10 Chapter 10: Hela

Odin gently stroked his aching head. For the past week, he had been dealing with the Jotun and Hela. Loki, however, had kept silent, harboring a rebellion plan suspected by Odin.

Sitting beside Odin, Frigg looked at her husband with concern. "Odin, you don't need to worry. Thor will defeat the Jotun soon."

Odin stroked his beard. "I trust Thor's strength. It's Loki and Hela that concern me. Whatever they're planning is troubling."

He sighed. "Perhaps Ragnarok is near."

Frigg took her husband's hand. Her eyes gleamed with determination. "Don't worry, Odin. We'll overcome this together."

Odin wiped the negative expression from his face and smiled at Frigg. He looked at his dear wife. "Thor, Baldur, Vidar, Hödr... They've all become strong and clever adults."

Feeling his age, Odin considered passing his throne to his heir. "Perhaps it's time for me to retire."

Frigg smiled. "Odin, I'll always be by your side."

Before Odin could respond, a Valkyrie entered. She kneeled and respectfully addressed Odin. "My lord, an envoy from Heaven wishes to see you."

Intrigued, Odin raised an eyebrow and looked at the kneeling Valkyrie. "Allow them to enter."

With Odin's command, the Valkyrie stepped back, and the door opened. From it emerged Sariel, a woman with long white hair, golden eyes, and medium height. Behind her were two angels with eight wings each and ten angels with six wings.

Feeling Sariel's power, Odin's eyes briefly hardened. Sariel's strength surpassed many powers in the Norse Pantheon.

Sariel approached, bowing slightly to show respect to Odin. Then, in her gentle voice, she began to speak. "My father has seen the troubles of the Norse Pantheon and sent me to help."

"Of course, there will be something specific we'll need from you in return." Sariel paused, studying Odin's reactions. Though Odin appeared serious and concerned, he had concealed his worries well.

Odin's eyes narrowed slightly. No god would ever exert effort to help another god without reason. He looked at Sariel coldly. "What makes you think we need your help?"

Ignoring Odin's cold gaze, Sariel calmly looked at him. "Thor has left Asgard to deal with the Jotun. Even if you defeat Hela, Loki will undoubtedly challenge you."

Frigg looked at Odin with concern. She understood the message Sariel was implying. Sariel was saying that unless Odin accepted Heaven's offer, the Norse Pantheon would surely perish.

Odin pondered for a moment longer. He closed his eyes. Hela alone was not a match for Odin. But if Loki joined the fray to help his daughter, Odin could be in trouble.

"I accept your help," Odin sighed, revealing his decision. Frigg looked at her husband with worry. She didn't want Odin indebted to another god. But Odin continued, "What do you want in return?"

Sariel waited for a moment before speaking calmly. "You will allow my father to use all the heroes in Valhalla for a project."

Odin's eyes widened in surprise. He considered this briefly. "Very well, I agree. No actions violating their free will."

Sariel nodded. Her father already valued free will. Odin's terms were acceptable. "That's reasonable. I'll handle Hela."

Odin listened to Sariel. Then he instructed a Valkyrie to accompany Sariel to Helheim before she rebelled. Sealing Hela before fighting her would be wise.

"The Valkyries will take you to Hela's palace. I want you to seal her before she rebels," Odin said politely. His previous cold demeanor seemed to have vanished.

Odin knew that if he killed Hela, Loki would forever resent him. Thus, he believed sealing her was the right choice.

Sariel nodded. She had already received instructions from her father not to kill Hela. Apparently, her father had another plan for Hela. Sariel said calmly, "That's acceptable."

"Good." Odin smiled. He looked at the Valkyrie. "Lady, take Sariel to Helheim."

The Valkyrie nodded. She bowed to Sariel. "My lady, please come with me."

Sariel looked at the angels beside her. "You can return to Heaven."

The angels nodded upon hearing Sariel's words. Before leaving, Sariel bowed slightly to Odin. "Take care of yourself, Lord Odin."

Sariel looked at the Valkyrie. "Let's go."

After Sariel left, Odin and Frigg talked for a while. Odin stood up, speaking in a calm but helpless tone. "Loki will never forgive me after this decision."

