Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Thor’s Asks for Help
But at noon that day, a beam of light suddenly descended from the sky, landing right in the middle of Stark Manor.
"Tony, something big has happened! I need your help!" Thor called out as he arrived, a serious expression on his face.
Tony and Bruce exchanged a glance, instantly realizing that the trouble Harvey had vaguely hinted at was finally here.
"Let's go upstairs and talk about what's going on," Tony suggested.
"Alright," Thor agreed, only just now noticing Bruce's presence. He was a bit surprised but nodded politely before following them inside.
Thor hadn't come empty-handed. He brought with him some fine Asgardian wine, which they poured into three glasses as they sat around a table. Once they were settled, Tony got straight to the point.
"So, what's the big deal this time?" Tony asked.
"Malekith, the Dark Elf, has awakened," Thor said gravely.
"Malekith? Who the hell is that?" Tony and Bruce both looked at Thor, their confusion evident.
"He's a powerful being who once battled my grandfather, Bor. He's the ruler of the Dark World, and his strength is immense," Thor explained, pulling out an old book and opening it on the table to show them some details.
"Wait, your grandfather's generation? That old relic is still alive?" Tony asked, clearly taken aback.
Any enemy with ties to Asgard was always bad news. First, there had been the Destroyer, then the Chitauri invasion. Now, they were dealing with an ancient monster who'd been around for millennia.
"Yeah, it's hard to believe. I thought he was long dead too, but apparently, they used some kind of ancient magic to put themselves into a deep sleep, prolonging their lives. Now, with the resurgence of the Aether, Malekith has woken up and is plotting his next move..." Thor's voice trailed off as his expression grew darker.
"Hold on, hold on," Tony interrupted, holding up his hand. "This Malekith guy sounds like a real nightmare. But shouldn't your dad, King Odin, be handling this? We're happy to help, but seriously—can we even take someone like that on? Also, what the hell is this 'Aether' you keep mentioning?"
Tony knew Harvey had warned him that something big was coming, but this was on another level. This was starting to feel like way more than they had bargained for. And if the threat was this big, surely Odin should be stepping in, right?
Thor grimaced. "I'm not sure what's going on with my father. He seems... cautious about confronting Malekith directly. As for us being able to win, well, we have to try, no matter what. We can't let him gain control of the Aether—it's a force that can bend and reshape the very laws of reality."
Bruce's eyebrows shot up. "Bending the laws of reality? That sounds... ridiculously overpowered."
"It is," Thor admitted, nodding. "If Malekith gains control of the Aether, it could threaten the entire universe."
Tony's curiosity piqued. "And where exactly is this Aether now?"
"It's inside Jane—she's in Asgard right now. Malekith will likely come after her, which means Asgard will soon be under attack. If he succeeds in taking the Aether, Earth will be next."
"Alright, so how do you want us to help?" Tony asked, a bit baffled by the idea of the Aether being inside Jane Foster of all people.
"I need you to put on your suit and come with me to Asgard. We're preparing for battle, and Asgard is on high alert. Malekith could strike at any moment. If you don't come, I'll have to return alone and join the fight, but I could use your help," Thor said, his tone urgent but sincere. He knew Tony's power had grown tremendously since joining the Void Church, and Bruce's Hulk would be a formidable ally as well.
"I've always wanted to visit Asgard," Tony said with a grin. "I guess this is as good a time as any."
"If Malekith is as dangerous as you say, it's not just Asgard that's at risk—Earth will suffer too. So yeah, count me in," Bruce added, nodding in agreement.
Thor looked genuinely relieved. "Thank you! Both of you. This means a lot."
"Give me an hour, tops," Tony said, standing up. "I need to grab a few things. To fight at my best, I'll need J.A.R.V.I.S. with me. And since I don't know how long we'll be in Asgard, I should let Pepper know what's going on."
Thor nodded, his spirits lifted by their willingness to help. Meanwhile, Tony couldn't help but marvel at how Harvey had seen this all coming. The man truly had an uncanny ability to predict the future.
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