Chapter 106: Divine Skill Evolution! The Rainbow Halo Shreds the Night Sky
"Want to see who has more weapons? Want to see whose attacks are more concentrated?"
"Then take a look at my new move!"
Arthas released his right hand from the hilt, letting the holy sword float by his side.
Then, he held his hands opposite each other in front of his chest, palms facing up, as the divine power within his body began to surge frantically.
Buzz—
Accompanied by a sharp hum of energy.
Two golden light wheels instantly formed in his palms; it was his self-created signature skill—the Ultra Slash.
But this was only the beginning. Arthas did not throw them; instead, he continued to pour divine power into them.
"Get... bigger! Get stronger!"
The golden light wheels began to expand rapidly.
The serrated edges spun at an extreme speed, emitting a tooth-aching grinding sound.
The color of the light wheels also began to change from pure gold to something deep and heavy.
"Super Ultra Slash!"
By now, the light wheels were as large as two adults, and the energy fluctuations they emitted even distorted the surrounding space.
"Still not enough!"
Arthas let out a low growl, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Arthas began to cast the magic he had learned, pouring all his strength into the light wheels in his hands in one go.
A miracle occurred.
The originally golden light wheels suddenly began to undergo a qualitative change.
Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple...
Seven colors of light flashed alternately on the wheels before finally merging perfectly together.
They formed a magnificent, yet destructive, giant rainbow-colored light wheel.
It was no longer a simple condensation of divine power, but an ultimate divine weapon containing multiple types of magic.
"Trinitium Light Wheel!"
At this moment, Hela's rain of night sky swords was already closing in.
"Go!"
Arthas thrust his hands forward violently.
The massive Rainbow Light Wheel shot out instantly.
In mid-air, it split from one into two, two into four, four into eight...
Instantly, it transformed into countless small Rainbow Light Wheels, meeting the sky-covering rain of black swords.
Zizizi—
A scalp-numbing cutting sound echoed throughout the Underworld.
Wherever the Trinitium Light Wheels passed.
Those indestructible night sky swords were like paper, easily cut, crushed, and annihilated.
Rainbow light and black fragments intertwined, forming a brilliant yet cruel rain of fireworks.
In just an instant.
The "Night Sky Domain" that Hela was so proud of was torn open with a massive hole.
The Rainbow Light Wheels continued unabated, charging straight toward Hela herself with unstoppable momentum.
Hela's expression changed drastically.
She had never seen such a bizarre and powerful energy.
It wasn't just light; it contained too many things she didn't understand.
She was forced to abandon her offensive.
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she summoned several thick black shields for defense.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The light wheels slammed into the shields, exploding into bursts of dazzling sparks.
Although she blocked the attack, Hela was knocked back repeatedly by the immense impact.
Her feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground.
Just then.
The entire ground of the Kingdom of the Dead began to shake violently.
It was as if a magnitude ten earthquake had occurred.
A malevolent aura, even more violent and savage than Hela's, erupted from deep underground.
Awoooo—!!!
A deafening wolf howl rang out, the sound waves rolling so strongly they even dispersed some of the light wheels in the air.
Immediately after.
The ground behind Hela suddenly exploded.
A giant beast as massive as a mountain burst forth from the earth.
It was pitch black all over, with fur standing up like steel needles. Its bloody maw was filled with dagger-like fangs, and its eyes flickered with a sinister green light.
It was the legendary World-Ending Demon Wolf—Fenrir.
It felt the soaring battle intent of its Master, Hela, and also sensed the threat of the powerful enemy, Arthas.
So it woke up, to protect its Master and to tear all enemies to shreds.
Seeing Fenrir appear, the solemnity on Hela's face was replaced once again by an arrogant smile.
She leaped up and landed lightly on Fenrir's broad back.
With this giant beast as her mount, her aura instantly climbed to a new height.
That sense of pressure from the union of woman and wolf was enough to make any opponent feel despair.
"Well done, my darling."
Hela stroked Fenrir's fur.
The night sky sword in her hand condensed once more, becoming even larger and sharper.
Arthas looked at the pair.
Instead of being afraid, he grew even more excited.
He let out a whistle.
"Yo, a little doggy?"
