Chapter 151: The Underworld
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Arthur opened the door. Under the warm yellow streetlights, Gwen's shadow stretched long across the ground.
"I thought you had already left Earth!" Gwen said with a pleasant surprise. "I sent you a message this afternoon asking you to pick me up from Empire State Universitytonight, but you didn't reply."
"Actually, I just got back from outside the Milky Way Galaxy, so I missed your message."
After Gwen entered, Arthur closed the door. The two embraced and kissed, though they quickly pulled apart.
"How was your first day as an intern?" Arthur asked as he picked out a drink from the fridge.
"Terrible... Do you know what the question I was asked most was?" Gwen looked at Arthur with eyes full of resentment.
Arthur caught her mood and asked curiously, "Does it have something to do with me?"
Gwen nodded and covered her face with both hands. "The members of Dr. Otto's team kept asking me if I was really Arthur's girlfriend. Even Dr. Otto himself asked me that..."
"And how did you answer?" Arthur laughed as he inserted a straw into a bottle of cold yogurt and placed it in front of Gwen.
"I said yes, of course. Is there any other answer?" Gwensaid, sipping the yogurt. "A lot of beautiful upperclassmen asked for your phone number, but I turned them all down for you—no need to thank me! I told them you don't like parties or social gatherings."
"That's a pity," Arthur said with a smile. "Anything else?"
"Everything else was fine. The lab is great, with high-precision equipment and plenty of research funding. The team is good, too. Since I have experience as an intern lead in Dr. Connors' team, they were quite satisfied with me." Gwen was in high spirits, but she suddenly looked regretful.
"It's just that their current project is nearing completion. Dr. Otto's mechanical tentacles have entered the formal testing phase. The team's division of labor is very clear, so as an intern, I can't really get involved. I'll have to wait for the team's next project."
"Hmm... I sincerely suggest you switch to a different research team."
Arthur shook his head. He naturally knew that the mechanical tentacles would be Doctor Octopus's last research project... or rather, his last legal research project.
Gwen declined without hesitation. "Dr. Otto's team is the best at Empire State University. Besides, I've been quite busy lately anyway, so I can afford to wait."
Arthur didn't take it to heart. Doctor Octopus might be troublesome for Gwen, but for the current him, he posed no threat at all.
"What are you busy with? How come I didn't know?"
"Routine street patrols, filming public service videos with the Anti-Demon Alliance, and recently I've been tracking a Chicago gang that's smuggling drugs and illegal firearms into New York." Gwen wiped the yogurt from the corner of her mouth with a tissue and looked at Arthur. "You didn't know because no matter how busy I am, I'll always be a proper girlfriend."
Arthur smiled and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, my Gwen."
"I love you too!" Gwen sat in Arthur's lap. "Do you have time next week? Our team will be participating in a science and technology expo where Dr. Otto will showcase his mechanical tentacles. It's an incredible invention. I want to invite you to go with me, if you haven't left Earth by then..."
"It's a date. We'll go to the expo together," Arthur said firmly. "Even if I leave Earth recently, I'll be back for that day."
The two kissed again, and Arthur tasted the yogurt. Just as he was about to unbutton Gwen's clothes, she caught his hand.
"Sorry, I told my mom I'd be back tonight." Gwen looked at Arthur with eyes full of desire but shook her head. "It's getting late. Will you take me home?"
"Alright..."
"Go get the car, then."
"No, I have a faster way."
Arthur smiled as he watched Gwen vanish from the room. He caught the half-finished bottle of yogurt as it fell through the air.
Arthur walked to the window. The cold wind blew against his face as he looked up at the pitch-black night sky.
Norway is six hours ahead of New York; it was currently the early hours of the morning there.
With a 'click,' the lights in the room turned off, and a blue light emanated through the dim air... 61°07' North, 4°82' East, the Norwegian Sea.
In the dark night sky, a beam of blue light streaked along the coastline at high speed, like a brilliant meteor.
Fortunately, this was a sparsely populated area and it was the early morning; otherwise, many witnesses would have added a touch of fantasy to the event.
Arthur maintained a flight speed of Mach 5. Under the control of the Rooster Talisman, the Space Stone orbited his body. He was using the Space Stone to probe for areas with spatial anomalies.
After Odin stripped Hela of her divine power, he imprisoned her in Norway on Earth. To prevent human interference, her prison had to be a small, independent space separated from the physical World.
With the Space Stone in his possession, Arthur could easily detect those hidden spaces.
Searching all of Norway for Hela's cage was clearly a time-consuming and laborious task, but Arthur had enough patience for things that interested him. He had plenty of time; since the Bifrost Bridge couldn't be opened, no Asgardian could disturb him.
Time passed quietly. When the sky had brightened considerably, Arthur finally made a discovery near a sea cliff.
Enveloped in blue light, Arthur descended from the sky. He used the telekinetic power of the Rooster Talisman to push back the seawater, creating a buffer zone to keep himself dry. He didn't like the feeling of wet clothes sticking to his skin.
In the deep ocean, the blue light flared again. The Space Stone carried him across two disconnected spaces. In an instant, Arthur entered a dark World, where a green light glowed in the distance.
Arthur accelerated toward the green light. To his surprise, even after flying for a while, he hadn't reached his destination; the green light still seemed far away.
Pushing the Rabbit Talisman to its limit, Arthur's speed continued to climb, instantly exceeding Mach 100.
A dozen seconds later, the green light began to expand rapidly, and the bizarre scenery revealed itself before him. Arthur continued to accelerate.
Suddenly, traveling at over ten thousand times the speed of sound, Arthur used the Rabbit Talisman to negate all kinetic energy in his body, coming to an instantaneous halt.
Before him lay a wide river, so vast the opposite bank was invisible. This river was wider than any river on Earth. A massive, gilded crystal bridge spanned the two shores.
In Norse mythology, Odin exiled Hela to a place called Niflheim. The underworld of Niflheim is separated from the mortal World by a river called the Gjöll.
Arthur landed at the foot of the bridge. It had been a long time since he had felt solid ground beneath his feet.
At the entrance of the crystal bridge, a blood-red skeleton hung upside down, appearing exceptionally eerie under the green light.
Arthur felt no dread, nor even a hint of fear. If a person is ten thousand times stronger than all the ghosts and monsters in the World, then from the moment they gain that power, they will no longer know fear.
The blood-red skeleton's jaw moved to make a sound, but before it could utter a single syllable, Arthur raised his hand and released a blast of explosive flame that shattered it to pieces.
A mere gatekeeper wasn't qualified to speak with him... After crossing the massive crystal bridge, Hela's prison finally appeared before Arthur. Forests of steel trees, giant dogs covered in bloodstains, rivers flowing with knives... After passing through these bizarre sights, Arthur finally saw a massive palace.
It was the palace where Hela was imprisoned, Éljúðnir... The group has been expanded, welcome to join.
Chapter 152: Hela
Arthur arrived before the massive palace gates of Éljúðnir.
This prison of Hela was even grander and more magnificent than Odin's golden palace in Asgard.
Arthur stepped forward, and the two palace gates, dozens of meters high, automatically swung inward with a loud creak. In fact, these two gates had never been opened since the day they were built... After entering the gate, all sounds were cut off, leaving only a deathly silence inside.
Two rows of tall pillars extended inward, and in the deepest part of the palace, black lines intertwined. Amidst those intersecting lines was a figure... If there were no surprises, that person would be Odin's eldest daughter, the Goddess of Death... Hela!
Arthur's footsteps echoed in the silent palace. He admired the carved beams, painted rafters, and murals as if he were strolling through Asgard's royal palace that day.
"Are you Odin's messenger?"
A voice rang out, its tone obscure and hoarse, as unfamiliar as someone who had been mute for decades speaking again.
"No, you look more like Odin's enemy."
She said, looking at the demon mask on Arthur's face. From this sentence onward, her voice became normal, her tone clear and rhythmic, and her demeanor very calm, devoid of indifference or surprise.
Arthur did not answer. He continued deeper into the palace, his pace neither fast nor slow. Upon entering further, he clearly saw the intertwined black lines; they were not lines but thick chains, shackling Hela and preventing her from moving an inch.
"The Space Stone is in your hands. What did you do to Odin?" Hela said again, "Odin used the Space Stone to build this prison. Even though I have lost my power now, I cannot be mistaken... Did you kill him?"
