"I simply cannot fathom why you would make such a decision."
Loki was speaking to his brother. The time had come for their meeting.
Originally, Loki had intended to discuss the matter of Mjolnir with Thor, but he was currently too shell-shocked by what Thor had just said.
"What? Do I need some specific standard to decide how I want to live my life?"
A look of dejection washed over Thor's face. This "large child," thousands of years old, had seemingly never truly matured until now.
"I plan to stay here for a while longer. It will allow me to better understand true strength," Thor added, explaining his resolve.
"Have you forgotten how 'Father' treated us? We should be going to retrieve Mjolnir together, right now, and then return to Asgard. I will assist you, and you shall become the Lord of Asgard, the King of the Nine Realms!"
Loki's voice cracked, losing some of its composure. He found Thor's sudden decision nearly impossible to comprehend. He placed a heavy, sarcastic emphasis on the word Father.
"I will do that, brother. But only after I have witnessed what true power really is," Thor said, his gaze drifting slightly.
Not long ago, he had felt the power of Bul-Kathos and Imperius. It had fundamentally shifted his perspective on what it meant to be strong.
"I am relieved that you think so."
Odin's voice suddenly rang out. Only then did Loki and Thor realize that their "Father" had appeared behind them.
"I certainly didn't expect you to show up here. You threw us down to the mortal realm and then went completely silent."
Loki's body tensed as he spoke. The truths he had learned about his lineage filled him with hostility toward Odin.
"Loki, I have always treated you as my own son. You need to calm down and hear me out."
Odin still gripped Gungnir, the Spear of Heaven, in his hand. After personally witnessing the existence of the Prime Evils, he was filled with vigilance toward this world. As the king of a race, the burden of responsibility he bore was far heavier than anyone imagined.
"Father, I have no intention of disobeying you, but I think you owe Loki the answers he seeks."
Thor held the Butcher's Cleaver in his hand; the weapon still emitted that blood-curdling, ghostly howl.
"I did not come this time to discuss your heritage. Your sister, Hela, has escaped the prison where she was held. She is free now, and you two are very likely her first targets," Odin said, his expression downcast.
Hela had once been the child he held the highest hopes for. She had even pried at the authority of Death itself, and Death seemed to have tacitly accepted it. But Hela lacked the temperament of a ruler, which was why he had imprisoned her.
"I have another sister? Needless to say, she's probably not my biological sister either," Loki said with a sneer.
He knew exactly how much of an offense his behavior was to the All-Father, but he also knew the extent of Odin's tolerance toward him. Spoiled and arrogant—that was perhaps the best description of his current state.
"Loki, listen quietly," Thor said sternly, a flicker of lightning passing through his eyes.
Although he had never heard of this sister either, his time on Mount Arreat had given him plenty of time to think. In his long life, there were enough events to draw experience from, to gain true wisdom and growth.
For instance, the actions of Tyr, or Baldur the God of Light, who rarely stayed in Asgard for long. His brothers clearly knew more than he did, which only proved that, in Odin's eyes, he was not yet a qualified leader. Otherwise, he would have known these things long ago, rather than waiting like a fool for Odin to reveal the answers now.
"Fine. You always tell me what to do—though I suppose it's better than listening to our 'Father'," Loki continued his meaningless mockery, though his body relaxed.
"It seems calling in a favor to bring you here was the right decision," Odin said with a touch of relief, flexing the fingers wrapped around his spear. "Then, let me tell you. Your sister, Hela, was my most capable aide when I conquered the Nine Realms. Furthermore, she was originally the candidate to be the next Lord of Asgard. What do you think of that?"
Odin spoke with a casual tone, but he closely observed the reactions of Thor and Loki.
"It seems my foolish brother also falls within the scope of 'originally'? After all, you now have a hammer for a son, and we have a hammer for a brother. It seems the throne of Asgard is not such a desirable position," Loki said, eyes narrowing, his hand ready to cast a teleportation spell at a moment's notice.
"Loki!" Thor shouted his name with a harsh tone, his entire body tensing up.
The matter of "Odin's Son, the Hammer" was a difficult thing for him to let go of. He hadn't made peace with it yet.
"Father, I am not surprised. This time has given me much to think about," Thor said meaningfully to Odin.
During this period, he had suffered brutal beatings from Vorusk, often left in a state where his mind was clear but his body unable to move. Thor had likely done more thinking in these past days than in the sum of his entire past life.
"I truly hope you are as you say. And that you continue to be so. If you do, handing the throne to you would be the best choice."
Odin's expression darkened slightly.
A prophecy echoed constantly in his mind—terrible words foretelling the death of the Thunder God. Because of this prophecy, Odin had been overly protective of Thor.
"Very well. Your sister is named Hela. You may also call her the Goddess of Death."
Odin seemed uncomfortable speaking Hela's divine title. Having witnessed Death personified appear, Odin held an unusual dread for the name "Death."
"As for Mjolnir... that was originally Hela's weapon."
Odin watched Thor's expression closely as he said this. Clearly, there was no value in hiding the truth any longer.
