Crack!
Just as the golden lightning was about to strike, Odin suddenly stopped. His single eye, filled with the wisdom of ages, saw the powerful bloodline flowing within the person before him—that… that was his own blood.
The King of Emptiness before him was like an enraged old lion, his might still present, and the lightning spear in his hand sent shivers through one's soul.
Under a fatal life-or-Death threat, Angela's beautiful eyes showed urgency.
Angela gritted her teeth and thrust her longsword down faster, hoping to complete the assassination before the opponent could attack.
"Don't!"
Frigga shouted.
But she wasn't shouting at Angela; she was shouting at the furiously awakened Odin.
"Don't worry, my Queen."
The lightning struck Angela's star sword, sending it flying. Odin staggered back two steps, supporting himself on the headboard, sweat beading on his forehead.
He looked at the stunned Angela with a complex expression of love and relief.
"Even… even if my life is nearing its end, I haven't become so muddled as to kill our daughter."
"King of Emptiness, what trick are you trying to pull?!"
A strand of orange hair was cut by the electric discharge from the lightning strike, a brush with Death.
Angela was stunned and awed, not understanding why the King of Emptiness, who could have killed her, didn't act.
Having experienced countless life-and-Death situations, she did not fear Death.
Facing his daughter's questioning, he laughed mournfully.
"Audreyf, my daughter, fate has finally taken pity on me. It brought you back to my side before I die, even if it's in such a way."
At this moment, he was no longer the King in the Golden Palace, the All-Father of myths; he was just a relieved old father who could see his long-lost daughter one last time before his passing.
Looking at his daughter, who was both strange and familiar, his memories involuntarily returned to the bloody and cruel battle over two thousand years ago.
He seemed to hear the cold voice of the Angel King, Haven, from the sky once more.
"One-eyed Odin, your daughter is truly lovely. Look, she's still crying. You know how to end this war, if you are wise!"
At that time, stubborn and irritable, he roared furiously, "The All-Father will never bow to threats! Asgard's honor is priceless! You witch, you wouldn't dare!"
"You have made your choice, King of Emptiness. I swear by everything I possess that you shall never embrace your daughter again—not even after Death!"
The sound of a sharp object piercing flesh, and the baby's cries abruptly ceased.
"No~"
On that day, Odin's sorrowful roar echoed across the battlefield.
When the war ended, in his rage, he used the power of the Bifrost Bridge to permanently sever the connection between Heaven and the World Tree. The Ten Realms became the Nine Realms from then on, and he forever lost a daughter, whose body was even taken by the enemy, preventing burial.
Seeing that no tragedy had befallen her husband and long-lost daughter, Frigga's emotions surged, and she too collapsed onto the ground, looking at Angela with joy.
"Who is Audreyf?"
Looking at the King of Emptiness and his wife, who were staring at her with an inexplicably unsettling gaze, the head of Heaven's hunters felt a sudden panic and an inexplicable irritability.
"What daughter? What are you talking about?"
...
"King Ron, I am S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Director, Nick Fury."
In the Wakanda reception hall, with two rows of sofas slightly angled for face-to-face conversation, Nick Fury, dressed in a black leather jacket and wearing an eye patch, stood up and extended his hand in welcome as he saw Ron slowly approach under the protection of his guards.
"His Majesty does not like to shake hands," Najia said, extending her own hand. "Director Fury, please be seated."
Ron slowly sat down.
"I heard Stark also has a peculiar habit: he never accepts anything handed to him by others. King Ron must have some common ground with him."
Nick Fury smiled, said a few words, and then sat down with the two people he brought.
"Stark?"
The handshake ritual represents equal and friendly communication between two parties. Ron did not believe that the Black Egg and he were of equal status, nor did he believe that this negotiation would end amicably.
For example, Nick Fury's recent comment.
Stark's personality was well-known: arrogant, proud, and cynical. Having common ground with him didn't seem like a compliment.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. reports directly to the International Security Council. As an international organization, why are you representing the U.S. today?"
He slowly smiled and said, "Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
S.H.I.E.L.D., whose full name is the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, is an organization established with international funding, operating under the guise of global interests but serving the United States.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s duty is to prevent global crises and maintain international security."
Nick Fury smiled.
"The reason I was entrusted by the U.S. to come this time is to mediate.
If Wakanda and America go to war over a small matter, it would become a global affair."
He defended himself by focusing on international security.
After Wakanda's founding, its international status rose steadily. Even with its small land and sparse population, it was considered by the international community to be the most powerful nation below the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
A war between two major Earth nations could escalate into a crisis threatening international and global security, which could not be said to be unrelated to his duties.
"Small matter?
Director Fury, do you consider it a small matter for the U.S. to send people to infiltrate our country and steal confidential technology?"
Ron chuckled, his words implying a question, and his playful gaze exerted heavy pressure.
Nick Fury's expression did not change, but his body under the leather jacket tensed up. He had not forgotten Ron's display of power, on par with a god, not long ago.
"King Ron may have misunderstood. The person apprehended by your country was sent by the U.S. to conduct preliminary surveys in preparation for exchanges between our two nations."
"As for carrying a gun… in our country, carrying a gun on the street is a very reasonable thing."