Frigg sighed, then embraced her husband. "Odin, perhaps it's too late for Loki. His desire to start Ragnarok is now too dangerous. We must deal with Loki, for the sake of all Asgard."

Odin listened to his beloved wife's words. Loki had crossed the line. Odin could only be merciful to a certain extent. When Odin took his father's throne, he built a Throne of Blood.

The blood he shed for Asgard could form a river. Odin's recent mercy did not mean he had forgotten his nature. After all, Odin was the father and king of the gods.

A king is obliged to protect his people. Odin would never forget that.

********

"Father, we've received a message from Sariel. It seems Odin has accepted our offer," Michael said calmly, looking at Yahweh.

"Very well, Michael. You may go," Yahweh replied, sitting on his throne and dismissing Michael. Michael bowed slightly and then withdrew.

After Michael left, Yahweh looked into the sphere. In it, he saw Sariel standing in front of the grand gates of Hela's palace.

Though not as powerful as Odin and Thor, Sariel was strong enough to fight Hela on equal terms. Moreover, Sariel possessed the ability {Seal King Sariel}, which allowed her to seal enemies even stronger than herself.

This ability was truly powerful. It could even seal Odin for a while. Yahweh trusted in Sariel's power.

Sariel opened the magnificent gates of Hela's castle. After they creaked open, she was greeted by a castle adorned with Norse runes and art. Even Sariel was impressed by the castle's design. "What a beautiful castle..."

Sariel approached the Throne Room step by step. When she reached the entrance of the Throne Room, she opened the ornate door. Hela's cold voice echoed throughout the palace. "With what audacity do you dare to come to my kingdom?"

Hela, arrogant and cold, sat on her throne. Sariel calmly looked at Hela. "I've come to seal you."

Hela scowled in anger. "How right is it for Heaven to meddle in the affairs of another Pantheon?"

Sariel was unfazed by Hela's angry tone. "Heaven and the Norse Pantheon are currently in cooperation."

Hela's eyes widened with anger. She rose from her throne and shouted at Sariel. "The coward Odin now allows another god to influence the Norse Pantheon! Is he that afraid of me!? Ahahaha!"

Hela's beautiful laughter echoed throughout the palace. Sariel simply watched Hela. Then, she raised her short sword. Speaking calmly, Sariel said, "I don't care about what you and Odin have been through. I just need to fulfill the agreement we made."

Hela drew her black sword and ignited its mana. Hela's aura shattered the floor of the Throne Room. Suddenly, she raised her sword and leaped towards Sariel.

Sariel immediately pointed her sword and blocked Hela's attack. Hela smirked slightly. "You have power. Come on, entertain me!"

Then Hela sent the black knives she had created behind her towards Sariel. Sariel used her wings and dodged the knives. They landed in front of Sariel and cracked the entire ground.

Sariel suddenly moved her 12 wings and flew towards Hela. Without reaction, Hela held on with all her might and threw Hela onto the roof of the palace.

Hela and Sariel flew through the dark sky of Helheim faster than the speed of sound. Sariel threw Hela's body. Then she threw the spears created with divine power.

Hela blocked the divine spears with her sword. Then she raised her hands and ignited her mana. Then a large circle appeared in the sky. Hela and Sariel looked at the circle in the sky. Her eyes narrowed.

Hela grinned with anger. She looked at Sariel with arrogance. "This will be very painful for you!"

Then Hela lowered her hand. A Meteor came out of the circle, and all of Helheim trembled under Hela's aura.

Sariel looked at the meteor approaching her calmly. Although it had the power to easily destroy a city, Sariel seemed unbothered.

Sariel ignited her divine power. She directed her divine power to her sword. She looked at the meteor coming towards her. She swung her sword. Divine power emanated from Sariel's sword.

The meteor and the divine power collided. They destroyed each other in two great attacks. The sky of Helheim split, and all the dead squirmed uncomfortably. Monsters fled in fear.

Hela looked at Sariel. This Angel had power rivaling that of a god. Hela grinned even more. "You should thank your God for holding out against a god like this."

