Loki, dagger in hand, moved like lightning amidst the panicked citizens of the divine realm. He surged forward, cutting his way into the city.
With each swift stroke, the towering frost giants fell before him. Though he was a mere speck compared to their immense size, his presence effectively halted the giants' assault on the city.
"Run! Flee to the mountains! Drop your belongings, grab your children, and run!"
Loki shouted, felling giants and urging the fleeing citizens to escape.
He fought his way forward, simultaneously battling enemies and rescuing civilians.
Suddenly, he spotted a队 soldiers fleeing amongst the crowd.
Seeing this, Loki was enraged. He leaped forward and kicked the leading captain to the ground.
The soldiers, furious, drew their weapons to attack Loki, but upon recognizing him, they quickly lowered them.
"Greetings, great evil god."
The soldiers bowed hastily, and the captain scrambled to his feet and paid his respects to Loki.
"You are soldiers. Are you to flee while your people run for their lives? Who will protect them if you run? Pick up your weapons, turn around, and fight!"
Loki roared, pressing his dagger to the captain's throat.
The captain, terrified, nodded vigorously.
Only then did Loki relent and charge back into the fray.
The soldiers, their faces grim but daring not to flee further, picked up their weapons and charged alongside Loki.
Loki continued to fight, rallying the scattered troops. Through his efforts, he managed to gather a considerable number of soldiers, forming a respectable force of resistance.
"Charge! Follow me! You are soldiers, the proud soldiers of the divine realm! This land beneath our feet is the divine realm; we have no retreat! The citizens behind us are waiting for your protection!"
Loki, covered in gore, his crimson blood stark against his green battle robes, looked utterly disheveled.
As Loki was charging, he heard shouts from behind him.
"Lord Evil God, please hurry to the temple for support! The frost giants have breached the temple!"
Upon hearing this, Loki turned towards the divine mountain and saw hordes of giants streaming into the temple.
"Mother!"
Loki cried out in alarm and flew towards the temple. His expression was fierce, his gaze sharp, devoid of his previous cowardice and evasion.
He had only one thought: to save his mother.
He did not love his brother and held many grievances against Odin, but his deepest love was for his mother. Let anyone else die; his mother could not.
Loki rushed into the temple, his blades flashing, cutting down frost giants. He finally carved through the enemy lines and reached the heart of the temple.
There, many guards stood arrayed, ceaselessly repelling the giants' attacks.
They were the most loyal guardians of the divine realm, never to retreat in the face of battle.
The All-Mother, Frigga, sword in hand, fought at the forefront, hacking at the giants. Beside her, young Arthur conjured lightning, striking at the enemies.
Seeing Loki, bathed in blood, charge towards them, Frigga felt both pride and heartache.
Pride in her son being a valiant warrior, his blood a testament to how many enemies he had slain.
Heartache for Loki, who was still wounded, his expression weary and anxious. What mother would not worry seeing her child like this?
"Mother, are you alright?"
"I am fine. Let us first eliminate the enemies within the temple!"
"Alright."
Loki nodded, leading the guards in a counter-attack, charging at the forefront.
He fought his way through, finally driving the giants who had invaded the temple back out.
Leaving behind a field of corpses, the giants realized the temple was a tough nut to crack and withdrew to wreak havoc elsewhere.
"Mother."
Loki, panting, reached Frigga's side, knelt on one knee, and embraced her waist.
Frigga cradled Loki's head in her arms and gently stroked him.
"My child, you have worked hard. You are the bravest warrior of the divine realm."
"Yes, Brother Loki is the bravest!"
Young Arthur looked at Loki with shining eyes.
Loki smiled at this, released his mother, and gently wiped a bead of blood from young Arthur's cheek.
"Young Arthur is also very brave. You are the true God of Thunder."
"Mhm!"
Young Arthur nodded vigorously.
Loki stood up and looked down at Frigga, speaking solemnly.
"Mother, you all stay here. Do not go anywhere. I will go to assist Father. Only by defeating Laufey and the demon commander can we win this war."
"Don't go."
Frigga quickly reached out and stopped Loki as he turned to leave.
"Their battlefield is too dangerous, Loki. Your strength is not enough to face such powerful foes. You will die if you go. I have already lost Thor; I cannot lose you too."
Loki smiled and broke free from his mother's grasp.
"Father is no match for Laufey anymore. If I don't go, he cannot defeat Laufey.
Moreover, I am not going for a head-on confrontation. Did you forget? I am the God of Mischief. How could I die so easily?
And... Mother, Thor is not the only one capable of fighting and killing enemies. I can too."
With that, Loki flew away from the temple and headed directly towards the battle raging in the sky.
Loki, who was once characterized by his love for his own skin and his penchant for schemes, proved his bravery through his actions.
Of course, with his combat prowess, if he were to face Laufey directly, he would likely perish within two moves.
But as the God of Mischief, how could he not have a plan?
He first transformed into the likeness of a frost giant, disguising his dagger as a giant's weapon. After a circuitous route around the battlefield, he stealthily approached Laufey from behind without attracting any attention.
Laufey sensed the presence of a frost giant behind him but paid it no mind, assuming it was there to help him fight Odin.
"I do not require your assistance. Go below and fight the divine realm's people."
Laufey commanded without turning his head.
"As you command, my king."
Loki replied with a sinister tone, then reverted to his true form and plunged his dagger into Laufey's back.
Hearing Loki's response, Laufey sensed something was amiss and immediately tried to turn, but it was too late. Loki's dagger had pierced his heart.
"ROAR!!!"
The intense pain caused Laufey to drop the Casket of Ancient Winters. Enraged, he turned and seized Loki by the throat, channeling his icy power into Loki's body.
He intended to freeze Loki into an ice sculpture to appease his wrath.
Loki's face contorted in agony as he struggled fiercely, but he could not break free.