Chapter 180: Thor Seeks His Father and Encounters the Sorcerer Ancient One
Thunder God Thor continued to press him step by step: "Where exactly is Father Odin?"
Loki's eyes darted around as he thought for a moment, finally revealing the truth: "He went to Earth. Shortly after you left for Earth, he departed from the Heavenly Palaceand entered Earth as well."
Thunder God Thor was stunned upon hearing this.
Clearly, he was full of doubt regarding this answer.
"Take me to Earth; we will search for Father together."
Thunder God Thor spoke in a firm tone that brooked no argument.
Having experienced so many things, especially on Earthwhere he was severely demoralized by that freak Ethan, he had truly begun to grow up.
How proud the former Thunder God Thor used to be.
His father was Odin, the King of Gods.
He himself was the rightful future King of Asgard.
He possessed the powerful Mjolnir, which allowed him to exert world-shattering power.
It made him invincible and all-conquering.
But since entering Earth...
He had truly suffered a blow, and his self-confidence lay in pieces on the ground.
Especially after encountering that human superhuman—the Ice Demon.
For the first time, Thunder God Thor felt a genuine threat of death.
Fortunately, this Ice Demon didn't harbor any real malice toward him; they were even somewhat acquainted.
Otherwise, with the terrifying strength the Ice Demondisplayed, Thunder God Thor believed that even if his father personally intervened, he might not have been able to save him.
In his eyes, this was the decline of divine authority.
"You know, our Heavenly Palace has suffered a great blow, and these are the bitter fruits your reckless actions have brought upon Asgard." Thunder God Thor looked at Lokicalmly, his gaze like that of someone looking at an immature child.
Loki hated that look; it made him feel belittled.
"Asgard's divine authority has declined; this is clearly a sign of Ragnarok."
Thunder God Thor's voice carried a hint of pessimism.
"That is just a legend."
Loki retorted confidently, "If Father were willing to hand the throne to me, I would surely rule the Nine Realms once more and restore Asgard's divine authority to its Peakstate."
Loki's tone was filled with intense dissatisfaction.
In the past, he always thought his father favored Thor.
But when he learned his true identity as a descendant of the Frost Giants, Loki was in despair.
Yet he still wanted to gain Asgard's recognition and prove himself.
He even stubbornly believed he was more suited than that brute Thor to lead Asgard to glory.
In his eyes, Thor was just a stupid donkey who only knew how to swing a hammer.
How could such a person lead Asgard to glory?
"That is not a legend; it is a prophecy."
Thunder God Thor said with a determined look.
"Enough nonsense. Take me to Earth immediately to find Father."
Thunder God Thor spoke coldly, his Aura overbearing.
"Yes, respected King Thor."
Escorted by the brilliant light of the Bifrost Bridge...
...the two brothers arrived on Earth once again.
When they stood at the original site of the Shady Oaks Care Center, looking at the house that had been demolished into nothing but ruins...
...the two brothers looked at each other, speechless.
"This is the retirement home you found for him? A demolished retirement home?"
Thunder God Thor sneered mockingly.
"No, I swear, when I brought him here, this place was perfectly fine."
Just then...
...two passing girls walked over, looking pleasantly surprised.
"Thor?"
"Is it really you? Can we take a photo with you?"
The Avengers held immense prestige in New York.
After all, they had risked their lives to save New York.
Although it was ultimately Ethan who stepped in and decisively dealt with the Chitauri...
...the heroes of the Avengers still left a deep impression on the citizens of New York.
Of course, they naturally couldn't be compared to a god-like existence like Ethan.
"Of course you can."
Thor immediately put on a friendly smile.
After taking the photo, one of the girls said with a smile, "I heard Jane dumped you? Don't be sad, you deserve better."
"Whoa, no, you've got it wrong. She didn't dump me; I dumped her, haha."
Thunder God Thor laughed awkwardly, trying to save some Face.
But a second later...
...Loki suddenly looked down at his feet.
A golden ring of light suddenly appeared on the ground, sparks flying everywhere.
"What tricks are you playing now?"
"No, I didn't do this!"
Before Loki could finish his sentence, his entire body plummeted, falling into the ring of light.
"Loki?"
Thor used the umbrella in his hand to tap the floor in confusion.
Only to find a business card had appeared on the floor.
[Bleecker Street]
[177A]
He stared at the address, lost in thought.
He was actually quite familiar with New York.
Soon, he arrived at the door according to the address.
At this moment, Ethan was standing by his window, using his X-ray Vision to take in everything.
He held a goblet, gently swirling the fine wine inside.
"Is it because I obtained the Reality Stone that Thor's plotline has been accelerated?"
Having obtained the Aether Particle, it was bound to awaken the slumbering Dark Elves.
However, Ethan had already restored the Aether Particle to its true form, forcibly breaking the Dark Elves' control link.
Therefore, the Dark Elves shouldn't be able to sense this Infinity Stone anymore.
"So, since the Dark Elves can't find the stone, they can only go cause trouble for the Heavenly Palace?"
Ethan was a bit stunned.
It seemed that he, this little butterfly, had truly caused a massive chain reaction.
It had already affected the trajectory of Asgard's fate.
"The person who just teleported Loki away... wouldn't happen to be that bald woman, the Ancient One?"
One had to know that Doctor Strange was currently just a rookie who had recently joined Kamar-Taj.
He hadn't even dealt with Dormammu yet, nor had he completed his training.
He hadn't grown into a qualified Sorcerer Supreme at all yet.
Clearly, only the Sorcerer Ancient One had the leisure to send the two brothers to see their father for one last time.
Was Odin about to pass away early?
Was it because his wife died?
However, if Odin died, that Goddess of Death Hela, whose desire for conquest was terrifyingly strong, would break out of her seal.
Ethan suddenly developed a strong interest in this female war god who was once invincible and had drenched the entire Milky Way Galaxy in blood.
The Goddess of Death, Hela.
She was a bona fide Skyfather-level existence.
At least on Asgardian turf, she was.
"This is truly quite a show."
This was also a necessary ordeal for Thunder God Thor to truly achieve Awakening as the God of Thunder.
Among the many Marvel heroes, one of the most powerful must include Thunder God Thor.
The future Rune King Thor would be an increasingly powerful existence.
But for now, none of this had anything to do with Ethan.
"God of Thunder, Thor Odinson."
Thunder God Thor warily entered this building filled with a mysterious Aura.
He observed his surroundings, gripping the umbrella in his hand tightly, ready for battle at any moment.
A faint but piercing sense of crisis lingered in his heart, refusing to dissipate.
From the corner of the stairs, a bald woman in plain clothes walked down silently. Her expression was compassionate, and her entire being radiated a peaceful, calming Aura.
"God of Thunder, since you are here, put that thing in your hand down."
What looked like an ordinary long-handled black umbrella was actually the legendary Mjolnir in disguise.
Hearing this, Thor obediently leaned the disguised umbrella against the side.
In an instant, the originally dim and cramped room seemed to be washed by Divine Power, becoming transparent and bright.
When he came to his senses, he was surprised to find himself sitting steadily in a guest's armchair.
He looked around warily.
He indeed did not perceive any substantial killing intent or traps.
"Care for some tea?"
"I never touch tea."
"Then how about an iced beer?"
"Thanks, I could go for that."
The Sorcerer Ancient One's lips curled into a faint, calm smile.
With a slight ripple in space, a tankard overflowing with foam appeared out of thin air in Thunder God Thor's palm.
Thunder God Thor took a hearty gulp, the icy liquid sliding down his throat.
Miraculously, before he could even put it down, the beer he had just consumed was instantly replenished, and the foam remained fine.
"Are you some kind of human wizard?"
"To correct you, my title is Sorcerer Supreme."
The Ancient One still maintained the unruffled demeanor of a master.
"Then where is my brother now?"
"I constantly monitor every outsider who attempts to intrude into the Earth dimension. As you know, for this Planet, outsiders often mean disaster."
The Sorcerer Ancient One's tone was gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable authority: "Regrettably, your brother is on that threat list."
"That assessment is well-deserved for him." Thunder God Thor stared at the bottomless glass in his hand, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Returning to the main topic, what is the purpose of you Asgardians descending with such fanfare?"
"I mean no harm; I just want to take my old father home to retire."
"You mean Odin? As far as I know, he currently does not wish to be disturbed by anyone. He seems determined to exile himself on Earth for a period of time; his mind is made up."
As the Guardian of Earth, the Sorcerer Ancient One was naturally an old acquaintance of God King Odin.
One could even say there was a certain tacit friendship between the two.
It was just that the young and impetuous Thunder God Thor was completely in the dark about these secrets.
"I don't care; I must take him back."
Thunder God Thor stood up abruptly, his attitude as stubborn as a rock.
"Fine, since you insist, I will send you on your way. But on the condition that you take your troublemaking brother Lokiwith you."
The Sorcerer Ancient One's slender finger traced a casual circle in the air.
The void fractured, and Loki's figure, like a kite with a broken string, fell clumsily from the void in the ceiling.
With a dull thud, the God of Mischief slammed hard onto the wooden floor; it sounded painful.
"Bastard! You reckless, third-rate Earth caster!"
Loki scrambled up, disheveled, his Face twisted with shame and indignation.
