115

Chapter 115: Changes

In Asgard, Loki sat on a high throne holding Gungnir, gazing down at the three Asgardian warriors below.

"Father has fallen into Odin's sleep. Given his advanced age, the Queen Mother has stayed by his side, worried he might not awaken. From now on, I will act as your king. You may address any important matters with me."

The three warriors exchanged glances, puzzled. How had Loki, who used to provoke them daily, suddenly become their king?

But no one spoke out. If Sif were here, she might have had something to say, but Sif was currently enjoying her time on Earth with Thor.

Volstagg, the eldest of the three warriors, hesitated before speaking: "In that case, Your Majesty, I request that you end Thor's exile. At this critical moment..."

A sneer appeared on Loki's lips. "I'm afraid my first decree cannot contradict my father's last order."

After a pause, he added, "By the way, we are about to launch a war against the Frost Giants. It is important for people to see their leaders adhering to their father's orders to ensure their confidence in these troubled times. We must unite to fight for Asgard!"

The three warriors sensed something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint what.

Resigned, they said, "As you command, Your Majesty."

The three warriors withdrew, leaving Loki alone on the throne, eyes closed, lost in thought.

After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a mocking smile.

"Fools!"

....

At the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, in a command room within the Triskelion, Nick Fury scrutinized satellite images with a serious expression.

"This area has always been uncharted and now it's swarming with activity."

On the screen, a mass of dark figures resembled a swarm of ants.

Beside Nick Fury, Tony Stark, who had recently joined the Avengers, was also present.

"Zoom in," Stark said, "Let's see who's there."

He took control of the equipment, but suddenly the screen went white with static, and then went dark with a click.

"What's happening?" Stark asked, bewildered.

"Clearly, your spy satellites have been taken out," Thor interjected unexpectedly.

"Impossible. The satellites are hundreds of kilometers up. It's impossible to destroy them without warning. No country has that level of technology."

An agent next to Nick Fury said, glancing at Stark, "Unless there's some hidden black technology in Stark Industries..."

Stark Industries refused to sell weapons or armor. Though some within S.H.I.E.L.D. might think otherwise, the technology was not available.

Stark's expression darkened. How did this involve him?

Fortunately, Thor came to his aid: "It may not exist on Earth, but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist in the universe."

Nick Fury's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting the situation is similar to fifteen years ago?"

"It could be worse..."

Thor shrugged. "Nephew, get to work."

Despite Thor being the Avengers' leader, he was in a state of temporary obedience and was still settling into his new role. His commitment to eliminating these monsters was unwavering. The feud with the Frost Gaint was ancient, and everyone shared the responsibility of defeating them!

Moreover, if these monsters were bold enough to make such a large-scale move, Loki was likely behind it. Thor had been away for years and had no idea what was happening in Asgard.

It made sense why the Ancient One, though an enigmatic figure, had come to warn him. At first, Thor had thought it was just about the Destroyer.

The old sorceress had warned him clearly!

"Boom!"

In the far north, a thunderous explosion erupted as an ice spear soared into the sky.

Laufey, having thrown the spear, sneered. "A thousand years have passed, and these humans still use outdated technology to spy on us. This weak race does not deserve to survive!"

At that moment, the sky darkened.

Not only was the sky above obscured, but a blanket of dark clouds covered the entire world. The oppressive atmosphere was palpable, with thunder rumbling ominously in the distance.