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Finding Odin wasn't difficult. The old man was sitting by the sea, looking like he had stepped straight out of The Old Man and the Sea.
When Arthur and Frigga appeared, Odin turned, and the moment he saw Frigga, his expression shifted from calm to stunned disbelief.
"Frigga…"
He murmured as if doubting his own eyes.
Then his gaze hardened as he looked at Arthur. "What is going on here?"
Arthur didn't answer. He simply stepped forward, placing a hand on Odin's forehead. A soft glow of white light flashed between them.
Odin inhaled sharply as if awakening from a deep slumber. His eyes sharpened, and after a long pause, he sighed. "So… it has come to this."
Arthur considered saying something but chose to remain silent.
Frigga stepped closer, taking in the frail, aged form of the once-mighty king. Her eyes glistened with emotion. "Did it really have to come to this?" she asked gently.
Odin gave her a small, weary smile and patted her hand before turning back to Arthur. "Everything is unfolding exactly as I foresaw."
"Kamar-Taj knows about this, don't they?" Arthur asked.
"Of course," Odin smirked. "The Ancient One has known since the moment I arrived on Earth. And you, of all people, should know that already."
Arthur mulled that over. "So… are you disappointed in Loki?"
Odin didn't answer directly. Instead, he studied Arthur for a moment before saying, "You look like you have something more to say."
"I want to go to Hel."
Odin blinked. "…That's a bit dramatic."
"Don't mess with me."
Arthur rolled his eyes. How could a king who once ruled the Nine Realms suddenly sound like a wisecracking old man?
"Alright, alright." Odin relented, chuckling. "You already know how to get there. If you can find your way out, you can certainly find your way in."
Arthur thought for a moment, then retrieved the Tesseract. With a single thought, he disappeared.
Frigga turned to Odin. "He left?"
"Of course," Odin replied. "First time in my life I've met someone eager to go to Hel."
Frigga sighed. "Why do I get the feeling you've become much more relaxed since stepping down?"
"Power comes with responsibility," Odin said simply. "I'm old, Frigga. I should have left the throne long ago, and done the things I truly wanted to do. Will you stay with me for a while?"
Frigga smiled softly. "I'd love to."
It was raining in Hel.
The blood-red sky cast an eerie glow over the land, making the entire world look like it was drowning in crimson.
Gnarled, twisted trees howled in the wind, their branches writhing like grasping fingers.
The last time Arthur had come here, he hadn't been able to fully see this place for what it was.
This time was different.
A year had passed. He had changed. He had grown.
With a single motion, he waved his hand.
"Disperse."
Instantly, the thick, blood-red mist vanished, revealing the landscape beneath, dark, vast, oppressive, and damp.
Arthur decided it was an improvement over the rain. Hovering in midair, he spread his wings and scanned the land below.
There.
Hela.
She sat atop the massive stone throne he had built for her, staring up at the sky.
For the briefest moment, something flickered in her expression when she saw him.
Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone.
Arthur considered his options. Then, without a word, he descended, landing beside her.
And he sat down.
"Feeling lonely?" Arthur asked.
"Speak your mind." Hela's response was sharp and immediate.
Arthur paused, momentarily at a loss for words, before finally saying, "You're about to leave."
"And?" Hela narrowed her eyes. "What is it you want to say to me? Did Odin send you to plead on his behalf?"
"Does he need to?" Arthur countered. "Even now, his power has diminished, but as long as he still draws breath, you won't dare to leave, will you?"
Hela's expression darkened instantly. "Are you here to push me into reclaiming Asgard?"
"Is that even an option?" Arthur asked. "Asgard has a king. And it isn't you."
His words were like striking a match near a powder keg.
In an instant, Hela's hair bristled like razor-sharp spears, and she shot him a glare filled with pure fury. "Who do you think you are? I spared you once, and now you have the audacity to come back? I could kill you right now, cut out your tongue, and see if you still dare to spew nonsense in front of me!"
She didn't just threaten, she attacked.
Swords erupted from the ground, surrounding Arthur in an instant.
He reacted swiftly. With a flick of his wrist, flames coiled around him, forming the shape of a dragon. Hela's blades struck, but the moment they touched the fire, they melted into liquid steel.
Yet, before he could capitalize on the moment, a sudden flash of silver streaked through the air.
A single strike, clean, precise, shattered the fire dragon entirely.
Hela was already in front of him. Her blade sliced toward him, but before the blow could land, Arthur vanished.
Anticipating this, Hela didn't hesitate. Without turning, she conjured another sword and thrust it backward.
But the moment she struck, her wrist was caught.
She let out a sharp breath, yanking herself free with raw strength. Whirling around, she lifted her sword for another attack, only for Arthur to catch her wrist mid-swing.
She attempted to strike with her other hand, but Arthur was faster, grabbing it and forcing her blade downward, driving it into the ground.
For the first time, Hela was caught, both arms restrained.
She struggled, her body tense, her emerald gaze blazing.
Their eyes locked for a fraction of a second before, Hela kicked up.
A sharp, direct attack, too close to dodge completely. Arthur barely tilted his head back in time as her leg shot up between them.
Before she could retract her leg, Arthur moved swiftly, trapping it between their bodies.
The position was… awkward.
Especially for Hela, who was now caught in an uncomfortable deadlock. Her expression twisted in frustration as she struggled, but even with her strength, she couldn't immediately break free.
"Let. Me. Go."
"Can we talk properly now?" Arthur asked, his tone casual.
"There's nothing to talk about." Hela's voice was laced with venom. "Your power has grown, no doubt thanks to Odin. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to match me."
"That's not the point," Arthur said. "The point is, you can't kill me right now. And if you want to fight, fine, I can come here every day. But as long as I'm around, you won't be able to storm Asgard and slaughter at will."
"You think you can stop me?"
Hela's fury erupted like a supernova. A surge of raw energy blasted outward from her, sending Arthur flying backward.
She was free.
She didn't hesitate, lunging forward, sword poised to strike.
But just as she was about to reach him,
Arthur pulled out the Tesseract.
In a flash of blue light, he disappeared.
Hela's sword slashed through empty air.
Her scream of frustration echoed across Hel:
"DAMN IT!!!"
Her fury didn't stop there. She swung her blade wildly, sending shockwaves of crisscrossing energy in every direction, shaking the entire prison.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted something, the small house Arthur had built for her.
Her grip tightened on her sword.
Rage flared in her eyes.
She raised her blade, ready to destroy it,
But her hand hesitated.
For reasons she couldn't explain… she couldn't bring herself to strike.
(End of this chapter)