Thor and Loki only fully regained their clarity the next day.
Nolan had not knocked them unconscious, but he had left their minds foggy for an entire day.
The two exchanged a glance.
"At least we didn't end up with the worst possible outcome."
"True."
Loki spoke again.
"Do you remember the prophecy Father mentioned… about Surtur?"
"Of course. He's still sealed in the royal vault," Thor replied.
"We should find a new place for him. Otherwise, one day he might become our problem."
"That makes sense."
Thor had not forgotten the prophecy either.
One day, to defeat Hela, he would release Surtur and bring about the destruction of Asgard itself.
But now, Hela had already been defeated.
Still, one question lingered.
"What if Hela returns?" Thor asked.
Loki froze.
He did not have an answer.
In the end, neither of them took action.
Ragnarok had only been delayed. The prophecy's conclusion had not yet come to pass.
Loki changed the subject.
"I promised Nolan Locke that if he saved Asgard, we would acknowledge him as the lord of Earth."
"That's simple," Thor answered without hesitation.
Their rule over Earth had always been nominal. Now they were simply making it official, transferring that symbolic authority from the Ancient One to Nolan Locke.
At that very moment, Nolan Locke was feeling a headache of a different kind.
His recent "impulse spending" had cost him dearly.
He did not regret the battle, but sacrificing such a large portion of his accumulated resources still stung.
Those were assets he had built over many years.
Even though he had mobilized resources before, he had never touched his core reserves like this.
Regret was pointless now.
What mattered was rebuilding.
Fortunately, with the current scale of Locke Technologies, restoring his foundation would not be difficult.
And aside from Thanos, there was nothing else pressing to worry about.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
After another long stretch of work, Nolan leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily.
"The energy required for multiverse travel still needs time to accumulate. Locke Technologies is stable. No immediate threats from other dimensions either."
He paused, then chuckled softly.
"For once, there's actually nothing to do."
After being busy for so long, the sudden calm felt unfamiliar.
At some point, he drifted off to sleep.
When he woke again, the sky had darkened.
"Time to head home," he muttered, standing up.
But in the next instant, cold sweat formed on his forehead.
Someone was sitting on the sofa in front of him.
A woman he never expected to see.
"Hela…"
He had suspected she might still be alive.
But he never imagined she would appear on Earth just half a month later, and right in front of him.
Hela leaned back against the sofa, calm and composed.
"Long time no see, Nolan Locke."
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
Nolan's expression turned serious.
"What are you doing here? Looking for a fight to the death?"
His tone remained firm despite the tension.
He knew better than to show weakness. Against Hela, hesitation meant death.
Hela remained unfazed.
"I have no intention of doing that. You injured me badly, and my undead army suffered heavy losses. Retaking Asgard is no longer easy."
She swirled the wine in her glass.
"But even so, I thought I might find something… more interesting to do."
Nolan snorted.
"And that 'something interesting' is bothering me?"
"No. I just came to see the man who defeated me."
She took a sip of wine, completely at ease, as if this were her own office.
"If you've seen enough, then leave," Nolan said coldly. "Otherwise, I might not be able to resist attacking you."
"Leave?"
Hela smiled faintly.
"I plan to stay on Earth for a while. This visit is simply to report to its 'ruler.'"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Isn't that right… Lord of Earth?"
Nolan took a slow breath.
"So you've heard."
"Of course. You're the first one bold enough to fracture the Nine Realms."
Trouble.
Nolan felt a trace of irritation.
He had not expected that a symbolic title would attract someone like Hela.
"Whatever you're planning, make it quick. I don't have time to waste. If you want another fight, I'm ready."
He straightened, his aura rising sharply.
"But remember this. Earth is my territory."
Hela's expression shifted slightly.
She understood.
No one truly knew how powerful Nolan was on Earth.
Even she had no desire to test it right now.
"Of course. This is your domain. That fool Thor handed over a world so easily. He was never fit to be king of Asgard."
"Then go take it up with him," Nolan replied without hesitation.
If Hela returned to Asgard now, it might actually work in their favor. In her current condition, Thor and Loki might be able to deal with her.
