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Chapter 22.
Li Yue had no idea about the conversation between Odin and Frigga. At that moment, he simply followed behind Thor and walked out of the treasure vault.
Soon, they reached the entrance of Odin's Treasury. As if the door had a consciousness of its own, it began to open slowly the moment Thor and Li Yue approached.
Outside, the two guards were still joking casually. But the moment Thor stepped out, their expressions turned serious and respectful, as though they had been standing in formal posture the whole time.
"All right, I've taken him to select a suitable treasure. You two are to guard this place well. Do not let anyone else inside. We're leaving now," Thor instructed as he exited.
Li Yue followed behind, and as soon as they were both out, the massive gates closed behind them. Thor turned around and gave the guards one final command.
"We understand! With us here, not even a fly will get through! Safe journey, Your Highness!" the guards responded solemnly, saluting Thor. They didn't even spare a glance at Li Yue.
Thor nodded and turned to leave quickly. He truly wanted to put as much distance between himself and Li Yue as possible after that insane lightning stunt.
But just a few steps out, a voice called after him.
"Wait, Thor!"
Thor paused, shoulders stiffening. He turned slowly, voice low and slightly defeated. "Ah… Li Yue. What now?"
Li Yue smirked. "Didn't I mention it inside? Your father promised to have the dwarves of Nidavellir forge a weapon for me. You're coming with me, remember? You can come find me tomorrow, we'll go together."
Thor's eyes widened a bit.
"Ah, well, I think I… have something important tomorrow. Yes! I just remembered—I'm busy!"
Li Yue chuckled lightly. "Well, that's too bad."
He sighed dramatically and began walking away.
"Your father also said that if you came with me, he'd ask the dwarves to forge a new weapon for you too. A bona-fide king-level weapon, in fact. But since you're busy, maybe I'll just ask Volstagg and the others to come with me."
Thor froze.
Then-
"Wait!" he blurted out. "I just remembered… I'm free tomorrow! Totally free! I know Eitri, the King of the Dwarves, really well. I can introduce you!"
From a distance, Li Yue nearly burst out laughing but kept his cool. "Alright. Just don't forget to come find me tomorrow."
He had saved this news for the perfect moment, knowing exactly how Thor would react. After all, how could Odin give only him a divine reward and leave his own son out?
Thor had mastered his godly powers and was already mighty with Mjölnir, but if he wielded a king-level weapon tailored to him? His strength would increase exponentially.
As for Odin allowing Thor to have such a weapon while still ruling… it made perfect sense. Odin had foreseen the arrival of Ragnarok and his own death. He knew Thor needed to grow stronger. And Odin no longer feared Thor usurping his throne—his son had matured enough to deserve it.
Li Yue didn't linger. He returned straight to his quarters, eager to explore the changes in his body further.
Thor, meanwhile, stood in place for a long while, a goofy grin spreading across his face.
"I really am Father's son after all…" he muttered proudly.
'A king-level weapon likely on par with the Father's Eternal Spear Gungnir…'
But just as he was reveling in his good fortune, his smile vanished.
"Wait… the Bifrost was destroyed! How are we going to get to Nidavellir?!"
Panic surged through him as he remembered the very bridge they needed had been shattered by his own hand.
"Li Yue! The Bifrost —how are we even getting there tomorrow?!"
But by now, Li Yue had already disappeared.
Thor was left with a sinking feeling. He could only pray Odin had a plan—because if not, his future weapon might remain a dream.
The next morning arrived right on time, and with it, a very sleep-deprived Thor.
Knock knock knock!
Boom boom boom!!
Inside his quarters, Li Yue was in the middle of meditation. His soul returned to his body the moment he heard the knocking, and he calmly rose to answer.
As expected, Thor stood at the door, disheveled and excited.
"Li Yue! Let's go! Let's go see Father together. He'll know how to get us to Nidavellir!"
Thor practically dragged Li Yue forward by the arm.
But Li Yue pulled back with a smirk.
"What's the rush? And who said we're going to see your father?"
Thor blinked.
"What do you mean? If not Father, then how in the Nine Realms are we getting to Nidavellir? The Bifrost is still broken!"
He stared, confused and a little desperate. He had completely forgotten the ability Li Yue had mentioned before—he never got to see it in action because of the chaos that day.
But now, he would find out.
"How to get there? Just like this," Li Yue said casually as he placed a hand on Thor's shoulder.
In an instant—they vanished.
Back in Asgard, Odin sat silently on his throne. His eyes narrowed slightly, his expression one of intrigue rather than concern.
"He actually has that ability?" Odin muttered under his breath, sensing the disappearance of both Li Yue and Thor from Asgard.
To his surprise, they hadn't come to him for help traveling to Nidavellir. Instead, –Li Yue had taken matters into his own hands.
"This power… it's very similar to the Space Stone's true teleportation ability. But I can't sense the Space Stone's aura within him. Strange... how is he doing it?"
Odin could feel the presence of every soul within Asgard—yet now, both Li Yue and Thor were completely gone, vanished from his realm entirely.
'They weren't just hiding... they were no longer in Asgard at all.'
And what baffled him most was the fact that they had done it without the Bifrost.
Meanwhile, far from Asgard, two figures appeared on a ring orbiting a blazing star—the legendary home of the dwarves: Nidavellir.
Unlike the dark, empty forge it would one day become after Thanos have a field day, Nidavellir was still thriving. Dwarves bustled across the massive star-forge platforms, the air alive with fire, sparks, and the clang of metal striking metal.
Nidavellir wasn't a "planet" in the traditional sense. It was a massive structure built around a neutron star—a burning celestial core emitting unimaginable heat and power. Surrounding the star were colossal, rotating rings, and it was upon these rings that the dwarves had built their forge-city.
