After Odin's departure, Garus and Galactus's battle continued above Asgard.
Despite the prolonged confrontation, Galactus still radiated immense energy, his body glowing with searing red light, as if preparing to unleash his full power.
With countless avatars scattered across the universe, Galactus's control over each was limited. Some were strong, others weak—but all shared a lack of intellect. He feared his avatars might one day rebel, so long as they could siphon energy to satiate his eternal hunger, their destruction meant little to him.
"Sindragosa, Ice Barrier!" Garus sensed the impending danger—surviving the next blow without protection would be nearly impossible.
A massive chunk of ice materialized before him, shimmering in the unknown starlight above Asgard. Moments later, a scorching red beam struck the barrier.
Crack! Crack!
The once-invincible Ice Barrier splintered under the assault.
"He's weakening! Use the finishing move!" Garus noticed the red light around Galactus dimming—his energy nearly exhausted after prolonged combat with both Odin and himself.
Galactus lunged at Sindragosa, ignoring the smaller Garus entirely. The frost wyrm still felt the pain lingering in her bones from Galactus's previous blows. Reinforcing her defenses with frost magic, she braced herself.
Garus raised Frostmourne, its Reality Stone embedded within the blade glowing deep crimson.
"Blizzard!"
Massive shards of ice, each the size of Garus himself, spiraled toward Galactus. The icy vortex gradually froze his colossal form, halting his advance.
As with their battle against Apocalypse, Sindragosa channeled her arcane-infused Frost Bomb—a spell unique to frost wyrms. The glowing sphere formed slowly, radiating freezing energy.
This is the end...
This avatar of Galactus was far weaker than expected—no wonder in the original timeline, the Silver Surfer's self-destructing surfboard had been enough to destroy him.
However, before the Frost Bomb could strike, Galactus's body cracked—red light seeping through the fractures. But this time, Garus sensed something different.
He's going to self-destruct!
Without hesitation, Garus opened a portal and leapt through, emerging in Asgard's Valhalla temple. As he stepped forward, a shockwave slammed into him, sending him stumbling.
Boom!
The entire continent trembled. Blue and red energy intertwined in the sky, forming a blinding shockwave that swept across Asgard.
Cold sweat dripped down Garus's back—Sindragosa had been reduced to dust in the explosion. Even in death, Galactus had claimed a victim. In the final moment, Sindragosa's arcane shield had preserved her soul, allowing her to escape destruction.
"I must return to the realm of the dead, master," the frost wyrm's soul whispered as a blue orb floated toward him. "Beneath this temple lies a sealed power... one with a potent aura of death."
With those final words, the dragon soul was drawn into a dark rift.
A deathly aura? Nordic legends spoke of Hela, goddess of death—Loki's daughter in mythology, but Odin's daughter in Marvel's universe, sealed away by her own father.
"Young one... release me." A cold, feminine voice echoed in Garus's ears, carrying a bone-chilling edge.
"Hela?"
"Indeed. I am Asgard's goddess of death, once a conqueror of the Nine Realms... betrayed and imprisoned by Odin."
Her voice dripped with hatred—she had long dreamed of killing her father, though that chance was now lost.
"Why should I free you?" Garus, exhausted from battle, slumped onto the temple floor.
"I noticed you the moment you arrived in Asgard... Midgardian..." Hela paused, her voice wavering. She refrained from calling him mortal, sensing his power rivaled her own. "Join me. I can grant you dominion over Midgard... and soon, the Nine Realms. This was always my destiny."
"Offering what isn't yours—how generous. Besides, Earth isn't as simple as you think." Garus sneered.
Hela fell silent.
Garus stood, his mind turning to the Silver Surfer, Norrin Radd—he needed more information about Galactus. Destroying an avatar might draw the real entity's attention.
Surveying the ruined landscape, Garus decided it was best to slip away—after all, Galactus's arrival had been his doing.
"Odin is dead."
Garus froze at Hela's words.
"The seal weakens... without Odinforce, I will soon be free, with or without your help. I offer you a place at my side—not out of desperation, but admiration. Together, we could rule the Nine Realms... the universe itself."
Her voice faded, leaving only silence.
If Hela was about to return, Ragnarok would follow. Should he aid Thor?
"Wait!" A familiar voice called from above.
Garus, halfway through a portal, turned.
"Thor? What do you want?"
"You're heading back to Earth? Did you defeat Galactus?"
"If you mean the avatar, yes. The true Galactus... that's beyond me."
Thor sighed in relief. "Still... this was your mess. Asgard is in ruins—you owe us compensation."
"Fine, I'll fix it." Garus smirked, ascending into the sky.
Restoring Asgard would not be easy. If his magic wasn't enough, he could always call on Tony Stark's construction drones—after all, the new Avengers Tower was nearly complete.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON