As the Rainbow Bridge was destroyed and the explosion of infinite energy swept across the scene, the slumbering God King Odin, resting in a secret chamber, slowly opened his eyes.
Odin, with long white hair and a face full of wrinkles, had his right eye covered with a golden cloth and wore regal attire.
Just waking up, he displayed none of the majesty of a God King. Apart from his deep and unfathomable eye, he looked like an ordinary noble old man.
Although in slumber, he had always maintained a state where he could perceive the outside world.
Through his perception, everything that had transpired was clear to him.
Thor had broken the curse he had set long ago, and Loki had gone astray.
Even the Rainbow Bridge was destroyed in their struggle!
This trial had given him enough information to make a decision, and the time to end it had come!
Thus, as the God King of Asgard, the sole ruler, he chose this moment to awaken!
He suddenly stood up, his figure disappearing in a flash as he left the room.
...
The explosion of the Rainbow Bridge had destroyed everything nearby, with wild energy raging across the vast space.
The blast wave swept up Thor and Loki, flinging them far away.
Unable to resist such a violent force, the two struggled like small fish in a storm, trying to escape.
But there was no chance. The two of them, utterly powerless, could only scream as they free-fell through the air.
Below them lay the abyss of the endless starry sky beneath the shattered Rainbow Bridge.
Lynch was about to act when he sensed Odin's stirring from his slumber.
The old man had finally awakened!
Of course, he had to wake up.
If not, both his sons would be gone!
All the trials and losses would be meaningless!
Suddenly, Lynch felt a deep aura flash past him—
In an instant, Odin arrived at the Rainbow Bridge, grabbing Thor before he could fall.
Thor, quick to react, immediately grabbed Loki's staff, which in turn held onto Loki.
"Father!" Loki, now holding on, looked up at Odin, overwhelmed with emotion.
"I can destroy the Frost Giants!"
"For Asgard, for you!"
He looked at Odin with joy, yearning for his rare approval.
Everything Loki had done was simply the behavior of a childish boy, driven by jealousy of his brother and dissatisfaction with his own Frost Giant heritage. He desperately wanted to prove himself!
He craved his father's true recognition!
But...
Odin did not offer a kind smile to comfort his pitiful youngest son. He looked at Loki with a blank expression.
He was deeply disappointed in Loki.
After everything that had happened, Odin realized Loki's character was difficult to change.
Deceitful, selfish, cowardly…
And to think Odin once had hope for him.
Now it seemed, while Thor might not be entirely fit to be king, he was certainly more suitable than Loki.
After a long silence, Odin spoke in his old, raspy voice:
"No, Loki."
You're wrong!
What you've done is wrong!
As the supreme God King, Odin would never offer false comfort. Right is right, and wrong is wrong!
As the ruler of Asgard, he was always truthful with his children. Do right and you'll be rewarded; do wrong, and you must change!
Hearing his father's words, the excitement and hope in Loki's eyes faded, as if struck by a heavy blow.
Had he been wrong?
Why couldn't his father acknowledge him, even now?
Was it because he was a Frost Giant?
Despondent and heartbroken, Loki let go of Thor's hand, allowing himself to fall into the abyss.
If that's the case, then what's the point of living?
Let Thor inherit the throne and lead Asgard!
"No!"
"Loki, no!"
Both Odin and Thor cried out simultaneously.
Odin was a little surprised and saddened.
He hadn't expected that his usually cunning, cowardly, life-loving son would make such a resolute decision after hearing a single denial.
Odin couldn't understand why a single criticism had pushed Loki to give up on life.
Had he misunderstood Loki?
Maybe he hadn't shown Loki enough care after all.
Reflecting on this, Odin realized he wasn't great at raising children.
Otherwise, after a thousand years, how could both of his sons, candidates for the Asgard throne, turn out to be so lacking?
Especially Loki, who, for various reasons, had not received much affection from Odin.
Instead, he had become very close to his mother, Frigga, who taught him most of his magical abilities.
Perhaps Odin had been too harsh on Loki?
...
Thor, watching Loki disappear into the abyss, was filled with immense sorrow.
He had always treated Loki like a true brother, with sincere affection. Even after learning that Loki was actually a Frost Giant, his feelings hadn't changed.
Even after all the misdeeds Loki had committed, Thor held no grudge against him.
As an older brother, he felt a boundless sense of forgiveness and a strong desire to protect his younger sibling.
Now that Loki had fallen into the abyss, his life uncertain, and Thor powerless to save him, his heart was torn with grief.
He couldn't help but recall Lynch's prophecy.
Could this be the beginning of his tragic fate?
If he could, Thor would have gladly taken Loki's place, plunging into the abyss of the World Tree instead.
...
While the two were engulfed in their respective sorrow and reflection, there was one person who thought it was all unnecessary.
In fact, as Loki fell, Lynch couldn't help but mentally fill in the iconic line:
"I will be back!"
Lynch was eagerly anticipating the day when Loki would return, leading the Chitauri army in high spirits, and seeing the expressions on Thor and Odin's faces.
But would the plot still unfold as it originally did?
After witnessing his own power, what would the clever princess Loki do to stage her royal comeback?
If it was just the Chitauri army from the original plot…
With his heat vision, Lynch figured defeating them would be as easy as playing a video game.
A few simple beams of his humble heat vision would wipe out the descending army!
If Loki understood this, he would surely devise a new strategy!
But whatever came, Lynch was ready for it.
Meanwhile, Odin pulled Thor up and then turned to look at Lynch from a distance.
Noticing Odin's gaze, Lynch smiled and took a few steps forward to stand beside them.
"This is Lynch, he comes from Midgard. He has helped me a lot…"
Thor introduced.
"I know," Odin said calmly.
"Greetings, All-Father of Asgard."
Lynch smiled, offering a slight bow to show his respect.
Although Odin was old and weak, he was still the ruler of the Nine Realms.
A camel, no matter how thin, is still bigger than a horse!
At Lynch's words, Odin responded in a friendly manner:
"Traveler Lynch, from afar…"
He stared at Lynch, his one eye filled with the birth and death of stars.
"Greetings."
Traveler from afar?
Lynch's mind stirred.
As expected of the old man—he could sense something of Lynch's true origin!
"Let's go inside and talk,"
Odin said slowly, leading the way forward.