The Aether?
Why had it appeared?
Thor and Loki exchanged a glance. They could no longer worry about their "Get Help" plan.
Thor roared, "Loki!"
Loki immediately dispelled the illusion, restoring Thor's severed arm.
Thor summoned Mjolnir and fired a bolt of lightning.
Under the pull of Malekith's hands, the falling bottle abruptly shattered.
The Aether flew toward Malekith.
Thor's lightning arrived just in time. What had been intended as a surprise attack on Malekith had to become an attempt to destroy the Aether instead.
But he had underestimated the Aether.
No matter how hard he pushed, his lightning could not stop it from pouring into Malekith's body.
As Malekith absorbed the Aether, his appearance changed, his ashen face turning gray.
He glanced at Thor and Loki, then gave Kurse a meaningful look.
Dark Elven soldiers stepped forward to block their path, while Malekith looked off in another direction.
He could sense another source of the Aether's power.
But this was almost enough for now.
The Conjunction of the Spheres was the best opportunity to unleash the Aether. Malekith turned and left.
Thor immediately rushed forward to stop him, taking down a Dark Elf with each swing of his hammer.
But when he reached Kurse, the ever-reliable Mjolnir lost its edge, and a single punch sent Thor flying.
The hoofbeats of the Wild Hunt faded into the distance, and Malekith paid them little mind.
He boarded his ship, ready to leave.
Kurse kept Thor occupied, preventing him from giving chase.
Loki was also tied down by the Dark Elven soldiers.
For the first time, Thor suffered a brutal physical beatdown.
Kurse punched Mjolnir away, then pinned Thor to the ground and hammered him with blow after blow, leaving his face bruised and swollen.
He could only watch helplessly as Malekith