Malekith's search yielded nothing.
The Dark Elf king had infiltrated Ben's private office expecting to discover vital intelligence about Infinity Stone locations, dimensional portals, or at minimum some classified Plumber documentation. Instead, he found empty drawers, bare surfaces, and generic administrative materials that revealed nothing of strategic value.
His frustration was understandable but misplaced. Ben rarely maintained a permanent presence on Sakaar, spending most of his time traveling between dimensions or handling space crises. Nearly all of Sakaar's internal and external affairs fell under Caiera's capable management, while other senior Plumbers functioned more as skilled executors than independent decision-makers.
Only matters that even Caiera couldn't resolve reached Ben's attention, and those communications occurred through quantum-encrypted Plumber communicators rather than physical documentation. Malekith's infiltration had been expertly planned but fundamentally pointless.
Unfortunately for the Dark Elf, while entering the Totem Tower had proven remarkably easy, escape would be considerably more challenging.
Despite the planet-wide emergency response that had diverted most Plumber agents to combat the Mother of Storms, Sakaar's intelligent computer system continued operating at full efficiency. The moment Azmuth's AI network detected unauthorized presence in restricted areas, automated security protocols activated immediately.
Emergency barriers slammed into place, sealing every exit from the Totem Tower. Blast shields covered windows, elevator shafts locked down completely, and even ventilation systems closed off to prevent escape routes.
For most intruders, such measures would prove insurmountable. But Malekith possessed capabilities that transcended conventional security systems.
The Dark Elves had mastered dark matter manipulation five thousand years before most civilizations discovered basic space travel. Short-range teleportation through dark matter substrates represented elementary techniques for someone of Malekith's caliber.
The problem wasn't escaping—it was timing.
"Ben Parker," Malekith murmured, looking up from his fruitless search just as a spatial distortion opened in the office's center.
Ben and Wanda emerged through the dimensional portal, accompanied by two crystalline prison cubes containing the unconscious forms of Hela and Hodr. The Space Stone's energy still crackled around the constructs, maintaining their integrity through space force.
Seeing the scene, Malekith immediately understood that his carefully laid plans had collapsed completely.
That useless son of Odin had not only failed to obtain Niflheim's Crown of Death but hadn't even managed to delay Ben's return as instructed. Worse yet, Hodr had been captured along with Odin's other dangerous daughter, providing Ben with valuable prisoners rather than strategic advantage.
"It appears your reputation wasn't exaggerated," Malekith said calmly, his ancient features showing no trace of panic or concern.
This marked the first time he had truly begun taking Ben Parker seriously as a potential threat.
Throughout his recent awakening, Malekith had heard countless stories about the King of Sakaar's extraordinary power, his unprecedented achievements, and his growing influence across space politics. But for someone who had spent five millennia in mystical hibernation, such reports felt like distant rumors rather than immediate reality.
His understanding of the contemporary universe remained frozen in an ancient paradigm where the Dark Elves had been among the most feared powers in existence. The idea that some upstart dimensional lord could challenge beings like himself seemed absurd.
Now, witnessing Ben's casual success in claiming both Crown and capturing two of Odin's children, Malekith finally grasped the truth behind those rumors.
The King of Sakaar was indeed formidable.
But so what? He was Malekith, the Accursed—god of curses, bane of Asgard, destroyer of the Light Elves. His power had only grown during his long exile.
Malekith struck without warning, dark energy erupting from his form like a tide of corrupted blood.
The movie version of Malekith had appeared somewhat limited in scope, but the entity standing before Ben represented something far more dangerous. To become king of the Dark Elves and command the loyalty of Cursed Warriors—beings several times stronger than Thor—required personal power on a truly space scale.
His opening attack manifested as concentrated dark matter manipulation, reality-warping energy that could unmake matter at the molecular level. The assault bloomed outward like spreading infection, seeking to consume everything it touched.
Ben responded immediately with death-power, still maintaining his Eclipsian Swampfire transformation from their Niflheim mission.
