The mention of her appearance made Betty uneasy. Being a monster was never a pleasant experience, and the social pressure was enough to drive anyone mad. But the feeling soon faded. She and Bruce were a pair now—two monsters together.
"Thank you, Mr. Stark," Betty said, her voice a bit sharp and avian.
"So, Tony, is there something specific you wanted to discuss?" Banner sensed Betty's discomfort and signaled for an end to the conversation. "As you can see, I don't have much to offer besides the knowledge in my head, and I just got off an operating table not long ago."
"I'm not a biology guy. I do energy, materials, and mechanics," Tony said, holding up his hands. "I'm not going to put you on a table. I'm just curious."
"Curious about how I turn into the Big Guy? If you keep pushing, you might find out firsthand," Banner warned. It was a bluff—the Hulk was currently sulking in a mental corner—but it worked.
"OK, OK! No offense intended." Tony backed away. He hadn't come over because he was interested; he'd come because Natasha asked him to. He owed her a favor for letting him use her phone to call Pepper.
"Dr. Banner, hello. It's actually me who wanted to see you."
Natasha stood there with Clint Barton. Both looked relaxed, showing no hostility. This small gesture made Banner feel significantly better.
"I don't believe we've met?" Banner asked, holding his stone bowl awkwardly.
"I'm Natasha Romanoff. This is Clint Barton. We work for... well, we used to work for a government agency called S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, we're more like freelancers. We just want to get to know you and the other guy inside you."
Natasha sat down naturally and began slicing meat, making the atmosphere feel like a casual camping trip. She was a professional at rapport; she could make a terrorist trust her if she wanted to.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? I think I've had run-ins with them before," Banner recalled.
"Probably. They're a bit of a behemoth," Clint added, cutting into a large roast.
"Why are you here? I don't see why our paths need to cross," Banner said, leaning closer to Betty. Her feathers were surprisingly soft and warm.
"I think becoming a warrior isn't a bad choice," Natasha said, skipping the small talk. She had seen Banner's hesitation. "There's no rule saying a warrior can't also do research."
Natasha had been treated well by the Barbarians, and she wanted to pay it forward. The brutal honesty of the Ancestors had allowed the Black Widow to drop her icy facade for the first time in years.
"Is it necessary for me to be a warrior? These... Ancestors can suppress the Hulk easily. I don't see why I'm needed."
"You'll find out once you become a Nephalem, but I can tell you now," Natasha said with a quiet smile. Her voice had a professional, persuasive quality. "If humanity is struggling to survive in the cracks, and the Ancestors who can suppress you are forbidden from leaving this mountain... would you still think your power is unimportant?"
"That's impossible," Banner said dismissively. "Is the sun turning into a white dwarf? Is humanity facing extinction? If so, you should talk to Tony, not me."
"It's worse than that," Natasha said. "Do you believe in demons?"
She was waiting for the 'No.' Like Rumlow, a single trip to a Rift would change Banner's mind forever.
"I do," Banner said, reaching out to wipe a smudge of blood from Betty's beak. He remembered M.O.D.O.K.'s unscientific abilities. He had no choice but to believe.
Clint choked on his drink, stifling a laugh. He knew what Natasha was trying to do. Natasha rolled her eyes and recovered quickly.
"Then you understand. Humans are caught between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells."
"And the Angels?" Banner asked, sounding bored.
Natasha paused. Had someone already told him about the Great Conflict?
"You're not going to tell me demons are real but angels are a myth, are you?" Banner looked at her.
"Angels exist," Natasha said. "But where do you think the battlefield is? It's never Heaven or Hell. It's always here."
Banner thought of the way the U.S. military operated. Fighting on one's own soil was always a tragedy. He gripped Betty's hand. He was a man cursed by his own conscience; he felt responsible for the suffering of others simply because he existed.
"Bruce," Betty whispered. "If we want to be normal again, we have to take this path. Kothul was right—a warrior who can't control his own strength is no warrior at all."
"At least... let's wait until tomorrow," Banner sighed. "It's a festival. No more heavy talk for today."
"Thor Odinson. Do you wish to know my name?"
Hela stood before Thor, a cold smile on her lips. Thor looked at her with confusion. "Odinson" was a title—Son of Odin—rarely used by mortals or Barbarians.
"What are you trying to say?" Thor's expression grew serious. He felt as if he were about to hear something world-shattering.
"Is Mjolnir well? I remember the stories said you were inseparable."
Hela wanted to lead him in, to savor the moment of revelation. A grand reveal required a build-up.
"You know who I am. I feel a strange familiarity with you, though I cannot place it. As for Mjolnir... it chose my 'Brother Hammer.' Tyr is currently looking after them."
Thor gave a bitter smile. Hela's brain stalled for a second. "Brother Hammer? What is that?"
