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Chapter 726 - Chapter 726: Valkyrie

-Broadcast-

[While Hela was leading her undead army toward the Heimdall Sanctuary, the Commodore was still traveling through the wormhole, its hull shuddering with each pulse of cosmic energy that rippled through the dimensional passage.]

[After a thrilling flight filled with stomach-churning twists and reality-bending turns, they successfully flew out of the wormhole, the ship lurching forward as it broke free from the tunnel's gravitational pull.]

[Inside the spaceship, Banner, who had passed out under the immense pressure of the wormhole's gravitational forces, slowly woke up. His head throbbed as consciousness returned, followed moments later by Thor and Valkyrie, who both groaned as they regained their senses.]

They looked out the viewport and realized they had arrived in Asgard, flying upward from the bottom of the realm. The perspective was disorienting—everything was inverted from what they'd expected. It turned out that this wormhole was connected to the large dimensional gateway below Asgard, the one that had served as a back entrance to the realm for millennia.

After shaking off the disorientation, Valkyrie immediately took control of the spaceship's helm, her hands moving with practiced efficiency across the controls. She guided the vessel upward and arrived above the Rainbow Bridge, the legendary Bifrost stretching out before them like a crystalline pathway. In the distance, she could see the massive Asgard complex—the golden palace that had once been the jewel of the Nine Realms.

Valkyrie stared at the familiar scenery, her expression complex and haunted. Memories of her past life here, of battles fought and sisters lost, flickered across her features. "I never thought I would come back!" she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of centuries of self-imposed exile.

Banner stood up from his seat, still slightly unsteady, and walked to the front of the cockpit to observe the scenery of Asgard. But what he saw wasn't the golden paradise he'd imagined from Thor's stories. Instead, his eyes widened at the devastation below—the smoke of war covered the ground like a funeral shroud, flames licking at once-magnificent structures.

"I thought it was much more beautiful than this!" Banner said, his voice tinged with disappointment and concern. He quickly added, not wanting to offend, "I'm not saying it's not beautiful—it's just that this place looks more like a sea of fire than a golden realm!"

Valkyrie ignored Banner's nervous commentary, her attention focused entirely on the monitor before her. Her eyes scanned the readouts with military precision, her warrior instincts taking over.

"Look here!" she said sharply, pointing at the thermal display. "There's a heat signature in the mountains! People are gathering!" Her finger traced the movement on the screen, and her expression darkened. "Hela is heading towards them!"

Thor's eyes lit up as a plan formed in his mind. "Okay! Put me in the palace! I'll lure her away!"

Valkyrie's head snapped toward him, her brow furrowed in frustration. "And then die in vain?" she challenged, her tone making it clear she thought his plan was reckless at best, suicidal at worst.

Thor's expression grew serious, determined. "Those trapped in the bunker are the focus! While I deal with Hela, you lead the people to evacuate Asgard!" His voice carried the weight of command, of a prince who had finally learned what it meant to put his people first.

Banner looked between them, clearly confused about Thor's sudden confidence. "What makes you think we can do it?" he asked skeptically, remembering all too well how easily Hela had dispatched them before.

Thor replied calmly, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Someone's waiting for you down below!"

[In the Ancestral Fortress deep within the mountains, Heimdall stood at the entrance of the great hall, his all-seeing eyes glowing faintly as he tracked Hela's approach up the mountainside.]

"Everyone, pay attention!" his deep voice rang out through the stone chamber.

[After hearing his commanding voice, the originally noisy hall—filled with hundreds of frightened Asgardians whispering anxiously to one another—suddenly quieted down. Every person, from warriors to children, turned to look at him with a mixture of hope and fear in their eyes.]

Heimdall tilted his head slightly, his expression grave as he processed what his supernatural sight was showing him. "She's here!"

Although he had known that Hela would eventually find this place—it was inevitable given her connection to Asgard itself—Heimdall had never expected her to track them down so soon! They'd barely had time to gather everyone.

[Hela brought Skurge slowly to the gate of the Ancestral Fortress, her steps unhurried and confident. They stopped at the edge of a deep chasm that separated them from the fortress entrance—a natural defense that had protected this sanctuary for generations.]

But this didn't bother Hela in the slightest. She looked at the massive gate across the chasm, studying it for a moment before her lips curled up in a slight, predatory smile. To her, obstacles were merely opportunities to demonstrate her power.

