Daniel's words made Stark ponder deeply. After a while, Stark sighed heavily, looking frustrated. Tony Stark, the richest man in the USA and a constant top name on the Forbes list, often considered the richest individual on Earth, had never worried about money before. But now, he realized he was essentially a pauper.
While Stark is considered Earth's wealthiest person, this is under the condition that it is on an individual basis. There are many entities richer than Stark when considering corporate or family wealth, but Stark Industries' wealth is solely his. Comparatively, other wealthy entities are often family-owned or corporately held assets.
Black Panther, for instance, is richer than Stark, but that wealth belongs to his nation, not him personally. Individual wealth, no matter how substantial, pales compared to a country's resources.
Afterwards, Daniel and Stark began wandering around Asgard, taking pictures at some scenic spots with Odin's permission. In terms of technology, as newcomers, they couldn't access Asgard's advanced technologies. They did, however, see some equipment like berserker staffs and starships but couldn't delve deeper into understanding them. This left Stark quite frustrated. Even though Daniel had told him that Asgardian technology wasn't compatible with his, it felt disappointing to leave an alien planet empty-handed.
If Thor had been with them, they might have been able to discuss this with him, but Thor was entirely focused on Jane and had no time for Daniel and Stark. Jane, on the other hand, was enjoying preferential treatment. Thor granted her every request, showing her Asgard's research facilities and the Soul Forge.
"Behave yourselves; this isn't a place for your antics." Daniel stood in front of the palace hall, watching as Asgardian soldiers escorted a group of captives to Asgard's dungeon.
"The cursed warrior must have infiltrated," Daniel mused, recalling parts of "Thor: The Dark World." Malekith, the Dark Elf leader, would use the cursed stone to transform one of his soldiers into a cursed warrior, infiltrate Asgard's dungeons, break out the prisoners, and create chaos to capture Jane, who was infused with the Aether. Frigga, Thor's mother, would die protecting Jane.
"It's a pity I can't warn Odin ahead of time to raise the alert." Without concrete evidence, Odin wouldn't believe in the Dark Elves' return, let alone Daniel's source of information.
"Tony has some guts, challenging Asgardians to a drinking contest. Impressive." Stark wasn't with Daniel because he was still unconscious. The Asgardians' drinking prowess, though not personally witnessed by Daniel, was well-known. Sif had invited Daniel for a drink, which he declined, despite being looked down upon. To Asgardians, being able to drink heavily was a sign of true manhood and heroism. Thor's popularity in Asgard, apart from being a prince, also stemmed from his ability to drink with his men. Loki, unable to match this, never gained the same acceptance.
Stark, goaded into the challenge, soon found himself knocked out. To Asgardians, who could drink for weeks on end, Stark's drinking capacity was laughable.
"It's starting." One evening, after dinner, alarms sounded, indicating an invasion. Odin and Thor appeared quickly. Despite Thor's concerns for Jane, he had a duty to protect Asgard.
"The dungeons have been breached, and all prisoners have escaped. Unknown enemies are invading." A guard reported to Odin and Thor. Thor decided to inspect the dungeons, knowing that many dangerous criminals were imprisoned there, including his brother Loki, whose safety he still cared about despite their differences. Odin, meanwhile, went to confront the invaders.
"Such a hassle." Looking at the still-unconscious Stark, Daniel hesitated before creating a golden portal to his base on another planet, safely relocating Stark there.
"Now I can act." With prisoners now battling Asgardian guards in the palace, Daniel moved quickly towards Frigga's quarters.
"Hand over the Aether." Inside Frigga's palace, the cursed warrior coldly demanded the Aether after defeating the guards. As Odin's queen, Frigga was powerful, one of Asgard's few sorceresses who had taught Loki his magic. But the cursed warrior, immune to most magic and physically stronger, was a formidable opponent.
The cursed warriors, created with the cursed stone, were formidable. Only Odin could defeat one in a one-on-one fight. The cursed stone, supposedly made from the Aether, gave its user immense strength at the cost of burning their life force. Even the long-lived Dark Elves had short lifespans after using it. For humans, using the cursed stone would result in death before fully utilizing its power.
"Never." Despite being at a disadvantage, Frigga refused to surrender the Aether, knowing the catastrophe it would bring if it fell into the Dark Elves' hands.
"Then die." The cursed warrior aimed to kill Frigga, but Daniel, having arrived just in time, used his Ope Ope no Mi powers to swap Frigga with a nearby stool.
Bang.
The cursed warrior's strike hit the stool instead.
