As Hela materialized, her presence oozing death, Erik's instincts flared as his mind prepared strategies to defeat Hela.
Cindy slumped weakly against him, her breathing shallow.
'Can't fight with her like this.' He pressed a hand to her shoulder, and Beelzebuth's vortex swallowed her into its void.
Hela tilted her head, "How sweet. Protecting your little pet spider."
'How does Hela know about 'that' aspect of Cindy's power? Is it some divinity or deity stuff I'm unaware of?'
"She's cute, so I can't risk her getting any scratches on her skin," Erik said as he folded his hands behind his back.
Pointing a finger toward Odin, she said playfully, "That's my father, right? You killed and enslaved him. I'm impressed."
Hela folded her arms, closing her eyes as if communing with herself. "As she had said… you are strong enough…" She nodded to herself
She grumbled under her breath, "Argh, fine~ I accept."
Her eyes with large dark circles snapped open, locking onto Erik. "Just so we're sure—you're Eirikyr? The guy whose soul got sent to this universe by her?"
'She knows about my transmigration... that's surprising...' Erik narrowed his eyes. "I am Eirikyr. And yeah, I think my soul was sent here by someone... So, who's her?"
Hela swiped a strand of matted hair from her face, revealing a faint blush. "Lady Death. Who else?" She grinned, "Okay, then. Now that I've confirmed you're Eirikyr…" She spread her arms theatrically. "I accept you as my husband."
Erik stared at Hela, his mind racing. 'What the fuc—?'
"Really?" he asked, voice flat.
Hela tilted her head, lips curving into a smirk. "Duh. Why would I joke about it?"
Hela tilted her head in confusion, as if she couldn't quite understand his doubt. When she stepped closer, Erik immediately raised a hand.
"Stop," he warned firmly, his eyes narrowing.
Hela furrowed her brows, her eyes narrowing. "What is it? Can't believe me? Or is it that you don't want to become my husband?"
Erik paused, weighing his words.
Before he could speak, Hela's grin sharpened. "Fine. Then I'll have to force you."
She lunged.
Erik dodged to the side, flipping over a broken pillar. Hela pursued, her movements fluid and relentless, but strangely—her signature obsidian blades never materialized. Erik too just focused on dodging.
"What's the matter, love?" she teased, swiping at him with clawed fingers that barely grazed his black armor. "Why are you running away from your beautiful wife?"
Erik clicked his tongue.
They darted around columns and vaulted over scattered debris. Hela's lithe form moved with surprising speed and agility as she lunged and circled Erik.
He dodged her playful advances, weaving between pillars and leaping over broken tiles.
Neither of them drew any weapons—Hela's eyes burned with mischief while Erik's calm, collected demeanor never faltered.
"Come on, Eirkyr!" she called, laughing breathlessly, while he only managed a wry smile as he evaded her every move.
Her energy was fierce, but her strikes were non-lethal. At that moment, Erik realized she had no real intention of killing him.
The biggest thing hint was, that she never drew her black swords and his spider senses never buzzed while she was attacking him.
"Are you really telling the truth?" he demanded, voice low.
Hela's eye twitched. "Odin's beard!" she shouted, trembling with frustration. "Do I look like I'm lying?!"
Before Erik could react, she stomped forward again, closing the gap. This time, he didn't move.
Erik waited—but his Spider-Sense stayed dormant. No warning. No buzz. Even as her hands rose, her smooth fingers cupping his face.
Hela's blush deepened, her gaze flicking to his lips. "You're… really going to make me do all the work," she muttered, voice uncharacteristically soft.
Hela closed her eyes, leaning in.
'Her guard's down,'
He moved... in a blur, he twisted her arms, flipping her onto her back. One hand pinned her both wrists above her stomach, her chest pressed against his forearm. His other arm locked around her throat, elbow braced beneath her jaw.
"Now that I've caught you," Erik growled, his voice low and edged with warning, "answer me. What's this ploy of marriage?"
