Aether Awakened Us!

At the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

A terrifying aura and energy swept over from the direction of the Moon.

In an instant, it passed countless asteroids and rushed into the distance.

At the same time, it triggered a terrifying chain of collisions throughout the asteroid belt.

The collisions between the asteroids soon affected something hidden among them.

—A pitch-black warship shaped like a cross.

The warship was incredibly sturdy.

Even as asteroids constantly crashed into it, it remained completely unharmed. Instead, red lights gradually lit up across its hull as it slowly activated.

At the same time, inside the warship's life-support chambers, a pale-faced man with pointed ears awoke.

He staggered to his feet and walked to the enormous semicircular floor-to-ceiling window. Looking at the life-support chambers opening one after another below him, he muttered to himself.

"This terrifying power, enough to destroy everything... the Aether awakened us!"

"But the convergence of the Nine Realms has not begun. Could something have gone wrong with Asgard's seal?"

Though deeply puzzled, his gaze gradually grew firm as he watched more and more of his people awaken because of that terrifying power.

"More than five thousand years have passed. We cannot afford to wait any longer."

"Since there is a problem with the seal this time, as the leader of the Dark Elves, I, Malekith, must seize this opportunity to reclaim the Aether!"

"Then we will restore the glory of the Dark Elves and make those Aesir of Asgard pay for the destruction of Svartalfheim!"

Asgard!

It was a place countless light-years from Earth, yet somehow mysteriously connected to it by an unseen force.

It was the realm of the Aesir in Norse mythology, also known as the heavenly palace.

It was ruled by Odin, the King of the Gods.

From afar, it looked like a floating continent suspended above dense clouds.

However, the continent was surrounded by seawater, and the water pouring down from its edges formed magnificent waterfalls.

The clouds gathered below seemed to have formed from the evaporated water of those falls, clinging tightly beneath the land and serving as its foundation.

Across the continent stretched mountain ranges, magnificent golden buildings, and statues of every shape and form.

Running through it all was a crystalline road formed from a seven-colored rainbow.

It extended beyond the continent and ocean, connecting to a spherical observatory resembling an eyeball.

At the center of the observatory stood a dark-skinned man in golden armor, standing ramrod straight as he gripped the sword planted in the center and gazed into the depths of space.

Suddenly, a one-eyed old man clad in golden armor approached from afar across the Rainbow Bridge, accompanied by two guards.

The old man radiated authority without anger and possessed the bearing of a king. One glance made it obvious that he had long held a position of immense power.

—Odin, the King of the Gods!

"Heimdall, what happened that made you summon me so urgently?"

Odin paced into the Rainbow Bridge observatory. Though he had already sensed something, he still cautiously asked about the situation.

"Odin, I believe you have already noticed it."

Heimdall withdrew his gaze from the cosmos, a complicated expression appearing on his face, made even darker by the reflection of his golden helmet.

"The Dark Elves have awakened. A powerful unknown force awakened them and also loosened the seal on Midgard."

Midgard was the middle realm of the World Tree in Norse mythology—in other words, Earth.

"A powerful unknown force loosened the seal on the Aether particles? Even you cannot see where that force came from?"

Odin frowned deeply as well. As a king who controlled everything, he hated things beyond his control, even though he was now a benevolent ruler.

"The source of that force lies within the solar system where Midgard is located. Even my eyes cannot see through it, as though they have been covered by a layer of mist."

As the source of that power, Feng Xu was not merely beyond Heimdall's sight. Even The Watcher was now a blind man who could not see him!

"Even you cannot see it? Could there be a problem with you?"

Heimdall's eyes could perceive everything in the Nine Realms. Odin truly found it hard to believe that Heimdall claimed he could not see it.

"According to the prophecy left behind by my father, the seal could only possibly loosen when the Nine Realms converged into one."

"Otherwise, even the strongest Sorcerer Supreme on Midgard could not shake the seal in the slightest!"

"But that is the truth, Odin." Heimdall released his sword and stepped down from the central platform.

Images of Earth continuously flickered within his golden eyes, but many were also filled with static, showing nothing at all.

"And I have checked again. Kamar-Taj and the Sorcerer Supreme have completely vanished from my sight."

"Or rather, they have found a way to block my vision, instead of threatening me with force not to look."

