DOTM: Chapter 359/360

Chapter 359: Dark Elves' Raid

If it had been anyone else telling Odin that the Dark Elves had returned, he wouldn't have believed it.

But Ethan was different. He was a mage, and not just any mage—one capable of traveling across multiple cosmic planes.

Although Odin didn't fully understand what that implied, the All-Father knew a top-tier mage when he saw one, and he also knew such a person might be able to see the future.

He wasn't sure if Ethan had this ability, but since Ethan had come to personally remind him, it couldn't just be a joke.

"Dark Elves? Are you sure?"

"I'm very sure... and it's easy to prove."

The Dark Elves were targeting Asgard because the Aether, which their leader Malekith desperately desired, was currently in Asgard.

That meant Malekith's target wasn't Asgard itself. If Jane Foster were still on Earth, the Dark Elves would have gone there instead.

After their defeat in the conflict with Asgard, the Dark Elves had managed to hide undetected for many years because of their incredible stealth capabilities. They could even bring their mothership right to Asgard's doorstep and only be discovered by Heimdall, who was known for his far-seeing eyes, at the last possible moment.

"How can it be proven?"

"The Dark Elves are preparing a pincer attack on Asgard. Their inside man... should be arriving soon."

In the original plot, Malekith didn't launch a direct assault on Asgard. He first sent a warrior disguised as a bandit to stir up trouble in the territories below Asgard. That warrior was captured by Asgardian soldiers along with a group of other criminals and brought back to Asgard, where he was imprisoned in the dungeons.

After successfully infiltrating the heart of Asgard, this warrior used a special Dark Elf technique to transform into a Kursed Warrior.

A Kursed Warrior gains increased strength and defense by rapidly burning life force. Until their life force is completely depleted and they die naturally, their regeneration is extremely powerful, allowing them to recover even after taking serious damage.

In simple terms, it's a super soldier with drastically enhanced combat power and extremely difficult to kill.

A terrifying warrior like that running wild inside Asgard would naturally draw the full attention of the realm, allowing the Dark Elves to launch their main assault during the ensuing chaos.

This was exactly what happened in the original storyline. The defenses of the Golden Realm were completely disrupted by the Kursed Warrior. When the Dark Elves attacked, Odin was still focused on managing the internal chaos. By the time he turned his attention back to the skies, Malekith and his forces had already retreated aboard their ship.

Although they didn't succeed in taking the Aether, Asgard suffered significant embarrassment in the battle, and the All-Mother, Frigga, died at Malekith's hands.

There was no need to explain all the details. It was enough to reveal that the Dark Elves' spy had infiltrated among the captives. Upon hearing that a Kursed Warrior had made it inside, even Odin, who had weathered countless wars, grew solemn.

He was well aware of what kind of damage such a terrifying being could cause in the Golden Realm. He absolutely could not allow something like that to go unchecked.

Odin didn't immediately order a check of all the captives. Instead, he turned to Ethan.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Eliminating the internal threat early can avoid one problem, but it won't resolve the long-term danger posed by the Dark Elves."

There was no need to spell it out. Odin wasn't like Thor. Thor sometimes didn't understand when to show mercy as a king and when to completely eliminate a threat.

Odin, however, knew how to treat different enemies in different situations.

Unlike the other inhabitants of the Nine Realms, the Dark Elves were sworn enemies who could never be allowed to remain. Their race stood in complete opposition to the rest of existence, and there was no foundation for peaceful coexistence.

Such enemies had to be completely wiped out. Odin had no shortage of resolve when it came to that. In fact, he had already mapped out a full battle plan in his mind.

The plan was simple: allow the enemy's spy to act, then ambush the Dark Elves when they arrived.

Odin was more than experienced in war and didn't need Ethan, an outsider, to interfere in his military matters. All Ethan had to do was rest with Thor and wait for the battle to begin.

Thor's residence was spacious enough to accommodate them all comfortably. The only downside was that he couldn't have a private conversation with Jane before the battle.

Tony stood on the wide balcony, admiring the beautiful scenery of Asgard and breathing in the fresh air. Uncharacteristically, he gave it quite a few positive remarks.

Thor, pleased by the compliments to his homeland, happily invited Tony to bring Pepper for a visit next time.

