Chapter 20.
"You don't need to be so formal. You're the mortal Li Yue from Midgard that Thor mentioned, right?"
Odin waved his hand casually, signaling that Li Yue need not be overly polite. His one eye—his left—gleamed sharply, staring intently at Li Yue as if trying to discern something hidden within him.
Yet even with Odin's immense power, he couldn't detect anything unusual about Li Yue—aside from his exceptional physical strength. But even that wasn't impressive enough to catch Odin's attention. (The reason the Ancient One could sense Li Yue's spatial energy was because he had passed right in front of her.)
"Yes, I am Li Yue. I apologize for arriving unannounced in Asgard and ask that the King of the Gods not take offense."
Li Yue replied with a respectful tone, his eyes fixed on the figure seated on the throne before him—an old man with gray hair and beard, wearing a black eyepatch over his right eye. Despite his elderly appearance, this was Odin, Lord of the Nine Realms and King of the Gods—almost too unbelievable to accept at first glance.
"I heard from Thor that you too can control the power of thunder. Is that true?"
"Yes, I really can control lightning. I tried to lift Thor's hammer once, and to my surprise, I actually managed to do it. In that moment, a bolt of lightning flashed, and I suddenly discovered that I had gained the ability to control lightning."
"But for some unknown reason, I haven't been able to lift the hammer again since then. However, my ability to control lightning has not disappeared."
Li Yue answered Odin's question honestly, gesturing toward Mjolnir, the hammer currently held by Thor, who was standing nearby with a grin on his face. What Li Yue said was half-true.
He had lifted the hammer—but only because of the mysterious energy in his mind that assisted him. Without that help, he wouldn't have been able to lift it.
Odin fell silent, pondering Li Yue's words. What Li Yue described seemed to align with something Odin had sensed—how the hammer had refused him after that moment of power.
Meanwhile, the smile on Thor's face vanished. It was the first time he had heard of someone besides Odin being able to lift Mjolnir. He was visibly surprised and wanted to question Li Yue further. But –being in Odin's palace and in his father's presence, Thor hesitated.
This journey to Earth had matured Thor. He no longer acted impulsively as he once did. If –it had been the old Thor, he would've blurted out his questions without care for the occasion. But now, he was learning to restrain himself. Though still a bit reckless, he had grown enough to understand that he needed to show respect to his father—especially in such formal settings.
"I believe your power came from Mjolnir, but how do you know who Thor is—or anything about Asgard?"
After silently pondering for over ten seconds, Odin suddenly spoke in a solemn tone. His voice was calm but full of authority. A powerful aura radiated from him, slowly pressing down on Li Yue.
Odin's eye remained fixed on him, trying to see through his soul.
"I'm not from this universe," Li Yue replied. "Due to an accident, I ended up here. Somehow, I became entangled with the timeline and witnessed many things—events that are yet to come and those that have already occurred. Among them were things related to Asgard."
Despite the overwhelming pressure from Odin's aura, Li Yue showed no signs of discomfort. The blue energy in his mind had been activated, shielding him completely from Odin's presence.
Li Yue repeated the explanation he had used before. Whether others believed it or not, he had already convinced himself.
"Your words are far too absurd. I cannot believe everything you've said is true."
Odin's expression didn't change, but it was clear he didn't buy into Li Yue's explanation.
"Whether the Allfather believes me or not, these are the facts. I've seen what's going to happen to Asgard—and I came here to propose a deal. That's the real reason for my visit."
Li Yue stopped trying to explain and instead moved straight to his proposition.
"Oh? A deal?" Odin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you have to offer? And what do you want?"
"I've seen Asgard's future," Li Yue answered confidently. "I want to trade that information for a few treasures from your collection."
He spoke with calm assurance, neither arrogant nor submissive.
Hearing this, Thor's jaw dropped in astonishment.
Thor didn't expect Li Yue to be so bold—to demand items from his father's collection right off the bat. The treasures in Odin's vault were powerful artifacts, most of which had been acquired through countless battles across the Nine Realms. What kind of news could possibly be valuable enough to deserve such a trade?
"Oh? This is –the first time someone has dared to name their terms so openly before me," Odin said with a slight smile. "I hope the news you bring is truly as important as you claim. If it is, then parting with one of my treasures won't matter."
Odin didn't seem angry—on the contrary, he looked amused by Li Yue's boldness. His serious face even broke into a grin.
"Of course," Li Yue replied.
