7

Chapter 7: The War Unfolds

Jotunheim

A pillar of colored light struck the summit of a mountain, heralding the arrival of Thor and his companions amidst a chilling wind.

"We shouldn't have come here," Van Dahl remarked solemnly, sensing an underlying conspiracy.

"Come on, let's move," Victor reassured him, patting his shoulder. "Just keep an eye on my back."

"Sure thing," Van Dahl nodded, teasing, "Maybe you shouldn't have come along after all."

Victor, among them, had the weakest combat prowess, with almost negligible divine power in his veins. Aside from his resilient physique and some combat skills appreciated by Thor, he had little else to offer in battle.

"I'm at least a sun god, show me some respect," Victor joked, awkwardly touching his nose.

"Ah, then perhaps you could bring some sunshine here," Hogan chuckled.

As they traversed through jagged peaks and entered the desolate, lifeless terrain, Sif looked around warily. The eerie emptiness unsettled her; she couldn't shake the feeling that the Frost Giants wouldn't allow them passage so easily.

"Where are they?" she wondered aloud.

"They're cowards, hiding in the shadows," Thor dismissed with disdain, his mind fixed on combat. To him, every problem could be solved with a well-placed punch.

"We should proceed with caution," Victor advised from behind, his divine power constantly active to ward off the biting cold. His divine senses occasionally detected hidden Frost Giants lurking nearby.

"People of the Divine Realm, you've come to meet your end," King Laufey's voice boomed across the icy landscape as he approached.

"I am Thor, Odinson," Thor declared defiantly, eyeing the approaching Jotun soldiers. "How did your kind breach the Divine Realm?"

Laufey fell silent for a moment before responding, "There are traitors within Odin's family."

"Don't slander my father's name with lies," Thor retorted sharply. His father, the ruler of the Nine Realms, was an honorable figure. Thor couldn't fathom anyone within their ranks betraying him.

Meanwhile, Victor observed everything keenly from the rear, inwardly sneering at the revelations. Odin harbored so many secrets; how could Thor possibly know?

"Your father was both a murderer and a thief. Why else would you come here seeking peace?" Laufey descended from his perch, locking eyes with Thor as if seeing through him.

"I've come to fight," Thor declared, gripping his hammer tightly and launching himself at Laufey.

And so, the great battle commenced.

The group surged forward, engaging in fierce combat against the encroaching Jotun forces. Victor, slipping to a secluded mountain peak, found a cold boulder to lie upon. His sun divine power shielded him from the frigid temperatures, allowing him to evade the conflict below.

"Mission accomplished—successfully avoided the war!" Victor exhaled deeply, his divine power increasing with each moment of rest.

"The host lies flat—divine power +1!"

"The host lies flat—divine power +1!"

"The host lies flat—divine power +1!"

"Phew..." Victor sighed contentedly, observing the ongoing battle through his divine senses, courtesy of the System's "God's View" ability.

Suddenly, a glimmering light pierced the battlefield's sky, followed by a column of colored light.

Victor's eyes widened as he spotted Odin riding a white horse, clad in radiant armor and wielding the Eternal Spear.

"Father has arrived," Victor murmured to himself, watching Odin's grand entrance.

"Cease this at once!" Odin's voice thundered, the divine power within his spear dispersing the combatants.

"Father!" Thor exclaimed, conjuring a bolt of lightning before landing in front of Odin.

"What did I tell you earlier?" Odin admonished sternly, his arrival anticipated thanks to Victor's foresight.

But Thor's impetuous decision to invade Jotun territory with such force left Odin exasperated. He had expected as much from Victor, who often remarked that Thor's brain was more brawn than brain.

"Father, I can't let this stand. They must pay for their actions!" Thor insisted stubbornly, believing fists could resolve any conflict.

"Enough! Come back with me, and bring your 'salted fish' brother along," Odin commanded, scanning the battlefield for any sign of Victor.

"He really came here for the sake of 'salted fish,' in such a freezing place. Can he endure it without divine power?" Victor mused silently, hidden from Odin's sight.

"It seems Father still cares," Victor chuckled inwardly. "I've decided—I'll be more diligent about 'fishing' in the future, all for Father's sake!"

As Thor realized Victor had disappeared once more, he sighed exasperatedly.

"Brother, always chasing after fish!" Thor shook his head, then turned to Odin. "Father, I apologize for today's events."

"Odin, we of Jotunheim won't let this slide," Laufey declared angrily. Although the Jotun had indeed infiltrated the treasure vault, Laufey hadn't expected such an aggressive response from the Prince of Asgard.

"If we can endure it, we're not worthy of being Jotunheim's king!" he thought to himself.

"Very well, I accept your challenge," Odin replied thoughtfully, eyeing Laufey with resolve. He knew war was inevitable now, and he had to prepare accordingly.

As for Thor, Odin decided to heed Victor's suggestion: send him to the mortal realm for a while, where he could learn valuable lessons through experience.