"Oh, that would be wonderful. Pepper would definitely love it here."

Asgard's pure, unpolluted environment was indeed a good vacation spot. The only thing that bothered Tony was the lack of visible signs of advanced technology.

Asgard's architecture looked like a more refined and majestic version of ancient European buildings, and the lifestyle of its people resembled something from the distant past.

If he hadn't known in advance that Asgard's civilization was far more advanced than Earth's, he might have thought he had arrived on a planet that hadn't even reached full civilization.

"What you want to see is hidden inside those buildings that look primitive to you."

Ethan had lived in Asgard for a while and had taken the time to learn about its culture and technology, so he understood its situation better than Tony.

Standing beside him, he casually pointed to a seemingly decorative tower. "That structure is actually a defensive installation. When enemies attack, it can be activated by soldiers to return fire."

At the top of the tower was a dual-purpose turret that could fire a barrage of energy projectiles to repel enemy ships or aerial intruders.

"Oh? So that's what it is."

Thor knew far more than Ethan about Asgard's defensive systems. He pointed out a few more hidden defensive structures to Tony and also explained that Heimdall, who guarded the outer edge, could activate a defense system at the Bifrost that would shield the core area of the Golden Realm, preventing it from being damaged.

Although Thor was enthusiastic in his explanations, he wasn't foolish. He only introduced the general functions of these defensive systems. He didn't go into specific layouts, and certainly didn't tell Tony the exact locations of every defensive facility.

Tony didn't care about the specifics. What he was more interested in was when the Dark Elves would attack. He wanted to see these defenses in action.

"If they're powerful enough, I'd love to get the technical data for these."

"Keep dreaming. Would you hand over your core technology to Nick Fury?"

Tony knew that was unrealistic, but he didn't mind. He believed that with his intelligence, once he understood the direction of research, he could figure out the rest on his own.

Besides, Ethan was winking at him. Tony understood that Ethan also had an eye on these advanced technologies, though he didn't know how Ethan planned to acquire them.

When Thor went to take care of Jane and arrange a place for her to rest, Tony finally took the opportunity to ask.

"You're not planning to steal these technologies during the chaos, are you?"

Ethan shook his head. Thor considered him a close friend, and Odin had always treated him well. He couldn't do something like that.

"There are plenty of advanced civilizations in the universe, and many planets have merchants selling all kinds of data and technology. You don't have to worry about this."

Tony suddenly understood. This kind of black-market merchant wasn't hard to imagine. He just hadn't expected them to exist in the universe as well.

Since they did exist, it meant he could get any kind of data or tech. The only issue was the cost.

Tony had money, but would these advanced civilizations recognize Earth's currency?

"That's a problem, but it shouldn't be hard to solve."

Worst case scenario, they could complete a few bounty missions to earn interstellar currency. Ethan's suggestion left Tony speechless, but he couldn't think of a better solution either.

Of course, if Thor was willing to pay, it wouldn't be a problem at all. Considering Thor's generosity, he wouldn't refuse—especially now that he wanted Ethan to help remove the Aether from Jane Foster's body. Asking him to buy something was hardly a big request.

By the time they arrived in Asgard, it was already night. It was deep into the night now. Logan was resting on a bench nearby, while Laura and Selene leaned against each other. Tony had found a comfortable place to lie down as well.

Ethan guessed that nothing would happen tonight. Maybe the Dark Elves would wait until tomorrow to attack?

The Dark Elf spy had already been locked in the dungeon. On the surface, everything seemed normal, but in reality, that prison cell was specially designed and isolated. It would be very difficult for the Kursed Warrior to break out. In fact, all the prisoners in that area were disguised elite warriors of the Golden Realm, and several of Thor's friends were stationed there to ensure nothing went wrong.

When the Dark Elves would attack depended entirely on when that spy made his move. So far, there had been no incidents in the dungeon, and Ethan began to relax.

Unexpectedly, just as the night reached its deepest point, a faint tremor spread through the air.

At the same moment Ethan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, Thor had already rushed out of the bedroom fully armed.

"That Kursed Warrior has started to act. He seems even harder to deal with than expected." Thor had already received the report and was preparing to go support his allies.