"Looks pretty impressive."
"However..."
"When it comes to mounts, I've never been afraid of anyone."
He snapped his fingers.
His right hand traced a circle at his side, golden sparks dancing at his fingertips.
A massive circular Portal appeared out of thin air.
On the other side of the gate were the crystal blue skies of Asgard and the soft white clouds of the Cloud Pasture.
"Come out!"
"My Golden Dawn!"
"Aurelian!"
Arthas shouted.
Neigh—!!!
A clear, high-pitched neigh echoed from the Portal.
Immediately after.
A streak of white light rushed out.
It was a pegasus, snow-white all over without a single stray hair.
It had strong, powerful limbs and wide, pure white feathered wings.
The tuft of golden hair on its forehead was as dazzling as a crown.
It was the mutated little Pegasus King that Arthas had tamed back in the Cloud Pasture—Aurelian.
As soon as Aurelian came out.
He felt the death energy around him that made him extremely uncomfortable, as well as the foul-smelling giant wolf opposite him.
As the proud Pegasus King, he did not shrink back; instead, his ferocity was piqued.
He circled once in the air, scattering bits of holy radiance.
Then he landed steadily beside Arthas, lowering his noble head and nuzzling Arthas's shoulder with his large head.
It was as if he were saying: "Boss, leave this filthy thing to me."
"Good partner."
Arthas patted his neck, flipped himself onto the horse's back, and raised the Excalibur high.
"Then let us give this big sister..."
"A lesson!"
"Take off!"
Aurelian flapped his wings, carrying Arthas into the sky.
They turned into a bolt of gold and white lightning, drawing a magnificent trail across the gray sky of the Underworld.
Hela looked at Arthas in the air, the battle intent in her eyes burning to the extreme.
"Fenrir!"
"Tear them apart!"
She pointed her sword. The giant wolf beneath her let out a roar, its hind legs exerting sudden force.
That massive body actually shot up like a cannonball.
Opening its bloody maw, it lunged toward Aurelian in the air.
"Want to bite me?"
"In your dreams!"
Arthas pulled the reins.
Aurelian performed an extremely agile side roll in the air.
He barely avoided Fenrir's pounce.
Chapter 107: Pegasus vs. Demon Wolf Fenrir
Meanwhile, Arthas swung the holy sword in his hand, and a golden sword qi slashed fiercely onto Fenrir's flank.
Although it only left a white mark on its tough fur, it was enough to make the giant beast feel pain and rage.
After Fenrir landed, it did not stop.
It sprinted across the ground, leaping continuously using the rocks and terrain, trying to close the distance to the sky once more.
Hela stood on the wolf's back, and the night sky sword in her hand kept flying out, chasing Arthas like homing missiles.
"Radiance: Light Shield!"
With a wave of his left hand, Arthas conjured a golden light shield behind him, deflecting all the flying swords.
"Trinitium Light Wheel: Rapid Fire!"
Countless small, multi-colored light wheels appeared once more, strafing Hela and Fenrir on the ground like a machine gun.
For a moment.
Sky and ground.
Light and dark.
Pegasus and Demon Wolf.
A thrilling three-dimensional chase unfolded in this desolate underworld.
Explosions, neighs, and roars rose and fell one after another; the entire Kingdom of the Dead was being turned upside down by this battle.
Although Fenrir was massive and possessed terrifying strength, it was clearly inferior to Aurelian in terms of agility, constantly being "kited" by Arthas using his aerial advantage, making it roar in frustration but unable to do anything.
While Hela's attacks were sharp, she had to remain vigilant and divert part of her energy to defense when facing a divine technique like the "Trinitium Light Wheel," which had cutting power strong enough to ignore defenses.
"You coward!"
Hela was furious.
"If you've got the guts, come down and fight me face-to-face!"
Standing on the wolf's head, she pointed at Arthas in the sky and cursed.
Gone was her previous image of a cold and aloof queen; she looked more like a cranky older sister infuriated by her younger brother.
Arthas laughed heartily in the sky.
"This is called tactics!"
"Can't take it already?"
"We're just getting warmed up!"
Instead of descending, he flew even higher, the light of the holy sword in his hand growing brighter as if he were brewing the next wave of an even fiercer offensive.