Arthur was still dozens of meters from Hela. He could already see the faint smile on Hela's face, mysterious yet eerie, and somewhat alluring... Hela stood up, the metal chains clanging together with a crisp, chaotic noise. But after she stood, she did not move, and the chains slowly fell silent.
Hela wore black clothes and green armor. The thick armor could not hide her curvaceous figure. She had long, enchanting green hair, which fell to cover one eye. At this moment, a smile hung on her face... "Yes, I killed Odin," Arthur said with a smile.
"No, Odin isn't dead. If he were, my divine power would have returned." Hela shook her head, continuing to look intently at Arthur, as if to memorize his face and figure. "For over a thousand years, you are the first human I've seen. Before this, there was only darkness in this prison..."
"This is clearly a palace," Arthur said, looking around. "A magnificent palace, but for you, it's a cage!"
Hela showed no reaction. After a thousand years, she had adapted to and grown accustomed to her imprisoned life.
"So, are you here to visit? As an enemy, to visit Odin's creation—me, and this realm of death?" Hela said with a smile. "That's right, holding the Space Stone, you would be an excellent tourist; it can take you freely in and out of any space."
"That sounds reasonable... I could even start a tourism business here, bringing Asgardians to see the legendary God of Death, Hela. Five gold coins for a round trip, extra for close-up viewing." Arthur said with interest, "Before that, I'd need to put up a fence around you to prevent you from harming or scaring my customers."
"Hahaha..." Hela laughed and shook her head. "There's no need. Without my divine power, I'm as weak as an indigenous woman on this Planet. I can't harm anyone, including you... Please come closer."
Arthur tossed the Space Stone up and caught it, playing with it back and forth.
"You couldn't harm me, not even when you were Odin's lackey, but now you might actually hurt me... You make me pity you so much it aches!"
Hela let out another laugh. "You are very interesting. Even thousands of years ago, I wouldn't have had the heart to kill you."
She paid no attention to Arthur's words. Hela also didn't sense any powerful energy fluctuations from Arthur, but his ability to take the Space Stone from Odin and enter here already proved his strength.
A thousand years of darkness had made Hela very patient. She was not in a hurry to inquire about Arthur's identity or intentions.
But Arthur proactively stated his purpose: "I am a demon, from New York... New York is a city on this Planet."
"You are actually a life form from this fragile Planet. It's somewhat unbelievable."
"I saw those murals in Asgard's royal palace, and I saw your achievements."
"Odin would let the public see that part of history? And grandly engrave it in the palace?" Hela shook her head and said, "I don't believe it."
Arthur said, "He added a new layer beneath those murals, but of course, nothing can be hidden from me."
"That is Odin's way, covering up bloody history with false beauty."
"Aren't you curious about my intentions?" Arthur suddenly asked.
"You'll understand when you've spent a thousand years in silence; it will wear away all your curiosity," Hela said seriously.
"I've already introduced myself, I'm a demon, and a lazy demon. I need subordinates to spread fear and cause destruction. I feel you're quite good and should be capable of this great work." Arthur asked with a smile, "Are you willing to be my lackey? Submit to me and obey my commands."
Hela also smiled, and she moved, the chains clanging again.
"I've lost my power now, at most I can play a game of 'King' with you." Hela looked at Arthur, her tone like an older sister next door reading a children's book.
"Please don't use that coaxing tone!" Arthur said blandly, "I don't like to bargain. I will help you remove all these restrictions, at the cost of eternal subjugation to me."
As Arthur spoke, he approached Hela. He didn't bother with empty threats like "dare to betray and suffer the consequences"; he never liked threatening others. If he was in a good mood at the time, even if Hela betrayed him, he would just casually suppress her... Of course, it was also possible that she might anger him and be directly killed by him, as he had no habit of imprisoning or sealing others.
Hela tilted her head, her green hair falling, and she revealed an eerie smile: "I'm looking forward to it..."
Arthur stopped a meter away from Hela. He snapped his fingers, and instantly all the chains on Hela broke, ending a thousand years of imprisonment in an instant.
"It's been a long time since I felt this relaxed..."
Hela stretched, her bones cracking audibly.
Of course, Hela was not completely free yet; she could only move freely but had not escaped Odin's magic seal, and her divine power had not recovered.
Odin had painstakingly used the Space Stone to construct this enormous Niflheim solely to imprison Hela and strip her of her divine power. This space was eternal; as long as Odin was not dead, Niflheim's confinement of Hela would forever persist.
Hela saw red light flashing in the man's eyes... Hela was slightly surprised; this was the first time she showed an unusual emotion. She felt that powerful energy, which even she could not resist.
Arthur fully activated the Pig Talisman, and his eyes shot out lasers that could break through anything. He continuously used the lasers, piercing through the entire space in an instant.
Hela lifted her fair neck, her chest heaving with deep breaths. She extended her hand, and green Fire rose from it.
The stripped divine power surged back into her body, though only a trickle, it flowed through her entire being like a gurgling stream, nourishing her parched body... She felt that familiar sensation again; after a millennium, she once again grasped power!
Arthur continued to fire lasers. He turned his head, and two lasers sliced through the entire space. Where the lasers swept, both darkness and green light vanished completely, leaving only nothingness.
Moments later, the entire Niflheim was shattered by the lasers. Odin had used the power of the Space Stone to construct this stable space, but now it began to shake violently, threatening to collapse and pile up at any moment.
As Niflheim shattered, more and more divine power surged into Hela's body, and she unconsciously let out a groan... The palace began to collapse first, countless rubble falling. Some stones, still in the air, plunged into the fragmented space, pulverized by the immense power.
The Space Stone glowed blue, and Arthur extended his hand.
Moments later, Hela placed her hand on his, and the blue light enveloped her as well.
Arthur said discontentedly, "You should kneel."
Hela merely smiled, like a blooming Lycoris radiata in hell... For some unknown reason, winds and waves rose on the Norwegian Sea, the surging Water crashing against rocks and sea cliffs, creating White spray.
Blue light glowed above the sea cliff, and the figures of Arthur and Hela emerged.
At this moment, dawn was breaking, and the first ray of sunlight shone through the gaps in the clouds onto the earth, elongating their shadows.
"Didn't Odin teach you loyalty?" Arthur asked curiously.
"He taught me many things: magic, combat, leading armies, state affairs, even roasting venison... But he never taught me loyalty, because I was born to be a king, I was supposed to be Asgard's next queen," Hela said with a smile.
"Again with 'born to be a king'... Odin said the same thing to his Frost Giant adopted son." Arthur scoffed, "The most crucial thing is that you actually both believed this foolish lie."
"No, that's not a lie. From now on, it has become reality." Hela extended her hand to Arthur, "The Space Stone, give it to me."
"Please! It was I who rescued you, I who broke all your shackles, destroyed that dark place, and allowed you to grasp power again."
Sometimes, Arthur would kill the opponent immediately if he didn't want to waste words, but other times, he would first "kindly persuade" them before acting.
"So, in return, I will not bestow upon you the Will of Deaththat I possess..."
As she spoke, Hela spread her hand, and two black short daggers appeared.
Chapter 153 Goddess of Death
"You can't do this, Hela." Arthur backed away. "How many years has it been since you bathed in sunlight? I saved you and even returned your divine power. Does Asgard not have the phrase 'repaying kindness with enmity'?"
Hela pressed closer step by step, ready to fire the twin blades in her hands to pierce Arthur's chest... because Arthur held the Space Stone, it would be too easy for him to escape.
"Do you want to test my Will of Death? If not, then please hand over the Space Stone!" Hela said with a smile. "You might just be a petty thief, or perhaps you truly possess the power to defeat Odin and take the Space Stone from him, but against me, you have no chance. My power and hatred have accumulated for a thousand years; now even Odin is no match for me!"
"Maybe we can negotiate. We could form a team. I've already thought of a name: the 'Avengers'. I can use the Space Stone to take you back to Asgard. How about it?" Arthur said with mock seriousness.
"No!" Hela refused without hesitation.
Her goal in seizing the Space Stone wasn't just to return to Asgard. As Odin said, Hela's ambition was immense; after conquering the Nine Realms, she still wasn't satisfied... A thousand years of imprisonment hadn't smoothed over her ambition; instead, those thoughts had settled and grown wildly. This time, upon her return, she set her sights on the entire vast Universe.
