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Boom—!!!
mjolnir, imbued with unparalleled kinetic and electrical energy, streaked across the sky like an air-to-air missile, precisely hitting its targets.
Three shuttle-shaped spacecraft, positioned at the rear, exploded in response, turning into raging fireballs in the air, and, along with the shattered wreckage, fell like a meteor shower from the sky.
However, the remaining shuttle-shaped spacecraft took advantage of Thor's retrieval of his hammer, abruptly increased their speed, and directly burst out of the atmosphere.
They flew without looking back to the nearest jump point to perform a space jump.
However, what these space pirates never dreamed of was that this time, the destination of their space jump was not their base in the Centauri system outside the Solar System.
But…the Warp!!
"Damn it, adding those bastards who were scared away earlier, probably a total of two or three hundred people or more escaped," Hogun roared, panting heavily.
Vanaheim was, after all, the home where he was born and raised, and in this invasion crisis by space pirates, the villages he protected suffered heavy casualties.
Even many of his direct relatives were brutally slaughtered by these space pirates, and many young women even suffered unspeakable inhuman abuse.
Therefore, Hogun wished he could flay and dismember all these space pirates from The Marauders to vent his hatred.
"Hiss…"
It was only when Sif sheathed her sword that she noticed a long, narrow cut on her arm, made by a bullet or some other sharp object.
Blood was continuously dripping from her wrist.
However, during the battle, she hadn't felt any pain at all.
"Sif, are you alright?" Thor strode forward, asking with concern.
"Don't worry, this is nothing; the situation is completely under my control."
Sif smiled indifferently, then raised her hand and casually tore off a corner of Thor's red cape from behind him, then, using both her hands and mouth, simply bandaged the wound on her arm.
Only then did she look at Thor, who was holding the torn cape with a reluctant expression, and asked with some confusion: "By the way, didn't you say you were going to Vanaheim to take a look earlier? Why are you back so soon?"
Upon hearing this, Thor's attention finally shifted from his beloved cape.
A solemn expression appeared on his resolute face, and he slightly lowered his voice, saying, "I discovered a large number of Dark Elves' mining factories in Vanaheim.
Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves, seems to want to mass-produce spacecraft using the characteristics of the Warp…I'm afraid it won't be long before they invade the Nine Realms again!"
"What?"
Sif was startled upon hearing this, her eyes widening as she exclaimed, "Wait a minute, if I remember correctly, didn't you say before that the Dark Elves' last forces were all wiped out by the Midgardian army in the battle of Greenwich…and their leader, Malekith, was captured by that Mr. Karl Merks?"
"But…what on earth is going on?!"
Because Sif and the others were immediately teleported to Vanaheim by Odin to put out the fire, they were unaware of the news that the Dark Elves had 'resurrected' from the Warp.
"Alas, this matter probably cannot be explained in just a few words."
Thor shook his head with a hint of helplessness, then said in a deep voice, "In short, I must return to Asgard immediately to persuade my father to send troops to Vanaheim at once…No matter what, I will absolutely not let Malekith and the Dark Elves' scheme succeed!"
"But during this time, I will have to trouble you and Hogun to jointly guard the black stone obelisks in various places…"
"These black stone creations can resist the invasion and corruption of the Eye of Fear and Chaos energy to the greatest extent, and they are crucial to the entire Nine Realms!!"
Before he could finish speaking, Sif, facing him, patted her chest solemnly and guaranteed, "Don't worry, the safety of these black stone obelisks will be entrusted to us to protect."
"Hmm, then thank you all…"
Seeing this, Thor nodded with relief, then looked up at the sky and shouted, "Heimdall, take me back immediately!"
Boom—
A dazzling seven-colored pillar of light suddenly descended from the sky, encompassing Thor's sturdy figure; it was none other than the long-absent Bifrost Bridge.
"Yeah—!!!"
The Asgardian warriors who were cleaning the battlefield and escorting prisoners around them, upon seeing the Bifrost Bridge, all couldn't help but cheer with joy.
Because in their hearts, the Bifrost Bridge was a symbol of victory and honor!!
Wherever the Bifrost Bridge reached, enemies fled in fear…
Sif looked at the familiar charred mark left on the ground after the seven-colored light receded, and the unease in her heart gradually faded away.
"Volstagg, you are responsible for leading people to clear the battlefield…Fandral, you go set up warning runes to prevent those escaped Raiders from making a comeback…Hogun, you send people to guard near the black stone obelisk, and provide support immediately if there is any disturbance…"
… … … …
… …
Asgard.
Observatory.
When Thor stepped out of the Bifrost Bridge's teleportation space, what he saw was not the familiar Heimdall, but a strange bald man wearing the standard military armor commonly used by Asgardian warriors.
And the other party was holding the 'key' that could open the Bifrost Bridge—the Hofund.
Thor first surveyed his surroundings, and after confirming that he did not see Heimdall's figure, he asked with a somewhat displeased tone, "Who are you?!"
"Prince Thor, do you not remember me?"
The bald man chuckled somewhat familiarly, "I am Skurge, we once fought side by side in the Greenwich battle…"
"…"
You really know how to talk, kid, just don't talk like that next time!
Thor clearly didn't want to talk much about Greenwich; after all, that time was nothing but getting beaten up.
He forced a perfunctory smile and continued to ask, "Alright, who was that…Have you seen Heimdall? Where did he go?"
"Are you talking about that traitor?"