Hela gritted her teeth in anger, but the spark of excitement in her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
It had been thousands of years.
Finally, someone could give her such a satisfying fight; finally, someone could push her to this extent.
This feeling...
Is truly wonderful!
"Fine!"
"If you want to play, I'll play with you until the end!"
The Death Qi on Hela's body erupted once again.
This time, she seemed prepared to use some even more forbidden power.
Fenrir also seemed to sense its Master's resolve.
It stopped roaring and crouched on the ground, its body tensed, and its muscles bulging as if inflated.
It was clearly gathering strength, preparing to launch a fatal blow.
Seeing this, Arthas also put away his playful grin and gently patted Aurelian.
"Buddy, be careful."
"That crazy woman is about to lose it."
Man and horse hovered in mid-air, ready for anything.
Above the underworld, the atmosphere was oppressive to the extreme.
Standing on Fenrir's back, Hela looked at the figure in the sky who was still moving with ease, and the battle intent in her eyes gradually transformed into a resolute madness.
She knew that conventional means could no longer defeat this opponent who possessed strange multi-colored light wheels and a spatial mount.
"Very well... you are truly very good."
Hela murmured softly, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.
She slowly raised both hands, palms upward, as if to hold up the entire sky.
The Death Power within her, which had been dormant for thousands of years, was squeezed out completely and without reservation at this moment.
*Rumble...*
The entire Kingdom of the Dead began to vibrate violently, as if the end of the world were imminent.
Countless black energies converged from all directions, condensing into a massive black vortex above Hela's head.
Immediately after, the tip of an ultra-giant night sky sword, over several hundred meters in size, slowly emerged from the vortex.
It was not just a sword, but the culmination of all Hela's power, all her resentment, and all her pride.
Thick black Death Qi swirled around the blade, and even space was sliced into tiny cracks by its sharpness.
"This is my final strike."
Hela looked at Arthas, a mournful smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"If you can withstand it, you win."
"If not, then die here!"
Arthas looked at the giant sword that blotted out the sun, feeling the terrifying power contained within it.
The playful look on his face finally vanished completely.
He took a deep breath and patted Aurelian's neck, signaling it to stay steady.
"An attack of this level... I'm afraid the Trinitium Light Wheel alone won't be enough to block it."
"The Cross Ray... isn't enough either."
"It seems I can only use that move."
He slowly put away the Excalibur, hanging it back at his waist.
Then he crossed his hands in front of him, striking an extremely unique starting pose.
*Buzz—*
With his movements, golden magic runes appeared out of thin air around his arms.
Those were high-level Space Magic runes from Kamar-Taj.
Immediately after, dazzling Divine Power of Light began to pour frantically into these runes.
Light and space, two completely different powers, began to merge and compress under his control.
His arms began to emit a piercing hum, and the surrounding space started to warp and collapse, unable to withstand this energy.
"Let me show you, in my normal state..."
"...my true ultimate move!"
"Go! Annihilate everything!"
Hela swung both hands downward violently.
The massive night sky sword, carrying an aura that could destroy heaven and earth, slashed down toward Arthas's head.
Everywhere it passed, even the air was completely crushed, forming a vacuum-like path of death.
Fenrir also cooperated by letting out a roar, spitting a green Nether Breath from its mouth, adding a touch of corrosive toxicity to the giant sword.
At the very moment the giant sword was about to consume Arthas...
...Arthas's eyes suddenly burst with two beams of golden light.
He formed a cross with his hands, his right arm vertical and his left arm horizontal beneath the right elbow; the power accumulated in his body for a long time instantly found its outlet.
"Specium Ray!!!"
A roar that shook the heavens.
A brilliantly white-blue beam of light erupted from the outer side of his right arm.
This beam was not thick, but it contained a suffocating energy density.
It was not just a stream of high-temperature light particles; it also integrated the characteristics of spatial cutting and folding.
*Sizzle—Boom!!!*
The blue-white beam and the black night sky swordcollided violently in mid-air.
There was no stalemate as one might have imagined.
That beam of light was like a red-hot knife cutting through butter.
Carrying an unstoppable dominance, it frantically consumed and disintegrated the massive black sword.
