Chapter 39: The Forgotten Secrets of Asgard
The air in the desert was still as the sun slowly descended, casting long shadows over the remnants of the battle. Thor stood, newly awakened to his divine power, the glow of his realization still shining in his eyes. His once heavy heart felt lighter. He looked over at Ritsuka, who watched him with a calm, encouraging gaze.
Thor approached Ritsuka with a grateful smile. "I never thought I'd say this, but... thank you, Ritsuka."
Ritsuka blinked, a little taken aback. "For what?"
"For showing me that I am more than just Thor, the god of thunder. You helped guide me to find myself again." Thor's tone was sincere, the weight of his past mistakes clear in his voice.
Ritsuka's smile grew softer as he waved it off, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm just doing what a good Senpai should do for his Kouhai. Besides, you're the one who put in the work."
Thor chuckled, clearly happy to accept the dynamic. "Well, then, I'm happy to call you my senior. I've seen what you've gone through, and I trust you, Ritsuka. You have my respect and my gratitude."
Ritsuka felt a warmth in his chest at Thor's words, but before he could respond, they heard footsteps approaching.
The door to the destroyed room creaked open, and Coulson entered, followed by Erik Selvig, Jane Foster, Daisy, and a group of familiar faces—Artoria, Sigurd, and Brynhildr. They paused for a moment, taking in the chaotic scene of shattered walls and dust, then their eyes fell on Thor.
Sigurd was the first to speak, a smile crossing his face. "Thor! You look… different."
Thor chuckled softly, bowing his head in acknowledgment. "It's been quite the journey, Sigurd."
Artoria, standing tall beside him, placed a hand on Thor's shoulder, her presence regal as always. "Congratulations, Thor. You've awakened your true self."
Thor smiled back at her. "Thank you."
Jane and Erik exchanged glances before stepping forward, Erik shaking his head in amazement. "Thor, you're... completely different. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're actually... humble now?"
Jane nodded, a teasing smile on her face. "Yeah, definitely not as arrogant as before."
Thor's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he managed a laugh. "I was a fool before. For that, I apologize, for my past arrogance, my recklessness... for all of it."
Jane and Erik both smiled, the air between them lightening.
Daisy spoke up next, curiosity in her voice. "So, this is the new and improved Thor, huh? Gotta say, I like it."
Thor gave her a playful smirk. "I think you'll find I'm much more tolerable now."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the desert landscape, Brynhildr stood next to Loki. His newly awakened powers swirled around him like a dark cloak, but the tension in his posture had eased. He turned to Brynhildr, his expression soft. "I have you to thank, sister."
Brynhildr shook her head, smiling warmly. "There are no thanks between family, Loki."
Loki smiled, genuinely touched by her words. It had been a long time since anyone had treated him like family without expectation or judgment. They began walking toward the SHIELD base, their steps light.
After a moment of silence, Loki glanced at her. "Tell me, how many siblings do you have in that other world?"
Brynhildr laughed softly. "Oh, many. My Valkyrie sisters and several step-sisters. We are all daughters of Odin."
Loki's face darkened with a flash of anger. "Odin… from your world, with so many children, yet still failing as a parent? That is typical."
She chuckled, a soft, melodic sound. "He had his flaws, but perhaps you'll meet them one day. If the worlds align, that is."
Loki's brow furrowed, confused but intrigued. "Meet them? You speak as if such a thing is possible."
Brynhildr's smile grew wider. "In this vast multiverse, anything is possible, dear brother."
As they approached the gathering where Thor, Ritsuka, and the others stood, Thor turned his head, sensing the powerful presence approaching. His eyes widened slightly as he recognized the figure.
"Loki..." Thor muttered, but there was something different. He could feel the newfound strength within his brother, a strength that matched his own.
Thor stepped forward, his voice booming across the field. "Loki!"
Loki smiled, his demeanor regal and controlled. Without hesitation, Thor strode forward and embraced his brother, surprising everyone around them. Loki, though initially stiff, returned the embrace, his smile genuine.
"Congratulations, brother," Thor said, pulling back to look at him. "You've changed."
"And so have you," Loki replied with a soft chuckle. "It seems we've both had quite the journey."