Ethan curled his lip. These Dark Elves weren't following the script. Choosing to launch their surprise attack at night suited their style. Thinking about it, it made perfect sense. A night raid would always catch the enemy off guard.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 360: Hired by Loki

Regardless of the original plot, the fact that the Dark Elves had used the cover of night to reach Asgard and launch a surprise attack on the palace was now an unchangeable reality.

"What should we do next?"

Tony had already put on his Iron Man suit. The armor had gone through several upgrades and was now very easy to equip. The moment Thor, fully armed, announced that the Kursed had begun to act, Tony had already rushed into his suit.

In this state, he was confident he could fight anyone, especially since the armor he was wearing now was his latest work, incorporating not only all of his technology, but also many magic stones and magical techniques whose principles he still didn't fully understand.

With this suit, he was confident he could go one-on-one with Thor. Of course, whether he could win was another matter.

"I need to go deal with the Kursed. Heimdall has already sent word that the Dark Elf mothership has launched many fighters, likely to cause chaos. In this situation, nowhere is truly safe. Just make sure you keep yourselves safe."

Thor glanced at Jane, who had already woken up. "Ethan, I hope you can protect Jane."

No one was more suitable than Ethan. He didn't know Ethan's current strength, but with that teleportation magic, no one could hurt them.

Ethan shook his head, clearly speechless. "You underestimate your father too much. The Dark Elves might cause some destruction on the outskirts, but they won't be able to break into this place."

Just as Ethan had predicted, the Dark Elves were no match for Asgard in a head-on confrontation. While Odin's physical condition wasn't great, his mind was still sharp.

With advance warning and preparations in place, it was impossible for the Dark Elves to cause any damage to the city under his rule.

Even if the Dark Elves were wiped out, it wouldn't be worth celebrating if the city was destroyed.

As the Dark Elf fighters—shaped like short blades—rushed toward the palace, Asgardian skiffs that had been hidden everywhere suddenly appeared, surrounding the enemy.

"That's..."

Thor stood on the balcony, watching the distant battle. As Asgard's various defense facilities and lighting systems activated, the night was instantly lit up like day. The Dark Elves could no longer rely on darkness to hide their movements.

"Mother's magic?"

To conceal such a large number of skiffs over such a vast area, only Odin or Frigga would be capable of that in all of Asgard.

Odin's physical condition didn't allow him to use such energy-draining spells, so that left only Frigga.

But Ethan knew the magic wasn't Frigga's. The Allmother was busy using her magic to maintain Odin's health and mobility. She couldn't have spent her power on this—after Frigga's death, Odin's health deteriorated rapidly and he eventually passed away.

And Ethan was very familiar with this magical fluctuation. He had spent a lot of time with the caster.

"It's Loki's magic."

As Ethan said this, Loki stepped out from the void.

This wasn't his physical form but a long-distance projection.

"That Kursed is more troublesome than expected. If you don't go now, your friends might die in the dungeon."

Only then did Thor remember the internal threat. Since the battle outside was under control, he immediately turned and rushed toward the dungeon.

"You probably didn't show up just to remind Thor, did you?"

"Of course not."

Loki wore his usual dark green robe, the helmet Tony had once mocked as "Bambi antlers" on his head, and held the Casket of Ancient Winters in his hand. This appearance signified Loki's battle-ready state.

"I'm here to ask for your help."

"Oh?"

"Father has entrusted me with the task of leading this operation to wipe out the Dark Elves. To ensure the complete elimination of the enemy, I hope you can assist."

It wasn't surprising that Odin had made such an arrangement. His physical condition wasn't ideal, and the Allmother wasn't suited for direct combat. Regardless of the tactical arrangement, a strong presence was needed to anchor the main battlefield.

Originally, Thor would have been a suitable choice, but the Kursed needed someone strong to deal with as well. Odin also doubted Thor's ability to completely eliminate the Dark Elves—no prisoners were wanted in this battle.

Loki, on the other hand, was the perfect fit. He wouldn't show mercy to the Dark Elves, and having just returned to Asgard, he needed a military achievement to redeem his past actions and give the people of Asgard a reason to overlook his past mistakes.

At the same time, this served as a test. When Asgard faced a crisis, could Loki—would Loki—contribute?