This would serve as an excellent field test for his newly acquired abilities.
The opposing forces collided with tremendous violence. Dark matter met death-energy in a space conjunction that sent shockwaves through the Totem Tower's reinforced structure. The entire building trembled as though caught in a planetary earthquake, its specially designed supports groaning under stress they were never meant to endure.
Several floors below, Tony Stark felt the reverberations through his prison cell's walls and immediately scrambled into his hastily constructed armor. Looking upward with growing alarm, he processed the tactical situation with typical Stark efficiency.
He was already aware of the Mother of Storms crisis—Nebula's planet-wide mobilization had been impossible to miss. But this new development suggested additional threats that could potentially destabilize Sakaar's entire defensive structure.
"Wonderful," Tony muttered, checking his armor's power levels. "Just when I thought this place couldn't get more exciting."
The possibility of Sakaar's government collapsing entirely carried both opportunities and dangers for someone in his position. Freedom might be within reach, but surviving the chaos would require considerable luck.
Above, the battle intensified as Malekith revealed the true extent of his enhanced capabilities.
The Dark Elf's long white hair began flowing upward as though caught in supernatural wind, while his body underwent a dramatic transformation. Two completely opposing energy types erupted from his form—the familiar darkness of his native abilities merged with brilliant light-based power that created a perfect half-and-half division across his features.
One side of his face remained shadowed in absolute darkness while the other blazed with stellar radiance, creating a yin-yang pattern that spoke of impossible power balance.
"Light Elf abilities?" Ben observed, though he wasn't particularly surprised by the revelation.
Alfheim had been among the first realms conquered during Malekith's recent campaign, falling so quickly that other worlds barely had time to react before the Light Elf kingdom became a Dark Elf possession.
Malekith had prioritized that conquest personally because Light Elves and Dark Elves shared fundamental racial similarities despite their opposing power sources. While their abilities existed in perfect contradiction, they could theoretically be merged by someone with sufficient will and space understanding.
He had murdered Queen Ljosalfgard in ritual combat, consuming her essence and integrating her people's light-based magic into his own dark-matter mastery. The result was power that transcended normal limitations—the ability to manipulate both creation and destruction simultaneously.
Other conquered realms provided artifacts and resources, but only Alfheim had offered power that could be directly absorbed and integrated.
Ben found the tactical logic sound, if horrifically executed. But Malekith's expression carried genuine shock at what he was witnessing in response.
"Death power," the Dark Elf breathed, his dual-toned features widening with surprise. "How do you possess death authority? The Crown isn't on your head... Did you actually absorb the Crown of Death's essence?"
His yin-yang face twisted with disbelief as he processed the implications.
When he had initially noted the Crown's absence from Ben's head, he had assumed it was merely stored elsewhere. But neither Hela nor Hodr wore their Crown fragments either, which left only one logical explanation.
Ben Parker had somehow absorbed the artifact's power directly into his own being.
But why was such a thing possible? Malekith could integrate Light Elf abilities because they shared common racial origins with his native darkness—opposing forces that could achieve balance through space understanding. But death power came from completely different sources, utilizing entirely alien energy principles.
Even the Eternal Flame that had vanished from Asgard's treasury had likely suffered the same fate—absorbed rather than stolen.
How was any of this reasonable?
"Wanda, remove them from the combat zone," Ben ordered, indicating the imprisoned siblings.
Wanda nodded and departed immediately, using her dimensional manipulation to transport Hela and Hodr to secure holding areas.
With civilians clear of the danger zone, Ben no longer needed to restrain his capabilities.
Dark flames ignited along his plant-based arms as death-power merged with Swampfire's natural methane production. The resulting fire could burn both physical matter and spiritual essence simultaneously—a flame that targeted the soul as much as the body.
The doubled death authority made his current Swampfire form significantly more powerful than Hela in her prime, but Malekith commanded the integrated strength of two entire realms. Light and darkness energy erupted from the Dark Elf as he met Ben's enhanced flames with equal force.
