As soon as Gene was about to speak, Eitri—the Dwarven King—began circling him like he'd just discovered a priceless artifact. "This weapon of yours… it's brilliantly crafted!" he exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "A design worthy of a genius. Let me think… where are you from again?"
Eitri pondered for a moment. Then, his eyes lit up with realization. "You must be from Midgard, right? Only a Midgardian could create such a complex weapon." There was a glint of nostalgia in his eyes. "When I was younger, I spent several decades on Midgard. Their intellect is truly remarkable—I learned a great deal from them."
Watching Eitri lost in his memories, Gene finally spoke. "Thank you for the praise, but I'd like to speak to you as a stranger, not a craftsman. In my opinion, siding with Loki may be a choice for your people—but it's not a solution. Under a man as ambitious as Loki, the Dwarves' situation might only worsen."
Gene paused, then continued with sincerity, "But if you help Asgard now—lend them a hand in their time of need—it would be a lifesaving favor. All of Asgard would remember it. Even Odin, the All-Father himself, could not deny that debt."
Eitri clapped his hands with a hearty laugh. "Ha! Finally, someone who gets it. Much better than those Asgardian brutes who only think with their muscles," he said, casting a mocking glance at Volstagg standing nearby.
Volstagg shifted, clearly wanting to speak, but Sif, standing beside him, subtly blocked him from stepping forward.
Truth be told, Eitri's earlier talk of siding with Loki had just been a jab—a provocation. He understood Loki's nature all too well and didn't want him in power either. What irked him was how the Asgardians only ever came to the Dwarves when they needed weapons. This was his way of reminding them of the Dwarves' worth.
"So, if we help you now," Eitri asked, turning to the Asgardians, "Asgard will owe us, correct?"
"Yes," Sif nodded firmly. "All of Asgard will remember your help. Even Odin will thank the Dwarves for it."
A satisfied smile spread across Eitri's face. "Good. Follow me."
As they walked, Eitri barely spoke a word to the other Asgardians, but he chatted with Gene like an old friend. "Never before has a craftsman from Midgard stepped foot into our forge. We Dwarves forge the mightiest weapons in all Nine Realms. Interested in meeting some of Midgard's legendary blacksmiths?"
After their conversation, Eitri had already come to view Gene as a kindred spirit—another master of the forge. His tone had softened, his words more personal.
"Excellent!" Eitri said, his face brimming with excitement. "Our chat has given me a wealth of new ideas. You've even made me less annoyed with these Asgardians. Head to the armory—you'll find plenty of stockpiled weapons there. Enough to arm yourselves to the teeth."
As he spoke, Eitri turned to Gene with curiosity. "What about you, Midgardian smith? Do you have any specific needs?"
Gene's V-shaped visor gleamed. "Tell me... have you ever forged armor before?"
Nidavellir truly lived up to its title as the arsenal of the Nine Realms. The sheer number of weapons stored here was staggering—enough to outfit an entire realm for war. Through his scans, Gene concluded that these weapons could slice through steel like butter. Earth's alloys wouldn't stand a chance against them. He even spotted a number of weapons infused with powerful magic—a treasure trove for any mid-level sorcerer.
Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, and Sif each found their ideal weapons. Volstagg, staying true to his nature, chose a massive hammer as his main weapon and a longsword as his sidearm. Fandral and Hogun both opted for battle axes. Sif, the lone female among them, selected a finely crafted bow. With these enhancements, their combat effectiveness rose by at least 50%.
In front of the great forge, Gene opened his palm. A holographic projection of the 1.1 Armor blueprint he had designed—but never built—flashed into the air before Eitri.
Eitri's eyes widened as he absorbed the technical parameters and embedded technology. His mind, quick to grasp innovation, lit up in awe. He swiftly understood what this armor represented.
Gene wasn't surprised. As the King of the Dwarves, Eitri was the pinnacle of weaponsmiths. His people had designed the Infinity Gauntlet—a device capable of wielding all six Infinity Stones. Their knowledge was vast and deep. Their only divergence from Earth's development path was their reliance on magic-infused craftsmanship over modern science.
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