Only the Space Stone could help her fulfill this startling idea, so she was determined to get it.
"It seems Odin had a reason for imprisoning you..."
"Shut up!" Hela suddenly shouted in rage. "I once had the merit of warring across the Nine Realms, yet Odinheartlessly stripped me of my divine power and imprisoned me on this Planet! But he couldn't keep me imprisoned forever. He is about to die; you merely broke his magicearly."
"Can't talk reason, then there's no way..." Arthur shrugged helplessly.
Suddenly, a beam of energy shot from Arthur's chest, instantly blasting Hela away. Hela's green figure vanished directly over the sea horizon... Two short blades shot toward Arthur's chest. Arthur didn't dodge; the two short blades struck Arthur's body and then fell, only piercing his clothes.
Hela's figure slowly emerged. She looked at this scene with some surprise.
In the next moment, she continuously pulled sharp short blades from the air and stabbed them at Arthur. Her speed in drawing the blades was so fast it created afterimages.
A dense curtain of sharp blades attacked. Arthur silently raised the energy shield of the Dragon Talisman. He had already sensed the aura of magic from those blades... Helawas not only powerful but also had rich combat experience. From just a brief initial probe, she guessed that Arthur possessed strong physical defense capabilities.
Countless blades were accurately shot at Arthur's chest, hitting the energy shield and creating ripples, but they were consistently unable to break through Arthur's energy defense.
The curve of Hela's lips widened. She reached her hands back and grasped at the air, pulling two emerald-green longswords from the void.
"You're bringing me more and more surprises," Hela said as she approached, dragging the two longswords. "I won't kill you. I'll also use the Space Stone to build a magnificent cage for you, how about it? A hundred times grander than Éljúðnir!"
"Sounds pretty good!"
Blue light flashed in Arthur's hand. He slowly pulled a golden long spear from the shattered space. It was his trophy from the trip to Asgard, Odin's Eternal Speargungnir.
Hela's expression changed drastically once again. From this moment on, she truly began to take the opponent before her seriously.
"It seems you stole more than just the Space Stone..."
"The Space Stone was originally an unowned object. Odinonly held it for a while, and in the end, he left the Space Stone on Earth. Now the owner of the Space Stone is someone else; I'm just borrowing it."
"That's right, the actual owner of the Space Stone is me!"
Saying this, Hela swung her longswords. Arthur clumsily used the long spear to parry. The two were entangled together, blade against spear tip. Every one of their attacks burst with cold, sharp light!
The black and green figures moved at high speeds, then collided violently. Their figures became blurred, leaving no shadows even under the sunlight. Two illusory afterimages continuously separated and collided. The high-speed movement cut through the air, and sharp, ear-piercing noises erupted wildly!
In the melee combat, Arthur quickly fell into a disadvantage. He didn't know how to fight with weapons at all. The Eternal Spear was exceptionally clumsy in his hands; he relied entirely on speed and power to hold his ground.
Asgardians were natural-born warriors. Someone like Thorhad mastered all weapons over his long life, and Hela was no exception. Her swordsmanship was exquisite, and she seemed to move with ease during close-quarters combat with Arthur.
Arthur's previous combat style was usually very direct, using the power of the Talismans to win by crushing with absolute strength, absolute speed, and absolute energy. Now, having just made a new attempt against Hela, he quickly gave up on it.
Arthur's eyes shot out lasers that could penetrate everything. Hela nimbly dodged and pulled away.
Blue light flashed, and the Eternal Spear in Arthur's hand disappeared. He said with some regret, "Game time is over... I'm going to start beating you up!"
Hela smiled, and a longsword shot out from her hand, accurately piercing Arthur's chest... but the Arthur before her suddenly dissipated; it was only an afterimage.
An alert Hela suddenly slashed to the side, but she was still a step too late. Arthur's fist smashed into her face, the massive force directly breaking her mandible.
Flying backward, Hela turned and slashed with her sword, but Arthur directly caught the blade and snapped it. He then conveniently stabbed the broken blade into Hela's body.
Hela tumbled on the ground for several rolls, nearly falling into the sea. She finally stopped at the edge of the sea cliff. Hela climbed up, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, her long hair disheveled and covered in dirt, looking extremely wretched.
"Tsk tsk..." Arthur shook his head with a sigh. "Why come to this? How miserable... When you were first exiled to Earth, you must have looked like this too, right?"
"No, back then I was a hundred times more wretched than I am now."
Hela spoke calmly. She reached out, grasped the broken blade in her abdomen, and pulled it out, ignoring the blood spurting from her body.
"Are you ready to feel the Will of Death?"
Arthur also felt a powerful energy gathering, instantly healing Hela's injuries. Hela brushed her hands behind her ears, and her disheveled, enchanting green hair floated up as if it were alive. She was about to begin her transformation... Suddenly, Arthur used the spatial displacement of the Snake Talisman, then blasted the Explosive Flame of the Dragon Talisman onto Hela, forcibly interrupting her transformation.
"No, no, no, please don't do that!" Arthur said to the once again knocked-down Hela. "Your look after transforming is too ugly. You look much better as you are now!"
Saying this, Arthur activated the Dragon Talisman again. Hela immediately turned and used her dark green cloak to block the energy attack.
When her cloak was pulled back, Hela was already in her transformed state. Hela stood up but did not continue to take the initiative to attack.
"Perhaps we should talk about what you mentioned earlier..." Hela said seriously. "We can form an alliance. With your strength, you are fully qualified."
Arthur shook his head. His body slowly floated up, and the dragon-shaped totem on his right palm lit up. Instantly, a burst of fire rose and surrounded him. His eyes glowed red, and the lasers of the Pig Talisman were ready to be released at any time... "Isn't it a bit late to say this now?" Arthur slowly approached Hela. "And it's not an alliance. I've already said, you should kneel."
"That's impossible. The Goddess of Death will not kneel to anyone." Hela manifested her twin swords again. "Even if you defeated Odin, it's still impossible!"
Hela shot out a longsword. In mid-air, the longsword instantly enlarged, crashing toward Arthur like a mountain.
Arthur slammed his fist, shattering Hela's attack. Huge cracks instantly spread across the blade, and the longsword shattered, with countless dark green fragments flying in the air.
Both of them flew forward to attack at the same time. Helaslashed out a dark green blade edge, and dragon-shaped flames clung to Arthur's fist as they swept out.
The two attacks collided. Hela was shaken back by the powerful impact, her expression changing slightly.
Suddenly, a blue web-like beam of light shot from Arthur's hand, instantly spreading through the entire space. Arthur used the power of the Space Stone to lock down this area of space. Even if Hela wanted to temporarily avoid the brunt of the attack later, it would be impossible; she had nowhere to run.
Hela slightly bent her legs to exert force, and she launched herself forward again, wielding a massive dark green sword to slash at Arthur.
Arthur also took the initiative to meet her. He fully activated the Dragon Talisman, with infinite energy continuously pouring into his body to ensure that every one of his strikes was far more ferocious than Hela's.
The battle between the two entered a fever pitch. Helawas retreating step by step, only able to hold on by relying on her own great strength. But facing Arthur, who possessed infinite energy, it was clear that her defeat was a foregone conclusion.
Hela also noticed this situation. It was the first time she had encountered such a troublesome opponent. The other party had been using powerful energy attacks to maintain the stability of the battle, and there was no sign of energy depletion at all.
Suddenly, in a moment when she was dazed, the longsword in her hand was shattered by Arthur again. Arthur controlled her hands and shot lethal lasers from his eyes.
But Hela dodged the two lasers with an odd posture; her body's flexibility was extremely high.
Hela was destined to lose, but she was not resigned to it because, at this moment, she was not at her peak... Hela's power came from Asgard. Once she returned to Asgard, she would have infinite energy and could use powerful attacks without limit to counter this man wearing the demon mask... Moreover, that power could increase indefinitely. As Asgard grew stronger, Hela would also become stronger, until she consumed the entire Universe. So how could she accept falling in defeat on this weak Planet today?
Chapter 154: Ragnarok
Arthur suddenly halted his next laser attack because Helahad already ended her combat state after the transformation. Her long, enchanting green hair fell loosely, and her deep black eyeshadow allowed a hint of fatal danger to seep through her beauty.
Hela hurriedly said, "I am willing to serve you..."
