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Chapter: Degenerate Tendencies

"Why not?" Thor asked rhetorically.

Odin was stunned.

Thor continued, "She was there for me when I was at my loneliest. We truly love each other, and I should give her happiness."

Odin fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Do you think you will bring her happiness? Fifty years from now, she will be old, while you won't have a single gray hair. Do you think she will be happy? She will only experience twice the pain of aging compared to ordinary people."

In truth, Odin's words were colored by his own experiences.

After all, Frigga was much younger than him. Now that he was half in the ground, she was still relatively bright and beautiful, causing him to feel a strange anxiety from time to time...

This was indeed a more realistic issue.

Thor couldn't help but lower his head, furrowing his brows in contemplation.

"Marriage is a major life event. As the prince of Asgard, wanting to marry a mortal is a jest!" Odin declared.

"But—" Thor tried to argue further.

Odin interrupted him sharply, "What about Sif?"

Thor was left speechless.

He had loved Sif until he became Donald Black. After Haldo's death, Sif's affections had shifted towards him, and many hoped that they would come together.

Although the two had never formalized their relationship, abandoning Sif like this made Thor feel a debt of guilt.

The thought of Sif's sadness and loss upon hearing this news left Thor with a heavy heart.

Yet, he no longer loved Sif.

Once you've seen the best, everything else pales in comparison.

Though Thor's time as Donald was brief, his connection with Jane Foster was deeper—a love born from loneliness.

In contrast, his love for Sif had been impulsive and fleeting, driven more by physical attraction.

Odin looked at him and finally said, "Forget her, understand? This is the best choice for both you and her."

Thor remained silent, bowing his head.

---

Loki sat on a stone seat, leaning on his halberd, appearing like a monarch summoning his advisors.

Since his resurrection, Loki had experienced some peculiar changes, such as his current posture.

Previously, he seldom sat in such a serious and solemn manner. More often than not, he reclined or crossed his legs, a mischievous smile gracing his lips as he toyed with a glass of wine.

But now, whenever he sat down, Loki couldn't help but adopt a formal posture, feeling uneasy otherwise.

Strangely, there was a faint voice in his mind, indistinct yet conveying intense emotions and desires: Fall.

Indeed, Loki sensed that it was a voice of decadence calling out to him, guiding him towards the abyss.

The voice grew louder, echoing in the depths of his soul, whispering to him.

Loki felt a twinge of anxiety.

Despite knowing he wasn't a good person, the allure of this voice's depravity crossed his personal boundaries.

He understood that succumbing to this voice would plunge him into utter darkness and evil, akin to the demons of hell.

However, amidst its temptation, the voice also promised something enticing: by fully embracing it, he would gain unrivaled power.

It was this seductive promise that caused Loki's resolve to waver.

Fall... power...

Loki shut his eyes, remaining motionless on the stone seat for a prolonged period, as if frozen in place.

He remained seated for a day and a night before abruptly opening his eyes, as if recalling something important.

"Today must be the day my father slumbers..." Loki muttered to himself.

Odin had always been a complex figure in his life.

Like most children, Loki loved his father deeply. Yet, he couldn't shake the resentment he felt towards Odin's neglect.

After all, while parents often claimed to love their children equally, the reality was never so egalitarian—one child was always favored, while another was overlooked.

Odin loved Thor the most; that was common knowledge.

And Loki felt he was the most neglected, at least from his own perspective.

He often pondered the reasons behind this neglect and eventually concluded that he wasn't Odin's biological child.

Driven by this suspicion, Loki once journeyed to Jotunheim to uncover his true lineage, though Thor's involvement ultimately thwarted his plans.

Since his resurrection, Loki's feelings towards Odin had become even more complicated, with the word "father" lingering in his heart.

At the thought of Odin, the voice of decadence within Loki's soul grew clearer.

Gradually, it became increasingly difficult for Loki to restrain his emotions. Finally, one lonely night, he rose from his seat and departed Asgard.

---

Jotunheim

Passing through the space channel, Loki once again set foot upon the icy realm of Jotunheim.

The sight of the snow and ice, gleaming white and frosty blue, filled him with a strange intoxication, as if a child returning to its mother's embrace.