"I was literally free-falling in the void for thirty minutes!"
Furious, he drew a glinting dagger and lunged at the bald woman with a predatory expression.
The Sorcerer Ancient One didn't even bat an eye, simply waving her sleeve gently.
A fiery red teleportation ring instantly swallowed the two brothers of the God Race, tossing them directly onto a cold Norwegian moor.
Just as the portal closed...
...Ethan's tall figure materialized ghost-like across the tea table from the Sorcerer Ancient One.
A flicker of astonishment finally appeared on the Sorcerer Ancient One's eternal expression.
But after seeing that the newcomer was Ethan, her tensed nerves relaxed again.
"The time left for you is indeed running out."
Ethan's gaze was like a torch, seemingly looking through the physical body to the fire of life between the Sorcerer Ancient One's brows that was about to extinguish.
"Do you really plan to just die like this?"
Chapter 181: Ethan Forces His Way into Asgard to Seize Treasures
As long as Sorcerer Ancient One herself is unwilling, Kaecilius, that traitor, wouldn't be able to harm a single hair on her head.
"Such is destiny. Stephen must grow quickly; he needs to face the Dark Dimension that is about to swallow the World alone."
Sorcerer Ancient One's expression remained indifferent, as if she were not discussing life and death, but tomorrow's weather.
"Whether you die or not is your own business, but don't forget, you promised to teach Wanda well for me."
Ethan's voice was low and powerful, carrying an overbearing quality that brooked no rebuttal.
Sorcerer Ancient One lowered her eyes and contemplated for a moment.
"For the sake of that promise, I can forcibly delay my end for another year."
Ethan shook his head dismissively.
"You want to make room for the future Doctor Strange; that's an internal Legacy of you sorcerers, and I have no objection. But clearly, the gears of fate shouldn't completely copy the old script."
Ethan slowly rose, his surrounding aura piercingly cold.
"If that fellow Dormammu dares to come looking for you to settle accounts, remember to give him my name."
"To me, that lord of the Dark Dimension would be quite a tasty prey."
A flash of shock crossed Sorcerer Ancient One's eyes, which had seen through the World.
She keenly perceived that Ethan's current state of mind seemed to have undergone a World-shaking transformation.
This was not necessarily a good omen.
Even more terrifying was that this man seemed to understand every node on the future timeline.
Could it be that he also possessed some taboo power that surpassed the Time Stone?
For the fragile civilization of Earthlings, was such a terrifying existence a blessing or a curse?
If a god is enraged, millions of corpses will fall.
If Ethan were to harbor evil thoughts one day, what could all of humanity use to contend with this God among men?
"Alright, that father and son's final conversation has ended. The scenery in Norway is quite good, suitable for watching a show."
Ethan took a step forward, and space beneath his feet was like folded paper.
In the next second, he had disappeared from the Sanctum.
Meanwhile, on a cliff along the coast of Norway.
Thunder God Thor was glaring at Loki with a face full of fury, dazzling arcs of lightning crackling between his hands: "Loki! Open your dog eyes and look at what you've done!!!"
Dark clouds instantly pressed down on the originally clear sky, and wild winds howled.
But immediately following that, a sudden change occurred.
The two brothers seemed to sense something; they turned their heads simultaneously and looked behind them with solemn expressions.
With silent understanding, the two instantly completed their change of attire and donned their armor.
The space in front of them looked as if someone had violently torn a hole in it.
A mass of dark green eerie light seeped from the rift, and then the originally small hole rapidly expanded into a massive black hole.
A tall woman with an extremely bewitching and sinister temperament, her wild long hair flowing, stepped slowly out of that dark green portal.
"So, that old man is finally dead."
Hela scanned the two so-called brothers before her with contemptuous eyes.
"What a great pity I couldn't send him on his way personally and watch him draw his last breath in agony."
"You are Hela? Listen, I am Thor, Son of Odin."
Thor took a step forward, attempting to display his majesty.
"Is that so? Looking at you from any angle, you don't look like that old thing's spawn."
"We're all family; we can certainly sit down and discuss things."
Seeing things were going south, Loki quickly interjected with the air of a peacemaker.
"This glib-tongued energy of yours is actually somewhat like his."
The next moment.
Hela's face turned cold, and an overwhelming Killing Intent swept over: "Kneel."
"What mad words are you saying?"
"I said, kneel before your one and only Queen!"
Thunder God Thor trembled with rage; his dignity as a prince made it impossible for him to tolerate such an insult.
"I don't think so!"
Amidst a roar, Mjolnir, carrying the weight of ten thousand thunders, whistled as it smashed toward that mad woman.
A scene that made eyes pop out occurred—Hela actually used only one hand to nonchalantly catch the high-speed flying Mjolnir.
No matter how violently Mjolnir trembled and struggled, it could not advance even a fraction.
A thick expression of disdain and mockery hung on the corner of Hela's mouth.
Toward these two cheap brothers, she felt from the bottom of her heart that they were Trash.
A so-called Thor who hadn't even achieved an Awakeningof the essence of Divine Power was simply not qualified to be her opponent.
Right under Thunder God Thor's horrified gaze.
"Crack—"
The indestructible Mjolnir was actually crushed by her bare hands until cracks appeared, then it exploded into countless fragments.
Terrifying lightning energy instantly lost control and vented, blasting Loki and Thor away like ragdolls.
Looking at the shattered remains of the hammer all over the ground.
"This... how is this possible?"
"My little darling, what's there to be so surprised about."
Hela swept her hands back over her hair, and her originally messy long hair instantly transformed into her signature multi-horned crown. Those sharp, elk-like branching horns, combined with her sinister makeup, caused an uncontrollable fear to rise in Loki's heart.
"Get us back!"
Loki roared desperately toward the sky.
"No! Don't open the bridge!!!"
Thunder God Thor suddenly snapped awake, remembering his father Odin's dying warning.
But it was all too late.
The brilliant pillar of light from the Bifrost Bridge crashed down, enveloping the two and forcibly pulling them toward Asgard.
Hela gave a cold laugh, leaped up, and followed that pillar of light into the Bifrost Bridge's teleportation channel.
Just as this chaotic scene concluded, Ethan's figure leisurely appeared.
"Hmm? It seems I'm still a step too late. But it doesn't matter; I'm just here to watch the show anyway."
Ethan looked up at the gradually dissipating pillar of light.
The Space Stone flashed with blue light.
His figure instantly crossed the sea of stars and descended directly into the divine Realm of Asgard.
Looking at this magnificent, heaven-like city, Ethancould clearly perceive what kind of majestic Origin power this land beneath his feet contained.
This was the Foundation upon which Asgard conquered the Nine Realms.
And the Goddess of Death, Hela, was precisely the strongest freak nurtured by this land.
Ethan sat ostentatiously upon the throne that symbolized power.
In his hand, he toyed with the Spear of Odin, which symbolized the authority of the God King.
Through the grand floor-to-ceiling windows of the Heavenly Palace, he saw Hela delivering her restoration speech on the plaza.
He looked up and glanced at the ceiling mural that whitewashed history; his X-ray Vision instantly saw through the surface to the true history of blood and slaughter hidden behind it.
Feeling bored, Ethan stepped down from the throne and conveniently stowed the Spear of Odin into his dimensional space.
These were all good things; it would be a waste not to take them.
As for Hela, let her first immerse herself in the self-indulgent nostalgia of past glory.
After all, this woman had been locked up for too long; her mind was indeed not quite clear.
Humming a little tune, Ethan familiarly made his way into Asgard's underground treasury.
"So this is the family fortune Odin saved up over a lifetime."
Ethan walked down the stairs, his gaze sweeping over that fake Infinity Gauntlet, and he shook his head in disdain.
Immediately after, his gaze locked onto the Frost Giant's ancestral treasure.
The Casket of Ancient Winters—that faint blue light made the power within his body restless; this thing was simply a perfect match for his Ice-Ice Fruit ability.
Without a second word, with a wave of his hand, he directly confiscated it into his dimensional space.
He continued deeper.
A pair of massive crimson horns came into view.
"Surtur's Crown. If this were thrown into the Eternal Flame, it could summon a free Advanced thug."
Following the principle that a thief never leaves empty-handed, Ethan pocketed it as well.
As for the Tesseract that should have been placed on the opposite side, it was naturally empty.
After all, that Space Stone was currently sitting securely on his hand.
To countless ambitious people in the outside World, every collection here was a priceless treasure.
But for the returning Hela, these scraps were worthless.
The longer Hela stayed in Asgard, the deeper her link with this land became, and her power would grow exponentially.
If she were always presiding here, how would that Purple Sweet Potato Essence Thanos have the guts to come and slaughter Asgardian civilians?
"The Eternal Flame truly lives up to its reputation; even the third-tier fire ability in my body is resonating."
Ethan looked at that pot of never-extinguishing fire and revealed a playful smile.
This flame held extraordinary significance for him.
Perhaps it could become the opportunity for him to push his Devil Fruit ability toward a fourth-tier Awakening, or even touch the Realm of true immortality.
Ethan reached out his hand, his fingertips gently probing into that mysterious flame.
He felt that scorching and ancient rhythm.
"If I were you, I wouldn't touch the Eternal Flame so recklessly."