Before Hela could finish, Arthur grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. The sealing power of the Monkey Talisman entered Hela's body, locking away her divine power once again.
After a thousand years, Hela clearly felt the process of her divine power vanishing once more. For the first time, a look of panic appeared on her face... That feeling of helplessness had lasted for a millennium, and she never wanted to experience it again. Hela had thought that after seeing the light of day again, she would be invincible, but she never imagined that the person who rescued her early would also possess the power to destroy her.
Arthur's hand began to slowly exert force. He was very careful, fearing he might snap Hela's slender neck. Hela's pale face gradually twisted into a grimace.
Watching Hela's graceful figure begin to struggle and writhe, Arthur smiled. He now held the life and death of the Goddess of Death in his hands; the feeling was truly wonderful... "No..." Hela managed to let out a faint, strained sound.
"Are you begging for mercy?" Arthur said with a smile. "If you beg for my understanding and ask me to forgive your offense, perhaps I will grant you a slim chance of survival..."
Hela struggled, wanting to say something, but Arthurincreased the pressure in his hand, and her voice vanished as if it had been crushed.
"Goddess of Death... does that mean a goddess who is dead?" Arthur looked at Hela's pale face and said, "You are truly fragile..."
Suddenly, Arthur slammed Hela onto the ground. Helatumbled across the muddy Earth but didn't care in the slightest. She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently as if she wanted to suck all the oxygen into her lungs.
Arthur shook his head, looking down at her with a voice full of contempt: "I still prefer that arrogant and unyielding look you had just now!"
Hela used her hands to support herself as she slowly crawled up. She did not attempt to forcibly break the seal to regain her divine power, because even if she recovered her strength, she would be no match for Arthur, nor could she escape from this locked space. Doing so would only enrage The Demon before her.
"I am deeply sorry for my ignorant actions," Hela said, still panting. "I request your understanding, Mr. Demon."
Arthur folded his arms and looked at Hela with a smile. The Goddess of Death, who had been so overbearing just a moment ago, now appeared exceptionally fragile.
"How many times have I said this? You should kneel!" Arthur walked closer to Hela. "Answer my question."
"The third time..."
Hela said calmly. For the first time, she felt this deep humiliation. Even after Odin had stripped her of her divine power and imprisoned her on Earth, he had never insulted her like this.
But looking at the approaching Arthur, Hela had no other choice.
Hela forced a faint smile and slowly knelt on one knee before Arthur... Hela possessed an uncontrollable ambition, but she also had a strong heart. To achieve her ambitions, she was willing to endure even the most unbearable humiliations at this moment!
But Arthur didn't seem satisfied... He walked right up to Hela and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a chilling red light shot out.
"Kneel!"
Arthur spoke softly once more. He only said this one word; he never liked making idle threats.
Hela's face remained calm, but a tempest raged in her heart. To some extent, she could accept death, but she could not accept humiliation.
But in the end, she knelt down completely, bowing her body respectfully... Late at night in Asgard, in the palace, Odin sat alone upon his throne, lost in thought as he gazed at the empty hall.
The palace, damaged during the battle, had been fully repaired, and the broken pillars were as good as new... Only the circular mural beneath the dome remained; Odinhad not ordered a new mural to be painted over it.
After an unknown amount of time, the silence in the palace was broken as the massive palace gates were pushed open. Thor, the son of Odin, walked inside.
Thor walked straight to the foot of the throne and bowed slightly: "Father."
Odin was still lost in thought and only snapped out of it when Thor called to him again.
Odin didn't speak but instead looked up at the mural beneath the dome.
Thor also looked up. During the battle, he had been easily swept out of the palace by The Demon, and at the observatory, he had been turned into a dog by The Demon. After Frigga helped him break the seal, he had immediately received treatment in the Heavenly Palace.
So, this was the first time Thor had seen these murals. When he saw a woman holding Mjolnir high, his face was filled with disbelief.
"These are all fake, right?" A shocked Thor looked at Odinand asked, "There's someone else who can lift Mjolnir? Who is she?"
"No, Thor, all of this was once real," Odin said with a heavy tone. "The Goddess of Death, Hela, my first child, your sister..."
Thor was deeply shocked once again. Ever since he learned that Loki was Odin's adopted son, he had always believed he was Odin's only child.
"Did The Demon come for her?" Thor asked. Clearly, his interest in and wariness of The Demon were far greater than his concern for this sister he had never met.
Odin shook his head and said, "I don't know. He is your enemy."
"I'm sorry, Father, it was I who brought trouble to Asgard." Thor recalled The Demon's actions on Earth, "No, this is a disaster..."
"No, this isn't your fault, Thor. Everything was destined long ago." Odin shook his head. "As for The Demon... his origins are extremely mysterious, and even I do not know them. He should not have appeared in Asgard's destiny."
"You mean..."
"Ragnarok!" Odin slowly walked down the steps. "Ragnarok has already begun. Your sister, Hela, she is coming..."
"No matter what she wants, we can stop her," Thor said with some frustration. "The key lies with The Demon! I have fought him several times, and all ended in failure. He is a powerful enemy."
Odin just shook his head. "Hela is far more powerful than you can imagine. I spent my entire life trying to stop her, yet I still cannot avoid this outcome..."
"Can Hela compare to The Demon?"
"I don't know how powerful The Demon is, but Hela is invincible," Odin said with certainty.
Thor also showed a look of worry. An enemy even more powerful than The Demon? Did such a person truly exist... "Her ambition expanded until I could no longer control it. I couldn't stop her... so I stripped her of her divine power and exiled her to Earth." Scenes flashed through Odin's mind. "Hela's power comes from Asgard. Once she returns here, her power will be infinite. The Demon possesses the Space Stone; he will bring Hela to Asgard."
"The Demon will join forces with Hela to invade Asgard?" Thor's mind went blank. He couldn't imagine a demon plus an enemy with infinite power; who could possibly stop them?
"It's not an invasion," Odin said calmly. "Hela should have been the Queen of Asgard. She is merely taking back what belongs to her, and in the process, bringing us... Ragnarok!"
The shock on Thor's face lasted a long time before fading. Having accepted the two impending enemies—The Demonand Hela—his fighting spirit was rekindled.
"Must we just sit and wait for death? Is there no other way?" Thor asked unwillingly.
Odin suddenly turned to look at Thor: "No, we still have one final way..."
..."Are you not interested in any of the books I sent?" a voice came from behind.
"Do you want me to be a bookworm for the rest of my life?" Loki said without turning his head.
"And you didn't wear the coat I sent. It's cold in the dungeon, and very damp."
"You seem to have forgotten that the blood of a Frost Giantflows through my veins. I do not fear the cold," Loki said, turning to face Frigga.
"But you have been accustomed to warmth since you were a child..." Frigga shook her head and said, "I have done my best to make you more comfortable, Loki."
"Does Odin think the same? And Thor!" Loki sneered. "With a hidden threat not completely removed, they must be worrying about me day and night, right? I really feel quite bad about that..."
"Why do you think that way? No one ever wanted to hurt you. Reaching this point today is entirely due to your own actions. These punishments are already quite lenient," Frigga said.
"I only exposed that lie, the lie you and Odin wove together! That 'Born to be King' nonsense!" Loki said with a sneer.
"A true king is merciful, but how many innocent people did you slaughter on Earth?" Frigga questioned. "Have you still not realized your mistakes, Loki?"
"Compared to the mortals the great Odin slaughtered, it's not even worth mentioning!" Loki said. "Odin seized the Nine Realms, while I only wanted one Earth!"
"That was not a seizure; Asgard brought peace to the Nine Realms," Frigga said. "Also, he is your father!"
"He is not my father!" Loki suddenly roared.
"Then am I not your mother either?"
Loki glanced at Frigga and said firmly, "Of course not!"
Frigga, however, showed a smile. She shook her head and walked straight to a nearby chair to sit down.
"I came tonight because I have something to ask of you," Frigga said after sitting down.
"Let me guess, what could bring the Queen of Asgard to condescend to visit this dungeon..." Loki suddenly said, "Does it have to do with today's attack?"
The powerful battle fluctuations in the palace could naturally not be hidden from Loki; he was renowned for his tricks and strategy.
Frigga nodded without surprise. "You have been clever since you were a child."
"So what is it?" Loki was curious. "Right now, I am just a prisoner."