"For example—Ragnarök of Asgard. The Goddess of Death, Hela, breaking free of her seal. And Thanos—the Mad Titan who is slaughtering creatures across the cosmos…"
The moment those words left Li Yue's mouth, Odin's expression froze, and the smile instantly vanished. A tremendous wave of power erupted from him, sweeping across all of Asgard in an instant.
What shocked Odin the most was Li Yue's mention of Hela. Very few people knew about her existence, and most who did were already dead. Her name was the last one Odin ever wanted to hear again.
At that moment, the frail appearance of an aging king vanished. To Li Yue, Odin now felt like a wild beast—a mountain tiger descending upon him. It was an overwhelming, primal force that seemed impossible to resist.
However, the terrifying pressure lasted less than a second before vanishing. Across Asgard, many citizens blinked in confusion, unsure whether they had just imagined something. But that sense of impending doom remained burned into their memory—like they had been standing on the edge of death itself.
Those inside the palace, however, felt it the most intensely. Being so close to Odin when his power flared made it undeniable. That kind of might couldn't be faked.
Thor, who had recently felt proud of his growth, was shaken to his core. Only now did he realize how vast the gap still was between him and his father.
"Father what's Ragnarök? Why is it coming to Asgard? And who are Hela and Thanos?"
Even though Odin's presence had just stunned him, Thor couldn't hold back his curiosity. He had clearly seen his father lose control the moment Li Yue spoke—something extremely rare. That meant whatever Li Yue said carried great significance.
"Frigga, please take Thor and leave for now. I need to speak with Li Yue alone."
Odin didn't answer Thor's questions. Instead, he turned to his wife with a calm but firm voice.
As Odin's queen, Frigga immediately understood what he meant. Clearly, this conversation wasn't something Thor was ready to hear.
"Thor, come with me."
Frigga stood up, walked over to her son, and gently took his hand. Despite his reluctance, Thor didn't resist. Under his mother's guidance, he followed her out of the throne room, pausing and glancing back every few steps until they disappeared from sight.
"Li Yue, let's talk about this deal you mentioned."
With his son gone, Odin's tone became heavy and serious once more as he faced Li Yue.
No one knows exactly what the two of them discussed, but they spoke for over an hour. When Li Yue finally stepped out of Odin's palace, he wore a satisfied smile—his goal had largely been accomplished.
"Li Yue! How did it go? What did you talk about with my father? What was that news you mentioned earlier?"
Frigga and Thor hadn't gone far. They had only taken a short walk nearby, and Thor had been watching the palace entrance closely. The moment Li Yue emerged, Thor rushed over with a flood of questions.
Thor hurried forward and caught up with Li Yue, blocking his path with an eager expression.
"What did you and my father talk about? Tell me everything!" Thor asked, desperate to know the details of their conversation.
Li Yue looked at Thor's anxious face and sighed, shaking his head helplessly.
"Sorry, Thor. Your father made it clear that the contents of our conversation must remain confidential. I can't tell you a single word," Li Yue replied calmly. "But I believe your father will tell you everything when the time is right."
Thor felt like a thousand cat claws were scratching at his heart. The more Li Yue refused to speak, the more curious and frustrated he became. But since his father had forbidden Li Yue from speaking, there was nothing more he could do.
"However," Li Yue added, a small smile playing on his lips, "your father and I did strike a deal. He agreed to my terms and gave me permission to choose any treasure from Odin's Vault and take it with me."
Thor's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What? He agreed? He actually let you pick something from the vault?"
Thor was stunned. Even as Odin's son, he had only received Mjolnir after proving himself through countless battles and deeds in service of Asgard. Yet Li Yue, with nothing more than some mysterious information, had earned the same privilege? It was hard to swallow.
He couldn't help but look at Li Yue with a twinge of jealousy in his eyes.
"Yes," Li Yue confirmed, the smile never leaving his face. "And he also asked you to escort me to the vault so I can make my selection. So, shall we?"
Li Yue's words only made Thor more frustrated. Not only did Li Yue get to choose a treasure, but Thor had to be the one to take him there? If Li Yue weren't standing right in front of him, Thor would've already flung Mjolnir in rage. He was fuming.
But since it was his father's command, Thor couldn't go against it. Gritting his teeth and holding back his frustration, he glared at Li Yue before turning around with a huff.
"Follow me," he said, striding off toward the vault, not even checking if Li Yue was keeping up.
Li Yue, amused by Thor's behavior, smiled faintly. Thor looked just like an angry child throwing a tantrum. With a soft chuckle, he followed closely behind, already starting to think about which treasure he would choose. 'There's a lot to pick from…' he mused.