BOOM!
The Totem Tower's structure finally reached its breaking point and collapsed.
Meanwhile - Across Sakaar's Cityscape
Caiera and Brunnhilde knew nothing of the battle raging in Ben's office. Their attention focused entirely on the space-level threat manifesting above Sakaar's primary population centers.
The two warrior women had reached the Mother of Storms' position, only to discover that the primordial entity recognized Brunnhilde's traditional Asgardian equipment.
"You are a Valkyrie of Asgard!" the energy being roared, her lightning-form crackling with increased violence.
Needle-like electrical arcs extended from her humanoid outline like the spines of an enraged porcupine, each one carrying enough power to level city blocks.
The Mother of Storms remembered her ancient imprisonment within Mjolnir, sealed away by Odin's authority for millennia uncounted. Since the All-Father wasn't available for revenge, this Valkyrie would serve as an acceptable substitute target.
"I am Brunnhilde, Sheriff of the Plumbers!" Brunnhilde shouted back, gripping Dragonfang in one hand while controlling her winged Pegasus with the other.
Unfortunately, the Mother of Storms cared nothing for political distinctions. As far as the primordial entity was concerned, Brunnhilde wore Valkyrie armor, rode a Valkyrie steed, and wielded a Valkyrie blade. If that wasn't a Valkyrie, then what was the blue-skinned woman riding behind her?
The explanation about leaving Asgard's service centuries ago fell on deaf ears. The Mother of Storms intended to kill first and sort out details later.
A brilliant flash preceded the entity's first serious attack as she grasped a lightning bolt several meters thick and hurled it like a spear aimed directly at Brunnhilde's heart.
Fortunately, the last Valkyrie's combat skills hadn't deteriorated during her exile.
Dragonfang swept in a perfect arc, cleaving the lightning construct in two. The enchanted blade parted electrical energy like cutting through solid matter, dispersing the attack harmlessly.
This technique should be called Lightning Cutter, Brunnhilde thought with grim humor.
"Activate the Genesis Key," Caiera called from behind her, being the first to employ Ben's mana-enhancement device.
Purple energy immediately replaced the Old Power flowing through Caiera's enhanced physiology, transforming her from passenger to active combatant. The mana granted her independent flight capability, allowing her to streak away from the Pegasus like a meteor trailing rose-colored light.
She raised her hands and projected a pink electrical arc toward the Mother of Storms—not true lightning but mana shaped to resemble electrical discharge.
The Genesis Key might not dramatically increase Caiera's raw strength, but compared to the Old Power's limitations, Ben's Mana provided tactical flexibility that ground-based combatants rarely possessed.
The pink lightning struck the Mother of Storms directly, but the results proved disappointing—or rather, completely ineffective.
The primordial entity existed as pure elemental energy without any physical form to damage. Even successful attacks simply passed through her electrical matrix before she reconstituted herself instantly.
Moreover, her counterattack demonstrated the vast gap between their power levels.
The Mother of Storms casually gestured, and a genuine lightning bolt erupted from her form. The attack struck Caiera with overwhelming force, sending her plummeting toward the ground in a barely controlled spiral.
Brunnhilde reacted quickly, directing her Pegasus into a steep dive that intercepted Caiera's fall just moments before impact. The winged horse strained under the sudden additional weight but managed to achieve stable flight while avoiding a deadly rain of follow-up lightning strikes.
Caiera remained conscious but clearly shaken by the experience. "The opponent is pure energy," she reported grimly. "Physical attacks won't work. What's our next approach?"
Brunnhilde shook her head, silver hair whipping in the supernatural wind. "The attacks aren't completely ineffective—our energy levels simply aren't sufficient to cause meaningful damage. If Odin or Ben were here, even if they couldn't kill the Mother of Storms, they could weaken her indefinitely and establish new containment."
Her analysis was sound. Plenty of beings existed as pure elemental energy without being invincible.
