"Ah ha, Jane Foster!"
Seeing the girl, Sif, though annoyed, maintained the courtesy of an Asgardian. She approached Jane and gave her a big bear hug.
"Oof!"
Jane couldn't help but wince in pain. Sif's armor was really uncomfortable, and her embrace was a bit too tight.
However, considering Sif's relationship with her boyfriend Thor in mythology…
Though she couldn't confirm their relationship in reality, it was only prudent to be cautious.
Thus, Jane reluctantly accepted Sif's goodwill and was led by Sif toward Thor.
Meanwhile, Thor, standing at the distant banquet, also rose and walked toward them.
Seeing Thor after months apart, Jane was overjoyed.
Even in front of so many people, she couldn't help but release Pepper's hand and ran toward Thor.
As the distance between them narrowed, Jane gradually saw the anxious expression on Thor's face.
Even as the God of Thunder, he was always worried about her!
"Thor!"
Jane called out affectionately, her arms outstretched.
The next moment, she was about to leap into Thor's arms and give her lover a big kiss.
But Thor, in his anxiety, rushed past Jane…
"Thor…?!?"
Jane, arms outstretched, froze in place. Right beside her, her man had rushed past her without stopping!
The poor woman named Foster felt her entire world slipping away!
Especially under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers!!!
At that moment, Jane Foster deeply understood what it meant to die of social embarrassment!
She wished she could dig a hole and bury herself alive!!!
The next second, Jane angrily turned her head, glaring at Thor, who had passed her by.
Thor, under everyone's stunned gaze, rushed to Captain America in his blue armor and slammed his fist against the chest of Cap's armor.
Then Thor looked around and whispered to Cap,
"You damn bastard, is my hammer with you?!!!"
"Hammer???"
Cap was completely baffled, while Thor persisted.
"Just three days ago, my hammer was summoned away and hasn't returned!
Aside from me and Heisenberg, only you have lifted it. If it wasn't you who summoned it, could it be that damn Heisenberg?!!!"
"Uh, definitely not me. Although I can… lift it, I would never use it without permission!"
Cap frowned, explaining, but Thor wasn't listening.
After Cap's explanation, Thor suddenly leaned closer and whispered,
"Buddy, I concede. Just give me back my hammer. I can't face my people knowing I lost it!"
"But the hammer really isn't with me!"
"Really not?"
"Absolutely not!"
Cap asserted firmly, leaving Thor utterly dejected. He placed his hands on Cap's shoulders and nodded helplessly.
"I believe you, but if it wasn't you who took the hammer, who else could it be?"
He stood there, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Sif's eyes widened in shock as she foolishly watched Captain America, who was almost embracing Thor…
In that instant, Sif seemed to open the door to a new world.
She first shuddered, then looked at Jane with sympathy.
Sif suddenly wanted to say something to Jane.
That is…
I truly misunderstood you!
At the same time, Sif felt a bit of triumph. No matter what, she hadn't lost to another woman!
As for losing to a man…
Does that even count?
…
Meanwhile, in Asgard.
Hela sat up from the bed.
She instinctively rubbed her head, then cautiously touched her lower back…
Her face was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
If she remembered correctly, she…
She was subdued by Heisenberg in an instant?!?!
"No, no, no!
Absolutely impossible!!!"
Hela's face twisted in disbelief, and she suddenly jumped off the bed.
As soon as she landed, she saw Mjolnir beside the bed!
Looking at the hammer that had responded to her summon, a weapon she had used five thousand years ago…
Hela was stunned.
She remembered everything.
"I even summoned Mjolnir?
Was it not an illusion?
Mjolnir really came!
But I lost, without even the strength to resist for a moment?!!!"
Speaking to herself, Hela's face was filled with disbelief.
She picked up Mjolnir, holding it in her arms, and sat back on the bed, dejected.
"Even you couldn't give me any advantage, and I was knocked out by you!
Father's spear pierced my spine, and my own hammer shattered my head.
The power I was so proud of, the power I believed was not much weaker than Odin's, couldn't even withstand a single move from the new God-King!!!"
Boom!!!
Mjolnir flew from her hands, smashing a huge hole in the palace wall!
Mjolnir streaked across the sky, crashing into the city, landing motionless before the astonished civilians.
"It's Mjolnir!"
"Has Lord Thor returned?"
"He's no longer a lord, now he's just Thor, the God of Thunder!"
"No, you fool, he's still a lord, because Lady Frigga remains the Goddess-Queen!"
"But why is Lady Frigga still the Goddess-Queen after Odin's death?"
"This…"
"Perhaps…"
The civilians chatterered, while Heimdall immediately noticed Hela's awakening.
