91

Mutehus

If it were any other group, facing more than a dozen charging trolls would be daunting, possibly insurmountable.

But this team included Hela, alongside Hermond and Forseti, who remained composed.

The trolls surged forward. Hela, stern-faced, floated in the air with her longsword. Before the trolls closed the distance, several fell to her swift strikes.

"It's Hela!"

As adversaries of Asgard, the trolls recognized Hela instantly. Their leader hesitated briefly but pressed on.

Clad in heavy armor, wielding a double-edged sword reminiscent of Thanos, and bearing a massive square shield, the troll leader approached, exuding a somewhat cosplay-like aura.

With a gesture from Hela, her longsword darted forward, striking the troll leader from behind.

The troll leader, agile and robust, spun around, deflecting Hela's blow with his shield. However, Hela's sword cleaved through most of the shield, stabbing deep into the leader's arm with a stifled grunt.

In retaliation, the leader lunged with his Thanos-shaped sword, roaring as he aimed for Hela.

Hela dodged swiftly, conjuring a dagger from thin air. She pivoted and thrust it into the leader's abdomen.

"Ah!" The leader cried out, recoiling and retreating.

Without pursuit, Hela swung her longsword once more. It gleamed dimly before accelerating and piercing the leader's large shield.

"Crack!"

The sword pierced through the shield and impaled the troll leader's chest, eliciting a spray of blood.

With a final cry, the troll leader collapsed.

Gasping and clutching his chest, the other trolls hesitated, exchanging fearful glances.

"So, it's Princess Hela of Asgard."

A deep voice resonated from the darkness—not in Troll or Asgardian, but in Allspeak.

Mastery of Allspeak required exceptional talent, time, and resources; in Asgard, only a select few mastered it. Among trolls, known for their lower intellect and brutish nature, it signified greatness.

The three—Hela, Hermond, and Forseti—grimaced upon hearing the Allspeak.

Emerging from the shadows was an elder troll with gray hair, Mutehus.

Unlike his kin, Mutehus was slender and small, akin to an Asgardian. He wore no armor, only a robe, and wielded a staff that doubled as a crutch.

The troll previously wounded by Hela almost wept with relief. "Lord Mutehus!"

Mutehus tapped his staff, and a turquoise light enveloped the wound, swiftly healing it.

"You, report back," Mutehus instructed.

"Yes!" The troll scrambled up and vanished into the forest's darkness.

"Mutehus... this is trouble," Hermond clenched his fists.

Forseti, though less familiar with Mutehus, recognized the name. Mutehus was undoubtedly the troll clan's mightiest.

"You must be Tyr's son," Mutehus remarked, eyeing Hermond. "You bear a striking resemblance to your father in his youth."

Hermond remained silent.

Mutehus turned to Forseti.

Forseti, ordinary among them, still wielded the shield of holy light. Its radiant glow stood out conspicuously.

"And who might you be? Your power resembles Balder's. Could you be his offspring?" Mutehus inquired, pointing at the luminous shield.

Forseti hesitated. "..."

Hela remained vigilant, her longsword at the ready. "I didn't expect the troll clan's archmage to appear here."

Mutehus chuckled. "I don't usually venture out... Recently, King Ulic's treasure vault was breached, causing significant turmoil. Several fire-breathing beasts escaped."

"We've traced clues to the Norn Forest. Princess Hela, have you encountered the perpetrator?"

King Ulic's treasure vault being breached suggested substantial unrest. Whoever dared pilfer from there must be formidable, given the vault's guarded status in the Nine Realms.

Forseti and Hermond exchanged surprised looks. Though trolls were less powerful than Asgardians and Frost Giants, Ulic's vault was no easy target without waging war against the troll kingdom.

"Never," Hela replied curtly.

Mutehus nodded. "In that case, accompany me to Troll King City until we find the true culprit."

Hostilities between Asgard and trolls had persisted with sporadic wars. Mutehus's proposal did not surprise Hela, Forseti, or Hermond.

Before Mutehus finished speaking, Hermond lunged, dagger aimed at his throat.

Mutehus's agility surprised Hermond, yet speed wasn't everything. While divine speed allowed him unmatched swiftness, it required a process to start and halt.

As Hermond had earlier lamented, if only all his actions matched his running speed, he would be the universe's greatest warrior.

Hermond's dagger neared Mutehus's throat but halted abruptly, as if meeting an invisible barrier.

"Your power surpasses even your father's," Mutehus sneered.

Instantly, he gestured, and earth and stone erupted from the ground, enveloping Hermond .

Hermond struggled but couldn't break free, falling to the ground with a surprised cry.

At that moment, Hela and Forseti unleashed their attacks.

"Boom!"

Forseti's Hammer of Judgment exploded upon impact, seemingly hitting an unseen wall, dispersing into holy light and flames.