Chapter 174: Thor 2: The Dark World

[You have successfully entered the Marvel Universe with the help of the 'Traveler's Ring'.]

[Now starting the timer and charging. Staying in this universe consumes 1 'Dim Proficiency Essence' per day.]

[When the essence is insufficient, higher-level essences will be automatically deducted until you leave this universe.]

[Note: When all essences are exhausted, you will be forcibly returned to the main universe, regardless of your will.]

[You have actively initiated a multiverse event.]

[Event Name: Thor 2: The Dark World.]

[Description: It has been a year since the 'Avengers' event. Thor has brought his brother Loki back to Asgard. To atone for Loki's sins, Thor has spent the past year traveling to other worlds, quelling uprisings. Today, the Aether awakens, rousing the Dark Elves. Your arrival at this moment adds new variables to Asgard, which is about to face a storm.]

[Event Requirements: None.]

[Note: You may act freely. When you leave this universe, the event will end, and rewards will be distributed based on your actions during the event.]

[Event Start!]

When Azu stepped out of a black and blue flame, the above information appeared before his eyes.

He glanced at it, and with the data processing capability of his 'Quantized Brain,' he didn't even need a second to read and memorize all the information.

"The timeline of Thor 2?"

"Indeed, traversing the multiverse means time flows differently."

"That's why even though I spent several days in other universes, only a moment passed in the Black Robe Universe."

"The multiverse is both wondrous and dangerous."

"How many universes are there, exactly?"

Azu then surveyed his surroundings.

He was in a corridor.

Both the corridor and the walls gave off a deep, somber feeling.

The lighting was dim, and the atmosphere was oppressive.

He had no idea where he was.

Azu immediately scanned the environment and found himself on some kind of spacecraft.

He was in outer space.

Surrounding him were massive, black T-shaped ships.

The ships of the Dark Elves!

Azu was surprised. He had started off on a Dark Elf ship.

Moreover, like the Chitauri army in New York, the number of Dark Elves was significantly larger than in the movies.

This was something Azu had long wanted to complain about.

Marvel's battle scenes always felt like village skirmishes.

Take the beginning of Thor 2, for example.

It was supposed to depict Thor quelling rebellions across the Nine Realms, but the so-called battlefield only had a few dozen people fighting.

This scene, however, truly felt like a war.

According to the movie's plot, long ago, the Dark Elves used the Aether in an attempt to destroy the Nine Realms.

Odin's father, Bor, led the Asgardian army to fight the Dark Elves, ultimately seizing the Aether.

They sealed it on Earth, which was still primitive at the time.

Fast forward to today.

Thor's girlfriend, Dr. Jane Foster, accidentally discovered the Aether.

And became its host.

At the same time, the awakening of the Aether also roused the Dark Elves from their slumber.

They sought to reclaim the Aether and fulfill their long-held desire to destroy the Nine Realms.

"The Aether is actually the Reality Stone."

"I wonder what point in time this is."

"If Thor's girlfriend hasn't been infected yet, I could seize the Aether first."

Azu touched his nose: "The only problem is, I don't have the Bifrost."

"How do I get to Earth?"

At that moment.

Red lights suddenly lit up ahead in the corridor.

Then, more red lights followed, as if the ship was being activated.

"Alright."

"It seems Jane Foster has already come into contact with the Aether."

"Now the Dark Elves are awakening."

"Let me think."

"Next, Thor will go to Earth to bring his girlfriend to Asgard."

"This will provoke an attack from the Dark Elves."

"So it's simple."

"I'll just follow these black guys to Asgard."

Azu made up his mind, then changed into his Vibranium suit, took out the 'Cape of Justice,' and put on the 'Bracelets of Hercules.'

"Before that."

"Where is the Dark Elf King?"

In the Dark Elf mothership, in the control room, a figure suspended in mid-air had its helmet slowly open and rise.

Revealing a pale, aged face with pointed ears.

The leader of the Dark Elves, the ruler of the dark world Svartalfheim, Malekith, suddenly opened his eyes after a long slumber.

He landed on the ground, and Malekith, with his braided hair, stretched his body.

Then he looked at the space pods that were opening one by one.

"The Aether has awakened us."

"The Convergence begins again."

"The Nine Realms will align once more."

"Our time to destroy the Nine Realms has come again."

He spoke in the Elvish tongue.

At that moment, a Dark Elf warrior stepped forward to report.

"Great King of the Elves, respected Lord Malekith."

"The Twilight has sent word. They have discovered a cosmic thief."

Malekith's expression froze.

Thinking he had misheard.

"A cosmic thief?"

"Who would come to this godforsaken place."

After their defeat in the war long ago.

The Dark Elves migrated as a race to this remote corner of the universe, entering a collective slumber to conserve energy.

And await the awakening and call of the Aether.