"What?!"
Hela's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.
She could clearly feel her power being rapidly dissolved by that strange beam of light.
That feeling was like darkness meeting a blazing sun, or ice and snow meeting boiling water.
There was simply no room for resistance.
"No... this is impossible!"
She desperately channeled her divine power, trying to maintain the giant sword's form.
But the blue-white beam was like a hot knife through bamboo, pushing against the pressure of the giant sword and closing in on her inch by inch.
Chapter 108: The Ultimate Beam Struggle!
"Break for me...!!!"
Arthas increased his output power once more. The Spatial Runes on his arms glowed to the extreme, even beginning to shatter.
"BOOM——!!!"
An earth-shattering explosion rang out.
The hundred-meter-long night sky sword finally could not hold on any longer, completely shattering into a sky full of black points of light.
Meanwhile, the blue-and-white Specium Ray continued with undiminished momentum, slamming directly into Helaand Fenrir.
"Ah!!"
Hela felt an irresistible, massive force strike her. She and Fenrir were sent flying together by this terrifying energy.
The person and the wolf traced a long parabola in the air, crashing heavily into the ground several hundred meters away.
Bang!
The ground instantly collapsed, forming a massive crater. Dust and rubble filled the air, completely submerging their figures.
The battlefield fell silent in an instant, leaving only the sound of Arthas's slightly hurried breathing.
He shook his somewhat numb arms and looked at the massive crater, a satisfied smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"Phew... looks like the effect was pretty good."
He patted Aurelian beneath him.
"Let's go down and take a look."
Aurelian let out a cheerful neigh and flapped its wings, carrying Arthas as it slowly descended to the edge of the crater.
Arthas flipped off the mount and walked to the edge of the pit to look down.
He saw Fenrir lying at the bottom of the pit covered in blood, its tough fur mostly scorched away.
Hela lay across Fenrir's belly, her already tattered bodysuit now even more torn.
Though she looked incredibly wretched, her aura was still there; she wasn't in any life-threatening danger.
She was the Goddess of Death, after all; she was quite resilient.
"Whimper..."
Seeing Arthas approach,
The heavily injured Fenrir actually struggled to crawl up, baring its teeth and letting out a threatening low growl from its throat.
It tried to use its broken body to shield its Master, its eerie green eyes filled with ferocity and loyalty.
"My, what a loyal dog."
Arthas commented with a sigh.
But the movements of his hands weren't hesitant at all.
He unfastened the sheathed Excalibur from his waist, gripping it like a club.
Walking up to Fenrir, he raised his hand for a dose of 'Physical Hypnosis.'
Bonk!
A dull thud sounded.
The scabbard slammed heavily onto Fenrir's forehead.
Fenrir's massive wolf head wobbled, the fierce light in its eyes instantly scattering and turning into dizzy swirls.
Then with a 'thud,' it slumped back onto the ground, completely passed out, even with half its tongue lolling out.
"Little doggy, just stay quiet."
"I'm not going to hurt her."
Arthas put away the sword and clapped his hands, as if scolding a disobedient pet.
Having dealt with the 'watchdog,'
Arthas finally turned his gaze toward Hela, who was lying on the ground.
Hela was also looking at him now. The previous madness and killing intent in her eyes were gone, replaced by a deep exhaustion and... relief?
She lay on the ground, her chest heaving violently. She watched Arthas approach step by step without making any move to resist.
"You are truly powerful."
Hela suddenly spoke, her voice raspy and tinged with self-deprecation.
"I didn't expect that after being away for thousands of years, such a monster would appear outside."
"This kind of light beam fused with spatial laws... cough, cough..."
She coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
"But if this were in Asgard, where I could draw upon Asgard's power,"
"You would absolutely not be my match."
Arthas raised an eyebrow.
Instead of being angry, he found it somewhat amusing.
Even in this state, she was still so stubborn?
As expected of Old Odin's bloodline; this habit of being stubborn even in the face of death was truly inherited.
He crouched down, his line of sight level with Hela's.
"Is that so?"
"Actually..."
"I didn't use my full strength either."
"After all, I haven't even activated 'God-King Mode' yet, let alone used that... cough, never mind."
