Chapter 408

In Asgard, Xiangong, in Loki's bedroom, Thor stared at his brother Loki with fury, while Loki casually admired the newly forged crown. Thor spoke in a low voice:

"Loki, do you even know what you're doing?!"

His chest rose and fell as if he were holding back all his rage, and he swung his arm, speaking in a tone of utter disbelief: "You know exactly what they're planning! You know they're leading Asgard to ruin—and yet you still choose to stand with them!"

Loki sat on the carpet by the window, playing with the glittering, ornate crown, and said casually: "Yes, only recently did I realize how much time I've wasted all along."

"Thor," Loki looked at him and said, "I've decided it's better for me to learn everything a king must know, rather than wait for you to learn it."

"You…"

Loki set the crown aside, stood up, stepped before Thor, and stared into his eyes: "What are you angry about?"

"Thor, you've always said you'd give anything to save Asgard—if someone else could do it. So now that the throne is at stake, you're unwilling to let go?"

Thor regarded Loki's gem-like eyes coldly and said: "Do you really think you can save Asgard—by siding with those madmen who only know destruction and war?"

"Loki, haven't you already seen the view beyond the universe? Didn't you already decide to stand with me?!"

"I did think that before. But Thor, do you know? Lately, I've never received so much praise…"

Sisikew

Loki turned and began pacing the room, tilting his head up with an expression of delight: "These are the things I once craved desperately but could never have… To you, they come so easily that you can discard them like worn-out shoes. But I cannot."

Thor opened his mouth; the rebuke was already on his tongue—but he couldn't speak it.

Now he understood: Loki had been starved of love—not only because Odin failed as a father, but because he, Thor, failed as a brother.

He couldn't ask, "Do you really believe they're praising you?" because he knew Loki, clever as he was, understood it was all fake. Yet even knowing that, he still chased it.

Then who was truly to blame?

Every time Thor thought this, he felt a painful helplessness. He knew Loki's actions would lead Asgard to ruin—but he couldn't shatter the illusion Loki clung to.

If he didn't yield the throne to Loki, if he fought him to the end, perhaps Thor could truly save Asgard—but at the cost of abandoning his brother, destroying everything he had, even denying him one beautiful dream.

If he gave the throne to Loki, Asgard would be destroyed—but at least, before he died, Loki would possess everything he'd ever wanted: praise, honor, passion, and the exalted position of Father of the Gods.

Loki or Asgard—which would he choose?

As Thor pondered this question, he suddenly realized his first answer surprised him.

The scene of Thor walking out of Loki's bedroom with a dark expression was seen by more than one Asgardian; all felt the tension of a storm about to break.

Every Asgardian knew the two princes were now adults, and Odin was old. In the coming period, the shadow of a treacherous succession struggle would hang endlessly over Asgard.

But no one expected the first thunderclap beneath the clouds to come so swiftly.

On a night as ordinary as any other in Asgard, people suddenly heard weapons clash and war cries roar; divine energy flared at key points across Asgard, and shouts of battle erupted from all sides—not only startling the birds asleep in the night, but awakening every Asgardian.

Those who jolted awake from their beds, upon seeing the firelight outside their windows, needed no speculation—they understood instantly: Loki had staged a coup.

Everyone knew the younger prince wouldn't wait long. After Thor's coronation, Odin had fallen into permanent slumber, and no disturbance would rouse him.

The old ministers who had fought alongside Odin would never accept a new king who was strong and majestic but lacked ambition. Even if he was mighty, they preferred a puppet they could control.

Loki—a pitiful creature. His father ignored him, his brother didn't care for him. He had no friends, no foundation, no support. Aside from the luck of being born with noble royal blood, he had nothing.

Even if he wore splendid armor, wore a glittering crown, and sat upon the supreme throne, he could never become a Father of the Gods like Odin. And many believed Asgard no longer needed a Father of the Gods at all.

The sound of warhorses galloping through the sky thundered like lightning in the ears; the dust stirred by their low flight swirled into crashing waves beneath the moonlight. The warriors crouched on their mounts, their spear tips gleaming with chilling radiance.

