Upon hearing Heisenberg's promise, Odin gave him a long, deep look.
After a moment, the old God-King exhaled in relief.
"Thank you."
He nodded and pulled his hand free from Heisenberg's grasp. His hand clenched tight, and the last trace of his divine power surged to life. Every wound on his body mended in an instant. The energy coursed through him, not only healing the injuries but also cleansing every stain of blood from his skin and armor.
At the same time, Odin murmured softly.
"Let me see my children. For my final moments, I should at least look presentable."
"No problem."
Heisenberg nodded. In the next moment, Odin was floating beside him.
Then Heisenberg flew toward the distant palace, with Odin drifting alongside him, embarking together on the journey home.
Heisenberg didn't fly particularly fast, and that filled Odin with a storm of emotions. He greedily drank in the mountains and rivers below, scarred by battle but still breathtaking. He watched the countless animals that had fled in panic, now roaming warily as they realized the fighting was over.
He looked at everything with desperate longing, clinging to landscapes he had barely noticed in life but now cherished with bittersweet affection. Yet time flows like water, never to return. No matter how much he yearned, the beautiful journey had to end. When Heisenberg passed the mountain range he had upended with his bio-field at the start of the battle, the palace and the sprawling city of Asgard came into view.
...
Not long before, when the disturbance with Gungnir had occurred, Thor and the others had set everything aside, anxiously awaiting the battle's outcome. So the moment Heisenberg appeared on the horizon with Odin, every gaze snapped toward him.
But when they realized the figure flying at the front was Heisenberg, and that he held the unmistakable Gungnir...
"No!!!"
Thor bellowed and immediately swung his hammer, ready to charge at Heisenberg. But before he could even take off, Heisenberg raised the spear.
"I heard you never miss?" he asked lightly.
Then he casually tossed the spear.
He really didn't aim, but in the next instant, the spear pierced straight through Thor's side, pinning him firmly to the ground.
"Fuck! Aaargh!!!"
Thor roared through the pain, but before his shout faded, Heisenberg had already brought Odin to the center of the crowd, right where Thor was.
Not giving Thor another chance to speak, Heisenberg quickly guided Odin to float directly in front of him. If he didn't let Odin shut this fool's mouth immediately, he was afraid he might lose patience and strike the blockhead a few more times.
Even the Thor who forged Stormbreaker and awakened as a Skyfather was no match for Heisenberg in a single exchange. Let alone this current Thor, whose fighting spirit was lacking and who had been cuckolded by Mjolnir more than once.
Beside them, Odin came to a stop in front of Thor as he wished, drifting gently to the ground. He awkwardly adjusted his footing, trying to stand more naturally. His left hand settled on Thor's shoulder, while his right grasped the Gungnir that had pinned his son.
"Ugh!"
With a grunt, Odin mustered all his remaining strength and finally yanked the spear free. After one last glance at Gungnir, he spun it, and the spear was back in Heisenberg's hand.
Then Odin placed his right hand on Thor's shoulder as well, patting his son with both hands.
"As you can all see, I used everything I had... but I lost."
The moment Odin finished speaking, an uproar erupted. All the legion commanders instantly drew their weapons, while the commoners fearfully retreated a few steps, widening the clearing.
Feeling the feeble strength transmitted through his father's hands on his shoulders, Thor's eyes grew wet. He surged forward, ignoring the pain in his side, and fiercely embraced Odin.
"Father!!!"
"Indeed, I have let you down, my son."
Odin patted Thor's back and pushed the tear-stifling Thor away from him. The moment he stood apart, he wavered from exhaustion. Thor moved to support him, but Odin waved him off sharply.
Steadying himself with effort, Odin slowly turned and looked over everyone present. Then he shook his head, sighed, and spoke.
"The throne of Lord of the Nine Realms no longer belongs to the Aesir. My people, behold the new God-King of the Nine Realms. He is the one who fought me in the final battle, the mightiest opponent I have ever faced in all my life. A magnificent giant who rose from Midgard. The son of the sun, the sovereign of fire and light. And a God-King who shall be magnanimous, warm-hearted, and full of grace."
Saying this, Odin turned to Heisenberg and offered him a strained smile.
It wasn't that he harbored resentment. Perhaps he did, but at this point, a seasoned king would never show it. The bitterness on his face was simply the agony of barely being able to stand.
He steadied himself once more, then cast his gaze over the crowd one by one. His eyes swept over Thor, whose face was full of fury; over Sigmond, brimming with battle intent; over Sif and Fandral, their expressions a mix of bewilderment and shock; and finally landed on two faces far away that wore nearly identical looks.
Frigga and Loki, in the distance, looked at Odin with profound regret. Only regret.
As a woman taken by force, Frigga actually bore the blood feud of a slain father against Odin. As a child taken in, Loki owed Odin the kindness of being raised. Gratitude and vengeance twisted together, leaving them with nothing but this emotion of regret.