A cold and haughty voice came from behind.
Ethan turned around calmly, looking at the long-haired, fully-powered Hela.
It had to be said, the her in front of him was even more full of wild charm than the one in the movies.
Her whole body exuded a bewitching, ominous quality, along with that powerful self-confidence of being second to none.
"Goddess of Death Hela, the true commander of Asgard's three armies, Odin's eldest daughter, Dominator of the Souls in the Netherworld—you in person are even more stunning than the rumors."
Ethan made no effort to hide his appreciative gaze, roaming unscrupulously over her well-proportioned body.
A tight green combat suit outlined her perfect curves; standing upon her native soil, she was powerfully suffocating.
"Oh? It seems that in this Asgard which has long forgotten history, there's actually someone who recognizes this King. And who might you be?"
Hela felt a hint of curiosity toward this young man wearing strange modern clothing.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not one of your God Realmpeople. Speaking of which, in this neck of the woods, I only know that unlucky brother of yours, Thor—yes, the Trashwho was just thrown out of the Bifrost Bridge like garbage by you."
Ethan held the brazier of the Eternal Flame as casually as if he were holding his own washbasin.
"A pity, that biased old man of yours ended up hiding on Earth in the end; you father and daughter didn't even see each other for the last time. After all, their touching final farewell was accidentally interrupted by me; it was indeed a bit impolite."
Ethan muttered to himself.
Hela's face instantly darkened, her eyes revealing a clear intent to kill.
Chapter 182: Resurrected Warriors, Hela Yields
"Earthlings? So, they are just lowly, weak ants from Midgard."
Hela barked sharply, "Why do you not kneel when you see your Queen!"
Ethan smiled, and the Eternal Flame in his hand vanished instantly.
"Midgardians? You are probably the most arrogant one I have ever met. A race so weak, yet daring to defy the Queen's will? I will make every Midgardian understand the consequences of angering me; your entire race will be buried with you."
A cruel and seductive sneer appeared on the face of the Goddess of Death, Hela.
These words sounded a bit grating to Ethan.
"Being locked up for over a thousand years, it's normal to be mentally twisted. It seems your heart is full of resentment, and your personality has been completely warped by death and darkness. This is not how a good girl should behave."
Ethan's aggressive gaze continued to size up this bewitching beauty.
This aura of evil, deep down to the bone, actually gave him a unique sense of novelty.
Deep within his heart, the desire to conquer a wild horse was surging wildly.
Hela was truly strong at this moment.
Standing on the land of Asgard, her strength had firmly stepped into the threshold of the Skyfather level.
The fall of Odin had broken her Seal and also paved the way for her hegemony.
If given time, her power might even surpass Odin in his prime.
"Good girl? Tsk tsk, interesting. I've suddenly taken a bit of interest in you, little ant. Are you interested in becoming my lackey?"
Hela restrained some of her Killing Intent, her eyes becoming playful.
Since she wanted to conquer the entire...
Looking across this vast, boundless sea of stars, Asgardwas at best just a slightly stronger local tyrant.
To truly influence the direction of the entire Universe's chess game, this place clearly wasn't qualified.
Although that old man Odin and Hela were both not to be trifled with.
With the two of them standing there, they could indeed scare quite a few tough characters in deep space into not daring to move.
But this list of deterrents definitely did not include those perverts, the Celestials.
If the Celestials really descended upon the Nine Realms, that would be a huge problem.
They use the life force of Planets and even entire galaxies as nutrients.
The day the Celestials hatch is the day Earth and the Nine Realms are completely finished.
"This guy probably shouldn't count as my true nemesis."
The figure of Kang the Conqueror suddenly popped into Ethan's mind.
The thing this Universe lacks the least is perverted geniuses.
You never know when a ruthless person might suddenly pop out from some corner.
So strong that it's simply unreasonable.
Like that Phoenix, Jean, who can destroy the world, and the Scarlet Witch Wanda, whose Chaos Magic is out of control.
If these two women were to go on a rampage, could they reach the level of the Celestials?
Ethan had no idea.
As for Hela, such a top-tier and powerful opponent, Ethan couldn't bear to let her just die like that.
"I will keep an eye out. As long as these people are willing to obediently listen and act as support, I don't have to resort to lethal force."
Hela's tense face finally relaxed; she had somewhat relented.
The surrounding illusions receded like a tide.
"Do you know? Actually, wanting to drag the dead back isn't that difficult."
Looking at the corpses strewn across the ground, the air still filled with the heavy stench of blood.
A playful arc curled up at the corner of Ethan's mouth.
"Release all their Souls."
This sudden sentence made Hela pause for a moment.
In the massacre just now, Hela killing so many Asgardian warriors was actually a way to crazily restore her health.
She was, after all, the Goddess of Death who controlled the life and death of Asgard.
All the Souls of the gods here, to put it bluntly, were her private property.
"Are you crazy? Want to resurrect this bunch of trash?"
"That's right, do it."
"Fine, I'll listen to you."
Hela didn't hesitate, and a cluster of ink-green death magichalo instantly exploded in her palm.
That light was cold and piercing, spreading instantly to the surroundings.
Countless transparent wandering Souls wailed as they were forcibly dragged out from her death realm.
In the blink of an eye, the Souls of those warriors she had just killed like cutting vegetables returned to their bodies.
"Ugly words first: my resurrection is a watered-down version. At most, they count as conscious undead."
Hela's deep eyes stared fixedly at Ethan, wanting to see how he would handle the aftermath.
Ethan didn't waste words; the three Infinity Stones in his hand instantly erupted with a brilliant light.
"Water is the ancestor of life, but relying solely on water to reverse the iron law of life and death is indeed lacking a bit of heat."
The smile on Ethan's face became even more radiant, even carrying a hint of fanaticism.
"But this thing, the Reality Stone, is simply a cheat code. In my opinion, it is even more unreasonable than the Time Stone."
"Many times, as long as you dare to imagine, the illusion of resurrection can become a real reality, isn't that right? One must always have dreams."
Those Asgardian warriors who had just returned from the undead state in a daze.
Were instantly enveloped by a suffocating, terrifying energy.
The hideous wounds on their bodies were healing crazily at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The water that appeared out of thin air gently nourished every inch of their withered skin.
Forcibly stuffing their vital signs back into them.
This group of rough Asgardian men suddenly felt an inexplicable, powerful conviction surge deep within their hearts.
It was as if the potential deep within their Souls had been ignited.
They truly believed it, firmly convinced that they had been fully resurrected.
The power of the mind, sometimes, is just that mysterious.
Hela's gaze as she looked at Ethan became scorching; it was the most primal desire for power.
The reason she looked down on the Infinity Stones was because she had self-awareness, knowing she couldn't control this thing.
The price of abusing the stones was too high; that kind of radiation could destroy the body.
But the man in front of her, known as the "Ice Demon", was different.
His energy was like a bottomless pit, completely unfathomable.
The scorching sunlight of Asgard shone on him, and it was swallowed up without even a sound.
Hela could clearly feel that as long as he was basking in the Sun, Ethan was getting stronger every second, his genes cheering and leaping with joy.
Such an inconceivable existence.
Was even more perverted than her god-body, which she prided herself on.
At this moment, all the resurrected Asgardian warriors were weakly slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.
Only one unlucky guy couldn't get up.
It was that traitor who had led the way for Hela.
Because he knew too many secrets he shouldn't have known.
Actually, it wasn't a world-shattering secret.
The existence of the Death Dimension was Hela's last trump card for survival.
She was now the boss of that dimension.
Completely holding the Death Dimension in her palm.
Even if others knew, so what? Wanting to beat her in that hellish place was purely a dream.
"For the sake of us all being fellow Asgardians, I will show mercy today and spare your lives."
Hela suddenly swung the cape behind her, her voice as cold as ice shards.
"But you only get one chance. I am the rightful heir to Asgard, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, and the conqueror of the Nine Realms!"
"From now on, you only need to do one thing: assist me and make Asgard great again!"
These words, combined with her arrogant Queen aura, instantly subdued the entire scene.
Many warriors, though keeping their heads down, still hid anger and unwillingness in their eyes.
Ethan, on the other hand, was smiling as he watched this group of people.
There were a few unlucky guys in the crowd who had been to Earth and actually recognized Ethan's face.
It was right when Thor was exiled to Earth.
They had run over to save him, only to run into this god of plague.
"Those who know the times are the wise ones. Although Thor is my buddy, unfortunately, your Queen Hela is now my woman."
"So, my loyalty can only lean towards her side."
"Heimdall, stop hiding, come out. I know you're peeping."
"You also know clearly that trying to resist Hela's rule now is purely like an egg hitting a rock."
Ethan's gaze seemed to pierce through layers of rock, locking directly onto a hidden cave.
That gaze was so sharp that it made Heimdall, who was hiding inside, feel completely uncomfortable, as if ants were crawling on him.
"Hand over that Sword of Protection in your hand—Burtgang."
"You can continue to be your Guardian of Light; the job of guarding the gate is still yours, but you must kneel and sing 'Conquer' to the new Queen."
Ethan's words were extremely overbearing, leaving Heimdall no room to bargain at all.
Heimdall fell silent.
He had also seen that terrifying illusion.
