However, Steve had indeed felt lost and a sense of detachment ever since he awoke from the ice. He always felt out of place in the new era.
Lucas saw it, because... he was also such a person.
In this regard, Thor was wrong.
Although Steve's physiological age was less than a hundred and his psychological age less than thirty, he was indeed old.
Everyone from his era had passed away.
He had lost an era.
Although Thor was tens of times older than Steve, he did not have this kind of experience.
"Steve."
While Tony was instructing Ultron to arrange for the Avengers' contact information to be published in the media, and everyone else's attention was drawn away, Lucas quietly approached Steve and whispered, "Old people need a companion in life. If it's a young companion, her vitality can also infect you, making you feel young again."
Steve smiled helplessly.
He, of course, understood what Lucas meant, it was just...
— — —
Before being blasted into the sky by S.W.O.R.D.'s ex-wife missile, the Fire Demons and Frost Giants had already started fighting.
The arrogant attitude of the two remaining Fire Demons after winning the competition angered the four Frost Giants.
Meanwhile, on the Dark Elves' flagship outside Asgard, Sindr, leader of the Fire Demons, had formed an alliance with King Laufey of the Frost Giants.
Together, they confronted Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves, and the Angel Queen.
"Sindr, if the Angel Queen had not led the War Angel Legion to draw fire for the allies, our plan could not have been executed smoothly, and you would not have been able to reclaim the Eternal Flame."
"Burning bridges is one thing, but to insult the Angel Queen like this? Is this how you Fire Demons treat your benefactors?"
Malekith's face was grim as he coldly stared at Sindr.
"As for 'stupid,' I think you are the stupid one. The Angel Queen knew that she and the War Angel Legion alone could not destroy Asgard, so she joined the alliance and cooperated wholeheartedly."
"And you? Sindr, do you truly believe that after reclaiming the Eternal Flame, your Fire Giant race will be invincible? That you can rest easy? Have you forgotten how Odin took the Eternal Flame from you Fire Demons?"
"Presumptuous!"
Sindr, her past exposed, looked somewhat embarrassed and angrily rebuked Malekith.
"I don't know if the Fire Giant race is invincible. But I know that, in terms of strength, you, Malekith, are not qualified to be presumptuous with me."
"Is that so?"
Malekith's eyes grew colder, but he forced out a smile, a sneer.
At this moment, Malekith was glad he had prepared some extra contingencies.
"Then let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your father, Surtur."
Malekith drew his sword and pointed it at Sindr from a distance. But he remained motionless, the profound meaning unspoken.
Seeing as you are a junior, I'll let you have a few moves.
"I am the ruler of the Fire Demons!"
Provoked by Malekith, Sindr roared.
She raised her right hand, and flames condensed and built up in it, causing the surrounding temperature to skyrocket. The air inside the spaceship became distorted and warped under the scorching flames.
Sindr punched out, and the flames wrapped around her right hand shot forth, aiming at Malekith.
A terrifying high temperature erupted, burning a path of distorted air. Before it even got close, it ignited Malekith's clothes.
Malekith focused his mind. Although he disparaged Sindr verbally, he would not be careless in a fight. He sheathed his sword, and black patterns crawled across his face, though they were not noticeable against his equally dark skin.
He swung his sword, unleashing both physical strength and divine power.
Rumble!!!
Malekith, holding his sword, slashed at the fire-ball shot by Sindr. The fire-ball burst open with a bang, and flames instantly engulfed Malekith.
Not only Malekith, but after the fire-ball exploded, the flames scattered like fireworks, showering every corner of the spaceship. They ignited all combustible materials they touched, turning the spaceship into a sea of fire.
However, in the next instant, Malekith's figure rushed out of the sea of fire.
His target was Sindr!
"Such speed!"
Malekith's speed far exceeded Sindr's expectations.
With no time to dodge, Sindr condensed flames in front of her, intending to repeat her trick. When Malekith attacked, the fire-ball would explode, using the impact to push them both away.
However...
"The same trick won't work on me twice!" Malekith suddenly said.
As his voice fell, his longsword had already pierced Sindr's shoulder.
It turned out that he had suddenly twisted his body while moving at high speed, slightly changing his angle, dodging the fire-ball in front of Sindr.
Furthermore, his arm had suddenly extended, his sword striking Sindr.
Caught off guard, Sindr was stabbed by Malekith, temporarily falling into a disadvantage.
"Get lost!"
Flames once again surged from Sindr's body and exploded, attempting to force Malekith back.
Malekith did not resist, instead taking the opportunity to draw his sword and retreat. His goal was merely to teach Sindr a lesson, re-establishing a balance of power, not to fight her to the death.
With a victor's smile on his face, Malekith scoffed, "Sindr, I wonder if my strength is worthy enough for me to be presumptuous with you?"
"Again!"
Sindr gritted her teeth, power surging within her, and the surrounding flames swayed with it.
She had engaged in two consecutive battles, first with the Angel Queen, and then with Malekith, the Dark Elf King, each time suffering greater losses.
Although there were some accidental factors, and it was only a few initial moves, such a record made Sindr even more agitated.
If this got out, how could she still lead the Fire Demons?
"Enough!"
Sizzle... Crackle...
Frost spread, and the flames inside the spaceship gradually extinguished.
Laufey made his move, stopping the increasingly angry Sindr. At the same time, his stance subtly formed a pincer movement with Sindr, both targeting Malekith.
"Malekith, Sindr has already succeeded as the King of the Fire Demons. A King must not be lightly insulted."
Sindr, Malekith, and the Angel Queen all knew.
Laufey's words were undoubtedly in support of Sindr.
Otherwise, why did he remain silent and watch the show when Sindr insulted the Angel Queen earlier?
When Malekith taught Sindr a lesson, and seeing Sindr losing, he immediately intervened.
Ultimately, at this moment, the interests of the Frost Giants and the Fire Demons were aligned.
Since that was the case...
Malekith looked at Laufey and said coolly, "Laufey, you are right, I will give you this respect. However, I wonder if you can also give me some respect?"
Laufey asked, "What respect?"
Malekith said, "I heard that Odin's second son, Loki Odinson's real name should be Loki Laufeyson. Is that true or not?"
His private matter exposed, Laufey remained calm. He was merely an underdeveloped abandoned child.
"Speak plainly, Malekith."
Malekith said, "I also heard that Odin wants his adopted second son, Loki, to become the King of the Frost Giants, is that true or not?"
Laufey said in a deep voice, "He's deluding himself. The Frost Giants will not acknowledge it."
Malekith asked, "But what if Odin insists on pushing it through?"
"Laufey, you wouldn't want the next King of the Frost Giants to be a child raised in Asgard, would you?"
"We all know that our race alone cannot contend with the Aesir. We are all vanquished foes of Odin and his father, Bor!"
Malekith's voice grew louder and louder, and Laufey's face grew gloomier and gloomier.
A child he abandoned, adopted by Odin, eventually becoming the King of the Frost Giants?
This was not about succession to the throne.
This was a slap in Laufey's face!