This was Classic Loki, the true First Sorcerer of the Nine Realms.
His mastery of magic was unparalleled; he could teleport effortlessly and weave illusions so dense they were practically solid. His most staggering feat, however, was his ability to manifest a physical, breathing Asgard from sheer memory—a literal kingdom rising from the dust of the Void.
In his timeline, when Thanos attacked the Asgardian refugee ship, this Loki didn't try to use a dagger. Instead, he conjured a doppelgänger so perfect it fooled even the Mad Titan and the Infinity Stones. He faked his death and retreated to a remote planet, living in total seclusion until he grew old. But then, loneliness set in. He missed his brother and wanted to see him one last time. That tiny flicker of "re-entry" into the universe was enough for the Time Variance Authority to detect him and prune him.
Whether he truly died or faked it, the TVA didn't care. As long as a Loki followed the script of the Sacred Timeline—which dictated that he must die at Thanos's hand—he was a "good" Loki. Classic Loki had broken that script, so he was tossed into the "trash."
"Are you also a Loki?" Classic Loki asked, slowly pushing himself up and brushing the gray dust from his golden cape. He spoke with the weary casualness of someone who had seen it all. "Loki always survives, no matter the environment. It's just..."
He squinted at Samuel. "The variants are getting stranger. Now there's even an Asian Loki."
The fact that he said this meant he had already encountered other versions of himself. It seemed the Lokis had established a long-term presence in the Void. Samuel had scavenged this area several times without spotting one, proving just how elusive a God of Mischief could be.
"I am not a Loki," Samuel said, shaking his head.
Classic Loki didn't look convinced. If you aren't a Loki, why aren't you surprised to see me? he thought. How could you recognize me at a single glance? Only a Loki truly understands a Loki.
"It doesn't matter if you admit it or not," the old man said dismissively. "Do you know where we are? The Void. The terminus of time. Everything thrown here is eventually swallowed by that beast, Elios. Only we can survive here."
The Lokis in the Void were essentially split into two camps.
The first was the group Classic Loki belonged to: the "Misfits." It consisted of Classic Loki, the ruthless Kid Loki (who had actually managed to kill Thor in his timeline), the armored Boastful Loki (who claimed to have defeated Captain America and Iron Man to claim all six Infinity Stones), and the snapping Alligator Loki.
The second faction was a mob of miscellaneous variants ruled by President Loki, who shared the appearance of the Sacred Timeline's variant.
Though the "Misfits" were fewer in number, they were the true powerhouses. Kid Loki was the "King" of the bunker, having survived the Void for over a thousand years. Boastful Loki likely exaggerated his feats, but his biting companion, Alligator Loki, was dangerous enough to rip off a man's arm.
President Loki's faction, by contrast, was a den of vipers. Deception, intrigue, and betrayal were their only currencies. Every single one of them harbored the delusion of becoming King.
For Samuel to control the Void and its infinite resources, these two factions—and the storm beast Elios—were obstacles he would eventually have to clear.
Classic Loki gave a dismissive wave and began walking. After a few paces, he looked back to see Samuel standing perfectly still, unfazed by the surroundings.
And you still claim you aren't a Loki, the old man mused. The arrogance, the suspicion... you fit the mold perfectly.
Samuel realized that denying it was useless. Classic Loki was stubborn. In fact, being mistaken for a Loki might actually make it easier to deal with them for now. He followed the old sorcerer across the wasteland.
They traveled through valleys of scrap and over hills of rusted history for about half an hour. Eventually, they arrived at a landmark that would make any comic fan double-take: the wreckage of a yellow helicopter with the name Thanos printed on the tail.
The "Thanoscopter."
In the early comics, the Mad Titan had actually flown this ridiculous vehicle on Earth to attack Hellcat—who, ironically, was Jessica Jones's sister, Trish Walker. There was even a famous panel of Thanos being led away in handcuffs by ordinary police officers from that same incident. Some even whispered that Thanos's massive double-bladed sword, the Tyrant's Blade, was inspired by these very helicopter propellers.
Classic Loki led Samuel to a high slope nearby. He pulled back a rusted metal "manhole cover," revealing the entrance to their underground bunker, and gestured for Samuel to follow him down into the gloom.