At this moment, his brain was spinning rapidly.
"That old man Odin isn't necessarily all wrong, but he is indeed a muddled old fool who has long been unfit to sit in that position."
The smile at the corner of Ethan's mouth grew thicker, carrying a hint of mockery.
"That kid Thor has his own path to take in the future; that throne cannot tie him down."
"You wouldn't want to watch the entire Asgard be buried with Thor, would you?"
This cold, threatening voice exploded over the entire Asgard like a thunderclap.
The people of Asgard looked up at the sky helplessly, their eyes hollow.
Their once high and mighty pride had now been trampled to pieces.
"Even if you don't care about your own old life, you have to think about the people of this entire city."
"Hela has already given me her word that she won't touch a single hair on Thor or Loki."
"I, Ethan, will put it out there: Hela will absolutely follow the rules."
As soon as these words were out, Hela immediately rolled her eyes in annoyance.
This was simply slapping her face in public, even in front of her subjects.
But Hela was now like a mute eating coptis—unable to speak of her bitterness.
The person in front of her was too strong, strong enough to wipe out Asgard with just the flick of a finger.
Even she, the Goddess of Death, could be wiped out.
Loki lowered his head in silence, signifying submission.
But his restless eyeballs were rolling around in their sockets, obviously still plotting something.
Hela captured this subtle expression, a sneer of extreme contempt curling at the corner of her mouth.
"Truly stupid to the extreme. Your current performance is the most direct evidence of the fall of Asgard's divine power."
The Goddess of Death's voice seemed to seep out from the nine nether ice, carrying a biting chill.
"This is the price of weakness, letting any Tom, Dick, or Harry dare to ride roughshod over Asgard without fear of any punishment."
Hela swung her sleeve violently, her tone becoming even sharper.
"When his Queen died tragically, what did that old thing Odin do?"
"He did nothing, like a coward hiding in his shell!"
Speaking with excitement, Hela stood up indignantly from the high steps, her tight black combat suit outlining her explosive body.
Chapter 183: Thunder Awakening, Yet Still Defeated by Hela
"Thor, at best, you are merely a reckless man with well-developed muscles; you don't possess even a shred of the shrewdness and character a King should have."
Hela turned her head, her deep, terrifying eyes staring deathly at Loki.
"In comparison, I would rather throw the throne of Asgardto Loki, this adopted son, than ever hand it over to a piece of trash like you."
Hearing this, Loki immediately bowed elegantly in a standard courtly gesture, his face filled with a fake smile.
"Thank you for your praise, my noble Queen, Your Majesty."
Hela's expression did not soften because of this compliment; instead, she became even more biting in her assessment.
"But that doesn't change the fact that you are too weak; those so-called schemes and tricks of yours are just laughable pranks in the face of absolute power."
"Everything you do is nothing more than trying to compete for favor with your foolish brother in front of Odin. Loki, you lack the most core requirement for ruling Asgard, and that is power!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a terrifying, suffocating black energy fluctuation instantly surged out from within Hela's body.
The originally clear sky was instantly shrouded in thick, dark clouds, as if the entire World had fallen into an eternal night.
She was like a demon god walking out from the abyss of death, looking down from a high vantage point at all the living beings of Asgard.
"Peace will eventually come, but the peace that all beings expect must be built upon the high-and-mighty grace of Asgard."
"Only when we, Asgard, bestow it upon them—making them crawl on the ground like dogs, trembling and bowing beneath the throne—will they be worthy of enjoying peace and protection."
Hela walked down from the throne step by step, each footfall causing the floor to emit a dull vibration.
"So, my dear brother Thor, are you ready to die?"
That sword, black as ink like the night sky, condensed out of thin air in her hand, radiating a heart-palpitating cold light.
Hela proudly scanned the disheveled trio before her: Thor, Valkyrie, and Loki.
"Don't waste time; the three of you come at me together."
Thor lowered his proud head in shame.
He was currently covered in bloody wounds, and his battle armor was shattered and ruined.
As for the nearby Valkyrie and Loki, they had long since been beaten until they lost their combat effectiveness and could barely stand.
"My dear brother, what kind of god are you exactly? The God of Hammers, who is nothing without his hammer?"
Hela mocked him while lifting Thor with one hand as if he were a small chick.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot to tell you a secret: that Thunderbolt Hammer you're so proud of used to be my personal weapon."
"It's just that later I found the thing too clunky and awkward to use, so I threw it away like trash."
As his neck was being squeezed, the figure of his father, Odin, suddenly flashed through Thor's mind.
The originally grey sky suddenly erupted with thunder, and bolts of lightning danced wildly.
With a thunderous boom, a thick bolt of lightning struck down with precision.
Thor was bathed in the dazzling light of thunder, as if a god of war had undergone Rebirth.
Every pore of his body was gushing out violent thunder power.
Hela, who was pushed back a few steps by this sudden thunder, patted the scorch marks on her body and straightened her back once more.
Instead of fear, her face showed an excited and ferocious wild laugh.
"Not enough! This little bit of power is far from enough!!!"
In an instant, the thunder and the night sky sword collided frantically in the air.
However, no matter how Thor exploded with potential, he still found it difficult to shake Hela in the slightest.
Instead, Hela grew stronger as she fought, her power seemingly infinite.
In the end, the fate awaiting them was still a ruthless exile.
The three of them, like kites with broken strings, were forcibly blasted off the Bifrost Bridge by the power of Asgard, falling toward the distant Earth.
At this moment, Thor was dejected, like a defeated rooster, his whole body radiating an aura of despair.
Loki, on the other hand, was the one with the most relaxed mindset among the three.
He had now completely figured things out and no longer sought to fight for that troublesome throne of Asgard.
That madwoman named Hela would absolutely never allow him to behave recklessly under her nose.
She wasn't as easy to fool as Thor.
The shrewd Loki had already seen that the reason Helahadn't dealt a lethal blow was entirely because Ethanhad made a promise to the people of Asgard.
Even those Asgardian civilians being able to survive Hela's clutches was because that man known as the Ice Demonhad used the power of the Infinity Stones to protect them.
Valkyrie acted very free and easy at this time, appearing to have long since looked past life and death.
Regarding whether she could seek revenge, she hadn't held much hope in the first place.
Having left the Grandmaster's Universe of hedonism to come to Earth, she had actually made plans to live a stable life.
After wandering the Universe for so many years, her weary heart had long since wanted to find a place to retire.
Just then, a burst of golden sparks flickered in the air, and Sorcerer Ancient One's figure appeared faintly, though she did not fully reveal her true form.
"What exactly did you do in Asgard to cause both princes to be exiled to Earth?"
The Ancient One keenly sensed the abnormal fluctuations of spatial power around her.
She knew very well that the man—Ethan—had arrived.
Ethan had a trace of a cynical smile on his face: "You wrong me; I didn't do anything bad, I just gave Odin's whole family a profound session of ideological counseling."
"You see, they ultimately chose this relatively peaceful way to resolve their family conflict, even if the process was a bit convoluted."
Ethan spread his hands with an innocent expression: "You know, the struggle for kingship has always been accompanied by rivers of blood; clearly, my intervention allowed Asgard to avoid the tragedy of Ragnarok."
Sorcerer Ancient One looked him up and down with an obviously distrustful gaze.
"It seems the matters on your end have been handled. What, don't plan on dying anymore?"
Ethan stared at Sorcerer Ancient One with a face full of curiosity and asked.
"Not so; I never had the intention to actively seek death, it's just that because I saw my own end in advance through the Time Stone, I didn't want to escape it anymore."
The Ancient One sighed, her tone revealing a helplessness that came from seeing through the ways of the World.
"Fate is something that is born to be resisted and broken; do you really think that arrogant Doctor Stephen can do better than you?"
Ethan snorted in disdain: "Perhaps he does have some talent, but to grow to your height, he needs a long time, and during that period, countless people will be sacrificed because of his immaturity."
Sorcerer Ancient One fell silent and did not refute these words.
"If you feel you can't control the dark power in your body, why not just borrow a bit more? Anyway, when you have many debts, they don't weigh you down; the more you owe, the more the creditor is afraid of you dying."
Hearing this twisted logic, a trace of emotion finally appeared on the Ancient One's normally calm face.
Chapter 184: Ethan Teases Loki, Calling Himself Brother-in-Law
"I have already borrowed enough; I'm afraid there will be major problems if I continue to borrow more."
"So you're thinking of using death to default on your debts? That's impossible. Given the greedy ambitions of those Dimensional Demons, they will never easily give up now that they've set their sights on Earth."
The smile on Ethan's face grew more brilliant, yet it carried a trace of cold murderous intent.
"This is a war of attrition. They will invade wave after wave until Earth is completely consumed."
"You seem very interested in these demons from other dimensions?"
"Exactly. That's why I suggested you could infinitely swindle their power. If they really dare to come to the door to collect the debt, I will naturally step in to deal with them."
Ethan's Haki-leaking words truly intimidated Sorcerer Ancient One quite a bit.
"I like the kind of demons who dare to commit robbery. What I fear most is them being shrinking violets, hiding in their own dimensions and not coming out; in that case, I wouldn't be able to find them."
Ethan spread his hands helplessly.
In truth, there were very few opponents left on Earth who could pique his interest.
