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Loki

Comparatively speaking, the ice beast was much smaller than Fenris, unlike typical ice beasts of its kind.

It would have taken Fenris just one bite to sever its head.

"Roar... Roar..." The young ice beast kept retreating in horror as it faced the approaching giant wolf Fenris.

But soon, a mound of massive ruins blocked its escape route completely.

Laufey lay defeated on the ground, glancing between the ice beast and Fenris, resigned to his fate.

Odin observed silently for a moment before stepping forward to retrieve the Cosmic Tesseract and reclaim Gungnir.

Holding the Tesseract in his hand, Odin surveyed the scene with his remaining eye. "The battle is over, soldiers."

The frost giants, still defiant, looked upon their fallen leader Laufey and the glowing artifact in Odin's possession. Eventually, most chose to surrender rather than continue fighting.

Of course, some frost giants opted to fight to the death, achieving their desired end by leaving their bones in the icy plains before the former Jotunheim King City.

The Asgardians commenced clearing the battlefield, collecting the corpses and weapons left behind by the surrendered.

"Father, your eyes..." Hela approached Odin, her voice trembling as she gazed at his empty, blood-stained right eye.

Odin was clearly still grappling with the pain of losing his eye. He sighed, managing a smile. "In ancient legends, for those who lose their eyes, fate compensates with wisdom. Wisdom is far more valuable than eyes, don't you think?"

Hela wanted to respond, but found herself speechless. Father and daughter lapsed into a thoughtful silence, their unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

Odin stood up and gently patted Hela's shoulder. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he turned and walked toward the ruins of the castle behind them, scanning his surroundings.

"Your Majesty, there is someone ahead in the basement," Heimdall's voice sounded in Odin's ear.

Guided by Heimdall, Odin quickly located the entrance to the basement.

Several frost giant soldiers guarded the entrance, but they posed no challenge to Odin and were swiftly subdued. However, Odin chose not to kill them.

After navigating several twists and turns, Odin reached the end of the basement: a small, exquisite room containing a crib.

"Wah, wah—" The cries of a baby emanated from the crib.

Beside the crib, a frost giant woman stood motionless against the wall, resembling a tranquil ice sculpture as she silently watched over the crying infant boy.

"Fabti..." Odin's gaze shifted from the ice-like figure of Fabti to the baby boy lying in the crib.

"Wah, wah—" The baby boy continued crying, resembling an Asgardian infant except for his icy blue skin.

Odin picked up the child.

To his surprise, the baby boy gradually quieted down in Odin's arms, his small limbs wriggling as if seeking comfort.

Odin sighed softly, golden light radiating from his hand.

The golden light enveloped the baby boy, instantly transforming his skin from icy blue to the flesh-toned hue of an Asgardian

"Let's call you... Loki," Odin decided.

The next day, in the Asgardian Palace.

Odin sat upon the throne, a golden eyepatch covering his right eye.

This image closely resembled the Odin from Forseti's previous life memories, albeit with less white in his hair.

"During this period, everyone has shown great effort in battling Mangog and the Frost Giants..." Odin's voice carried a hint of emotion.

After yet another confrontation with the Frost Giants, the Golden Palace felt even emptier, with only half the usual attendance. The somber atmosphere weighed upon everyone present.

The change had been abrupt. Not long ago, Asgard stood as the universe's dominant force, only to find itself weakened in the blink of an eye.

After a pause, Odin continued, "These two wars have exacted a heavy toll upon us, underscoring that war offers no lasting solution, and peace is indeed precious."

"Of course, many venerable warriors have distinguished themselves in battle and deserve recognition. Therefore, three days from now, I will confer new titles in the name of the Allfather."

Titles!

The announcement stirred deep anticipation among those gathered in the Golden Palace.

These titles, such as "God of War" or "Goddess of Death," not only served as honorary distinctions but also bestowed specific powers upon their bearers.

For instance, Ullr, the god of hunting, oversaw the Hunting Festival, while Tyr, the god of war, held a crucial military command in Asgard. Hela, as the goddess of death, acted as Odin's executor of justice.

Some titles, like the God of Light, lacked corresponding powers, yet any title denoted a rank above the seventh level in Asgardian military hierarchy, symbolizing a higher god.

In addition to status, upper gods enjoyed various privileges, including unrestricted use of the Rainbow Bridge.

For ordinary Asgardians lacking titles, Rainbow Bridge usage was strictly regulated. Only official business warranted its use; private matters required prior authorization from the Allfather or the Gatekeeper.

Those with titles, however, freely traversed the Rainbow Bridge, unaffected by Asgard's internal affairs or the Allfather's directives.

For eons, such titles had been rare in Asgard, numbering no more than a dozen at any given time.

Odin's announcement sparked hope and expectation among those gathered.

After concluding his address, Odin added, "Frigga has recently blessed me with two sons: my elder, Thor, and my younger, Loki..."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty," most responded, seeing nothing unusual and offering their congratulations.

After all, on the day of Thor's birth, Mangog had attacked Asgard, thrusting them into relentless battles against the Frost Giants.

Thus, save for a few individuals, the Asgardians remained unaware of Frigga's childbirth.

Odin's announcement that he had fathered two sons was accepted without question, prompting widespread congratulatory remarks.

Only two individuals felt differently. Heimdall, with his all-seeing eyes, had witnessed Odin adopting Loki firsthand, thus understanding the truth.

The other was Forseti.

Odin's decision to adopt Loki likely stemmed from his hope that Loki would one day use his powers to pacify Jotunheim... Forseti mused silently.

As everyone prepared to depart, Forseti, too, began to leave the Golden Palace. Unexpectedly, Odin's voice rang out once more, "Forseti, stay."

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