As Robert's words fell, his and Thor's figures vanished instantly, leaving Heimdall dumbfounded. He hadn't even understood how Robert accomplished this sudden disappearance. By the time Heimdall processed what had happened, Robert and Thor had already appeared inside the grand hall of the Asgardian palace.
Now that he was on Asgardian soil, Robert no longer had to worry about startling Odin into some sort of shock or panic. After all, Odin, with his godly awareness, would have already sensed Robert's presence the moment he entered Asgard.
"Saiyan, it's been a while."
Odin, the All-Father, stood in the center of the hall—not seated on his high throne as he normally would be. Despite his aged and frail appearance, he gripped the mighty Gungnir (the Eternal Spear) firmly, standing tall and straight as he gazed at Robert.
This wasn't merely a sign of respect toward Robert; it was also Odin's way of showing that he still retained some level of strength, that he was not yet a decrepit shell of his former self.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visit this time?" Odin asked, his tone steady and calm. "Has my troublesome son caused you more problems?"
At this point, Asgard was utterly in the dark regarding the events that had transpired on Earth. Asgard no longer had the strength or means to keep an eye on Earth as it once had in its prime. It had been centuries, even millennia, since Asgard lost its ability to monitor Earth closely.
When Heimdall briefly communicated with Thor, they had only exchanged a few words, and no details about the dire situations on Earth had been shared. Nor did Odin know about Hela's appearance in the Hell Dimension.
Odin also had no idea what Robert's current attitude toward Thor was. His promise to Robert had been that Thor would one day reach the strength to face him. Yet, Thor's strength clearly hadn't reached that level. Odin was uncertain if Robert—known for his warrior's pride and battle-driven nature—might take this as an insult and lash out, potentially implicating all of Asgard in his anger.
Truthfully, Odin wasn't pleased with his current mindset. He despised the sense of powerlessness and subservience that had crept into his thoughts. But there was no helping it; circumstances had forced Asgard into a position of absolute disadvantage. Forget bargaining with Robert—Asgard didn't even have the leverage to protect itself from him.
"This time, my visit has nothing to do with Thor," Robert said, shaking his head as he met Odin's gaze. "I'm here to discuss the seals Asgard placed on Earth."
"The seals?"
Odin's pupils contracted sharply. A flicker of alarm passed through his eyes before he quickly composed himself and spoke in a measured tone. "Those seals were not placed in recent times; they are relics of the Age of Gods, set shortly after we withdrew from Earth."
Odin had no idea how Robert had come to learn about the seals, but his alarm was palpable. He feared Robert might use the seals as an excuse to act against Asgard. In his haste, Odin tried to explain that Asgard hadn't interfered with Earth in countless years and that the seals were nothing more than remnants of history.
"True, the seals were placed in the distant past, but the problem is this—when your life comes to an end, those seals will inevitably weaken and break!"
Robert's voice grew colder as he spoke, his gaze piercing. "Do you intend to leave Earth unprepared for that eventuality?
"Tell me, Odin—what happens if I'm not on Earth when that day comes? What if, when those seals break, the beings trapped within are unleashed and bring slaughter and chaos to the planet? Who bears that responsibility? Who pays for the lives lost? You? Thor? Or all of Asgard?"
While Robert didn't harbor deep resentment toward the existence of the seals—he acknowledged they were a historical issue—he was irritated by Asgard's lack of transparency.
Even after all the battles he had fought with Asgard, reducing the once-proud realm to a shadow of its former self, not once had Odin or anyone from Asgard mentioned these seals. Not once had they brought up the potential dangers lurking beneath Earth's surface.
"I… apologize." Odin bowed his head slightly, his voice laden with regret. "I had indeed overlooked the possibility of future consequences. Over the centuries, Hela and Cul have not stirred within their seals. I had assumed that perhaps… they had perished within their bindings."
"But I assure you, Saiyan, should I sense any weakening of the seals as my time draws near, I will have Heimdall contact you immediately." Odin straightened, his tone resolute. "In your capable hands, I trust that neither Hela nor Cul could pose a significant threat to Earth. After all, the Earth of today is no longer the fragile planet it once was.
"Not only is Earth now teeming with powerful defenders, many of whom can match or even surpass Hela's strength, but the planet itself is far more resilient. It would not crumble under their rampage."
"Hah! So, Asgard leaves its mess behind and expects me to clean it up? How convenient!"
Robert let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You seem awfully confident that I'll always be around to babysit Earth, Odin. What if I'm off-world? What if, in my absence, people die because of Asgard's negligence? Should I take out my anger on Asgard as a whole—or should I start with your son, Thor?"
"I offer my deepest apologies. It was never my intention to place such a burden on Earth. As the All-Father of Asgard, I humbly ask for your forgiveness, Saiyan."
Odin's voice, heavy with remorse, seemed to acknowledge the disparity between Asgard's past actions and its current powerlessness.
But Robert wasn't fooled. Beneath Odin's apologetic tone lay an undercurrent of evasion. His words subtly suggested that since the seals hadn't yet failed, the issue couldn't yet be blamed on Asgard.
"Forgiveness?" Robert smirked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, Odin, forgiveness is precisely why I'm here. And it's simple—Asgard needs to handle its own mess."
"What do you mean?"
Odin's heart sank as he heard Robert's words. A growing sense of dread took hold, but he clung to a faint hope that he had misunderstood.
"What I mean, Odin, is this: Asgard created these problems, so Asgard should solve them. Don't you agree, Thor?"
"I do." Thor sighed heavily, meeting Odin's gaze. "This is an issue of Asgard's making, Father. We cannot expect Earth to bear the consequences of our actions."
Thor's agreement felt like the final nail in the coffin for Odin. The aging All-Father realized he had lost any hope of convincing Robert to let the matter slide.
"So, Odin, how will Asgard fix this?" Robert's smirk widened as he posed the question.
After a long silence, Odin finally sighed in defeat. "And what would you have us do?"
"Simple." Robert's voice grew firm, his tone brooking no argument. "Release the seals—or transfer them to Asgard. After that, whatever happens between you, Hela, and Cul is none of my concern."
"Release the seals? Transfer them?"
Odin looked genuinely taken aback. A bitter smile crossed his face. "You overestimate me, Saiyan. I no longer possess the strength to undo or move the seals. Even attempting such a feat would likely kill me."
"Is that so?" Robert raised an eyebrow, studying Odin intently. Then, with a cold smile, he added, "If that's the case… I'll break the seals myself."
Odin's face drained of color. "You can't be serious!"
"Oh, I'm dead serious."
Before Odin could respond, Robert unleashed his aura. The overwhelming energy surged through the hall, shaking its very foundation. Thor was blasted backward, slamming into the far wall, while Odin himself staggered under the oppressive force, collapsing into his throne.
Outside the grand hall, Asgardian soldiers rushed toward the commotion but found themselves immobilized, unable to step even a single foot closer. The sheer weight of Robert's power pressed down on them like an unmovable mountain.
"Now, Odin, let me ask you one more time: what will Asgard do about its mess?" Robert's voice boomed, cutting through the suffocating silence.
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