"Anyway, that was just my normal output."
Hela: "..."
Arthas: "..."
The two of them just stared at each other, neither willing to admit the other was stronger.
The air was filled with a strange awkwardness and... childishness?
It was like two children arguing over whose toy was better.
Except these two 'children' had just finished a fight that could destroy the world.
They stared for a while.
Hela seemed tired, or perhaps she felt there was no point in continuing the argument.
She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side, exposing her pale neck.
She looked like she was offering her neck for the slaughter.
"Do it."
Her tone became calm and indifferent.
"That bastard Odin must have sent you to kill me."
"He finally couldn't hold back anymore."
"Is he afraid I'll break the seal and take revenge? Or afraid I'll steal his throne?"
Hela let out a cold laugh.
"I knew it."
"He would eventually find the heart to kill me."
"That hypocritical old thing."
"From the moment he sealed me away, I knew this day would come."
"Come on, do it."
"Give me a quick end."
"Dying at the hands of a powerhouse like you is better than rotting in this hellhole."
Looking at Hela's state of utter despair and longing for death,
The last bit of Arthas's competitive spirit completely dissipated, replaced by a faint sense of pity.
This Goddess of Death who once dominated the Nine Realms,
Was now like an abandoned child, covered in thorns yet yearning for release.
Thousands of years of loneliness and hatred had already blinded her to the truth.
Arthas sighed and reached out his hand.
He didn't reach for his sword, nor did he condense divine power.
Instead, he placed it gently on Hela's hair, which was covered in dust and blood.
He gave it a rub.
The movement was as gentle as soothing an injured kitten.
Hela's body suddenly stiffened. She snapped her eyes open and looked at Arthas in shock.
This gesture...
It was too intimate, too bizarre.
Not only was there no killing intent, but it carried a sense of... doting?
Is this guy crazy?
Or does he want to humiliate her before killing her?
"I'm not here to kill you."
Arthas looked into her eyes. His amber eyes were full of sincerity and warmth, a light Hela hadn't seen in thousands of years.
"I'm here to take you home."
"Sister."
Once these words were spoken,
The entire world seemed to stand still.
Hela's eyes, which were originally full of deathly stillness and wariness, instantly widened.
Her pupils contracted violently, her mind went blank, and she even forgot to breathe.
What did she just hear?
Home?
And that form of address...
"Huh?"
Hela opened her mouth.
She let out a ridiculous single syllable that was completely unbecoming of her status as the Goddess of Death.
She stared blankly at Arthas.
She looked at this man who had just beaten her half to death, who possessed terrifying strength, yet who was now smiling like an idiot.
It was as if countless question marks were circling in her head.
"Sis... Sister?"
She repeated the word with difficulty.
Her tone was full of absurdity, confusion, and a hint of... being at a loss.
When did Odin have another son? And such a strong one at that?
And he's calling her sister? Saying he's taking her home?
Is this some new type of torture? Or a hallucination from being beaten silly?
Seeing her dazed and cute expression, Arthas couldn't help but smile even more brightly.
"Yes, Sister."
"I am Huwen Odinson."
"Though not related by blood, I am your brother in name."
"The Old Man didn't have the face to come see you himself."
"So I came in his place."
"How was it? Are you satisfied with that meeting gift just now?"
Hela remained in that state of mental crash.
Lying on the ground, she stared at Arthas's smiling face.
Chapter 109: The Shameless Younger Brother and the Tsundere Older Sister
"Ugh..."
A low, somewhat confused whimper emanated from the nearby pit.
Fenrir, the World-Ending Demon Wolf that Arthas had just knocked unconscious with a blunt blow, was currently swaying as it lifted its massive head.
Its pair of eerie green eyes, which had previously been full of murderous intent, were now struggling to focus; clearly, the aftereffects of that 'physical hypnosis' had not yet fully passed.
It shook its head, and the dizziness lessened slightly.
Immediately after, the instincts and memories belonging to a demon wolf flooded back.
It suddenly remembered what had just happened—its Master had been blasted away, and it had been knocked out by that hateful, glittering golden fellow!
"Awoo—"
Fenrir opened its bloody maw filled with fangs, preparing to let out an angry roar that would shake the underworld to intimidate the reckless intruder.
