The reconstruction of Asgard had begun. The war and rebellion caused by the Serpent had severely damaged the kingdom. Almost all the buildings were damaged, and most were reduced to ruins. The collection of bodies, both soldiers and citizens, and the clearing of the rubble were enormous projects. This kind of disaster was rare in Asgard's history. Fortunately, the Asgardians were not ordinary people. Odin's wife, Frigga, took charge of the entire process. Her gentle nature soothed their sorrow, uniting all the soldiers and civilians to rebuild Asgard together.
At this moment, Leon, having returned to Earth, had already claimed the Serpent as his trophy. Odin knew this but chose not to interfere. In the Asgardian tradition, this was a legitimate trophy of war, and Odin would not take it back.
On the open terrace of the temple, Leon, dressed in a delicate robe prepared by Ophelia, sat at a glass table, enjoying a meal and juice under the warm glow of the rising sun. A moment later, Hela appeared beside him.
"How did you enjoy the show, Hela?" Leon asked. He didn't show any surprise or vigilance, as if he had been expecting her. After finishing the food in his mouth, he wiped his lips with a wet towel and looked at the woman with interest.
After her previous confrontation with him, Hela had changed out of her dark green bodysuit. Her appearance and figure were aggressive, but in the more common women's dress of Earth, she showed an elegant temperament.
"That old man is still the All-Father," Hela said, shaking her head bitterly. "Until he dies, my dream will not come true."
Hela had been truly frightened when she witnessed the sight of Odin displaying his terrifying power and defeating the Serpent. She had always known Odin was powerful, but she had never felt it so viscerally. Her past impression of his strength came from her own experience of being banished, but this battle was infinitely more shocking. She felt that her own performance against Odin would have been no better than the Serpent's. This realization was a severe blow to the perpetually proud Hela, leaving her feeling somewhat depressed.
She cursed Odin and Leon, calling them both "perverts" more than once in her mind, saying they made it impossible for anyone to get ahead. At least Odin's power was within her understanding. In her view, he was the most capable king in the history of the Odinson family. But Leon... Leon was an enigma. The Aurora Execution, the attack that froze time and space to absolute zero, showed her that he had the power to kill her, and easily.
She had briefly considered running away, but after witnessing that display of power, that idea completely vanished. The mental brand he had placed on her was definitely there for a reason.
"Your vision is too narrow, Hela," Leon said, cutting straight to the point. "Asgard is a powerful civilization, but there are countless life forms and concepts in this universe that are more powerful than Odin."
"Asgardian and Odinson blood gives you a better starting point than mortals, but it also limits your vision. Odin is different. He has seen countless beings more powerful than himself and knows that the so-called throne and rule are just accessories to absolute power."
"Even your two younger brothers, whom you never took seriously, will be better than you in the future and have far more potential."
This blunt statement infuriated Hela. She could accept not being as good as Odin, but to say she was inferior to her two younger brothers, whom she viewed as mere toys, was a step too far.
"Loki? A Jotunheim Giant who isn't even Asgardian? Thor? The hammer he uses was once just my toy! They are two fragile little things I can crush with one hand," Hela retorted.
However, as she met Leon's serious gaze, her voice trailed off, and she eventually asked, "Are you serious?"
"I never lie."
Hela fell silent. It wasn't that she was upset; she just couldn't understand why those two "brats" would have such potential. Thor was one thing, but Loki, a Frost Giant, surpassing her and their father, the direct descendant of Odinson? It made no sense.
Before she could think it through, Leon's calm voice echoed in her ears. "You seem to have forgotten one thing, Hela."
His voice, firm without being angry, startled her. She subconsciously looked at him and met his eyes, which were like deep, bright black gems. A flash of fear involuntarily ran through her.
"I can grant freedom, but that doesn't mean you can forget humility. I gave you a chance. Next time, you will lose all your freedom."
This warning was not only for Hela's attitude but also for her previous thought of trying to escape.
"I... I know," Hela whispered, unable to meet his eyes.
This should have been an incredible humiliation, making her angry, but for some reason, the man's absolute dominance brought on a strange emotion that came and went so quickly that even she didn't notice it.
Leon's lips curved upward. He knew the importance of giving a carrot after the stick.
"You want to surpass Odin, but in your current state, you can't. Your excellent bloodline gave you innate advantages, but it also locked your potential. Your narrow mindset and vision will be your downfall."
"I can give you a chance, Hela."
Hela's eyes snapped back to him, her lips moving silently as she lowered her head in a show of humility. Leon nodded to himself, satisfied. His "taming" skills were working. After all, having a celestial-level woman with a top-tier appearance like Odin's daughter act so subserviently would give any man a sense of accomplishment.