"Your Majesty, please leave." Daniel, using "Shave," appeared in front of the cursed warrior, his right fist glowing black as he punched the cursed warrior's head.
Bang.
The powerful blow echoed through the palace, but it only pushed the cursed warrior back a few steps.
"What a tough body." Daniel realized the cursed warrior was even stronger than he anticipated. He used his "Room" ability to try to slice the warrior, but it was ineffective.
Seeing the warrior ready to counterattack, Daniel used the spatial swap ability again, replacing the warrior with another stool, causing the warrior to punch the wall instead.
"Room, Death Blade." Taking advantage of the moment, Daniel used his newly developed ability, forming a golden blade in his right hand and stabbing the warrior in the head.
Roar.
The cursed warrior roared in fury, swinging wildly and causing massive destruction.
"He still isn't dead?" Daniel, panting, watched the rampaging warrior in disbelief. The Death Blade was powerful but also exhausting, and Daniel could only use it once in a short period.
The Ope Ope no Mi's powers weren't incapable of killing, with techniques like Gamma Knife and Heart Shock having lethal effects.
"He's not dead but seems insane. Room, slaughterhouse." Watching the palace crumble, Daniel used his powers again, kicking the cursed warrior's dropped sword outside and swapping it with the warrior, throwing him out of the palace.
Frigga's palace, located high above Asgard, offered a view of the city below. The cursed warrior, now outside, couldn't return easily.
After tossing the warrior out, Daniel considered repairing the palace but decided against it. Just then, Thor arrived, landing with his hammer ready to fight, only to find Daniel alone.
"Are you okay?" Thor asked, seeing Daniel panting heavily.
"I'm fine. I threw the enemy out. Go check if he's still there." Daniel pointed below.
"Got it." Thor leaped down with his hammer.
"As my strength grows, so does the power of the Ope Ope no Mi." While Apparition from Harry Potter could teleport, it was slower compared to the Ope Ope no Mi's instantaneous spatial swaps, which could also target enemies.
"This ability is like a certain second pillar's eye powers, but without any limitations." As long as he had enough stamina, Daniel could swap as many times as needed.
Moreover, with his growing power, Daniel discovered a new aspect of the spatial swap—it could handle multiple targets at once. If Robin and Ida were within the "Room" area, he could swap them both to his side in a single exchange, as long as he treated them as a single entity.
The same applied to more people, with the only difference being the increased stamina consumption. This was a feat even Kamar-Taj's dimensional magic couldn't achieve.
With proper coordination, it was perfect for ambushes—an enemy surrounded by allies instantly.
"That guy." After the cursed warrior disappeared, Daniel used Apparition to return to the room where Stark had been, reopened the portal, and brought Stark back.
Seeing the area was safe, Daniel left. The palace chaos was nearly over, with only sporadic fights remaining. Most escaped prisoners had been recaptured or killed.
Outside, the battle also wound down. The Dark Elves' ships had created chaos to distract from the cursed warrior's mission. Initially, they had the upper hand, but Asgard's anti-aircraft fire eventually shot down all but one ship, which escaped.
However, the cursed warrior seemed to have escaped too; Thor couldn't find him.
"I heard from Frigga that you saved her." After dealing with the aftermath, Thor stayed with Jane, while Odin summoned Daniel privately.
"Thor is my friend. Saving people is the right thing to do. Besides, I believe the queen would have found a way even without me."
Saving Frigga was immensely beneficial for Daniel. As a powerful sorceress, her magic was entirely different from Kamar-Taj's, not to mention Asgard's runic texts.
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"Odin, that guy... I was just being polite, and he left without saying anything." Leaving Odin, Daniel Davis couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Originally, if Odin had mentioned a reward, he would have taken the opportunity to ask for a cosmic star map or a trip to the Void or the capital of the Nova Empire, Xandar.
Given his current strength, just visiting these places once would allow him to travel freely without needing a spaceship. In this respect, dimensional magic is incredibly powerful.
However, since Odin didn't bring it up, Daniel also couldn't mention it himself. Though he felt a bit regretful, there was nothing to be done now.
Perhaps because Daniel had saved Queen Frigga, Odin never again mentioned sending Daniel and Stark back to Midgard.
After Stark woke up and heard what had happened, he felt very remorseful. When the Asgardians invited him to drink again, he immediately refused, clearly frightened by the experience.
As time passed, Jane's condition worsened. Concerned, Thor suggested taking Jane back to Earth to see if there were any ways to save her, but Odin refused and ordered Heimdall to close the Bifrost to prevent Thor from using it secretly.