Hela's lips curved into a smirk despite the pressure on her windpipe. "Husband… is this how humans do courtship nowadays?" She arched her back, grinding her hips against his, her ass deliberately sliding against his crotch.
Erik tightened his hold on her neck, his fingers digging into her pale skin just enough to silence her teasing. "Answer me, honey," he repeated, voice laced with venom.
Hela's laugh came out raspy, her eyes gleaming with defiance even as her breath hitched. "Lady Death told me to. I'm her avatar. First thing she's ever asked of me—and that too wasn't an order." She tilted her head, breathless but still taunting. "I said I'd consider it… until I saw you break Odin. Enslave him. Until I smelled your sweat, your rage… your power."
Her smirk returned, sharp and wicked. "Now, I realize why she suggested you. You're perfect for me. Make me yours, Eirkyr. I'll be the best wife you'll ever have. Give you pleasures beyond imagination..." Her hips rolled again, grinding against him with deliberate provocation.
Erik's grip didn't waver, but his brow furrowed. "What's with these multiversal goddesses trying to set me up with their daughters… avatars…"
Hela's sultry smile vanished. She froze, her ass grinding halting mid-motion. "You have other women? Is she that spider?"
Erik tilted his head, feigning indifference. "Is that a problem?"
Hela's eye narrowed, a flicker of genuine irritation crossing her face. "I just wanted to be your first."
Hela wasn't the type to lie, Erik knew that. She's a direct-kill type of person. But the situation was so absurd that he thought she might've playing games to get his guard down or something... but from her words and demeanor and his knowledge of her character, he concluded that Hela really wished to become his wife.
'What should I do...' Erik thought, eyeing her figure.
She was sexy?
Yeah.
Beautiful?
Of course! A literal Goth Mommy.
It's true that he didn't love her right now, but there's a faint hint of attraction towards her in his heart, (her ass grinding worked!), maybe, he could come to love her in the future...
Erik studied her and after a beat, he released her abruptly, "Fine. I'll accept you, Hela."
She rubbed her neck, turning around and looking at him with seductive eyes.
"But we're not marrying right now. I need to know if I can live with you for eternity or not... And you should know who's in charge. You will be a good wife and… obey me." He warned her, fully knowing her feral behavior.
Hela raised her head condescendingly, her smirk returning as she folded her arms under her chest. "Shouldn't the one with more power obey the other?"
Erik sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Hela. I think you're right. But how about we settle that with a fight… sometime later?"
Her grin widened. "Hm… fine."
"Still though, you grabbed me too hard, Husband," She cracked her neck and massaged it, "So, why did you kill Odin? I doubt the coward initiated it. He grew soft after mother gave birth to my little brother. Speaking of… where are others?"
Erik shrugged. "Don't know. Don't care. I wanted the Aether and the Eternal Flame. Odin refused and declared war. I gave him what he wanted."
Erik turned to the mindless Odin, his command cold and precise. "Take us to the treasury."
The resurrected All-Father obeyed without hesitation, his movements smooth as he led them through the shattered throne room. Hela fell into step beside Erik, her stride predatory yet playful.
"I understand wanting the Aether," she mused, eyeing the golden halls with disdain. "Reality-bending power might have its uses… But the Eternal Flame?"
She snorted. "Isn't it useless for you? The flames that drag souls back from the afterlife and put the souls into their original bodies... Why bother? Your resurrection power is better. It replaces the dead with absolutely loyal puppets—souls that mimic the originals, memories intact. Is it sentiments, you want from your soldiers?"
'How does she know so much about my powers already?' He thought, his gaze fixed ahead. "Yes. I want to revive a person."
Hela arched a brow. "A loved one, I suppose?"
"Yes, my mother."
Hela nodded nonchalantly. She didn't care honestly.
As they passed through the prisons, Hela suddenly halted.
"Oh, is that you Mother? And who's that with you?"
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