However, its voice had only just begun to brew in its throat when it was abruptly cut off, as if by an invisible giant hand.
Because it saw a pair of eyes.
A pair of amber eyes that were smiling, yet faintly exuded an aura of absolute suppression.
Arthas was looking at it with a half-smile, unconsciously tossing and playing with the now-sheathed Excalibur in his hand.
The 'thwack, thwack' sound of the scabbard hitting his palm sounded particularly crisp in the silent Kingdom of the Dead.
Fenrir's massive body suddenly trembled.
The painful memory of that previous strike instantly flashed through its not-so-bright brain.
That soul-piercing pain made even this divine beast, which had lived for thousands of years, unable to stop itself from shivering.
It glanced at Arthas, then at the sword in Arthas's hand.
The unuttered roar in its throat instantly turned into a string of aggrieved 'ying ying ying' whimpers.
It immediately buried its head, which hadn't even fully lifted, back into the dirt, even covering its ears with its two front paws.
That appearance looked exactly like a Husky caught doing something wrong by its owner.
There wasn't a single shred of the majesty of the 'Bringer of Ragnarok' left.
"What are you doing?"
A cold voice suddenly rang out, breaking the somewhat comical atmosphere.
Hela had already recovered from her previous shock and daze.
She stood up and patted her tattered battle suit, though no matter how she patted, she couldn't remove the dust and bloodstains.
She glared fiercely at Arthas, then looked at Fenrir, who had shrunk into a ball of cowardice.
Her tone carried a hint of annoyance and protectiveness.
"Don't bully my dog."
"He might be a bit stupid, but he's also my only companion."
Hela turned around, her back to Arthas.
Her figure still looked upright, exuding a stubbornness that refused to bow.
But her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed her far from calm inner state.
"I don't care who you are."
"And I don't care what those crazy things you just said mean."
"If you're going to kill me, do it quickly."
"Didn't Odin send you here just to pull out the roots?"
"Stop acting so hypocritically here; I feel tired just watching you."
Seeing no movement behind her—neither the sound of an attack through the air nor the sound of footsteps leaving—
Hela bit her lip and suddenly turned her head.
"If you're not going to kill me, then get lost!"
"This is the Kingdom of the Dead; it doesn't welcome a fellow like you who is covered in light."
"Go back to your Asgard!"
"Go back to that old man's side!"
She pointed at the distant spatial rift that hadn't yet fully closed and roared loudly.
Her voice echoed across the empty wasteland, carrying a sense of hysterical venting.
After shouting, Hela didn't give Arthas a second glance.
She turned directly and walked toward the depths of the wasteland.
"Fenrir, let's go."
She called out.
The giant wolf buried in the dirt heard its Master's call and only then dared to poke its head out.
It glanced cautiously at Arthas, and seeing that he made no move, it tucked its tail and scurried to Hela's side.
One person and one wolf walked limping into the darkness; their backs looked indescribably bleak and lonely.
However, they hadn't walked more than a few steps.
Hela felt something was wrong.
From behind came a steady pace of footsteps and the crisp sound of hooves treading on the ground.
She stopped abruptly and looked back.
She saw Arthas riding the white Pegasus, Aurelian, following not far behind her with a grin.
He maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
He even held an apple he'd pulled out from who-knows-where, munching on it with great relish.
"Crunch, crunch."
The crisp chewing sound was particularly grating in the silent Kingdom of the Dead.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Hela finally couldn't take it anymore, the veins on her forehead throbbing.
"Do you not understand human speech?"
"I told you to get lost!"
"Are you deaf or stupid?"
"What are you doing following me? Are you watching me for a laugh?"
She felt like her thousands of years of cultivation were about to be worn away by this rogue.
She had never seen someone who wouldn't leave after a fight and insisted on clinging to others.
Facing Hela's roar.
Arthas not only didn't get angry but instead laughed even more happily.
He swallowed the apple in his mouth and shrugged.
"Sister, is this how you treat a guest?"
"Besides, did you build this road?"
"This Kingdom of the Dead is so big, I can walk wherever I want."
"It just so happens I want to go this way too; it's on the way."
