Watching Thor and Jane walk toward their car, talking animatedly, Karl and Tony exchanged a look.
Tony sighed. "So the God of Thunder falls for an astrophysicist in under twenty-four hours."
Karl shrugged slightly. "Asgardians live for thousands of years. Humans live less than a century. These things rarely end well."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Optimistic."
Karl didn't respond. In another timeline, Jane would one day wield Mjolnir herself — not because of romance, but because the hammer's enchantment recognizes worthiness, regardless of species. Odin's spell never specified "Asgardian."
That was the real rule.
"Alright," Tony continued. "What now? Follow them?"
Karl waved his hand.
An SUV materialized in the empty roadside space.
Tony blinked. "You carry cars now?"
"I bought it. Didn't feel like leaving it at home."
Wealth had its side effects. Karl's system space contained far more than weapons.
Tony exhaled. "Fine. Store the suit."
Karl used telekinesis to detach Tony's armor, compress it, and store it.
Tony took the driver's seat. Juggernaut got in silently. They followed Thor's vehicle at a distance.
Inside Jane's van, Thor enthusiastically sketched diagrams.
"There are Nine Realms," Thor explained, drawing branching structures. "They are not merely planets. They are interconnected realms — dimensions — bound together by Yggdrasil, the World Tree."
He tapped the paper.
"Asgard. Vanaheim. Alfheim. Nidavellir. Midgard. Jotunheim. Muspelheim. Svartalfheim. And Hel."
Jane's eyes widened.
"This isn't standard astrophysics… these are dimensional convergence points."
Thor grinned proudly.
"To you, it may seem mystical. To us, it is simply structure."
Selvig remained cautious.
Mythology aligning with observable cosmic phenomena was one thing.
Dating one of them was another.
He glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed Karl's SUV following.
He made a mental note to speak with him later.
Meanwhile
Jotunheim
Loki stepped through the Bifrost, holding Gungnir — symbol of Asgardian authority.
The Frost Giants recoiled slightly.
Laufey sat upon his icy throne.
Loki approached calmly.
"You wish Odin dead."
Laufey's eyes narrowed.
"I offer you access."
Loki's voice was smooth, controlled.
"I can lower Asgard's defenses. You will strike Odin during the Odinsleep. Kill him. In the chaos, I will secure the throne."
Laufey considered.
He had long desired Odin's death.
He did not realize he was being maneuvered.
"Agreed," Laufey said at last.
Loki bowed slightly.
Inside, he felt nothing but calculation.
Earlier — in Asgard
After confronting Odin in the vault and touching the Casket of Ancient Winters, Loki had learned the truth: his blue Frost Giant skin revealed itself.
He was not Asgardian.
He was Laufey's biological son — abandoned as a runt because of his unusually small size.
Odin had taken him after the war with Jotunheim — not out of cruelty, but with the hope of forging peace.
That revelation shattered Loki's identity.
When he confronted Odin, the Allfather's fury — and the emotional strain — triggered the Odinsleep.
This was not death.
It was the Odinforce withdrawing for restoration.
But Asgard required a ruler.
Loki took Gungnir.
Sat upon the throne.
Declared himself regent.
Not out of simple greed — but out of desperate need for validation.
If he could protect Asgard…
If he could succeed where Thor failed…
Then he would prove he was worthy.
Back in Jotunheim
Loki's true plan was not alliance.
It was eradication.
He intended to lure Laufey into Asgard, kill him personally, and then use the Bifrost's full power as a cosmic energy weapon to destroy Jotunheim entirely.
The Bifrost was not merely transportation.
It was a focused stellar-energy bridge capable of planetary devastation.
Loki felt no loyalty to Laufey.
He had never been wanted by him.
If Odin had not taken him, he would have died on the ice.
His hatred was not divided.
It was absolute.
Asgard — The Rainbow Bridge
The Warriors Three and Lady Sif approached Heimdall.
"Open the Bifrost," Sif demanded.
Heimdall's gaze remained forward.
"The King has forbidden it."
"You know he is not fit to rule," Fandral said.
Heimdall did not move.
"My duty is to the throne."
He left them standing there.
He could see everything in the Nine Realms.
But he could not yet act.
Loki visited Frigga.
Unlike with Odin, he was gentle.
Frigga alone had treated him as equal to Thor since childhood.
She had taught him sorcery because his gifts were different.
Not lesser.
Different.
His love for her was genuine.
When she told him Odin slept but would awaken, Loki nodded calmly.
But inside, his time was limited.
He needed Thor removed permanently.
He needed Jotunheim destroyed.
He needed validation.
So he took the Casket of Ancient Winters from the vault once more.
And the Warriors Three remained stranded at the Rainbow Bridge.
…
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