Thor was very upset about Odin's decision, but no matter how much he pleaded, Odin remained unmoved, even when Frigga tried to persuade him.
For Odin, the Aether was related to the safety of the Nine Realms and the entire universe. With the Dark Elves reappearing, he would never allow them to get their hands on the Aether.
If Jane returned to Earth, the Aether's danger aside, if the Dark Elves learned of it and invaded Earth to obtain the Aether, the entire Nine Realms would be in danger.
Odin was very clear about the importance of personal safety versus the safety of the entire world. Although such decisions were very unpleasant, as the king of Asgard and the Nine Realms, Odin had to consider his people.
Moreover, if Asgard couldn't solve Jane's problem, Midgard certainly couldn't. At this time, Odin conveniently forgot about a certain bald-headed figure that always frustrated him.
Daniel had also examined Jane's condition using the powers of the Operation Fruit and concluded that he had no way to help her. The power of the Aether was beyond what he could handle at this moment.
Thor, of course, wouldn't give up easily. Seeing that Odin was immovable, he went to Frigga. After much pleading, Frigga finally softened and gave Thor a suggestion.
Asgard couldn't solve Jane's problem, but the Dark Elves might. Thor was very happy to hear this. However, with the Bifrost sealed, he had no way to take Jane to the Dark Elves' world.
Frigga then suggested that Thor seek out Loki, who had other ways to travel between the Nine Realms.
Frigga also mentioned that if Loki helped deal with the Dark Elves, this achievement might lead Odin to lift his imprisonment.
Concerned about Jane's life and his brother's freedom, Thor agreed after some consideration.
Seeing Thor agree, Frigga secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although Loki was only an adopted son, Frigga's affection for him over the years was no less than for Thor. Loki had been very attached to Frigga as a child, and he learned all his magical abilities from her.
However, the crime Loki committed this time was too great—colluding with Thanos, which was a major crime in the universe. Even Frigga couldn't plead for him.
The appearance of the Aether presented an opportunity. If the brothers could work together to solve the Dark Elves problem, even Odin, as stubborn as he was, would recognize their achievement and likely release Loki. This achievement would also reduce opposition within Asgard.
"Help deal with the Dark Elves?" Frigga found Daniel while Thor was consulting Loki. Hearing her words, Daniel couldn't believe it.
"That's right. We cannot let the Dark Elves obtain the Aether. With your strength and the magic from Kamar-Taj, it wouldn't be difficult to steal the Aether if you hide and act stealthily."
Frigga indeed wanted to help her son, but she also didn't want the Aether to fall into the hands of the Dark Elves.
"But I don't know invisibility magic. I can't follow them quietly." Daniel's words were a lie. The Invisibility Charm from the Harry Potter world was indeed invisibility magic.
"I know. I can teach you this." To help her son, Frigga was willing to go all out. She directly taught him the illusion magic that Loki often used.
"Alright, I understand. I will do my best to help them." Previously, Daniel had been worried about what would happen if Frigga didn't die. Hearing Frigga's words, he understood the situation. This outcome was ideal for Daniel since Jane wouldn't have to die due to his intervention.
"Illusion magic is…" After Daniel agreed, Frigga immediately taught him the magic. Asgard's illusion magic was far more magical than that of the Harry Potter world and much harder to learn. Fortunately, Daniel was a disciple of Kamar-Taj, and Frigga was a very skilled witch. He mastered it in a short time.
"Loki, this is your only chance. I hope you and your brother will cooperate well and not have any ulterior motives. If you fail and the Dark Elves obtain the Aether, Asgard will be finished." In the prison, Frigga sternly instructed Loki upon seeing him.
"Then why not just kill the woman? Isn't that the simplest way?"
"Shut up." Loki's words made Frigga very angry.
Under Frigga's stern gaze, Loki reluctantly lowered his head. If anyone in Asgard could make Loki fully obedient, it was undoubtedly Frigga.
"He will cooperate with you to avoid any problems. Remember, if you pull any tricks again, I will never forgive you." Under Frigga's gaze, Daniel and Loki reached an agreement. Daniel learned from Loki the location to travel to the other Nine Realms.
To ensure smooth cooperation, Daniel went ahead to wait there. To facilitate Daniel's actions, Frigga specifically allowed Asgard's researchers to assist Stark, thus keeping him occupied.
"Hitting so hard… Is Odin too old?" Hiding in the place Loki had indicated, Daniel watched as Thor, Loki, and Jane were attacked by several aircraft. He immediately used illusion magic to conceal himself.