From an early age, Loki had known he possessed a peculiar resistance to freezing temperatures, a trait that became more pronounced upon entering Jotunheim.

Whether it was an illusion or reality, Loki sensed that after his resurrection, his tolerance for frost had increased, or perhaps his fondness for cold had grown.

Kneeling down, Loki swept his hand across the snow-covered ground, revealing the smooth ice beneath. In that moment, a sense of familiarity washed over him...

"Who goes there?" A Frost Giant spotted him.

Loki remained composed, standing upright. "Take me to your king, Laufey."

"It's Loki!" The Frost Giant recognized him and whispered to his comrades.

"What should we do?"

"Our King ordered that if Loki ever returned to Jotunheim, he should be escorted directly to the Ice Palace," the Frost Giant declared to his peers.

Then, addressing Loki, he said, "Follow us. We will take you to see His Majesty, Laufey."

Led by the Frost Giants, Loki journeyed to the royal city of Jotunheim, to the Ice Palace, the abode of Laufey.

Raising his gaze, Loki beheld the grand structure.

Though the Ice Palace had weathered numerous damages and repairs, it still stood tall and majestic, a testament to Jotun craftsmanship, commanding respect across the cosmos.

Entering the fortress of ice, they traversed its corridors until finally reaching the throne room where Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, awaited.

"Your Majesty," the Frost Giants saluted.

Laufey fixed his gaze upon Loki, a smile curling upon his lips. "Ah, Loki, you have returned at last."

With those words, Laufey waved his hand, dismissing the frost giants and leaving only him and Loki in the hall.

"Did you anticipate this?" Loki inquired.

Laufey smiled knowingly. "Of course. Surely you understand why."

Loki remained silent.

Laufey descended from his throne, pacing as he continued, "Jotunheim should be comforting to you; the snow here is intoxicating, isn't it?"

Loki asked, "In that battle... Did Odin truly take your child here?"

"Yes," Laufey replied, anger creeping into his voice. "Odin preached peace and posed as a benevolent king, yet he took both the Casket of Winters and my only child."

"Odin promised to be kind to my offspring, yet I've been forbidden from seeing them. I don't even know their current name, appearance, or if they still live."

After a pause, Laufey took a deep breath and uttered bitterly, "Odin is a complete thief, fraud, and hypocrite!"

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

Loki broke the silence, saying, "I seek the truth... Who am I?"

"I, too, wish to know," Laufey replied, approaching Loki. "I have waited a thousand and forty-eight years."

As he spoke, he extended his right hand, from which a cloud of ice-blue light brewed, emitting potent icy energy.

"Let us discover the truth," Laufey declared.

Loki nodded, allowing Laufey to infuse him with the icy blue light.

As the energy entered him, Loki's body rapidly transformed: his skin turned icy blue, his eyes crimson, and he radiated an icy aura. He now resembled Laufey standing before him.

Witnessing his own transformation, Loki trembled involuntarily.

Though he had anticipated this moment, seeing it with his own eyes deeply affected him.

Laufey, visibly unsettled, exhaled with fluctuating voice, "Your true father is not Odin, but me, dear child."

Withdrawing his hand, Loki reverted to his original appearance.

"My power cannot permanently dispel Odin's enchantment upon you without the Casket of Winters," Laufey explained.

Loki remained silent, still processing everything.

The corrupt call from deep within his soul grew stronger, repeating, inducing, compelling him.

Simultaneously, the power from his foreshadowed descent became clearer.

Loki knew that obeying the abyssal call would grant him tenfold power, making him master of ice and death!

"Father..." he finally spoke, gazing at Laufey—the father connected by blood, yet a stranger.

Laufey smiled warmly. "My dear boy."

---

In New York City, within S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

Inside the laboratory, S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists gathered, endlessly discussing a uniquely shaped long-handled blade.

This blade was the Peerless Blade of the Deathblade General, left behind when Korg escaped, naturally acquired by S.H.I.E.L.D.

"It's unbelievable; I can't determine the material composition of this knife at all," remarked a young African-American scientist. "Its material isn't listed in the periodic table."

"You're still inexperienced," responded a bald middle-aged man, adjusting his black-rimmed glasses. "Since joining S.H.I.E.L.D., I've encountered many substances not found on the periodic table."

