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Although this space is only about two cubic meters and can't hold living things, it's incredibly useful for him!
From now on when he robs— ahem, picks things up—he won't have to worry about the skintight suit having no pockets. Like the Infinity Stones...
"Your ability to learn amazes me, Homelander. Even in Asgard, few can master spatial magic in just a few days."
Frigga nodded appreciatively at Anthony. "Although your source of magic is scarce, your mental strength is exceptionally powerful. Perhaps it's also because of your special ability that your understanding of matter's structure differs from ordinary people."
"Thank you for the Queen's guidance." Anthony stood and gave a gentleman's bow.
"This is more interesting than I imagined."
Frigga stepped before him; light flashed in her hand and a golden gauntlet appeared.
The gauntlet was huge, set with six gems of different colors—fake ones, of course.
"This is..." Anthony asked, already knowing the answer.
"A collectible from Odin's vault." Frigga placed the gauntlet on the table.
"A replica of the Infinity Gauntlet."
"Though the gems on it are fake, the gauntlet itself is made of Uru metal, a prototype forged by the Dwarf King." Frigga caressed it.
"While it can't endure the simultaneous burst of six stones like the real one, it can serve as a vessel and let you borrow a single gem's power without suffering energy backlash."
Anthony picked up the gauntlet.
It was heavy.
He tried to put it on.
Clack-clack-clack—
The gauntlet adjusted itself, fitting his right hand perfectly.
"Excellent." Anthony clenched his fist, feeling the texture of power.
"Anthony," Frigga said suddenly, her voice drifting, "Thor... he's a good boy, but too impulsive, too easily swayed by emotion. If..."
"I'll keep an eye on him." Anthony cut in, his gaze 'sincere'.
"After all, we're comrades-in-arms."
Frigga studied him deeply, as if trying to see into his true heart.
In the end she simply reached out like a mother and gently straightened the red collar of Anthony's garment.
"Fate is a surging river; sometimes we think we can change its course, when in fact we only stir a few ripples."
Frigga's voice was soft, tinged with a sigh.
"Farewell, Guardian... of Midgard."
Ding! Special popularity +5,000! (From Frigga)
She turned and left, her figure looking inexplicably lonely in the golden corridor.
Anthony watched until she vanished at the corridor's end.
"What did Soldier Boy say again... bah!"
He grabbed the golden apple from the table and bit into it hard, juice spurting everywhere.
"What a pity... this is pretty much a deathbed entrustment."
"Don't worry, Divine Queen." Anthony stroked the gauntlet.
"I'm a man of my word."
Then he stowed the gauntlet into his magical space... Asgard dungeon.
Here the most vicious criminals of the Nine Realms were imprisoned.
Loki lay bored in his cell, toying with a cup.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps broke the silence.
Guards escorted in a masked, Beast-like hulking prisoner.
Algrim—the last Cursed Warrior of the Dark Elves.
He was locked in the cell opposite Loki.
Unnoticed, he silently drew a dark-grey stone from within his body—the Curse Stone.
Crack.
He crushed the stone.
A wild surge of dark energy instantly devoured him; his body swelled, skin turning magma-hellish, power multiplying!
Aaaargh—!!!
The Cursed Warrior roared and effortlessly shattered the cell's energy barrier.
He flung open the other prisoners' doors; the dungeon plunged into chaos as thugs poured out to clash with Asgardian guards.
Loki didn't mind at all; rather he enjoyed the show and even pointed the way for the Cursed Warrior.
Alarms echoed across the divine realm.
Meanwhile—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The once-clear sky tore open.
Huge black cross-shaped Dark-Elf ships, ghost-like, breached Asgard's defenses and howled toward the Heavenly Palace.
It was the Dark Elves' flagship—Harrow.
Malekith had arrived.
Countless blade-like fighters screamed out, heading for the Heavenly Palace.
"Enemy attack!! Protect the realm!!"
Heimdall ran back to activate the shield; it rose slowly, guarding the palace.
But the civilian districts outside the walls were less fortunate.
Rumble—!!
A fighter crashed into the civilian quarter; the shockwave leveled countless houses.
Flames shot skyward, screams everywhere.
"Help!!"
"My child!!"
Asgardians fled in panic...
Inside a guest chamber of the Heavenly Palace.
Anthony lay feigning sleep; hearing the alarm, his eyes snapped open.
"Finally here."
"Showtime."
Anthony murmured.
Boom—!!!
He walked outside, legs bent, and shot skyward, turning into a red-blue meteor streaking toward the chaos...
Asgard's main city, the marketplace.
Once laughter-filled streets flowing with wine and music had become hell.
Dark-Elf scythe fighters skimmed low, energy rounds raining like a storm.
Explosions, screams, and collapsing buildings blended into one.
"Run! Run for it!!"
Crowds of Asgardians, families in tow, stumbled through the rubble.
Just then a huge stone pillar was blasted loose and plummeted toward the fleeing women and children.
A mother closed her eyes in despair, clutching her child tightly.
But the expected pain never came.
Zzz—!!!
A shrill slicing sound filled the air.
The mother trembled and opened her eyes.
She saw a miracle.
Two crimson beams shot from the sky, slicing the thousand-ton pillar into pieces; a red-blue figure flashed by, slamming the falling chunks into the Dark-Elf soldiers landing behind!
Boom—!
The squad was instantly turned to pulp.
The mother looked up in shock.
She saw the man.
He hovered three meters above the ground, the star-spangled cape snapping in the flames of war.
Golden hair blazing in the firelight, his face wore that... reassuring smile.
"You're welcome, ma'am."
Anthony landed slowly, extending a hand to help the mother up.
"It's not safe here; take your child to the Heavenly Palace."
"Who... who are you? A warrior of the Palace?" the mother asked trembling.
The surrounding Asgardians all looked up, waiting for his answer.
Anthony raised an eyebrow.
"The Palace?" He shook his head, casting an amplification spell so his voice rang across Asgard.
"No. I am Homelander, Guardian of Midgard! And today, I will also be the Guardian of Asgard!"
"I will save you... every one of you!"
At that moment, a brilliant light burst in the mother's eyes...
"System detected new popularity map—Asgard popularity segment unlocked!"