Only more and more demon invasions could help him open more doors to the Multiverse.
Only by connecting this World with other Multiverses could Ethan become even stronger through plundering.
As for surprise rewards like Blind Boxes, he always felt that the more, the better, just like Han Xin counting his soldiers.
Furthermore, Ethan understood in his heart that although he could walk sideways on Earth, his confidence was still slightly lacking compared to those bug-level existences deep within the Marvel Universe.
Those existences that exceeded the dimensions of thought and understanding were the truly terrifying ones.
"Dormammu will be invading soon. If you can repel him head-on, perhaps I will consider believing your nonsense."
Sorcerer Ancient One suddenly threw out this sentence.
"Then you'll have to go a bit easy on that traitor inside Kamar-Taj. After all, only that group of fools can lure a big fish like Dormammu over."
Ethan seemed to have thought of an interesting plan, and his eyes lit up slightly.
"Don't worry, I will arrange the entire script."
After Sorcerer Ancient One finished speaking, she turned and stepped into a golden teleportation portal, leaving the place instantly.
Just then, Valkyrie abruptly looked up toward a certain direction on the hilltop.
Her gaze instantly became sharp.
A piercing golden light suddenly appeared in her line of sight.
"Enemy attack!!!"
Valkyrie shouted, her muscles tensing instantly.
Hearing this, Thor and Loki also immediately assumed combat stances, looking in that direction warily.
As the light dissipated, Ethan's slender figure appeared out of thin air before their eyes.
Valkyrie keenly noticed that the expressions of the two princes beside her changed drastically, their attitudes immediately becoming both cautious and nervous.
"What, do you know this guy?"
She lowered her voice and looked down at Thor beside her.
"He is Ethan, the terrifying existence known by Earthlings as the Ice Demon."
This time, it was actually Loki who spoke first to explain.
Ethan's gaze swept toward Loki; on that wickedly handsome face, he was now intentionally putting on a stern expression.
"I say, it's only natural for an older sister to discipline a disobedient younger brother. By the way, when you two see me in the future, remember to respectfully call me 'Brother-in-law'."
Ethan's face was full of mischievous teasing.
"Buddy, you really have a heavy palate. You actually dare to pursue a female devil like Hela."
As soon as Thor saw the newcomer was Ethan, he immediately relaxed.
"In the long years to come, there aren't many women who can keep up with my pace. Besides, I've never been picky; as long as they're beautiful, I'll take them all."
Ethan shrugged and turned his gaze to the heroic female warrior nearby: "Pleasure to meet you, beautiful Valkyrie Young Miss."
As he spoke, Ethan gentlemanly reached out, gently lifting the calloused back of Valkyrie's hand and placing a light kiss on it.
Valkyrie did not get angry; this kind of hand-kissing etiquette was very common among the various civilizations in the Universe.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ice Demon. At least in your eyes, I'm still considered a beauty; that makes me quite gratified."
Valkyrie laughed heartily.
"Of course you are a beauty. What the years settle is not just stories, but also a unique temperament. Instead of making you old, it gives you a fatal attraction. That is beauty."
Beauty that was purely skin-deep could hardly attract Ethan's attention anymore.
With his status today, if he wanted any kind of beautiful woman, he only needed to crook his finger to have them lining up.
But his appetite had long been spoiled by the System's Blind Box rewards.
He was now only interested in powerful women.
Whether they were female villains or female heroes, that unique personal charm was his highest definition of beauty.
"I'm starting to believe a bit that Hela was conquered by you. Your mouth is as sweet as if it were smeared with honey. Combined with this handsome skin and powerful strength, it really is too easy to conquer a woman's heart."
Valkyrie complimented him half-seriously.
"Haha, you're the one with a good eye."
"Likewise."
The two chatted happily, the atmosphere harmonious.
But Valkyrie knew very well in her heart that the reason she was being so polite was mostly because her intuition told her that the man in front of her was absolutely someone she couldn't afford to provoke.
"Thor, when destiny walks into a dead end, why don't you try to pull yourself away? Your future is not in Asgard, at least not at this stage."
Ethan turned to look at Thor, his tone becoming more serious.
By now, Thor was no longer the big dummy who threw glasses in New Mexico back then.
Having experienced so many changes and setbacks, his mindset had truly matured.
"Hela's ambition is too great. If she isn't stopped, she will surely stir up a bloodbath and bring irreparable disaster to the entire Universe."
Thor's voice was low, his eyes filled with worry.
"Did you see it with your own eyes? Or is this just your own wishful, arbitrary guess?"
Ethan shook his head, negating Thor's view.
Perhaps the old Hela would have done that, but Ethanknew very well that the Hela who had been suppressed by him would only spend her future energy being entangled with him.
Her mind would temporarily not be on external wars and conquest.
At least until she completely defeated Ethan, Helawould never easily leave.
Suddenly, a violent tremor came from the ground beneath their feet.
"Did you feel that?"
Thor immediately asked nervously, clenching his fists.
"I felt it, but don't worry, it's not yet time for that fellow to emerge."
Ethan cast his gaze toward the distant depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
"That is Asgard's Divine Power, so terrifying and filled with an evil aura. This is a strange power I've never encountered before!!!"
Thor's expression became exceptionally tense, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"Perhaps you can ask Valkyrie Young Miss how Odin's throne was actually obtained back then."
Ethan gave the nearby Valkyrie a meaningful look.
Chapter 185: Thunder God Meets Valkyrie on a Bus
Valkyrie's expression was terrifyingly dark at this moment, as if she had recalled some unbearable past memories.
"Impossible! That legend absolutely cannot be true!!!"
A massive surge of fear welled up from the depths of Valkyrie's heart.
"The fear in your heart will only become his nourishment, accelerating the time it takes for him to break the Seal."
Ethan shook his head and continued to decrypt the situation: "After Odin's death, it wasn't just Hela's Seal that failed. All those difficult-to-kill powerhouses he fought and sealed across the realms back then are now battering against their increasingly thinning Seals."
Odin's very existence was the stabilizing pillar of the Nine Realms.
Now that Odin is dead, all those monsters and demons he once suppressed will jump out one after another.
HYDRA's Red Skull's daughter, 'Sin,' has clearly already obtained the magic hammer forged by the God of Fear.
She is attempting to release that forgotten God of Fear.
However, Odin's residual power is even stronger than they imagined.
To completely break the Seal, it will still take some time to wear it down.
"My father... he was definitely not the kind of person without a sense of responsibility."
Thor's expression changed slightly as he tried to defend his father's image.
If evil were truly unleashed because of Odin's death, causing the living beings of Earth to suffer, the Sin would be immense.
"Thor, this is the coming-of-age gift your father left for you. By the way, Odin sacrificed that eye of his to the World Tree specifically to trade for a way to kill his elder brother."
"What did you say? Elder brother?"
"That's right. The prophecy says his son can perish together with that Cul!"
Thor fell into deep contemplation after hearing this.
"I will personally clean up the mess my father left behind."
A moment later, the Thunder God's tone became firmer than ever before.
Valkyrie, standing beside him, also nodded with a solemn expression, Battle Intent igniting in her eyes.
The war has already begun; this is a war belonging to the Asgardians.
As for Loki on the side, although he was quite interested in this matter, his gaze was constantly and sneakily fixed on the ring on Ethan's finger.
That was the Infinity Stone he dreamed of obtaining—the Space Stone.
Now, this stone possessing infinite power had actually been condensed into a tiny gem and set into Ethan's ring.
This was simply terrifying.
Such a violent Infinity Stone was actually as docile as a little lamb in this man's hand.
"Loki, this thing doesn't belong to you. You'd better put away your little schemes."
Ethan gave Loki a smile so brilliant it made one's hair stand on end.
Loki shuddered in fright and hurried to bow: "Respected Mr. Hao, I swear I will never covet the treasure in your hand."
Ethan changed the subject: "If Thanos comes looking for trouble with you, bring him to see me. Perhaps in the future, I can bestow this stone upon you and let you guard it."
As Ethan spoke, he gently stroked the Space Ring.
Hearing this, Loki's eyes instantly lit up.
However, the look of fear in his eyes as he looked at Ethan became even thicker.
"I imagine you don't want to be hunted across the entire Universe by that madman Thanos, only to end up with nowhere to hide."
The smile at the corner of Ethan's mouth deepened.
He seemed to see through all the twists and turns in this Loki's heart with a single glance.
"I completely understand your meaning, respected Mr. Hao."
Although Loki was devious, he also had self-awareness; in front of this Ice Demon, he had no power to fight back at all.
Any ill intentions in the face of absolute power were just seeking death.
"Then rest honestly on Earth for a while. Oh, right, remember to disguise your appearance. After all, the impression you left on Earthlings before wasn't very good."
Ethan pulled back his smile and gave a faint instruction.
Thor immediately guaranteed loudly: "Don't worry, I will keep an eye on my brother."
"Young Miss Valkyrie, I look forward to our next meeting."
Ethan once again took Valkyrie's small hand and kissed it, then, amidst her satisfied smile, his body instantly turned into points of light and vanished without a trace.
"Phew... this guy is too dangerous!!"
After confirming Ethan had left, Loki let out a long sigh of relief, his legs going weak.
