Snap!
Hawk's finger snap echoed clearly within the range of the World Tree.
At a glance.
Not far from him, maintaining a running posture, with his right hand outstretched toward Hawk, Mephisto's figure was instantly frozen by the sound of that snap.
Then—
Weathering.
Mephisto's demon body eroded at a visible speed, like a stone dried out by the winds of time, instantly transformed from left to right into nothingness.
Once Hawk's snapping sound vanished.
Mephisto disappeared too.
Completely gone, leaving not even his soul behind.
Originally, Hawk planned to imprison Mephisto in the Magma Nether Prison of his Netherworld.
But he changed his mind.
Mephisto, with a fierce disposition, naturally rebellious, posed unpredictable risks like keeping Hel.
Therefore!
To be cautious, he eliminated him directly, putting an end to it all.
It's just...
Such a pity.
I actually rather liked you.
Hawk sighed in his heart as he gazed at Mephisto's ultimate demise and disappearance, then shook his head.
The next moment.
Hawk raised his head, and when he appeared again, he was already atop the World Tree, sitting cross-legged once more.
Instantly.
Crack! Crack!
The Phoenix descends gracefully, resting only among the sycamores.
The Phoenix cries to the heavens, its call resounding.
At the moment Hawk closed his eyes, accompanied by the resounding sound, the Phoenix bathed in golden flames replaced the golden metal Phoenix formed by the Golden Holy Armor, unfurled its body, and then fully and freely spread its wings.
Phoenix Wings overshadow the sky, eclipsing the World Tree, while a Cosmos far larger than the World Tree began to appear indistinct under the burning of the golden Phoenix Fire.
It seems.
Under the Phoenix World Tree, the Phoenix is in the center, and Hawk's Phoenix Cosmos lies atop the Phoenix's Wings.
It looks remarkably like a gigantic Phoenix, its wings extended, enveloping the Cosmos, bathing in golden flames, standing on the Phoenix World Tree, holding the Phoenix Cosmos with its wings.
And Hawk's figure, at the moment the Phoenix appeared, seemed to perfectly overlap and then merge with the Phoenix.
The next moment.
A world with a round sky and square earth, Hawk's Netherworld, slowly descended from atop the Phoenix Wings, passing through the wings, and then steadily landed in the original position of Helheim under the Phoenix World Tree.
With a thud.
At the moment the Netherworld connected with the Phoenix World Tree, it emitted a massive tremor, and then there was no more deficiency.
In fact, according to common sense, Hawk's Little Cosmos has not yet materialized, so everything inside it should be void.
But don't forget, Hawk had obtained the Four Elements of Creation.
The Four Elements of Creation are real.
Thus, Hawk's Little Cosmos is illusory, but everything within it, like the stars, is real.
Naturally.
Hawk could use his Netherworld to replace Helheim lost by the Phoenix World Tree.
After all, Hawk is now not only the Master of the Phoenix but also the Master of the Phoenix World Tree.
Both complement each other.
Neither can be lacking.
Good news.
Now Hawk doesn't need the Reality Gemstone to manifest his Phoenix Cosmos; he doesn't even need it to manifest his strength in the Main Cosmos.
The reason lies in the Main Cosmos devouring Midgard that once belonged to the Phoenix World Tree, completely turning it into Earth.
The Main Cosmos devouring the assets of what was once the Phoenix World Tree is equivalent to permitting the use of the World Tree's power within the Main Cosmos.
Because the Main Cosmos brazenly snatched it.
That's the cost.
Originally, the plan of the Main Cosmos was murder and looting; it desired possessions but didn't want to pay, but Hawk intervened directly with force, snatching the World Tree and foiling the Main Cosmos's scheme.
So...
Unless the Main Cosmos returns Earth, Hawk's power can now traverse the Main Cosmos without the Reality Gemstone.
But returning it seems impossible for the Main Cosmos.
After all, it consumed and cleaned up everything and even created a new past, completely transforming Midgard of the World Tree into Earth's Main Cosmos; how could it return now?
No way to return even a part, nor any method to return.
Bad news.
Hawk has to wait until he awakens the Ninth Sense, also known as the Amorous Perception, to truly manifest his Phoenix Cosmos.
Once again.
The grounded Phoenix and the Phoenix residing in the sycamore tree are two completely different breeds.
However, there's even better news.
Originally, Hawk had only a superficial understanding of the Eighth Sense, but after becoming the Master of the Phoenix World Tree, he suddenly found his comprehension of the Eighth Sense had progressed.
Although there's still some distance to fully grasp the Eighth Sense.
But it's progress nonetheless.
Undoubtedly.
At this moment.
Beside the Nether River in Hawk's Netherworld.
Anna, who had just taken an afternoon nap in her flower shop, sensed the tremors of the Netherworld and stepped out from the flower shop, currently standing by the Nether River.