But Hela was no fool.
"One day, I will return," she said lightly. "But not yet."
She stood up.
"Well then, Mr. Locke. Until next time."
A portal opened, and she stepped through, disappearing without a trace.
Even after she left, Nolan's expression remained grim.
Earth had just gained another dangerous variable.
At least he still had time.
Elsewhere in the universe, aboard a massive fleet, Thanos sat upon his throne.
Ebony Maw approached.
"My lord, it is confirmed. Odin has entered eternal sleep."
Thanos narrowed his eyes.
"The Ancient One is gone. Now Odin as well."
He glanced at the Infinity Gauntlet.
Two stones gleamed upon it. The Power Stone and the Soul Stone.
"It's time to reclaim the remaining stones on Earth."
"Has the Space Stone been located?" he asked.
Ebony Maw shook his head.
"My lord, I believe it has been taken by Locke Technologies."
Thanos closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.
"In that case, send a force. Their base is on the Ravager planet, correct? Destroy it."
"Yes, my lord."
After Ebony Maw left, Thanos gazed into the void.
"The Space Stone… no. It must still be here."
His voice echoed coldly.
"Search. Tear this place apart if you must. Find it."
Soon, Ebony Maw led a fleet toward the Ravager planet.
Yondu received the news.
"Damn. Thanos is coming."
Some Ravagers looked pale.
Yondu remained calm.
"What are you afraid of? We're not the same as before. If they want a fight, we'll show them why this place is called the Ravager planet."
Morale rose.
This was their home.
There was nowhere left to run.
And they were not alone.
After the meeting, Yondu went straight to the Locke Technologies base.
"I need to speak with your boss."
The AI responded immediately.
"Apologies. Mr. Locke is not currently within this sector. We cannot establish contact."
Yondu frowned.
"But Thanos' forces are coming. We need support."
"According to intelligence, the force is led by Ebony Maw. Thanos himself is not present. Locke Technologies will fully support this battle."
Behind them, massive hangar doors opened.
Rows upon rows of Terminators stood ready.
Heavy weapon platforms, Titans, and aerial units filled the space.
Yondu's eyes widened.
"You still have this much stock?"
They had nearly emptied their resources just to purchase equipment before.
Yet what they bought was barely a fraction of what remained.
"This is standard military reserve," the AI replied.
"Damn. What a profiteer," Yondu muttered.
Still, he could not deny it.
The stronger Locke Technologies was, the better for them.
"In that case, we're counting on you."
"Affirmative."
Yondu hesitated, then asked one more question.
"What if they decide to destroy the entire planet?"
"Please rest assured."
No further explanation followed.
Yondu sighed and turned away.
"Prepare for evacuation," he told his crew. "If things go bad, we run."
The Ravagers laughed.
"Of course, boss. We're experts at that."
Before long, Thanos' fleet arrived.
Warships filled the sky.
"Should we prepare for landing?" a subordinate asked.
Ebony Maw sneered.
"No need. These vermin are troublesome. If they dare oppose my lord, they will learn the price."
He stepped forward.
"Commence planetary annihilation. Do not let this world survive."
"Yes!"
On the surface, the Ravagers braced for invasion.
But instead of landing, the enemy ships began charging their weapons.
"Planet… destruction…"
Yondu's pupils shrank.
"They're going to destroy the planet!"
"Where the hell is Locke Technologies?" he roared.
"All units, board the ships! Prepare to evacuate!"
The cannons fired.
Beams of destruction streaked toward the surface.
Screams filled the air.
But just before impact, missiles launched from across the planet.
They intercepted the incoming fire.
Explosions erupted in space.
Enemy ships were destroyed in waves.
And it did not stop.
More missiles followed.
Ebony Maw's expression darkened.
Their bombardment had been countered head-on.
If this continued, his fleet would be wiped out.
"Prepare for landing," he ordered coldly. "We will resolve this the old way."
He would not allow his forces to be destroyed.
Even in ground combat, he held absolute confidence.
After all…
What were mere Ravagers compared to Thanos' army?
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