"Black Loki gave me two choices, and I gave you two choices."
"We surrender."
Before Jonny Blaze could even reveal the options, young Loki had already answered quickly.
Jonny Blaze accepted their surrender but didn't trust it entirely. After all, for 'Loki,' surrender is merely a tactic to preserve themselves or set up a backstab. There's no honor lost in their minds.
When faced with overwhelming strength, they bow their heads, quietly plotting. And when the opportunity arises, they'll betray without hesitation.
Although Loki claims to be the greatest magician in the Nine Realms, most Lokis are more like assassins, especially adept at backstabbing—true thieves of opportunity.
Few 'real' Lokis are like the old Loki, who are more straightforward yet unrefined in their ways.
Jonny Blaze didn't care if the Lokis were truly surrendering. He wasn't gullible enough to take their word for it, especially not from a Loki!
He might appreciate Loki's cunning, but put aside the film and TV charm, and Loki is far from trustworthy. Their loyalty lies solely with the main timeline version of themselves and not with anyone else.
As long as Jonny Blaze remained strong, the Lokis would keep their backstabbing impulses buried deep, never daring to act on them.
"My name is Jonny Blaze. I'm all-knowing and all-powerful! I'm a pretty easy guy to get along with. If things go wrong, look within yourself for the reason."
"At this stage, I won't be staying here for long. While I'm gone, I need you to gather resources. And by 'outside,' I don't mean outside the castle!"
Not outside the castle... meaning outside the void?!
Old Loki glanced at young Loki, who remained calm but with a glint of interest.
Old Loki had been here the longest and had surely attempted to leave before, which is why he reacted calmly to what Jonny Blaze hinted at.
"Can you really leave the void?" Old Loki asked cautiously, as though afraid to hope again.
"Of course," Jonny Blaze replied nonchalantly. "If I couldn't leave the void, why would I have you collect resources for me?"
"Remember, I'm Jonny Blaze—omniscient and omnipotent!"
The words were said lightly, but to Old Loki, they were thunderous, shaking him to his core.
"Do you have a Time Variance Authority controller?" Young Loki asked, his hopes rising.
The Void was a place one could only enter but never exit—except with a controller from the TVA. Over the years, many TVA agents had been sent here, but none of them had functioning controllers.
Jonny Blaze shook his head. "For you, yes, you'd need a controller. For me, this place is my backyard. I come and go as I please."
"When a new king ascends, he grants clemency to the world. I'll give you both a chance: fight. Whoever wins, I'll take them out for a breath of fresh air, so you can work for me with a clearer mind."
Old Loki and young Loki exchanged glances, and young Loki spoke first, with the air of a king: "I concede. You go."
Old Loki looked at Jonny Blaze, who suddenly spoke in a colder tone: "I said fight."
Black Loki's body hadn't even cooled yet, and now the chance to leave the void was close at hand. What else could they do but fight?
The two Lokis locked eyes and struck at the same time.
"Ding!"
"Combat detected, drop reward: Invisibility (Old Loki)."
"Ding!"
"Combat detected, drop reward: Cold Immunity (Young Loki)."
Old Loki released his invisibility ability again, useful for illusions or even bystanders. Indeed, he deserved his title as the first magician of the Nine Realms.
Young Loki's cold immunity was more passive, likely due to his Jotunheim bloodline.
"Bang!"
Young Loki's flaming sword was knocked aside by Old Loki's magic. Neither of them showed signs of fatigue—just two tricksters finishing a spar.
It was a lot like a staged fight, more for show than outcome. But still, young Loki's flaming sword wasn't to be underestimated; its power rivaled Mjolnir itself.
This Sword of Victory was a special weapon, much like Thor's Mjolnir. In ancient comics, Loki could summon the Sword of Victory as Thor could his hammer.
Young Loki had likely used this sword to kill Thor in his own timeline.
"The sword is impressive. Gather what supplies you don't need, and I'll take them with me when I return."
Jonny Blaze got up and walked toward young Loki, then grabbed Old Loki and left the void.
*Whoosh!*
Instead of taking Old Loki to an unknown place, Jonny Blaze transported him to the entrance of an alley on a bustling street.
"You really got us out of the void!" Old Loki exclaimed, half in disbelief. "Aren't you afraid I'll run?"
"You can't outrun me," Jonny Blaze said, waving his hand and replacing Old Loki's outlandish outfit with casual clothes.
Those garish green-and-gold outfits might work in battle, but for blending in? No way.
And besides, who wears their underwear outside their clothes anymore?
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Salonyon
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