"Thor!"
Thor's mother rushed forward, her expression filled with emotion as she embraced him, constantly caressing him.
"You're finally back."
It was clear how much worry and torment she had endured during this time. But as the queen, she could not change the decision made by Odin, the Allfather.
Moreover, as a goddess raised by a witch, she possessed extraordinary wisdom and fully understood Odin's intentions. Deep down, she even agreed with his approach.
"Mother, it's all right now," Thor gently reassured her. Then, he lifted his head, locking his gaze on Loki, who had also suddenly appeared in the room.
"Did you let the Jotuns in?"
His voice turned cold. Although phrased as a question, his tone was absolute.
On the other side of the room, Loki, while feigning joy at Thor's return, replied with confusion:
"My brother, you're back! We've all been so worried about you, but I don't know what you're talking about?"
Thor, now laughing in anger, let go of his mother and stepped closer to Loki.
"I know you're the master of lies, but why did you send the Destroyer to kill me and my friends, and let the Jotuns into Asgard?"
"What? What is going on?"
Thor's mother looked at Loki in shock.
Loki, putting on an innocent face, said, "The Destroyer might have just been following Father's orders. As for the Jotuns, I have no idea..."
Halfway through his explanation, Loki's face suddenly twisted into a smile. He quickly added, "I must go deal with the Jotuns now. Would you like to join me?"
Before Thor could react, Loki swung his scepter, sending a blast that knocked Thor back. Taking advantage of the moment, Loki performed his signature trick—disappearing.
With a quick flash, he vanished from the room and sped off to the Rainbow Bridge control hub.
Thor let out an enraged roar, regained his stance, and chased after Loki, but the distance between them grew wider as Loki ran faster and faster.
A sly, sinister smile appeared on Loki's face, as if he was reveling in Thor's foolishness.
"Loki, long time no see. Have you forgotten about me?"
At that moment, Lynch descended from the sky, landing with a massive slap that sent Loki crashing to the ground. With a smile, he mocked:
"Sending the Destroyer to kill your brother, luring the Jotuns to attack Odin, and then killing them yourself to become the sole king. Quite the clever game of politics you're playing! It's a pity you weren't born in ancient China; you'd fit right in."
Loki, furious, scrambled to his feet and glared at Lynch, the man who had thwarted his plans time and again. In a rage, he shouted:
"Lynch! This is an Asgardian matter. It's none of your concern! Do you want to start a war between realms?"
"No, he has a say in Asgardian matters now. I've made him my teacher, so he's allowed to intervene," Thor said coldly, as he arrived with Mjolnir in hand.
"Thor, are you out of your mind? You're the son of Odin, the God of Thunder, and you're letting this nobody be your master? You're a disgrace to Asgard!"
Loki no longer hid his fury and hatred, letting it pour out in his words and expression.
"At least I'm not conspiring with those ugly, stupid Frost Giants. Isn't Asgard and Jotunheim ancient enemies?" Lynch asked, feigning confusion before continuing, as if suddenly realizing, "Oh, right! You were adopted from Jotunheim, weren't you? Well, in that case, good job!"
"Shut up!"
Loki, enraged and humiliated, pulled out a blue and white box—the Casket of Ancient Winters, the Frost Giants' most treasured artifact. Holding the casket, Loki's skin turned greyish and cold as he unleashed its power.
A freezing wind howled toward Lynch.
"Die!"
Lynch let out a grunt. "Really? The Casket of Ancient Winters? My heat vision is the perfect counter for your frost powers."
With a determined stance, Lynch's eyes flared with heat vision, sending scorching beams to meet the icy winds head-on.
The Casket of Ancient Winters was indeed a powerful Frost Giant artifact, capable of freezing an entire planet. However, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, power scales vary wildly.
Take the Scarlet Witch, for instance—capable of defeating Thanos in one moment, yet vulnerable to bullets in another. Her brother Quicksilver even died to gunfire.
So, in Loki's hands, the casket couldn't unleash its full potential, at most freezing a localized area. While impressive, it was no match for Lynch's heat vision.
As soon as the two powers collided, the icy wind melted away like snow under a spring breeze. In an instant, the frost was completely destroyed, and Loki, with a shocked expression, was engulfed by the heat vision.
"Is he dead?"
Lynch stopped his heat vision, noticing only the Casket of Ancient Winters remaining, with no sign of Loki.
Despite the heat vision's power, Loki was skilled at escaping. Lynch narrowed his eyes and extended his super senses to locate him.
"Wait, there he is!"
In just half a second, Lynch spotted Loki standing at the control sword of the Rainbow Bridge.
"He's still at it!"
"Stop him!" Thor cried out in alarm.
"Too late!" Loki shouted triumphantly.
Despite their attempts, Loki moved too fast, and the Rainbow Bridge activated.
The three watched as a terrifying energy began to gather, redirecting itself toward Jotunheim.
If this beam hit, Jotunheim would be completely destroyed, wiping out the Frost Giants.
This guy...
Was Loki really trying to end the conflict with Jotunheim once and for all, just to gain Odin's approval?
What was he thinking?
If wiping them out was the right thing to do, Odin would have done it long ago. Why leave them alive all this time?
And this so-called "God of Mischief" thought this was a clever plan?
It's like someone who just throws nukes at every problem.
That's not how strategic weapons work!
Killing doesn't solve everything.
This is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for crying out loud!
Here, the motto is love and peace!
Let this guy become the king of Asgard, and he'd probably wipe out all nine realms using the Rainbow Bridge!
Absolutely absurd!
This kid needed a good beating!
With that thought, Lynch wasted no time, rushing over and delivering a punch that sent stars spinning around Loki's head.
Thor, anxiously following, inspected the control hub of the Rainbow Bridge.
"Can this be shut down?" Lynch asked Thor with a frown.
"Once activated, it can't be stopped, unless..." Thor hesitated, glancing at the Rainbow Bridge.