The Domain of the Cosmic Dread Overlord.
"Achoo—!"
Seated upon the Frost Throne, Loki rubbed his nose. "Is someone thinking about me?"
He wore the relaxed smile only a ruler could have.
Life as a high ruler—commanding a realm even vaster than Asgard and an army far stronger and more numerous—had already given Loki the bearing of a sovereign.
He thought back to his former ideals: fawning over Odin, currying favor with that pitiful brother of his, then seizing a chance to become king of Asgard; to win the approval of the Einherjar and the citizens; to become the name they shouted with reverence.
That had been his ambition and his dream.
Looking at it now…
It was laughable.
After following Saitama, what once felt out of reach had… grown a little dull.
So-called rulership was nothing special. Loki had never truly wanted to be king; by nature he was unrestrained. Becoming king had merely been about proving to Odin that he, not Thor, was more suited to the throne.
He sought recognition and respect from everyone—that was Loki.
But now—
Sitting on this throne, hearing endless flattery day after day, Loki suddenly found it all boring.
He had poured in enormous time and effort and, using the rainbow bridge the system built—spanning the entire Tenth Realm—as the axis, constructed a monumental royal palace whose scale and grandeur eclipsed Odin's own by far.
And it was outfitted with overwhelming defensive firepower and other systems.
After all, Loki had built this palace expressly to outshine Asgard. His purpose was simple: to tell the world that Loki was no less than Odin, that his wisdom surpassed Asgard's.
He had done it.
Today, the Tenth Realm's royal palace was at least five times Odin's in scale. Leaning on the fame of that monster Saitama, and holding two terrifying Infinity Stones—the Mind Stone and the Reality Stone—Loki had plundered vast treasures and peoples for the Tenth Realm.
Take the beautiful women serving him now, for instance. Loki couldn't say he truly liked them; he merely felt they boosted his image.
Yes—compared to having those thick-skinned brutes from Jotunheim attend him, the fair-skinned, graceful women were much more presentable.
"My king, there's been a great upheaval in Asgard. Something… formidable seems to have awakened."
A Frost Giant commander bowed deeply. They made a habit of watching Asgard.
By virtue of their Tenth Realm status, even if Frost Giant patrols occasionally crossed the line, Asgard's warriors could only swallow it.
Because… Saitama's ferocity was far too frightening!
For the Jotuns, bullied for thousands of years, it was exhilarating. When they'd first joined the Tenth Realm, they patrolled nearly twenty-four hours a day, constantly needling Asgard—a long-awaited moment of pride.
"I've seen enough. You may go."
Loki massaged his brow and waved the soldier away with a confident smile.
These days, he would sometimes use the Space Stone to stealthily place clones in hidden corners of Asgard, spying on the sorry progress of his poor brother.
He hadn't expected Thor to be blinded and cast out of Asgard. What an unfit king.
Had Odin seen clearly and given me the throne back then, we wouldn't be where we are now.
"How pitiful. Let me see who it is that defeated my poor brother."
Loki smiled. With two Stones and the grandest throne in the World-Tree's domains beneath him, he felt powerful—at least for the moment.
"No need to look, my dear brother. Your big sister has come to see you."
A light, teasing voice sounded from beyond the palace, footsteps unhurried. A graceful silhouette entered Loki's sight.
Hela, Goddess of Death.
At her heel, the toadying executioner, Skurge.
"Seems you're doing quite well. Much better than that pitiful brother of yours." Hela's eyes narrowed, cold light gleaming. "And don't look at me like that. I'm your real sister—Odin's firstborn, the sole rightful heir—Hela, the Goddess of Death."
She stepped up to Loki with elegant sway. If not for the domineering set of her features, her figure alone would have been a rare temptation.
"Hela?"
Loki's pupils tightened.
He'd never heard her name—those chapters of history were sealed away. Not just Loki; even Thor only learned of this sister after Odin was on death's door and shared a final vision.
"How delightful," Loki said, smiling brightly with the speed only the God of Mischief could manage. "Dear sister, I smell Odin's stench on you. But I'm happy you managed to swat Thor aside."
He even stepped up and embraced Hela.
That unexpected hug gave Hela—who had come to conquer—pause. A corner of her lips curled. "A pleasant meeting. At least for now, you're more sensible than that foolish brother, Thor. In light of your attitude, I'll allow you to kneel at my feet and serve me. I'll grant you the station and gifts you're due."
Loki's smile slowly shifted. He had, of course, noticed the eerie stillness outside the hall.
No need to say it aloud.
Whatever trick she'd used, this woman had slipped through the Tenth Realm's defenses and, in a short time, slaughtered the guards outside his palace.
"How unfortunate. I'm quite satisfied with what I have, and I've no intention of serving under you, sister. But I am short-staffed. Why don't you follow me instead? I can make you the Tenth Realm's… deputy administrator. Yes—deputy."
Loki smiled as if entirely unafraid of Hela.
After so long on the throne, the pride and nobility had seeped into his blood. He was a born ruler.
More importantly… ahem… the Tenth Realm had that monster Saitama backing it.
I'm Loki—why should I fear anyone?
"Mm?" Hela blinked, then burst into laughter, her long, narrow eyes flashing with killing frost. "It seems I misjudged you, dear brother. You're no different from that idiot Thor. Perhaps the best ending is for me to send you to Odin, so your family can be reunited."
With that, Hela swept her hands back, and her waist-length hair flared into jagged, menacing antlers—battle form.
At the side, Skurge kept winking frantically at Loki, as if to say surrender was the wise choice.
"Ah… your strength is impressive, I admit. But I'm not who I was."
Ignoring that clownish signaling, Loki sighed—while the corner of his mouth curled into a sly grin.
That hug had been worth it.
"Poor sister… step outside and cool off a bit. Clear your head."
As his words fell—
The Space Stone flashed a brilliant blue.
(End of Chapter)
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