Heimdall's words plunged Odin into thought. He muttered in confusion, "Blocking my sight?"

"Ancient One, what exactly are you plotting, or could it be..."

Odin did not continue that line of thought. Instead, he turned toward the palace and instructed the guards at his side.

"Have Thor and Loki come to the palace to see me. Do they not both wish to become king? I will give them this opportunity."

"Yes."

As the guard hurried off to summon them, Heimdall frowned slightly and could not help asking.

"Odin, do you intend to have your sons deal with those dangerous Dark Elves?"

"Forgive my bluntness, but although they are both exceptional, they are ultimately still too young and immature."

"They need experience precisely because they are immature."

Odin did not turn around, but his voice rang throughout the observatory.

"Thor is brave but lacks strategy. He acts without thinking, relies solely on hot blood, and loves war. Loki possesses some quick wit, but he is far too calculating. His thoughts are complex and ever-changing, lacking the magnanimity and decisiveness a king should possess."

"If two people could share the throne, I could retire without worry. But there is only one throne, so they must use this dangerous trial to force themselves to grow."

Although Odin spoke with conviction, his words were filled with helplessness.

At the very least, Heimdall could already picture the two of them becoming king.

If Thor became king, given his current temperament, he would probably spend six days a week fighting wars everywhere, while spending the remaining day holding banquets, drinking, and eating meat.

Such reckless militarism would eventually leave the people in misery.

If Loki became king, he would likely make people praise him and slander Thor every day. Still, Asgard might indeed prosper under his rule.

But lacking decisive, forceful measures would also lead to endless rebellions throughout the other Nine Realms.

In short, both brats still had a long way to go before they could compare to Odin, who possessed both the ability to govern within and the thunderous means to deal with threats beyond.

Outside the palace.

Whoosh!

A red figure and a green figure flew rapidly over from afar.

The red figure landed steadily before the palace, while the green figure continued flying at high speed straight into the palace.

The red figure was Asgard's prince, Thor, while the green figure was the other prince, Loki, the God of Mischief.

Blond-haired, golden-bearded, burly, and masculine, Thor looked at the small piece of torn green cloth left in his hand, then looked at Loki inside the palace, sprawled on the floor with his rear raised high.

Thor quickly hid the torn cloth behind his back, then strode into the palace as though nothing had happened.

Before the dizzy Loki could climb up and accuse him, Thor hurriedly asked.

"Father, who is the enemy? Where are they? How do we kill them? How many do you need me to kill?"

"Uh..."

Thor's four deadly questions left Odin opening his mouth before getting stuck for words.

Loki, seeming to find an opportunity, glared viciously at him. "Thor, are there only muscles in that brain of yours?"

"All you think about every day is war and killing. If Asgard is handed to you, it will only meet destruction!"

"What is there to fear? When the time comes, I will handle the fighting, and you can serve as my chief minister in charge of internal affairs. Just like Father and Mother."

Thor wore an indulgent smile, as though saying, You know I spoil you.

"Bastard, don't look at me like that!"

Green light flared in Loki's hands, and he felt his fists growing rock-hard.

Moreover, Thor's comparison gave him an indescribably strange feeling.

"Enough!"

The farce before him made Odin's brow twitch. He directly interrupted their argument and got straight to the point.

"Asgard's former enemies, the Dark Elves, have awakened."

"You will leave for Midgard immediately and protect the seal of the Aether particles!"

Odin's words made Loki's eyes light up. As if he had thought of something, he said, "Father, leave this matter to me alone and—"

"Ha ha ha, we guarantee that we will complete the mission!" Upon learning there was a fight to be had, Thor was already eager to depart.

Ignoring Loki, who was still speaking, he grabbed that green cape, spun the hammer in his hand at high speed, and flew out of the palace in a flash.

Odin: "..."

Having such a reckless older brother was truly hard on Loki.

Shaking his head, Odin turned and headed toward the chambers of his wife, Frigga, the Mother of the Gods.

He knew full well that the two of them would most likely be unable to resolve the matter of the Dark Elves, but letting them suffer a little was also good.

To ensure they would not be in mortal danger, he still needed to borrow Frigga's magic and pay Ancient One a visit.

After all, Earth was Ancient One's territory. Given his standing, asking Ancient One to look after them a little should not be a problem.