The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

Yang Le looked around. The throne hall of the Asgardian palace was exactly as he had left it. After all, he had only been gone for less than a day. Even if Asgard had the ability to change it, they wouldn't.

Behind him, the sound of the door opening echoed. Yang Le turned around to see Odin entering, alone, without even Frigga, the Queen of Asgard.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, child," Odin nodded to Yang Le. "Please forgive this old man with clumsy legs. I was the one who asked Heimdall to let you in, yet I made you wait."

Just ten minutes before, Heimdall had been hesitating about letting Yang Le, this uncertain factor, enter. But then Odin contacted him telepathically, ordering him to let Yang Le pass.

Though apprehensive, Heimdall had to obey the Allfather's command. He didn't delay, stepping aside to allow Yang Le to enter.

"It's nothing, I just arrived," Yang Le waved dismissively. The fact that Odin could command Heimdall to let him in made it clear that Odin knew what he was carrying.

Yang Le was carrying something that concerned the life of Odin's son, and the one who wanted to take his son's life was his own brother. Anyone, even Yang Le himself, would need some time to mentally prepare for that.

Odin said, "I hope you don't blame Heimdall. He is the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge and Asgard's first line of defense, so he is very sensitive to certain things."

"Of course," Yang Le nodded again. Responsible people were always more likable than irresponsible ones. Yang Le wouldn't hold such a small matter against him, thinking of ways to get himself killed. That would be insane.

After explaining to Yang Le, Odin turned his gaze to the hammer that Yang Le was holding. Even he couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

"This is the first time I've seen someone who isn't worthy lift a weapon with restrictions."

Yang Le smirked, placing the hammer between himself and Odin. He stretched and said, "To be honest, it wasn't easy. I used a lot of effort to pick it up."

"I can imagine," Odin nodded. "It's not as simple as picking up a glass of wine."

"Actually, the steps are similar," Yang Le blinked. "Both involve reaching out and picking it up."

Hearing Yang Le's words, Odin was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head, saying, "A good joke. Even an old fossil like me finds it amusing."

"Alright, let's get down to business," Odin said, his smile fading. "Child, where did you find the hammer, and how did you know about its existence?"

"I was investigating two mysterious organizations on Earth, and I followed clues to a Dark Elf spy hidden on Earth."

Yang Le gave the prepared explanation. Although Odin knew about things related to the multiverse, the identity of a multiverse traveler was a bit awkward, even if Yang Le had created that universe.

If possible, Yang Le didn't want to reveal his identity as a creator. It would easily create a barrier between him and others. He wouldn't show off his divine powers without absolute certainty.

Upon hearing about the Dark Elf spy, Odin frowned but didn't interrupt Yang Le's story. Instead, he did what a good listener should do: listen quietly.

"My friends and I used some means to pry some information from the Dark Elves' mouths, learning that they came to Earth to find a hammer. Following these clues, we unexpectedly found the secret organization I had been looking for."

Yang Le paused, pointed to the hammer in front of him, and continued, "In Antarctica on Earth, I found the secret base of those guys. I didn't see a single person there, but I found this hammer deep within the base."

"Then, I used a great deal of effort to lift this hammer. Just as I was about to lift it, I saw a man."

Odin's only remaining eye narrowed sharply. He interrupted Yang Le for the first time, asking, "What did that person look like?"

"He wore a suit of scaled armor and carried a sword with a spiral hilt at his waist," Yang Le said solemnly. "He called himself Cul, the Serpent, the embodiment of fear. He told me that I was not worthy and shouldn't lift the hammer, then banished me from that space."

"When I came to my senses, I was back at the base, but I still lifted the hammer because I knew there was more to it than met the eye, so I came to you."

After hearing Yang Le's story, Odin was silent for a long time.

"Alas..." Odin sighed. "What's meant to come will eventually come, even if I delayed it for thousands of years."

"Is there a story behind this?" Yang Le wisely inquired.

Odin sighed again, then told Yang Le the secret history of Asgard, which he already knew.

However, Yang Le only knew a rough outline. After all, the Serpent of Fear was an old story. Since he couldn't read comics in the Marvel universe, he was doing well to remember the general idea, so Odin's narration helped him recall the details.

"According to the prophecy, when my brother Cul returns, he will perish together with Asgard's most outstanding prince."

As he said this, even Odin couldn't help but feel his eyes turn red. Fratricide was the most terrible tragedy imaginable.

"I had hoped that Thor wouldn't be so outstanding, which is why I agreed to Loki's childish agreement with him, hoping that Loki could delay his growth. But who would have thought that this kid would be so ambitious, becoming Asgard's most outstanding crown prince in just a few centuries."

Odin couldn't help but rub his forehead. He was probably the only one in the world who felt exhausted because his child was too outstanding.

In these thousands of years, Odin felt proud and happy about Thor's growth on the one hand, and threatened by the prophecy, which was like a sword of Damocles, on the other.

This prophecy had tormented him for thousands of years. Now that he saw this hammer in front of him, Odin's mood was indescribably complex.

"Can't you destroy this hammer?" Yang Le asked. After all, if the hammer was gone, the Serpent wouldn't be able to descend.

"No, child," Odin shook his head. "The Serpent's descent is inevitable. It is a fact that must happen. His hammer cannot be destroyed before he descends, not even by me."