Thor's tensed body also instantly slumped.
"I think he's quite the gentleman, nothing to be afraid of."
Valkyrie shrugged and said with a relaxed face.
Loki and Thor looked at each other speechlessly.
That's because you're a woman, okay!
The whole Universe knows that the Ice Demon has a natural affinity for women, especially beautiful women with good skills.
Valkyrie smiled rather proudly, but secretly withdrew her palm.
She could feel that there was an extra slip of paper in her palm.
As an experienced veteran of the Jianghu, Valkyrie had seen all sorts of storms in the Universe.
But a powerhouse like Ethan, who was both handsome and powerful yet so polite, was truly a first for her.
Ethan's first impression on her was simply excellent.
Just as Ethan had an affinity for women with agile skills, Valkyrie, having seen so many strangely shaped alien creatures in the Universe, naturally felt her heart flutter upon suddenly meeting such a top-tier handsome man.
"So, where should we go now?"
"To the S.H.I.E.L.D. Base."
Thor said without hesitation.
He was, after all, an official member of the Avengers.
A prince in distress looking for his organization was only natural.
Moreover, he still had a few reliable friends on Earth.
"I won't be joining in the fun with you guys, dear brother."
Loki's eyes flickered; he clearly didn't want to be managed by Thor.
He didn't want his every move to be closely watched by Thor.
"No, Loki, you absolutely cannot run around."
However, the only response to Thor was an illusory afterimage left by Loki.
"Damn fellow, runs faster than a rabbit."
Thor looked helplessly at Valkyrie beside him.
"I'll naturally go with you, but there's an embarrassing problem now; we don't seem to have any means of transportation."
Valkyrie spread her hands helplessly.
Her spaceship was still parked on Asgard; now she was completely a 'refugee' stranded on Earth.
"Don't worry, I have a way."
Half an hour later, in front of a certain bus stop sign.
Thor and Valkyrie were standing there awkwardly in the cold wind.
"This is your so-called way? Taking a bus? And it looks like you don't even have a single coin on you."
Valkyrie mocked him mercilessly.
"If my hammer were still in my hand, would I be reduced to taking a bus? You know, right now I can't fly at all."
Thor defended himself with an embarrassed face.
Valkyrie shrugged with an expression of watching a good show.
It seemed the lightning power in Thor's body was still intermittent.
Chapter 186: The Director's Wife is Actually a Skrull
After having an outburst once in Asgard, things have now fallen into a slump again.
This guy seems to have never seriously thought about how to truly master his divine power.
"Beep beep beep—"
A black official car slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Black Widow Natasha, wearing large sunglasses, rolled down the window and looked at Thunder God Thor.
At the same time, her sharp gaze quickly sized up Valkyrienext to him.
Although she didn't know her, her intuition as a top Agenttold her that this woman exuded a dangerous aura.
This woman is definitely not simple.
Black Widow Natasha wasn't worried about the other party making a move against her. What she was truly wary of was that if her lecherous man saw such a skilled and somewhat attractive woman, he would surely find a way to get his hands on her.
That bastard has always been such a womanizer.
Only his official girlfriend is still foolishly kept in the dark.
In fact, these women all knew perfectly well what was going on in their hearts; it was just that no one was willing to expose the truth.
But based on their understanding of that Little SpiderGwen, the truth would come to light sooner or later.
They were all watching coldly from the sidelines, waiting to see how Ethan would handle the situation when the time came.
"Natasha? Is that you? This is such a surprise!"
Thunder God Thor shouted in surprise, as if he had seen a savior.
"Get in, Thor. And who is this lady?"
"Oh, right, let me introduce you. This is Asgard's strongest female warrior, Valkyrie."
Thunder God Thor hurriedly and eagerly introduced her.
"Valkyrie, this is my good friend Natasha."
After getting into the car, Thunder God Thor asked curiously, "By the way, how did you know we'd be here?"
Black Widow Natasha gave Thor an annoyed look. "The fact that you got kicked off a bus for not paying the fare has already made the news headlines. Now the whole internet knows that Thunder God Thor was thrown to the side of the road by a driver because he had no money."
Valkyrie was speechless upon hearing this, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
After the two got into the car, the vehicle sped along, returning once again to the Avengers Base in Los Angeles.
"It's good that you're back now; we're short-handed."
Natasha said solemnly while driving.
"Which villain are we dealing with this time?"
Thunder God Thor was feeling quite bold now.
As long as he wasn't being sent to deal with that pervert Ethan, he felt like he was the boss on Earth.
At least, that was his current blind confidence.
"We've found traces of Magneto. This guy has not only changed his style of doing things but is also secretly gathering a large number of Mutants."
Black Widow Natasha said with a solemn look.
"Magneto?"
Thunder God Thor had some impression of the name, remembering him as a powerful old man who could control metal.
"He attacked a Federal Prison and raided a facility where secret Mutants were being held. Moreover, the cure is now completely ineffective for Mutants, and the boy who served as the antibody is also dead."
That boy who had the ability to suppress Mutants ultimately failed to escape his tragic fate of being silenced.
"Also, the news of Professor X Charles's resurrection has drawn prying eyes from various forces."
Professor X Charles was a well-known figure among the high-ranking officials of the USA.
Many underground forces even wanted to extract the secret of returning from the dead from Charles's mouth.
Magneto had only faked his death to escape.
But Professor X Charles had truly come back to life, and he had even regained his youth, appearing as a young man again.
This filled countless ambitious people with a frantic interest in Professor X.
Especially that group of death-fearing old tycoons in the USA.
With power and money in their hands, what they craved most was eternal life.
They wanted even more to obtain the secret of regaining their youth.
If this secret were to leak out, the entire human society would likely fall into madness.
How many people would spend their entire fortunes just to live a few more years?
In the end, they could only pass away with endless regret and unwillingness.
S.H.I.E.L.D. knew very well that if the technology for immortality and regaining youth truly existed, it would inevitably trigger a chaos more terrifying than war.
Even some Agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. were likely fostering ambitions they shouldn't have at this moment.
It had only been half a year since the Ultron robot rebellion.
Now the global situation was at a very strange and delicate balance point.
S.H.I.E.L.D. could only carefully maintain order.
Not to mention the various rookies who were causing destruction every moment after suddenly Awakeningsuperpowers.
Once these people gained power, their egos would swell, and they would want to take revenge on society or even have delusions of ruling the World.
It was precisely because a powerhouse like Ethan was keeping things in check that many people's actions had to be done more clandestinely.
However, the clandestine destruction of society was actually more insidious and terrifying than before.
This also greatly shaken the Foundation of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s existence.
"Back from the dead?"
Thor listened, dumbfounded.
Valkyrie next to him also showed a look of interest.
"What does that old man Charles say?"
"Charles is forming a powerful secret organization, and Tony and the Captain have already joined in secret."
"What organization?"
"Illuminati!"
"Those two bastards, why didn't they include me in something so good?"
Thor immediately began to clamor in dissatisfaction.
"Because you're also one of the targets they're wary of, you big oaf,"
Natasha explained helplessly.
Natasha had wanted to investigate Illuminati before, but she was forcibly suppressed by the higher-ups.
The current Illuminati's power is definitely above that of the Avengers.
Those who can join Illuminati are all highly influential and terrifyingly powerful figures.
And they also need to pass Charles's extremely strict evaluation.
"Hmph, then what does that one-eyed Nick say?"
"Nick is helpless now too; after all, he's not a superpowered individual!!!"
Natasha sighed.
"Moreover, Nick is also beset by troubles; he's hiding a shocking secret from us."
"What secret?"
"His wife is actually a Skrull."
"What did you say?!"
Thor and Valkyrie both cried out in surprise at the same time, nearly flipping the roof of the car.
"Skrulls are on Earth?"
Valkyrie's tone instantly became more solemn than ever before.
"You know about the Skrulls?"
"The Skrulls and the Kree are arch-enemies; they've fought in the Universe for who knows how many years. Later, the Skrulls were defeated and their Planet was destroyed, forcing them to wander the Universe. However, almost all civilizations do not welcome them because their ambitions are too great, and they have the ability to mimic the appearance of other races at will, making them natural-born spies and saboteurs."
Valkyrie quickly poured out all the intelligence she knew.
Chapter 187: Thor Exposes the Fake Natasha
"If there really are Skrulls on Earth, they must have already infiltrated every corner of this Planet, and might even have seized control of the high-level powers."
Her tone was very certain, leaving no room for doubt.
"Just like Mystique Raven?"
Natasha was very unfamiliar with Skrulls.
But as for that Mutant, Mystique Raven, she was as familiar as one could be.
She even knew that back then, Raven had transformed into her likeness to seduce that audaciously lustful Ice Demon.
And she had successfully infiltrated Ethan's inner circle, snatching away the important position she held in Ethan's heart.
Natasha had originally thought she was quite favored by Ethan.
She even once believed her status in Ethan's heart was second only to Ghost-Spider Gwen.
But the sudden emergence of Raven broke the entire status quo.
Instead, Raven had now become the most powerful among all of Ethan's women.
She not only held all of Ethan's secrets,
But also managed Ethan's wealth, which was enough to rival nations.
Coupled with their professional synergy, Raven's position in Ethan's heart had become unshakable.