"Based on the recent experimental data, I suspect this knife can sever atoms."

"It's plausible; it's the sharpest weapon I've ever encountered. However, further experiments are necessary. Confirming its capability to sever atoms would be a significant breakthrough."

"If only we could replicate it..."

Amid their discussions, the scientists suddenly shifted topics.

"Are you familiar with the Sentinel Project?" inquired a young, beautiful brunette.

"I've heard of it... Wasn't it a mutant weapons program banned long ago? Why bring it up, Simmons?"

"Recently, there's been speculation that the federal government intends to revive this program," Simmons explained.

"Why now?"

"Likely due to Magneto—he's caused more havoc in New York than the aliens! There are videos circulating online of him advocating humanity's destruction."

"Even discounting mind control..."

"Regardless, Magneto is undeniably dangerous. I fully support restarting the Sentinel Project; it serves as a necessary deterrent. Deterrence is crucial for maintaining peace."

As evening fell, most began wrapping up their work.

"Simmons, any plans after work?"

"Watching a movie."

"Take Fizz along, haha..."

The scientists departed, leaving the young African-American scientist alone.

Glancing around cautiously, he took a deep breath and reached for the Peerless Blade.

He meant no harm; he simply admired its allure and decided to keep it.

Finally, time for a bit of fun.

The scientist produced a metal object, slicing it with the blade, effortlessly cutting it into two perfectly smooth sections.

Grinning, he prepared to slice something else.

Yet, in that instant, his movement froze abruptly, as if petrified. Simultaneously, a black energy emanated from the Peerless Blade, engulfing him.

In a flash, he was consumed by the black energy, which surged and coalesced into a gaunt, pale figure.

The Deathblade General!

Leaning on the Peerless Blade, he knelt weakly on the ground, gasping.

In New Mexico, Thor had indeed slain the Corvus Galive, but unbeknownst to Thor, the Peerless Blade harbored the true essence and soul of the Deathblade General.

As long as the Peerless Blade endured, the Deathblade General had a means of resurrection. Yet, this came at a cost.

Revived by the Peerless Blade, he was now weakened, and S.H.I.E.L.D. posed a clear danger.

Thus, he had to tread cautiously to evade S.H.I.E.L.D. safely. His escape from S.H.I.E.L.D. would pose another challenge: how to depart Earth and return to the dark quadrant.

After a brief recovery, the Deathblade General rose once more, clutching the Peerless Blade tightly, and cautiously departed the laboratory...

...

Rainbow Bridge Teleport Hall.

"Heimdall, any news on the Mind Scepter?" Forseti asked.

"Not yet." Heimdall shook his head and sighed, "If only I had paid more attention back then. Unfortunately, both Thor and I were focused on Loki and completely forgot about the Mind Scepter. I don't know who took it."

Forseti frowned.

After the timeline change, the Infinity Stones seem to be hidden well, and now both the Space Stone and Mind Stone are gone.

What will become of the six Infinity Stones in the end?

"Forseti, you mentioned before that resurrection could lead Loki down a dark path. What is it exactly? Can you tell me more?" Heimdall inquired.

Forseti was silent for a moment. "I can't say for certain... but I'll keep an eye on him. If he does go down that path, it's not impossible for him to return."

He considered asking Heimdall to keep watch over Loki, but then decided it wouldn't be effective.

Heimdall's perception spans infinite distances, but its intensity is not high, making it easy to evade. In the original story, Loki could easily evade Heimdall's sight.

Perhaps relying on his own methods would be more reliable.

"Let's hope..." Heimdall sighed.

After leaving the Rainbow Bridge, Forseti headed to the hidden island in the Sea of Marmora where the spatial portal was located.

He hadn't used this portal in a long time, only recently recalling its existence.

In the original story, Loki used it to guide the Frost Giants.

Now that Loki had acquired Arthas's soul imprint, the likelihood of him descending into darkness had greatly increased. Forseti had to remain vigilant, frequently checking on this spatial portal.

Arriving near the portal, Forseti retrieved a bottle of clear, water-like potion from his storage space and poured it onto the ground.

This potion, a relatively obscure creation of the Holy Tome, would change color upon contact with specific substances, confirming if anyone had passed through.