Skurge immediately said with a hint of disdain, "No one knows where that coward is now, but his new identity is…a wanted fugitive!!"
"Huh? Heimdall is…a traitor? A fugitive?"
Thor looked at the other party, completely bewildered. "No, are we really talking about the same person?"
The dark, tall, always poker-faced Heimdall?
"Oh, Prince Thor, you probably don't know yet, do you?"
Seeing Thor's reaction, Skurge immediately understood and explained flatteringly, "During these days when you left Asgard to build the black stone obelisks in the Nine Realms, many major changes have occurred one after another in the Heavenly Palace…"
"First, a terrifying plague suddenly became rampant in the Heavenly Palace for no reason, and then a large number of Heavenly Palace guards died from it…Later, My Lord had to order the construction of several black stone obelisks around the Heavenly Palace, which barely managed to curb the spread of the plague."
"Although the true source of the widespread plague could not be found later, Odin determined that it must be related to Heimdall's dereliction of duty…But unexpectedly, Heimdall disappeared before the trial began, fleeing in fear of punishment?!"
At the end, Skurge spread his hands helplessly, "Your Highness, you know that his eyes can see 'everything' in the Nine Realms, so it is still very difficult to catch him."
"What…You said Chaos energy actually infiltrated Asgard? How is that possible!"
Thor's face immediately became extremely solemn after hearing this. He never expected that the influence of the Eye of Fear would be so pervasive.
But he absolutely did not believe that Heimdall was the culprit of this plague.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Then how are my father and Mother?…Never mind, I'll go see for myself!"
"Oh, Your Highness, please rest assured, My Lord and the Queen are still in good spirits…"
Before Skurge could finish speaking, Thor, unwilling to listen to another word of nonsense, directly flew towards the Heavenly Palace in the distance, spinning mjolnir.
A few minutes later.
In the magnificent and grand hall.
Loki, disguised as Odin, held the Eternal Spear and sat on the throne, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
He looked at Thor, who was approaching with a nervous expression, and said casually in a clear voice, "Welcome back, my child…Has the unrest in Vanaheim been settled?"
"Yes, Father."
Thor looked at the 'Odin' on the throne, whose face was ruddy, and his hanging heart finally settled down.
He couldn't imagine that the 'recovering' father in front of him was actually his mischievous younger brother in disguise.
So he nodded heavily and said, "Now, except for Muspelheim (the Realm of Fire), the unrest and corruption in Nidavellir and Helheim have all been quelled…"
'Odin' leaned forward slightly, frowning with some confusion, and asked, "So…that foolish fire demon refused our help?"
Clearly, the fire demon in Loki's mouth referred to Surtur, the Fire Giant who ruled Muspelheim.
"That's right."
Thor spread his hands helplessly and reported truthfully, "Surtur doesn't trust Asgard, even though I told him about the threat of the Eye of Fear and the Chaos Gods, and the function of the black stone obelisk, he still refused to accept our help…"
"Father, if you could personally lead the army, I believe he would definitely agree to build black stone obelisks on Muspelheim."
'Odin' on the throne let out a slightly displeased snort, "I think you must be treating me like a piece of bread, spreading some sweet talk on it when you need it!"
"Hehe, I didn't mean that."
Thor gave a silly, simple-minded laugh, but then he reined in his smile and suggested in a deep voice, "However, Father, although Muspelheim is far from Asgard, if black stone obelisks cannot be built there soon…I'm afraid it won't be long before Malekith leads the Dark Elves to conquer it, thus completely turning Muspelheim into a Demon Planet!"
'Odin's face darkened, and he said without hesitation, "If that situation ever truly happens, then it will be the result of Surtur, that fool, bringing it upon himself."
Then he waved his hand, interrupting Thor, who was about to argue, and continued, "In the matter of saving the Nine Realms, we Asgard have done our utmost…"
"Since the appearance of the Eye of Fear, this is the first time the Nine Realms have returned to peace.
Those rescued kingdoms and peoples will remember our greatness because of this, and you…my son!"
'Odin' cast a look of slight appreciation at Thor below, "You will earn everyone's respect and my gratitude."
Thor's face showed a look of being flattered upon hearing this; after all, being able to hear 'Odin's praise firsthand was a very difficult thing in Asgard.
So he quickly straightened his body, puffed out his chest, and replied earnestly, "Thank you for your recognition!"
Seeing this, 'Odin' couldn't help but reveal a subtle, cunning curve at the corner of his mouth, then continued, "Now, with the appearance of the black stone obelisks, the Nine Realms have indeed regained stability, but the true threat has not yet been eliminated…"
Before 'Odin' could finish speaking, Thor excitedly interrupted, "You're right, Father, although the black stone obelisks can resist the corruption and invasion of Chaos energy, this is ultimately only passive defense.
We must take the initiative and act before those Dark Elves…No, they have now become undying Warp demons."
"We must lead the army to attack Vanaheim before those demons complete their preparations, catching them off guard.
This way, we can minimize the losses in the Nine Realms and take the opportunity to reclaim those three fallen Planets!"
However, just as Thor was excitedly waiting for 'Odin' to give the order to assemble the army and attack Vanaheim, he heard the other party say coldly, "No, my child, your imagination is perhaps a bit too active…"
"Whether it's those Warp demons you speak of, or those four supposedly pervasive Chaos Gods, in my opinion, they are nothing more than 'aliens' that Midgardians often talk about, no different from us Asgardians!!"