"Mystique Raven?"
"She's a Mutant who can transform into anyone."
"The Skrulls' genes are even more terrifying; they are born with the ability to turn into anyone, even simulating DNA."
Valkyrie's tone carried a warning: "If Skrulls truly exist, your best bet is to send them away, or simply kill them all."
Valkyrie had wandered the Universe for thousands of years.
Naturally, she had dealt with Skrulls before.
She had even suffered greatly at their hands.
Even the most peace-loving monarch would never dare keep a Skrull by their side.
This unique racial talent predestined their tragic fate of being rejected by the entire Universe.
"Does Nick know about this?"
Thor's expression was grave.
"He knows, of course. Someone leaked the secret, pointing out that Nick once sheltered a group of Skrull refugees and secretly settled them in some corner of Earth. In return, the Skrulls helped Nick obtain a massive amount of unimaginable intelligence. You have to understand, a single Mystique already gives intelligence organizations worldwide a massive headache; if it's a group of similar Agents, that's an absolute World-class disaster."
Natasha lowered her voice, her tone reflecting deep anxiety.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was about to face a major earthquake.
Agent Coulson or Hill would likely take over as the new Director.
But Nick's presence and prestige were a shadow that no one could ignore.
No matter who took power, they would inevitably be influenced by Nick.
To Nick, S.H.I.E.L.D. was like his own backyard, holding no secrets from him.
But when others took over, they might not necessarily be able to command all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s forces.
This was the terrifying aspect of the King of Spies, Nick Fury.
He was the true King of Earth's dark side.
"What does Nick have to say about this?"
"He said he would handle it, and then he completely vanished."
Natasha shook her head helplessly.
So now, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers were all in a state of total chaos.
Although Agent Hill had begun trying to take control of the Avengers,
She faced immense resistance from all sides.
Because the power behind her came from the Osborn Group.
The Osborn Group had long been seen as a thorn in the side of the USA government.
Even though the government didn't dare say anything openly,
They would never allow a woman close to the Ice Demonto hold the reins of power at S.H.I.E.L.D.
So, S.H.I.E.L.D. is likely facing a true change of leadership this time.
It remains to be seen if Nick can clean up his own house.
"Natasha."
Thor suddenly spoke up and called her name.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Did you know? The real Natasha never comments on our other friends behind their backs; her heart is always full of wariness toward the outside World."
Thor's voice was very soft, yet it carried a hint of chilliness.
"You suspect me?"
Faint electric arcs suddenly flickered across Thor's body.
"Of all the people to impersonate, you had to offend Natasha and even dare to play the victim before me. Have you thought about the consequences?"
Thor's expression was now very calm.
He had experienced too much recently and was no longer that easily deceived god.
The car suddenly accelerated, and the atmosphere instantly froze.
Valkyrie wore a playful smile.
This plot was truly getting interesting.
Meanwhile, inside the Osborn Group.
"What's the situation?"
Ethan asked in a calm tone.
"While you were away these past few days, Skrullsinvaded the Osborn laboratory and stole Synthetic Genesand a large amount of Enhancement Serums."
Mystique Raven's expression was currently very ugly, her eyes burning with Killing Intent.
"Damn bastard, let me go already!!!"
In a high-tech white laboratory, an Advanced researcher in a white coat was strapped to a restraint table.
She had a fiery figure, blonde hair, and blue eyes, and was cursing Raven fiercely.
"It seems a rift has appeared within the Skrulls, and Nick has completely lost control over them."
Ethan's gaze was incredibly sharp; he saw through the woman lying on the table at a glance—she wasn't human.
"The Deep Cold Organization is already following up on this; they will recover the stolen items."
Raven said in a low voice.
Ethan reached out and naturally wrapped his arm around Raven's slender waist.
"Relax, this isn't that big of a deal."
Ethan actually started laughing.
"Hao, are you saying we should just let it slide?"
"No, Raven, this is actually a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. You haven't explored your genetic potential nearly enough; if you really faced a Skrull, you might not be their match. But this is exactly your chance. Skrulls possess the most perfect genetic diversity carrier. The Sentinel Program could be realized on your genes, but there's only one of you. Skrulls, however, can mass-produce this kind of power."
A certain dangerous and crazed signal flashed in Ethan's eyes.
Raven immediately understood his meaning.
"I'm well aware of how terrifying Skrulls are. Even Mutantdetection devices are useless against them because their transformation isn't a genetic mutation but a natural racial instinct."
"That's why I said they are the most perfect test subjects. I was originally too lazy to find trouble with them, but since they were foolish enough to provoke me, I naturally have to make them understand the price."
Ethan chuckled, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing what to eat for dinner.
"You really are heartless."
Ethan was momentarily speechless.
Raven was clearly preparing to stir up something big.
These Skrulls were practically asking for death.
Of all people to provoke, they just had to provoke this big sister of the Mutants.
Presumably, they hadn't yet witnessed this lady's ruthless methods.
"The Skrulls have been breeding under Nick's protection and have infiltrated every corner of this World. They have safe houses all over the globe, but intelligence shows that a large portion of their civilians are living together in a small country in Eastern Europe."
Ethan kindly reminded her.
Raven gave him a seductive roll of her eyes.
"I know you have the means to find them. If you're willing to lift a finger, our lab could be filled with Skrull lab rats by tonight."
Ethan just shrugged upon hearing this: "I really can't muster much interest in dealing with these weak refugees. However, I don't mind you going to clean them up. After all, someone who touches my people must pay some interest."
Raven raised an eyebrow, her face full of disdain: "Isn't it just because someone impersonated your little mistress? You make it sound so high and mighty."
Raven knew better than anyone how much weight Black Widow Natasha carried in Ethan's heart.
This legendary female spy was not only breathtakingly beautiful but also had a superb figure.
Combined with the special skills she had honed in the Red Room, she could be said to be Raven's biggest competitor.
She still remembered Ethan's excited reaction when she had first transformed into Black Widow's appearance.
A man's physical reaction is the most honest.
Chapter 188: The Vengeful Wives Alliance's Night Battle with Ethan
"Itching for a beating, are you?"
Ethan raised his hand, feigning anger.
Raven looked at him provocatively: "What? Want to fight? How about I call up those sisters of mine tonight, and we'll teach you a good lesson together?"
The women who had joined the Osborn Harem had privately formed a so-called "Vengeful Wives Alliance."
The sole purpose of their organization's existence was to deal with Ethan.
They were determined to give this energetic guy a proper lesson, so he wouldn't be so smug all the time.
He was always flashing that hateful winner's smile at them afterward.
It was simply a great humiliation.
Hearing this, Ethan perked up instead.
"Sure, I'll wash up and wait for you all. Be there or be square tonight; whoever runs is a puppy."
Ethan looked completely fearless.
"Get out!!!"
Raven scolded him with a laugh.
She slapped away Ethan's large hand that was misbehaving on her buttocks.
This guy never had a serious moment.
She didn't know who he had learned these bad habits from at such a young age.
No, this guy was originally a perverted best-selling novelist.
He was a natural-born rogue.
What was even more enviable was that his power was growing infinitely like a Rocket; she didn't even know how ridiculously strong he had become now.
When she first met Ethan, he was just a relatively strong ice-type Ability User.
Though stronger than Iceman and able to defeat Magneto, it still took some effort to kill Magneto.
But now, this guy was simply unfathomable.
If Magneto dared to appear before him now, Ethan could probably kill him with just a thought.
"By the way, Erik isn't dead yet. I heard he's formed a new Brotherhood of Mutants."
Raven reminded him solemnly.
"He's never been a match for me, even though I know he might have inherited part of Apocalypse's power, making him stronger and perhaps even giving him a special life form."
Ethan said nonchalantly.
"You've seen how terrifying Apocalypse is. My concern is that Magneto might have become a vessel for Apocalypse's consciousness."
A trace of deep worry appeared between Raven's brows.
This had indeed become a shadow in her heart that she couldn't shake off.
That man named Erik was, after all, an old comrade who had fought side-by-side with her through blood.
Even though Erik later turned cold and ruthlessly kicked her out of the circle that originally belonged to them.
But she knew clearly in her heart exactly why the old man was so decisive.
To put it bluntly, she had lost her proud Mutant genes back then and became a Mortal.
According to Erik's extreme "Mutant supremacy" logic, not taking her life on the spot was purely out of consideration for their old friendship.
"There's nothing bad about that, is there? Think back to that arrogant Apocalypse; even before he evolved into his Complete Form, I went through a lot of trouble to turn him to dust."
The corners of Ethan's mouth curled into a playful arc, and he smiled nonchalantly.
"If Magneto really becomes the vessel for the reincarnation of Apocalypse's consciousness, it'll be quite a spectacle. Apocalypse's combat power would absolutely skyrocket to a whole new level."
He paused, a trace of analysis regarding power appearing in his eyes.
"In the past, Apocalypse looked down on everyone and didn't think much of Erik's skills, but he really misjudged him. He had no idea how terrifying the upper limit of Erik's ability is."
Ethan swirled the wine glass in his hand, his tone becoming serious.
"That's Magnetism, one of the Four Fundamental Forces. If truly developed to the extreme, turning this World upside down would just be a matter of a single thought."
