Marvel: Starting as a Time Criminal, Stealing Powers

The three-year deadline had arrived.

The exiled prince of Asgard had returned, now armed with powerful magic. Like a god descending from the heavens, he defeated the impostor god-king, exposed the conspiracy behind the throne, and made an indelible contribution to Asgard's safety.

Well… that was the most popular version of the story in the Realm of the Gods.

Asgard – Underground Prison

Russell had generously arranged a private cell for the "villain" of the story. But the man—Loki—curled up in the corner with a pale face, clearly not feeling thankful.

Russell didn't mind. He smiled and said,

"Don't look so scared.

Believe me, I'm doing this to save you."

Loki touched his swollen cheek and felt that the words were far from convincing.

"What do you want?" he asked, unable to suppress his nerves.

Russell didn't answer directly. He crouched down in front of Loki and gave him a warm smile.

"Come now, will you tell me where Odin is hiding? Or shall I go find out myself?"

As he spoke, he raised his palm, threateningly.

Loki didn't hesitate. He blurted out,

"Don't hit me! I'll tell you!

He's at Green Park Nursing Home in New York… somewhere in Brooklyn. I don't remember the exact address."

Russell nodded, then sighed with exaggerated kindness.

"Since you're being honest, I'll share something too."

"Believe it or not, Odin still sees you as his son."

He patted Loki's shoulder and walked away, leaving the God of Mischief in silent shock.

On the Bifrost

Russell turned to Skurge. "Have you found Thor?"

Skurge, gripping the golden sword with both hands and a tear-streaked face, replied,

"Almost! Don't worry! The Land of Fire is full of fire—I can't see clearly!"

Ten minutes later, Skurge suddenly lit up.

"I found him! He's in a cave, and there's a glowing monster in front of him—sparks everywhere! I don't know what it is!"

Russell replied casually,

"Oh, that's Surtur. The doomsday messenger of Ragnarök from Asgardian legend."

"W-what?"

Skurge nearly dropped the sword, turning around with a pale face.

"Prince Loki, you mean that legend is true?"

Russell slapped his forehead, then waved dismissively.

"Relax. You're not dying this time. Just teleport me there."

Skurge looked horrified.

Not this time?!

Still, he didn't dare question him further. He activated the Bifrost immediately.

Muspelheim – The Land of Fire

If there was a hell in the universe, this place came closest.

The realm was crawling with fiery beasts—magma monsters, skeletal undead, little flame demons, and sleeping fire dragons.

"In this land, I am king!"

"I, Surtur, shall bring eternal destruction to Asgard!"

As his hoarse voice echoed, the floor of the cage where Thor was imprisoned opened, dropping him suddenly. He hung by chains, writhing in pain.

He looked up and saw a demonic, horned humanoid figure, its body glowing like red-hot coal.

But Thor wasn't afraid. He grinned and mockingly shouted,

"Hey, Surtur! You lava-brained bastard are still alive?"

"I thought my father killed you half a million years ago!"

The Flame Giant sneered, sparks flickering in his eyes.

"You Asgardians are only good at talking. Odin must be dead of old age. Otherwise, why would a clueless brat like you show up here?"

Thor retorted,

"Even if you burn to ash, Odin will still live on!"

"He is the Lord of Asgard! The All-Father! The guardian of the Nine Realms—!"

BOOM!

A torrent of Bifrost energy shattered the cave ceiling.

Moments later, Thor saw a familiar figure step out of the light.

"Loki!?"

"You're not dead?!"

Eyes wide in disbelief, he watched Russell approach, still wearing Loki's face.

Russell placed a hand on Thor's shoulder.

"Thor… your dad is gone."

"What?!"

Thor's voice jumped an octave—he looked more shocked now than when he saw his brother alive.

A deep, guttural laugh came from behind them.

"Odin is dead… HAHAHA!"

Thor felt like he'd swallowed mud.

"Wait… Loki, wasn't Father in Asgard?"

Russell shook his head.

"That guy was a fake. Odin's been missing for three years."

Surtur stopped laughing.

Thor blinked, confused.

"Missing? Not… dead?"

Russell raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't I say it clearly? Odin's gone."

Thor rolled his eyes.

"Next time, be more specific. And by the way—he's your father too."

Russell replied flatly,

"Nope. I was adopted."

Thor sighed but dropped the topic.

