times you try, you will only be defeated!"

"But others will be saved."

"Damn it..."

"Report, Your Majesty. The plane heading to Hong Kong lost contact simultaneously. This is the last video sent before the loss of contact!"

In the council hall of Wakanda, ten soldiers reported to Erik.

"Lost contact? Could it be the Avengers are involved?"

Erik frowned and turned on the video, revealing a doomsday scene.

"Ah..." Erik's eyes were pained, and the power of the Black Panther surged violently. He was shocked, smashing the screen with a punch and then collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath.

It took him a while to recover his composure and realize: "Forget about Hong Kong. Our primary enemies are in Europe and the United States. Let's start there!"

Dormammu, unaware that he had actually done a favor, was being driven mad by a certain sorcerer.

"Stop this! Let me out!"

"No, I'm here to negotiate terms."

"What the hell do you want to discuss?" Dormammu forced himself to suppress his murderous rage.

"Take your fanatical followers and leave Earth. Stop your malevolent actions in our world and never return. If you agree, I will halt the cycle."

Dormammu's expression was one of disgust, making his already unpleasant face even uglier. Despite his humiliation, he had no choice but to comply.

"Ah! What's happening here?" Kaecilius and his followers were horrified as their bodies deteriorated bit by bit.

Doctor Strange floated down slowly.

"My deal is done. You'll get what you wanted soon enough, as part of Dormammu's existence. Although, you might not enjoy it."

"No, master, I..." Kaecilius screamed as he was pulled into the crack.

Strange observed their fate and remarked, "You really should have stolen the entire book. The warnings were written after the spell."

--

Chapter 209: War Breaks Out

Fatty Wang laughed heartily, though his smile seemed almost cruel...

"It's over; we made it."

Strange whispered.

"Yes, we succeeded, but we also violated the laws of nature. Do you think there won't be any consequences?"

"We broke the rules just as she did, and eventually, we'll pay the price. It was destined to happen—karma!"

"I can't continue with this any longer."

Mordo sneered, turned, and walked away.

Wang watched him, hesitant to speak.

Mordo suddenly stopped and turned around. "I keep thinking about that Asgardian who visited Kamar-Taj twice. He must have broken the rules, right?"

Without waiting for a response, Mordo continued on his way.

The strange occurrences in Hong Kong hadn't drawn much attention. Only a few media outlets reported on it.

...

Some people were intrigued, but their focus quickly shifted to another matter.

Due to Hulk presence Tchala's side was more confident and Eric much vigilant, cautious and avoided direct confrontation and avoided the fate of dying , as the king he mobilized full force of wakanda .

After Stark received Banner's call, he immediately alerted the military about the threat, but he was met with derision.

"When did Iron Man become so timid? A third-world country that could be wiped off the map in minutes—don't worry about it!"

Stark was both angry and anxious, even disclosing some sensitive information about Wakanda.

"Wow, Mr. Stark, have you been watching too many movies? Black Panther? Battle suit? Which anime is this plot from?"

Stark left, frustrated. He quickly thought of Thor and rushed to Trudheim Manor.

Natalia answered the door.

"Thor isn't here, but I can convey his stance.

"Unless the Sokovia Accords are officially repealed, he will not take action, and I won't undermine his position. I don't want to be the one who has to step in, only to be accused of breaking the law when the crisis is over."

Stark sighed helplessly. "You know those politicians won't give up easily, but the people are innocent."

"But politicians are elected by innocent people."

Natalia replied coldly. "Also, you need to understand that we did not cause this crisis. We have done nothing wrong, and we are not obligated to fight Wakanda to the death. Whether innocent or not, we are not the ones who brought disaster upon them."

"You may choose to be a selfless hero who suffers for others, but I won't, and neither will Thor."

Stark was left speechless.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

Natalia's face took on a serious expression. "A few hours ago, Thor contacted me. He said that if war breaks out, no place on Earth will be safe. Asgard will evacuate us from Bifrost as soon as possible. Everyone at Trudheim Manor will temporarily leave Earth and return to Asgard."

Stark left, stunned.

After some thought, he pulled out his phone and made a call, not expecting it to be needed so soon.

"Hey, Steve, it's me."

"World War is imminent. We need you!"

"The Sokovia Accords—they might not matter anytime soon..."

