Time passed quietly amidst the constant clashing of blades and the collision of divine powers.
Mavuika and Hela were like two trees of the divine realm growing side by side, their branches stretching toward the sky in constant competition.
In the ten years since their public sparring match at age seven, the sisters had held no fewer than a hundred formal matches; each began with Hela's challenge and ended with Mavuika's victory.
Hela's challenges never ceased.
From the initial monthly bouts to every half-month, then every ten days—she would even chase Mavuika to the Star-Gazing Platform to propose a match when she went there to cultivate.
Her silver-black armor fit her form better as she grew, and her dark green Death Divine Power shed its youthful arrogance, becoming as refined as a blade; every Shadow Blade she swung carried a sharp whistle that tore through the air, making her offense and defense increasingly balanced.
"I won't lose this time!" Seventeen-year-old Hela held her Dual Shadow Blades, her figure rushing toward Mavuika like a phantom, the dark green energy coiled around the blades tracing two eerie lights in the sun.
She was no longer in a hurry to attack blindly; instead, she used the footwork taught by Frigga, shifting and turning to find Mavuika's openings. Her Shadow Blades slashed and pierced, every move carrying the determination of someone Burning their bridges.
Mavuika wore gilded armor, her pale gold long hair tied in a high Horsetail, her amber eyes calm as Water.
In those ten years, her power had long since become incomparable to what it once was.
Now, even compared to her time as the Pyro Archon in Teyvat, she could be said to have made a further leap.
Asgard's golden divine power and Teyvat's Fire origin had completely merged. The gold-red Fire surging in her palms were like living things, capable of transforming into a gentle curtain of light or condensing into an indestructible Flame Spear.
Facing Hela's fierce assault, she neither dodged nor avoided it. Fire condensed into a translucent shield before her. When the Shadow Blade struck it, it only produced a crisp "clang," leaving not even a single crack.
"The strength is there, but the rhythm is off," Mavuika reminded her softly. With a flicker of her body, she appeared behind Hela. A long whip formed from gold-red Fire curled gently, entangling Hela's twin blades.
The temperature of the Fire was just right—neither Burning Hela nor allowing her to break free. "Today, you always wanted to suppress me with strength, but you forgot that strength must be combined with speed to achieve greater effect."
Hela grit her teeth and struggled, her dark green energy surging frantically in an attempt to cut the Fire whip. But the gold-red Fire was like maggots on a bone; no matter how much force she applied, she couldn't break free.
Finally, her strength failed her. She stumbled back a few steps, her twin blades dissipating into the air, her face full of resentment. "Why? I've clearly improved so much, yet I still can't beat you!"
Mavuika retracted the Fire, walked to her side, and handed her a potion to recover divine power. "You want to prove yourself too much, which makes your power restless."
She raised her hand, gold-red Fire dancing at her fingertips. "Just like this Fire, the more it rushes to Burning, the faster it extinguishes. Only by controlling it with composure can it endure and set the plains ablaze."
Hela took the potion and drank it down. A flash of frustration crossed her dark green eyes, but it was mostly stubbornness. "I'll adjust. Next time, next time I will definitely beat you!"
Scenes like this were repeated countless times over the ten years.
Hela never gave up. After every failure, she would double her training, learning more refined divine power control from Frigga and asking Odin for combat strategies.
Mavuika always remained a cut above, yet she never showed the slightest pride. After every match, she would patiently point out Hela's shortcomings and even deliberately reveal openings to guide Hela into finding her own combat rhythm.
Their bond grew deeper through these constant challenges and sparring matches.
Mavuika reached out to pull her up, relief and tenderness flashing in her amber eyes. "I believe you can do it."
...
In the year Mavuika and Hela turned eighteen, the Golden Palace held a grand coming-of-age ceremony for the two princesses.
Mavuika and Hela stood in the center of the Starry Sky Temple, receiving blessings from the envoys of the Nine Realms. Time had carved their infant features into the sharp lines of warriors and the majesty of deities.
Mavuika was draped in a gold-and-red Ceremonial Robe, her pale gold hair cascading over her shoulders like molten sunlight. On her forehead, she wore a Sun-Wheel Circlet personally bestowed by Odin.
Her temperament was as calm as a deep pool, but when those amber eyes looked toward the crowd, they always made the proudest warriors feel at ease and convinced.
Hela wore a Ceremonial Battle Dress of dark green and black. Her silver-black hair was tied in a high Horsetail, and a forehead chain adorned with Star-Stones sparkled in her hair.
She stood straight as a sword, her dark green pupils scanning the room with undisguised sharpness and a desire for conquest.
Odin held gungnir, his voice echoing through the temple like thunder: "Today, my daughters have officially come of age!"
"From now on, they will not only be princesses of Asgard but also Guardians and pioneers of the order of the Nine Realms."
After the ceremony, Odin summoned the sisters to the Strategy Hall.
A giant star map floated and rotated in the center of the hall, marking the spheres of influence and the front lines of conflict for every kingdom in the Nine Realms.
"The Nine Realms have been mired in war for too long." Odin's finger traced across the star map, points of light lighting up and extinguishing at his fingertips.
"The Frost Giants of Jotunheim occasionally harass the borders of Vanaheim and Midgard. The Fire Giants of Muspelheim cause disasters in the Kingdom of the Dwarves. The souls of Niflheim and Helheim also frequently travel between other Worlds, bringing fear and death to the people..."
Hearing her father, Odin, pull her and her sister aside to discuss these matters, Hela immediately understood what he meant to express.
Hela's eyes lit up with the light of a Hunter seeing prey. "So, are we finally going to conquer them, Father? Unify the Nine Realms under the banner of Asgard?"
"It's about establishing order, Hela," Mavuika corrected softly, her gaze lingering on the war-torn areas of the star map.
"Endless war only makes the World wither and civilizations crumble. What the Nine Realms need is a leader who can end the chaos, not another conqueror."
Odin looked at his eldest daughter, approval showing in his eyes. "Go on, Mavuika."
Mavuika walked to the star map, her finger tapping lightly. Points of light converged into a warm orange where she touched. "Asgard possesses power, but conquest should not be merely for glory and territory, but to bring true peace to the Nine Realms."
"Let all races coexist under order, let trade and knowledge flow again, and let mothers no longer have to weep for children who died in battle."
She turned to Odin, her gaze clear and firm. "I am willing to fight for such a peace, Father. But I hope that what we bring is peace, not fear. To stop war with war, and to protect life with power—this is the path Asgard should take."
Hela looked at her sister thoughtfully, rarely offering a rebuttal. After a long while, she spoke: "Then how do we achieve such 'peace,' Sister? By persuasion? Those giants don't understand gentle words."
"First, use power to make them listen," Mavuika replied calmly. "Then, use justice to make them believe. Conquest is only a means, not an end."
Odin laughed heartily, his laughter shaking the hall. "Hahaha! Well said, Mavuika!"
He slapped the star map heavily, and all the points of light lit up simultaneously. "Then from tomorrow, you will go on a campaign with me! Let the Nine Realms see the power of Asgard's new generation, and witness how you bring a new dawn to this starry sky!"
A sharp smile curled on Hela's lips, her battle intent condensing into an almost visible dark green vortex around her. "I can't wait."