"Frost giants from the kingdom of Jotunheim. A long time ago, my father led the Asgardian army to wage war against them."
Thor's deep voice carried weight as he spoke. "That war was catastrophic. Countless brave and powerful Asgardian warriors perished. My father gave everything he had to defeat them."
He recalled his unauthorized incursion into Jotunheim, where he faced the Frost Giants firsthand. The terror they exuded was palpable. Even Laufey's mere presence had unnerved him. While Thor wasn't afraid of their power, the experience had left an indelible mark on him. Now, in calmer moments, he shared his thoughts with his companions, his resolve firm.
"I want no casualties on Earth because of me," he said gravely.
"Well, I'll give you this much: the guy leading them is definitely formidable," Pietro remarked, his sharp eyes scanning the past through his gift of perception. The frost giant standing at the forefront radiated such a potent aura that even Pietro felt a chill.
Wanda nodded thoughtfully. "There's something about him... He was grievously injured, but now he's on the rebound. It's troubling."
"Impossible!" Thor snapped. "My father dealt him a near-fatal blow. For countless years, he's been too weak to recover. Time alone shouldn't have been enough to heal those wounds... Could it be—?"
Thor's face darkened as a realization took root. Sif and the Warriors Three exchanged uneasy glances, their own fears mirroring his.
"What could Loki be planning?" Sif said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Doesn't he know what he's doing?"
"He gave the Casket of Ancient Winters to the King of the Frost Giants?" Volstagg exclaimed. "He's practically creating an unstoppable enemy!"
"This is treason against Asgard!"
The implications were chilling. A bitter enemy of Asgard, now empowered by the most sacred relic of his people, could exact devastating revenge.
"This is dire," Fandral said, his voice low. "The Casket's power is unparalleled. According to our records, it froze the entirety of Jotunheim in mere moments during the war. If Odin hadn't intervened, Asgard might have been—" He trailed off, but the unspoken conclusion was evident to everyone.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on their human allies. Tony Stark's expression turned grim as he crossed his arms.
"Loki is a reckless fool," Thor growled, his frustration boiling over. "His actions have gone beyond personal vendettas. He's endangered Asgard and the entire cosmos. Imprisonment won't suffice this time. He'll need to face justice in front of all Asgard."
Tony's voice cut through the tension. "I don't care about your family drama, but we need accountability for what he's brought to Earth. Lives are at stake, and we can't let Asgard brush this off like it's someone else's problem."
Thor clenched his fists but nodded. "You have my word. Loki will answer for this."
Meanwhile, more than ten kilometers away...
A temporary camp had been erected behind the town. The setup was crude—a sprawling patchwork of oversized tents and makeshift shelters housing the evacuated townsfolk and a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Fear hung thick in the air. Families huddled together, holding their loved ones close for warmth. Amidst the cold wind and relentless rain, the crowd murmured anxiously.
Some residents speculated wildly about the events that had upended their lives.
"That metal monstrosity—it's got to be a top-secret military robot gone rogue," one man insisted.
"Nonsense," another countered. "It's an alien weapon. They're scouting Earth for an invasion!"
Others muttered about Tony Stark's possible involvement, weaving conspiracy theories around his advanced technologies.
Inside one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mobile information vehicles, Jane Foster, Dr. Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis sat, exhausted and uneasy. Jane and Erik, having worked closely with Thor before, were treated with a degree of deference by the agents. The interrogation had been brief—they had shared everything they knew.
Now, as rain pelted the vehicle's roof, Darcy slumped in her seat, lamenting her losses.
"All my stuff... gone," she moaned. "My clothes, my gadgets, my makeup. Do you know how expensive that was? Ugh, I'm so stressed, I think my boobs are shrinking."
Dr. Selvig sighed, his expression somber. He knew his laboratory equipment had likely suffered the same fate. The destruction weighed heavily on him—not just personally, but professionally.
"I wonder if S.H.I.E.L.D. or the government will reimburse us," he muttered absently.
Jane, however, was silent. Her gaze remained fixed on the rain-smeared window, her thoughts consumed by Thor.
"Do you think he's okay?" she asked quietly.
Selvig placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Thor's stronger than anyone I've ever met. He'll be fine."
"Maybe," Jane replied, her worry unabated.
Suddenly, Darcy nudged Jane with her elbow, motioning toward the computers in the vehicle. Jane's eyes widened as realization dawned.
...
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