"Asgard is about to face a crisis, also because of a 'prisoner'..."
Frigga then proceeded to tell Loki the story of Hela and Ragnarok.
"Thank you for telling me such an inspirational story. At least it gives me something to look forward to for the rest of my life..." Loki nodded and said seriously, "By the way, can I join her? I have no blood relation to Odin, so she probably won't see me as an enemy."
"Loki, I need you!" Frigga said directly. "We need to evacuate the people from Asgard, but the Bifrost Bridgehas been closed. Asgard has another way out, and only you know it..."
Loki recalled those events. As a playful child, he had accidentally stumbled upon a secret way out of Asgard, and he often used that exit to come and go... "Absolutely impossible," Loki said calmly, looking at Frigga.
Chapter 155: Surtur
Thor followed Odin through the deep underground palace. The narrow tunnel twisted and turned, seemingly endless, and the lamps on the walls seemed to burn eternally.
This was Thor's first time in this place, and everything here felt strange... "Father, why have you brought me here?" Thor quickly lost his patience. "Asgard is facing an unprecedented catastrophe right now. You should tell me all the solutions directly, instead of leading me in circles here."
Odin did not speak, nor did his walking pace slow down. He continued to move forward.
Having lost the Eternal Spear, Odin had found a wooden staff from somewhere. His white hair, combined with his slightly hunched figure, made him indistinguishable from an old human man... Even more tragic, he was blind in one eye.
Thor sighed and could only continue to follow Odin. Valor, ferocity, and impulsiveness were his synonyms, but in front of Odin, he would always be just a mischievous child.
Soon after, Odin finally stopped, which made Thor breathe a sigh of relief. He had thought he would be walking until dawn... "This is the deep part of the Heavenly Palace..."
"I know, we've been walking for a long time!" Thorinterrupted. "I bet even the naughtiest Loki has never been to this place!"
"Yes, among those still alive, you will be the second to come to this place."
Odin looked back at Thor and said calmly. After speaking, he pushed open the stone door in front of him.
As the door opened, a surge of violent energy rushed out. Having experienced numerous battles and possessing a strong sense of danger, Thor immediately became alert, and the power of Thor flowed through his entire body.
But Odin, in front of him, was perfectly calm. Odin slowly stepped through the stone door.
Beyond the stone door was a massive space, devoid of lamps or any visible light source, yet it was extraordinarily bright. The space was filled with ink-colored lines, but any figure entering could shatter and disrupt these lines.
Watching Odin's back, Thor could only follow. He ran his hand through the air, trying to touch the ink-colored lines, but as he saw his palm shatter them, no sensation was transmitted.
Suppressing his confusion, Thor followed Odin to a well-like structure, from which the ink-colored lines continuously streamed out.
Thor merely glanced into the black well, and his heart couldn't help but thump wildly. He felt the danger within the well, enough to threaten his life... Thor grew even more curious and was about to lean in for a closer look but was stopped by Odin's outstretched hand.
"Father, this is..."
"Dark energy," Odin said calmly.
"Your plan is... we use dark energy to fight Hela and the demon?" Thor said with some doubt. He felt the wildness and high danger of the dark energy, and he somewhat doubted if anyone in the World could truly control such powerful energy... "Dark energy can only destroy Asgard, not save Asgard." Odin shook his head and said, looking back at Thor: "This dark energy device has another function; it can force a person to traverse dimensions, but only one person can be sent."
Thor was stunned, looking at Odin in disbelief.
"Father... do you mean to use this device to send me away? To let me escape alone?" Meeting Odin's expectant gaze, Thor took a step back and said firmly, "That's impossible. I am the future King of Asgard and will never abandon my people. I will fight until the very last moment!"
"Thor, I am not sending you away from danger, but closer to danger..." Odin said, looking at Thor. "I want you to go to Muspelheim, cut off Surtur's crown, and bring it back."
"Surtur?" Thor was confused again.
"Yes, I want to proactively initiate Ragnarok!" Odin said in a deep voice. "I took the Eternal Flame many years ago, but Surtur survived. Now we need to bring Surtur's crown and mix his crown with the Eternal Flame in Asgard..."
"No, I can't do that, it will destroy Asgard!" Thor shook his head, how could he personally destroy the home where he grew up?
"Hela will not destroy Asgard; she will even lead Asgardto grow a hundredfold, but behind that will be the devastation of all life in the entire Universe. Is that what you want to see?" Odin looked back at the deep well.
"As Asgard grows, her power will also increase infinitely. By then, no one will be her match. We must stop Hela, otherwise, she will bring disaster to the entire Universe... And the demon, his danger is self-evident. We can only hope to resolve him along with Ragnarok!"
"But Asgard..."
"Thor! Asgard is never a place... but where the people are," Odin said. "Everything has a price, just as you wanted to save Jotunheim by breaking the Bifrost Bridge. I will order the people to evacuate Asgard."
"We can't open the Bifrost Bridge, how can the people evacuate?" Thor asked, confused.
"There's another exit..."
"How is that possible!" Thor instantly realized. "We just sent Loki to the dungeon, and now he must be filled with resentment towards Asgard!"
"No, Loki is also an Asgardian." Odin waved his hand, interrupting what Thor was about to say. "Now, are you ready? To go to Muspelheim and bring back Surtur's crown!"
"I'm ready!" Thor stood his ground, clenching his fists. "But Father... without Mjolnir, can I defeat Surtur?"
Suddenly, Odin's power flowed, and the violent dark energy was driven.
"Surtur's strength is less than one percent of what it was after losing the Eternal Flame," Odin said, looking at Thor. "My son, even without Mjolnir, you are still Thor."
Under Odin's control, the dark energy gathered around Thor. Feeling the violent energy accumulating around him, Thor was terrified. Even though Thor knew his father was the strongest in the Nine Realms, he still doubted if Odincould control such immense energy.
"Father... are you truly sure you can control this dark energy?" Thor couldn't help but ask.
Odin did not speak; he continued to forcefully summon more dark energy, even at the cost of his own health... "When you defeat Surtur, call me, and I will bring you back the same way."
With that, Odin fully activated the dark energy device, and Thor's figure instantly vanished within the massive space... Odin suddenly fell to the ground, struggling to get up. Clearly, this process had drained too much of his strength.
Usually, in such a situation, he would fall into Odinsleep... The divine power of Asgardians is proportional to their age. When divine power reaches a certain level, it needs to be adjusted through sleep. Odin's Odin Force is too powerful; every so often, he undergoes Odinsleep to adjust himself, and often after severe injury or expending a large amount of energy, Odinsleep will come early.
But at this moment, Odin could not fall asleep. He forcefully resisted the onset of Odinsleep with his divine power, the consequence of which was even greater chaos within his divine power... But Odin had no choice; he needed to reactivate the dark energy device to bring Thorback, and as the All-Father, he still had a war to face!
..."Please do not push, board the ships in an orderly fashion!"
The Golden Guards of the Royal Palace were dispatched to maintain order at the civilian evacuation site. Under Odin's command, the Asgardians began boarding the cosmic warships. There was no fear on their faces, only bewilderment, but no one dared to defy the command of All-Father Odin.
Heimdall, the Gatekeeper, was carried away on a stretcher. Loki watched him board the warship, and Heimdall calmly watched Loki.
"Poor Asgardians, about to lose their home," Loki said with a smile.
"You, Loki, are also about to lose your home," Frigga said, standing beside Loki.
Loki did not respond; he merely watched the chaotic scene, maintaining a pleasant smile.
"Honestly, I admire this sister I've never met," Loki mused. "She hasn't even appeared yet, and she's already brought tremors to Asgard."
"So, do you want to stay and appreciate her style? Maybe you can even recognize her," Frigga also said with a smile.
"I don't want to join Ragnarok; for an Asgardian, I am still very young." Loki looked towards the other side of the Bifrost Bridge. "Hela could appear in Asgard at any moment. I need to leave here quickly!"
I promised you that as long as you lead them to the exit, you will be immediately released," Frigga said. "After that, the vast Universe is yours to roam. But Loki, you must not forget Asgard, nor the place that raised you, even if it might cease to exist..."
Loki uncharacteristically offered no rebuttal, maintaining silence. After a moment, he asked, "What about you? When will you evacuate?"
Frigga shook her head and said, "That is not something you should be concerned about."
