Death.
It was a swift, clean death.
Death.
It was a swift, clean death.
Standing a few steps behind Gamora, Pietro and Wanda both tensed up and lowered their heads. When the butler cat, Gaitz, had sent them a message to bring Gamora over, they had a feeling what her fate might be.
She was going to die, they were both certain of that.
After all, she was the adopted daughter of Thanos, and she had betrayed him. There was no way he would handle it lightly.
But they hadn't expected Gamora to die so quickly, or for Lothar to be so decisive. Thanos, who had raised Gamora for so long, hadn't even shown up, and Lothar had already crushed her.
Pietro and Wanda exchanged a subtle glance, communicating silently. The adopted daughter of Thanos had just been killed, with not a shred of dignity. This moment made the two siblings truly understand Lothar's preeminent status in the Black Quadrant. It also showed them, for the first time, the price of betrayal.
Betrayal meant death.
"Your Highness Lothar, Lady Hela is not in the Black Quadrant. According to our travel records, she left forty-seven minutes ago." Ignoring Gamora's corpse, The Other hurried to Lothar with the information he had. Hela's departure was not good news for Lothar.
"Back to Asgard?"
"Based on the direction, yes. Your Highness, would you like to go there now?" Although he didn't know what had happened between Lothar and Hela, The Other respectfully offered his suggestion, always keeping Lothar's best interests in mind.
"You take—"
The words died in Lothar's throat as he wiped his hands. Within his body, the World Tree's dimensional energy that he had absorbed from Hela suddenly began to boil, without any intent on his part.
What's going on? Lothar's dark eyes were filled with confusion as the dimensional energy surged around him like fire.
Thirty minutes ago, on Asgard.
Hela, who had rushed back from the Black Quadrant, finally reached an agreement with the Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange: in exchange for the Time Stone and Thor, she would grant him a chance to speak peacefully with Lothar.
"And you really have no other conditions?" Hela asked with a playful smirk, looking Thor up and down as she toyed with the Time Stone in her hand.
"I have many flaws, but there's one quality that everyone praises me for—I'm a man of my word." Stephen Strange shrugged.
"I will let you know when the time and place are arranged." Hela put away the Time Stone and looked back at Thor, who was still staring straight ahead, not saying a word.
Stephen Strange took the hint and released the magical ropes binding Thor.
"I'll wait for your good news." After a deep look at Thor, Strange's figure walked out of the hall and slowly vanished.
"So, do you have anything to say?"
"My dear brother?"
Hela walked in front of Thor, taking hold of his jaw, which was now covered with a prickly stubble. She looked at him with amusement.
"I put my faith in the wrong person. I have nothing to say," Thor replied, not resisting. He met Hela's gaze without flinching.
"Don't you want revenge for Odin?"
"Then you'd better pray I don't die this time," Thor said. The moment he mentioned Odin, his expression changed completely.
"A good look. Now, you actually look like his son."
Hela held her head high. Energy gathered in her fingertips, and chains of light appeared out of thin air, wrapping around Thor's body. "It seems your time on Sakaar changed you. Come on, I'll take you where you belong."
With a pull on the heavy chains, Hela took Thor to the prison that had been rebuilt first on Asgard.
"Thor?"
Inside the prison, Frigga, who was in the middle of her daily prayer for her sons' safety, saw the man behind Hela. Her son.
"Thor, your hair?!"
"He survived the destruction of Sakaar. He must have nine lives," Hela said, throwing Thor inside and locking the door.
"What?"
"Sakaar was destroyed?"
"Thor you—" Frigga's emotions flared.
"Don't worry, Mother, I'm fine, I'm fine," Thor said, sitting up immediately to prove his words. Aside from his bound hands and feet, and the constant roar that only he could hear, he was perfectly healthy.
"Dormammu is dead, and the fire giant Surtur is dead. This time, no one can get you two out of here. Just stay put." After a final look at the mother-and-son reunion, Hela left with a cold expression.
"Mother, wait a moment," Thor said, interrupting Frigga, who was about to badger him with questions. "I have something very important to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Are there any monsters still on Asgard?" He cautiously formed a soundproof barrier with his energy before asking.
"Now?"
"Of course not. Why would you ask that?" Frigga asked, her brow furrowed. Although Odin had become a pacifist after he imprisoned Hela, he would never have left a hidden threat on Asgard.
"That's strange. Ever since I got back to Asgard, I've been hearing a roar."
"It's full of rage and hatred. It's sharp and piercing."
"And the sound has a very unique quality to it."
Unable to describe it, Thor controlled his voice and mimicked the roar for Frigga. Her face immediately changed.
"Thor!"
"Forget that sound!"
"Block it out!"
"Now!" Frigga's voice was full of urgency.
"Mother, do you know whose roar it is?" Thor asked, frowning.
"Nidhogg. That is the roar of the demon dragon Nidhogg."
"Thor, listen to me. You must forget that sound. You must not think about it. Do you understand?" Frigga's face was extremely serious.
Thor finally understood. Hearing the name, he could understand his mother's reaction. As everyone knows, the World Tree is the foundation of the Nine Realms, and the Nidhogg his mother was talking about was the demon dragon that never stopped gnawing at its roots.
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