Beneath the Nameless Mountains on Earth,
Wang Ming was refining a suit of armor, having already completed twenty-seven of the eighty-one runes.
His expression suddenly shifted, and he paused his rune-carving, murmuring in confusion, "Why is he here?"
The next moment,
ripples of magical power surged across Wang Ming's body as an illusory figure stepped out from within him. The phantom rapidly transitioned from ethereal to solid, transforming into the likeness of Loki before vanishing into the secret chamber.
····
Wang Ming appeared above ground, in front of the wooden cabin shared by Scarlet Witch Wanda, Hawkeye, and Natasha.
"You aren't standing guard in Asgard; what are you doing here at my place?"
The patch of grass not far from the wooden cabin had been scorched into a ring-shaped clearing, inside of which stood a large crowd of people—old and young, men and women, numbering no fewer than several hundred.
At the head of these people was a Black man wearing tattered golden armor, who was none other than Heimdall, the guardian god of Asgard.
"Your Majesty Loki, Asgard is gone," Heimdall said with grief.
Heimdall had originally held a profound contempt for Loki, but following the battle on Ego, his perspective had gradually shifted. Eventually, comparing him to Thor, he realized that Loki was actually better suited to succeed as the God King than Thor—at least Loki possessed immense power capable of suppressing all incoming foes.
"Thor's homeland?" Scarlet Witch Wanda asked in shock and doubt.
"How is Thor?" Natasha and Hawkeye asked simultaneously.
Being members of the Avengers, they naturally cared a great deal about Thor's condition.
"His Highness Thor has fallen in battle," Heimdall said in a heavy tone.
Hearing this, the trio of Hawkeye felt a wave of bleak sorrow.
"Gone? Asgard had the prophecy of