After Lin Rui and Loki’s conversation in the park, Lin Rui returned to a life that was relatively calm and stable compared to the various dramatic events he had experienced before. His days were mostly spent either attending school or working with Tony at Stark Industries on cutting-edge technology projects.
Occasionally, he would visit SHIELD and chat with the Chinese team there, discussing cultural aspects of China.
Beneath this tranquility, the plan to establish the Earth Federation was rapidly taking shape and being set into motion. Despite the existence of hundreds of countries and factions on Earth, the major powers were controlled by a very small number of nations and organizations.
Therefore, when these nations and factions united, there were not many obstacles to the establishment of the Earth Federation.
Furthermore, SHIELD and Stark Industries had technology far ahead of any other faction, possibly by decades. Other nations and factions, if they didn’t want to be left far behind, had to make significant contributions to the establishment of the Earth Federation.
Gathering the power of all Earth’s nations was a formidable feat, and Lin Rui could feel daily changes happening around him. Not only were various experimental technologies becoming accessible to the public, but ordinary people were also working and studying harder in the environment created by the Earth Federation.
As long as one was a normal person, they understood that once the Earth Federation was officially established, people from any country could be collectively referred to as Earthlings. When Earth entered the era of interstellar exploration, those who didn’t have sufficient strength by then would be better off staying on Earth.
Apart from superpowers like Captain America, Spider-Man, and the Phantom Knight, knowledge and technology were also forms of power. Normal people couldn’t obtain Superhuman-like strength, but they could acquire more knowledge and technology through their own efforts.
This way, when Earth entered the era of interstellar exploration, these individuals would have the qualifications to represent Earth in the cosmos.
In these peaceful and stable days, whenever Lin Rui had time to attend school, he would be surrounded by classmates who had suddenly become more studious.
It wasn’t about asking him to introduce Iron Man Tony Stark anymore; instead, they gathered around Lin Rui to ask for help in improving their academic performance. Youngsters around Lin Rui’s age were eagerly looking forward to the establishment of the Earth Federation, as they aimed to become protagonists of their era!
Earth was changing rapidly and noticeably, and as for Lin Rui himself, his power was steadily increasing. However, he was still far from reaching the level of breaking through the void and achieving legendary status. Besides that, the play he and Loki had planned was finally about to begin.
One month after Dormammu invaded Earth, while Lin Rui had already flipped almost half of Colorado, Loki in Asgard finally took action.
After preparing for nearly half a month, Loki launched a coup. He not only captured the four warriors under Thor but also imprisoned them. Additionally, he placed his mother, Queen Frigga, under house arrest in her own palace.
Originally, Loki’s coup wouldn’t have been so easy to succeed. However, with Heimdall, the loyal guardian of Asgard, injured and unable to intervene, and Odin absent, there was no one in Asgard to stop Loki’s well-prepared actions, not even Queen Frigga.
Loki executed his plan at a lightning-fast pace. When Thor, who was still on Earth, learned of the news and managed to escape and take control of the Bifrost to transport himself to Asgard, Loki had already seized Odin’s throne.
As soon as he obtained Odin’s Staff, Loki tore up the peace treaty with the Frost Giants and mobilized Asgard’s forces to launch an attack on them, reigniting the war that had just ceased.
Seizing the throne of Asgard was not Loki’s ultimate goal. To prove his abilities, Loki had to do something Thor couldn’t or wouldn’t do. Leading Asgard to once again conquer the entire Nine Realms seemed like the best way for Loki to prove himself.
As Thor learned of the situation and, with his strength nearly fully recovered, arrived in Asgard, he faced a series of blows from Loki. Despite that, Thor, who was already close to full recovery, wielded his hammer, Mjölnir, with great might.
He shattered Loki’s arranged defenses and entered the palace. However, Thor couldn’t find Loki; instead, he discovered his mother, Queen Frigga, unharmed but confined.
“Mother, where’s Loki?” Thor’s voice echoed loudly in Frigga’s chamber.
With Mjölnir firmly in his hand, Thor’s presence was exceptionally strong. Despite his battles against Asgardian subjects along the way, Thor had not killed any of them, as they were his people.
However, his inner anger had been building up ever since the time, a month ago, when he had stood side by side with Loki to face Dormammu. Thor had thought that their relationship had reached a harmonious point, much like that of normal brothers. Yet, after spending just a few days on Earth, Asgard had been thrown into chaos by Loki!
If it weren’t for the four loyal warriors who had always been faithful to Thor, fighting their way out to activate the Bifrost and transport Thor back, he might have remained unaware of the situation until Loki had full control of Asgard.
However, even now, Asgard was effectively in Loki’s hands, given the fact that Asgard’s army had been assembled and was confronting the Frost Giants.
“He should be in the main camp behind the battlefield. Thor, remember, Loki is still your brother… I hope you…” In response to Thor’s inquiry, Frigga spoke with evident concern in her tone.
While Loki wasn’t her biological son, Frigga had always treated him as her own child. Therefore, even if Loki had usurped power, she didn’t want the brothers’ conflict to result in an inevitable tragedy.
“Don’t worry, Mother! I will bring Loki back! But this time, we can’t simply lock him up!” Hearing Frigga’s words, Thor replied solemnly.
Swish!
In the next moment, Thor disappeared in a flash.
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