Stark's instincts were correct.

That afternoon, Western countries around the world were attacked almost simultaneously.

One of the most shocking events was the attack on the iconic landmark of the United States—the Statue of Liberty.

A strangely shaped plane appeared from the clouds, fired a missile, and then vanished immediately.

True invisibility not only evaded radar but also the naked eye. The United States' pride in its defense capabilities seemed worthless.

Additionally, numerous important buildings were devastated, including the former residence of Washington...

Wakanda, an African nation, claimed responsibility for all the attacks.

This was an explicit declaration of war!

Such provocation ignited widespread anger. Americans couldn't recall the last time their mainland was attacked.

During this period, violence and riots erupted everywhere, from the streets to Washington.

When news of the attacks spread, high-ranking leaders in Washington, previously divided, reached a consensus and quickly formed the "TF58 National Destruction Force."

Led by three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, they headed for Africa.

However, this fleet, capable of annihilating any non-nuclear nation, was ambushed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The largest naval battle of the new century began, lasting half an hour and ending with the complete destruction of the fleet.

The entire world was stunned.

---

Chapter 130: The Running Rhino

Stark was certainly not going to follow General Ross's orders to arrest Banner.

Not that it was feasible anyway, but with Thor absent, Hulk was the strongest combat force available to him.

If not for his sense of responsibility to protect the world, Stark would have gladly turned his back on the situation...

The morning after a long day.

"Drink—"

In a small village on the border of Wakanda, Bucky escaped from a bloody siege.

He had just awakened from a deep sleep, and the troubling voice that had plagued him for so long had finally disappeared.

However, before he could feel relieved, a large contingent of Wakandan soldiers arrived in the village and attacked him on sight.

His extensive combat experience and physical fitness allowed him to escape with great difficulty.

Behind him, Wakandan soldiers armed with Vibranium spears pursued him relentlessly...

With his newly acquired Vibranium arm, he could barely hold his own against the Vibranium spears. But two fists were no match for four hands, and the high-intensity pursuit throughout the night had already worn him down physically and mentally.

Hiding behind a dirt mound, Bucky tended to his wounds.

"Damn, why are these Wakandans so relentless? Do they still think I killed the former king? No, it's impossible for T'Challa not to have informed his subordinates!"

As he pondered this, a shadow suddenly darted past his field of vision.

"Hey buddy, it looks like you need help!"

Bucky was startled and instinctively struck out, but a young man swiftly moved out of the way with a "whoosh."

"Calm down! I'm not your enemy. See, I'm not from Wakanda!"

"Who are you? I don't recognize you." Bucky said warily. The person before him had skills far superior to his own, and even if he were in peak condition, he wasn't sure he could stand a chance against him now, given his injuries.

Seeing that Bucky had stopped his defensive actions, the young man grinned. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Pietro Maximoff, nicknamed Quicksilver, a member of the Avengers. The Captain knows you're in danger and will be here soon. I'm here to assist you first."

Bucky breathed a sigh of relief but remained skeptical. "You say you're an Avenger, but why haven't I met you before?"

Quicksilver was momentarily stunned. "You mean from the airport battle? Oh. I retired because of that ridiculous bill..."

"Boom... Boom..." A deep rumble interrupted Quicksilver, and the ground began to tremble.

"Holy cow, what's happening? An earthquake? A volcanic eruption?"

Quicksilver wondered aloud.

"I don't think so. This isn't an earthquake zone." Bucky's face darkened. As someone who had lived for nearly a century, his perception was far sharper than Quicksilver's.

"This noise is probably from a large herd of animals running across the African plains... and it's heading our way!"

To confirm his words, on the distant horizon, countless massive figures charged toward them...

"Damn it! Are these rhinos insane?" Quicksilver's face turned pale.

"They're Wakanda's army of rhinos! With Vibranium armor, each rhino can take down a tank," Bucky explained in a low voice.

He couldn't understand why Wakanda would deploy this army so recklessly. In his view, Wakanda had always been very discreet.

On the distant grasslands, the Wakandan rhinos charged forward.

"It's time for the world to witness our power!"

"T'Challa actually wasted precious Vibranium on an outsider. I must correct this mistake!"

"Boom——" The roar of a helicopter echoed. Steve opened the hatch and lowered a staircase to the two surrounded by rhinos: "Bucky, get on!"

