King Eitri stepped forward respectfully, presenting the newly forged Stormbreaker with both hands.
The massive weapon gleamed under the firelight of the forge. Its silver blade radiated an intimidating sharpness that made even the surrounding dwarves feel a chill crawling across their skin.
Ethan Drake reached out and grasped the axe.
The metal felt cool against his palm.
"So this is Stormbreaker."
He lifted it with one hand and casually tossed it upward several times, weighing its balance like someone testing an ordinary tool.
King Eitri's expression instantly changed.
This weapon had originally been intended for the God-King himself. Watching someone handle it so casually—like a toy—nearly gave the dwarven king a heart attack.
"Artifacts are not ordinary weapons," Eitri said quickly, trying to remain respectful. "They contain a spirit of their own. Especially when one has just been forged, it should not be treated so carelessly."
"Spirit?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
Without warning, he hurled the axe far into the distance.
The power behind the throw sent Stormbreaker shooting across the sky until it vanished beyond the dwarves' sight.
"This…"
The entire forge hall froze.
Every dwarf stared in stunned disbelief.
Was there truly someone in the universe who treated a divine artifact this way?
Before anyone could recover from the shock, Ethan slowly raised his hand toward the sky.
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
From far beyond the horizon, Stormbreaker shot back toward him like a streak of silver lightning. The weapon slammed neatly into his waiting hand.
"That must be the 'spirit' you were talking about."
Ethan smiled.
King Eitri fell completely silent.
The Kryptonian standing before him had already shattered several of the dwarven king's assumptions about the universe. His casual dominance made Eitri feel as though the natural order itself had been overturned.
Still…
The power Ethan displayed was undeniable.
In Eitri's memory, perhaps only Odin in his prime could rival such overwhelming presence.
And that realization only strengthened the dwarven king's desire to stay on Ethan's good side.
"The body of the axe is forged from the legendary magical metal Uru," Eitri explained proudly. "It was tempered repeatedly within the energy of the dying star core."
He gestured toward the handle.
"The haft is crafted from the branches of the World Tree."
Eitri's deep voice carried both pride and reverence.
"This is the finest weapon I have ever forged."
Ethan nodded slowly as he felt the magical fluctuations emanating from the weapon.
The power inside Stormbreaker was unmistakable.
"However…"
Eitri hesitated before continuing.
"There is something you should know. The Stormbreaker contains extremely powerful magic. But you may not be familiar with magical abilities."
Magic.
In most people's understanding, a Kryptonian relied purely on overwhelming physical strength. Their fists were their answer to nearly every problem.
But Ethan Drake was not bound by those assumptions.
Because he possessed something others did not.
"Oracle."
He whispered the command quietly.
The familiar interface appeared within his mind.
As Ethan felt the magical energy flowing from Stormbreaker, two new abilities suddenly appeared on the system interface.
Space Teleportation — Not ActivatedWeather Manipulation — Not Activated
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
That saved him quite a bit of trouble.
He weighed the axe once more in his hand before smiling.
"It seems this weapon was meant for me."
"I already understand how to use it."
He glanced toward the dwarven king.
"My promise still stands. If Nidavellir ever faces trouble again, you can come find me."
As soon as the words fell—
Hum.
A powerful magical fluctuation began to gather high above the forge.
A pillar of radiant energy suddenly descended from the sky.
The Bifrost.
The rainbow bridge engulfed Ethan's body in brilliant light, pulling him upward and carrying him away toward an unknown destination.
Eitri stared at the fading light with a stunned expression.
He still couldn't understand how Ethan had mastered the artifact's magic so quickly.
The other dwarves were even more confused.
One of them scratched his head and muttered awkwardly.
"By the way… does anyone have his contact information?"
"If something happens, how are we supposed to find him?"
The entire forge hall fell into awkward silence as the dwarves looked at one another.
No one had an answer.
…
Hum.
The light of the Bifrost descended once again.
In the next instant, Ethan Drake appeared on Neptune—light-years away from Nidavellir.
The sudden rainbow beam crashing down onto the Kryptonian base immediately triggered alarm across the area.
"Enemy attack!"
Several elite Kryptonian soldiers rushed forward instantly.
Before they could react further—
Thud.
Two of them were kicked aside.
"That's His Majesty, you idiots."
Faora, the icy beauty known for her ruthless efficiency, lowered her leg calmly after sending the soldiers flying.
Ethan glanced at the scene with mild indifference.
"That's fine," he said. "At least your alertness is good."
Mastering space teleportation had given him the ability to travel instantly across unimaginable distances.
More importantly—
It meant he could return to Earth.
But before leaving, there were still several matters that required attention.
"Lilith."
The adjutant stepped forward immediately.
"I'll be away for a while," Ethan said calmly. "It shouldn't be long."
"All operations on Neptune will continue as usual. If a crisis appears, notify me immediately and I'll return."
He paused briefly.
"And keep an eye on Nidavellir for me."
When returning to Earth this time, Ethan had no intention of bringing anyone with him.
Traveling alone made space teleportation far more convenient. More importantly, Neptune still required capable leaders to maintain order.
Once everything had been arranged, Ethan lifted Stormbreaker with a faint smile.
Another beam of Bifrost light descended.
In a flash, his figure disappeared.
He was heading home.
…
Far away, in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The planet Hala—capital of the Kree Empire.
Ronan the Accuser sat silently inside a dim command chamber, his expression growing darker as a subordinate delivered the latest report.
"Lord Ronan… we just received new intelligence."
The officer hesitated before continuing.
"Another fleet that entered the Nidavellir region has been completely destroyed by the Kryptonian Superman."
He swallowed nervously.
"This… this is the seventh fleet lost."
Damn that bastard.
Ronan clenched his teeth so hard his jaw trembled.
He wished he could tear that Kryptonian apart with his own hands.
But the memory of their last confrontation still lingered vividly in his mind. If the Interstellar Task Force hadn't arrived in time, he might have died in that battle.
At that moment, a figure stepped out from the shadows in the corner of the chamber.
Nebula.
Her cold voice echoed through the room.
"Perhaps it's time you considered my master's proposal."
Ronan's face darkened instantly.
The great Titan had once offered him a promise.
If Ronan retrieved the Cosmic Orb for him…
Then the Titan would grant his wish.
Wish.
Could he truly destroy Xandar?
Or perhaps…
Eliminate those Kryptonian remnants once and for all?
"You should believe in the Titan," Nebula said quietly.
That left only one question.
Where was the Orb?
Ronan fell into silent contemplation.
....
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