"My father, Odin, kept a secret from us," Thor explained. "He had another child. But that child was... a hammer. Its purity and power were so great that Mjolnir chose it over me."
Thor usually wouldn't share Asgardian "scandal," but he couldn't help himself. In Hela's presence, he felt the same blood-bond he felt with Tyr. He couldn't lie to her.
"Wait... you're saying Odin has a bastard? And that bastard is a hammer?" Hela was incredulous. A tiny leak of her power slipped out.
In that instant, Thor finally found the source of the familiarity. It was the residue of the power he had felt when he first lifted Mjolnir as a boy. This power, mixed with the blood of Odin, made his head spin.
Great King of the Gods, Father! How many children do you have scattered across the universe?!
Thor forced himself to remain calm. He took a swig of "Water of Life" from his bag to steady his nerves.
"So... are you my older or younger sister? Older, I assume? I felt your power on Mjolnir long ago."
Thor looked at her, his voice full of a sudden, deep sorrow. "I don't know why Father hid you from us, but I can imagine you've suffered greatly all these years. My sister... Father is gone. I am ready to take on his responsibility. You have brothers now—more than one. Loki and I will make up for everything you've lost. I will do everything in my power to give you whatever you desire. My poor, suffering sister!"
Thor's voice was utterly sincere. In his mind, he had already composed a tragic epic of how Odin had cruelly stripped Hela of her identity and forced her into a life of misery. With his experience in comforting Loki, his words were enough to melt a heart of stone.
Hela was stunned. "And if I want the throne of Asgard? That which should have been..."
"It should have been yours, Sister," Thor interrupted, looking into her eyes with deep affection. "Once I realized your power was on Mjolnir, I understood. You were always the most qualified to rule. Asgard has fallen to Cul Borson, and Tyr intends to become the God of Thunder to fulfill the prophecy. If he fails, I want you to take the hammer and lead us."
"But... that is the throne of the All-Father!" Hela stammered.
She had planned this for eons. She had imagined appearing before the Asgardians who abandoned her and enacting a bloody, cruel vengeance. She never expected Thor to look at her with such genuine love and pity. For a moment, she realized Thor was different. He wasn't like the others. This was family.
"Sister, you don't have to accept the title 'Child of Odin.' You have every right to hate him. But believe me—I am not my father!"
Thor placed his hands on her shoulders. Sincerity cannot be faked. Through his eyes, he saw her doubt turn into shock, and then into a sudden, overwhelming "joy" that made her tremble.
Hela lost the ability to think. When Thor pulled her into a tight embrace, she felt a warmth she hadn't known in thousands of years. Her icy exterior shattered. Tears poured down her face, soaking Thor's shoulder.
"Brother... you can call me Hela. That is my name. But I will never call myself Odin's child." She hugged him back with all her might.
"Sister Hela, next time I'll bring Loki to meet you. He's our brother too, though he's Frost Giant by blood. Father... he made so many mistakes."
Nearby, Johanna watched with confusion. She had appeared the moment she felt Hela's power flare up, ready to protect the Barbarians. According to her experience, Hela's soul should have needed at least three thousand miles of "Redemption" to turn around. But here she was, apparently redeemed in an instant.
As a Crusader, Johanna didn't interrupt the family moment. Instead, she began to softly chant.
Laws of Hope: Hope Eternal!
This was her specialty—a law that provided constant life-replenishment and protection to the righteous. The power radiated across the Holy Mountain, accompanied by the sound of ethereal hymns.
At that moment, the Ancient One stepped through a portal onto Harrogath and was immediately bathed in the Law of Hope. Her soul, usually pushed to its limits, suddenly felt a surge of primordial strength.
For a being like Eternity, there is no such thing as "unconditional protection." He had long ago "claimed" the Ancient One's soul to witness the infinite possibilities of the universe. Her connection to the Time Stone had always been hampered by Eternity's influence, using her as a lightning rod for the negative effects of temporal manipulation.
But as Johanna's voice reached her ears, the Ancient One's soul and will were suddenly ripped free from Eternity's grasp!
Half of Eternity's grand plan collapsed in an instant. Time was the power he craved most to smooth the path of the universe's evolution. Now, that goal was gone.
"ARRUGH! DIE!"
In the cosmic void, Eternity abandoned all defense against the Living Tribunal. His punch, fueled by the fury of a lost destiny, slammed into one of the Tribunal's heads, obliterating tens of thousands of galaxies in the process.
The Living Tribunal recoiled, but a smile appeared on its faces.
"How unexpected. You've lost your composure! It seems our battle must continue!"
Before the words could even reach Eternity's ears, the Tribunal was back in front of him. Eternity forced himself to calm down. He wouldn't get a chance to fix the "accident" on Earth as long as this battle raged. He had no choice but to fight on.
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