Bucky was momentarily stunned but reacted quickly, pulling Quicksilver along: "Boy, you go first!"

At that moment, Falcon, hovering nearby, suddenly shouted: "Be careful! Get out of the way!"

Hawkeye, at the controls, was momentarily caught off guard, and before he could react, a beam shot from a distant location.

"Boom..."

The attack from the Vibranium weapon was intercepted, but the helicopter was struck by the propeller and began to plummet with black smoke trailing...

A giant appeared out of nowhere, caught the falling helicopter, and gently set it down, averting a crash.

Facing the black mass in front of him, he kicked it away.

"Bang... crash"

"Damn it!" Wakabi exclaimed. He watched as several rhinos were kicked into the air and fell heavily to the ground with loud roars...

Even though the rhinos were armored with Vibranium, Wakabi could only hope—

That tonight's feast would be especially satisfying!

.....

Chapter 131: The Running Rhino

Stark was certainly not going to follow General Ross's orders to arrest Banner.

Not that it was feasible anyway, but with Thor absent, Hulk was the strongest combat force available to him.

If not for his sense of responsibility to protect the world, Stark would have gladly turned his back on the situation...

The morning after a long day.

"Drink—"

In a small village on the border of Wakanda, Bucky escaped from a bloody siege.

He had just awakened from a deep sleep, and the troubling voice that had plagued him for so long had finally disappeared.

However, before he could feel relieved, a large contingent of Wakandan soldiers arrived in the village and attacked him on sight.

His extensive combat experience and physical fitness allowed him to escape with great difficulty.

Behind him, Wakandan soldiers armed with Vibranium spears pursued him relentlessly...

With his newly acquired Vibranium arm, he could barely hold his own against the Vibranium spears. But two fists were no match for four hands, and the high-intensity pursuit throughout the night had already worn him down physically and mentally.

Hiding behind a dirt mound, Bucky tended to his wounds.

"Damn, why are these Wakandans so relentless? Do they still think I killed the former king? No, it's impossible for T'Challa not to have informed his subordinates!"

As he pondered this, a shadow suddenly darted past his field of vision.

"Hey buddy, it looks like you need help!"

Bucky was startled and instinctively struck out, but a young man swiftly moved out of the way with a "whoosh."

"Calm down! I'm not your enemy. See, I'm not from Wakanda!"

"Who are you? I don't recognize you." Bucky said warily. The person before him had skills far superior to his own, and even if he were in peak condition, he wasn't sure he could stand a chance against him now, given his injuries.

Seeing that Bucky had stopped his defensive actions, the young man grinned. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Pietro Maximoff, nicknamed Quicksilver, a member of the Avengers. The Captain knows you're in danger and will be here soon. I'm here to assist you first."

Bucky breathed a sigh of relief but remained skeptical. "You say you're an Avenger, but why haven't I met you before?"

Quicksilver was momentarily stunned. "You mean from the airport battle? Oh. I retired because of that ridiculous bill..."

"Boom... Boom..." A deep rumble interrupted Quicksilver, and the ground began to tremble.

"Holy cow, what's happening? An earthquake? A volcanic eruption?"

Quicksilver wondered aloud.

"I don't think so. This isn't an earthquake zone." Bucky's face darkened. As someone who had lived for nearly a century, his perception was far sharper than Quicksilver's.

"This noise is probably from a large herd of animals running across the African plains... and it's heading our way!"

To confirm his words, on the distant horizon, countless massive figures charged toward them...

"Dammit! Are these rhinos insane?" Quicksilver's face turned pale.

"They're Wakanda's army of rhinos! With Vibranium armor, each rhino can take down a tank," Bucky explained in a low voice.

He couldn't understand why Wakanda would deploy this army so recklessly. In his view, Wakanda had always been very discreet.

On the distant grasslands, the Wakabi rhinos charged forward.

"It's time for the world to witness our power!"

"T'Challa actually wasted precious Vibranium on an outsider. I must correct this mistake!"

"Boom——" The roar of a helicopter echoed. Steve opened the hatch and lowered a staircase to the two surrounded by rhinos: "Bucky, get on!"

Bucky was momentarily stunned but reacted quickly, pulling Quicksilver along: "Boy, you go first!"

