You are our last hope

"Don't look at me like that, I'm under a lot of pressure." When Ah Zu saw everyone looking at him, he shrugged, but then straightened up and his expression became slightly serious.

"I think Thor's plan is feasible."

"Don't forget, Odin. The Aether isn't just one piece... there's half on Earth, in Midgard."

These words were like a reassurance, making Saul's eyes light up.

"That means even if I fail, Malekith will only gain half the power," Thor added urgently. "He's still not invincible!"

"And I," Azu looked at Odin with sharp eyes, "will protect my other half."

"This is called sharing the risk, Your Majesty."

"If Thor messes up..." Azu flashed an extremely confident smile, "...Malekis will have to come looking for me."

"When the time comes, I, the 'God of the Mortal World,' will show him what...hell on earth is like."

Odin remained silent.

He looked at Thor, then at Frigga, and finally at the arrogant yet powerful "god among men".

indeed.

Previously, the ether particles were a unified whole; once they were lost, the entire system would be lost.

But now, due to the unexpected intervention of this Midgardian, the situation has become delicate.

"...How do you plan to get there?" Odin's voice finally softened as he asked Thor, "Heimdall can't see the Dark World, and he can't cross the Rainbow Bridge."

"I know a way... but I need someone to help me," Thor said, looking at Odin.

"..." Odin nodded slightly. "You can take him away, but you must be responsible for the consequences."

……

Asgard dungeons.

Unlike the other prisoners' meager conditions, Loki's cell had books, tables and chairs, and was even kept clean by illusion magic.

Loki was sitting at the table, elegantly flipping through a book.

"Looks like my Thor brother has finally remembered his poor little brother."

Loki didn't look up, but he had already sensed who was coming.

Outside the energy barrier stood Thor, Jane, and the gods of the mortal realm.

"Stop pretending, Loki."

Thor stood outside the light curtain, his voice hoarse.

"I know what you saw."

Loki paused for a moment.

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Thor." Loki turned around, his face still bearing that mocking smile. "Are you here to laugh at me? Or to show off your mortal girlfriend?"

"Frigga doesn't blame you."

Thor ignored his taunts and directly uttered those words.

Loki's smile froze on his face.

"...What did you say?"

"The cursed warrior." Thor stared intently at Loki. "That 'kind' monster who gave us directions. He almost plunged a blade into my mother's heart."

"If it weren't for Homelander..."

Om-!

Loki's magical disguise collapsed instantly.

The clean and tidy prison cells have disappeared.

Instead, there was a scene of utter devastation.

The tables and chairs were smashed to pieces, the books were torn to shreds, and the walls were covered with signs of vandalism.

Loki himself was no longer the elegant prince.

He was disheveled, his hair was messy, and he stood barefoot amidst the shards of debris, his eyes red-rimmed and his face bearing a deep sense of self-loathing.

he knows.

He heard the alarm and the rumors in the dungeon.

He was the one who showed the cursed warrior the way. He was the one who almost killed the person who loved him most in his life.

"How...how is she?" Loki's voice trembled, with a hint of pleading.

"She's alive," Thor said. "But Malekith will come back, and we're going to kill him."

"I need you, Loki."

Thor looked at his younger brother, whom he both loved and hated.

"I know a secret passage leading to the dark world, and only you know how to get there."

"Help me, and I can give you a chance for revenge."

Loki raised his head, his cynical mask returning to his face, but the burning flames of vengeance in his eyes could not be concealed.

"When are we leaving?"

……

Meeting point: a side hall of the Celestial Palace.

Thor removed Loki's shackles and warned him not to try anything funny.

"So, this is your plan?"

Wu Yanzu leaned against a pillar, watching the group of people who were fully prepared to go.

"You steal a crashed Dark Elf ship, go through a secret passage to Watt Alheim, and then Thor pretends to be betrayed by Loki, hoping that Malekith, the villain who looks like a Teletubbies character, will obediently extract the Aether particles so you can smash them?"

"This is the only way," Saul said as he draped the cloak over Jane. "Anthony, are you really not coming with us? More strength means a better chance of winning."

"No," Azu shook her head. "I'm not going."

Loki scoffed from the side, "See? I told you mortals can't be trusted. So what if they have divine power? They're still cowards at heart."

"Watch your words, reindeer monster." Azu gave Loki a cold glance. "Want to try my special skill?"

The red light that flashed in his eyes made Loki instinctively shut his mouth, trembling with fear.

"I'm not going because I have more important tasks."

Ah Zu straightened up, his expression turned serious, and he began to show his broad perspective.

"Thor, your plan has a fatal flaw."

"What if... I mean, what if you fail?"

"What if Malekith takes the Aether from Jane's body, or what if you fail to destroy it at all... where will he go next?"

Thor frowned: "He will..."

"He will come to Earth." Azu pointed to the ground. "Because the other half of the ether particle is in Jessica."

"If I went to the Dark World with you and we got trapped there, Malekith could just bypass us and attack Earth..."

"Then who will protect Jessica? Who will protect the other half of the Aether? Who will protect... Midgard?"

Thor was stunned.

He hadn't considered this aspect. His mind was filled with revenge and Jane, ignoring the crisis on Earth.

"You mean...?"

"I want to go back to Earth."

Azu walked up to Thor and patted him heavily on the shoulder.

"Let's split up, brothers."

"Go to the dark world, lure those bastards out, and destroy them as much as you can."

"And I, I'll go back to Earth to protect our home."

"If you succeed, that would be great. If you fail..."

A hint of murderous intent flashed in Azu's eyes.

"...Then I'll stay on Earth and wait for Malekith to walk right into my trap."

"I will prepare a... grand funeral for them."

"You're right, Anthony." Thor gripped Azu's hand tightly. "You've thought things through better than I have. Protecting Midgard... that's a more important responsibility."

"You are our last hope!"

"Don't say that," Azu said with a "sincere" look. "I believe you will succeed and come back alive, Saul. I haven't taught you Tai Chi yet."

Loki rolled his eyes, clearly disgusted by the sentimental act, but he had to admit that the mortal's logic was impeccable.

"Now that we've made up our minds, let's get started." Azu glanced out the window, "Before Odin changes his mind."

……