93

Hela's Concerns

Seeing the Earth and Stone Giant halted with one leg frozen, unable to move forward, Hela was momentarily stunned.

Forseti faintly heard the approaching troll voices, but he didn't dwell on it. He grabbed Hela's hand and they ran.

Hela, shaken from her thoughts, pulled her hand away.

Was it his imagination, or did Hela's hands seem... hesitant and shy?

Such expressions were rare for Hela. If real, this might be the first time Forseti had witnessed it.

Freed from the Earth and Stone Giant's pursuit, they quickly fled into the night and disappeared.

Minutes later, Mutehus and a group of trolls arrived in pursuit. Seeing the immobilized Earth and Stone Giant, Mutehus couldn't help but stop.

Mutehus's face darkened as he approached. When he noticed the holy light flickering at the giant's knee joint, his expression turned grimmer.

With his staff, he gestured at the giant's knee. The holy light, overwhelmed by some force, quickly faded, and the giant regained mobility.

The holy light dissipated, but Mutehus's grim expression only worsened. "Light's power? No, it can't be..."

Hermond remained bound by earth , carried by a troll.

He caught sight of the holy light on the giant's knee and Mutehus's dismayed expression. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Ha."

The troll holding him promptly punched him. "Shut it, Zerg!"

"Zerg" was the trolls' derogatory term for Aesir meaning insect in troll language, possibly due to the Aesir's smaller stature compared to theirs.

Hermond, nose bleeding, wrinkled his nose, snorted, and fell silent.

...

Meanwhile, Forseti and Hela, believing they had evaded their pursuers, stopped to rest.

Hela was visibly distressed. She sat on the ground, head bowed, silent, as though contemplating her choices in life.

After a while, she sighed deeply. "I made another wrong decision."

Forseti was taken aback, understanding the implications of her words. He offered reassurance, "Every decision carries risks. When risks materialize, we see it as a mistake. If they don't, it's considered a success."

"If we had deployed three squads, the trolls might have hesitated due to our numbers and refrained from attacking upon discovery. We might have had a safer journey, but we'd have forfeited the Hunt Day victory, making it seem like a loss."

He paused, continuing, "Hermond wields the divine power of speed. His escape skills surpass anyone's. I believe he'll be alright."

Hela seemed somewhat comforted and fell silent for a while. "Let's head to the rendezvous point and report about the trolls."

They set off immediately, making their way towards the nearest meeting point.

Walking in silence for about two hours, Hela suddenly spoke up. "Forseti, what kind of divine power do you desire most?"

Forseti was surprised, pondering before responding, "Certainly, the stronger, the better. For instance, the legendary power to manipulate time, or the ability to create something from nothing..."

"It's not mere legend; such powers do exist," Hela affirmed.

Forseti blinked.

Hela continued, "The **Book of the World Tree** records their existence. However, that's ancient history, predating even Auðumbla era."

Odumbra was Bully's mother and Odin's great-grandmother.

The Asgardian gods' history spans billions of years, but knowledge before Auðumbla is rare, known only to a select few. A universal catastrophe nearly wiped out the Asgardian legacy, causing this gap.

Hela sighed, "Which Aesir doesn't crave formidable divine power? Aesir without divine power are merely potent mortals. Unfortunately... I haven't unlocked my own divine power yet."

"Your Highness, you already possess considerable power," Forseti said.

"That's because you haven't witnessed second-tier or higher divine power," Hela explained. "Aesir warriors reliant on weapons, strength, and skill, no matter their might, cannot overcome those wielding second-tier or higher divine power."

Forseti fell silent, lost in thought.

In his understanding, divine power resembled an advanced version of abilities, similar to the five-level system in "X-Men." Divine power, however, was categorized into three tiers. Yet, the Allfather, blessed by all Asgard, surpasses even third-tier might.

Forseti estimated that in the "Thor" film series, Thor initially wielded first-tier divine power, evolving into second-tier during Ragnarok, enhancing his capabilities.

Even as a rookie, Thor was already a formidable combatant in Asgard, renowned for his bravery. Considering this, second-tier divine power truly wielded immense might.

After a pause, Forseti remarked, "Your Highness, if I may, you seem... troubled."

"You're correct," Hela admitted frankly. "I received a dire prophecy in the Cave of Time, and I've been haunted by it since."

"What prophecy?" Forseti ventured, sensing its gravity.

"About Ragnarok," Hela disclosed, her tone heavy with dread, clearly recalling something grim.

Forseti, too, felt a pang of concern.

Would Hela inevitably become the indiscriminate Goddess of Death? Or would Asgard meet its tragic end beneath Surtur's Twilight Sword?

The pair walked in silence for a long while.

Suddenly, Hela raised a hand, signaling to halt.

Forseti followed her gaze and spotted a leopard with fiery, glossy red fur under a nearby tree.

It lay motionless, its breath the only movement, seemingly asleep.

A Fire-Bathing Beast!

A slumbering Fire-Bathing Beast!

Forseti's eyes gleamed.

Needless to say, they approached cautiously, making no sudden moves.

Though not formidable, the Fire-Bathing Beast outran even Hermond. If awakened, it could vanish in an instant.

Carefully inching closer, they were within a meter.

In that moment, the Fire-Bathing Beast twitched its nose and ears, sensing their presence.

Forseti's eyes narrowed. Swiftly, he swung Verrigan's Fist, unleashing the Justice Hammer. Simultaneously, Hela's sword shot forth.

"Boom!"

Both hammer and sword struck where the Fire-Bathing Beast had been. They glanced around, but the beast had vanished, leaving them annoyed and disappointed.

Hermond captured, Pegasus lost, and now the elusive Fire-Bathing Beast slipped away.

Truly, a streak of misfortune.

"Are you searching for this little creature?" A smiling elderly voice interrupted them.