Before the gates of the Asgardian palace, the thick layer of ice did nothing to chill Loki.
But the occasional glances from the Asgardian warriors battling the Chitauri cut through him like knives.
"Yes, no one cares why I did this. They only hate that I did it. Perfectly reasonable."
Loki muttered, chuckling as he shook his head.
"When faced with a bad outcome, who cares about the process that led to it?"
He turned his gaze to the side, where a rainbow-hued light descended.
As the light faded, Odin himself, accompanied by thirty-six Berserker warriors, returned to the realm he had ruled for over five millennia!
First, he cast a cold glance at his younger son, then turned to survey the distant city, ravaged by the Chitauri.
Raising his right hand, he pointed at the city.
"Leave none alive!"
"Yes!"
The Berserkers charged instantly, plunging into the Chitauri ranks.
The Asgardian Berserker legion, in ancient times, was renowned alongside the Valkyrie and Einherjar legions as the pinnacle of power.
After Hela destroyed the Valkyrie legion and took the Einherjar,
the Berserkers unsurprisingly became Asgard's most elite force!
Every Berserker was a decorated military commander.
Even Thor's friends, like Volstagg, had ancestors who earned their godhood through the Berserkers.
Only then could their descendants drink and laugh with the son of the All-Father!
Asgard's current legion commanders also rose from the Berserkers.
This speaks volumes about the Berserkers' combat prowess!
The Chitauri soldiers were like clay pigeons, shattered in moments by the Berserkers' onslaught.
Odin ignored the warriors, riding his eight-legged steed to stand before Loki.
Even with the horse less than five meters away, Loki remained seated.
Odin reined in his steed, which obediently halted. From above, Odin looked down at Loki and said softly,
"You always disappoint me."
"You too."
Loki responded disdainfully, finally rising to stand before Odin's mount.
"A father who never disappoints his son wouldn't have a son who disappoints him.
Wouldn't you agree, Father?!"
At Loki's words, Odin fell silent, staring at him for a full ten seconds.
As the silence faded, Odin sighed deeply and dismounted.
"Is your mother unharmed?"
"Physically, she's fine, but her heart is shattered, just like mine."
Loki smiled, his answer causing Odin to close his one remaining eye.
Though standing face-to-face, they seemed separated by an infinite void, unable to see each other clearly.
After a long pause, Odin broke the stalemate.
"Perhaps I was wrong!"
He admitted, unprecedentedly.
"All of it—I gave you hope, child.
I never told you that Asgard's ancient runic power can only be inherited by true Asgardian blood.
I love you, child. I raised you as my own son.
But your lack of blood disqualifies you from inheriting Asgard's power.
You're far wiser than Thor, far more suitable, but… it's impossible.
Without Asgard's power, you'll never become the All-Father, let alone surpass him.
Asgard would weaken under your rule.
You might surpass yourself, but I dare not gamble.
So it's all my fault, child.
I love you as I love Thor, but I can't give you the same."
"Heh…"
Loki's smile widened at Odin's words.
"If you couldn't give it, why not say so earlier? Why didn't you?"
He abruptly pulled out the Tesseract, gripping the crystalline cube in his fingers.
"I understand your decision. Life is inherently unfair from birth.
But trying to create fairness in unfairness is your mistake, Father!
For fifteen hundred years, I thought your disapproval meant I hadn't done enough.
But then you told me it wasn't about what I did—it was about who I was!
You thought you loved me, so you gave me a life like Thor's, even though I wasn't qualified.
But do you know how much I loved you for that?
I killed my biological father for you, for Asgard!
Even though I didn't know he was my father, even though he never raised me, even though I felt nothing for him—he was still my father!
All to earn your approval—the very approval you say I can never have!
If it was impossible, why didn't you tell me sooner?
So I, the fool, thought I was half a step from your approval.
But now I see, the gap was a damn miracle!!!"
BOOM!!!
Invisible spatial energy coalesced, erupting into a wormhole.
Loki, his face cold, said to Odin,
"But as your son, raised by you for thousands of years, I'll grant you the dignity you deserve.
By Asgardian tradition, you shouldn't die on a sickbed like the prophecy says. You should die in a great war.
And I'll give you that great war!"
…
On Earth, Heisenberg's rest was interrupted by the onslaught of news.
As night fell, amateur astronomers spotted the battle near the Moon, drawing closer to Earth.
When videos surfaced online, nations, aware aliens might invade, didn't censor them as usual.
Instead, the videos fueled public curiosity, with more people using telescopes and high-resolution phones to capture the celestial battle.
Soon, clear videos of the starry clash spread, plunging Earth into panic!
Frankly, Earth should be accustomed to aliens by now.
The world is filled with the extraordinary.
But this was different. Past incidents were small-scale—a superhero claiming to be an alien.
Now…
Alien fleets fought in the Solar System, near Earth!
The turmoil stirred the Justice League.
Deadshot, with Matthew now New York's mayor, approached Heisenberg with ambition.
"Boss, New Yorkers, with you here, aren't too worried about the alien fleet.
But Philadelphians, even Washingtonians, are calling for you!
Should we expand the Nuke Gang?"
Heisenberg frowned, pondering.
Seeing Deadshot's eager gaze, he shook his head.
Deadshot's disappointment was brief, as Heisenberg spoke.
"'Nuke Gang' isn't formal. After this alien business, we'll rename it."
"Got it!"
Deadshot nodded, then pressed,
"What about expansion?"
"Not yet, Deadshot!"
Heisenberg reclined, patting Deadshot's arm.
"Now's not the time. There's a huge difference between me offering help and being invited.
Tell the team to maintain New York's peace. Whether aliens invade or other cities fall, New York must stay calm!
Have Matthew organize a rally: 'Protect our hero, protect our city!'
Use the rally to stir New Yorkers, making them fear I'll leave to save other cities, leaving New York vulnerable.
Make New Yorkers believe I'm theirs, unwilling to abandon them.
Shift the conflict from whether I save others to a dispute between New Yorkers and other cities.
Make New Yorkers feel they need me, while other cities, even America, feel they need me more!
Then, I'll end the war!
Understand, Deadshot?"
Heisenberg waved Deadshot off, who left obediently.
Alone, Heisenberg gazed at the sky, smiling.
Superman, Clark Kent, saved countless lives, even worlds!
Yet he faced endless hate and attacks.
Why?
He appeared without demand.
Like the story of Bian Que and his brothers.
The eldest, a master healer, detected illnesses before symptoms appeared, curing them instantly.
Few praised him, as he never treated a cold.
The second brother, slightly less skilled, detected illnesses when they were benign, earning modest fame.
Bian Que, the least skilled, only treated advanced illnesses, becoming renowned for curing the incurable.
The same applies to Heisenberg and Superman.
As Heisenberg put it,
"If you're not suffering like ants on a hot pan, how can you appreciate my mercy?"
Gazing at the moonlit sun, Heisenberg smiled broadly. His plan for Marvel Earth-19999 was unfolding!
But then…
A surge of blue energy locked onto him.
"Space Stone?"
Heisenberg stiffened.
"Loki?"