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*****
While the news Feny brought was somewhat useful to the Dwarven race, its actual impact was limited.
Thanos did not dominate the universe through mere schemes and trickery; he relied on overwhelming military might and personal strength. Although the Dwarves were massive in stature, they possessed little in the way of combat specialties beyond their raw physical strength.
Furthermore, their numbers were tragically few. Across the entire forge of Nidavellir, there were exactly three hundred and one Dwarves. Forget Thanos leading an entire army—even if the Titan came alone, the Dwarves might not be able to hold their ground.
Eitri's expression grew solemn as he pondered. Dwarves were unfailingly loyal to their friends, and in his heart, he still believed that Asgard would offer them sanctuary. However, the prophecy of Ragnarok was no secret—even Eitri had heard the whispers—and a seed of worry began to take root in his mind.
Seeing the look on Eitri's face, Feny hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. "If this truly comes to pass, give me a way to contact you. If you send word, I will come to help."
"I may not have the Bifrost, but I possess a portal magic. I can arrive at the first possible moment!"
After much consideration, Feny felt it was better to offer his assistance if he could. Besides, a confrontation with Thanos was inevitable sooner or later; preventing the Titan from obtaining the Infinity Gauntlet would serve as a significant strategic blow to his enemy's strength.
Eitri looked at him with surprise. Although he didn't know the full extent of Feny's power, he knew the young man was formidable. Not only had he defeated Thor, but he had wiped out nearly ten thousand enemies with a single strike in Vanaheim, earning him the terrifying moniker of the "White Butcher."
"Thank you," Eitri said, his voice thick with gratitude. Even though these were still hypothetical dangers, he was deeply moved by Feny's gesture.
Shortly after, Feny was presented with an exquisite, hammer-shaped device. While it couldn't be used for casual conversation, it was designed to react instantly if the Dwarven race faced a crisis, changing its form upon receiving a unique distress signal.
Feny had originally intended to leave as soon as his magic staff was finished, but out of respect for Eitri, he stayed for another week.
During that time, the Dwarves exhausted every resource trying to study the "Incursio" armor. Feny cooperated actively, provided the research didn't risk damaging the artifact.
The results, however, were disappointing. By the time Feny was ready to depart, they still hadn't unraveled the forging secrets of the Imperial Arm. They couldn't even fully identify the metals used in its construction. Their only success was gaining inspiration from the weapon's transformation between sword and armor, which allowed them to create a mold for a new type of weapon with a dual form. It wasn't a total loss.
The failure to decipher Incursio was a blow to the Dwarves' pride, and when they learned Feny was truly leaving, their reluctance to see him go was palpable.
"Can't you stay for a while longer?" Eitri pleaded, trying his best to stall him. "We have fine wine and plenty of food. Whatever you desire, we can contact Asgard to find it for you."
"I'm truly sorry," Feny said, shaking his head as he looked at Eitri. "I've already stayed for a long time. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will certainly return!"
"Very well." Seeing that Feny's mind was made up, Eitri stopped pressing. He stepped forward, stooping down to give Feny a massive bear hug. "I hope you return to visit us soon, my friend."
"Goodbye!"
Feny smiled and waved. Gripping the magic staff he had finally named "White Dragon's Breath," he walked to an open clearing and shouted toward the sky: "Heimdall!"
Though he could have opened a portal back to Asgard himself, doing so required the power of the Space Stone and a significant amount of effort. Since a free "transportation service" was available, he saw no reason to exhaust himself.
A beam of rainbow light descended from the heavens, instantly enveloping Feny. Under the lingering, reluctant gazes of the Dwarves, he vanished.
Back at the Asgardian Observatory, Feny once again saw the solitary figure of Heimdall, who was currently pulling his longsword out of the Bifrost's activation mechanism.
"I didn't expect you to be quite so popular with the Dwarves," Heimdall remarked, glancing at Feny and the White Dragon's Breath in his hand.
"What can I say? I'm just a handsome guy," Feny joked, spreading his hands with a self-deprecating smirk. He then turned serious. "Has anything happened on Earth while I was away?"
"Your family is well," Heimdall replied.
Feny nodded, relieved. He had been away for nearly two months now, and including Asgard, he had only visited three locations. He needed to pick up the pace.
After bidding Heimdall farewell, Feny returned to the Royal Palace. He sent a messenger to report to Odin, then went looking for Thor and the Warriors Three, only to find they weren't in Asgard. Aside from Vanaheim, there were many other regions plagued by unrest, and the group had been dispatched to investigate the situation.
Feny didn't mind. He hadn't planned on staying long this time anyway. The next morning, he sought an audience with Odin to request permission to travel to Jotunheim.
"You wish to go to Jotunheim?" Odin asked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He looked at the nodding Feny and asked somberly, "The environment there is harsh—nothing but ice and snow. Furthermore, the Frost Giants are not on friendly terms with Asgard or humanity. What business do you have there?"
"I want to see the sights of each of the Nine Realms," Feny answered candidly. "I'll have to visit Jotunheim eventually, so I figured I might as well get the harshest environment out of the way first."
Feny was telling the truth, though he omitted a few details—namely, his desire to use the opportunity to farm experience from Frost Giants and Frost Beasts.
Odin watched Feny, his gaze deep and heavy. Since Feny's arrival in Asgard, the All-Father had been quietly observing him. Despite being the Father of the Gods and living through countless eons, he still could not see through the young man.
Even the Ancient One hadn't given him this feeling. He could sense the Ancient One's power and understood its source; he even knew of the dark energy of Dormammu. But Feny was the first person he had ever encountered whose nature was entirely opaque. The mysterious, unpredictable abilities and the fact that his future and path could not be divined left Odin deeply unsettled.
It was for this reason that Odin remained cautious and deliberate in his dealings with Feny. While he hadn't decided that Feny must be the one to break the Ragnarok prophecy, he had certainly considered the possibility.
"Asgard will not restrict your freedom," Odin said, his eyes fixed on Feny with a warning tone. "However, Jotunheim recently lost its King and has suffered much destruction. I hope you will show them some leniency. I have no wish to see further war."
Though Odin didn't know Feny's exact goal, he had some understanding of his style.
"Understood," Feny replied with a composed nod. He wasn't one to slaughter the innocent. While he had every intention of gaining experience, as long as the giants didn't cross the line, he wouldn't be quick to deal a fatal blow.
(End of Chapter)