The scene inside the Golden Palace, compared to the carnage of the outer plaza, possessed an undercurrent of tension beneath its solemnity.
Scattered frost and scorch marks remained on the tall pillars, and exquisite murals had been cracked by the shockwaves of energy, yet the overall structure remained sturdy.
The air was filled with the faint, soothing, and healing Silver Moon magic released by Her Majesty the Queen Frigga, as well as the heart-palpitating, vast energy fluctuations coming from deeper within, resembling the breathing of a sleeping giant beast—that was the pressure emitted by the All-Father Odin in his slumber.
The core forces of Asgard—including several important generals, court mages, and lightly injured guards—rapidly assembled in the main hall of the Golden Palace.
Frigga briefly arranged for the treatment of the wounded, the repair of defenses, and the clearing of remaining enemy traces, her calm demeanor and clear instructions quickly bringing the chaotic situation under control.
However, the exhaustion and the gravity of having survived a disaster were hard to hide on everyone's faces.
Thor stood in the center of the main hall with mjolnir resting beside him, but his gaze frequently glanced toward the heavy metal door deep in the hall, which led to the place where Odin slept.
He was worried about his father's condition, and even more, there was an unquenchable fire of rage and suspicion in his heart—regarding Loki's betrayal and the mastermind behind all of this.
Supported by Minerva, Artoria sat on a stone chair covered with soft fur on the side of the main hall.
A court maid brought over a potion that emitted a gentle warmth and the fresh scent of herbs; she thanked her, took it, and sipped it in small mouthfuls.
The warm medicinal power flowed down her throat, slowly replenishing her consumed stamina and magic, and her spirits were lifted.
Minerva stood quietly by her side, her optical sensor calmly scanning the situation inside the main hall, focusing on guarding several entrances and exits and areas with abnormal energy fluctuations.
"Her Majesty the Queen," the captain of the court guards, that one-eyed old general, with his shoulder wound bandaged, stepped forward and reported in a deep voice, "The main force of the invading Frost Giants has retreated through an unknown teleportation method, and the scattered remaining enemies are being mopped up.
About thirty percent of the defensive facilities are damaged, and civilian casualties are being tallied... However, the Bifrost control room remains closed, and My Lord Heimdall is missing."
Frigga frowned slightly. The Bifrost was the key to Asgard's connection to the Nine Realms, and Heimdall was an even more crucial Guardian. Had Loki's betrayal already gone this deep?
Just then, a commotion came from the entrance of the main hall. Two Asgard guards walked in, escorting a Frost Giant who was bound by magic ropes and looked dejected.
This giant was not the largest, but the patterns on his bone armor indicated that his status was not low; he seemed to be one of Laufey's personal guards.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness!" the guard saluted, "While clearing the east tower, we found this injured giant officer attempting to hide. He claims to have important intelligence regarding... Your Highness Loki."
Thor turned his head sharply, a flash of lightning in his eyes: "Speak!"
The giant officer shrank back under the angry glares of the Asgardians, but a twisted light, mixed with fear and spite, flashed in his eyes as he hissed: "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!
It was Loki! It was your Asgard's second prince who took the initiative to approach My Lord Laufey! He provided the weak points of the Golden Palace's defenses and provided the news that Odin had fallen into a deep sleep and Thor had been exiled!
He promised that as long as we helped him ascend to the Asgard throne, he would return the Casket of Ancient Winters to Frost Giants Realm and cede three border star sectors!"
The main hall was in an uproar! Although they had guessed it long ago, hearing such a naked betrayal with their own ears still made all Asgardians feel angry and humiliated.
"He also said," the giant officer continued, his tone carrying a kind of vengeful pleasure, "that after My Lord Laufey helped him 'deal with' Thor and any possible opponents during the chaotic battle, he would 'turn the tables' at the appropriate time, appear as the savior of Asgard, personally... execute My Lord Laufey, push all the blame onto Frost Giants Realm, and consolidate his throne! Hahaha, your Asgardian prince is even more despicable than us Frost Giants!"
"Enough!" Thor roared, and a violent aura of thunder erupted uncontrollably, frightening the giant officer into immediate silence.
Thor's chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with the pain and rage of being betrayed by a loved one. He had previously held a glimmer of hope for Loki, wishing that he had only been deceived or used, but now...
"Loki...!" Thor squeezed the name through his teeth and turned to rush out of the main hall to drag out that brother hiding in the shadows.
"Thor, calm down." Frigga spoke up to stop him, her voice carrying the unique strength of a mother, "He painstakingly planned all of this, so he must have left a contingency plan. Searching blindly will only make you fall into his trap. The most urgent priority is to ensure your father's safety, and... the Bifrost."
As if to confirm her words, the heavy metal door deep in the main hall leading to the place where Odin slept suddenly made a slight "click," as if an internal lock had come loose.
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to it.
Immediately after, the door slowly opened inward, revealing a crack. There was no brilliant radiance, no hellish divine power, only a deep darkness that seemed capable of absorbing all light, and a clearer, breathing sound carrying the accumulation of time and endless majesty emanated from within.