Li Yue, taking in the spectacle for the first time in person, stood silently.
The neutron star burned furiously at the center of the system, radiating enough heat to incinerate anything unprepared. The energy it emitted was harnessed by the dwarves through ancient yet advanced mechanisms—used to melt the strongest metals and craft godly weapons.
Li Yue had seen it in movies. But this… this was reality. And it blew the fiction away.
He stared, lost in the awe of it all.
Thor, meanwhile, blinked as he looked around.
Only a moment ago, they were standing in Asgard. Now, they were here. The realization hit him like a hammer—Li Yue had truly brought him across realms in an instant.
"This… this really is Nidavellir…"
He looked at Li Yue with wide eyes.
"Now I remember! You never used the Bifrost to come to Asgard, either…"
The shock wore off, replaced by a grin of pure excitement. Thor's heart lifted at the thought of what this could mean.
"Hey, Li Yue after we're done here, do you think you could take me back to Midgard? You know…?" Thor asked with a sheepish smile, his mind already jumping to a certain scientist named Jane Foster.
Li Yue glanced at him, smirking.
"Huh? I think after today, you might not need me to do that. You'll probably be able to go back to her on your own."
Thor tilted his head. "Wait… what do you mean I won't need your help? How would I—"
Before he could finish the question, a booming voice interrupted.
"Hahahaha! Thor, my friend! What brings you here today?"
A massive figure—nearly three meters tall—walked toward them with a broad grin and open arms. His voice echoed like thunder through the forge halls.
Li Yue blinked as he looked up at the towering figure.
"Wait a minute… this is a dwarf? Then what are we, goblins?"
Compared to this "dwarf," even Thor seemed average.
It was Eitri, the King of the Dwarves, and their visit was about to begin in earnest.
"Hi, Eitri, my old friend! It's been a long time since I last came to see you. How have you been?" Thor greeted warmly, his voice full of genuine affection. "Today, I brought a new friend I'd like you to meet."
Despite Thor's slightly heavy heart, he still knew how to treat his friends right. He wasn't about to blurt out their intentions the moment they arrived—manners came first.
"A new friend? This one?" The towering dwarf king, Eitri, looked toward Li Yue, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"Yes, him," Thor replied proudly. "This is Li Yue. Don't underestimate him, Eitri—he's even perhaps stronger than I am!"
Eitri's eyes widened. He knew full well how powerful Thor was—the son of Odin, the Lord of the Nine Realms, blessed with divine lineage. Since coming of age, Thor's strength had been growing at an astonishing pace.
And yet, for Thor—who was always proud, sometimes too proud—to acknowledge someone as stronger than him? That made Eitri pause.
In truth, Thor had only recently begun to grasp how formidable Li Yue really was. Despite Li Yue's quiet demeanor and lack of boasting, the moment Thor witnessed him in action, he realized just how much power the man held.
Still, Thor remained confident. One day, he thought to himself, 'I'll surpass him. I will be the strongest!'
"This is King Eitri of the dwarves," Thor continued. "He's the best weapon craftsman in all the realms. My hammer, Mjolnir? Forged by his people."
Thor proudly raised the hammer in his hand.
"Nice to meet you!" Li Yue said with a friendly nod.
"Pleasure to meet you as well," Eitri replied, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
"Haha! Li Yue, since this is your first time here, let me give you a tour. We've got more than three hundred dwarves living here now!"
Eitri let out a hearty laugh and gestured for them to follow. Naturally, Li Yue accepted, and Thor trailed along.
As they walked through the vibrant forges of Nidavellir, Thor finally shared their purpose.
"We're actually here to build a king-level weapon," he said casually.
The words hit Eitri like a hammer.
"What?! Odin… allowed you to come here to forge a king-level artifact?"
As the ruler of the dwarves under Asgard's protection, Eitri had always honored Odin's decree—not to forge such weapons for anyone. It was a pact made long ago to avoid catastrophic misuse of such power.
But now… Thor was standing here, saying Odin had lifted that ban?
Could it be, Odin was preparing to pass the throne to Thor?
Eitri was stunned, but he trusted Thor. The prince would never lie about something like this. That meant Odin truly had given his blessing.
And beyond the shock, excitement bubbled up in Eitri.
Forging a king-level weapon wasn't just rare—it was every dwarf craftsman's dream.
"Of course! I never doubted you," Eitri said, his eyes gleaming.
"Hahaha, come! Let's get to the forge!"
He turned eagerly and led them toward the heart of the foundry.
"Ah—almost forgot," Thor added, glancing at Li Yue. "My father also asked if you could help build a weapon for Li Yue as well."
Eitri's steps faltered for a moment. He turned to Li Yue, clearly surprised.
Another king-level weapon?
But he said nothing—only nodded silently and continued walking.
Soon, they arrived at the central forge chamber.
Dozens of dwarves were hard at work—hammers striking anvils, molten metal pouring into molds, robotic arms assisting with precision welding. Unlike the ancient, primitive forges of myth, this place was more like a hybrid between magic and sci-fi—a symphony of fire and advanced craftsmanship.
Li Yue was surprised. He had imagined medieval-style blacksmithing, but this looked more like a high-tech factory with master artisans at work.
"Everyone, pause your work! We've got something big to handle!" Eitri's voice boomed through the chamber, and the dwarves immediately stopped, turning to listen.
Then Eitri turned to Li Yue.
"All right, tell me—what kind of weapon are we building?"
Li Yue stepped forward, a serious look in his eyes.
"I need to build a..."
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