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Anthony's voice materialized like a ghost in front of Thor.
What followed was a tempest of blows!
"Press!"
Anthony snapped his shoulder forward, slamming Thor's chest and shattering his breathing rhythm.
"Split!"
Both hands twisted in opposite directions, nearly dislocating Thor's joints.
"Elbow!"
A hardened elbow point smashed into Thor's temple.
"Hammer!"
A spiraling penetrating force slammed into Thor's gut!
Thor's eyes bulged; bile spewed as he folded like a prawn.
With 100% attribute boosts and grandmaster Martial Arts skills, Anthony pummeled the millennium-hardened Asgardian prince like a toddler learning to walk.
"Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang—!"
The dense impacts sounded like popping beans.
Thor couldn't fight back; every strike from Anthony interrupted his casting wind-up.
Despite his immense divine power, he found himself completely suppressed in close-quarters combat.
His hammer wouldn't swing; lightning wouldn't gather.
He couldn't win.
He really couldn't win.
This Midgardian... was basically a Universe-class monster wearing human skin.
Thor might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid.
He realized that if this continued, the Midgardian might leave him permanently disabled.
Worse, Jane was right there, the red fluid still devouring her life.
"Heimdall!!"
Thor erupted in a burst of lightning, forcibly taking a heavy punch from Anthony to flip away.
Instead of counter-attacking, he shot straight toward Jane Foster and Jessica Jones.
"Get us out—now!!" Thor roared skyward.
"Trying to run?!" Anthony instantly read his intent.
If Thor escaped with them, his Reality Stone plan would be ruined!
"Stay right there!!"
Anthony burst into top speed, chasing like a comet.
But Asgardian taxi service is terrifyingly efficient.
"BOOM—!!!"
A dazzling seven-colored pillar instantly pierced London's storm clouds.
"Jessica!!"
In the nick of time Anthony arrived first, using momentum to shove Jessica hard!
The instant Jessica was pushed aside—
the Bifrost Bridge landed.
"Twang—!!"
A sound like a snapping string rang out.
The red Aether energy tether linking Jessica and Jane Foster—under the Bifrost's irresistible spatial shear plus Anthony's shove—snapped!
"Aaa—!!"
Jessica and Jane screamed together.
Half the dark-red fluid stayed inside Jessica; the other half vanished up the beam with Jane.
"Jessica! Listen!"
Anthony shouted through the howling rainbow light.
"Guard my home for me!!"
The next second—
the light contracted.
The Bifrost whisked Thor, Jane Foster... and a bewildered Anthony away in a flash.
Only a steaming, scorched rune circle remained on the ground.
Rain kept falling.
In the derelict factory only Jessica Jones lay in the mud and a stunned Darcy.
"...Anthony?"
Jessica struggled up, staring at the empty ground.
She touched her burning chest; half the Aether Particles inside her lay dormant, waiting.
But the man who always drove her crazy... was gone.
"H-he got abducted by aliens?" Darcy stammered.
Jessica wiped rain from her face, eyes hollow.
"No."
She clenched her teeth, snatched a rock from the mud, and hurled it skyward.
"That bastard... went off to torment aliens."
...What's your first ride on the Bifrost like?
Ask Anthony and he'll say it feels like being flushed down a kaleidoscope toilet.
The light faded.
Before him stretched resplendent gold.
A vast hemispherical hall forged from unknown golden metal, etched with intricate runes that shimmered softly.
In front of him stood a black, powerfully built man in gold armor, horned helm, eyes glowing orange.
Heimdall.
Guardian of the Nine Realms.
Right now the gatekeeper leveled a two-handed greatsword at Anthony's throat, killing intent thick in the air.
"Mortal," Heimdall rumbled with divine authority, "you have crossed the boundary."
"Heimdall, stand down."
Thor supported the unconscious Jane Foster as he walked over.
His armor still bore Anthony's fist prints; blood dotted his lip, leaving him looking bedraggled.
"He's... an accident," Thor said, eyeing Anthony with mixed feelings.
Anthony dusted himself off, ignoring the sword at his throat, and looked around.
"So this is Asgard?"
He walked to the dome's edge and gazed out.
A colossal island floating among the stars. Golden palace complexes stretched in undulating splendor; the iridescent Bifrost ran to the horizon.
Countless stars hung in the sky, seemingly within arm's reach.
Beautiful.
Truly beautiful.
A beauty steeped in divinity, classicism... and nouveau-riche ostentation.
"Gaudy décor, all that gold—tacky nouveau taste," Anthony commented, then turned.
"But... prime location."
"Keep talking and I'll gladly shut that mouth forever," Heimdall warned, edging the sword tip to Anthony's Adam's apple.
"Try it, cow-man," Anthony's eyes glowed red.
"I wouldn't mind gifting you an extra pair of eyes in your forehead."
Tension crackled, blades ready to clash.
"Enough!" Thor barked. "Jane's dying! I have to get her to the infirmary!"
He glanced at Anthony. "As for you... Starr. Behave. This isn't Earth—your tricks won't work here."
"Is that so?" Anthony retracted his crimson glow and flashed his trademark grin.
"A guest follows his host. But since I'm a guest, shouldn't there be a welcome ceremony?"
"A welcome ceremony?"
An aged yet majestic voice echoed from the far end of the Bifrost.
"You stride into the gods' realm bearing arrogance and power, mortal."
Anthony turned.
A troop of gold-armored escorts flanked a one-eyed elder advancing slowly.
He gripped the Eternal Spear gungnir, golden armor gleaming. Though white-haired, the regal aura radiating from his bones dimmed the very stars.