Norway.
The northern coast.
Wave after wave of Death Power surged stronger than the last.
The seal Kamar-Taj had laid down was shaken violently—and then, before long, it collapsed outright.
It was obvious: Hela inside the seal wouldn't need much more time before she completely broke free.
"Karl, at this point I won't hide it from you," the Ancient One said solemnly. "What's sealed in here is Odin's eldest daughter—Hela."
"If you let her run rampant, the consequences will be immeasurable. Half the Earth could be poisoned by her and turned into a dead wasteland."
"We have to stop her."
The Ancient One looked at Karl with extreme seriousness.
Karl smiled easily and spoke with calm confidence.
"Ancient One-sama, you don't need to thank me."
"I've heard of Hela's reputation. She really is a powerhouse."
"I've also wanted to test myself against someone like that."
The way Karl said it was brimming with certainty.
There was only one reason.
His strength had grown.
As he learned more magic, his power steadily increased as well. By now, his overall level had already surpassed that of ordinary Master Sorcerers—he even claimed strength comparable to Atlantis's ruler, Heavenly Dragon Nine.
Only legendary figures like Merlin or Nicolas Flamel could truly fight him head-on.
If you judged by the power tiers used in the Marvel world, Karl had already reached the very peak of human power on Earth—touching the edge of Pseudo–Skyfather-level.
Just one step away…
…from power on the level of Thanos.
And that was only a measure of the raw magic power inside his body—it didn't fully represent what he could do.
If you counted what he could actually unleash with magic, he was already a true top-tier combatant.
Naturally, he wanted to collide with a real apex powerhouse and see what happened.
So Karl wasn't afraid at all.
If anything, he was itching to try.
The Ancient One stared at him for a long moment.
"I can't intervene directly," she said. "I must suppress the Death Realm within the Nine Realms."
"Otherwise, the Death Power in that world will spill over to our side."
"And if that happens… even our world could be in danger."
"Still, you don't need to panic," she added. "My suppression will also reduce Hela's strength. There's no way she'll be at her peak."
"And since she isn't in Asgard, the power of her Undying Flame can't be brought to bear."
"If she's killed here, she'll die for real."
"Do you have confidence?"
Karl smiled calmly.
"Ancient One-sama, if you're already going that far, and I still can't stop her… wouldn't that just mean I'm useless?"
"Please do what you must. This disciple still has some ability."
"Good," the Ancient One said. "I believe you."
She cut open a Portal and left immediately.
Before she went, she also left behind a spell to monitor the battlefield.
If things truly became impossible…
…she would still be able to provide her power remotely.
Karl didn't dwell on that. He took a deep breath and looked at the rift ahead, seething with dark Death Power.
He flicked his hand.
Space fractured like shattered glass, and a wide area was swallowed up—
The Mirror Dimension.
It was to prevent Hela from wrecking Earth.
With another wave of his hand, sixty-four Tao Mandalas appeared around him, floating in a tight formation.
Only after preparing everything did Karl lock his gaze onto that deathly rift.
A few minutes later…
The magic seal he had placed on it completely shattered.
The black rift abruptly expanded.
Sickly green Death Power overflowed, carrying a loathing that any living being would feel the moment they saw it.
Through the opening, Karl could see the other side: a scorched old tree with white butterflies fluttering around it.
That was the Death Realm the Ancient One had mentioned.
In the next instant—
A woman stepped out of the rift, messy hair hanging loose, face painted in heavy dark makeup, clad in bleak green armor.
The moment she emerged, Hela saw Karl standing at the threshold.
She first glanced back at the rift behind her, suspicion flickering in her eyes, then spoke coldly.
"I thought Odin would be the one to greet me."
"I didn't expect… a mortal."
"Who are you?"
"Kamar-Taj sorcerer, Karl," he replied.
He idly rotated a finger, relaxed and unhurried.
"Oh," Hela said flatly. "Never heard of you."
"But it doesn't matter."
"Kneel before your queen."
Karl sighed as if apologizing.
"Sorry, Hela-sama. Kamar-Taj sorcerers don't have a habit of kneeling."
"In that case," Hela said, voice empty and casual, "die."
It was as though the one standing across from her wasn't a person—just an insect she could crush at will.
She swept both hands behind her head.
Her black hair morphed into black spikes.
And in her hands, two long swords formed—each radiating terrifying Death Power.
Slash!
Without the slightest hesitation, Hela flung a black longsword straight at Karl.
Decisive. Brutal. No wasted motion.
"So you really are the Goddess of Death," Karl muttered. "Completely different from everyone else."
"But this isn't Asgard."
"You don't get to act however you want here."
He waved his hand.
Several Tao Mandalas drifted forward to intercept.
Crack!
A few golden shields were pierced clean through.
But the longsword's power was also drained out in the process.
The broken shields shot onward, flying straight toward Hela's face.
She caught one with a single hand.
"Oh?" Hela's eyes narrowed. "Little brat, you have no idea what I, Hela, can do!"
She tightened her grip.
A teeth-grinding creak rang out—
The Tao Mandalas looked like they were about to be crushed in her palm.
"No," Karl said coldly. "You're the one who doesn't understand what I can do."
Snap.
Karl snapped his fingers.
Boom!
The Tao Mandalas in front of Hela detonated.
Red flames swallowed her whole.
Karl waved again.
More Tao Mandalas were hurled in—one after another.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Explosions roared.
The space where Hela stood became a sea of fire.
Whooo—
A sound like a gale sweeping the sky rang out.
Inside the towering flames, a vortex formed.
The fire was devoured as if by a black hole.
Hela reappeared where she stood, looking slightly disheveled.
"You… injured me?" Her voice carried disbelief—then far more anger.
She was the Goddess of Death!
A supreme powerhouse who stood scarcely beneath Odin himself!
And on her body was elite armor forged by Asgard's dwarves—armor that was not inferior even to what Odin wore.
Her physical body was terrifyingly strong; ordinary magic couldn't harm her at all.
Yet despite that…
She had been hurt.
Even if it was only a shallow wound, it was enough to shock her.
How many years had it been since she last tasted injury?
Kamar-Taj…
Aside from the Ancient One, it had produced someone like this?
Interesting.
Truly interesting.
The fury in Hela's heart gradually transformed into excitement.
She felt that this time…
…breaking free was going to be a lot more fun than before.
(End of Chapter)
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