"Thunder, thunder, thunder!"
The sound of space fracturing split the air like glass shattering in a storm.
Thor turned his head sharply, confusion flashing in his eyes. Why would the space of this Mortal world—supposedly one of the most stable realms—suddenly destabilize like this?
Then, his expression tightened. Of course… it made sense. He himself had just torn apart the spatial barrier, spending an enormous amount of energy in the process. His opponent had moved far faster than expected, slipping away before Loki could catch him.
Thor knew that as long as this mysterious warrior returned, he would be safe. In this entire moment, there was only one person who could stand against Loki—Arakawa Zenkichi.
Without hesitation, Thor followed the fractured pathway back, the turbulent void swirling around him.
The first thing he saw upon emerging was a figure standing calmly amid the chaos, a faint, almost cruel smile curling his lips.
"Why are you back?" Zenkichi asked, his tone carrying a sharp edge beneath its casual delivery.
Thor landed heavily, catching his breath. "Can you let me follow you? I'll pay any price. I come from the God Realm—I can give you anything you want."
His words came quickly, almost desperately. He didn't want to be apart from this man, not now. Loki was lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Thor needed Zenkichi's presence—needed his protection.
"You have nothing I want." Zenkichi's voice was cold, dismissive.
Thor's brows furrowed. "Tell me what you want. I can find it. There's nothing in this universe I can't obtain. The God Realm is vast—full of treasures beyond imagination."
Zenkichi's gaze was steady. "I want gems."
Thor's lips curled into a small, confident grin. "That's nothing. I'll give you one now."
He reached to his shoulder, unclasping a massive jewel embedded into his armor. It glittered in the dim light, its surface flawless, easily weighing several hundred carats. He held it out proudly.
Zenkichi barely glanced at it. "Not this. I want the six gems."
Thor froze, his hand still extended. "...Six gems?"
The words struck him like a thunderbolt. His pupils shrank. "You mean the Infinity Stones?"
The weight of the request settled like a mountain on his shoulders. Those gems—six in total—were the most powerful artifacts in the universe. Even Odin, his father, had only possessed one, and that alone was enough to reshape worlds.
"You're insane," Thor muttered. "Do you even know where they are? They're scattered in the farthest reaches of the cosmos. Some are guarded by beings older than time itself."
"That's why I said," Zenkichi replied calmly, "you don't have what I want."
Thor clenched his jaw, unwilling to admit defeat. "Then change your request. Those gems… they don't even exist on Earth. Finding them would take years—centuries. Even for me."
Zenkichi didn't blink. His silence was heavier than any spoken rejection.
Thor shifted uncomfortably. He knew his excuse was weak. The Ancient One possessed a gem right here on Earth, and if anyone could obtain one, it was her. But something about Zenkichi's unyielding presence made him think twice about lying further.
The air between them thickened. Beyond them, the fractured space swirled like a living storm, and Loki's shadowy presence lingered just beyond the rift.
Thor's instincts screamed that if he walked away now, he would never get another chance to secure this man's aid. But the price Zenkichi named… was a price no god would pay lightly.
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