Then...
She gazed into the distance, where in her line of sight, stars in the interplay of fire, water, and wind constantly began to condense into a brand-new world.
"This is..."
"Phoenix Divine Domain."
"..."
Anna was first startled, then her eyes lit up. She turned around and greeted Hawk, who was standing behind her, "Good afternoon, Hawk."
Hawk raised his eyebrows.
"There is no concept of time in the Netherworld, so what does this afternoon mean?"
"I divided it into twenty-four hours directly."
"Alright."
Hawk chuckled at her words, then thought of the time he arrived, and greeted Anna, "Good morning."
Having said that.
Hawk also gazed at the Phoenix Divine Domain, which was rapidly evolving to replace the existence of Asgard, his voice calm, "I intend to make you the Goddess of Death for the Phoenix World Tree."
Following Hawk's gaze, Anna looked at the Phoenix Divine Domain once more and was startled again by what she heard.
"Goddess of Death?"
"Yes."
Hawk withdrew his gaze and smiled at Anna, who was in shock, "Are you interested?"
Anna instinctively shook her head.
"No, I can't do it."
"I say you can, so you can."
"Uh..."
After hearing this, Anna was speechless for a moment, looking at Hawk's expression, before finally asking, "Can I ask why you chose me?"
Hawk laughed and said, "This place needs a Goddess of Death, and you are my friend."
Everyone knows.
He has always favored friends over reason.
Because Anna is his friend, he disregards Anna's status, and because of a call from Anna, he ignores the conflict between Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Unfortunately, that call was a disguise by Alexander Pierce.
Oh.
Right.
Where is Alexander Pierce?
Hawk's thoughts moved, discovering that at the moment Alexander Pierce seemed to be pacing far away in the Pure Land because of his arrival.
Alright.
Although he pardoned Alexander Pierce because Christmas Eve is meant for reunions, the latter always chooses to disappear from his sight when he comes to the Netherworld.
Maybe he is afraid Hawk will capture him into the Nether Prison.
Hawk thought to himself.
And Anna, after listening to Hawk's given reason, pursed her lips, then looked up at Hawk, "Alright, if you want me to help you, but let me preface it by saying I have never been a goddess, if I mess up, don't blame me."
Hawk laughed heartily, meeting Anna's beautiful eyes, "If you tear this place down, I still won't blame you, we can always start over."
Anna's expression turned serious.
"That won't happen, I will strive to learn how to be a qualified Goddess of Death who can assist you."
"I'm looking forward to that day."
Hawk also looked seriously at Anna, then smiled and said.
"In the name of my Phoenix, in the name of the Phoenix World Tree, Anna Pierce, as my Phoenix, Goddess of Death for the Phoenix World Tree!"
"Rumble!"
Hawk's voice transformed into a divine decree, echoing in every realm of the World Tree, in the ears of every living being in every realm.
And as Hawk's divine decree fell.
The World Tree rustled and vibrated, seemingly responding, and then a leaf fell from the World Tree above the Netherworld.
The speed at which the leaf fell was slow if you said slow, but fast if you said fast.
In the blink of an eye.
The leaf containing the divine authority of death for the Phoenix World Tree fell onto Anna and merged into her body.
Anna instinctively closed her eyes.
Countless pieces of information concerning the authority of death began to flow like water, washing through Anna's sea of consciousness, while Anna's clothes began to transform.
A robe woven from the flowing night sky and the ashes of bones draped over Anna's body, with frozen Magma Nether Prison on her shoulders, forming sharp arcs, meanwhile, the cold sensation originally belonging to Hydra's Anna returned to her face once more.
Except...
Hawk watched Anna after becoming the Goddess of Death and creating her divine garments, blinking, always feeling a sense of déjà vu.
Reopening her eyes, Anna, now the Goddess of Death, explaining to Hawk with a slightly odd expression, "I referred to Death Goddess Hel's previous garments in the information. If you don't like it, I can..."
Hawk's expression suddenly dawned.
I told you.
Why would I feel a sense of familiarity with Anna's clothes?
"No need."
Hawk smiled, "I just feel familiar, but couldn't recall it for a moment, so, do you understand what you should do?"
Anna nodded.
"Death and rebirth."
"Yes, the Goddess of Death holds not only the authority of death but also the authority of rebirth."
Hawk smiled and nodded, then looked at Anna, "I am full of hope for your future."
Anna nodded with a smile and then looked at Hawk.
"Just one question."
"Go ahead."
"I have no staff."
"Ha."
Upon hearing this, Hawk chuckled, shook his head, and said, "Anna, you're my Goddess of Death, but more importantly, my friend, friends need sincerity, so this is a one-time exception, not again."
Anna met Hawk's reproachful gaze, pursed her lips, and nodded.
"I made a mistake."
"I forgive you."
"..."