At that moment, Falcon, hovering nearby, suddenly shouted: "Be careful! Get out of the way!"

Hawkeye, at the controls, was momentarily caught off guard, and before he could react, a beam shot from a distant location.

"Boom..."

The attack from the Vibranium weapon was intercepted, but the helicopter was struck by the propeller and began to plummet with black smoke trailing...

A giant appeared out of nowhere, caught the falling helicopter, and gently set it down, averting a crash.

Facing the black mass in front of him, he kicked it away.

"Bang... crash"

"Damn it!" Wakabi exclaimed. He watched as several rhinos were kicked into the air and fell heavily to the ground with loud roars...

Even though the rhinos were armored with Vibranium, Wakabi could only hope—

That tonight's feast would be especially satisfying!

---

Chapter 132: Black Storm

As the saying goes, a swarm of ants can overwhelm even an elephant.

Even the mightiest elephant, facing an overwhelming number of ants, will be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

And the current situation could be described as the rhinos overwhelming the ants...

After the sacrifice of dozens of rhinos, the massive Ant-Man finally toppled to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

As Steve watched the herd of rhinos approach slowly, his face was grim.

A Quinjet flew overhead with a roar, and several figures descended.

"Hey Steve, do you need help?"

A familiar, joking voice called out as Stark descended from the sky in his latest suit of armor. Alongside him were Vision and Rhodes.

"I'm sorry, Captain. It's because of me that you're in trouble," T'Challa apologized to Steve.

With a roar, a massive figure descended from the sky, smiting a rhino with a single swipe.

Hulk!

From Wakanda's side came a mocking voice.

"Hahaha, it's absurd. A small remnant of Hydra has managed to assemble almost all the Avengers. Perfect, now I don't have to search for you one by one!"

Erik sneered at them.

Behind him, the steel tide of Wakanda loomed ominously...

T'Challa stepped forward, shouting, "Erik! Stop this madness. This is your last chance. Don't drag Wakanda to ruin!"

Erik laughed. "Open your eyes and see! I have the upper hand now. With all of you here, who can stop me?"

"This is bad!" Stark shuddered and quickly asked, "Friday, what's the situation outside?"

"Half an hour ago, in response to criticisms about Wakanda's large military presence, they launched attacks on major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and London..."

Stark felt a chill run down his spine.

New York was already disaster-prone and constantly unlucky.

Since the invasion by the Chitauri several years ago, New York had been in turmoil.

It was almost neutralized twice in a row, and due to Thor's covert actions, widespread riots broke out across the country, with New York experiencing the most intense unrest.

After several months of discord, the riots had mostly settled down, but now Wakanda's bombers had turned their attention back to New York...

If this continued, it was likely that the world's largest city would fall.

The day before the Wakandan fighters appeared, the Bifrost descended from the sky, bringing everyone from the Trudheim estate to Asgard.

The Trudheim estate had long been a major concern for Washington and the high-level council members, who had been contemplating its elimination for some time.

Thor, the strongest Avenger in this world, possessed the power to threaten the entire world but was not under their control.

When the opportunity finally arose, the "SOKOVIA Act" was introduced, but the superpowered individuals in the manor had no intention of negotiating and completely ignored it.

This was a ticking time bomb with potentially disastrous consequences.

To neutralize this significant threat once and for all, Washington didn't hesitate to use nuclear weapons, burying half of New York in the process. The plan not only failed but also resulted in severe retaliation, with one-third of the naval forces disappearing.

Moreover, with Wakanda taking out a third of the U.S. Navy, the country's position as the world's top power was now in jeopardy...

Although there was no concrete evidence, Washington's top officials were well aware that Thor had also been a catalyst for the recent chaos.

The departure of everyone from the manor had provided some relief for the politicians.

However, their relief was short-lived. As Wakanda's bombers appeared over New York, people realized just how much they needed the Avengers' protection.

In reality, Stark had his own Iron Army.

Unfortunately, following Ultron's attack last year, the entire Iron Army was decimated. It had only been rebuilt to less than a third of its former strength.

Despite Tony's technological prowess potentially rivaling that of Wakanda, even the most advanced Iron Soldiers could not withstand Wakanda's Vibranium weapons!

The Iron Soldiers were in retreat, while Wakandan fighters continued to pour in, turning Stark into an elite commander in no time.

