In Asgard, within the resplendent great hall, Odin lay reclined on the throne, eyes closed in meditation. His mind churned with thoughts, contemplating every move he needed to make. Frigga, exuding an air of noble grace, carried a fruit platter and, with light steps, ascended the stairs to stand before Odin.
"Is it truly alright to let Hela handle Midgard's affairs alone?"
Frigga placed the fruit platter on the armrest of Odin's throne and sighed, her gaze filled with worry for her daughter, who hadn't returned to Asgard in "a long time." Midgard was no Asgard, and Hela, while away, didn't have the entire Asgardian force backing her.
"Of course, because she is my daughter."
Odin opened his eyes, his sharp gaze startling Frigga.
"Odin..."
"I know what you're worried about, Frigga. Vanaheim will definitely pay for their betrayal, and no one can change that." Odin's tone was calm, but it was precisely this calmness that made Frigga understand that those who controlled her homeland had truly angered the ruler of Asgard this time.
With the Nine Realms war raging fiercely, Vanaheim, an ally of Asgard, not only failed to increase its support but also stabbed Asgard in the back, even openly defecting to become a traitor. Odin could not tolerate this. The rulers of Vanaheim had to pay the price for their foolish decision, a price paid in blood.
"Vanaheim will not perish, I can guarantee you that, Frigga."
"I believe you, Odin." Frigga sighed inwardly. Why were her own family members so disappointing, making such short-sighted decisions? Asgard's strength was already the strongest in the Nine Realms, and now Odin had even reached a cooperation agreement with powerful forces outside the Nine Realms. The situation where the Nine Realms would all be under Asgard's rule seemed very clear to her. Any resistance would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, an act of overestimation.
Yet, those fools were unaware of their folly, proudly defecting.
"However, informing Thanos about the Aether, isn't that too risky?"
"What else could I do? Thanos isn't easily fooled. If I don't give him something sufficiently interesting, he won't act." Odin understood this better than anyone. From the moment he saw Beckett, with the energy of the Infinity Stones flowing through him, he knew how he should approach a deal with Thanos.
The Aether, once used by the Dark Elf race, naturally came to Odin's mind.
He couldn't exactly exchange the Space Stone he held for Thanos's support.
"I gave him the clue about the Aether. Whether he can find it, and whether he can break the seal after finding it, that's his own business."
After all, he hadn't lied to anyone.
...
"Your Highness Beckett, we are about to arrive at Planet C53."
In the magnificent expanse of the universe, Beckett, seated at the console, listened to Woz's reminder and slowly stood up, walking to the warship's window. The azure planet was right before his eyes.
According to his adoptive father, Thanos, he and his army would be waiting here for the Bifrost's teleportation from Asgard to his destination for this trip—Svartalfheim, the stronghold of the Dark Elf race.
The cosmic treasure, also known as the Aether and by its true name, the Reality Stone, was located there, if Odin wasn't lying.
"Your Highness Beckett, do we... do we really have to wait for this Bifrost?" The Other's voice was a bit shaky, perhaps due to three days of strenuous work.
He really didn't want to experience the Bifrost again. For some reason, that thing seemed fundamentally incompatible with his race.
The Other couldn't forget his embarrassing performance after getting seasick twice from the Bifrost.
"Yes."
Beckett, with his arms crossed, gave The Other a definitive answer. The latter could only dejectedly accept this fact and return to his seat.
His body had been weak for the past two days and hadn't recovered yet.
"Your Highness Beckett, Woz has located Ms. Hela's communication channel. Shall we connect?"
As the fleet of warships entered Planet C53's atmosphere, Woz's voice sounded again.
"Hela's communication channel?" Beckett asked, confused. Didn't Hela use some kind of magical communication?
"So-called magical communication also has patterns, Your Highness Beckett." Woz's voice carried a hint of indescribable pride. Its ability to evolve with the times was the main reason it was kept by Beckett's side by Thanos.
"And Woz is best at deciphering patterns."
Somewhere on Earth, Hela, having just cleared out a joint Nine Realms military outpost, hadn't even had time to wipe the blood splattered on her before a brilliant blue screen suddenly appeared before her. The smiling face of a large tanuki was clearly visible on the screen.
"Hello, Ms. Hela."
Woz's polite demeanor caused Hela to frown.
"Woz?" Having already interacted with Beckett, Hela was no stranger to this artificial intelligence life form by Beckett's side. She frowned, but only because Woz's appearance was too unexpected.
"Your magic doesn't seem as mysterious as you claimed." An annoying voice came from the screen, and Beckett's detestable face appeared, clearly visible.
"What do you want? Unlike you, I don't have a habit of being naked." Hela retorted sarcastically, understanding Beckett's intention.
"Just for Woz to get a lock." Beckett, seated in the control chair, wore a smile that Hela detested. In just a few seconds, she saw the fleet of warships in the sky.
They were vast, their engines roaring deafeningly.
"Of course, this decision doesn't require your consent."
The virtual image displayed on the screen instantly darkened Hela's expression. She hated this feeling, but according to her father's instructions, she would have to fight alongside this annoying guy for a while until they captured Svartalfheim and turned the leader of the Dark Elves, Malekith, who had inexplicably revived, into a dish named after himself on Asgard's dining table.
Hela, who had directly altered the magic wavelength to end the call, suddenly saw the detestable face disappear. The next second, dense formations of warships landed before her.
Roaring air currents kicked up natural frost, which settled on Hela's dark hair. Beckett, clad in silver armor, appeared before Hela, with The Other following closely behind.
"Hmm? Your hair faded, did the poison wear off?" Hela's eyes fixed on the man approaching her, raising an eyebrow as she spoke words of welcome.
Beckett paused, then walked step by step towards Hela. At such close proximity, Hela could even hear Beckett's breathing.
"What do you want?" Hela's eyelids twitched involuntarily as she looked up to meet his gaze, showing no signs of weakness.
"You're scared."
"Nonsense."
"You can't beat me."
"..." Hela's silent face only made Beckett's arrogant smile widen.
Hela suddenly felt like slaughtering the sheep named [Beckett] that she kept at San Siro Ranch in Asgard and making a dish out of it.
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I'm infected by rain, saliva, and... what kind of juice is that? Are you guys devils?! (ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻
Let me say it again, I'm not kidding! (Mermaid roar!)
The weather in Guangzhou these past two days has been incredibly refreshing (_)
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