He spoke with an innocent face, looking completely like 'what can you do about it'.
This infuriated Hela.
On the way?
This ghostly place has nothing but dead people and bones; what kind of 'on the way' could you possibly have?
"Then kill me now!"
Hela simply gave up, spreading her arms and puffing out her chest.
"Come on!"
"I don't want to live anyway."
"Rather than being followed by you in such a disgusting way, I'd rather die a quick death!"
She closed her eyes, looking like she was ready to embrace death.
She waited for a long time.
The expected attack did not arrive.
Only that annoying 'crunch' sound continued.
Hela opened her eyes.
She found Arthas still sitting on the horse, having switched to a new apple, continuing to look at her with a grin.
He just wouldn't speak, nor would he move.
That look was like he was watching a child throwing a tantrum.
Full of tolerance and... teasing.
"You..."
The hand Hela used to point at Arthas was trembling.
She found she had absolutely no way to deal with this guy.
She couldn't beat him, and she couldn't drive him away.
She told him to kill her, but he wouldn't.
He was a complete and utter rogue!
"Fine."
"Follow me if you like."
"I'll see how long you can keep following!"
Hela snorted coldly and turned to continue walking.
This time, her pace quickened significantly, clearly wanting to lose this tail.
And so.
An extremely bizarre scene appeared on the wasteland of the Kingdom of the Dead.
In front was a tattered, down-and-out goddess radiating a low-pressure aura, leading a giant wolf with its tail tucked between its legs as they hurried along.
Not far behind was a handsome young man riding a holy Pegasus, glowing with golden light and holding snacks, following leisurely.
Two people, one wolf, and one horse thus crossed more than half of the Kingdom of the Dead.
Along the way, those spirits who originally wanted to come out and cause trouble felt the terrifying aura emitted by this strange group and fled as far as they could, not daring to approach at all.
Chapter 110: A Truly Fragrant Picnic in the Kingdom of the Dead
They walked for about half an hour.
A massive palace, constructed from piles of black rock, appeared in their line of sight.
This was Hela's residence in the Underworld—the Great Hall of the Dead.
To call it a palace was a stretch; it was more like a giant tomb, filled with ruins and devoid of any life.
Only some unknown bioluminescent moss emitted a faint green glow on the walls, barely illuminating the surroundings.
Compared to the magnificent Golden Palace of Asgard, this place was practically a slum within a slum.
Hela walked to the entrance of the hall and looked back at Arthas, who was still following behind. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she ultimately held back.
With a cold face, she led Fenrir inside.
BANG!
The rickety-looking gate was slammed shut by her, locking Arthas and Aurelian outside.
She was clearly using this method to express her protest.
Arthas looked at the closed gate, rubbed his nose, and smiled.
He didn't force his way in, even though that door was no different from paper to him.
He chose to be respectful instead.
After all, he could guess that Hela had gone inside to heal her wounds.
A girl tending to her injuries was indeed something one shouldn't peek at.
"Let's just wait here for a bit."
He patted Aurelian, dismounted, found a relatively clean large rock, and sat down.
Aurelian also obediently folded its wings and lay down beside him, curiously observing this eerie palace.
Inside the hall.
Hela slid down against a stone pillar and sat on the ground. She clutched her chest and coughed violently a few times.
Although that 'Specium Ray' strike just now hadn't taken her life, it had indeed damaged her essence.
She mobilized the remaining divine power in her body and began to repair her damaged form. Black mist swirled around her as her wounds started to heal slowly.
But her mind couldn't settle down at all; her ears couldn't help but listen for any movement outside.
Did that guy leave?
Or is he really still waiting outside?
She didn't know how much time had passed—maybe an hour, maybe two.
The sky outside remained an unchanging, dull grey.
Hela's injuries had mostly recovered. She stood up and tidied her messy hair.
After a moment of hesitation, she walked to the main gate and looked out through a crack in the door.
She saw that the guy hadn't left; instead, he was... setting up a stall?
Arthas had somehow produced an exquisite picnic cloth and spread it over that large rock.
It was covered with all sorts of mouth-watering delicacies.
Golden, crispy roasted chicken, tender and juicy steaks, a fruit platter radiating an inviting aroma, and several bottles of finely packaged Asgardian vintage wine.