"Then what of Baldur? He doesn't seem the type to neglect his duties," Thor pressed, looking as though he expected the answer.
"Dead. Died at the hands of a Prime Evil."
Odin looked visibly older as he spoke these words.
"And what is brother Tyr guarding against? He is always busy, yet shows no intention of taking the throne." Thor took a deep breath and continued.
Loki, however, looked horrified.
Baldur, the God of Light, was a top-tier powerhouse even within Asgard. The immortality granted by ancient magic was something even Loki envied. And yet, Odin was saying that the undying God of Light was dead. Killed by a Prime Evil.
"I cannot tell you those things yet. But I believe one day you will defeat a certain destiny," Odin said with an inscrutable expression, his tone thick with expectation.
The Thunder God's destiny was to perish alongside the God of Fear, Cul.
This was something Odin had known from the beginning. It was for this very reason he had personally driven his own brother from the throne of the All-Father. Cul, the God of Fear, had left Odin with plenty of shadows.
"Because I now have Barbarian blood in my veins? Or because I am now a Nephalem?"
The corner of Thor's mouth twitched. Although he felt his father's protection, the feeling wasn't pleasant.
"I am thousands of years old, Father. You can no longer look at me through the eyes of a child. Regardless of what destiny awaits, I have the right to choose the life I want."
Thor stood his ground, speaking to Odin without backing down. He then reached out and draped his arm around Loki's shoulder.
"Besides, my brother will help me, just as he did in the old days."
Thor cast a look of trust toward Loki.
"I do not feel you are prepared. In fact, I do not think you currently possess that strength," Odin looked at Thor, as if judging whether he was qualified.
"How could my heir be defeated by destiny? Destiny is simply the most boring thing in existence! There is nothing in the entire world more tedious than fate!"
Vorusk appeared, dragging his Stone Breaker hammer.
Odin's arrival had been permitted by Bul-Kathos, and Bul-Kathos had specifically asked Vorusk to come here. He sensed that Odin might know something important, especially concerning the Prime Evils.
"You must be the former Immortal King, Vorusk, whom the Ancient One mentioned. Thank you for taking care of my son during this time."
Odin bowed to Vorusk, no different from an ordinary father meeting his child's teacher.
"What information does the Barbarian need?"
"Information that might attract the Prime Evils. Even guesses will suffice," Vorusk said boisterously, shaking the Stone Breaker in his hand.
"Who is this?" Loki poked Thor in the ribs and whispered.
Although he often came to the Holy Mountain, he knew almost nothing about the Barbarian Ancestors here. Loki, whose eyes were only on his brother, cared little for outside matters.
"My mentor. He is so strong that the thought of resisting him doesn't even arise," Thor said, the corner of his mouth pulling back.
He really didn't want to answer that question. Having been disciplined by Vorusk regularly, he had developed an almost physiological fear of the powerful Barbarian.
"My daughter was taken from her prison by a Prime Evil. Based on what I know, Hela—my daughter—fits the Prime Evil's requirements perfectly. She is filled with rage, hatred, and other negative emotions. More importantly, she is full of resentment toward us."
Odin chose to answer Vorusk's question first. A man under the eaves has to bow his head. In front of a being far stronger than himself, maintaining a certain degree of obedience was the best choice. After all, he wasn't Loki, and Vorusk wasn't him. The Barbarian had little reason to tolerate offense.
"That's probably Mephisto. That guy slipped away from Bul-Kathos," Vorusk said, rubbing his chin. He rested the Stone Breaker on the ground with a heavy thud. "I thought you would tell me something more interesting."
"My brother Cul, the God of Fear. The previous King of Asgard."
Odin felt this was enough. He glanced cautiously at his two sons. He knew there was a Prime Evil whose source was Terror (Fear), so the word 'Fear' should be enough for the Barbarian to make a judgment. He didn't want his sons to know about this yet; Cul's divine power was, in some situations, even greater than his own.
"Where is this Cul you speak of sealed?"
Wham.
Vorusk slapped Thor, knocking him unconscious instantly, and casually knocked Loki out as well.
He wasn't completely devoid of empathy. Since Odin didn't want Thor to know, he might as well give Odin an environment where he could speak without worry.
"We lost surveillance of him long ago. Tyr has been searching for news of him, but has found nothing."
"That is regrettable intelligence. We will keep an eye out."
Vorusk's eyes held a hint of disdain. Respect was limited for those who couldn't even keep track of their own enemies.
"If it's Diablo, you'll find news of him even harder to come by."
"That is why I came personally. May I see Lord Bul-Kathos now?" Odin asked, gripping his spear tighter.
"As you wish. Walk down this path; Bul-Kathos is over there."
Vorusk waved his hand dismissively, then picked up the unconscious Thor and Loki and left. It was Thor's training time, and training was not to be delayed. Vorusk didn't have time to do Bul-Kathos's job. Although Bul-Kathos wasn't in the best state, he could handle trivial matters.
Odin walked toward the Elder Sanctum as directed.
Bul-Kathos was sitting there in a daze. His expression was somewhat comical, like a primary school student trying so hard to think that he looked distressed.
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