If he succeeded, he would regain his position in Asgard. Even if Thor's friends disliked him, they would have to respect him. He was the son of Odin, the Prince of Asgard, Thor's brother, and the hero who had eliminated the Dark Elves and defended Asgard.

If he failed, there was nothing more to say. He would continue his quiet training and wait for the next opportunity.

"With your strength, you shouldn't need help to deal with these Dark Elves, right?"

This Loki was not the same as in the original plot, who ambushed the Kursed and got himself killed—though that outcome had been partly an act, his strength back then was indeed lacking.

The current Loki possessed formidable power. When he unleashed his terrifying ice magic, ordinary foes couldn't stand a chance. If he charged forward and went all out, he could annihilate the entire Dark Elf force in seconds.

"This is Asgard. Some techniques are too destructive to be used here."

"Understood."

That was the disadvantage of defending your home. The enemy didn't care about wrecking things, but the defenders had to hold back. If the destruction was too severe, the victory wouldn't be worth much.

"What's the pay?"

"I'll pay according to the universal mercenary rates used throughout the galaxy."

Ethan looked at Loki, who returned a smug smile.

Having spent plenty of time with Ethan, Loki knew exactly what he wanted. Especially now that Ethan had set his sights on space, what he needed most was advanced technology for interstellar travel and survival.

Asgard had plenty of such tech, but they wouldn't hand it out easily. Ethan had his principles and wouldn't steal from Asgard, so his only option was to buy from other planets.

The problem was: he had no money.

Loki knew this, so he offered to hire Ethan with proper pay.

It was a win-win deal, and he was sure Ethan would accept.

"Deal."

Ethan didn't even glance at Loki's fading projection. He opened a portal and stepped through.

He had originally planned to go alone, but unexpectedly, Tony, Logan, Laura, and even Selene reacted quickly and followed after him in a rush.

So when Ethan appeared before Loki in person, several others were now standing behind him.

"Remember, the payment must be for..." He turned and counted. "Five... six people!"

Laura reacted fast. As Ethan turned to count, she lifted Auriel high above her head. The little one, still sound asleep and clueless, was thus counted as a "person" too.

"No problem."

Loki's forehead twitched. As a god and Prince of Asgard, he disdained haggling. He agreed immediately.

By this time, the trapped Dark Elf mothership was already close to destruction. Even if they tried to retreat, it was too late. Asgardian skiffs were fast and agile, and they wouldn't just sit back and watch the enemy flee.

What was supposed to be a surprise attack had turned into a direct confrontation, leaving Malekith deeply frustrated.

Standing in the command center, he looked outside and noticed Odin was not among the defending Asgardians. This made him feel underestimated. At the same time, he sensed a chance to escape.

"Defeat this group of Asgardians first, then retreat."

The massive mothership slowly descended, stopping at the palace coast, beside the magnificent Rainbow Bridge.

A large number of Dark Elf warriors, led by Malekith, set foot on Asgardian soil. The white-haired Dark Elf leader stood at the front of his army, head high, staring down the Asgardians, especially Loki, who stood at the front of the formation.

The two sized each other up, while Tony quietly muttered to Ethan, "Why do I feel like I'm watching a medieval knight's duel?"

Ethan shrugged. He felt the same. But a bit of pre-fight posturing wasn't a bad thing. He would just enjoy the show.

Unexpectedly, Malekith didn't waste time with empty threats. After declaring his goal of reclaiming the Aether and plunging the universe into darkness, he immediately gave the order to attack.

"This guy's all business."

The battle broke out instantly. Loki, standing front and center, naturally became the target of focused fire. But all the energy blasts meant for Loki instead flew toward Ethan.

"This is a thank-you gift for your constant 'care'." Loki's voice rang in Ethan's ear. Clearly, he had used an illusion to divert the enemy's attacks onto Ethan.

But for Ethan, this level of firepower was nothing.

He casually raised his right hand, and a transparent barrier glowing with blue light appeared in front of him, absorbing all the incoming blasts.

Since many Asgardian warriors were charging forward with weapons in hand, directly reflecting the blasts might cause friendly fire. So Ethan opened a "blue window" in the air and redirected the absorbed energy downward, showering the Dark Elves below.

(To be continued.)