Hela looked at Thor, who stood brimming with confidence.
A mocking smile curled at her lips.
She had not expected his power to awaken to this level.
But even so.
What she was using now was only a fraction of her true strength.
If Thor was this confident, then she would simply show him what true power looked like.
In the next instant, her aura erupted.
A thunderous explosion rang out as Thor was blasted backward.
He crashed to the ground, his expression darkening.
He had not expected to be suppressed again.
But this time, he did not hesitate.
Gripping Stormbreaker tightly, he charged once more.
Defeat?
That word did not exist for him.
At least, not now.
At the same time, Nolan was not idle.
He casually tossed the small object in his hand toward Hela.
Caught up in the heat of battle, neither Hela nor Thor noticed it.
Only when the shockwaves of their clash struck the object did its outer shell shatter.
In the next instant—
A deadly force surged outward.
Run!
The thought flashed through both of their minds at the same time.
The object expanded rapidly, devouring everything in its path.
Energy, matter, anything within its range could not escape.
Even Hela felt certain that she would not survive being caught inside.
Impossible!
Shock flashed across her face, tinged with fear.
No one was immune to the fear of death.
Not even the Goddess of Death herself.
Thor was no exception.
As Hela tried to retreat, Nolan smiled faintly.
This was his trump card.
If she escaped now, he would have no confidence in winning.
So of course, he would not allow it.
He appeared directly in her path and lashed out with a powerful kick.
In her rush to escape, Hela did not have the strength to fully defend.
That brief delay was enough.
She lost her chance to get away.
It's over.
Her expression turned grim.
In the next second, the dimensional weapon swallowed her whole.
She vanished.
Immediately, Nolan activated the containment measures he had prepared in advance, halting the spread of the weapon.
Still, he did not believe Hela had died.
It had been too quiet.
A being of her level should not fall so easily.
As expected, moments later, she reappeared.
But this time, her body was covered in wounds, her condition visibly weakened.
"What was that?" she demanded, her voice low.
She had miscalculated.
No, even if she had not, she could not have resisted that attack.
But how had he created something like that?
"A dimensional collapse weapon," Nolan replied calmly.
"It's a special piece of technology. I only have one. If you can still fight, then I suppose I will have to admit defeat."
Even as he said that, another identical object appeared in his hand.
Real?
Or a bluff?
Not only Hela, even Thor felt a chill run down his spine.
Hela narrowed her eyes.
She did not believe Nolan had a second one.
But she did not dare gamble.
Because if she lost, the price would be her life.
Still—
Surrender?
Impossible.
She was Hela, Goddess of Death, a warrior who had never known defeat.
After a brief hesitation, she raised her twin blades again.
If she had to die, she would fall in battle.
Never on her knees.
Nolan sighed softly.
That was Hela for you.
Setting aside their opposing sides, he could almost admire her.
He put away the object.
It had been a bluff.
A weapon like that was far too valuable to replicate.
But he could see clearly that Hela was already at her limit.
Even without it, she was no longer invincible.
He smiled.
"Then let's continue."
In the next instant, he vanished.
Boom!
Their clash resumed.
But this time, the balance had shifted.
Hela no longer held the advantage.
Instead, Nolan drove her back.
His second-generation enhancements could not match her at full strength.
But she was no longer at full strength.
Against a weakened Hela, he had the upper hand.
Before long, he completely suppressed her.
At the same time, relentless artillery fire rained down upon her.
Under the combined assault, her presence grew weaker and weaker.
Loki stood on the collapsing planet, staring up at the battle.
This level of power was far beyond him.
Finally—
The explosions faded.
"Is she dead?" he murmured.
In the sky, Nolan frowned slightly.
Despite everything, he still could not confirm it.
He had not found her body.
At the final moment, Hela had opened a portal.
He was certain his attack had landed.
But whether it had been enough, he could not say.
Still… she was probably dead.
Given her condition, survival seemed unlikely.
Not far away, Thor stood gripping Stormbreaker, his expression conflicted.
This was supposed to be his battle.
His moment to reclaim his honor as the King of Asgard.
