Laufey's Betrayal

As Laufey waited impatiently, Loki's figure soon appeared in the three-dimensional projection before him.

Loki stood in a resplendent temple, dressed in dark green and gold robes.

"Loki, how are you? Are you all right?"

Seeing Loki appear put Laufey's mind at ease. At the same time, he began cursing Purple Big Guy.

That damned bastard dared lie to me.

He had only intended to go through the motions, but now he had changed his mind. He would make that bastard pay.

Panic flashed through Loki's eyes when he heard Laufey's voice, but he managed to answer calmly, "Father, I'm fine. Don't worry."

Laufey narrowed his eyes. "Good. Your mother misses you. When are you coming back?"

Loki was his son, but Odin had taken him away as a child, so Loki had not known who his father was.

Father and son had only been reunited last year.

Even after learning the truth, though, Loki usually called him Laufey. Why was he suddenly calling him Father?

Something was very wrong.

Loki shook his head, looking a little flustered. "My mother? I never knew her. I'd really like to know what she was like.

"Oh, and His Majesty the God King just said I could return once you complete your mission. I hope you'll fulfill the task His Majesty gave you, Father."

Laufey took several steps back, his voice turning cold. "My son's mother died giving birth to him. You got that part right. But Loki would never call that old bastard Odin 'His Majesty the God King.' He calls him All-Father!"

Loki's face went pale in the projection. He opened his mouth but could find nothing to say.

A moment later, his image blurred and turned into a robed woman.

Laufey's face darkened. "Witch! Tell me where my son is!"

The Loki before him had been a witch in disguise. The deception left him furious.

With her trick exposed, the projection changed again, this time showing Odin.

"Laufey, help me repel the enemy, and I promise to return your Casket of Ancient Winters. I'll lift the restrictions on your people's freedom as well."

Odin had lost his hold over Laufey, so he had no choice but to try to appease him.

But Laufey was filled with resentment and rage. There was no chance he would listen.

Besides, if Odin died, Laufey could reclaim the Casket of Ancient Winters himself, and the Frost Giants would be free of their restrictions.

He immediately cut the connection, with no intention of talking any further.

Odin's face turned livid.

"Damn you, Laufey! I should never have spared your life!"

Back then, Odin had spared him because reaching Skyfather-level power was no easy feat. He had thought Laufey might prove useful, only for him to turn traitor.

But with the battle raging, Odin had no chance to deal with Laufey.

Seeing his right flank begin to crumble, he grew anxious.

After a moment's thought, he narrowed his remaining eye and made his decision.

"Everyone, fall back to Asgard!"

The order stunned everyone who heard it.

Soon, though, the Asgardians began piloting their Spaceships toward Asgard Continent.

Especially those who had no Spaceships and had joined the battle in personal spacecraft, driven by nothing but fervor.

That day would haunt them forever.

In a space battle, their small craft were nothing more than cannon fodder.

They could not even reach the distant enemy with their weapons.

Meanwhile, a single enemy shot—or even a glancing hit—could tear their craft apart.

They could only take fire without returning it, yet they had not been allowed to retreat.

God King Odin had given no order to fall back. Anyone who did would be branded a deserter and killed on the spot.

They had barely survived the exchange of long-range fire and closed the distance when they found themselves facing dense, seemingly endless ranks of the Black Order and colossal space beasts.

The Asgardians were brave and formidable, but after more than a thousand years without war, they had long forgotten its cruelty and bloodshed.

Now that Odin had finally ordered a retreat, they raced one another back toward Asgard Continent.

At the outer edge of the battlefield, Thor and Heimdall heard the order but kept fighting, cutting down their enemies.

Even in retreat, they could not simply turn and run. That would be a rout.

Someone had to hold the rear so the others could withdraw safely.

And they were the best men for the job.

Bolts of lightning shot from Thor's Mjolnir, while arcs of sword light flew from Heimdall's two-handed sword.

Enemy Spaceships fell one after another.

But Odin grew anxious as he watched.

Sub-Skyfather power was formidable, but it was no match for Skyfather-level power.

Without reinforcements, the two of them would be worn down by thousands of Spaceships.

Odin could accept losing others, but Thor was his son, and Heimdall was his most capable subordinate. If they died of exhaustion here, Thanos would be delighted.

He quickly ordered every Spaceship and spacecraft on the left and right flanks to stay behind while Thor and Heimdall returned first.

Heimdall obeyed at once and headed back.

But Thor was caught up in the slaughter, venting the humiliation Thanos had inflicted on him. He ignored his father's order.

Left with no choice, Odin sent Heimdall back to bring Thor in.

Finally, seeing the left and right fronts on the verge of collapse, he gritted his teeth and ordered the small spacecraft to cover the retreat while all the Spaceships withdrew to Asgard.

Asgard's Protective Shield was slowly rising.

The shield drew on the power of all Asgard and the resources Odin had gathered from across the Milky Way over the years.

Once they were inside Asgard, even a hundred years would not be enough for Thanos to break through.

Thanos saw what Odin was doing, of course, but he only watched. He made no move.

Time was on his side.

As long as he kept Odin and Asgard trapped, he could slowly take control of the Galaxy. His chances of victory would only grow.

More than ten hours later.

After losing ten million Asgardian Warriors, Odin finally led the remaining Spaceships back to Asgard.

Asgard's Protective Shield closed completely behind them.

Odin gripped Gungnir tightly as he watched Thanos smile mockingly from beyond the shield.

"Thanos! Just you wait!"

Odin had made his decision during the retreat.

He would release Hela from her seal, then face Thanos with the three of them.

Hela possessed Skyfather-level power, and with Asgard strengthening her, she was only slightly weaker than Odin himself.

Then they would settle things with Thanos!