If that concept were in Ethan's hands...
He had absolute confidence that he could advance that Skill Tree to the Fourth Stage.
That is the true Domain of the gods, an absolute powerhouse.
He'd at least have to go toe-to-toe with those Five Ancient Gods in the Universe, wouldn't he?
By then, the fundamental rules of the entire Universewould be dancing at his fingertips.
It's a pity; Magneto is like a beggar sitting on a gold mine, only developing the most superficial physical characteristics of Magnetism.
He hasn't even touched the true Soul core of this power.
"Is that old guy Erik really as formidable as you're making him out to be?"
Raven's eyes widened in disbelief.
"It's not just about potential. When it comes to the upper limit of talent, your ability is actually among the very top, absolutely domineering."
Ethan reached out his finger and gently tilted her chin up.
"If you could truly transform into anyone at will, even simulating gods, who in this World could possibly suppress you?"
A sharp light flashed in his eyes.
"The most terrifying thing is, if you could use this ability to 'borrow' all the powers of every Ability User in the Worldand then push them all to the extreme, the scene would be unimaginable."
The core logic of Shapeshifting, to put it simply, is copy and paste.
If Raven truly understood the essence of the word 'copy,' she would be a True God descending.
Even if she just infinitely copied her own ability like a nesting doll, she could walk sideways on Earth—anyone who crossed her would die.
"Not everyone is a freak like you, so strong it defies logic, with absolutely no ceiling."
Raven's eyes were misty as she looked at the powerful man before her with both envy and adoration.
Thinking back to when she hit rock bottom during the darkest period of her life, it was this man who, like a beam of light, split the darkness and dragged her back to the World of the living.
Although at the beginning, it was more like a blatant exchange of interests between the two.
But Raven was sensitive; she could truly feel that although Ethan was a womanizer, he gave plenty of face and respect to every woman he had been intimate with.
This was also why so many women jumped into the fire even though they knew it was a pit.
Even if they knew clearly in their hearts that they might not achieve a positive outcome in the end, let alone possess this man exclusively.
Yet they were willing to revolve around him, and couldn't be driven away.
Because staying by his side, that long-lost sense of relaxation was too addictive, and the overwhelming sense of security could practically melt a person.
For women, security is scarcer than anything else.
Especially for women like them who had lived on the edge and gone through hardships.
Being able to sleep soundly in this chaotic World and enjoy wealth and glory that ordinary people couldn't touch in several lifetimes was simply a divine life they wouldn't even dare dream of.
"That 'friend' over there seems to have a sky-high resentment against you. I think you'd better act early and give her a quick end."
Ethan turned his head nonchalantly, his gaze hitting the blonde bombshell on the experimental table like a spotlight.
That face looked like a big star's, and her figure was supermodel-level hot.
She was simply a walking, human-shaped weapon of mass destruction.
No wonder no one suspected her identity and even kept her in the core area of the Osborn Group.
Chapter 189: Valkyrie Breaks Arms to Extort Information from Skrulls
In just a few days, Osborn's security defense line was riddled with holes.
"She's still very useful. Rest easy; now that these Skrullshave fallen into our hands, the Deep Cold Organizationwill teach them what a 'beating of justice' means."
Raven curled her lip, her Face full of disdain.
Today's Deep Cold Organization is the big shot of the underground black market, an existence that makes the ground tremble with just a stomp of its feet.
When they walk outside, they act like they own the place; who would dare not give them Face?
On the other side, Thunder God Thor firmly gripped the Skrull wearing Black Widow's skin.
Seeing that the other party was like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, still refusing to change back to their original form, the fire of anger in Thor's eyes was about to erupt.
"I will hand you over to Natasha. Since you dared to use her Face to deceive others, you should know what kind of end awaits you in her hands."
Thor's voice was as cold as ice, without a trace of warmth.
Usually, he seems quite easygoing and approachable, but that is definitely not his true Face.
After all, he is a true prince of Asgard; having fought in battles for so many years, the blood on his hands could probably form a river.
"Director Nick will find me. You know in your heart that without his instructions, why would we bother coming to wander in front of you?"
The captured Skrull was actually quite calm, with no fear on his Face.
Although he had been beaten black and blue just now, looking quite pathetic.
This Skrull was confident that as long as he was in Thor's hands, his life would be safe.
"You? There are others?"
Thor frowned and scanned the surroundings alertly.
"Relax, they are watching from a distance and didn't dare get too close."
The Skrull even twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a weird smile.
Thor's Face instantly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Beside him, Valkyrie's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cruel smile: "Do you think Thor is a pushover and won't do anything to you? Well, I don't have such a good temper."
Just as she finished speaking, there was a crisp "crack."
Valkyrie unceremoniously grabbed the other's wrist and twisted it hard, instantly contorting the arm like a pretzel.
"Ah! You crazy woman!!"
The Skrull's features contorted in pain as he screamed hysterically.
"Crazy? Watch your language; I am a legitimate Goddess of War. By the way, that pervert Grandmaster is quite greedy for you Skrulls, and the Kree want nothing more than to skin you alive."
Valkyrie's eyes were cold, her tone full of threats.
"If they found out that you stray dogs are hiding on Earth, I bet those warmongers in the Universe would swarm here, snatching you all up like wild rabbits and selling all your suffering kin as slaves."
She knew all too well how much trouble these green-skinned guys had stirred up in the Universe.
She also understood how many dangerous people they had offended out there.
If those enemies got wind of this, they would definitely not let them off easily.
Want to make a comeback? Keep dreaming.
To completely eradicate the Skrulls, the Kree went to great lengths back then, even turning their home planet to ash.
"Who on Earth are you? Why do you know the secrets of our race?"
The Skrull stared at her intently, his eyes filled with hatred and terror.
If the news of their race hiding on Earth really spread throughout the Universe, it would be an absolute catastrophe.
To pull them up by the roots, those enemies might even blow up Earth along with them, leaving no survivors.
"Hmph, if you really dare to blabber, I think Earth will have to be buried with us. To eliminate us, those lunatics will do anything... so what if you know our history?"
This Skrull's mind was racing; he wasn't stupid.
He was certain that S.H.I.E.L.D. would never dare to take that risk.
Moreover, Nick Fury's prestige within the agency was rock-solid; he would never allow such an uncontrollable situation to occur.
"Understand this, this is Earth, not your divine nest in Asgard."
Valkyrie shrugged, looking indifferent.
"You think our Heavenly Palace would be afraid of you green-skinned monsters? What a joke."
This Haki emanating from her very bones instantly choked the Skrull, leaving him unable to utter a word for a long time.
Seeing this, Thor waved his hand, not letting Valkyriecontinue her verbal sparring.
"You've gone to all this trouble, what exactly do you want?"
Facing Thor's questioning, the Skrull finally relented: "Director Nick wants to see you, but he was afraid of a misunderstanding and conflict, so he had me transform into Natasha's appearance to lead you to a secret Base."
"Lead the way!"
Thor didn't waste any words, answering succinctly.
Even without his hammer now, he wasn't a pushover that anyone on Earth could just mess with.
Beside him, Valkyrie shook her head and stopped in her tracks.
"Where are you going? You're unfamiliar with this place, don't wander off."
Thor looked at her with concern.
"I've sensed something very interesting and want to go check it out. I won't be playing house with you anymore."
Valkyrie had no patience to keep wandering around here with Thor.
She had listened to his nonsense back then and come from the Universe to this backward Earth.
Now, there's no chance of returning to the center of the Universe.
Since she was going to live in seclusion, she had to find a decent place to settle down.
She had seen through him; Thor does things on a whim, never considering the consequences.
As for that great Devil Head Hela.
If given the chance, she would definitely use every dirty trick to kill that woman.
But an existence of Hela's level wouldn't give her any openings at all.
She didn't even have the qualification to make a move.
The Asgardian Goddess of Death is unkillable; it's an unsolvable cycle.
Valkyrie had verified this secret long ago.
During these years making a living by the Grandmaster's side, she knew quite a few secrets of the Universe's powerhouses.
The Grandmaster is a big shot in the Elders of the Universe.
Valkyrie knew full well that being able to escape smoothly this time might just be a game where that old pervert intentionally let her go.
That old guy has lived too long and is bored to the extreme.
So he likes to gamble, gambling with other people's lives.
Hela's secret was just some gossip the Grandmastercasually told her.
Originally, Valkyrie didn't want to leave Sakaar because even though it was chaotic, at least no one dared to touch her on the Grandmaster's turf.
"Alright then, remember to leave an address; I'll come find you if anything comes up."
Thor knew this woman was a powerful ally and was still reluctant to let her go.
"Don't bother, Thor. You don't actually want to stay with me either. I can see there's someone on Earth you're deeply concerned about. Go find her. You can't go back to Asgardnow anyway; Earth is your last nest."
After saying that, Valkyrie turned around coolly and walked away without looking back.
On her way.
Suddenly, there was a "whoosh" sound of wind.
An exaggeratedly styled Green Goblin Glider descended from the sky, hovering steadily in front of her.
A note was thoughtfully attached to the glider.
"Welcome to Earth, distinguished Young Miss Valkyrie. This little gadget can serve as a means of transport; I hope it can slightly make up for the regret of losing your Pegasus."