Zion, the king who held the supreme authority of the Dark Elf race after Malekith's death.
Externally, he reached a peace agreement with Asgard under Bor's rule, giving Svartalfheim a chance to breathe. Internally, he enacted a series of peaceful regulations, causing the Dark Elf population, which had been nearly wiped out, to triple in just a few thousand years. He also personally trained twelve warriors who made a name for themselves throughout the Nine Realms.
It can be said that the current glory and achievements of Svartalfheim are inseparable from this king named Zion. It was under his leadership that the Dark Elf race re-established a foothold in Svartalfheim and gradually returned to their royal status.
Even the army that Malekith is now using to participate in the war of the Nine Realms was built by Zion.
Regrettably, after Malekith's revival, he still vowed to avenge Asgard.
The conflict between the two kings intensified. One moonless, windy night, Malekith lied, claiming he wanted to have an open talk with Zion. He then lured him to the sealed land, using the power of the Aether leaking from the seal's cracks to defeat Zion. He then used the Dreamflower to absorb all of Zion's life force, instantly unsealing a large portion of the Aether.
"This is my story."
"I can tell you very clearly, young man, you and your woman are no match for Malekith."
"We Dark Elves, like the Asgardians, grow stronger with age. Malekith, who has been active for nearly ten thousand years, combined with the supreme treasure, the Aether—"
"Who are you calling his woman?"
Before the old man could finish speaking, Hela interrupted him. If it weren't for not wanting to lose face when she returned, she would have left long ago. Why would she need to live under someone else's roof and endure cold stares?
The cold stares of The Other.
"Watch your words."
Beckett's disdain in the corner of his eye, Hela's mockery on her lips. The old man, seeing everything, shook his head and coughed, "Asgardians, and you, I am not joking. Regardless of your relationship, now, quickly leave Svartalfheim."
Nearly ten thousand years of growth and accumulation, coupled with the deep integration of the Aether, made the Dark Dominator Malekith's strength unmatched.
This was the old man's conclusion.
"Is what he said true?"
Beckett raised an eyebrow. Still in the process of learning his mandatory third-year course, Beckett looked at Hela.
"No, I've never heard of this."
Hela, who had also listened to the entire story, shook her head.
Everything the old man said completely overturned her impression of the Dark Elf race.
According to Asgard's historical records, Malekith had always been the leader of the Dark Elf race, without change.
"I'm more inclined to believe he's just telling a story."
"A rather gossipy story."
Before the words could even fall, the scene before Beckett and Hela abruptly shifted. Eight pitch-black chains surged from all directions!
Clang!
A long sword cut through the air!
The chains not only didn't shatter but instead wrapped around Hela's long sword!
"What?!"
Bang!
A powerful energy fluctuation exploded before Hela's eyes. The energy emanating from Beckett's hand directly blasted the chains to pieces!
"Malekith."
Beckett looked with interest at the figure that appeared before him, identical to the one that had appeared at the Asgardian outpost earlier.
"Son of Thanos, as you can see, I am here."
Malekith's lips curved upwards, and he spread his hands, a dense dark energy condensing in them. "How about it, after hearing that story, do you still want to stand against me?"
Aura, with a blank expression, swung the chains in her hands, surging towards Beckett and Hela again.
"What's so special about that story?"
"Or do you want to tell me that your Dark Elf race indeed has a king other than you?"
"No, I am the only king of the Dark Elves. However, what I have done is no different from that story of Zion."
"I once reached a peace agreement with Asgard, giving Svartalfheim a chance to breathe. I also enacted a series of peaceful regulations, causing our population to steadily increase."
"It was I who allowed the Dark Elf race to gain a firm foothold among the Nine Realms."
"It was I who formed our own army, giving us the ability to protect ourselves."
"But it was also I who nearly plunged our race into eternal damnation."
"Merely because of the power of the Aether, the Asgardians attempted to seal our race's most precious treasure!"
"I led my people in resistance, but we were ruthlessly suppressed."
"Tell me, if it were you, wouldn't you make the same choice and become an enemy of Asgard?"
Beckett remained noncommittal, tearing apart the chains in his hands, and then shattering Aura's chest.
The sound of cracking bone was exceptionally crisp in this misty space.
Deception must come with a price.
"You come from outside the Nine Realms, and your father Thanos has no connection to the Nine Realms."
"So, I'm wondering, why are you helping Asgard?"
Malekith's figure instantly floated behind Beckett, crouching down and whispering into Beckett's ear, "What Odin can give you, I can also give you."
"Including the Aether?"
Beckett raised an eyebrow and turned to deliver a whip kick, but missed. The powerful kick passed straight through Malekith's body.
"Of course not."
"But I can offer you something equivalent to the Aether in exchange. For example, another Infinity Stone."
Malekith smiled, hands behind his back, as a dark mist gradually formed the shape of a cerulean cube before Beckett.
"I've said it before, the reason I formed the Nine Realms Alliance was solely to resist Asgard's oppression of our Dark Elf race. Unlike Odin, I have no interest in conquest."
"So, by helping me, not only will you have a righteous cause, allowing you and your father's names to spread widely across the universe, but you will also obtain the Space Stone, which is on par with the Aether."
"I believe this choice is much better than helping a tyrant, don't you think?"
"Can I interpret this as you begging for mercy?" Beckett tilted his head, watching Malekith with keen interest.
"I prefer to call it an equivalent exchange."
"Odin's brutality is evident to all. The Otherwise, why do you think all the Nine Realms, except for the dwarves, are rebelling against Asgard?"
"Even the homeland of Odin's wife is no exception."
"If I'm not mistaken, when Odin told you about the Aether, he definitely didn't explain its exact location, did he?"
Malekith, seated on his dark throne, crossed his right leg. His confident demeanor made Beckett subconsciously frown.
Looking around, Beckett realized the dense fog surrounding him had dissipated, and Hela was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he found himself in a royal palace.
"This is my sincerity. Here, is where my true form resides."
Two updates today, my roommate is treating me to dinner with his bonus tonight~
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