Chapter 19: Combing Hair into Battle Form
"We have safely exited the Centaurus Cluster, Prince Lothar."
Inside the massive warship, a number of Chitauri soldiers lay sprawled in various disoriented positions. The forced activation of a spatial jump had left those who hadn't secured themselves flailing helplessly through the brief but violent transition. Even The Other was not exempt from the chaos.
"Where are we now, Woz?"
As the only man on the ship who had bothered to strap himself in, Lothar didn't spare a glance at his scattered subordinates. His expression remained cold as he directed Woz to provide their exact coordinates.
"Woz is scanning the planetary material for analysis…"
"Woz is scanning the planet's location…"
"Woz is determining coordinates…"
On the azure holographic display, streams of data flickered at high speed. However, before Woz could complete the analysis, the warship suddenly shuddered violently once more.
"Woz, what's happening?"
Lothar, switching the warship back to automated controls, braced himself by planting his tail against the floor to maintain balance, his voice icy and composed.
"We are under attack, Prince Lothar."
As Woz's emotionless voice echoed, the palm-sized screen in front of Lothar abruptly expanded into a massive display, spanning his entire field of vision.
And there, clad in Asgardian battle armor, stood an entire regiment of warriors.
"Woz is matching records…"
"Prince Lothar, these soldiers are from Asgard." Woz had identified them through the database Thanos had compiled, recognizing their armor design immediately.
"Asgard?"
Lothar frowned.
He had heard the name before—both from his adoptive father, Thanos, and his strategist, Ebony Maw. But his understanding of Asgard was limited to just that—its name.
Due to their vastly different spheres of influence, Thanos' forces had never engaged in direct conflict with Odin's Asgardian empire.
How had a single spatial jump landed him here?
"Yes, Your Highness. According to the database, the woman leading their formation is Hela, daughter of Odin, King of Asgard."
The display split in two, and a figure clad in a black battle suit dominated part of Lothar's vision.
BOOM!
Before Woz could finish his briefing, another tremor rocked the ship. This time, Lothar saw it clearly through the display—Hela was speaking, and as she did, the soldiers behind her hurled their weapons toward his fleet.
"Lady Hela, should we continue?"
On the plains below, the Asgardian soldiers, having just executed a warning strike, turned their questioning gazes toward the woman at the forefront.
"Pause for now, but stay alert. This fleet's silence is suspicious. It could very well be reinforcements summoned by the Jotuns."
Having just battled the Jotuns, Hela found the sudden arrival of this warship fleet highly suspicious—especially as its gun turrets were now aimed at her forces.
"Defensive stance."
At Hela's command, the Asgardian warriors raised their shields in unison.
A second later, the warning sirens of the warship blared, and a relentless barrage of fire erupted, sending shockwaves tearing through the battlefield. Hela's raven-black hair whipped wildly in the turbulence.
"So they finally respond?" Unfazed by the impending onslaught, Hela observed the opening hangar bay of the enemy warship with an intrigued gaze. Before this, her second-in-command had called out to them three times, receiving no reply.
"Who are you? Jotunheim? Or Alfheim?"
Without waiting for Hela's command, her lieutenant stepped forward, lowering his shield and barking his question at the emerging figure.
His answer came in the form of a spear hurled straight at him.
It was one of Asgard's own weapons—previously thrown at the warship and now returned with deadly intent, courtesy of The Other.
"Lothar. From Titan."
An immense energy surged from Lothar's hand, and his gaze, brimming with contempt, sent a chill down the spines of the Asgardian soldiers.
Every single weapon thrown by the Asgardians was now being returned in kind.
"Using my own weapons against my soldiers? Is this truly the extent of Thanos' son's abilities?"
Though Thanos' dominion never directly clashed with Asgard's, his name was well-known. Hela, Odin's sole heir, had seen numerous records about Thanos in Asgard's intelligence archives. Besides, Lothar's appearance was far too distinctive to be mistaken.
Silver armor. A crimson tail.
Even her father, Odin, had taken note of this young warrior.
With a mere wave of her hand, the storm of returning weapons vanished into nothingness.
"Should I take that as a challenge?" Lothar's voice was ice-cold, sending a shiver even through The Other.
"You may interpret it however you wish."
Hela's hands swept over her head, gathering her dark locks into a tight battle form. Her right hand extended, fingers wrapping around a weapon descending from the sky—a hammer.
"Hela, Executioner of Asgard, Daughter of Odin."
Wielding Mjolnir, Hela stepped forward, positioning herself at the vanguard of Asgard's army. Odin's intelligence made it clear—Thanos and his forces were formidable foes. And now, his son, leading an army, had arrived unannounced on the battlefield of Jotunheim. The implications were obvious.
"This is not a place you have any right to interfere with."
"Kneel now, and perhaps I will spare your lives."
Flexing the fingers of her left hand, Hela tilted her chin upward. In terms of strength, she had never known defeat. As Asgard's mightiest warrior, second only to Odin, she held absolute confidence in her power.
Lothar's response was an icy glare.
"The one who should kneel… is you."
In a flash, Lothar's form materialized beside Hela, launching a whip-like kick aimed at her waist—only to collide with solid metal.
A hammer?
"Is that so? I disagree."
Mjolnir had moved to defend its master on its own. A cruel smirk curled Hela's lips as a uniquely crafted dagger appeared in her free hand, thrusting straight for Lothar's right eye!
"Futile."
Lothar's voice was devoid of emotion. Twisting his body, he narrowly evaded the strike before lowering his stance and driving his fist into Hela's abdomen.
Even with Mjolnir's automatic protection, the sheer force sent Hela skidding backward!
"Not bad… but not nearly enough."
Clad in her black battle suit, Hela leapt from the dust cloud. In an instant, a barrage of weapons materialized behind her.
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