"You can't possibly intend to die along with this place that's about to be destroyed, can you?" Loki said, sounding angry. "That's a stupid idea! I absolutely won't allow you to do that. You were the one who told me that Asgard is where the people are..."
"I never intended to die with Asgard," Frigga said, turning to look toward the Palace. "But I will wait until the very end. Where he is, I will be."
"Your presence here will only distract him. Hela can kill you easily!"
"I am the Queen of Asgard!" Frigga said, looking at Loki.
Since childhood, Frigga had always treated Thor and Lokiwith gentleness. This was the first time Loki felt the majesty of the Queen emanating from her. "Queen!" The Warriors Three, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg, stepped forward and saluted.
"Go, Loki. The people of Asgard will thank you."
Loki shook his head and said, "You are all crazy!"
Just as he walked out, Frigga grabbed his wrist. Loki turned back, confused.
"Are you worried that I'll slip away too?"
Frigga looked at the crowd in the distance and said, "Your father suggested chaining our wrists together, but I refused. I have always trusted you, Loki."
Loki remained silent. He turned and boarded a small spaceship with The Warriors Three.
Fandral activated the spaceship. It began to ascend, circled halfway above the crowd, and then flew off in one direction. The remaining few spaceships immediately followed.
"I advise you not to try any tricks. I'll be watching you the whole time!" Volstagg warned, pointing at Loki.
Loki sat proudly in his seat, saying nothing. Deep in his heart, however, the conversation he just had with Friggaresurfaced... Thor felt like he was falling continuously, yet there was no sound of wind in his ears. To be precise, he heard no sound at all. The space he was in was absolutely silent, containing nothing but endless darkness and his ceaseless descent!
Thor didn't know how long he had been falling when suddenly he heard a roaring sound! It was the kind of explosive noise produced by incomplete gas combustion, and soon he felt a scorching aura.
Thor knew he was approaching his destination, Muspelheim, which was known as the "Land of Fire."
Legend has it that Muspelheim is filled with fire and heat, the source of all flame, heat, and light in the World. No one except those born there can endure the blinding glare and high temperatures.
"Thud!" A loud crash of a heavy object hitting the ground rang out, startling the fire monsters living in the area.
Thor braced himself on the ground and stood up, feeling the pain radiating throughout his body. He had just been contemplating information about Muspelheim when he suddenly landed.
Thor stood up and looked at the palm he had used to brace himself; the brief contact with the ground had left it scorched red.
He turned and scanned his surroundings, his gaze sweeping past the fire monsters closing in, focusing instead on the environment.
In the "Land of Fire," the air itself was scorching, causing a dull ache when inhaled. There was no greenery in this place; all that met the eye were jagged rocks. Due to the high temperature, the ground was entirely cracked, the fissures glowing red. Looking down, one could see black-red magma, and the underground lava seemed ready to erupt at any moment... Suddenly, a strong gust of wind came from behind. Thor immediately sidestepped, catching the thrusting spear with one hand. He snatched the spear and spun around, sweeping it horizontally, quickly dispatching the unknown creature that had attacked him.
Thor did not stop. Following Odin's guidance, he continuously delved deeper into Muspelheim, searching for his target, the fire giant Surtur.
Thor kept advancing, maintaining a steady pace because stamina was consumed faster in the high-temperature environment. Suddenly, Thor stopped, feeling the earth tremble. Odin's guidance was also growing stronger.
The ground began to shake more and more violently. Thorhad to lower his center of gravity to maintain balance. Just as he was wondering what was happening, the ground suddenly split open, and he fell into a massive crevice.
The familiar sensation of falling returned, but this time, a blast of scorching wind rushed toward him!
Thor slammed heavily onto the ground again. Countless strange creatures swarmed him, using sturdy chains to bind him and hoist him into the air.
After completing this task, the creatures roared and jumped on the ground as if celebrating. Thor could tell they weren't highly intelligent.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted their revelry. The fire-eating Beasts immediately quieted down and retreated, moving away from the area. "Thor, son of Odin!"
The voice came from behind. The suspended Thorstruggled to turn and saw a humanoid monster bathed in flames, with two massive horns atop its head. Thor was already considered tall, but the figure before him was several times larger.
The fire giant, Surtur.
"Surtur, bastard son of a bitch," Thor said with a smile. "You're actually still alive. I thought my Royal Father had killed you half a million years ago..."
"Odin? That fire-stealing thief? Him?" Surtur scoffed. "Ragnarok has begun, and no one can escape it. The moment the crown is bathed in the Eternal Flame, I will stand upon the peak of the mountains and pierce Asgardwith a single sword!"
"Oh! What a thrilling story." The chains holding Thor kept spinning, forcing him to speak while rotating. "So where is your crown? You aren't wearing a hat!"
"This is my crown, the source of my power!" Surtur said, pointing to the two massive horns on his head.
Thor laughed loudly: "That's the crown? I thought they were just two extremely thick eyebrows..."
"This is the crown!" Surtur pulled a massive sword from the lava behind him and pointed it at Thor. "Whether it's Odin or you, your fate will be the same as Asgard's. Everything will be eternally damned, everything will be consumed by fire."
"You brought props for the performance? So professional! It's a shame I'm tied up right now and can't applaud."
But Thor's heart still trembled slightly as he looked at the massive sword bathed in fierce flames.
Surtur dragged the massive sword toward Thor. The flaming greatsword left a deep gouge in the rock ground, sending sparks flying.
"Actually, I really want to see that scene... Ragnarok. But your Eternal Flame is currently hidden in Asgard's vault, so you can't put the crown on it. How about I help you out?" Thor offered his most benevolent smile. "Provided you let me chop off your head."
Surtur quickly responded by swinging his massive sword and fiercely slashing at Thor.
Thor forcefully snapped the chains, lunging sideways to dodge the massive sword slicing down through the air!
Surtur's greatsword struck the empty ground, instantly cracking the bedrock, and lava shot out of the fissures several meters high.
"You won't live to see Ragnarok, because you will die before then," Surtur said, pointing the greatsword at him.
The next moment, powerful flames shot out from the tip of the greatsword. Thor quickly dodged, but his red cape was already ignited by the blaze.
Thor quickly tore off his cape. He flexed his wrist and pointed at Surtur, saying, "You're screwed. I'm going to carve off your crown!"
Thor accelerated and rushed forward. He jumped, avoiding the sweeping greatsword, and, carrying lightning, flew up and smashed a punch into Surtur's face, sending him crashing to the ground.
Thor felt the endless energy surging within his body. Those words echoed in his ears again: He was the Son of Odin, Thunder God Thor!
"You will make a great mistake, Son of Odin!" Surtur said, climbing back up.
Lightning flashed in Thor's eyes: "Sorry, making great mistakes is a daily occurrence for me..."
Chapter 156: Return
Blue light shimmered in the observatory, and the figures of Arthur and Hela appeared.
The guards who had taken over for Heimdall at this post immediately launched an attack on them. Hela drew a dark green dagger from her waist and casually threw it, killing two guards instantly.
The remaining executioner, Skurge, hurriedly placed his weapon on the ground. He raised his hands and said in terror, "I am just a doorman!"
"You are quite sensible," Hela said, smiling with her hands on her hips.
Suddenly, Arthur activated the Pig Talisman, shooting two lasers from his eyes that blew Skurge's head to pieces, plastering a wall with blood mist and gore.
Hela nodded reluctantly. "But you encountered an honest demon! Consider yourself unlucky... or perhaps it's because you are too ugly."
Hela walked to the entrance of the observatory, the starting point of the Bifrost Bridge.
She gazed out at the calm water, the endless Bifrost Bridge, and the rows of buildings in the distance.
Everything was so familiar, as if she had only left Asgardyesterday, but the truth was she had been away from this place for over a thousand years.
"I have returned, Asgard..."
Feeling an endless stream of energy surging into her body, Hela sneered.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind and grabbed her neck. Arthur lifted her with a slight exertion of force, and Hela clearly felt the sensation of power surging into her body vanish instantly...
The man wearing the demon mask said indifferently from behind her, "Since returning to Asgard, you seem to have become quite presumptuous?"
"Apologies... I have just been away for too long... Every day I spent in Éljúðnir, I missed Asgard. Apologies, I was too excited..."