But from beginning to end, he had been overwhelmed.
He had even lost consciousness.
If not for Nolan, he would already be dead.
When he finally awakened and tried to fight again, Nolan had intervened once more.
And then—
That terrifying weapon.
Nolan had ended it all.
He was Asgard's savior.
Its hero.
And Thor…
Thor's emotions churned.
Nolan descended to the ground. Thor followed, landing beside Loki.
"It's time to leave," Nolan said. "This planet won't last much longer."
Loki asked immediately, "Is Hela dead?"
"I'm not sure," Nolan replied honestly.
There was no point in lying.
A mistake like that could cost lives in the future.
"She escaped through a portal before the end. I hit her, but I can't confirm the result. Still, I'm certain she's badly injured."
"That's enough," Loki said, exhaling.
Even without confirmation, it gave Asgard a chance to recover.
He glanced at Thor.
His brother might be reckless, but his potential was undeniable.
With time, they would not be so helpless again.
At least—
Asgard would survive.
Nolan said nothing more.
He had done enough.
If they still failed, then that was simply their fate.
Even he could not repeat a battle like this.
Back in Asgard—
Hela sat alone upon the throne.
The hall was empty.
Her body trembled slightly.
Severely injured.
That was the only way to describe her state.
She knew it herself.
In this condition, resisting a counterattack would be nearly impossible.
But she refused to accept it.
She had endured countless years in the realm of the dead to return here.
She had sworn to become queen.
To reclaim everything.
And now—
Before she could even begin—
It had all been disrupted.
Nolan Locke…
She whispered the name in her mind.
Outside the palace, the Asgardian soldiers noticed something.
The undead army had vanished.
Immediately, they realized what it meant.
Hela was weakened.
Forces rallied at once, surging toward the palace.
They entered—
And saw her seated upon the throne.
Fear gripped them.
But someone shouted, "Don't be afraid! She's weakened!"
Hela rose to her feet.
Her blades appeared once more.
"So, you choose rebellion?"
Her voice was steady, though her weakness showed.
"Attack!"
With a roar, they charged.
The ground soon filled with bodies.
Yet in the end, Hela dropped to one knee.
Her face remained calm.
The battle was not over.
More soldiers were coming.
And then—
Nolan, Thor, and the others arrived.
Nolan raised an eyebrow.
She was alive.
And she had not fled.
Strange.
Still, he had no intention of standing by.
He glanced at Thor.
"Your moment, King of Asgard."
Thor took a deep breath.
He disliked what he was about to do.
But he understood.
It was necessary.
"Hela. Surrender."
He stepped forward, Stormbreaker in hand.
Hela looked at him from afar.
"Surrender?"
She repeated the word softly.
Then she smiled.
In the next instant—
She vanished.
Thor's pupils shrank.
Gone?
Just like that?
Even Nolan frowned.
This woman was impossible to predict.
Loki stepped forward.
"This isn't the time to dwell on it. Asgard needs a king."
He wanted the throne.
But he knew his reputation was not enough.
Thor looked around at the soldiers watching him.
He raised Stormbreaker high.
Lightning filled the sky, illuminating everything.
"Your king has returned!"
His voice echoed through the palace.
Cheers erupted.
A new king had risen.
As for Nolan, the savior of Asgard, he was treated with the highest respect.
But he did not care much for it.
When the crowd dispersed, he spoke.
"It's over. I'll be heading back to Earth. As for Hela, that's your problem now."
Thor and Loki exchanged a glance.
"You've done more than enough," Thor said sincerely.
Nolan nodded and turned to leave.
But just as he did—
Loki leaned toward Thor, a sly glint in his eyes.
"Brother… don't you want revenge?"
Thor froze.
Memories of his miserable time at Nolan's hands resurfaced.
"Of course."
The next moment—
The two of them charged together.
They howled as they rushed forward, brimming with confidence.
This time, they would make Nolan pay.
They never saw the faint smile on Nolan's lips.
A second later—
Both of them lay flat on the ground.
Questioning their lives.
Nolan chuckled.
"If I can handle Hela… what makes you think I can't handle you two?"
…
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