Before they awoke.

Including the 'Twilight,' all the motherships were massive cosmic graveyards.

In theory, no one should come to such a place.

But now.

Someone had infiltrated the 'Twilight.'

Malekith pondered for a moment, then said, "Bring him here. I will interrogate him personally."

He was concerned that their location might have been exposed due to their long slumber.

If so.

They would need to be wary of Asgard discovering the Dark Elves in advance.

That could lead to many complications in their plans.

The Dark Elf warrior nodded, holding a death ray rifle, and left.

A moment later.

A group of Dark Elf warriors brought the cosmic thief in.

Malekith, sitting on a floating dark throne, examined the cosmic thief.

The thief looked like one of those primitive races from 'Midgard.'

Blonde hair, blue eyes.

Even by Dark Elf standards, he was quite handsome.

He wore strange metallic clothing and a red cape.

On his hands were white-gold bracelets adorned with intricate patterns.

Malekith couldn't help but frown.

This creature didn't look much like a cosmic thief.

At that moment.

The thief's hands were bound by dark shackles.

These restraints were supported by immense dark energy, making them unbreakable even by Asgardians.

Thus, Malekith felt confident and gestured for the Dark Elf warriors to step aside.

Then, in the Elvish tongue, he asked, "Who are you?"

The cosmic thief looked confused, as if he didn't understand what Malekith was saying.

The Dark Lord shook his head and said, "Activate the 'Mind Bridge' device."

Immediately, a faint red light filled the hall, forming a bridge-like shape above.

Malekith then said, "How about now, stranger? Can you understand me?"

The cosmic thief still couldn't understand Malekith's language, but he grasped the meaning.

So he nodded.

Malekith repeated his question: "Who are you?"

The cosmic thief, or rather Azu, smiled and said.

"I am a traveler."

The ministers and generals among the Dark Elves on either side of Malekith's throne let out a scornful laugh.

A tall Dark Elf general said, "Those shameless thieves always beautify themselves."

"They like to call themselves travelers, bards."

"But beneath their beautiful exterior lies a vile, lowly body!"

Azu chuckled, "Watch your words. Poor phrasing can bring you disaster."

The Dark Elf general roared, "A mere thief dares to threaten me!"

"Your Majesty, please give the order, and I will remove this shameless wretch's head!"

Malekith raised his hand, "No need to rush."

He had many questions to ask.

He wasn't ready to kill the thief just yet.

"How did you find our kind?"

"We found no vessel of yours. How did you get here?"

"If you answer my questions truthfully, I may consider sparing your life and granting you the status of a slave."

Azu laughed, "So I should be grateful to you?"

"Insolent!"

It was the same Dark Elf general.

His hand was already on the hilt of his sword.

"You dare speak to His Majesty in such a tone."

"A lowly thief, showing no respect or humility before our King."

"Do you know who you are facing?"

"Let me tell you."

"Listen carefully with your ears!"

"You are now facing the ruler of Svartalfheim!"

"The King of the Dark World!"

"The supreme ruler of our Dark Elf race, His Majesty Malekith!"

"A mere speck of dust like you isn't even worthy of kissing His Majesty's shoes."

"Now, His Majesty's questions are your honor."

"You should kneel, be grateful for His Majesty's mercy, and answer every question truthfully!"

After the Dark Elf general finished his tirade, Azu put on a fearful expression.

And slowly bent over.

In a trembling voice, he said.

"So you are the King of the Dark World."

"A great monarch."

"You are His Majesty Malekith?"

On the dark throne, the pale-skinned Malekith initially enjoyed Azu's fearful attitude.

But as he listened, something felt off.

Then Azu suddenly burst into laughter.

"How was that? Did you feel good about yourself for a moment?"

"Don't kid yourself."

"A king in exile, still putting on airs."

Azu then looked at the Dark Elf general, "And you, dim-witted lot."

"Do you still think you're in Svartalfheim?"

"Have you forgotten you were the ones who lost the war?"

"You fled here like stray dogs."

"I really don't know where you get your pride."

Instantly.

Azu's attitude and words.

Ignited the fury of the Dark Elves.

Especially the general.

His glowing blue eyes seemed to spit fire.

With a clang.

He drew his sword.

The sword, forged by Dark Elves, bore elegant inscriptions that glowed with a faint blue light, making the blade extraordinary.

"Your Majesty, let me behead this lowly thief!"

Azu shook his head, "You keep using the same few words. Your language must be quite poor."

Malekith was also angered by Azu's attitude. The Dark Elf King pursed his lips and made a gesture.

The Dark Elf general grinned and stepped forward.

He let out a low shout.

Swinging his sword at Azu's neck.

Clang!

The sword struck Azu's neck but stopped.

Then.

The inscriptions on the sword dimmed, and the blade, where it had made contact with Azu's neck, chipped.

