Chapter 176: Dark Elves (Part 3)

"Odin, that guy... I was just being polite, and he left without saying anything." Leaving Odin, Daniel Davis couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Originally, if Odin had mentioned a reward, he would have taken the opportunity to ask for a cosmic star map or a trip to the Void or the capital of the Nova Empire, Xandar.

Given his current strength, just visiting these places once would allow him to travel freely without needing a spaceship. In this respect, dimensional magic is incredibly powerful.

However, since Odin didn't bring it up, Daniel also couldn't mention it himself. Though he felt a bit regretful, there was nothing to be done now.

Perhaps because Daniel had saved Queen Frigga, Odin never again mentioned sending Daniel and Stark back to Midgard.

After Stark woke up and heard what had happened, he felt very remorseful. When the Asgardians invited him to drink again, he immediately refused, clearly frightened by the experience.

As time passed, Jane's condition worsened. Concerned, Thor suggested taking Jane back to Earth to see if there were any ways to save her, but Odin refused and ordered Heimdall to close the Bifrost to prevent Thor from using it secretly.

Thor was very upset about Odin's decision, but no matter how much he pleaded, Odin remained unmoved, even when Frigga tried to persuade him.

For Odin, the Aether was related to the safety of the Nine Realms and the entire universe. With the Dark Elves reappearing, he would never allow them to get their hands on the Aether.

If Jane returned to Earth, the Aether's danger aside, if the Dark Elves learned of it and invaded Earth to obtain the Aether, the entire Nine Realms would be in danger.

Odin was very clear about the importance of personal safety versus the safety of the entire world. Although such decisions were very unpleasant, as the king of Asgard and the Nine Realms, Odin had to consider his people.

Moreover, if Asgard couldn't solve Jane's problem, Midgard certainly couldn't. At this time, Odin conveniently forgot about a certain bald-headed figure that always frustrated him.

Daniel had also examined Jane's condition using the powers of the Operation Fruit and concluded that he had no way to help her. The power of the Aether was beyond what he could handle at this moment.

Thor, of course, wouldn't give up easily. Seeing that Odin was immovable, he went to Frigga. After much pleading, Frigga finally softened and gave Thor a suggestion.

Asgard couldn't solve Jane's problem, but the Dark Elves might. Thor was very happy to hear this. However, with the Bifrost sealed, he had no way to take Jane to the Dark Elves' world.

Frigga then suggested that Thor seek out Loki, who had other ways to travel between the Nine Realms.

Frigga also mentioned that if Loki helped deal with the Dark Elves, this achievement might lead Odin to lift his imprisonment.

Concerned about Jane's life and his brother's freedom, Thor agreed after some consideration.

Seeing Thor agree, Frigga secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although Loki was only an adopted son, Frigga's affection for him over the years was no less than for Thor. Loki had been very attached to Frigga as a child, and he learned all his magical abilities from her.

However, the crime Loki committed this time was too great—colluding with Thanos, which was a major crime in the universe. Even Frigga couldn't plead for him.

The appearance of the Aether presented an opportunity. If the brothers could work together to solve the Dark Elves problem, even Odin, as stubborn as he was, would recognize their achievement and likely release Loki. This achievement would also reduce opposition within Asgard.

"Help deal with the Dark Elves?" Frigga found Daniel while Thor was consulting Loki. Hearing her words, Daniel couldn't believe it.

"That's right. We cannot let the Dark Elves obtain the Aether. With your strength and the magic from Kamar-Taj, it wouldn't be difficult to steal the Aether if you hide and act stealthily."

Frigga indeed wanted to help her son, but she also didn't want the Aether to fall into the hands of the Dark Elves.

"But I don't know invisibility magic. I can't follow them quietly." Daniel's words were a lie. The Invisibility Charm from the Harry Potter world was indeed invisibility magic.

"I know. I can teach you this." To help her son, Frigga was willing to go all out. She directly taught him the illusion magic that Loki often used.

"Alright, I understand. I will do my best to help them." Previously, Daniel had been worried about what would happen if Frigga didn't die. Hearing Frigga's words, he understood the situation. This outcome was ideal for Daniel since Jane wouldn't have to die due to his intervention.

"Illusion magic is…" After Daniel agreed, Frigga immediately taught him the magic. Asgard's illusion magic was far more magical than that of the Harry Potter world and much harder to learn. Fortunately, Daniel was a disciple of Kamar-Taj, and Frigga was a very skilled witch. He mastered it in a short time.

"Loki, this is your only chance. I hope you and your brother will cooperate well and not have any ulterior motives. If you fail and the Dark Elves obtain the Aether, Asgard will be finished." In the prison, Frigga sternly instructed Loki upon seeing him.

"Then why not just kill the woman? Isn't that the simplest way?"

"Shut up." Loki's words made Frigga very angry.

Under Frigga's stern gaze, Loki reluctantly lowered his head. If anyone in Asgard could make Loki fully obedient, it was undoubtedly Frigga.

