Thanos Arrives

A while later, Thanos returned to Sanctuary II.

From a projection in the void, he saw that the Dark Executive had found a place suspected to be the Asgard Continent.

It was a landmass floating in the vacuum of space.

Yes, a landmass, not a planet.

Such a marvel could not have formed naturally in the universe. It had to be artificial.

No wonder the Dark Executive had concluded that this was the Asgard Continent.

Thanos immediately sent ten reconnaissance ships to investigate.

A week later.

Thanks to their impressive speed, the reconnaissance ships reached their destination ten thousand light-years away.

The images they sent back showed Thanos just how extraordinary this landmass was.

Its terrain was flat, without even a planetary core. How it generated gravity was a mystery.

Yet it had four seasons, rising and falling tides, and more. It looked much like a normal planet.

But as detailed data came in, Thanos spotted ways the landmass differed from a planet.

An energy Protective Shield took the place of an atmosphere, enclosing the entire landmass. There was no gravity above it, either.

At that moment, more than fifteen thousand Spaceships hovered over the landmass, though most were small.

Thanos was stunned.

He had not expected Odin to have such a formidable capacity for war. Even after losing so many Spaceships, Odin had managed to muster a force this large.

Given time, the Asgardians could probably field even more Spaceships.

No. I have to take Odin down as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Asgardians' capacity for war will far outstrip mine.

With that, Thanos immediately ordered Sanctuary II to move out and sent the Black Order ahead as the vanguard.

Another week passed.

Beside a lake on the Asgard Continent.

Clad in silver-white armor, Thor gripped the newly repaired Mjolnir and swung it again and again.

After ten days in a hospital bed, he had finally pulled through.

It had greatly drained his mother's magic, but he had made a full recovery.

The first thing he had done afterward was rush out to train.

In the past, that would have been almost unthinkable.

Back then, he had spent his days either drinking or putting down rebellions.

Training had never crossed his mind.

Thanks to his Asgardian Royal Family bloodline, he did not even need to train. Simply reaching adulthood would grant him the strength of a Sub-Skyfather.

Power had come so easily that he had never valued it. He had simply coasted through life.

That was why he had always acted without thinking.

He had never needed to think.

But after his battle with Thanos, he had come to understand something: no matter how powerful his parents were, they could not protect him forever.

He had to become strong himself.

By now, he had been training for four days.

As he swung Mjolnir again and again, it made a whoosh, whoosh... sound.

The lake before him repeatedly split apart, settled, then split again.

After a while, he lowered Mjolnir, panting, and shook his head.

"No. Training like this isn't doing anything."

His Asgardian Royal Family bloodline had given him a head start and tremendous power.

But it had also become a shackle, making it hard for him to break through his limits.

All things came at a price. A powerful bloodline could be a shackle, too.

Just then, a bell rang out from the distant temple: Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

Thor's expression changed at the sound, and he immediately flew toward the temple.

The temple bell did not normally ring. It was sounded only for matters of great importance.

Sure enough, when he arrived, he saw his father on the Throne, his face grave.

Before long, the temple was packed. Some councilors even flew into the air to find room.

Odin rose from his Throne and struck the floor with Gungnir.

Two thuds echoed in everyone's ears.

The hall fell silent at once.

Odin nodded in satisfaction and said, "According to Heimdall's latest intelligence, the enemy is heading our way. They will arrive in about a day. I now declare Asgard in a state of emergency.

"First, close all Portals and forbid all spaceships from leaving.

"Second, all resources are to be prioritized for the war.

"Third, everyone over the age of fifteen will automatically join the reserves and obey the supreme command—that is, my orders!"

The gods immediately began talking among themselves.

"Damn Thanos! We'll hit him hard!"

"Yes! Long live Asgard! Asgard will prevail!"

"Under the God King's leadership, we'll kill every invader!"

"We'll defend Asgard and our home to the death!"

Below, Thor watched his father issue one order after another, and a sudden longing stirred in him.

Compared with endlessly putting down rebellions and killing, sitting on the Throne and giving orders seemed far more satisfying—and far more powerful.

That was where a man belonged.

Unfortunately, barring an accident, his father probably had several hundred years left to live.