This monitoring method was extremely covert, undetectable by most magical or technological means.

Soon, the potion changed color, indicating that someone had indeed passed through.

Upon learning this, Forseti's expression grew more serious.

Was Loki truly on a downward spiral?

With Odin in his deep sleep, Loki's frequent comings and goings from Asgard at this time made Forseti understandably cautious.

A complete descent into darkness for Loki would inevitably involve patricide.

After some thought, he felt the need to exercise caution, especially while Odin slept; he had to monitor Loki's movements closely.

....

In the depths of the Golden Palace, Odin lay asleep on his bed, covered in a golden light like a quilt.

Frigga sat nearby, her face showing signs of weariness. Whenever Odin slept, she bore the greatest burden.

The magic maintaining Odin's slumber required her constant vigilance, and as the days passed, Frigga's fatigue grew.

"Loki," came a voice from the doorway.

"Loki."

Loki entered with a smile on his face, his usual expression unchanged. Sitting down, he casually asked, "Will my sister and Forseti have their wedding once Father wakes?"

"Yes," Frigga nodded. "Every parent dreams of seeing their children marry and start families. Your father has waited long for this moment."

Loki's smile widened.

Frigga's tone softened. "Loki, perhaps it's time for you to consider marriage too... It seems you've never spoken of a woman you fancy."

"I'm the youngest; it's Thor who should be more concerned," Loki replied.

"Thor has his affections," Frigga said. "He loves Sif and has met another in Midgard."

Mother and son conversed awhile longer until Loki said, "Mother, rest. I'll stay with Father."

Seeing her fatigue, Frigga nodded, exchanged a few parting words, and departed.

Left alone were Odin and Loki. Odin slept soundly, unaware as Loki silently observed him.

"Father..." Loki murmured, his gaze distant.

A sinister voice echoed in Loki's mind, urging him towards the abyss.

Kill your father!

By slaying Odin, Loki could seize unrivaled power, becoming the ruler of ice and death—the Lich King!

This tempting notion clouded Loki's thoughts, his eyes reflecting turmoil.

"You're still undecided, my child," a chilling voice interrupted.

Laufey approached Loki, bearing the Casket of Ancient Winters.

Loki met Laufey's gaze.

Laufey handed him the Casket, its touch transforming Loki. His skin turned icy blue as Jotunheim's heir, infused with new power.

"You are Frost's son, destined to rule Jotunheim," Laufey intoned, merging his power with the Casket's, breaking Odin's spell and restoring Loki as a Frost Giant.

Now empowered, Loki grasped the Casket, its frigid energy pulling him deeper into darkness.

To kill Odin...

He rose, the Casket aimed at Odin. Power surged.

"I once loved and respected you unconditionally," Loki's voice grew cold and detached. "But to you, I'm no son—just a tool to govern the Nine Realms."

"No more. I'll be my own master!" Loki's voice rang out fiercely.

"Loki!" A voice thundered from outside.

Forseti stood in the doorway, his Eye of Reckoning trained on the room.

He had monitored the Golden Palace closely, arriving just in time—Loki hadn't yet struck Odin down.

"Damn you!" Loki snarled, the Casket emitting an ice-blue beam aimed at Forseti.

Laufey moved almost simultaneously, clearly intending to join forces with Forseti to eliminate Forseti as swiftly as possible.

Forseti's expression remained stoic as he activated the Holy Shield technique, a barrier of absolute defense that rendered him impervious to all attacks. He swiftly closed the distance to Loki, placing a hand firmly on his forehead.

"Loki, I hope you regain control, or I'll have no choice but to stop you," he stated.

The success of this intervention varied among individuals; once used on a person, its effectiveness on them dwindled significantly.

Yet if Loki failed to heed this warning, Forseti would have to end his life, asking forgiveness from all Asgardians.

"Repent!" Holy radiance surged from Forseti's palm, illuminating their surroundings as brightly as a midday sun.

Loki's stern demeanor faltered, confusion washing over him, leaving him momentarily paralyzed.

Unable to breach Forseti's Holy Shield protecting Forseti, Laufey turned to Loki, shouting urgently, "Loki, what's wrong with you? What's causing this hesitation? I am your father!"

Loki's gaze was clouded, unresponsive.

