Chapter 119: You Are So Weak It’s Laughable

"Loki, nothing will happen. I have traversed the Nine Realms so many times without any issues."

As Thor was speaking, the two felt the scenery around the stone circle begin to shift. Suddenly, they felt as if they were in an entirely different world.

"Where is this place?"
"A volcano? A desert?"
"You idiot, this is what you call 'no issues'? Look at where we are!"

Loki looked at the world before them. The light was dim, and the ground was covered in black gravel. They stood as if in the middle of a vast black desert; nothing could be seen but sand dunes and endless blackness. Thor and Loki had waited, only to arrive in a completely different world.

"This place... it feels familiar."
"Familiar?"
"Yes, I heard Odin speak of it. Is this the world where the Dark Elves once lived?"
"Oh, Thor, do you know what? Deciding to help you was a massive mistake!"

Loki raised the small dagger in his hand, itching to carve another hole in Thor’s kidney.

"What? What? Are you trying to stab me again? Let me tell you, I was prepared for that."
"Oh, is that so? Then I want to try even more. Brother, there is no one else here. I think Father would forgive the mistake I am about to commit."

Hearing Loki’s words, Thor smiled slightly.

"Impossible, Loki. I am the God of Thunder, the protector of the Nine Realms..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Loki suddenly vanished from before his eyes.

???

"Loki?"

Thor looked at the empty space, reaching out to touch it, utterly bewildered and full of questions.

"Loki? Loki?"

Thor called out twice, then spun his hammer and flew into the air. Suddenly, explosions erupted in the distance, and dust rose from the black sand hills.

"???"

Though he didn't understand what was happening, Thor flew toward the sound. After a series of explosions, Thor landed and saw familiar figures. Two Kel'Thuzads stood there, one on the left and one on the right, looking at him.

"Oh, what a surprise!" the two Kel'Thuzads, who had traversed the Nine Realms, said in unison.

While traveling through the worlds, he had encountered himself.

"Shit."

Thor cursed as he looked at the two Kel'Thuzads. He hadn't been this worried even when Jane had disappeared.

"What on earth is happening? Where did you take Loki!"

The incredibly naive Thor still believed Loki’s disappearance was the work of Kel'Thuzad. Spinning Mjolnir in his hand, Thor grew angry. The two Kel'Thuzad projections greeted each other and then looked at Thor simultaneously.

"Hey, what a coincidence."

Clearly, Thor was in a state of explosive rage. He decided to unleash his ultimate move. Although these two wizards seemed extremely difficult to deal with—and his hammer might not inflict damage, or perhaps he was just hitting projections—Thor was determined to smash them. Furthermore, being led by the nose by others made him feel deeply uncomfortable.

"You damned scoundrels, prepare to face the wrath of Asgard! You have forgotten the God of Thunder."

With his hammer raised and crackling with lightning, Thor began to brew his ultimate strike. The two Kel'Thuzads lifted their hands in unison. A massive amount of frost began to spill out into the surroundings. Ice formed and coiled, quickly covering a vast area around them in frost.

The two projections cast spells simultaneously, waving their hands slowly as more frost surged, flowed, and shifted. Finally, all the ice changed direction, rushing toward Thor. The two projections combined their power; in the dark world, the frost surged forward like a dragon. One projection guided the direction while the other prepared the next spell.

Without Loki, the mage, these two projections were still capable of trading blows with Thor. Thor’s lightning could not compare to the combined spellcasting of the two, and more importantly, this was the home of the Dark Elves. Kel'Thuzad, currently controlling the Aether, had gained the power of the Reality Stone. The Convergence of the Nine Realms gave him a better chance to manipulate it. Under the influence of the Aether, the frost seemed to come alive; at first just a speck, it began to spread further and further.

Kel'Thuzad wanted to spread the power of the frost to the Nine Realms, turning as many worlds as possible into frozen wastelands. This would not only solidify his disguise as a Frost Giant but also create an environment perfectly suited for the Scourge.

"What are you trying to do?"

As the world within his sight was visibly covered in frost, Thor suddenly thought of a question. Why did Loki disappear so suddenly? He was also a Frost Giant. Just moments ago, he had said he hid the Casket of Ancient Winters where only he could find it. So, could he be involved in turning the Nine Realms into a world of ice?

This thought made Thor realize something.

"Loki, stop hiding! Come out!"
"Cowards! You wizards, what is the point of hiding? Dare you fight me head-on? Come out!"

Raising his hammer, Thor began searching for any hidden presence.

"It seems you need to be taught a lesson to realize your mistake."

The two projections moved forward together, and more frost began to run rampant.

"No, no, no! It is you who need to be taught a lesson!" Seeing the two projections actually stepping out from the frost, Thor smiled slightly and suddenly swung his hammer. A massive surge of electricity exploded.

This was a powerful strike he had been brewing for a long time. Just as he had smashed the head of the fire giant with one blow, he could smash these two piles of bones to pieces.

However.

The thunderous strike Thor had prepared was blocked by the two projections raising their hands. Thor froze. The crackling electricity continued to explode between the three. The energy had no lethality against the elemental projections; instead, it made Thor tremble constantly. As the God of Thunder, he was actually afraid of electricity.

"See? You are so weak it makes one want to laugh."

The two projections spoke in unison and placed their hands on Thor's shoulders simultaneously. An immense wave of freezing cold washed over him. Thor’s eyes were filled with shock.

He pushed hard with both hands, sending the two projections flying until they crashed into a distant sand dune and stopped. The projections were elemental energy bodies; after being knocked away, they slowly floated back toward Thor, once again casting spells in unison.

Thor, having pushed the projections away, was stunned. He felt like he was doing it all wrong. Was his charged-up ultimate move less effective than a casual shove?

"Hmm..."
"No, I am still me; I am just doing it the wrong way."

Muttering to himself, Thor felt he had found the trick.