Taking Loki out of the dungeon was no simple task, especially after a recent jailbreak incident. Fortunately, Thor had four loyal followers. With Sif and others acting as decoys, they attracted a large number of Asgardian guards, giving Thor a chance to take Loki and Jane away.
The reason Frigga had Daniel cooperate with Loki was simple. Though illusion magic was powerful, Loki could also use it, making it hard to hide from him. In fact, even Thor could detect abnormalities if he focused, having been tricked by Loki's illusions many times.
"A secret passage… It turns out it's magic." Loki's secret passage was actually a spell, given to him by Frigga due to his playful nature.
Daniel didn't expect to learn this magic, as it was based entirely on Asgardian magic systems. Unless Asgard allowed him to start from scratch, he had no chance of learning it.
Svartalfheim, the realm of the Dark Elves, was perpetually dark. When Bor eradicated the Dark Elves, he left the planet in darkness.
Although it was perpetually dark, it wasn't pitch-black. It was more like twilight, allowing visibility over a certain distance.
On their journey, Loki was very restless, causing trouble and angering Thor. Jane, terrified by Loki, the mastermind behind the Battle of New York, clung to Thor.
"Asgardians, you are bold to bring the Aether here." Soon, Thor and his group encountered the Dark Elves. Perhaps sensing the Aether's approach, Malekith appeared directly with the Kursed by his side.
"This is bad. That's my fully-powered Death Blade." Watching the Kursed quietly standing by Malekith, Daniel was shocked.
What Daniel didn't know was that the Kursed appeared unscathed only because Malekith had expended great effort to restore him. If it were the past, Malekith wouldn't have gone to such lengths. However, with only one last Kursed Stone remaining, he had no choice.
"I am Thor, the God of Thunder. I am here to…" Thor stepped forward, but before he could finish, Loki suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed him from behind.
Thor roared in pain and fought Loki. During the battle, Loki severed Thor's right hand, causing Mjölnir to fall to the ground.
Finally, Loki stabbed Thor in the chest, and Thor fell to the ground of Svartalfheim, looking unwilling.
"Loki, you…" Jane, watching in horror, couldn't believe the brothers, who seemed to be cooperating, were now killing each other.
"I am Loki, a prince of Asgard, but not an Asgardian, rather a Jotun. By the way, I saw this guy in prison before." Loki revealed his true form, with blue skin, and grabbed Jane, walking towards Malekith.
"What do you want?" Malekith looked at Thor's fallen body, then at the Kursed, who nodded, and asked.
"My purpose is simple. The woman is yours, and I don't need the Aether. However, Asgard is mine, and you must not attack Asgard."
"Agreed." Malekith didn't doubt Loki's words. The whole Nine Realms knew of the blood feud between Asgard and the Frost Giants. The recent death of the Frost Giant king had only led
to a ceasefire between them.
Malekith signaled his Dark Elf warriors to take Jane from Loki. Seeing no trickery, he looked at Jane, or rather at the Aether within her.
As the leader of the Dark Elves, Malekith could sense the Aether. That's why he had sent the Kursed to Asgard. If Jane hadn't gone to Asgard, Malekith would have targeted Earth immediately. Asgard required spies, but he didn't care as much about Earth, which inadvertently avoided another alien invasion.
Compared to the Chitauri, the Dark Elves, though fewer in number, were much stronger.
As Malekith raised his hands, Jane floated in the air. Black Aether slowly emerged from her body and moved towards Malekith's hands.
"Such a convincing act. Loki is truly impressive; even I almost believed it." Loki and Thor's fight was so realistic that Daniel might have believed Loki's betrayal if he hadn't seen the real Thor hiding with him.
Watching the movie, he had genuinely thought Loki had betrayed Thor.
"Ha ha, our era has finally arrived." With the Aether in hand, Malekith was ecstatic, completely ignoring the fallen Jane.
Jane was now weak after the Aether was suddenly extracted from her.
"The Dark Elves can indeed wield the true power of the Reality Stone. It's a pity I can't learn about the Reality Stone from this race." With Thor and Loki involved, Daniel couldn't interfere. Moreover, the Dark Elves weren't weaklings. Without full effort, he could end up in trouble.
Besides, everything happening here might be under Heimdall's watchful eyes. Whether Odin knew Frigga's plan, Daniel wasn't sure.
"Kill them." With the Aether in hand, Malekith disregarded his promise to Loki. To him, a mere Frost Giant was not qualified to negotiate. He ordered the Kursed to kill them and prepared to leave.
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