Hela, with her throat held, spoke in a slurred voice. Even though she had returned to Asgard, she dared not make any sudden moves for the time being.
As she spent more time in Asgard, she would absorb more energy; for now, having just returned to Asgard, she was not yet strong enough to defeat the demon.
Arthur smiled wantonly. "You are no longer the Goddess of Death, just a servant of mine. What are you excited about?"
Hela, suspended in mid-air, did not dare to retort. She closed her eyes, fearing that the flames of her anger would shoot out from them...
A moment later, Arthur put Hela down. Arthur helped her straighten her dark green cape and patted her shoulders, saying:
"But you are also a queen, the Queen of Asgard. Go and reclaim your glory..."
Arthur gently pushed Hela's shoulders. Receiving the command, Hela stepped onto the brilliant Bifrost Bridge. Her pace was neither fast nor slow, and her presence and demeanor were truly like a queen ruling over her realm.
Arthur watched this scene from behind with a smile, and he slowly floated upward...
Deep beneath the Heavenly Palace, Odin, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly awoke! He had felt it the moment Hela arrived in Asgard, because the power belonging to Asgard was constantly draining away.
Odin looked back at the deep, eerie black well.
"Thor, my son, have you completed your mission?"
In Muspelheim, Thor, who was surrounded and attacked by numerous fire monsters, also heard this call from Odin.
Covered in wounds after being gnawed on by the Beasts, Thor erupted instantly, and an endless stream of power surged into his body.
Thor broke free from the encirclement of these Beasts, and the nearby Beasts were pulverized by the powerful lightning.
Lightning burst from Thor's body, striking the ground and launching him upward. Leaping into the air, he threw a punch at Surtur, who was not far away!
Surtur hurriedly moved his massive body to dodge. He barely avoided Thor's attack, and Thor's fist smashed into the ground, shattering countless rocks.
"Son of Odin..."
Surtur had just wanted to mock him, when suddenly, dense lightning descended from above, striking the top of his head!
Surtur's voice stopped abruptly. He wobbled and fell to the ground; he had actually been killed by Thor in a single strike.
Surtur's massive body began to dissipate, turning into a plume of black smoke that drilled into that pair of giant horns. Finally, Surtur's corpse completely vanished, leaving behind only his crown... that pair of giant horns.
Thor strapped Surtur's crown to his back and secured it with iron chains. Countless monsters swarmed up; Thorhad gone berserk. He threw punches into the air, lightning flashing and shattering those fragile creatures...
"Thor, my son, Asgard needs you. Hela and the demon have arrived..." Odin's call resounded in his mind once again.
Thor instantly sobered up. He roared at the sky, "I have obtained the crown! Take me back, Father!"
Dark energy instantly traversed countless spaces and descended upon Muspelheim. It enveloped Thor, and a massive flame dragon broke through the rock wall to attack!
The flame dragon was imposing, but when it touched the dark energy, its massive body was instantly annihilated!
Seeing this, Thor's heart raced; he was currently enveloped by this violent dark energy...
The sensation of falling and weightlessness returned, but this time it lasted for a much shorter duration. A few seconds later, Thor had returned to the underground palace of Asgard.
When Thor appeared carrying the giant horns, the weak Odin collapsed again, but fortunately, he was caught in time by Thor.
"Father!" Thor was shocked. In his eyes, Odin, who could easily erase his divine power, had always been synonymous with strength.
Odin shook his head with his eyes closed. "Thor, remember, using those forbidden things always requires paying a price."
"The price you paid is..."
"Hela and the demon have arrived!" Odin interrupted what Thor wanted to say. "Go to the treasure vault immediately and let Surtur's crown bathe in the Eternal Flame. After completing all this, go to the port immediately; someone is waiting for you there."
"And what about you? Father!"
"Before Surtur descends, someone must stop them..."
"I will go!" Thor said, moving to take off the pair of giant horns on his back.
Odin stopped his action. "You are not qualified enough!"
"Thor, you shoulder a mission; do not let me down!"
With that, Odin left trembling. A flash of white light, and his figure disappeared from the underground palace.
Thor punched the floor, venting his unwillingness and anger. Soon, he pulled himself together, strapped Surtur's crown to his back, and rushed out.
...
"I am Hela, the first offspring of Odin!"
A dark green figure stood atop Victory Square. Usually, this was the place where the Asgardian army held parades after returning in triumph.
At this moment, the massive Victory Square was filled with fully armed soldiers. They raised their spears and shields, confronting Hela in front of them.
"I am the commander of the Asgardian legions, the first heir to the throne, I am the Goddess of Death!"
All soldiers stepped forward three paces, assuming a charge stance.
Hela chuckled; she did not care.
"Asgard was once the most powerful army; our journey should be the entire Universe, yet Odin has confined himself to the Nine Realms!"
"So I have returned to Asgard, bearing a great mission, to march toward the dark places of the Universe. You are honored to have the chance to witness or even participate in all of this!"
"Kneel before me! And embark on this glorious journey with me!"
Hela spread her hands, and her cape fluttered...
"Clap, clap..."
A round of applause came down from the top of the nearby clock tower; it was Arthur applauding her.
"A very brilliant speech!"
Chapter 157: Death of the God-King
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Demon!" Hela bowed to him.
She turned back to face the heavily armed soldiers and said, "So, what are you waiting for? Pay homage to your Queen!"
"No matter who you are or what you've done, drop your weapons immediately!" a warrior said coldly.
Laughter erupted from above to the side as Arthur jeered, "It seems your speech was brilliant, but it's useless... just a waste of time!"
Hela's expression was indifferent; she was certain the demon was here to cause trouble, or perhaps just for fun!
Hela reached out and drew a dagger, throwing it. The warrior, who had been cold and indifferent just a moment ago, widened his eyes in shock. He clutched his throat in terror as blood flowed through his fingers; Hela had ended him with a mere flick of her hand.
The soldiers below swarmed forward. Hela waved her hands, and two volleys of daggers shot out, shattering the shields of the first row of soldiers and piercing their chests. The powerful force didn't stop there, knocking over those behind them as well.
In a single encounter, the formation of Asgardian soldiers was crushed by Hela. The soldiers' eyes were filled with caution and fear, yet not one of them retreated.
Responding to Hela was a chorus of roars from the soldiers as they charged with their round shields, thrusting their spears fiercely toward her!
"I thought you would be happy to see me... a thousand years ago, every soldier took pride in me."
Hela raised her hands and brushed them behind her ears, her long green hair fluttering as she prepared to transform into her battle state... "Stop!" Arthur interrupted. "Sorry, but you look really ugly after you transform..."
Hela shrugged helplessly, spreading her hands as she met them head-on. She pulled two longswords from the void, leaping and spinning to deliver a horizontal slash that left an arc of blood. When she landed, the first row of soldiers' heads flew into the air, and pillars of blood erupted from their necks before their bodies even hit the ground... Helaactively charged into the soldiers' encirclement. Countless soldiers rushed at her, swinging their blades, but with every swing of her swords and every throw of her short blades, she reaped the lives of several Asgardians.
The number of Asgardian soldiers left behind was limited, but the amount of swords and short blades Hela threw seemed endless... Once she stepped into Asgard, her power became inexhaustible!
A fleet of low-flying skiffs continuously fired laser attacks. Hela turned and blocked them with her cape, then spun and threw a row of longswords. Those swords transformed in mid-air into blades larger than the nearby clock tower, instantly smashing the skiffs to pieces. With just one strike, Hela destroyed an entire fleet... There was one surviving skiff, which turned its cannons and opened fire on Arthur!
"Are you kidding me... do I look like an easy target?"
Sitting atop the clock tower, Arthur clenched his fist. Instantly, the surviving skiff was crushed by pressure from all directions. It couldn't even escape after exploding; its wreckage was compressed into a sheet of iron before falling freely from the sky.
By now, the battle in Victory Square was nearing its end. Hela stood at the center of the square, surrounded by countless corpses. The defeat of the Asgardian legion was inevitable, yet still, no one retreated as the final wave of attacks surged forward.
A warrior gripped his spear and thrust it into her back, piercing her body. Hela calmly turned and decapitated the warrior with a single sword stroke. She reached back, pulled the spear from her abdomen, and threw it aside. The blood-stained spear shattered a soldier's shield and pierced his heart, skewering several others behind him in the process... Hela stood still, scanning the entire battlefield. Now, the massive Victory Square was littered with corpses and severed limbs, with fires burning and black smoke rising everywhere. She was the only one left standing. The puncture wound in her abdomen had long since healed, and even the bloodstains had vanished.
