It was still noon in the void.
Russell glanced around the modified underground cave, noting that the little wolf girl was absent.
However, in this Loki-dominated area, no one dared to harm her, so there was no immediate concern.
Seeing this, Russell decided against leaving just yet.
Though only a few hours had passed in the void, three days had elapsed on the timeline. Given his upcoming plans, which might require an extended absence, he intended to have a few more sparring sessions before departing.
He also resolved to leave a mental imprint on Mjolnir to protect the little wolf girl in his absence. Without this safeguard, he wouldn't feel at ease.
As night fell, the little wolf girl still hadn't returned. Instead, Old Loki appeared, looking distressed.
Russell's expression darkened slightly. He immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Sure enough, Old Loki apologized as soon as he arrived.
"I'm sorry, Thor. I shouldn't have agreed to her request so quickly. I should have consulted you first."
Russell had already told Old Loki his name, but the elder stubbornly insisted on calling him "Thor," believing him to be a variant of the god of thunder.
Recognizing that Old Loki likely saw him as a kindred spirit, Russell didn't press the issue or disrupt the old man's comfort.
"What happened?" Russell asked, his tone steady despite the rising anxiety within.
Old Loki wasted no time and explained everything in detail.
The little wolf girl had left that morning, saying she wanted to visit the mutant base to find an old friend. She asked Old Loki to teleport her there and to return later in the evening to bring her back.
Old Loki complied and waited outside the base, not entering himself. However, as night fell, the little wolf girl still hadn't emerged.
When he tried to enter, the mutants guarding the base blocked him, saying it was an internal matter and that he wasn't welcome.
Realizing the situation was beyond his control, Old Loki teleported back to seek Russell's help.
Russell didn't blame him.
The fault lay with the mutants.
"What do we do now, Thor?" Old Loki asked hesitantly. "Should I gather the other Lokis?"
Russell was now regarded as the uncrowned king of this area. His reputation as a Loki gave him a certain edge, especially when it came to avoiding TVA's notice.
His face grew cold as he shook his head.
"I hadn't planned on dealing with them," he said, his tone sharp. "But it seems they no longer deserve my restraint."
Old Loki's eyes widened, recalling the fury of the Thor he once knew.
Mutant Base
The mutant base lay hidden in a valley. Unlike Cassandra, who had used Ant-Man's giant corpse as a fortress, this group occupied an old castle—an eerie remnant of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
For reasons unknown, the entire structure had been displaced into the void.
The castle's upper floors had crumbled, leaving behind a vine-covered, dilapidated ruin. Only its underground chambers remained functional, repurposed as the main activity space for mutant prisoners.
One of these chambers had been transformed into a confinement room. Inside, a hulking figure with blue fur stood with a menacing sneer.
He was not Beast, but Wolfsbane—a mutant with animalistic features.
Beside him stood Agent Zero, spinning a butterfly knife in his hands with an air of smugness.
The little wolf girl, Laura, was confined within a magnetic generator, her fierce eyes fixed on her captors.
"Laura," Agent Zero began mockingly, "after all these years, you're still so naive. Polaris powers this entire base. Did you really think I'd let her go for your sake?"
Laura's expression hardened. "Coward! Shameless!" she spat. "If the professor were alive, he'd regret ever taking you in!"
Wolfsbane let out a cruel laugh.
"Alive? That old fool's head has been in formalin for ages. Too bad Cassandra's goons took it after she died. It would've made an excellent lecture prop."
Laura glared at them in silent fury.
The mutants here were far from the heroes they once were. Cyclops was dead. The others—Starlight, Dazzler, and Gambit—had vanished. Darwin's lifeless, lizard-like body hung outside the base as a warning.
Polaris, Magneto's daughter, had been turned into an infinite energy source, imprisoned in the depths of the base.
The once-proud X-Men had devolved into a shadow of their former selves, twisted and corrupted.
Russell's Arrival
In the brainwave control room, the leader of the mutants, Evil Cable, sensed Russell's approach. His mechanical eye scanned the intruder, but the readings overwhelmed his system.
"You're not a frost giant," he stammered. "You're… the one who killed Cassandra!"
"Correct," Russell replied coldly.
Before Evil Cable could react, Russell crushed his mechanical arm with telekinesis, yanking it from his shoulder. The mutant screamed in pain but managed to fire a psychic blast—only for his consciousness to shatter against Russell's overwhelming mental defenses.
His head exploded moments later, triggering alarms throughout the base.
Mutants scrambled to respond, but none stood a chance. Russell moved like a storm, cutting through them with terrifying precision.
Wolfsbane's confidence shattered as he faced Russell. His hardened bone armor splintered under an unseen force, leaving him a crumpled heap.
Agent Zero, desperate, held his knife to Laura's throat. Yet he couldn't breathe, Russell's telekinesis severing his airway without a word.
The electromagnetic generator sparked and failed, freeing Laura. She ran to Russell, who enveloped her in his arms before the two disappeared into the night.
By morning, the base was silent. The mutants, along with their twisted ambitions, had been eradicated.
Russell left nothing behind but echoes of his wrath, a reminder to all who dared cross him: mercy was not guaranteed.
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