"Oh! Looks like they're going to be in trouble!" 1st gen Spider-man said, his voice tight with worry as he watched the screen. "I wonder if Heimdall can handle Hela?"

His concern was palpable, his hands clasped together unconsciously. He'd seen what Hela could do, how effortlessly she'd dismantled Thor's defenses, and the thought of all those innocent people trapped with her bearing down on them made his chest tight with anxiety.

The first gen Gwen reached over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He'll definitely find a way! After all, his eyes can see the entire universe, so he'll definitely have a way out!" she said with more confidence than she felt, trying to ease his worries.

"I hope so!" Toby Spider replied, though his expression remained troubled. "This Hela is extremely powerful! Even in her weakened state, Thor is no match for her!"

Although 1st gen spiderman had not witnessed Thor's true strength with his own eyes in direct combat, his spider-sense—that preternatural awareness that had saved his life countless times—had been practically screaming whenever Thor was nearby. The power radiating from the God of Thunder was immense, almost overwhelming. His spider-sense told him that Thor was very strong, formidable in ways that went beyond mere physical prowess. If the two of them fought seriously, Toby Spider wasn't sure he could win even if he wore the Venom symbiote and used every trick in his arsenal.

But such a powerful Thor—a god who could summon lightning and had centuries of combat experience—had been easily defeated by a weakened Hela. That realization made Toby Spider's perspective shift dramatically. It made him truly understand that the universe was vast beyond imagination, and there were so many powerful beings out there, threats that could end worlds with a gesture. It was both humbling and terrifying.

-Broadcast-

[The scene changes to show Thor placing a massive energy cannon on the hull of the Commodore , securing it with heavy bolts and checking the power connections.]

"Now this spaceship has weapons!" Thor announced with satisfaction, giving the cannon a firm pat.

Valkyrie glanced at the turret, assessing its capabilities with a tactical eye, then nodded approvingly. "Leave it to me!"

Thor nodded in agreement. He held a piece of clothing tied with leather straps in his hand—carefully preserved despite the years—and waved it in front of Valkyrie with something almost gentle in his expression.

"I found this in the armory!" he said. "Good luck!"

Valkyrie fell silent, staring at the Valkyrie uniform he had placed before her. It was her old armor, the one she'd worn when she'd been part of that legendary sisterhood. Her hand reached out slowly, almost hesitantly, and she stroked the fabric gently, as if it might disappear at her touch. Memories flooded back—memories of flying in formation with her sisters, their battle cries echoing across the sky, the feeling of purpose and belonging she'd lost so long ago. She recalled the weight of the Dragon Tooth Sword in her hand, the exhilaration of battle, and the terrible day when Hela had slaughtered them all. She'd been the only survivor, and the guilt had haunted her ever since.

Seeing Thor turning around to leave, Valkyrie felt something stir in her chest—perhaps courage, perhaps the remnants of the warrior she'd once been. She couldn't help but call out to him before he disappeared. "Your Highness!"

[Thor stopped and turned to look at her, his expression questioning.]

Valkyrie met his eyes, and for once, there was no sarcasm or cynicism in her voice. "Come back alive! You know what I mean!"

Thor's expression softened, and he smiled warmly, genuinely touched by her concern. He nodded solemnly, a promise without words, and watched as the spaceship's engines flared to life and it lifted away from the palace, carrying his companions toward their mission.

Thor turned and entered the vast hall of the palace, his footsteps echoing in the emptiness. He looked at the throne in front of him—his father's throne, now abandoned. He noticed the gravel scattered under his feet, debris from Hela's violent remodeling of the realm. His eyes caught sight of the mural with his own head carved on it, one of Hela's mocking additions to the palace décor.

He looked up slowly and saw the true face of Asgard's history beneath the original exquisite mural that his father had commissioned. Hela had torn away the beautiful lies, revealing the violent conquest that had built this realm. The truth was harsh and unforgiving, but it was still the truth.

-Broadcast-

Hela didn't know that Thor had returned to Asgard. She stood on the cliff's edge, studying the gate of the ancestral fortress with casual interest. Then, with a slight gesture of her hand, she waved at the massive doors.

A large number of Night Sky Swords materialized from thin air and flew out in a dark swarm, shooting directly into the mountain wall on both sides of the gate. The black blades embedded themselves deep into the stone with sharp, ringing impacts. Within seconds, both sides of the gate were completely covered with Night Sky Swords, creating a lattice of dark metal against the ancient stone.