Hairline cracks spread, and with a snap, the sword shattered into pieces.

This time.

The ministers and generals on either side of the throne were in an uproar.

Even Malekith rose from his floating throne.

They all wore expressions of disbelief.

After all, the general's sword, while not a divine weapon, was still of excellent quality.

The materials and craftsmanship used were rare.

It could easily cut through a human neck, or even the armor of a mothership.

But now, it had shattered on its own!

At that moment.

Something even more shocking happened.

"Enough playing with you."

The Dark Elves heard the cosmic thief say this, then he spread his arms.

As easily as breaking a strand of hair.

He snapped the Dark Elves' exquisite restraints, the dark shackles!

The dark energy within the shackles erupted.

Boom!

A black fireball exploded in the hall.

The Dark Elf warriors quickly moved in front of Malekith's throne, raising their death ray rifles toward the black fireball.

As the flames died down.

They saw the cosmic thief walk out of the fire unharmed.

Azu glanced at the Dark Elf general, who had been knocked down by the explosion, and smiled.

"Didn't I say earlier?"

"Watch your words, or you'll bring disaster upon yourself."

"See? The disaster has arrived."

He walked over to the general, raised his foot, and lightning struck.

He stomped on the general's arm.

The arm that had just swung the sword at Azu made a series of bone-crunching sounds, like beans popping in hot oil, causing every Dark Elf in the hall to shudder.

The general's eyes widened, and he let out a pig-like squeal.

The sound echoed through every corner of the hall.

Piercing the eardrums of every Dark Elf.

Including Malekith, the Dark Elf King!

"So noisy."

Azu raised his foot again.

This time.

He stomped on the general's head.

With a squelch, the general's head burst like a water balloon.

Red and white matter sprayed everywhere.

An eyeball even rolled to the foot of Malekith's black throne.

Malekith's already pale face now had a dark hue.

He was about to order an attack.

Azu's eyes lit up, and golden flames shot from his pupils.

The fiery streams roared, sweeping horizontally.

The Dark Elf warriors guarding the throne paused, then golden cutting lines appeared on their bodies.

In the next second, the warriors and their death ray rifles shattered into pieces, scattering across the floor.

Several Dark Elf ministers collapsed on the spot.

Malekith roared, "Curse Warriors!"

Immediately, a warrior leader in the hall took out a black and red Curse Stone.

He clenched it.

Red light immediately surged from the stone.

Then, like venomous snakes, the red light slithered into the Dark Elf warrior leader's body.

The leader's body swelled, and dark energy wildly stimulated his potential, greatly enhancing his abilities.

In moments, he transformed into the Dark Elves' strongest weapon—the Curse Warrior!

After completing his transformation, the Curse Warrior looked up at Azu.

Then charged forward.

Roaring.

Intent on tearing Azu to pieces.

Azu's feet left the ground, and he floated into the air, his eyes glowing.

"Kneel, insect!"

With that.

'Heat Vision' blasted forth!

The searing, blinding stream of light shot down.

The Curse Warrior instinctively raised his arms to block.

The violent kinetic energy forced him to his knees.

Malekith and the Dark Elves watched in stunned silence.

Their eyes bulging, almost popping out.

The Curse Warrior was their strongest weapon!

A being capable of rivaling, even overpowering Asgardian gods.

Yet now, he was being suppressed by Azu's light stream.

Soon.

The Curse Warrior's arms turned red, and he let out a scream. His arms could no longer withstand Azu's 'Heat Vision.'

The golden, blazing stream severed his arms.

The light stream continued unimpeded, blasting into the Curse Warrior's head. Golden flames erupted from his eyes and mouth.

The hall was filled with blinding light, as if a miniature sun had risen.

Boom!

A loud explosion.

The Curse Warrior was obliterated in the flames that burst from within.

Malekith slumped into his chair.

Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder.

He looked up.

Azu was standing on his throne.

The light from the star outside the mothership shone through the control room, outlining the man with the fluttering red cape in a halo of light.

The man, backlit, was shrouded in shadow.

Malekith only saw two golden lights glowing in the shadowed face.

"Wait, please."

"This was all a misunderstanding."

"I—"

Before Malekith could finish, two golden flames scorched his face.

The ministers and generals looked up, unable to see what was happening on the throne.

They only saw the man's嚣张 figure, standing on the black throne, as if trampling their honor and dignity.

At the same time, superheated golden streams shot from his eyes, piercing into the throne.

Then, their King.

Malekith's screams rang out.

They never dreamed.

That one day.

On their mothership.

They would witness the King of the Dark Elves being executed!

After a moment.

The golden light streams vanished.

As the man kicked.

Something rolled off the throne and fell to the ground.

It was Malekith's corpse.

The corpse's eyes were blackened holes, still smoking.

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