Thus, Heisenberg received Hela's message.
The next moment, the Bifröst's light shone in Asgard's palace.
After the light faded, Heisenberg, dressed in a black suit and a stylish black coat, walked toward the palace.
His super vision had already locked onto Hela's location. Heisenberg turned a corner, crossed the garden, and greeted countless maids and goddesses, arriving at Hela's temporary residence.
Too lazy to knock, he pushed the door open and entered. His first sight was the huge hole in the wall.
"Feeling resentful?"
He asked, then continued walking to Hela, sitting in the chair by the bed.
Looking at Heisenberg's smiling face, Hela clenched her teeth.
"Defeated by you in a single move, aside from resentment, what other damn emotions could I have?
Should I be happy instead?!!!"
"At least you're still alive, and you now have a life goal to surpass. Isn't that a good thing?"
Heisenberg said, pulling two bottles of wine from his coat pocket.
He handed one to Hela, opened his own bottle, and raised it toward her.
"Have a drink, you probably need it right now!"
"Hmph, cheers!"
Hela nodded, expressionless, opened the bottle, and downed it in one gulp.
She threw the empty bottle aside, then suddenly rushed to Heisenberg, grabbing his collar!
"Tell me, was your battle with Odin as simple as mine?!!!"
"Emmm, honestly, he was much harder to deal with than you!"
Hearing Hela's question, Heisenberg softly explained.
"He was an elderly god, and the state of the former God-King is no joke.
Moreover, he sacrificed his remaining eye, entering the Rune King state!
And at that time, I hadn't yet attained the status of the Sun God, so our fight was quite intense."
"Rune King!!!"
Hela's face was filled with astonishment.
"You mean the ultimate state that only the Asgardian chief god can achieve by sacrificing part of their body?!!!
He even used that?!!!"
At this, Hela released Heisenberg's clothes, sitting back on the bed, dejected.
"You won, you truly won. Odin, as the God of War, had immense mastery over battle and thunder, and even I wouldn't dare say I could defeat him.
I've never used the Rune King state, reserved for the final moment, but I doubt I could ever possess power greater than Odin's.
Even without becoming a god, you defeated him, let alone now.
I… probably never have a chance to defeat you…"
Thud…!
Hela lay back on the bed, her eyes unfocused, staring at the ceiling.
She wasn't looking at the ceiling, but at the lost glory and future of Asgard.
"Even I am no match for you, and Odin fell at your hands. Who in my realm could defeat you?
Thor?
Loki?
Those two foolish and wicked brats?"
She sighed deeply, turning to look at Heisenberg.
"Kill me, new God-King, just as Odin once killed Cul!
Only by erasing all traces of the past can you become a true king.
Let me die, let people forget my weakness.
Lest I further tarnish the glory of the Asgardian gods!"
"No, no, no!"
Hearing Hela's lifeless words, Heisenberg smiled helplessly.
He shook his head, reaching out to Hela, and gently stroked her black hair.
"Everything I have was earned through strength, not through intimidation and slaughter.
Do you think someone as strong as me needs to fear betrayal from my subordinates, or worry about Odin's lingering influence among my people?"
Heisenberg scoffed.
"As long as I keep winning, no one has the qualification, ability, ambition, or courage to betray me.
And if I lose, even if I, like Odin, erase all traces of the previous god, it would be useless.
Odin did just that, yet the moment he failed, everything he had became mine.
So, what allows me to possess everything is my strength, not power, status, or the reverence and faith of others!"
Heisenberg patted Hela's cheek, speaking softly.
"So live on, for your Asgard.
Because I will appoint you as my vanguard and general, just as you once served Odin.
I know everything about you, I understand your ambitions, and Odin failed you, but I won't.
Without ambition and the ideal of conquering the universe, do you think I'd need to kill Odin and seize Asgard's military might?
I'm this strong; if not for greater achievements, I wouldn't need you now, right!"
As he spoke, Heisenberg released Hela's hair.
He stood up, retreating to a nearby chair.
"Come, Hela, follow your heart.
Because you, more than anyone, yearn to see Asgard's armies march over the capital stars of the ancient empires of the universe!"
As the words fell, Hela pondered for a moment, then resolutely stood up from the bed.
She approached Heisenberg, looked deeply into his eyes, and asked softly,
"Only the three great empires?"
"Of course not!"
Heisenberg immediately replied with a smile.
"There's also the Celestial race you've been longing for, led by Ego, and even the Five Gods led by Galactus!
Don't you want to take up arms and challenge the true gods and strong ones?"
"I do, and you, far stronger than me, indeed deserve my service, Your Majesty!"