"Fine. Just get me out of these chains so I can smash this fire freak."

"Keep dreaming!"

Surtur roared.

Flames surged forward, reflecting in Thor's panicked eyes.

"LOKI! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

He tried to summon Mjolnir, but it was too late.

Despair filled Thor's chest. Was he about to watch his resurrected brother be turned to ashes?

Then, suddenly—

A shimmering shield appeared, stopping the flames in their tracks.

Thor's eyes widened.

Surtur's hellfire—blocked.

And by Loki, no less?

This wasn't the Loki he remembered—the one who turned into a snake and stabbed people with tiny daggers.

No… this Loki was calm, powerful, and mysteriously competent.

Could he be fake?

Just then, Loki disappeared in a flash of green light, and the spell shield vanished.

WHOOOSH—

The flames surged toward Thor.

"ODIN, THIS IS DEFINITELY LOKI'S FAULT!!"

The flames engulfed him. Though Thor was fire-resistant, he suffered burns—and worse, his eyebrows, beard, and golden hair were gone.

Surtur laughed wildly, ignoring Loki's absence.

Mjolnir finally returned. Thunder burst from Thor, breaking the chains as he leapt forward.

But just as he prepared to strike—

He looked up.

And froze.

Loki hovered above Surtur, casting a spell Thor couldn't comprehend.

Surtur looked up.

A divine sword of golden flame materialized—and pierced through him.

He couldn't dodge.

He couldn't move.

"CURSED MAGICIAN!"

Those were his final words before the flames in his eyes went out and his massive body crumbled into searing rock.

Surtur was dead.

Thor was stunned.

Since when was Loki this powerful?

He was sure—even he couldn't have resisted that sword.

Russell descended, picked up Surtur's crown, and heard the system chime:

[Entry Looted: Flame Messenger – Remnant (Blue-Purple)]

The doomsday messenger, born of the shadow ancient god's curse in the Land of Fire.

Capabilities: flame control, ambient heat manipulation, semi-immortality.

Note: Full power requires fusing with the Eternal Flame and crown.

Weakness Removed: Prevents Asgard's destruction and avoids the fate of Ragnarök.

Russell wasn't surprised. He had hoped to bypass the Eternal Flame step, but it seemed he'd still need to kill the real Surtur for true power.

Thor came over and inspected the crown.

"I thought that was its eyebrow bone... it's a crown? It looks so… weird."

Russell gave him a side-eye.

"Look at yourself before judging others."

Thor gasped.

"My hair! My eyebrows! My glorious golden beard!"

Russell shrugged.

"If you waste more time crying, Odin really might be gone."

Thor snapped back to focus.

"What happened? Also—you died! I saw it myself!"

Russell calmly made up a story about being rescued by a sorcerer from another dimension.

It was full of holes—but Thor bought it.

Later, Earth – Brooklyn

In front of the Green Park Nursing Home.

Or… what used to be the nursing home.

Now it was a construction site. A kindergarten was being built.

Wearing a hat and sunglasses, Thor stared at it, dumbfounded.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

He began to fear that his father was truly lost.

That imposter was to blame. When he got back to Asgard, he'd exile him to Muspelheim.

Nearby, Russell—now dressed sharply in black—was crouching, staring at the ground.

"What are you doing?" Thor asked, confused.

Russell replied softly,

"I sense magic power… forming here."

Thor rolled his eyes.

"Magic from the ground? Please. That's chewing gum, not mana."

Russell calmly stepped aside.

"Stand here if you don't believe me."

Thor scoffed and stepped on the spot.

He always loved proving Loki wrong.

ZAAAP—

"AHHHHHHH!"

Thor vanished into a portal.

A moment later, a business card floated to the ground.

Russell stepped on it—and vanished through a new portal.

Sanctum Sanctorum – Second Floor

Doctor Strange, wearing his cloak, was deep in thought.

Should he make a dramatic entrance by shifting space? Or hide and float out creepily?

Maybe both?

Before he could decide, the doorbell rang.

He conjured a mirror to see the visitor—

A man in black stood calmly outside.

Strange's eyes narrowed.

Loki?

Wait—if Loki's outside, who just walked through my portal?

Before he could check—

The man in the mirror suddenly looked directly at him.

Then he smiled, mouthing silently:

"This is 177A Bleecker Street, right?

Then I'm in the right place, Doctor Strange."

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