He also wanted to see if slaying this foreign god would grant him an Authority.
"Oh, you think you can kill Hela?"
Uchiha Madara looked at Vovin with some surprise, as if doubting he could kill Hela.
It wasn't just Madara — Whitebeard, Tony, and even Loki regarded Vovin with strange expressions.
If they hadn't been saying it to his face, they really wanted to ask:
"Marquis, where's your confidence coming from?"
Hela wasn't as powerful as Odin, but among the sub-Patriarch Gods, she was an overwhelming force.
If she were in Asgard, amplified by Asgard's energy, she might well be capable of battling a Patriarch God.
Vovin had broken through the Godslayer's level cap — but to kill Hela?
Even if his raw power was sufficient, could he actually kill her?
The Goddess of Death was not merely a title.
"Maybe, Marquis, you should wait for another opportunity?"
Roxie wore an equally odd expression as she spoke to Vovin.
"From what I recall, the Goddess Hela has the ability to project her astral form — she can discard her physical body and survive as a soul while retaining her own power."
"And given her connection to Asgard, unless Asgard itself is destroyed, Hela most likely cannot die."
"So…"
She didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was plain.
Regardless of whether Vovin's strength currently surpassed Hela's, killing her was plainly a fantasy.
He might as well go back to killing an Apostle God on his own.
Vovin had nothing to say in response. He had indeed thought too simplistically.
He'd watched too few memory replicas and hadn't delved deeply into the relevant plot — so naturally, he hadn't understood Hela's abilities.
His power assessment was only based on what those memory replicas had shown.
Roxie breathed an internal sigh of relief. She had genuinely feared Vovin would get worked up and insist on taking down Hela.
Given his temperament, he probably wouldn't let anyone interfere.
Whether he ended up brutally humiliated or not — he definitely wouldn't win.
Turning her gaze to Uchiha Madara, he said coolly:
"I have no interest in participating in this war. I'm simply here to appreciate the spectacle."
Other than Laufey, the Frost Giant clan had no opponents he wished to fight. Earth had some, but they were too much trouble.
So — he only needed to appreciate the war.
"First, let me clarify: I'm not certain I can defeat Laufey head-on."
"Before he was enhanced, with Gungnir and my awakened abilities, I might have had some confidence."
"But against this enhanced version — unless I'm in Asgard, with Asgard backing me, I have zero confidence."
Loki spoke with a hint of frustration about his own strength.
It couldn't be helped. He had only just obtained Odin's bloodline, and his prior power hadn't been particularly high.
Right now, unless he was in Asgard, asking him to face off against Laufey — an enhanced Laufey at that — was far from easy.
As for acting ability, though?
As the God of Lies, those skills were embedded in his bones.
He could guarantee that nobody would be able to tell!
But raw strength was the hard limit.
"Don't worry about that. When necessary, we'll give you a hand."
Baixuan's gaze fell on the Gungnir in Loki's hand as he said with a light smile.
As time passed, in a certain country on Earth, evening had begun to fall. The sky dimmed, and the last vestiges of daylight were gradually driven away by darkness.
The Frost Giant clan had arrived on Earth by now. They had descended onto a stretch of sea. Though they had no specific coordinates, that didn't matter to them.
Laufey gazed at the city ahead, the幽 green flames in his crimson pupils burning ever more intensely.
A bloodthirsty desire from deep within his bloodline had him nearly quivering with anticipation.
Wail, ye weak Midgardians.
Because of your weakness. Because you harbor those who should not appear here. Because this is the perfect battlefield — you shall become stepping stones for Jotunheim's triumph over Asgard.
Just as Laufey prepared to gesture, to have the vast army behind him tear the city asunder and freeze everything in sight — a dazzling rainbow radiance tore across the sky and landed behind them.
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
"…"
Just as the Frost Giants' landing on the sea had automatically encased the water's surface in ice, a biting chill spread in all directions until every inch of surrounding sea had been frozen solid.
The rainbow light faded. Inside stood rows upon rows of fully armed Asgardian warriors — some on horseback, some piloting ships. At their head stood Asgard's new king — Loki.
"We've met again, the new King of Asgard."
Laufey stepped slowly forward. His crimson pupils fixed on the figure before him as he spoke in a measured tone.
"I never imagined our reunion would unfold in such a manner, King of Jotunheim."
Loki said it with cold composure.
"Tell me — what brings you to lead so many Frost Giant warriors to Midgard, King of Jotunheim?"
"Isn't the answer rather obvious, new King of Asgard?"
Laufey said, seemingly with a trace of mockery.
"I simply didn't expect you Midgardians to place such importance on this pathetic realm — you arrived so quickly."
"I had intended to greet you with blood. It seems that opportunity is lost."
"Though I recall Midgard also harbors an exiled heir to the throne — though exiled, there are still those in Asgard who support his claim to the throne."
"Did the new King of Asgard never consider arriving a little later? By then, he might already have been dead."
"Your position would have been unshakeable."
"You think I would concern myself with any of that?"
Loki met Laufey's gaze, his voice ice-cold.
"When did the affairs of Asgard become something Jotunheim had the right to meddle in?"
"Know your place, Laufey."
"If you do not wish to spark a war — get back to Jotunheim."
Loki's words faded into silence. For a moment, the atmosphere stilled completely. The only sound was the cold wind howling in their ears.
Laufey's crimson pupils bored into Loki. Loki stared back with equal coldness.
"Had Odin been conscious, that would be one thing."
"But a newly crowned king of negligible strength — you truly think yourself the lord of the Nine Realms?"
"I am the one sparking this war. What can Asgard do about it?"
"Asgard without Odin is nothing more than a beast stripped of its claws and fangs."
Loki gripped Gungnir. Behind him, the Asgardian warriors fixed Laufey with boundless fury in their eyes.
The warriors of Asgard would not tolerate such contempt.
"Remember your choice, Laufey."
"It is your choice that brings death to Jotunheim."
———
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