To be honest, even though Thor's current strength wasn't enough to make Robert take him seriously, Robert wouldn't underestimate any method that could unlock potential. Even if such methods required some form of sacrifice, they were still worth considering, even if they didn't align perfectly with Robert's usual understanding.
"Wait, if unlocking potential comes at a price, could it be that making a wish with the Infinity Stones in this world also requires some kind of sacrifice?" A thought flashed through Robert's mind, and he decided to interrogate Ebony Maw and Black Dwarf further before dealing with them.
"I will remember," Thor said with a determined gaze as Robert's thoughts drifted.
To be honest, before coming to Earth, Thor had no real concept of getting stronger. For him, strength was something that came naturally. In his previous life, he could easily defeat the lesser beings of the Nine Realms without needing to grow stronger. If he encountered someone he couldn't beat, his previous personality wouldn't have helped much, even with training.
But now, Thor was different. Not only had his character changed, but he had also seen beings far stronger than those in Asgard or the Nine Realms. He understood that Asgard was no longer the high and mighty realm it once was; now, everything depended on power.
And Thor had considerable potential, especially since he had truly become the God of Thunder. Mjolnir was merely his weapon, no longer the source of his power.
"Guardian, let them leave. By the way, what kind of device took the Space Stone?" Robert nodded at Thor's determined look, then turned to the Guardian to give an order before asking about the device.
"When Ebony Maw mentioned it earlier, we didn't see the Space Stone or the so-called device," Sif recalled, her eyes flickering as she thought back to the scene.
"Alright then, see you... Oh, by the way!" Robert waved to Thor and the others, but then remembered something. He turned back to Thor and the unseen God-King Odin and said, "You better keep a close watch on Loki. This time, I'll let him go because of Thor's potential. But if he shows up on Earth again, I won't spare him!"
"The next time, it won't be as simple as him falling off the Bifrost and disappearing. I'll make sure his body and soul are completely destroyed, leaving no trace of his existence. After all, he's the main reason for the strained relationship between Earth and Asgard."
"I understand…" Thor sighed deeply as he glanced at the unconscious Loki, unaware that he had just narrowly escaped death. He then looked at Robert and solemnly nodded.
Thor knew that Robert's words were a final warning to Loki. If Loki returned to Earth, not even Odin could save him. And Robert's words were true.
The enmity between Asgard and Earth, or rather between Asgard and Robert and Clark, started because of Loki. If Loki hadn't recklessly provoked Robert and the others, Robert wouldn't have knocked Loki off the Bifrost, leaving him lost and presumed dead.
Of course, Odin had his share of blame as well. Despite his age, Odin still held onto his lofty attitude. Even though Loki was at fault, Odin still wanted to stand up for him, taking the act of protecting his children to the extreme.
Protecting one's own isn't wrong, but it's certainly not always right either. And because Odin's protective instincts backfired, Asgard ended up in its current state.
As Robert spoke, not only did Thor have these thoughts, but even Odin, far away in Asgard, recalled the entire sequence of events.
If Robert and Clark hadn't been so powerful, Odin wouldn't have seen it as Asgard's fault. But with their combined strength capable of destroying Asgard, Odin had to reflect on the situation and acknowledge Asgard's mistakes.
"I understand. I won't let Loki leave Asgard again..." Odin's voice echoed in Robert's ear as Thor activated the Bifrost, enveloping him and the others in its light. "But this is also my fault. My guidance failed, or else Loki wouldn't have turned out this way."
"I don't care whose fault it is. Just remember what I said." Robert responded indifferently, and with a thought, Black Dwarf and Ebony Maw's bodies floated up and followed him as he flew back toward New York.
Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Thor and the others returned to find a very different realm from what Thor remembered. The grandeur and splendor that once defined the entrance to the Bifrost were gone, replaced by patched-up remnants of what once was.
The great battle had destroyed much of Asgard, including the Rainbow Bridge, from which Heimdall had disappeared. Unlike Loki, who had returned, Heimdall had not been in contact with Asgard since, leaving his fate unknown.
If Odin weren't so calm in his old age, he might have thrown Loki to the ground and shouted, "You ingrate! I lost a great warrior because of you!"
"Greetings, Prince Thor!" At the entrance to the Bifrost stood Skurge, also known as the Executioner, holding a broom. He bowed respectfully to Thor.
During the great battle, nearly all of Asgard's army and nobility perished, but Skurge survived because he was too cowardly to rush into battle against Robert. He would rather have Asgard destroyed and himself along with it than be shattered by Robert's brutal attacks.
After that battle, Asgard was left with so few warriors that Odin had no choice but to assign Skurge to guard the entrance to the realm, taking over Heimdall's duties.