Neither of them spoke on the way. Their thoughts were too different—Thor was annoyed and confused, while Li Yue was excited and thoughtful.
Eventually, they arrived at a massive gate. It towered over them, easily ten meters high. Guarding it were two tall warriors, nearly two meters each, dressed in shining silver armor and holding long, gleaming spears. Their presence was intimidating and full of authority.
"Welcome, Prince Thor! What brings you here today?" one of the guards asked respectfully, immediately recognizing Odin's son.
"I'm here under my father's orders," Thor replied, returning the salute. "He has instructed me to bring this man to the vault to select a treasure."
The guards heard Thor's words and didn't try to stop them. They didn't even ask a single follow-up question. Silently, each of the guards extended a hand and pressed it against the massive golden door. With a deep rumble, the colossal gate slowly opened, revealing a vast interior shrouded in dim, golden light, like the entrance to a forgotten palace.
"Your Highness, please proceed," one of the guards said respectfully to Thor, without sparing a glance at Li Yue behind him.
Thor stepped inside first, and Li Yue quickly followed, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. This was the legendary Odin's Vault—his first time seeing it with his own eyes. He couldn't help but look around in awe, eagerly taking in every detail.
As the two of them entered, the great doors began to close slowly behind them with a heavy, echoing thud.
Outside, the guards finally let their composure slip.
"Who was that man just now?" one of them muttered, his formal tone gone. "To actually –gain the AllFather's consent and be allowed to take a treasure from the Vault…"
"I've never seen him before either," the other replied in a low voice. "He's definitely not from Asgard. Whatever he did to earn that reward, it must've been something big. I can't even imagine being allowed in there myself. Just stepping inside would be a dream."
"Wake up? Daydreaming in the middle of your shift—"
"Still… just imagine it…"
——
Inside the Vault, Li Yue noticed that wherever he stepped, the nearby walls softly glowed with a gentle golden light. It wasn't too bright, but it was just enough to clearly illuminate the path ahead.
"Whoa… pretty high-tech. Is it motion-activated or something?" Li Yue muttered to himself, glancing around. Then, remembering the guards outside, he turned his attention back to Thor.
"Hey, Thor… is it always this easy to enter Odin's Vault? I mean, the guards didn't even check my identity or ask anything. They just opened the door and let us through."
Li Yue's tone was filled with disbelief. After all, from everything he'd seen in movies and read in stories during his previous life, treasure vaults were always heavily guarded, with layers of security and countless traps. Anyone trying to sneak in would be riddled with arrows within seconds, turned into a human pincushion.
But here? Just two guards casually standing around, and they didn't even give him a second glance? No verification, no secret passcodes, not even a magical token from Odin. It was all too easy.
As he and Thor walked deeper into the vault, –Li Yue suddenly paused, a thought striking him.
"Wait… now that I think about it, Odin didn't give me any kind of token or proof of permission. Just said I could pick a treasure. What if this is all a prank and he's just messing with me?"
Li Yue squinted suspiciously, beginning to second-guess everything.
"Is this how gods test people? Man, if a trap goes off and I turn into a hedgehog, I'm blaming Odin."
Li Yue wanted to turn back and ask Odin for a token, but since they were already halfway there, he could only keep following Thor. He still couldn't believe the guards had let him in without so much as a single question.
Thor, walking ahead, finally turned and spoke, the earlier frustration in his heart already gone. After all, his envy of Li Yue had been a bit childish.
"In Asgard, nothing escapes my father's perception," Thor said, his voice steady. "Any outsider who dares –to sneak in and steal a treasure would be immediately discovered. Then Father would command the Destroyer, who guards the Vault, to eliminate the threat..."
Thor suddenly paused and let out a small cough, realizing mid-sentence what he'd just said.
"...Well, anyway, no one can escape the All-Father's sight!"
He quickly changed the subject before Li Yue could comment.
"Come, this staircase leads down. But just a warning—you'd better not fall out of Father's favor," Thor added with a teasing tone.
Thor had remembered, a bit too late, that the Destroyer armor had been shattered—by him, no less—and its pieces were still lying abandoned on Earth. He'd completely forgotten to bring it back. The memory made him feel awkward, and he tried to gloss over it with a cough.
Li Yue noticed the awkward shift but chose not to expose Thor's embarrassment. Instead, he followed him down the steps. The moment they reached the bottom and turned the final corner, Li Yue's eyes lit up in amazement.
What he saw took his breath away.
....
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