"Well, if I'm correct, he's biding his time. You know, waiting this one out until he finds an army powerful enough to force our hand," he says.
Odin leans forward, and with knowing eyes, he says, "And?"
"When we were driving earlier, we thought he might be tracking us. This might sound odd, but we thought the hellhounds had something to do with all of this," he says.
Finally, Odin slams his cane into the ground and stands. He looks triumphant as a tall oak tree. "The hellhounds are the least of your worries. Now you see why I am so angry. The situation is even more dire than you can imagine. Regrettably, I am too old and weary to do anything about it. I must pass on the torch to you," he says.
"So give us your trust, father," Loki says. "Teach us what to do."
"You were right about Lucifer. He is, indeed using everything he can to track your every move. The hounds lend the power of scent, but there are other methods of following you."
Loki whispers, "What other powers does he possess? Show me, father."
He hobbles forward and places his palm against Loki's forehead. "Are you sure you are ready to start your journey?" he asks.
"This is what I was born to do. I am ready," he says.
"Close your eyes and breathe in deeply. Feel the energy rush into your chest, flowing back outward into the world. This is how the universe operates," Odin says.
"I feel it, father," Loki mutters, clenching his teeth.
"Energy cannot be destroyed. Man now knows that much, but man is also childish in nature. In times of extreme distress, mankind will let others take advantage of said energy. In desperation, the people of Earth will bow their heads and submit to their ultimate destruction, satisfied they are doing the right thing. It is up to you, the younger generations to pick up the torch and fight."
A green swash of what looks like pure energy leaves Odin's hands. It rumbles the air so hard that the molecules break apart. The fabric of space and time seems disrupted.
As the energy rushes out of him, Loki's body starts to shake, unnaturally horrifying. His eyes roll into the back of his head. Gargling, he tries to speak.
"No! It hurts," he says. "Make it stop."
"Breathe!" Odin shouts. "Allow it to pass through. This is life's natural state, a constant push and pull between two forces of extremes. This is what it feels like to exist within the walls of Eternity."
Loki's knees bend. His jaw opens, and he falls into deep spasms. It is the most awful thing I have ever seen, and Raven can hardly take it.
"Stop it," she yells. "You'll kill him, dammit."
Odin ignores her cries. "Feel it. Accept the path of the gods. This is your initiation."
Raven rushes forward, but Heimdall stops her. "Don't," he warns. "He knows what he's doing."
Tears flood her eyes. I want to give her solace by breaking this up, but I seem to trust in whatever is happening.
Finally, Loki opens his eyes and shuts his mouth. A tough groan escapes his vocal cords, and he looks more ready than ever. Odin lets go, and all of the lights in his house burn out.
"Electricity," Odin mutters and stumbles back.
Loki falls to the floor, huffing in air but barely conscious. He whispers, "What... the... fuck..."
"You have just experienced the trauma of the world in pure form, just as I and the gods before you have. Just as Ash has every single day of his nomadic life," Odin says.
Loki is the strongest asshole I've ever met, but he has tears in his eyes. "It was the most painful experience I've ever felt," he says. "They are coming for us. I can feel them now. I want them out."
"Welcome to my life," I reply.
"What does me experiencing pain have to do with beating Lucifer?" Loki asks. "If anything, I feel weaker and more confused than ever. The images were so sporadic and quick. Like lightning."
Odin waves him back onto his feet. "If you want a throne in heaven, you have to be willing to fight. You
must be willing to step into that pain, even if it means physical death," he says. "For me, Valhalla is out of reach. It is just a glimpse outside of time. For you, it is the mountain in the horizon. It is the one thing you need to find. The angels will help you."