Odin... is he waking up?
Thor and Frigga both wore expressions mixed with anticipation and worry.
If Odin were to wake up now, with his supreme divine power, he would naturally be able to easily quell all rebellions and find Loki. But Odin's slumber was to restore the divine power consumed by casting the "Eternal Spear" spell; forcibly interrupting it or waking him up prematurely could lead to unpredictable consequences.
Just as everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the All-Father to step out of his slumber—
An unexpected turn of events occurred in the place everyone least expected!
The magic ropes binding the Frost Giant officer who was being escorted in the center of the main hall and who seemed to have lost the ability to resist suddenly snapped inch by inch without warning!
It was not broken by force, but as if its internal structure had been "analyzed" and "disintegrated" in an instant by some more advanced magic!
At the same time, the giant officer's dejected expression suddenly became sharp and crazy, and under his deep blue skin, dark blue light flowed rapidly, his body expanding and deforming as if being inflated!
The rough bone armor faded away, replaced by luxurious dark green and gold fabric; his hunched figure straightened, and his hideous face rippled like water, eventually transforming into a pale, handsome face with an endless, mocking, and cold smile—Loki!
He had been disguised as a prisoner all along, lurking in the main hall, listening to everything!
"What a touching family drama and clumsy interrogation, isn't it?" Loki's voice returned to its characteristic slickness and elegance. He leisurely adjusted his non-existent lapels, his icy green eyes sweeping over the shocked and angry crowd, finally landing on Thor and Frigga, his mouth curling into a cruel arc, "Unfortunately, the ending of the script should be written by me."
"Loki! You traitor!" Thor's eyes were wide with rage, mjolnir erupted with blinding lightning, and he was about to pounce.
"Don't move, dear brother." Loki raised his right hand leisurely. In his hand, he held a short blade—it was not a common Asgardian weapon, but one crafted entirely from some pitch-black metal that seemed capable of absorbing light, with a curved blade that emitted an ominous chill that felt as if it could cut through souls.
"Or, you can try and see if your hammer is faster, or if my 'God-Slaying Dagger'... is closer to Father's heart?"
His gaze glanced pointedly toward the slumber door that had just opened a crack.
Thor and Frigga's bodies froze instantly. Only then did they see clearly that although Loki was standing in the center of the main hall, a wisp of his shadow extended eerily from his side like a living thing, silently connecting to the deep darkness inside the slumber door!
That was the ultimate application of Loki's illusion and Shadow magic; his physical body might be here, but a part of his power had already slithered like a viper into Odin's slumber chamber, pressing against the back of the defenseless All-Father!
"You... you dare!" Thor's voice trembled with extreme anger and fear.
"Whether I dare or not, you will soon find out." Loki's smile was cold, "Now, let us discuss terms. Hand over the Casket of Ancient Winters—I know it's in the vault, don't try to lie to me.
Then, publicly announce that because Thor Odinson recklessly started a war and colluded with the Frost Giants, he has been stripped of his right of succession and permanently exiled.
And that I, Loki Laufeyson, son of Odin and Frigga, heir to the bloodline of Laufey, shall be officially crowned King of Asgard. If you do this, I might consider... letting Father peacefully continue his long slumber. Otherwise..."
The pitch-black short blade in his hand pushed forward slightly. The shadow inside the slumber door also twisted along with it.
The entire main hall fell into dead silence. Everyone's heart was in their throat. Thor gripped his war hammer tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms, but he was afraid to act rashly for fear of harming the hostage. Frigga's face turned pale, and the Silver Moon magic condensed and dissipated in her hands, as she was clearly also thinking of countermeasures rapidly.
Artoria sat on the chair and silently put down the medicine bowl. She looked at the God of Mischief in the center of the main hall, who was holding his father and brother hostage with no scruples, and then looked at the door leading to where the All-Father slept, her thoughts racing. Loki's focus must be highly concentrated on his shadow clone threatening Odin, and as for his physical body...
She exchanged a look with Minerva. Minerva nodded almost imperceptibly, her optical sensor locking onto several possible energy nodes and movement trajectories of Loki's physical body.
However, before they could take any action, or before Thor could make a difficult choice, another discordant voice suddenly came from outside the main hall.
It was a series of heavy, hurried, and weak footsteps filled with shock and rage. A tall blue figure stumbled into the main hall—it was the King of Frost Giants Realm, Laufey!
Scorch marks from his collision with Thor still remained on his chest, and the cracks on his scepter were clearly visible. His aura was weak, and he was clearly seriously injured, but his eyes were burning with monstrous rage and a kind of madness from being completely fooled.
"Loki!!" Laufey's roar was like that of an injured ancient beast, "You treacherous little villain! The defense map you gave me was a trap! Where is the promised reinforcement?! Where is the promised cooperation from within?! My warriors are bleeding and sacrificing themselves in the plaza, while you are here playing your tricks!"
He had clearly forced his way through Asgard's not-yet-fully-restored defenses by some means, tracking Loki's aura, and had just happened to hear Loki's final remark about "pushing all the blame onto Frost Giants Realm," which completely ignited his rage.
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