Loki turned to face the group, offering a charming smile. "I suppose introductions are in order. I am Loki, son of Odin, god of mischief, and..." his eyes flicked to Sigurd, "...your brother-in-law, I assume?"
Sigurd smirked at the title and gave a respectful nod. "I suppose that makes us family."
Loki inclined his head, his usual mischief dimmed in favor of sincerity. "Indeed. It's a pleasure."
Ritsuka saw his plan worked out and changed Loki as he thought.
(Hehehe All according to plan.)
Unlike the lies he spun in the original timeline, this time Loki's expression remained steady as he turned back to Thor. "Thor, it's time for you to return to Asgard. Father is in Odin sleep, but now that you've proven yourself worthy, the time has come."
Thor's face grew serious at the mention of Odin. "Is he… well?"
"He is resting, regaining his strength. You have my word that he will recover." Loki's gaze softened. "And now that you are worthy, I believe you must take your rightful place."
Thor nodded, his resolve strengthening. "And you, Loki? What will you do?"
A small, almost wistful smile crossed Loki's face. "I will accompany you. There is much to do in Asgard, but first... I would like to introduce our sister and brother-in-law from another world."
Thor blinked in surprise. "You... want to bring them to Asgard? Yes it was Good idea."
Loki nodded. "Yes, They are family, after all. If they are willing, I'd like them to meet our father."
Thor looked at Brynhildr and Sigurd, then at Ritsuka. "Family from another world is still family to us isn't it? If they are willing, then I'll welcome them as well." Thor said as he doesn't want to force them.
Brynhildr and Sigurd exchanged glances, their eyes then turning to Ritsuka. Brynhildr spoke first. "Master, what do you think? Should we go to Asgard?"
Sigurd added, his tone more thoughtful. "It's an opportunity to see a place tied to our homeland. What do you say, Master?"
Ritsuka smiled, nodding. "You should go. After all, it's like going home in a way to you guys, right?"
Brynhildr's eyes softened with emotion at the word "home," and Sigurd placed a gentle hand on her back. "Then, we'll go."
Thor beamed. "Then it's settled. We'll return to Asgard together."
Loki on other side was shocked to hear his sister and brother in law calling this mortal as master. Then he started to misunderstand that Ritsuka is a powerful master from another world and trained his sister and brother in law.
Ritsuka watched as they all stood united, a sense of peace finally falling over the group. Despite all the battles they had faced, the bonds between them were now stronger than ever.
As the conversation among Thor, Loki, Ritsuka, and the others continued, a sudden flash of bright light filled the sky. The unmistakable sound of the Bifrost thundered through the air, and within moments, the familiar figures of Lady Sif and the Warriors Three—Hogun the Grim, Fandral the Dashing, and Volstagg the Svelte—appeared. Alongside them was Enchantress, her ethereal beauty contrasting sharply with her usual scheming nature.
Thor's face lit up with joy at the sight of his old friends. "Sif! Enchantress! Volstagg, Hogun, Fandral! It's good to see you all again!"
Sif nodded, her eyes scanning Thor and Loki before narrowing at the unexpected presence of so many new faces, including Ritsuka and his Servants. "Thor, it seems you've had quite the journey since last we saw each other."
Volstagg approached, his hearty laugh echoing in the air. "Thor, my friend, you're looking stronger than ever! What's this? you are using your hammer again, so you finally becoming worthy?"
Fandral added with a roguish grin, "Perhaps we should've thrown you off a cliff ages ago. It seems to have done wonders!"
Enchantress said with yandare smile to Thor. "Hehehe, i know thor is worthy. He won't leave me alone in that place"
Thor laughed along with them but turned serious when he noticed the contemplative expression on Sif's face. "What troubles you, Lady Sif?"
Sif crossed her arms, her gaze flickering toward Loki. "There is something we've discovered in Odin Collection room, Thor, something about your brother."
Loki raised an eyebrow, intrigued but guarded. "What is it now? More rumors to sully my name?"
Hogun spoke next, his voice low and serious. "No, Loki. It's the truth about your mother."
The air grew thick with tension as the Warriors Three and Sif explained the secret Odin had kept hidden for so long.
"Many years ago," Sif began, her voice heavy with the weight of the revelation, "Odin married a giant princess to bring peace between gaints and Asgard— it is your mother who wanted peace, Loki. She was weak, not like the giants of Jotunheim, but she bore you, her only child. However, she died giving birth to you, and Odin... Odin erased all traces of her existence."