Their current ineffectiveness against the Mother of Storms resulted from operating at completely different power tiers rather than inherent immunity to attack.
"Try energy-based containment!" Brunnhilde declared, formulating a new tactical approach.
She activated her own Genesis Key, allowing Ben's Mana to replace her native Valkyrie power. While her divine authority had always been substantial, manifesting that strength required extensive training in techniques she had never fully mastered.
Ben's mana system bypassed such limitations entirely, providing intuitive access to space-level abilities.
While dodging subsequent attacks, both women began gathering energy between their hands as they circled the Mother of Storms like aerial dancers. The mana flowed from their forms and coalesced into a containment sphere designed to trap the primordial entity within manageable boundaries.
"You think this pathetic barrier can hold me?" the Mother of Storms sneered, raising her energy-arms toward the thick thunderclouds above.
Within those supernatural storm systems, it seemed as though ten thousand dragons roared in unison, each one breathing terrible lightning from gaping maws. All that accumulated electrical force condensed in the entity's grasp, forming a weapon of devastating power.
"Shatter before me, Mjolnir!"
The words carried space authority as the Mother of Storms wielded power sufficient to level mountains. The violent lightning instantly destroyed the mana sphere created by Caiera and Brunnhilde, sending feedback energy through their enhanced forms that left both women stunned and vulnerable.
The dispersed lightning transformed into a massive electrical dragon that swooped toward them with predatory hunger, seeking to tear both warriors apart with raw elemental fury.
"Feel the Storm Mother's wrath upon this world!" the entity roared in triumph.
The sky darkened as thunderclouds spread across Sakaar's entire atmosphere, blocking all natural light like a space shroud. Only brilliant blue lightning remained visible, tearing through reality with the force of universe-shaping creation myths.
Caiera and Brunnhilde found themselves reduced to helpless victims in a storm that could destroy worlds. Despite their status as sheriffs and elite warriors, the enemy before them operated on a completely different scale.
Even Beta Ray Bill would struggle against the Mother of Storms, and perhaps only Princess Looma with her mastery of the Old Power could mount effective resistance—though victory would remain unlikely. Unfortunately, Looma was currently engaged in deep space missions.
The lightning dragon grew larger in Caiera's vision as she watched Brunnhilde making a desperate charge toward the Mother of Storms, Dragonfang held high in a final heroic assault. But the Valkyrie's enchanted armor shattered under the entity's casual attention, leaving her defenseless against space-level power.
They couldn't win. Survival itself seemed increasingly doubtful.
I hope Nebula can contact King Sakaar quickly, Caiera thought desperately, preparing for the end.
Then she saw a black shadow rushing into the heart of the electrical storm at impossible speed while another force pulled her away from the descending destruction.
Caiera immediately recognized her rescuer and felt hope returning. If Wanda was here, then...
"Ben has already entered the combat zone!" she exclaimed.
Wanda caught Caiera effortlessly while casting defensive magic around them both. Moments later, the lightning dragon struck the ground with apocalyptic force, creating an energy sphere several thousand meters in diameter that consumed everything within its boundaries.
"The King rushed into the center of that?" Caiera stared at the writhing electrical maelstrom in horror, already moving to return to the battle.
Fortunately, Wanda held her back with gentle but firm authority.
"Don't worry," she said with complete confidence. "How could Ben possibly lose?"
Her certainty proved infectious. Caiera's panic subsided as they watched the massive lightning sphere beginning to shrink at an alarming rate. At its center—in the most violent and dangerous location—a slender black silhouette stood proudly unmoved.
Energy-conducting prongs extended from the figure's head, hands, and tail, absorbing the surrounding electrical fury with casual efficiency.
"It's Feedback!" Wanda announced with delight. "The perfect counter to an electrical entity!"
The Conductoid's sleek black-and-green form was designed specifically for situations like this—absorbing and redirecting energy-based attacks that would destroy most other aliens. Against the Mother of Storms' electrical assault, Feedback was essentially invulnerable while growing stronger with every absorbed bolt.
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