"I've missed this feeling; I've been away from the battlefield for far too long..." Hela walked among the piles of corpses. As the Goddess of Death, she did not loathe bodies or blood. "But it's a pity; these brave warriors died for nothing. They should have followed me on a conquest of the Universe."
Suddenly, Hela turned to one side as Odin appeared, clad in golden armor. He held a weathered wooden staff, which was actually a branch of the World Tree. As the ruler of the Nine Realms, Odin's treasury never lacked rare treasures.
"I thought you were going to hide like a coward forever..."
The faint hum of blades cutting through the air sounded as Hela drew her twin swords to face the man before her... the one who had exiled and imprisoned her, her father, the God-King Odin!
"Odin, it's good to see you. Every day in Éljúðnir, I worried you would die before I could get out..." Hela said with a smile. "How else could I repay the hatred I've accumulated all these years?"
"Though it may be pointless to say, I must say it anyway: Stop this, Hela!" Odin shook his head. "The ambition you couldn't fulfill a thousand years ago is even more impossible now!"
"Is that so?" Hela crossed her swords in front of her. "Then who can stop me now? Who can exile me again?"
"Thor," Odin said. "Thunder God Thor, my son, your brother, the King of Asgard..."
"I am the King of Asgard!"
Hela angrily interrupted Odin, throwing a sharp blade at him.
Odin swung his scepter and shattered the blade; not a single mark was left on the World Tree branch.
A round of applause rang out again. Both of them looked up at the source of the sound, toward the demon.
"After a thousand years, father and daughter meet again... what a tear-jerking scene!" Arthur said sentimentally, his face full of feigned confusion. "Hela, aren't you going to give your father a hug?"
Odin raised his wooden scepter and pointed it at Arthur. "Demon, you have committed a heinous crime. You have no idea what kind of monster you have unleashed!"
"Is that so?" Arthur looked completely indifferent. "But I feel she's quite sensible, and her style suits mine... Also, I really don't like having a spear pointed at me, and a cane is no different! Hela, take down your old man!"
Hearing Arthur's command, Hela gave a ghostly smile and walked toward Odin.
"As you command!"
Odin sighed softly, but his resolve was firm as he raised his scepter. He was the God-King of the Nine Realms; it was his responsibility to bear all of this. Even though he had just used the Dark energy device twice and forcibly resisted the onset of the Odinsleep... dark green and golden energies collided. Hela's blades continuously struck the World Tree branch, and the resulting energy blasts leveled building after building... Odin fought back relentlessly. He had conquered the Nine Realms through sheer force!
Arthur vanished from the spot. Asgard had now become an empty city, which meant Odin must be preparing some kind of plan.
Although Arthur was fearless, curiosity drove him to investigate. Following the energy signature of the Dragon Talisman, he ventured deep into Asgard.
Arthur entered the palace again, flickering into Odin's treasury in an instant.
Arthur walked down the steps and saw a familiar figure in Odin's treasury.
"Thor!"
Thor, carrying Surtur's crown on his back, had just entered the treasury. He turned to face the demon with full alertness, slowly backing away toward the burning Eternal Flame.
"Demon? You really are persistent!" Thor said through gritted teeth.
"Of course, I am a demon after all!" Arthur said with a smile. "Being persistent, making you feel fear, or even bringing bad luck—that's part of my job description!"
Thor kept backing up; he could already feel the heat of the Eternal Flame.
"How did you get into Asgard? Through the Bifrost Bridgethat landed in New York?"
Thor continued to stall for time. He knew this would work because the demon was a chatterbox and quite gentlemanly; he would usually wait for you to finish what you were doing before causing trouble.
His overwhelming power gave Arthur the confidence to be reckless. He ignored the resistance others meticulously prepared; at least so far, he had never failed or suffered a loss.
"Bingo! But unfortunately, there's no prize." Arthur slowly approached, smiling. "For the past few days, I've been right behind you and Loki. I have to thank you two brothers; otherwise, I wouldn't have found such a fun place! By the way, what's this place called? Asgard, right?"
"I knew it... I brought disaster to Asgard."
Thor gritted his teeth. He desperately wanted to punch the demon's smug face, but he clearly lacked the strength, and he had more important things to do.
"Let me see Odin's collection..."
Arthur strolled casually through the treasury. On the first pedestal sat a golden Infinity Gauntlet, set with six Infinity Stones.
These six Infinity Stones were, of course, fakes, since the Space Stone was still in Arthur's possession.
Arthur snapped his fingers. A blue light flickered over the Infinity Gauntlet, and it vanished as the light dissipated.
"The second trophy!" Arthur said with a smile.
"The second?" Thor noticed Arthur's words. "What else did you steal from Asgard?"
"The first trophy was your sister, Hela," Arthur said with a smile, emphasizing, "And it's not stealing; it's a blatant robbery."
Thor had reached the Eternal Flame and began cautiously unfastening the chains holding the crown.
Arthur also walked to the second exhibit, a blue rectangular object that continuously emitted a chill, freezing even its pedestal.
Arthur naturally recognized it: the Casket of Ancient Winters!
The Casket of Ancient Winters was an artifact of the Frost Giants, possessing terrifying power capable of freezing a Planet in a very short time.
Although the power of the Casket of Ancient Winters was useless to Arthur and seemed a bit redundant, it was still an artifact.
"This one isn't bad either; it'll be a fun toy. The third trophy!" Arthur snapped his fingers again, taking the Casket of Ancient Winters. He looked at Thor and said, "As Odin's son and the legal heir to these treasures, you won't mind, will you?"
"Honestly, I'd love to shove your head into this brazier," Thor said, holding a pair of giant horns. "But I promised someone I would let his crown bathe in the Eternal Flame."
With that, Thor threw Surtur's crown into the Eternal Flame. Instantly, the skull burst into flames. Thor felt a sense of foreboding, and Arthur also sensed a powerful energy gathering.
"After all that, this is your solution? Resurrecting Surtur to trigger Ragnarok?" Arthur stood there, somewhat dissatisfied.
With Arthur's speed, he could have easily stopped Thor, but he didn't. If conquering Asgard became too dull, it would be boring, and he wouldn't feel much joy after the victory.
Huge plumes of the Eternal Flame surged from Surtur's skull as Thor slowly backed away.
"Is this not shocking enough? I hope you survive Ragnarokso I can have my revenge!"
Arthur wanted to say more, but the skull bathing in the Eternal Flame began to release terrifying energy. A massive figure crawled out from the burning flames, growing larger and larger until it instantly broke through the ceiling of the treasury.
Feeling the intense heat, Arthur smiled and said, "Good luck!"
Arthur used the Snake Talisman to teleport out. Meanwhile, on the main battlefield, Hela and Odin were still locked in a fierce battle.
Hela used all her strength to push Odin back. Feeling the ever-increasing energy fluctuations, she immediately demanded, "What have you done! A thousand years ago, you blocked Asgard's path forward, and now you're going to destroy it!"
"I only did what a God-King must do," Odin said, feeling his divine power rapidly draining. "It is not destruction, but salvation. You will never understand."
Just as Odin had told Thor, using forbidden things always comes with a price. Whether it was using dark energy or forcibly resisting the Odinsleep, both were forbidden. Even as the God-King, he had to pay an unbearable price.
An enraged Hela attacked again, thrusting her longsword at Odin, who barely managed to dodge the blade.
Suddenly, a blade grew from the ground, extending upward and piercing the surface toward Odin in the sky.
In his critical state, Odin was unable to resist. He was struck and fell, tumbling through the air. The furious Helathrew a short blade, which rapidly expanded after piercing Odin's body, finally pinning him to the ground!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The blades cut through the air with a sharp sound as Helarepeatedly threw them, piercing Odin's body. Blood splashed several meters high; even the God-King was left on the brink of death under such an assault.
"I am Hela! I am the Queen of Asgard!"
Hela fired one last attack straight through Odin's heart, venting her endless rage, the hatred accumulated over a thousand years... and the humiliation she had suffered today.
"No, you are not." Odin's eyes dimmed rapidly as he said his final words: "The King will only be Thor..."