"Don't look at me like that. You're giving me performance anxiety."
Antony shrugged as everyone turned toward him—then straightened up, his expression growing serious.
"I actually think Hammer-God's—no, Thor's—plan is viable."
"Don't forget, Odin," Antony continued calmly.
"The Aether isn't a single complete entity anymore. Half of it is still on Earth—Midgard."
That single sentence landed like an anchor.
Thor's eyes lit up.
"That means," he said quickly, seizing the point,
"Even if I fail, Malekith only gets half the power! He still won't be invincible!"
"And me," Antony said, locking eyes with Odin, his gaze sharp and steady,
"I'll be guarding the other half."
"That's called risk diversification, Your Majesty."
"If Thor screws it up—"
Antony spread a smile brimming with absolute confidence.
"—then Malekith still has to come find me."
"And when he does, this 'God of the Mortal Realm' will teach him what true—"
He paused, eyes glinting.
"—hell on Earth looks like."
Odin fell silent.
He looked at Thor.
Then at Frigga.
And finally at the wildly arrogant yet overwhelmingly powerful God of the Mortal Realm.
It was true.
Before, the Aether was a single point of failure—lose it once, and everything was over.
But now, thanks to this Midgardian's interference, the board had changed.
"…How do you intend to get there?" Odin finally asked Thor, his tone noticeably softer.
"Heimdall cannot see the Dark World. The Bifrost cannot reach it."
"I know a way," Thor replied.
"But I'll need someone's help."
He looked at Odin.
Odin was quiet for a moment—then gave a small nod.
"…You may take him. But you will bear full responsibility for the outcome."
-----
Asgardian Prison
Unlike the crude cells of other inmates, Loki's chamber contained books, a table, chairs—and even an illusion maintaining spotless order.
Loki sat at the table, casually flipping through a book.
"Looks like my dear thunderous brother finally remembered his poor little sibling."
He didn't look up.
He didn't need to.
Outside the energy barrier stood Thor, Jane, and the God of the Mortal Realm.
"Drop the act, Loki," Thor said hoarsely.
"I know what you saw."
Loki's fingers froze.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Thor," he said lightly, finally turning with that familiar mocking smile.
"Did you come to laugh at me? Or to show off your mortal girlfriend?"
"Frigga doesn't blame you."
Thor ignored the sarcasm and dropped the line like a blade.
Loki's smile cracked.
"…What did you say?"
"The Kurse," Thor said, staring him down.
"That 'helpful' monster you pointed the way for. He nearly buried a blade in Mother's heart."
"If not for Homelander—"
Humm—!
Loki's illusion shattered instantly.
The pristine cell vanished.
In its place—wreckage.
Shattered furniture. Torn books. Walls scarred with violent impacts.
And Loki himself—no longer the elegant prince.
Disheveled. Barefoot. Standing amid the debris. Eyes red, face etched with raw self-loathing.
He knew.
He'd heard the alarms. The rumors.
It was him.
He gave the Kurse directions.
He almost killed the one person who truly loved him.
"…How is she?" Loki whispered, voice trembling—pleading.
"She's alive," Thor said.
"But Malekith will return. And we're going to kill him."
"I need you, Loki."
Thor looked at the brother he loved and hated in equal measure.
"There's a hidden passage to the Dark World. Only you know it."
"Help me—and I'll give you a chance at revenge."
Loki lifted his head.
The flippant mask slid back into place—but the fire of vengeance burned unmistakably beneath it.
"When do we leave?"
-----
Assembly Point – Palace Side Hall
Thor ordered Loki's restraints removed, warning him not to try anything.
"So this is the plan?"
Antony leaned against a pillar, eyeing the group.
"You steal a crashed Dark Elf ship, take a secret route to Svartalfheim, then Thor pretends to be betrayed by Loki—hoping that purple Teletubby-looking villain Malekith politely extracts the Aether so you can smash it?"
"It's the only way," Thor said, draping a cloak over Jane.
"Antony, you're really not coming with us? One more fighter means better odds."
"No."
Antony shook his head.
"I'm not going."
Loki scoffed.
"See? Told you mortals can't be trusted. Gods or not, cowards to the bone."
"Watch your mouth, reindeer freak," Antony shot Loki a cold glance.
"Want another demonstration?"
The red glow in Antony's eyes made Loki instantly shut up.
"I'm not going because I have a more important job."
Antony straightened, expression hardening—strategic, focused.
"Thor, your plan has a fatal flaw."
"What if—" he said slowly,
"—and I mean what if you fail?"
"What if Malekith successfully extracts the Aether from Jane? Or you don't manage to destroy it at all?"
"Then what's his next move?"
Thor frowned.
"He'll—"
"He'll go to Earth," Antony said, pointing downward.
"Because the other half of the Aether is inside Jones."
"If I go with you to the Dark World and we get trapped there, Malekith bypasses us and hits Earth directly—"
"Then who protects Jewel?
Who protects the other half of the Aether?
Who protects—"
He met Thor's eyes.
"—Midgard?"
Thor froze.
He hadn't considered that.
His thoughts were full of revenge. Of Jane. Of rage.
He'd overlooked Earth entirely.
"You mean…" Thor began.
"I'm going back to Earth."
Antony stepped forward and clapped a firm hand on Thor's shoulder.
"We split up, brother."
"You go to the Dark World. Draw them out. Destroy them if you can."
"And I go home."
"If you succeed, great.
If you fail—"
A cold killing intent flashed through Antony's eyes.
"—then I'll be waiting on Earth for Malekith to walk into my arms."
"I'll prepare him a—"
He smiled thinly.
"—very grand funeral."
"You're right, Antony."
Thor gripped his hand tightly.
"You've thought this through better than I have. Protecting Midgard… that responsibility is greater."
"You are our last hope."
"Don't say that."
Antony smiled with practiced sincerity.
"I fully expect you to succeed—and come back alive, Thor."
"I still haven't taught you Aikido yet."
Loki rolled his eyes, clearly nauseated by the sentiment—but even he had to admit the logic was flawless.
"Then it's decided," Antony said, glancing out the window.
"Let's move—before Odin changes his mind."
--------------
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