After all, the Bifrost was rarely used anymore, and few dared to invade Asgard. Skurge's job was simply to keep the area clean and repair the damage.
"Hmm." In the past, Thor would have looked down on someone like Skurge, but now he nodded at him, encouraging him, "I hope you do your job well and strive to reach Heimdall's level..."
"How could I compare to Lord Heimdall?" Skurge's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he quickly shook his head, humbly replying, "Your praise, Prince Thor, is my greatest motivation!"
"Then I hope you can make even more progress and truly become Asgard's guardian!" Thor patted Skurge's shoulder before heading toward the palace.
"Could it be that Prince Thor has recognized my unique talents?" As he watched Thor walk away, Skurge's eyes gleamed with excitement. He clenched his broom tightly, saying, "Maybe I really can become Asgard's guardian!"
In the palace, Thor and the others soon arrived at the grand hall. Odin still sat high on his throne, but as Thor entered, he immediately noticed how much Odin had aged.
Perhaps Odin's aura could still intimidate others, and perhaps his voice still carried authority, but seeing Odin now, Thor knew that he was truly old, old enough that his decline could no longer be hidden.
"Father." Thor took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions as he called out a title he thought he'd never say again.
"Thor, you've changed…" Odin looked deeply at Thor, his words making Thor's heart skip a beat. Thor had been reluctant to return to Asgard, wanting to build his new Asgard, because he knew he had changed and felt he was no longer the same person.
"But no matter how you change, you're still you. You're still Asgard's prince, still the God of Thunder. A change in personality doesn't matter; your soul and blood still belong to Asgard!" Just as Thor's thoughts began to waver, Odin said something that shook him even more.
"Just like your four friends. Even though you brainwashed them to be more loyal to you, they're still Asgardians and will still be your greatest support. That's all that matters!"
"You know about that? Didn't you say you wouldn't spy on Earth anymore? How do you know everything?" Thor frowned, instinctively questioning Odin.
"Saiyans have keen senses. It's impossible to spy on them with divine power. But you don't have such sharp senses, so it's easy to observe you." Odin chuckled, looking at Thor as he spoke softly, "But your worries are unnecessary. I can't even bring myself to deal with Loki; how could I do anything to you?"
"Honestly, if I could, I'd even want you to brainwash Loki, change his personality a bit. He gets into too much trouble. Before, he only caused trouble in Asgard, where his status protected him..."
"Later, he caused chaos in other realms, but Asgard was strong enough to cover for him. But now, he's angered the Saiyans and Superman, and I can't protect him anymore!"
"If the Saiyan hadn't pressured us so much, I'd really like you to brainwash him, not to completely reform him, but at least to make him understand who he can and cannot provoke..."
"What do you plan to do with Loki?" Thor asked hesitantly after a moment of silence.
"What he did on Earth has led to Asgard's current state. He must be punished, or the people and the remaining nobles won't accept it..." Odin sighed heavily, his voice filled with helplessness. "Their friends and family died because of Loki's actions. They'll blame the Saiyan, but Loki shares responsibility."
"Unfortunately, the Saiyan is beyond our reach. If the people knew Loki opened the portal that brought war to Earth, they might even demand we hand Loki over to Earth and the Saiyan."
"Will it be a public execution?" Thor asked, looking worriedly at the still-unconscious Loki.
"Not that far. Even though Loki isn't
my biological son, he's still a prince of Asgard. If he's punished, it won't be in a way that completely strips him of his dignity as a prince. Guards, take him to the dungeon and imprison him for eternity. No matter who orders it, he is never to be released! Not even by a king's command!" Odin waved his hand, his voice gradually regaining its authority.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Two guards quickly entered the hall, approaching Thor. Thor hesitated but eventually handed Loki over to them, and they swiftly dragged him out of the palace.
Thor understood Odin's intentions clearly. Loki would be imprisoned for eternity, not only while Odin was alive but even after Thor became the new King of Asgard. Loki would still not be allowed to be freed.
Unless King Thor one day defied Odin's command, but even that would damage Thor's reputation. As king, Thor could no longer act solely for himself.
As the guards and Loki left, Odin's eternal spear gently struck in Loki's direction, sending a divine light toward him.
"Hmm?!" Loki, who had been unconscious and whose body seemed to shimmer with some strange light, suddenly stabilized and woke up instantly. "Damn you! Odin! Are you really going to imprison me forever? Thor! Is this how you save me? By denying me my freedom? You might as well kill me…!"
Before Loki could finish, a surge of divine power washed over him, knocking him unconscious once again.
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