Boom!
The Bifrost crashed down directly into the Asgardian palace. Renzo and Thor stepped out as the radiant light faded.
"This is Asgard?!"
Renzo looked around in astonishment. Though he had seen it in films, nothing compared to witnessing it in person—towering golden structures, cascading waterfalls suspended in midair, and sleek airships gliding through the sky. Everything shimmered with brilliance, radiating Asgard's majesty and power.
"Welcome back to Asgard!"
Renzo focused and saw a tall, dark, imposing figure standing guard at the Bifrost's entrance.
Heimdall.
The guardian of Asgard. The watcher of the Nine Realms.
His golden eyes swept over Renzo coldly. The only memory he had of this man was that he had once fought alongside Thor on Midgard. Beyond that, Renzo was insignificant in his eyes.
Heimdall did not waste time on those he deemed unimportant. His attention remained on Thor—the crown prince—who was out conquering the Nine Realms and restoring order.
Yet Heimdall had not been at ease lately.
With his unmatched sight, he had long recognized that the current "All-Father" was Loki in disguise. He also knew exactly where Odin truly was.
But he said nothing.
Because he believed Odin had his reasons. Odin would not abandon the throne without purpose—and Loki would not have seized it without consequence.
Some things were better left unspoken.
Heimdall chose to remain silent and let events unfold, trusting that Thor would eventually uncover the truth.
After all, Asgard was not his to rule.
"Ha! My friend!"
Thor, completely unaware that his throne had been stolen, grinned widely and pulled Heimdall into a bear hug.
Renzo felt an inexplicable chill watching two towering warriors embrace so enthusiastically.
"This is my comrade, Vision," Thor said cheerfully. "He's come to Asgard seeking help."
"Greetings," Renzo said, stepping forward politely. "I've heard of your reputation. They say your eyes can see across all Nine Realms—it seems that legend is well deserved."
But Heimdall's gaze was fixed firmly on the Mind Stone embedded in Renzo's forehead, ignoring his words entirely.
"Asgard does not permit outsiders to enter," Heimdall said flatly. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as he studied the stone—then vanished just as quickly.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled faintly.
"Of course… if you are a guest of the prince, you may enter."
He stepped aside, allowing them passage.
Renzo followed Thor toward the palace—but had barely taken two steps when Heimdall spoke again.
"Wait."
He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto the ring on Renzo's right hand.
A trace of wariness appeared in his expression.
"That ring… is not a good thing. I advise you to destroy it as soon as possible."
His golden vision could not perceive its essence at all. It was something alien—something that did not belong to this universe.
This was not a suggestion.
It was a warning.
Use it if you must—but not here.
"Asgard handles its own matters."
Renzo nodded calmly. "Thank you for the warning."
Of course he understood the danger of the Black Lantern Ring. Few, if any, knew it better than he did. An artifact that bonded with the dead could never be anything but dangerous.
But he had no intention of destroying it.
It was too valuable.
With it, he could command an army of the dead—endless, tireless, growing stronger with every fallen life.
He briefly considered what would happen if it clashed with Hela, the Goddess of Death.
Would their forces endlessly multiply? Or balance each other out?
He concluded there was no real conflict—Hela commanded souls, while the Black Lantern Ring controlled bodies.
Different domains. No direct overlap.
More importantly, the ring was tied to something far more terrifying—
The Land of the Dead.
Few who were cast there ever returned.
Renzo silently decided that, if the opportunity arose, he would help Thor.
After all, Thor's fate was… tragic.
His parents, his sister, his brother, his hammer, his home—one by one, he lost everything.
Few beings in the universe had endured as much.
"I almost forgot—how is Earth?" Thor asked suddenly, already chattering again. "Is Stark still as arrogant? And Steve—still as stubborn? He's so young, yet acts older than me…"
Since meeting Renzo, Thor had barely stopped talking. It was obvious he missed his friends.
"I'm sorry, Thor. I haven't been on Earth recently," Renzo replied helplessly. Even he struggled to keep up with Thor's enthusiasm.
"Not on Earth? Then where have you been?" Thor asked, clearly surprised. In his mind, Earth's technology hadn't yet reached the level of interstellar travel—not even Stark could manage that.
"I've been—"
Renzo began to answer, but the two of them had already entered the grand hall.
Thor immediately straightened, his demeanor changing completely.
Gone was the carefree warrior. In his place stood a prince.
He dropped to one knee, setting Mjolnir down respectfully.
"Father."
Thor's respect for Odin ran deep—fifteen centuries of bond far outweighed the fleeting lifetimes of mortals.
"Why do you not kneel?"
The figure on the throne—"Odin"—ignored Thor and instead turned his gaze toward Renzo, his tone sharp with feigned anger.
"You are not worthy."
Renzo's reply was immediate.
If the real Odin stood before him, perhaps he might have shown some courtesy. But this?
A pretender.
Even the true Odin would not command his submission—not when Renzo answered to forces far beyond Asgard.
"How dare you!" the false Odin roared. "You insult Asgard itself! Thor—I command you. Throw him into the dungeons. Immediately!"
Thor froze.
Something felt… off.
But he couldn't explain it.
More importantly, Renzo's words echoed in his mind.
No one had ever spoken to Odin like that.
No one.
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