169

Chapter 167: Routine

When Natalia awoke, she found herself lying in a lake, as if she were dreaming.

But the orange gemstone in her hand confirmed that this was no dream.

She thought she had forgotten how to cry, but holding the gemstone tightly, she could not hold back her tears and began to cry openly.

Suddenly, the Soul Gem trembled and struggled violently, as if it were trying to escape her grasp.

Startled, Natalia tightened her hold on the gem.

However, the gemstone's power was too great, and it eventually broke free from her hand and flew into the distance.

"Boom—"

The rapidly fleeing Soul Gem seemed to collide with an invisible barrier, abruptly stopping and vibrating intensely.

A familiar voice rang out, "Since you've come this far, you won't be going back."

Natalia's eyes widened. "Thor?"

A familiar figure materialized in front of her, holding the Soul Gem that had been trying to escape.

Natalia was momentarily stunned. Overcome with joy and surprise, she leaped up and embraced him.

Thor held Natalia with one arm and the Soul Gem with the other, speaking softly, "I understand you have your own desires.

Although I don't know the origins of your strange rules, we havve passed the test. Now, you will serve as my weapon.

I promise that within ten years, I will set you free.

"I know you enjoy consuming souls. I will offer you tens of millions of souls. You won't lose out on this deal."

"Otherwise, I can destroy you right now!"

He released Natalia and let the power of the gem flicker in his hand.

Though the method of offering rewards and threats was simple, it was effective.

An emotionless voice resonated in Thor's mind not a voice but a message"Why should I believe you?"

Thor hesitated for a moment and then declared, "Because— I am the strongest !"

The Soul Gem's vibrations gradually ceased.

Thor sensed a connection forming between himself and the gem—within ten years, the Soul Gem would be entirely under his control, even more reliable than other gems.

Natalia, coming back to her senses from the mix of sorrow and joy, asked in confusion, "Thor, what is happening?"

"I'll explain it to you."

A new figure emerged from the shadows—Loki, the god of mischief.

"My illusion technique is nearly indistinguishable from the original. In truth, it wasn't the real Thor who jumped down, but merely an illusion."

Loki's face displayed a smug grin. He reveled in tricking the famed Infinite Gems and basked in the radiance of his deceit.

Thor glanced at him, unimpressed by his arrogance.

Deceiving the Soul Gem with an illusion? It was merely a trick to fool someone like Natalia, who didn't fully understand the nature of the gem...

In reality, only the true Soul Gem could deceive itself.

The last of the three Infinite Gems tokens obtained 20 years ago, the Soul Gem—creates a soul identical to the target, generated at a specified time and place.

The duration was limited to one minute...

Loki's illusion created merely a shell; what actually deceived the Soul Gem was a soul that perfectly mimicked Thor.

For one minute, this soul was utterly real. No one in the universe could tell the difference except Thor.

The Soul Gem devoured the sacrificial soul and emerged satisfied. But once the minute passed, it realized it had been tricked, struggling to flee but was restrained by Thor.

Being deceived by a soul created through its own power, the Soul Gem effectively shot itself in the foot.

"So, what would you have done if you hadn't tricked the Soul Gem? Would you have sacrificed me or one of us?" Natalia asked.

Thor shook his head. "No. I'm not Thanos. Victory achieved through sacrifice is never truly victorious. I will not leave behind a lifetime of regrets. If I fail, I will destroy the entire Vormir, along with the gem."

He drew his battle axe. "My goal with the gems is to make Thanos lose one. That's all. This is what truly resolves the issue."

In the vast universe, Carol Danvers flew absently.

She was lost in thoughts of the past.

Facing a large-scale attack by the Kree, the Skrulls had finally reached their breaking point.

The Kree issued an ultimatum: the Skrulls must surrender unconditionally within one day or face complete annihilation.

Unable to endure any longer, Talos sent a distress signal to Carol.