"He will cooperate with you to avoid any problems. Remember, if you pull any tricks again, I will never forgive you." Under Frigga's gaze, Daniel and Loki reached an agreement. Daniel learned from Loki the location to travel to the other Nine Realms.

To ensure smooth cooperation, Daniel went ahead to wait there. To facilitate Daniel's actions, Frigga specifically allowed Asgard's researchers to assist Stark, thus keeping him occupied.

"Hitting so hard… Is Odin too old?" Hiding in the place Loki had indicated, Daniel watched as Thor, Loki, and Jane were attacked by several aircraft. He immediately used illusion magic to conceal himself.

Taking Loki out of the dungeon was no simple task, especially after a recent jailbreak incident. Fortunately, Thor had four loyal followers. With Sif and others acting as decoys, they attracted a large number of Asgardian guards, giving Thor a chance to take Loki and Jane away.

The reason Frigga had Daniel cooperate with Loki was simple. Though illusion magic was powerful, Loki could also use it, making it hard to hide from him. In fact, even Thor could detect abnormalities if he focused, having been tricked by Loki's illusions many times.

"A secret passage… It turns out it's magic." Loki's secret passage was actually a spell, given to him by Frigga due to his playful nature.

Daniel didn't expect to learn this magic, as it was based entirely on Asgardian magic systems. Unless Asgard allowed him to start from scratch, he had no chance of learning it.

Svartalfheim, the realm of the Dark Elves, was perpetually dark. When Bor eradicated the Dark Elves, he left the planet in darkness.

Although it was perpetually dark, it wasn't pitch-black. It was more like twilight, allowing visibility over a certain distance.

On their journey, Loki was very restless, causing trouble and angering Thor. Jane, terrified by Loki, the mastermind behind the Battle of New York, clung to Thor.

"Asgardians, you are bold to bring the Aether here." Soon, Thor and his group encountered the Dark Elves. Perhaps sensing the Aether's approach, Malekith appeared directly with the Kursed by his side.

"This is bad. That's my fully-powered Death Blade." Watching the Kursed quietly standing by Malekith, Daniel was shocked.

What Daniel didn't know was that the Kursed appeared unscathed only because Malekith had expended great effort to restore him. If it were the past, Malekith wouldn't have gone to such lengths. However, with only one last Kursed Stone remaining, he had no choice.

"I am Thor, the God of Thunder. I am here to…" Thor stepped forward, but before he could finish, Loki suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed him from behind.

Thor roared in pain and fought Loki. During the battle, Loki severed Thor's right hand, causing Mjölnir to fall to the ground.

Finally, Loki stabbed Thor in the chest, and Thor fell to the ground of Svartalfheim, looking unwilling.

"Loki, you…" Jane, watching in horror, couldn't believe the brothers, who seemed to be cooperating, were now killing each other.

"I am Loki, a prince of Asgard, but not an Asgardian, rather a Jotun. By the way, I saw this guy in prison before." Loki revealed his true form, with blue skin, and grabbed Jane, walking towards Malekith.

"What do you want?" Malekith looked at Thor's fallen body, then at the Kursed, who nodded, and asked.

"My purpose is simple. The woman is yours, and I don't need the Aether. However, Asgard is mine, and you must not attack Asgard."

"Agreed." Malekith didn't doubt Loki's words. The whole Nine Realms knew of the blood feud between Asgard and the Frost Giants. The recent death of the Frost Giant king had only led

 to a ceasefire between them.

Malekith signaled his Dark Elf warriors to take Jane from Loki. Seeing no trickery, he looked at Jane, or rather at the Aether within her.

As the leader of the Dark Elves, Malekith could sense the Aether. That's why he had sent the Kursed to Asgard. If Jane hadn't gone to Asgard, Malekith would have targeted Earth immediately. Asgard required spies, but he didn't care as much about Earth, which inadvertently avoided another alien invasion.

Compared to the Chitauri, the Dark Elves, though fewer in number, were much stronger.

As Malekith raised his hands, Jane floated in the air. Black Aether slowly emerged from her body and moved towards Malekith's hands.

"Such a convincing act. Loki is truly impressive; even I almost believed it." Loki and Thor's fight was so realistic that Daniel might have believed Loki's betrayal if he hadn't seen the real Thor hiding with him.

Watching the movie, he had genuinely thought Loki had betrayed Thor.

"Ha ha, our era has finally arrived." With the Aether in hand, Malekith was ecstatic, completely ignoring the fallen Jane.

Jane was now weak after the Aether was suddenly extracted from her.

"The Dark Elves can indeed wield the true power of the Reality Stone. It's a pity I can't learn about the Reality Stone from this race." With Thor and Loki involved, Daniel couldn't interfere. Moreover, the Dark Elves weren't weaklings. Without full effort, he could end up in trouble.

Besides, everything happening here might be under Heimdall's watchful eyes. Whether Odin knew Frigga's plan, Daniel wasn't sure.

"Kill them." With the Aether in hand, Malekith disregarded his promise to Loki. To him, a mere Frost Giant was not qualified to negotiate. He ordered the Kursed to kill them and prepared to leave.

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