In terms of strength, Odin is undoubtedly one of the most renowned titans in the universe at this stage. He has steadfastly guarded the safety of Earth for countless years, just as he has protected Asgard for ages.
Logically, if it weren't for the quarrel he once had with his daughter and the injuries sustained from that battle, he might not have been on the brink of death so early.
You can see this by comparing him to Queen Frigga, who clearly remains in her prime, showing no signs of nearing her end. Among the pantheon, Zeus is still indulging in food, drink, and pleasures, with no indication that his life is waning.
As God Kings of the same generation, their lifespans should not be so disparate.
That battle's impact was tremendous. It directly shifted Asgard's strategy from expansion to defense, causing a ripple of problems later on.
Even so, the energy radiating from Odin's body now shocks Rowan. Odin remains an overwhelmingly powerful boss who must never be underestimated.
Don't be deceived by Odin's benevolent face today; back when he was 24, he was like Hela—an iron-blooded monarch conquering abroad, spreading boundless sacred and iron will wherever he went.
It can be said that the children born during different phases of Odin's reign were profoundly shaped by his evolving personality, each embodying a vastly different worldview.
Hela, born in the early days of Odin's wars to unify the Nine Realms, shares his iron-blooded, ruthless nature—believing only in absolute strength to subdue all. Yet she herself wields immense power, rivaling Odin as a true devil-headed force.
Thor, on the other hand, was born after Odin had subdued the Nine Realms, with all bowing to Asgard. Odin's rulership softened from iron to gentler guidance.
Most of Odin's veteran warriors who once fought alongside him have passed or retired. Few remember how fierce this old man truly was in his prime.
Rowan knows this well. Though he hasn't witnessed it firsthand, by referencing Hela, he can deduce that Odin's former violence must have dwarfed even hers.
Yet Rowan also wonders: did Odin genuinely fall asleep while the two brothers fought, or was he pretending?
Otherwise, how else could his arrival be so perfectly timed? Thor had just shattered the Bifrost when Odin suddenly appeared—moving so swiftly that Rowan didn't even notice his arrival.
Obviously, he didn't arrive by mere physical flight like Rowan but used some form of advanced movement magic.
Seeing that he had caught Thor—and Thor had caught the scepter, with Loki also holding the scepter—the two brothers finally did not plunge into the void of the universe.
God King Odin finally exhaled with relief.
He nodded to Rowan and said, "Thank you, Midgardian. I did not expect such a character to appear on Earth."
Odin's heart was stirred with emotion. Earth is one of his Nine Realms, and he pays close attention to it. The waters of Earth run deep; above all, he fears the Ancient One—an entity shrouded in mystery, harboring countless hidden monsters. Among them, creatures resembling the vampire's ancestor, immortal beings not quite gods but far more troublesome.
Yet ordinary people on Earth primarily rely on magic. Magic grants mortals power comparable to Dimensional Lords, such as three notable sorcerers.
But this was the first time Odin saw someone who could reach such heights through sheer physicality alone, even surpassing the Asgardian protoss.
Indeed, Earth is a realm of profound mystery. Odin bartered the title of Lord of the Nine Realms for the Ancient One's support—and likewise, he used his name to fend off alien invasions threatening Earth.
Many unknown titans dwell within Earth's boundaries. Long ago, a clan of ancient Dimensional Lords once roamed here. Though most were driven out, if any call their name, the existence of the Megatron Galaxy trembles.
"You're welcome!" Rowan nodded, meeting Odin's gaze directly—far more respectfully than when he'd merely observed from afar.
He dared not underestimate this venerable old man on the brink of death.
"Please allow me, old one, to bring these two children to you," Odin said, looking at the brothers.
Seeing the look in their father's eyes, Loki appeared fearful, like a child who had done something wrong.
No—he was a kid who had done something wrong.
"Father, I could have done it!" Loki shouted. He wanted his father to treat them as equals. He didn't seek privilege, only an equal chance. "I could destroy Jotunheim—for you, for us!"
If Loki's plan had succeeded, he would have destroyed Jotunheim, achieved great feats, and washed away the shame brought by his Frost Titan bloodline.
"No, Loki!" Odin shook his head firmly.
He rejected both Loki's plan and his mindset. He never entertained the thought of destroying Jotunheim.
Though the Lord of the Nine Realms—even in his fiercest era as an iron-blooded monarch opening new frontiers—he never contemplated annihilating Jotunheim.
Hearing this, Loki felt his soul shatter. All he ever wanted was his father's approval. He cared little for the throne itself. He just sought his father's recognition.
To hear he was still rejected, that all he had done was for naught, crushed him.
Feeling disheartened, Loki released his father's hand and was immediately sucked into the black hole, vanishing into the universe.
"No! Loki!" Thor cried out.
He saw it happen but was powerless to intervene, helpless to alter the course.
He could only watch his brother disappear into the cosmic void.
Moments later, Thor was pulled back by God King Odin.
"Loki, Loki!" Thor's voice cracked with sorrow as he searched the broken bridge for his younger brother.
He never wished to kill Loki or harm him in any way.
He only wanted to reclaim the throne—an object he considered a dangerous toy unfit for Loki's reckless hands. He sought to remove it from Loki's grasp to protect both him and all of Asgard.
But that did not mean he could accept Loki dying before his eyes.
Odin too was deeply saddened, yet as a God King, he could not show it openly. He stood silently, staring blankly into the cosmos below, his expression a complex tapestry of grief, regret, and burden.
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