Chapter 185: Thor the Genius

The number of Asgardian soldiers was staggering. Despite the long battle that seemed to have incapacitated many, only about a thousand had truly fallen.

Loki believed that if all remaining soldiers attacked simultaneously, even the lightning magic wouldn’t have time to strike them all. He had already devised a counter-strategy.

The lightning magic was clearly the work of that mortal mage. As soon as the mage’s attention was consumed by the Asgardian soldiers’ charge, Loki planned to use his invisibility to sneak up behind the mage and strike.

Taking out the mortal mage would naturally dispel the lightning magic. Then, with the soldiers storming the Rainbow Bridge’s control room, Loki could use Gungnir to activate the bridge and destroy Jotunheim. It would all end perfectly.

As the Asgardian soldiers advanced fearlessly into the storm, Loki left an illusionary decoy behind. With Gungnir in one hand and a dagger in the other, he stealthily approached George from behind.

“You lowly mortal, die!”

Loki aimed his dagger at George’s kidney, thrusting it forward with force.

However, just as the dagger was about to pierce its target, an inexplicable force halted its progress.

“Well, well, walking straight into your doom,” George smirked. His body rapidly grew in size, his right hand maintaining the ancient magic while his left hand grabbed Loki by the ankle, lifting him upside-down effortlessly.

“You vile mortal! How dare you—argh!”

Loki tried to aim Gungnir at George, but before he could act, George swung him like a hammer onto the Rainbow Bridge. The first impact disarmed Loki of Gungnir.

Before Loki could retaliate with magic, George picked him up again and smashed him down.

Once, twice, thrice...

By the time Loki appeared to be barely clinging to life, George finally stopped.

As a telepath, George had sensed Loki’s malicious intent long before the attack. He had already been pondering how to end this battle quickly, knowing that as long as Loki commanded the fight, the conflict could drag on indefinitely.

If Loki decided to unleash Asgard’s powerful weapons recklessly, the situation could become dire. But Loki’s obsession with stabbing kidneys had worked in George’s favor, delivering him straight into a trap.

“Alright, everyone, stand down!”

George deactivated the lightning storm and hoisted Loki’s limp body into the air, shouting to the surrounding soldiers.

Seeing their regent captured, the Asgardian soldiers halted their advance. Many had already been reluctant to fight against Thor, who had led them to countless victories over a millennium. Now, they saw an opportunity to stop.

“Heimdall, go to the palace and summon my mother!” Thor emerged from the control room, following George’s instructions, and commanded an officer in the ranks.

With Odin in the Odinsleep and Loki captured, Thor was technically still a banished prince. This made Queen Frigga, the All-Mother, the highest authority in Asgard.

“Yes, my prince!”

The officer saluted and sprinted towards the golden halls of Asgard.

Soon, Queen Frigga arrived aboard one of Asgard’s majestic, ship-like flying vessels.

“All forces, stand down! Everything will be decided when Odin awakens,” she declared, dismissing the soldiers and the gathered citizens. She then approached Thor and embraced him warmly.

“Thor, what has happened here?”

Frigga had been at Odin’s side throughout his slumber, unaware of the chaos outside the palace.

“Mother, it’s Loki—”

Thor recounted everything he knew about the situation.

After hearing the story, Frigga looked at the unconscious Loki and sighed deeply.

“I’ve always sensed something was amiss. Loki has always been so stubborn,” she said.

As the All-Mother and Loki’s first magic mentor, Frigga was no stranger to his schemes. While she lacked the combat prowess of others, she was far from powerless. She had suspected Loki’s machinations but had never anticipated he would go this far.

“Thor, I hope you won’t resent him. Loki’s actions stem from his origins—he is not your father Odin’s son. He is the child of Laufey, king of the Frost Giants.”

“What?!”

Thor’s eyes widened at the revelation.

“Mother, you and Laufey—”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Frigga slapped his forehead lightly.

“Loki was born small for a Frost Giant and was abandoned at birth. Your father found him after defeating Laufey and brought him back to Asgard to raise as his own.

“He hoped you would one day become king of Asgard, while Loki could return to Jotunheim to rule the Frost Giants, uniting our two realms and ending the cycle of war.”

“No wonder I always felt we didn’t look alike. And Loki never grows a beard—his complexion is always smooth. So, he’s a Frost Giant,” Thor said, his face lighting up in realization.

Then he grinned. “Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t hold it against him. Even if he’s not my blood brother, I’ll always treat him as one.

“Of course, he needs to stop causing trouble.”

“Good. Your father’s intentions were wise. Still, perhaps spending more time in Midgard will help you gain some much-needed wisdom,” Frigga replied with a hint of concern about Thor’s intelligence.

'Ah, Thor truly has the vibe of a genius who would fit right into the Guardians of the Galaxy,' George thought to himself after overhearing the conversation.

Just like when he first saw Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, George felt that Thor shared that same air of a well-meaning but often clueless "big thinker."

“Honored guests from Midgard, thank you for helping Thor. Please, come to the palace to rest,” Frigga said, turning to George and his companions with a gracious invitation.