There was even a plate of meat bones from some unknown animal placed in front of Aurelian, and the Pegasus was eating happily.
"This..."
Hela was stunned.
She subconsciously swallowed her saliva.
It had been thousands of years.
Ever since being imprisoned in this hellhole, she hadn't eaten normal food once.
There was only rotting meat and moldy water here.
As a god, she could survive without eating.
But the craving for delicious food was an instinct carved into her bones.
Especially that aroma of roasted chicken wafting in—it was practically challenging the limits of her endurance.
Gurgle...
Just then.
An untimely sound came from the shadows behind her.
Fenrir was lying there, his front paws scratching the ground, his eyes fixed intently on the gap in the door.
His saliva was already dripping all over the floor.
He might be a Demon Wolf, but he was also a little doggy!
The scent of those meat bones was a fatal temptation for him.
He looked at his Master and let out an extremely humble whimper.
As if saying: 'Boss, I want to eat...'
Hela glared at him.
"Have some dignity!"
But her own stomach also let out a traitorous growl.
Though the sound was small, it was still clearly audible in such a quiet environment.
Hela's face instantly turned red.
Although it couldn't be seen in the dim light,
the sense of shame made her want to find a hole to crawl into.
Creak—
Just then.
The door was pushed open from the outside.
Arthas stood at the entrance with a smile, holding a chicken leg he had just torn off.
"Oh, Sister, you're better?"
"Perfect timing, I just set this up and haven't touched it yet."
"Want to come join me for a bite?"
"I specifically brought this from Asgard. It's the work of the Golden Palace's royal chefs; the taste is absolutely authentic."
Hela originally wanted to refuse, wanting to maintain her cold and aloof image, wanting to say 'I do not eat food offered in pity.'
But...
That chicken leg was waving right under her nose, and that rich meaty aroma was drilling straight into her nostrils.
Her body was more honest than her brain; her feet had already moved forward a step uncontrollably.
"Hey."
Hela turned her head away, trying her best not to look at the chicken leg, but her eyes couldn't help but glance that way. Her voice was stiff and carried a hint of unnaturalness.
"Give me something to eat."
After saying this, she felt like her face was about to burn up.
The dignified Goddess of Death, actually begging someone for food.
This was simply a humiliation of the highest order!
But... it really smells so good!
Arthas didn't mock her; instead, as if he had expected it all along, the smile on his face grew even brighter.
"You got it!"
He immediately handed over the chicken leg and even thoughtfully took out a clean handkerchief for her to wipe her hands.
"Come, come, sit down and eat."
"There's wine here too, from the Old Man's private collection."
"Fenrir has a portion too, I've prepared everything."
He threw a plate of giant meat bones to the already impatient Fenrir.
Fenrir let out a cheer, 'Awoo!', and pounced on them, gnawing wildly, completely forgetting the strike he had received earlier.
Hela took the chicken leg, hesitated for a moment, and then took a bite.
In that instant, a long-lost delicious flavor exploded in her mouth.
It was the taste of home, the taste of Asgard from deep in her memories, before she was sealed away.
Hela's eyes turned slightly red. She lowered her head and began to eat in large bites.
Her eating manner wasn't exactly elegant, but it possessed a heartbreaking reality.
Arthas sat opposite her, poured himself a glass of wine, and drank slowly.
He didn't intentionally disturb her or ask questions; he just timely handed her another item whenever Hela finished one.
When Hela had mostly finished and her speed slowed down, he finally spoke up as if making small talk.
"Sister, all these years..."
"How have you been?"
"Was it very boring?"
"Asgard has changed quite a bit now."
"The Old Man's beard has gotten whiter, but his temper is a bit better than before."
Hela didn't speak.
She kept her head down, eating the fruit in her hand, as if turning a deaf ear to Arthas's words.
But her chewing motion clearly slowed down, and her ears twitched slightly.
In this cold and silent Kingdom of the Dead,
Arthas's rambling voice was like a warm current,
slowly melting that iceberg that had been frozen for thousands of years.
Even though she didn't say it and didn't respond,
this meal was the most fragrant, filling, and warmest one she had eaten in these thousands of years.