Erik smirked, looking down at Janet. He had done it. He had truly resurrected the real Janet from the Marvel Zombie universe. This was no reanimated corpse, no resurrected soldier, no puppet—it was her.
Hela tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. As the goddess of death, she had seen many forms of revival, yet this confused her. She walked toward Janet and bent down slightly, her wide hips blocking Erik's view.
Her fingers clamped Janet's chin, tilting her face upward.
"Hm... This is the first time I've seen the Eternal Flame used like this," Hela mused. "She was your soldier... Meaning you brought her from death. Your power reconstructed her body and inserted a puppet soul into it. That means she was alive in every sense. But the Eternal Flame shouldn't work on the living, yet it did on her. This isn't possession too—it's a complete soul replacement. Interesting."
Janet's eyes widened, panic flaring. "Replaced? What are you—?"
Before she could panic, Erik sent a small telepathic wave through her mind, making her pass out. With a dismissive flick, Beelzebuth's vortex swallowed her whole. He would deal with her later.
Hela straightened up now that the object of interest was gone. She turned to Erik. "This wasn't just an experiment, was it? How did you know it would work like this?"
"You tell me," Erik replied coolly, crossing his arms. "Aren't you the goddess of death?"
Hela folded her arms. "The Eternal Flame can summon a soul from the realm of death, no matter where it is. But it doesn't replace an existing soul. Your power, however, reconstructs the body and inserts a soul loyal only to you. My guess is you also have the ability to replace souls..." She lifted her lower lip slightly as if impressed.
Then her eyes gleamed with realization. "Ah, I get it now. Lady Death told me your soul was sent to this universe…'sent'. Tell me, did you take over someone else's body? Is that why you were sure you could replace the puppet soul with her real one?"
Erik smiled. "A good guess, I'd say."
This was just an experiment, he wasn't even sure it'd work. But oh well... for now Hela's theory made sense.
Hela hummed in thought before plunging her hand into the Eternal Flame. A ball of yellow fire danced in her palm. "Now, then it's time we get my army back as well. Ah, and I won't need your resurrection, I'd prefer if they are undead. The fear of death doesn't suit the army of Goddess of Death."
Erik raised a brow. "And what would you do with an army? Challenge me?"
"Tch." She rolled her eye, "You conquered Asgard. You're its king. And a king needs an executioner…"
Erik's lips twitched. "Oh, am I? I thought you'd fight me for it. Didn't we agree on a duel to see who's stronger?"
Hela walked toward him, pressing her body against his. She rested her left leg on his hip, tracing a finger along his cheek. "That was before I saw… whatever that is."
She gestured toward the swirling dark mass of Beelzebuth.
'Beelzebuth, eh...'
Erik nodded. "Well, that works for me."
Hela leaned closer, her breath warm against his skin. "So, my king, my Husband. To. Be… can I revive my army?"
Erik narrowed his eyes. "You think seducing me will work?"
Hela smiled sultrily, tilting her head. "Is my body not to your liking?" She let her feminine charm seep into her posture, her confidence unwavering.
Truthfully, her body was undeniably attractive—it was just her intense, deadly nature that made things… complicated. He was just not sure if she'd mingle well with Wanda, Cindy, and Helen. They are cute puppies while Hela's a wolf.
Right now, as they had discussed, she was not his lover yet. And not even his wife.
However, she was a wolf that Erik liked somewhat. And Erik believed her words about Lady Death. The situation he was in at that time... in Rimuru's world... wasn't one where he could come out alive.
He knew someone had helped him.
And Lady Death seemed like a probable being.
Besides, Hela had no reason to lie.
What's more, he could control her as well. She's already somewhat submissive as well, seeing as she chose to ask him first before reviving her own army. But still... he still wasn't sure about her. He needed some time to develop any kind of feeling towards her.
Erik chuckled. "Sure, go ahead, Hela."
She grinned, separating from him, she walked towards an empty area. And conjured a metallic pickaxe, destroying the floor in just a couple of hits.
"You don't want to miss this, husband-to-be..." She said as she fell backward into the hole she had dug.
Throwing the Eternal flame into the Beelzebuth's vortex too, he followed after her.
She revived her army and then had her small reunion with her giant Fenrir. Erik just observed her with folded hands while she did so, thinking of the future he was going to have with her as one of his wives.
Erik knew her well. She had grand ambitions, and he would need to keep her in check. He had no problem letting her go to war, but only on the planets he would choose for her.
There were plenty of worlds, like the Rak-Inchunians, where he wouldn't mind letting her wreak havoc.
For now, he would let her play her game. But in the end, she would walk the path he decided.
He'd tame her.
And if he can't...
And if she dared to hurt his loved ones...
'Then I don't think I'll love her enough to become unable to kill her with my own two hands...'
A portal crackled open, its orange glow illuminating the dark chamber. Wanda stepped through.
"There you are, Erik," she said, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"The battle's concluded. The remaining Asgardians have surrendered. No—" She cut herself off, her sharp gaze locking onto Hela.
The Goddess of Death turned, an intrigued smirk tugging at her lips.
"Who's that?" Wanda asked, her fingers already flexing as red mist flickered around them.
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