As the lights mirrored each other, Asgard's fleet moved without orders, rising from all sides; when the horns blew, the entire city was clad in golden armor.

Before the long bridge of Xiangong, Loki arrived with a contingent, clad in splendid armor. At the entrance guarded by Xiangong's sentinels, the guards stood motionless, their spears crossed to block the bridge. When they saw Loki, they made no move to step aside.

For the first time, Loki did not carry a magic staff, but held a spear like any other Asgardian warrior. He slammed the spear's butt into the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust that stained his golden boots, and said: "Stand aside."

The guards did not move. Loki, feeling humiliated, raised his voice: "I command you, in the name of Asgardian Prince and future King, to stand aside!"

The guards still did not move. Loki closed his eyes, sighed, and raised one hand, gesturing to those behind him.

Blood sprayed as two towering figures fell. In Loki's memory, he recalled long ago when they knelt before him, calling him "Your Highness."

But this time, they said nothing. They died silently in Asgard's turbulent night.

Too bad Loki was not Thor—he felt no guilt.

Loki's expression didn't change. He stepped over the bodies, head held high, striding swiftly across the long bridge. In Asgard's night wind, his hair streamed backward like a surging black tide. His gem-like eyes gleamed brighter than the gems on his crown, reflecting off Xiangong's glass.

The soft tap of his boots on the steps was louder than artillery. Only now did Loki draw a deep breath and stop at the first step.

"Your Highness, you cannot turn back now," a bearded general stepped forward and whispered. "This is Xiangong's territory. Intruding here is punishable by death."

"Don't command me," Loki said, glancing back slightly, teeth clenched. He drew another breath and climbed the steps one step at a time.

The instant he stepped into Xiangong's grand hall, countless imperial guards surged forth; the two sides clashed immediately. Loki's generals shouted: "Protect the Prince! Protect the Prince!"

Loki joined the fight—but in a corner unseen by all, a look of extreme revulsion crossed his face.

At that moment, a bolt of lightning from afar struck the center of Xiangong. As the light flared, everyone froze, staring at Thor, who had landed in the midst of them.

"Loki, stop! Withdraw! I won't blame you," Thor said.

As he raised his hand, bolts of lightning cleared the area. Those around him, fearing the new king's divine power, retreated. Only the two brothers remained in the hall—but Loki knew they hadn't left. They were merely watching from beyond the doors.

Loki smirked, looking at Thor: "Withdraw? Where to? Leave Xiangong? Leave Asgard? Or leave the Nine Realms?"

"This isn't just your home!" Loki bit out each word: "Thor, no one has the right to make me leave—not you, not Odin!"

Hearing him speak Odin's name so plainly, Thor knew today could not end peacefully.

He waved his hand; a spear woven of golden lightning appeared in his grip. He held the weapon and said: "Draw your true weapon. Let us fight. If I lose, the throne is yours."

Loki said nothing. He pulled out a staff Thor had never seen. Instantly, magical radiance and lightning blazed together.

Loki floated into the air. The gem atop his staff emitted blinding light; a magical shield formed around him. The moment the shield solidified, a spear charged at him, driven by unstoppable lightning power.

The shield flickered once—then Loki smirked. The shield shattered like foam, and the Loki behind it vanished like a phantom. Another figure appeared behind Thor.

But Thor remained calm. He spun, sweeping his spear. Loki formed a magical shield on his arm to block it. As he was flung backward, he used the recoil to unleash two massive magical sword beams.

Lightning followed in rapid succession. Loki's figure flickered. Golden lightning and violet magic clashed fiercely above Asgard.

As Thor pierced Loki's magical shield once more, Loki's face darkened: "Enough!"

His voice echoed across Asgard's night sky, audible to all. At that moment, Loki's form began to change slowly—his body shrank, his hair grew longer.

A female figure emerged within the magical glow, accompanied by a radiant halo. Loki's melodious voice rang out before Thor:

"Though I am no longer the sole power beyond the universe, the strength at the peak of the cosmos is more than enough to defeat you."