6 Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge

According to Johnny's recollection, Asgard lay atop the Nine Realms. While there were secretive pathways linking it to other worlds, these passages remained unknown to the citizens of Asgard, making them unknown to Johnny as well.

Teleporting via the Rainbow Bridge offered the swiftest route, yet it carried immense risk. Contemplating this, a determined gleam flashed in Johnny's eyes.

Asgard would mark his inaugural step towards true strength.

Following a brief rest, Johnny found himself fully rejuvenated. An influx of energy coursed through him, bolstered by the power he'd absorbed from warriors and captives within Asgard, all of it converging within him at once.

However, Johnny found himself in perilous circumstances, lacking the luxury of time to gradually assimilate this newfound strength.

Emerging from the dungeon, Johnny beheld the majestic buildings of Asgard stretching into the sky. Everywhere he looked, magnificence abounded.

"Oh dear, I'm utterly clueless about this realm's layout, ignorant of its terrain, and clueless about the whereabouts of the Rainbow Bridge. What now..." Johnny mused, his frustration evident.

"Why didn't the system had a function to plunder the memories of these Asgard warriors?" he lamented, a fleeting daze washing over him before he snapped back to reality, wearing a despondent expression.

But soon, an idea dawned on Johnny.

"Asgard citizens appear much like ordinary humans, differing only in their divine essence. And now, I too possess a trace of divine power..." he reasoned.

"Perhaps, I can disguise as an Asgardian and gradually get the necessary information..."

With a smile playing on his lips, Johnny selected a path at random and made his way towards a towering golden edifice.

To Johnny's perception, Asgard bore striking similarities to Earth, save for its architectural style.

Well, that and the attire.

Yet, this posed no significant obstacle for Johnny.

The haughty citizens of Asgard would never fathom that an outsider could stealthily infiltrate their realm, dispatch dungeon guards, and brazenly stroll their streets.

With minimal effort, Johnny familiarized himself with Asgard's layout, pinpointing the Rainbow Bridge's precise location and...

Odin's subterranean trove, brimming with an array of treasures.

However, Johnny merely entertained the notion. He dared not venture into the underground vault, content to merely contemplate its riches from afar.

In such a crucial location, Odin would undoubtedly deploy strict defenses, even if he were to venture out with a large army.

Through conversations with ordinary civilians in Asgard, Johnny stumbled upon a significant revelation.

When Johnny mentioned Prince Thor and Prince Loki, the civilians' reactions were peculiar.

"How could there be a Prince Thor and Prince Loki? Under Odin's rule, there's only Hela Vanguard!" exclaimed one civilian.

Mentioning Hela elicited expressions of fanaticism and awe among the crowd, their fervor for her rivaling, if not surpassing, their admiration for Odin.

"With King Odin's Hela Vanguard, Asgard will surely reign over the nine realms!" proclaimed a fervent believer.

"Hela... Hela... Hela, the goddess of death!" Johnny repeated the name several times before realizing Hela's true identity: Odin's eldest heir and Thor's sister.

"Hela, as Odin's vanguard, is waging war across the nine realms. Could this be... the era of the Nine Realms War?" Johnny mused, stunned by the realization that he had inadvertently traveled to a chaotic period in history.

During this time, Asgard was ascending, Odin was at the height of his power, and Hela was rising in prominence. With Odin and Hela united, the conquest of Asgards unleashed decades, if not centuries, of war across the Nine Realms.

"It seems I can't linger in Asgard any longer. Odin and Hela could return at any moment. I must depart as soon as possible," Johnny concluded.

Gazing at the magnificent Immortal Palace, he cast his eyes toward the opulent structure nestled deep within.

"Odin's treasure house... I will visit it someday," he vowed silently before wasting no time in making his way to the Rainbow Bridge.

In Johnny's eyes, the Rainbow Bridge held immense significance as a vital link between Asgard and the Nine Realms.

However, as Johnny cautiously skulked near the Rainbow Bridge, he was surprised not to encounter the heavily guarded situation he had anticipated.

"How can this be? Where is everyone?" Johnny pondered silently. The Rainbow Bridge stretched before him, empty and devoid of the expected sentinels along its colorful expanse leading to the teleportation point.

In truth, two main factors contributed to the sparse presence of guards on the Rainbow Bridge, with only one gatekeeper in sight.

Firstly, the inhabitants of Asgard were inherently haughty. With Odin at the pinnacle of his power and ambition, every realm they traversed bowed in submission. The notion of an invasion into Asgard seemed inconceivable.

Secondly, Odin had led the army of Asgard into battle, taking most of its elite warriors with him. Those left behind were tasked solely with safeguarding the realm's dungeons and Odin's treasury, leaving the Rainbow Bridge sparsely defended.

For Johnny, this was the perfect opportunity, as it meant his departure through the Rainbow Bridge would be considerably easier.

Johnny lurked in the shadows, observing his surroundings. Initially planning to wait until nightfall before attempting to cross the Rainbow Bridge, he now saw no need for such precautions.

Disguised as an ordinary resident of the Asgard to avoid drawing attention, Johnny made his way swiftly from one end of the Rainbow Bridge to the other.

The short expanse of the rainbow bridge stretched across the starry river, presenting a breathtaking spectacle.

Yet, Johnny had little time to marvel at the sight. Keeping his composure, he approached the teleportation point at the end of the Rainbow Bridge.

"Halt! Who goes there?" a booming voice shattered the silence, causing Johnny's expression to falter slightly.