Hela grasped the air with her right hand, and all the swords responded to her will. She pulled hard, and the entire gate—tons of reinforced stone and metal—was wrenched from its foundations. The mountain walls on both sides crumbled as the massive structure was torn free. With a thunderous crash that echoed across the mountains, it landed heavily right on the cliff in front of Hela, spanning the entire chasm and becoming an improvised bridge.

Hela didn't wait for the dust and smoke to clear. She strode forward confidently, stepping onto her newly created bridge without hesitation, rushing into the Ancestral Fortress with purpose. Behind her, Skurge followed closely, his executioner's axe gripped tightly in both hands, his expression a mixture of fear and resignation.

Upon entering the fortress, Hela discovered that the main chamber was deserted. There was only a light visible in the distance, flickering from one of the far exits, indicating that Heimdall had already led his people out through another passage—the one that led down the mountain toward the Bifrost.

Hela's lips curved into a hint of a disdainful smile. In her opinion, Heimdall could not escape at all, because she had already predicted exactly where they would go! There was only one destination that made sense—the Rainbow Bridge, the only way off Asgard now that she controlled the realm.

[On the other side of the mountain, Heimdall was leading the desperate evacuation. Hundreds of people moved in a long, winding line down the treacherous mountain path. He turned his head frequently, his glowing eyes tracking Hela's every move through his supernatural all-seeing vision, watching her progress through the fortress even from this distance.]

"Keep going! Let's go to the Rainbow Bridge!" he urged them forward, his voice carrying authority and reassurance even as his heart pounded with urgency.

[Many people walked down the mountain hand in hand, helping the elderly and carrying children, their faces etched with fear but determined to survive. Heimdall's only concern now was whether Hela would catch up with them before they could reach the Bifrost and escape.]

[Meanwhile, on the Commodore , Valkyrie worked quickly and efficiently. She set up the turret Thor had installed and secured it properly with reinforced straps, checking the power connections and weapons systems. Then she retrieved her old Valkyrie uniform and pulled it on, the familiar weight settling on her shoulders like a mantle she'd set aside too long ago. Finally, she donned her Dragon Tooth Sword, the blade singing softly as she drew it partially to check its edge.]

Banner looked back from the pilot's seat and saw that Valkyrie had already wiped off the white paint that had covered her face on Sakaar—the disguise of a washed-up scrapper. She was now dressed in the full regalia of a heroic Valkyrie, her armor gleaming, her bearing proud and martial. She looked completely different from her appearance on Sakaar, transformed from a cynical drunk into the legendary warrior she'd once been.

-Broadcast-

[Inside the great hall of the palace, Thor sat on his father's throne with deliberate ceremony. He held Odin's weapon, Gungnir—the spear that never missed—and began to knock its shaft against the stone floor in a steady, rhythmic pattern. The sound echoed through the empty palace, a challenge that could not be ignored.]

[Hela and Skurge, who were still in the Ancestral Fortress searching for stragglers, heard the distinctive sound carrying across the distance from the palace. The ringing of Gungnir against stone was unmistakable. They both turned to look in that direction, Hela's eyes narrowing with interest.]

The scene shifted, and Thor finally came face to face with Hela in the grand hall. The lighting cast dramatic shadows across the space, and under the interplay of light and shadow, the sharp spikes on her helmet appeared even larger and more menacing than before—a visual representation of Hela's growing power since returning to Asgard and reconnecting with the realm's energy!

[As she approached him with slow, confident steps, the sharp metal helmet retracted smoothly, the pieces folding back like the petals of some dark flower, revealing her face and her flowing dark hair.]

Thor sat calmly on the throne, watching her walk towards him while holding Gungnir with both hands. He projected an image of royal composure, even as his heart hammered in his chest.

He smiled softly, almost warmly, and said, "Sister!"

Hela paused for a moment, tilting her head slightly, genuinely surprised. "You're still alive!" There was a note of impressed approval in her voice, as if she respected his persistence if nothing else.

Thor gestured around at the hall with one hand, his tone conversational. "I've done a great job cleaning this place! I can see the new decor!"

Hela shrugged elegantly and smiled, a predator's smile. "I'm not like my father, who solves everything by hiding things!"

Thor tapped Gungnir against the floor deliberately and added, his voice harder now, "Or simply expelling them!"

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