Having seen all he wished to see, Odin let out a long sigh and turned back to face the countless commoners of Asgard.
"A new era is about to begin, my people. Only now, your former king can no longer mount his chariot. As your new God-King, Heisenberg may not be of the Aesir, but he will inherit the Sun Rune that has been passed down beneath the World Tree for countless ages, his rightful spoils of war, and his commitment to you. Although the blood of the Aesir does not flow through his veins, the strength of the Aesir shall glint from his very bones. Before such a mighty king, you should kneel and serve with all your hearts!"
Ignoring the waves of murmuring around him, Odin turned to Thor, who looked utterly bewildered.
"Thor!" Odin suddenly called.
Thor immediately came to his father's side.
"And all legion commanders! And Heimdall!"
The legion commanders stepped out from the crowd, weapons in hand, their faces stern as they looked to Odin.
Sensing the readiness of Thor, Heimdall, and all the commanders to meet death with honor, Odin shook his head gently.
"Perhaps you never knew this, my child. You have a sister. Her name is Hela, and she is currently sealed in a trench in Midgard. There is a passage there that connects to Helheim, and my eldest daughter Hela has been bound there for over four thousand years by a chain forged from my very life. Her power is only a thread weaker than my own. So after I die, consumed by endless hatred for me, she will inevitably return to reclaim the Asgard we have always protected. You cannot stop her, nor do you have the right to. Because before any of you were even born, she was already my adjutant, the commander of the Einherjar legion, the heir to the throne, my firstborn! Her thinking is extreme and narrow-minded. She craves endless slaughter. I originally needed someone to control her, to master her, but you are far from capable. However, fate sent me a most glorious opponent and delivered to Asgard a master with the greatest hope of breaking this destiny. Trust him as you trusted me. Heisenberg's strength is worthy of all your faith!"
"Sigmond!" Odin called out.
The great hero of the Aesir and chief legion commander, Sigmond, immediately stepped forward.
"This is my final command. You and your Berserker Legion will henceforth serve the new God-King of the Nine Realms!"
"Yes!" Sigmond agreed without hesitation. He was the most obedient man in all the Aesir, and he would never disappoint Odin.
After him, Odin looked to Heimdall. He beckoned and spoke softly.
"Heimdal..."
"I am here, my king."
"Yes, you have always been here. For millions of years, your ancestors guarded Asgard. The kings of the Aesir have changed more than eighty times, yet the guardian of the Bifrost has always been of your line, Heimdall. So you must learn to accept the transfer of the throne. As the former God-King, I, Odin, shall die on a glorious battlefield, not from despicable schemes, cunning deceit, or shameless betrayal! This change of kings is clear, honorable, the inevitable result of a stronger warrior overcoming a strong one! To respect his victory and his strength is to respect me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my king!"
Though unwilling, Heimdall nodded to Odin and then stepped before Heisenberg with his sword.
And at that moment, Odin was still giving his final instructions. He looked into the distance and beckoned Frigga and Loki. They crossed past the other goddesses and palace attendants to reach his side.
When they were close, Odin nodded to them and spoke softly.
"You know how to pass down the Aesir Runes through the World Tree. So after my death, take Heisenberg to claim his rightful spoils."
"Alright," Frigga nodded.
At this, Odin gave Frigga a strained smile, then reached out a hand toward Loki.
Seeing Odin looking as if he might collapse at any moment, Loki frowned for a moment, then finally reached out and steadied him.
And then, Odin let out a long, deep sigh.
"You... all of you, meet your new God-King. As for me... Thor, Loki, take me to Midgard, to Norway. I... have some final words I want to share with you two."
As Odin's words fell, Frigga immediately cast her gaze toward Heisenberg from afar. This queen goddess who had weathered countless storms knew well that the world had changed. Without the permission of Heisenberg, the victor, she would not dare use the Bifrost to send Odin away.
Heisenberg noticed Frigga's gaze and considered the reason behind it. After a moment, understanding, he gave a light nod.
In the next instant, the light of the Bifrost descended from the sky, and in a flash, Odin, Thor, and Loki vanished without a trace.
With those three gone, Asgard fell completely silent.
Over one million eight hundred thousand Asgardian civilians spread throughout the city, all silently staring at Heisenberg at the center of the crowd.
And Heisenberg... he slowly turned in a circle, taking in everything that was about to become his. His gaze finally settled on the queen opposite him.
At the same time, he slowly raised Gungnir high in his right hand.
When the gleaming spearhead came to a steady stop, nearly two million people of Asgard began to move as one.
Shhff...!
A single sound. Everyone except Frigga knelt halfway before Heisenberg.
Even if Heimdall's heart was heavy with sorrow, even if Sif and Fandral burned with unwillingness, even if Sigmond's thoughts were unknown.
In that moment, they all chose to follow Odin's final instruction and pledge their allegiance to Heisenberg.
From this day forth, the title Lord of the Nine Realms
officially changed hands.
/-\
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