Chapter 163: Witnessed With My Own Eyes

"With my strength combined with your magic, and Father here, we can surely safeguard the peace of Asgard."

"Why must you be so blind?"

"Father has protected Asgard's peace for all these years."

"We can do the very same when the throne passes to us."

"If you wish to be king, the throne can be yours."

Seeing Loki in such a hysterical state, desperately seeking his approval, Thor felt a pang of heartache and spoke up.

"Brother, I know you are willing to yield to me. You have always been like this."

"Yet Father has never acknowledged me the way he acknowledges you."

Hearing these words, Loki trembled inside and cried out.

"We can find another way to earn Father's approval."

"Come with me, Loki."

Seeing Loki's body shudder, Thor realized his words had taken effect. He reached out his hand and said.

"..."

Feeling Thor's heartfelt sincerity, Loki's original resolve wavered slightly.

Just at that moment, the crumbling Bifrost began to collapse completely. Losing his footing, Loki slipped and plummeted downward.

In a desperate panic, Thor lunged forward and caught Loki's hand.

The Bifrost shook violently. Just as both of them were about to fall, Odin grabbed Thor's hand.

"Father, pull us up!"

Thor looked up and saw his father, shouting in a rush.

However, Odin looked down at the two of them in silence, his gaze fixed on Loki at the very bottom.

Although he had fallen into the Odinsleep, he had heard everything happening around him quite clearly.

Loki had actually ordered the Destroyer to kill Thor. After committing such an act, if Loki were not given some punishment, he would never realize his own faults. Furthermore, a proper separation was necessary for the growth of both brothers.

Feeling their father's gaze, Loki instantly understood. He voluntarily let go of Thor's hand and fell backward into the river of stars below.

"Loki!"

Seeing Loki's action, Thor cried out in disbelief.

Noticing Thor's reaction, a faint smile crossed Loki's face.

Then, Odin pulled Thor up from the Bifrost bridge.

"Rest assured, he won't die."

"Though he is not of my bloodline, he is still my son."

After pulling Thor up, Odin looked at his visibly distressed son and spoke.

"Father... why didn't you tell Loki these things?"

Hearing his father's words, Thor raised his head to look at him.

"I have told him, but he only recently learned of his true lineage, and his thoughts are too extreme; he simply refused to believe it."

"He never committed any grave offenses in my presence—only mischievous pranks—so I could not banish him to Midgard as I did with you."

"Now, it is a rare opportunity to let him temporarily leave Asgard."

"By experiencing the wider world and growing through it, he will eventually come to understand."

"When you encounter Loki in other realms hereafter, treat him kindly."

"He may harbor malice toward others, but he is undoubtedly willing to protect Asgard."

Odin sighed softly and spoke.

Over the years, he had treated Loki no differently than a biological son.

The choice to pass the throne to Thor had not been solely because Thor was the eldest, but also because Thor was far more deeply beloved by the people of Asgard.

He could see that while Loki's nature was mischievous, his heart towards Asgard was not evil.

Yet, to be the King of Asgard, winning the love of the people and possessing sufficient capability were absolute prerequisites.

Loki was not of his bloodline. Even though Frigga tried to compensate by teaching him magic, his growth in power was much slower.

For Loki to fully mature, he would need to endure a much longer passage of time.

Presently, his own physical condition was deteriorating by the day. He could not wait much longer before deciding who should rule Asgard based on their fame and strength.

Originally, he had been content to let Thor take the crown so he could retire in peace.

He had never expected that right as Thor was about to ascend, his son would cause such a catastrophic disaster, forcing him to expend immense power and plunging him prematurely into the Odinsleep.

Now, he had been forced awake, leaving the chaotic energies within his body to continuously batter his frame.

Knowing that his days were numbered filled Odin with a lingering melancholy.

These burdens could not be shared with anyone else and had to be kept locked deep within his heart.

He only hoped he could live long enough to see the day Thor and Loki reconciled.

"I understand, Father."

Hearing his father's words, Thor finally grasped the depth of Odin's intentions.

"Thor, I must return to the Odinsleep for a time."

"Yet before I slip back into slumber, let us talk."

With that, Odin began to walk along the path and spoke.

"Yes, Father. What would you like to discuss?"

Thor nodded in acknowledgment and followed after him.

"I sent you away to be tempered, yet you have returned so soon."

"What on earth happened to bring about such growth in you?"

Father and son did not fly, but walked forward step by step.

"I received the help of some mortals, and I finally understood that your banishment was both a punishment and a trial, meant to make me realize the responsibilities I carry."

"Thus, soon after descending to Earth, I reclaimed the power of Mjolnir."

"I did not return immediately because I needed to repay the kindness of those who helped me."

Thor replied.

"You received the help of mortals?"

Odin looked somewhat surprised. That had indeed been his intention, but he had not expected his design to be seen through.

"Yes, those who helped me were three—no, to be precise, four people."

Thor nodded, pausing briefly to correct himself.

"Would you mind speaking of this in detail?"

Odin's interest was piqued.

"Not at all."

"I was able to reclaim Mjolnir so quickly mainly because someone told me of two ways to lift the hammer."

"One is to possess a righteous heart, and the other is to rely on unimaginable strength, using sheer brute force to lift Mjolnir."

Thor said slowly.

"The first method is indeed true, but the second method..."

Odin wanted to object, but thinking of his eldest daughter, Hela, he held his tongue.

He could be certain that even without his acknowledgment, Hela possessed the strength to lift Mjolnir by force.

"Who was that person?"

Odin asked immediately.

"I do not know him well; he is far too mysterious, and his power is so great that it exceeds anything I can imagine."

"I witnessed with my own eyes as the Destroyer was taken apart by him. I only know a name: Harvey Amberaca."

Thor said with a solemn expression.

"What did you say? The Destroyer was destroyed by the person you mentioned?"

"Are you certain it wasn't merely deactivated temporarily?"

"You mean thoroughly destroyed?"

At first, Odin had not thought much of Thor's tale, but hearing the final words, his expression shifted slightly.

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Seeing the look of profound shock on his father's face, Thor nodded earnestly.