Loki's face darkened, his expression unreadable as Sif continued.
"Odin did this to ensure you would be treated as an equal in Asgard, alongside Thor. He wanted to protect you from the hatred that would come from being known as the son of an enemy. He wished for you and Thor to be brothers, truly and without doubt, and that's why he removed any evidence of your lineage."
Thor was silent, absorbing the news, but his gaze softened as he looked at Loki.
Enchantress's voice softened as well. "The throne still belongs to Thor as the elder son, but you, Loki, are just as much Odin's child."
Loki stood frozen in place, the weight of this truth sinking in. For so long, he had believed himself to be nothing more than a foundling, an adopted child destined to live in the shadow of his brother. But now… he was truly Odin's son.
Tears welled in Loki's eyes, and to everyone's surprise, they began to fall. "All this time... I was so angry at Odin, at Frigga, thinking I was lesser, that I didn't belong. But she... she always treated me as her own, didn't she?" His voice cracked with emotion. "She loved me as if I were her true son, and I... I was too blind to see it."
Thor stepped forward, placing a hand on Loki's shoulder. "She loved you, Loki. You were never any less to her than I was."
Loki wiped his eyes, a rare moment of vulnerability showing through his usual facade. "I wish I could apologize to her for all the anger I held. But... I'm happy to know that I truly am Odin's son. As for the throne... I have no desire for it. I've found my own path, and I intend to find my purpose in my path."
This revelation stunned Sif and the Warriors Three. Fandral blinked in disbelief. "Loki… not interested in the throne? I must be dreaming."
Hogun added, his tone suspicious. "Is this truly Loki? Or one of his illusions?"
Loki's brow furrowed in annoyance. "Do you really think I would waste time creating an illusion just to mock you all? This is real me , you dumb fools."
The others exchanged glances, still in disbelief at the change in Loki's demeanor.
Before the conversation could continue, a sudden, overpowering surge of malevolent energy filled the air. It was as if the very fabric of reality trembled in response. Everyone turned, feeling a cold, murderous intent wash over them.
Suddenly, a figure landed in front of them, descending from the Bifrost in a torrent of dark energy. The newcomer wore the dreaded Destroyer armor, but it was twisted—corrupted. His entire body was covered in writhing black curses, pulsating like a living nightmare. His face was obscured, and the aura of death surrounding him was suffocating.
The cursed figure let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating across the battlefield. The intensity of his presence caused the ground to shake, and the sheer malice in the air was enough to make even the strongest warriors uneasy.
Everyone immediately felt the immense power radiating from this monster. Ritsuka, Artoria Lancer, Rama, Sita, Sigurd, Brynhildr, Thor, and Loki all tensed, recognizing the threat before them. The air grew thick with tension as the cursed creature's roar echoed through the area, causing the very ground to tremble beneath their feet.
Workers in the area, including Coulson, were knocked unconscious by the overwhelming presence. Even seasoned warriors like Sif and the Warriors Three felt their knees weaken, the killing intent pressing down on them like a physical force.
Thor's grip on Mjolnir tightened, his face grim. "This... this is no ordinary foe."
Ritsuka's gaze narrowed, his hand instinctively reaching for his command spells. "Whatever it is, it's powerful and it have curses with it just like him." He remembered a curse god in past.
Artoria Lancer stepped forward, her lance glowing with power. "This creature reeks of corruption. We cannot allow it to roam free."
Rama and Sita joined her, both of their weapons drawn, their eyes locked on the cursed figure. "This thing is a monster," Rama muttered, his tone serious. "But we've faced worse before and we can stop it."
Sigurd's sword, Gram, gleamed in his hands, the warrior ready for battle. "Be on your guard. There's something... unnatural about its power."
Brynhildr, standing beside him, nodded. "It carries the stench of death and curses. We must strike quickly."
The cursed creature took a step forward, its armor clanking menacingly. Another roar erupted from its mouth, louder than before, sending shockwaves through the air. Everyone braced themselves for the battle that was about to unfold. This time Thor childhood friends fainted.
To be continued..
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Note; like i said story will be changing and everyone should expect sad story next.