When the Avengers arrived, they found New York in chaos.

Not just New York, but reports of bombings came from around the world, with every country involved in the transatlantic slave trade facing retribution.

Even in a developed European country, after only half an hour of resistance, the national flag was cut in two, with the middle section displayed upside down.

It was clear that Wakanda had little regard for these feeble resistances...

A black storm was sweeping across the globe!

--

Chapter 133: The Legendary Meet the Parents

Asgard, Thor's once empty palace, had become unexpectedly crowded.

"I understand the situation, but why didn't you inform me in advance?" Peggy Carter asked Natalia with a scowl. "You didn't even give a heads-up, and it was in the middle of the night. What if something went wrong?"

She was clearly frustrated.

She had been peacefully asleep when the air defense siren blared. The manor had been equipped with an air defense system long ago, and when everyone gathered, a brilliant light descended from the sky and transported them all away.

Natalia looked at the non-combatants, Helen Cho and Christine, who were now in their pajamas, and said with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry. Thor had already notified us. He specifically arranged for the guards to be removed, and Sif replaced the usual operator of the Bifrost..."

Peggy:

Are we even on the same wavelength?

It was unprecedented for Asgard to host so many guests at once. Dark elf invasions didn't even compare.

The Asgardians were stunned, despite having seen their own heir to the throne compared to others.

"Mother, am I wrong? My older brother is unreliable and wants to turn Asgard from the Nordic gods into the Greek gods of Earth mythology."

In the Golden Hall, Loki continued his daily routine of paying respects while slyly persuading Frigga to discipline Thor.

Although Loki knew he had no chance of inheriting the throne, as Thor was the designated heir, he suspected that in the future, the burdensome tasks would fall to him while Thor enjoyed a more hands-off role...

Is that what Odin meant when he said Thor was born to be king?

Loki knew Thor's personal life wasn't a major concern for Asgard, aside from some gossip. After all, Thor was the heir apparent!

But that didn't stop Loki from causing trouble.

Is Loki, who doesn't cause mischief, still the god of mischief?

Frigga, too, was feeling a bit helpless at this meeting.

Years ago, both she and Odin had worried that Thor was overly devoted to his hammer, even dressing in women's clothing for it.

In response, they had desperately tried to matchmake Thor and Sif.

However, 20 years ago, Thor seemed to transform overnight, from an ordinary man to a major figure, leaving the two rulers astonished...

They could only attribute it to the release of long-suppressed nature...

The Queen of the Gods felt a bit awkward. If Thor had only brought back one or two individuals at a time, she would have certainly met her daughter-in-law immediately, as she did with Jane Foster.

"Heh, Loki, are you gossiping about me behind my back? Feeling cheeky?" A gruff voice came from behind, and Loki froze. Turning around, he saw Thor grinning at him.

...

Frigga also turned her gaze to Thor and noticed two additional girls standing beside him...

Loki wasn't lying!

Loki felt he might get beaten again today. Rolling his eyes, he quickly greeted Thor with a smile, "Hahaha, where is it? I was just praising you. You see, you've been gone for a while and now have two more sisters-in-law..."

After hearing this, Onyxia, on the left, offered a playful smile. "I couldn't dare to offend someone like His Highness. I'm just a humble maid."

She said this, but it was clear that no one had suspected anything for a few days.

Onyxia remained silent, but Jean Grey on the right was not pleased.

...

It was frustrating enough to be dragged from her world and not be able to return. Fortunately, Thor treated her well, and she hadn't felt the discrimination and rejection often faced by mutants, so she grudgingly accepted her situation.

In reality, her impression of Thor was still quite positive, though their time together was short.

It should be noted that any girl who is willing would find it hard to refuse Thor.

So, the man in front of her was babbling nonsense and bluntly expressing his thoughts...

Jean Grey shot a glance at Thor.

Thor nodded, "It's fine. My brother is quite resilient."

Loki suddenly felt his limbs lose control, and his entire body was lifted into the air...

"Thud—"

With an upside-down flip, Loki was thrown out of the palace, crashing to the ground in a heap and drawing a crowd of onlookers.

Jean Grey stood quietly, seemingly unaffected.

Frigga looked at Jean Grey with a touch of surprise in her eyes.

--