Sariel didn't respond to Hela. She stretched her wings and attacked faster than the speed of sound. Before attacking, Hela surrounded with a barrier. She struck her sword against Hela's barrier, causing it to crack but not break.

Sariel narrowed her eyes. "A strong barrier."

Sariel dodged the knives thrown by Hela. This continued for a while. Hela flew towards Sariel. After Sariel blocked Hela's black knives, she couldn't block Hela's sword flying towards her.

Sariel crashed to the ground. Hela, towards the fallen Sariel, sent spears covered with many dark magics.

Sariel created a barrier with her divine power. Then she quickly got up. Sariel, who used her divine power to strengthen her body, attacked Hela at a terrifying speed.

Hela and Sariel continued to fight evenly for a while. Sariel sent hundreds of divine spears created with her divine power towards Hela.

Hela laughed and deflected the divine spears with her sword. "Is that all? Hahaha, I've overestimated you."

Sariel narrowed her eyes. Then she ignited her divine power and transferred it to her sword. The sword shone with divine power. Sariel swung her sword, and the divine power emanating from it split the ground and headed towards Hela.

Hela used her mana and the ground broke apart, and large black vines emerged from the ground. The vines began to hinder Sariel's attack.

The divine power cut through all the vines that came before it. Hela raised her hand and created a barrier.

Before the divine power hit the barrier, Sariel moved her wings and flew towards Hela's back. Hela couldn't move, and the sword sliced through Hela's lungs.

The holy power dispersed. Hela ignited her mana and flames erupted around her body. Sariel quickly retreated. The flames emanating from Hela's body turned everything within 100 meters to ash.

Hela glared angrily at Sariel in the sky. "Damn pigeon!"

Hela, spitting blood, ignited her mana. With her anger, cracks opened in the ground, and winged creatures began to emerge. Winged creatures suddenly began to fly towards Sariel. Sariel killed all the monsters with her sword.

Before Sariel could find time, a large magma surrounded her and exploded. Yet Sariel managed to escape without too much harm.

After emerging from the magma, a huge tsunami struck Sariel. Sariel immediately used her divine power to protect her entire body.

Large spears moved towards Sariel who remained in the tsunami. Sariel used her wings and flew back into the sky.

With Hela's anger, the sky of Helheim was further shattered. The wind roared with anger. Random lightning strikes destroyed the souls of the dead. "Damn you! After I kill you, I will destroy all of Asgard!"

Sariel narrowed her eyes. Hela's power continued to increase like never before. If Sariel didn't seal Hela soon, it could be bad for her.

"{Seal King Sariel}," Sariel said gently.

Before Hela could understand what was happening, chains made of pure light emerged from the ground and surrounded Hela. Hela looked angrily at the chains around her. "What is this!?"

Hela used all her power to break free from the chains surrounding her body. The black flames emanating from Hela's body did not affect the chains. In return, the chains enveloped Hela's body.

Hela's body began to bleed because of the chains. Hela's body was pulled by the chains. Then a sacred cross appeared, disturbing all the dead in Helheim.

The chains tied Hela's body to the cross. Hela screamed in pain. "I won't be defeated until I kill Odin! No!!"

Shortly afterward, four nails were driven into Hela's hands and feet. Hela screamed in pain. These nails were strengthened with divine power. The pain was unimaginable.

Hela's consciousness was forcibly put to sleep. Hela, despite using all her willpower, couldn't resist and fell asleep. Then all the soil around the cross began to collapse.

Shortly afterward, the area around the cross was covered with a chasm about a kilometer deep. Then the cross and Hela's body were completely concealed with an illusion spell.

Sariel rose into the sky. Then she said with authority. "From now on, no being shall leave Helheim."

With Sariel's voice, all of Helheim trembled. Sariel's word was law.

This was due to the effect of Sariel's ability. Sariel's ability could not only seal individuals but also seal dimensions. Everything depended on Sariel's discretion.

Of course, beings much more powerful than Sariel, like Odin, Zeus, Shiva, Thor, could easily escape from Helheim.

Sariel sat down tiredly. Fighting Hela was not easy. Hela was not an easy opponent.

After resting for a while, Sariel stood up. "Now that my mission is complete, I can leave."