He held out a finger, and a sacred, ancient power blossomed at its tip. Hela looked up at the power.
"The authority and power you possess all come from Asgard, from the Aesir. Although your authority is extraordinary, it can't escape that scope. Odin can easily banish you, not just because he's powerful, but because he is the king of Asgard and the master of the Aesir. He has a natural power over you and the other gods."
"If you want to grow, you need to accumulate power over time, and you also need to comprehend knowledge to achieve a leap in strength," Leon slowly explained, dissecting the pros and cons of the Aesir's power system.
As he said, their innate advantage was significant. Their excellent bloodlines gave them powerful bodies and long lifespans, allowing them to accumulate, learn, and grow stronger over time. But this process was very long. Hela herself had reached her current level at the age of 3,000. Under normal circumstances, their potential was completely limited.
Only in special circumstances could they gain extraordinary abilities, like Thor and Loki. Rune King Thor, for example, after experiencing Ragnarök and the death of his loved ones, learned from Odin. He plucked out his own eye, drank from the Fountain of Wisdom, and hung himself from the World Tree for seven days and seven nights to gain the power of the primordial runes. He combined this with the Odin Force to become the Rune King, a truly formidable being. Loki, on the other hand, walked his own path, becoming the greatest sorcerer in the Nine Realms through his magical wisdom.
But there had only ever been one Thor, and Loki wasn't even a true Aesir, but a Frost Giant. This was how their legendary story began. They were the protagonists. Hela? Just a supporting character, a memory in the brothers' legend. Without any external influence, even if she hadn't been defeated by Loki and the Fire Demon Surtur, she would have died with the destruction of Asgard. In her remaining lifespan, she would not have grown much more. Her potential was limited.
After all, she wasn't a main character of this universe. Her vision wasn't high enough. Asgard could grow stronger through magic and other forms of power, but she had never studied them. She also lacked the opportunity and ability to comprehend runes. Her growth was limited.
Hela listened to Leon's words, deep in thought.
"What do you think of my guards?" Leon asked, after his explanation. This made Hela think back to the warriors who had fought her in the dream realm: Salina, Lisa, and the other Saints.
She nodded unconsciously, her tone filled with praise. "They are excellent. Few in Asgard can compare to them."
Their unyielding will and faith, which allowed them to unleash miraculous power in desperate situations and even unite to fight against her own power, made Hela see them as a group of extraordinary individuals.
"But they were just mortals once," Leon whispered.
"You mean...?" Hela's tone became more humble.
"The power I gave them allowed them to begin their ascent to godhood. It's called the Microcosm," Leon said, looking at the power that bloomed between his hands before fading.
"It's a miraculous power. It can make mortals transcend and gain power comparable to, or even beyond, the gods. It only takes a few decades, not thousands of years."
"And it has no limits."
Leon smiled as he looked at Hela. Her expression was now completely out of control, filled with excitement and fanaticism. After witnessing the immense power of Odin and Leon, Hela was already filled with a deep desire for power. Now, she saw a new path, a new light, and she couldn't help but be excited.
Leon watched her quietly, waiting. Hela knew that to get what she wanted, she had to pay a price. Her thoughts were complicated, but her desire for power had overcome her hatred for Odin and her obsession with the throne. Her worldview had been completely shattered, and she now understood that only power was eternal in this universe. With enough power, any throne was just an accessory.
"I am willing to submit to you. I am willing to give you everything—my body, my soul, my loyalty. In the years to come, I will be your sharpest blade, cutting down any enemy who stands in your way," Hela said, kneeling on one knee and swearing her oath with her soul. This oath was an invisible contract that would be deeply imprinted on her soul, ensuring she could never, ever violate it.
Leon smiled, satisfied. He stood up and said to Hela, his voice solemn, "I will accept your soul and loyalty, and you will accompany me to conquer a wider and vaster world."
His ethereal voice was like a bell, sealing their contract. Leon reached out and helped Hela to her feet.
"Let me see what kind of light you will create when you combine two different powers. I hope you will write your own legend and history, and make your mark in this universe, or even in the multiverse, Hela."
Leon was looking forward to it. Hela was as well. Her sinister heart had changed. The obsessions that had haunted her were no longer her focus. Her hatred for Odin was now merely fuel for her desire to conquer him.
Looking at the man who had completely conquered her, Hela felt an inexplicable and unprecedented emotion. As an Asgardian, she had never known what it meant to be reserved. Since she felt this feeling in her heart, she acted on it.
"My dear master, I will fulfill my oath. I will give you everything I have, including my body," Hela said softly, her clothes drifting down.
Leon was shocked.
A gentle breeze blew by, and under the blue sky and sun, Hela was faithfully carrying out her declaration.
(End of Chapter)
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