In the domain of the Cosmic Fear Demon King within the Tenth Realm,
Loki, the administrator, knelt on the ground, covered in blood. The loyal gatekeeper Heimdall had already been found. With the lives of the remaining Asgardians as leverage, Hela forced him to open the Bifrost and tried to drag Saitama across by force.
"It's useless. Lord Saitama isn't around regularly," Loki said with a bitter smile. Saitama came and went like the wind; even he couldn't track him.
The moment he finished speaking, the Bifrost's light faded—and three figures landed on the vast plaza before the Tenth Realm's royal hall.
They were Saitama, Thor, and Valkyrie.
All three stared blankly at their surroundings. Just moments ago they'd been on Sakaar, cheering a victory—and in the blink of an eye…
"Loki? What's with you? And you—who are you? Do me a favor and take your foot off Loki's face."
Saitama's eyes fixed on a familiar face. For all his mischief, Loki had been managing the Tenth Realm for him. If not meritorious, he was at least diligent—a friend of sorts.
"I—I'm fine… Lord Saitama, I…I've shamed you… I lost…"
Loki, both excited and ashamed, felt humiliated to meet Saitama in such a state.
"Ahem… brother, it's fine. I'm worse off than you—I even lost an eye," Thor said with a stiff grin that failed to hide his anger and fear.
Hela was too strong.
Even after fleeing Asgard for a time, even though Thor kept saying he'd return for revenge, the moment he thought of Hela he felt a wave of powerlessness. She'd crushed Mjolnir with one hand… He couldn't believe he could match someone like that.
Too strong.
Hela was a monster.
Still—behind her… that ferocious giant wolf looked like a perfect opponent for him. Heh.
"Lord Saitama… forgive me. When I saw you appear… I…"
Heimdall's voice was heavy with guilt.
The enemy had threatened him with Loki and the surviving Asgardians. If it were only Heimdall, even Hela would have struggled to catch him; with his sight, he could watch over Nine—no, Ten Realms. But under threat, he had no choice.
Expressionless, Saitama patted Heimdall lightly on the shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong."
He stepped forward. Thor followed half a step behind. Valkyrie swept a wary look around, then helplessly fell in.
"Oh? Isn't this my poor brother? Planning to gift me the other eye as well? A one-eyed thunder god—sounds terrifying, in its way."
Hela smiled at Thor. His cheek twitched, unable to hide the surge of fury and dread.
"And what do we have here? Tsk, tsk. The Valkyrie—the ignorant followers of Odin. Is this because I was merciful and didn't cull every last one? Or did you hide among the dead like a coward?"
Hela's mocking glance cut to Valkyrie; her disguise was no disguise to Hela.
Those women—who once might have posed a threat to her—she remembered knocking them all from the sky, one by one. Perhaps the chaos of that day let a single ant slip away.
"HELA!! Aaaaah—!"
Usually drowned in drink and silence, Valkyrie found a vent for the storm inside. With a low snarl she drew her short blade and lunged.
She'd had enough of living like a walking corpse. Only by staying drunk could she forget. She had watched comrades—sisters-in-arms—die one by one before her eyes. And she had lived. Shamefully, she had lived.
The nightmares never stopped—those sisters visiting her in dreams, asking her to avenge them. But when she thought of Hela, her hands would not stop trembling.
That was fear.
A deep fear, born of watching Asgard's finest—the Valkyrie—annihilated before her in a single clash. Against Hela, they couldn't even last one exchange.
The shame and rage had eaten her alive.
Now, suddenly facing the enemy she had yearned to face day and night, it was as if everything had been released. Valkyrie found herself strangely calm, as if a flood finally broke through the dam.
She discovered she had the courage to face Hela—
Because… she had already prepared herself to die.
"Hey! Are you crazy? Stand back for me, now!"
Halfway through her charge, Thor yanked her by the arm, nearly pulling her into his chest.
The two locked eyes; Valkyrie froze.
"Uh… look, it's not your turn yet. If anyone's going to fight Hela first, it should be me."
Thor scratched out an awkward smile, grasping at a reason that sounded less clumsy than it felt.
Something stirred in Valkyrie's heart—a stubborn spark called the "honor of Asgard."
Right.
Back then, Odin had made them give their lives in the name of duty and righteousness. If that was true then…
"Can he do it?"
Valkyrie frowned, cooling down enough to read the field.
The two leaders facing each other were Saitama of the Tenth Realm—and Hela, Goddess of Death.
"You mean brother Saitama? Heh, heh, heh—of course he can. We'll watch. Oh—leave the giant wolf to me. He's mine. And the other big brute behind Hela looks decent—he's yours. Just be careful not to get caught up in Saitama's aftershocks," Thor rattled on, nagging like a fussy aunt.
Valkyrie: "…"
She shot him a strange look, then glanced at Saitama. Loki, bleeding on the ground, was grinning like a man possessed from the moment Saitama arrived—like someone high on hallucinations. Was the bald man really that strong?
"Hello. I'm Saitama. I think… I'm the one you're looking for. So—can you let Loki go now? He looks a bit miserable."
Saitama extended a hand to Hela, speaking earnestly.
"Saitama. I've heard that name for a long time," Hela purred. "Loki's said it. Thor too. Even those Asgardians. They say Odin fought you—and lost? Poor old father."
Smiling strangely, Hela lifted her foot from Loki's face. The unfortunate prince rose, wiping blood from his cheek.
With a serpentine sway of her waist, she drifted up to Saitama and looked him over with keen curiosity. Her fingers closed gently around his outstretched hand. In all the thousands of years behind her, he was the first man bold enough to offer a handshake.
"I'm interested in you. Join me. Be mine. Submit to me, Saitama. As a privilege, I'll permit you not to kneel."
Hela's smile was warm as a knife, her tone brooking no refusal.
(End of Chapter)
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