Thor had seen Ryuuto use this trick before, but even now, he couldn't hide a flicker of surprise. These weren't mere illusions like Loki's virtual clones — these duplicates were full-fledged entities, each capable of independent action.
And Ryuuto didn't just throw them out as distractions. He had layered his attacks, mixed them into chaos from the start. Thor knew that lingering meant facing the same deadly assault again. Avoiding it last time had cost him an arm; doing it again? Slim chance of success.
Did Thor really want to escape?
No. With a roar, he surged forward, lightning crackling around him. Loki, tethered and watching from a distance as Ryuuto's puppet, had no choice but to stand aside. In life, he'd been reckless, but now, alive or not, he had no freedom. He could only watch silently.
Thor slammed Mjolnir down, obliterating three of Ryuuto's clones. But Ryuuto wasn't done. He channeled Earth Style — Heavy Rock Technique, grounding himself as his body's weight increased, slowing Thor's movements without Thor realizing the real Ryuuto was now behind him.
Hands clenching and stretching apart, Ryuuto launched the glowing cube of the Primordial Realm Stripping Technique directly at Thor's side.
Then — a sudden flare of flame shot into the sky, consuming Thor in a blinding cylinder of fire. When the flames vanished, Thor was gone, leaving only a scorched circle etched into the ground.
Ryuuto's brow furrowed. Asgard's Bifrost had just been activated. The rainbow bridge, guarded by Heimdall, was the only passage to the heavens. Someone in Asgard — and Ryuuto knew who — had intervened, rescuing Thor at the last second.
Odin.
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Ryuuto ignored Shion's cheeky notification and strode toward Loki. Since Loki's resurrection via Impure World Reincarnation, Ryuuto hadn't bothered talking about Asgard — now was the perfect time.
Loki bowed involuntarily. "After death, you're… more polite than when alive," Ryuuto noted dryly.
"Hate you?" he asked.
"Definitely."
"Do you still want to kill me?"
"Yes."
Ryuuto smirked. "Too bad. You're my servant for life. You should thank me — at least I granted you the Regenerative Healing Factor. One day, if I decide, Thor might face the same fate as you. Imagine the two of you against Odin… think he could handle it?"
Loki shivered. "Odin's old… he's probably passing the throne to Thor."
"Exactly. As the All-Father, he needs to keep the balance. Thor can't. So… let's just say I'll take advantage of the chaos. You? Stay out of this."
Obediently, Loki moved to the standing coffin. The lid sealed, and slowly, the coffin sank into the earth as if it had never existed.
Ryuuto muttered, eyeing a nearby apple tree. "Sweet. Might as well grab a few for later."
Meanwhile, in Asgard, the Bifrost shimmered and vanished as Odin and Thor appeared near the teleporter. Heimdall immediately closed the portal with his guardian sword.
"Father!" Thor shouted. "You should just kill Ryuuto!"
"Silence!" Odin bellowed. "I told you! Do not interfere with that Mutant. You went to Midgard without permission! Heimdall knows — it was my order! Thor, you are my son, the heir. How can you be so reckless?"
"Father… why not avenge Loki? Isn't he your son too?"
"I am the All-Father," Odin replied firmly. "Every decision affects the balance of the Nine Worlds. I will not send forces for Loki."
Thor gritted his teeth, glaring. "Fine. Let's say you don't care about Loki. But I've lost an arm! You just… ignore that?!"
....
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