Loki walked toward the distant mountain peaks, magically manifesting his robes, cloak, and horned helmet. It was a pity that the scepter containing the Mind Stone, which Thanos had lent him, had been snatched away by mortals; otherwise, Loki wouldn't have arrived empty-handed.
He reached Malekith's side. At that moment, Malekith was holding the Casket of Ancient Winters, gazing at Asgard in the distance as smoke and dust billowed from the city.
"The monster you found was truly unexpected. Baldur is dead, fallen by his own arrogance and stupidity."
As Loki spoke, he glanced around at the members of this so-called Council of Realms, currently led by Malekith. Or rather, they were a gathered rabble of outcasts yearning to revolt against Odin's rule.
Malekith represented the Dark Elves, the King of the Wild Hunt. Then there was Loki himself, Prince of Asgard and biological son of Laufey, King of the Frost Giants. Surtur, King of the Fire Giants, made up the third of the alliance's "Big Three."
Then there were the other members: Loki's confidante Amora, Amora's sycophant the Executioner, and on the other side, Ulik, King of the Trolls. Loki knew of him—a fellow who could trade blows with Thor and live to tell the tale. As the Troll King, his strength was passable.
There was also the CEO of Roxxon, Agger, who had remained on Earth, and the Hydra forces backing him. This meant that four of the Nine Realms were represented here.
"Since that is the case, I shall soon find Laufey's corpse and deliver it to you, Malekith."
"Much appreciated, my friend. I know you have been doubting whether I truly have the cards to defeat Odin," Malekith said with a smile. "Baldur is dead. No one in the Nine Realms can stop the coming of Fimbulwinter. Odin will soon find his life hanging by a thread as he loses control over his vast divine power. When that time comes, victory will be easily ours."
"I have a question."
Loki looked at Malekith with a trace of confusion. "As far as I know, that monster escaped from Nornheim. In other words, Odin imprisoned it there. If that's the case, how did the Trolls find it?"
Ulik looked at Loki and let out a disdainful snort. "It is all destiny, little godling. No matter how powerful Odin is, he cannot escape the interference of Fate."
As expected, the Norns were meddling behind the scenes. Loki was not surprised by this answer. As his "initiation fee," he had stabbed Frigga today, confirmed Baldur's death, and would soon bring Laufey's body to Malekith—perhaps even more.
This meant Loki was now tied to this cause.
He waited indifferently, but after a moment, Malekith's expression shifted.
In truth, Malekith didn't know the full details of Mangog either, but as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is a friend. Since the creature was Odin's enemy, Malekith only needed to rescue it when it was on the verge of defeat to gain a terrifying warrior capable of threatening the All-Father.
But just now, he could no longer sense the monster—it had vanished from Asgard.
Could it be that even Odin could not defeat it and was forced to banish it?
Filled with doubt, Malekith chose to act quickly, opening the Casket of Ancient Winters. A piercing, frigid wind howled, surging toward the sky. High above the horizon of Asgard, a massive expanse of ice clouds began to coalesce.
"From this day forth, Asgard shall know no spring, summer, or autumn. Their flesh shall be encased in ice, and their divine power shall freeze solid."
With Baldur dead, Malekith felt no qualms about celebrating early. "And Odin shall also—"
"Sorry, friends, but did you buy tickets to enter Asgard?"
A slightly familiar voice interrupted Malekith. Flying in from the distance was Thor, with Spider-Man hitching a ride via a web-line attached to him. Malekith, slightly surprised, aimed the Casket of Ancient Winters directly at them. Regardless of what they intended to do, he would freeze them first.
"If you didn't buy a ticket, the security personnel have to escort you out."
Security personnel? What security personnel...
Neither Malekith nor Loki understood what that meant until a portal opened in front of Thor and Peter. Then, a man composed entirely of ice appeared, grinning amidst the freezing winds of the Casket. He manifested a barrier for the reinforcements following behind him. Immediately after, a circular shield soared through the air, striking Malekith directly.
When his pitch-black left side was hit by the Vibranium shield, it made a hissing sound like boiling water hitting snow, causing Malekith to howl in agony.
"Avengers! Assemble!"
Captain America led the full roster of the Avengers, along with Doctor Strange and Iceman, as they charged out of the portal toward Malekith's underlings. Upon seeing this group, Loki seemed to have some unpleasant memories resurface; he was the first to vanish.
Surtur, the Fire Giant King—currently standing at a modest height of only three or four meters—swung the twilight sword, Laevateinn, at the "insolent mortals." However, Thor's hammer slammed into the magic blade first.
"Surtur! Who do you think you're looking at?!"
The Executioner immediately rushed forward, only to be swatted down by a giant-sized Ant-Man. By the time he used his strength to heave the giant's arm off him, he was tripped by Black Panther. As for the Troll King, he was being beaten into a retreat by the Hulk.
Oh, and Amora was currently being chased by Doctor Strange to settle their scores.
"A group of mortals truly think they can..." Malekith sighed. He noticed a problem: the Iceman on the opposite side was directly controlling the frost being released by the Casket. If there was a secret to defeating him, it lay with that Iceman.
In that case, he would end it here.
"Hey, Harvey Dent, I heard you screaming pretty hard just now." A figure in metallic armor flew in front of Malekith, seizing an opening to punch him squarely in his black half-face. "What, are you allergic to metal?"
???
Since when was there someone in this team specifically targeting me?
In a fit of rage, Malekith drew his longsword and immediately chanted an incantation to summon a swarm of Wild Hunt riders, swinging his blade violently toward the Avengers.
"All of you, move! Crush these mortals into dust!"