704

[Soul Harvest]

"A soul full of resentment," Loki smiled faintly, as the Boundary Hammer quivered violently in his grasp, struggling futilely against the Lich King's power.

Without waiting for a response, Loki raised his other hand, wielding a newly forged replica of Frostmourn.

Soul Harvest!

Dark energy surged along Frostmourne's blade like a black hole, swiftly extracting Nur's soul from the Boundary Breaker!

"Nooooo!" Nur's wails echoed as his soul was devoured by Frostmourne, leaving no trace behind.

The Boundary Breaker lay still thereafter, now nothing more than an empty vessel, taken away by Loki.

"I may be able to handle these Worthy on my own," Forseti remarked.

Loki glanced at Cul. "I can try, but who will deal with this guy, Cul?"

Forseti took a deep breath. "It's my turn."

"Forseti!" Hela interjected urgently. "Cul has seized Asgard's power. You can't confront him alone."

"And what other choice do we have?" Forseti replied calmly. "You're even less equipped to face him. At least I can still defend."

Hela fell silent momentarily. "Perhaps we could destroy the Crystal Crown. It might dissipate Asgard's power, rendering Cul vulnerable."

"That would mean the end of Asgard!" Thor objected, clenching his fists tightly. "Absolutely not. We cannot abandon our home."

Odin sighed, his voice mixed with coughs. "Cough... Perhaps this is Ragnarok... We have no choice but to destroy Asgard."

"Father!" Thor began, but Odin cut him off.

"Silence!" Odin's interruption was firm, blocking Thor's words.

He then turned to Forseti. "Heimdall has already begun evacuations. We need to buy time. Please, Forseti."

"I'll do my best," Forseti nodded, stowing away the Sulfuron Warhammer.

Through the Eye of Reckoning, Kool's energy was pegged at level ten—the highest Rowe had ever witnessed, second only to the Infinite Witch.

The range of the tenth level was vast. Any energy entity surpassing level nine but falling short of infinity was classified as tenth level. Earth's energy was tenth level, as was the sun's, and even the entire galaxy's.

But Forseti knew that even at its minimal tenth level, it was a league beyond conventional means to challenge.

The only conceivable approach to defeating Cul lay in combining Divine Shield with Reckoning.

Weapon or no weapon, the situation was unchanged.

Even empty-handed, Rowe might buy some time.

"You've grown remarkably, Rowe Garrison," Cul sneered at Rowe's approach. "But do you think you're strong enough to challenge your king?"

"You are not my king," Cul replied calmly. "I made my choice two thousand years ago."

"Very well, traitor. I will personally see to your execution and that of all traitors!" Cul's tone turned bitter. "Valhalla will offer no resting place for you."

"Perhaps, it will for you," Forseti retorted, activating the Holy Shield technique as rune-laden light surrounded him.

Simultaneously, dread surged in Cul's palm, its ominous energy shrouding Washington's skies while thunder and wind roared incessantly.

At its manifestation, the still-weak Bruce Banner involuntarily transformed into the Hulk.

"God..." Tony Stark stared incredulously at the radiance in Kool's hand.

"What's happening?" Bruce asked, bewildered.

"Thankfully, you transformed in time, or you might have perished from radiation," Tony said, swallowing hard. "Cul's energy seems capable of atomizing air, releasing vast amounts of nuclear radiation."

Bruce turned, staring blankly at the God of Fear who could seemingly flip the world with a gesture. "What kind of power is this..."

"Go to hell!" Cul bellowed, his voice thundering as the surging divine fear power in his grasp surged forth—a vast expanse of dark green light that overwhelmed the senses of all present.

Of course, it also engulfed Forseti.

"Boom!!"

In truth, the power of Fear Divine Power lay in its ability to unravel human souls and minds, while physical damage was merely an ancillary outcome.

Nevertheless, Cul's strike produced an effect akin to a small nuclear bomb, leveling the surroundings of the White House in an instant.

Looking at the lingering green light and atomic ash filling the air, Cul smiled.

He believed no one could survive such an onslaught.

Yet reality defied his expectations. Forseti's figure quickly reappeared, materializing in the dispersing haze and closing in on Cul.

Cul appeared visibly startled.

"Crack!" Forseti materialized right before him, delivering a resounding slap.

Cul couldn't believe it. "You..."

"Crack!" Forseti backhanded him again.

"Simply audacious!" Cul seethed with rage, as a king he despised being struck twice.

He grabbed Forseti by the neck, only to discover his attempts to harm Forseti were in vain. His raging fear powers failed to singe even a single hair of Forseti's.

"What is this!" Cul realized it was the Holy Shield technique protecting Forseti. "Your Holy Light sorcery?"

"Yes, the power of Holy Light—a power you cannot overcome," Forseti stated calmly, raising his hand to slap Cul again.

"Very well." This time, Cul halted Forseti's motion, gripping his wrists coldly. "Let me witness your limit—what fuels your confidence!"

Although the Holy Shield technique rendered Forseti unscathed, it didn't augment his power. Even with the full might of Asgard at his command, Cul effortlessly seized Forseti's wrists, preventing him from breaking free.

Subsequently, torrents of dreadful divine power burst forth from Kool's hands, akin to a thunderbolt coursing through an electrode, violently shaking Forseti's frame.

Had it not been for the Holy Shield, a mere instant would have sufficed for such an attack to annihilate Forseti.

That was precisely what Forseti anticipated.

Golden light blazed in his eyes as the Eye of Reckoning fixed on Kool.

Despite the ferocious onslaught of divine fear power, he discerned the Reckoning Talisman on Cul accumulating rapidly.

In principle, the potential of the Talisman of Reckoning was limitless. The more harm Forseti endured, the more potent his counterstrike would become.

One second passed.

Five seconds.

Ten, twenty seconds...

"Continue!" Forseti met Cul's gaze unwaveringly. "God of Fear, let me embrace fear!"