Loki stood on the Bifrost Bridge, his gaze fixed on the star-filled sky. His expression carried disdain as though he could pierce the cosmos and look down upon Midgard itself.
With Asgard's prestige, surely those mortal sorcerers would tremble in fear. How laughable it was that one of them, no matter how valued by Odin, dared to challenge Asgard with Midgard's feeble magic.
To Loki, Malrick was nothing more than an arrogant commoner ignorant of his place.
"Father," Loki said smoothly, "allow me to go to Midgard again. As the Nine Realms' greatest sorcerer, I can show them the weight of their insolence."
He wore the title of foremost mage proudly. In his mind, mages from a backwater world like Earth should grovel before him as peasants bow to a king. The thought alone made him smirk, already imagining the moment he would prove his worth to Odin.
But Odin barely acknowledged him. The All-Father lifted Gungnir, his one eye narrowing as he stepped forward.
"They are here."
At the far end of the rainbow bridge, golden sparks flared into existence. Like embers catching flame, they spread rapidly until a vast circular portal blazed before the Asgardian honor guard.
Through it stepped fourteen figures from Midgard.
Most wore the ochre robes of Kamar-Taj, others casual clothes that looked woefully out of place on Asgard's sacred bridge. Their expressions brimmed with curiosity, not fear.
Rather than bowing to Odin or showing deference to Thor and Loki, they looked about like tourists at a historical site, making offhand comments about the palace-like scenery.
Thor and Loki both froze in disbelief. These… these were the challengers from Kamar-Taj? They looked more like a group of travelers who had taken a wrong turn through the universe.
How had they even opened a portal from Earth directly to Asgard? Loki had never heard of such sorcery outside the Bifrost.
Their voices carried shamelessly.
"Don't tell me," Tony Stark said with his trademark smirk, "that the old guy in front is Odin, the one with the hammer is Thor, and… well, I don't know who the other one is without a weapon."
"Tony, they're glaring at us," Banner muttered. "Should we bow or something?"
"Sherry, look at that! The waterfalls are spilling into space!" a blonde woman exclaimed.
"It's so beautiful," Sherry agreed, holding her sister Yelena's hand.
"Wow, like something straight out of a fantasy park!" Yelena squealed.
Loki's jaw tightened. How dare these mortals chatter so loudly, so casually, in front of gods? How dare they treat Asgard like a sightseeing spot? The urge to shout Kneel! surged inside him, but Odin's presence restrained him.
Then, from among the group, one robed figure stepped forward. Malrick.
He met Odin's eye with calm familiarity. "Long time no see, Your Majesty."
With a flicker of intent, Malrick dropped the concealment of his energy. A crushing force spilled across the bridge—the aura of a Realm-lord at his peak, an Immortal's will pressing down.
Odin's eyes widened, his breath catching.
In mere months, Malrick's strength had soared beyond expectation. The All-Father, who had known power in countless forms, felt a ripple of shock so sharp it nearly forced him into the Odin Sleep.
Satisfied at Odin's reaction, Malrick reined his aura back in.
But Loki had met his gaze.
That one glance was enough. Malrick's will struck Loki's mind like a star collapsing. His vision whited out, his body crumpled, and he fell unconscious in an instant.
"Loki! Loki!" Thor cried, catching his brother before he hit the ground. He shook him desperately, panic flaring across his face. "What's happening to him?"
Thor rounded on Malrick, fury in his voice. "You! What have you done!?"
"Thor, be calm," Odin commanded, his voice heavy. "He is only unconscious."
Odin had felt the pressure as well, a soul-splitting edge cutting straight to the spirit. For Loki, weaker in will, collapse was inevitable. But it was not an attack—it was simply the weight of Malrick's presence.
"He will recover," Odin assured, though his face was grim. "Take him back to the palace. Frigga will tend to him."
Malrick frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the turn of events. "That was unintentional. Your Majesty, I know methods of healing the soul. Allow me to come along."
Odin gave a single nod. "Very well, Lord Malrick. We will postpone the challenge until Loki recovers."
Thor's grip tightened on Mjolnir, his eyes still burning. "Did you truly harm my brother?"
"Thor," Odin said sharply, "this was Loki's doing. He looked where he should not have. The fault is his own."
Malrick added calmly, "The last time we met, Your Majesty tested me in much the same way. But there were no others nearby then."
Thor blinked, stunned. His anger faltered, confusion replacing it. Could it really be Loki's fault?
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