Seconds passed, and Forseti's heart sank.

Why was there no change? Was this an extended process, or an omen of repentance's failure?

Louder, he proclaimed, "Laufey may be your biological father, but Odin raised you, and he is your true father. He has been by your side for a millennium. Though you may not deem him worthy, would you slay him for a stranger?"

This plea seemed to stir Loki, his eyes gradually regaining focus.

"Repent, Loki!"

A final vestige of confusion lingered in Loki's eyes, then suddenly dissipated, his breath quickening as if awakening from a profound dream. The voice of corruption in his mind fell silent at last.

Momentarily stunned, Loki swiftly turned the Frozen Winter Coffin without hesitation, releasing an ice-blue beam that struck Laufey.

"Boom!"

While Frost Giants boasted high ice tolerance, the power of the Frozen Winter Coffin still incapacitated him.

"You..." Laufey stared at Loki with a mix of shock and fury. "You would strike down your own father!"

"If he truly is my father, then yes!" Loki retorted resolutely, drawing Proxima Midnight's halberd.

"Boom!"

A beam of light, emitted from the halberd, inflicting a grievous wound upon Laufey.

With Laufey now disarmed and weakened, Loki and Forseti moved in tandem, swiftly overwhelming him until he was powerless to resist.

"Hammer of Justice!"

"Boom!"

The Saffron warhammer crashed against the ice shield Laufey summoned, shattering it into a shower of icy shards before driving into his chest with unrelenting force.

Laufey screamed, blood spilling as he collapsed.

Loki hurled the halberd, its gleaming blade piercing his heart, crimson staining the ground.

"I... I am your father..." Laufey's protest faded, his icy form losing vitality until life departed.

In that moment, an inexplicable force surged forth from Loki, swiftly chilling the air as if a frosty coffin in midwinter, snow-white frost spreading through the room.

"This is..." Forseti observed Loki, disbelief etched across his features.

Through the Eye of Reckoning, Loki's energy level surged threefold upon Laufey's demise, escalating from level five to level eight.

The power of the Lich King?

It was the sole plausible explanation, as Loki's sudden empowerment defied conventional understanding. Yet, with repentance successful, why did Loki ascend to the Lich King? Did it require no descent into darkness, merely patricide?

Was this... a glitch?

Having assumed the mantle of the Lich King, Loki's visage transformed—skin turned from Frost Giant's blue to a pallid gray-white, eyes no longer crimson but emitting a subtle, chilling glow.

His hair too had faded to gray.

Once armored and wielding Frostmourne, he would embody the archetypal Lich King.

Though unconventional, to Rowe's eyes, this form eclipsed the blue-skinned, red-eyed visage of the Frost Giant.

Loki too was stunned by his metamorphosis.

Believing patricide of Odin requisite, he'd imagined only slaying Odin would invoke the Lich King's power. After all, Odin was his true father, despite grievances.

Little did he expect Laufey's demise to suffice, granting him the Lich King's formidable powers.

Had he known sooner... regrets gnawed at Loki. Though Forseti's timely correction prevented harm to Odin, how might he face his parents and Thor henceforth?

Yet solace emerged—he'd securely inherited the Lich King's might, multiplying his strength tenfold over, far surpassing Thor.

Even across the Nine Realms, few exceeded him in power.

While their battle proved brief, it'd seized Frigga's attention. Hurrying over, she beheld the scene, disbelief marking her gaze.

"Loki..." Her voice quavered, scarcely recognizing the pallid figure before her as her son.

"I'm sorry, Mother," Loki murmured, at a loss for words.

Loki reassured, "Do not fault yourself, Loki. This is the toll of resurrection."

"Fortunately, you've overcome it. Not only untainted, but ascended. Henceforth, feel free to tease Thor with impunity."

The news of Loki's newfound might, surpassing Thor for the first time, uplifted spirits. Yet confronting reality remained a challenge.

"I wish to be alone at Crystal Crown Pond," he stated, retreating silently toward Asgard's rear, the crystalline waters a tranquil sanctuary.

Frigga, still uncertain, gazed at Laufey's fallen form. "What happened, Forseti? Why did Laufey perish here?"

Forseti hesitated briefly. "Consider it Laufey's incursion into Asgard."