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[Vengeance and Reckoning] Finale

"Thanos!"

Forseti quickly identified the blue light as the space gem's portal, through which Thanos had arrived.

Outside observers hadn't noticed yet; to them, the space gem's light had appeared for just a fraction of a second.

"Eitri, we need to hurry," Forseti said, producing the Eternal Radiant Crystal.

"I understand. This affects everyone's fate!" Eitri nodded solemnly, accelerating the forging process as the Ashbringer rapidly took shape.

The Ashbringer, a single-edged greatsword, featured a robust blade infused with bright, fiery power from the sacred Elementium ingots.

Its back sported an arc-shaped gap designed for the Eternal Radiant Crystal's placement.

Once the crystal was suspended within, unable to be removed, the Ashbringer would be complete.

Azeroth's inherited Sword of Light was about to reveal its radiant splendor in this universe.

Within the Time Barrier, Forseti and Eitri hastened the Ashbringer's forging while outside, everyone noticed Thanos' arrival.

"There he is!" Thor gripped Gorehowl, eyeing the open portal.

"Prepare for battle." Hela led Asgard's people in readiness.

"For the Holy Light!" Silver Hand Knights shouted, each Paladin ready to fight to the end, awaiting the imminent birth of the Ashbringer.

"The Avengers Assemble!" Steve Rogers rallied all Avengers, knowing this battle was life or death.

Thanos regarded them with disdain.

Beyond the universe's gods, he was now its mightiest being, holding five Infinity Gems, invincible against any challenger.

From the deceased Supreme Sky Lord Odin to the Nine Realms' god, Cul, fear's origin, and even the living Dark Lord Dormammu and Hell's King Mephisto—none posed a threat.

Only the Supreme Mage with the Time Stone could hinder him, but this fool was assisting another in forging a blade with his most potent weapon.

The outcome was clear.

He would remove all obstacles,

Claim the Time Stone, slay Forseti, and finally snap his fingers to realize his ultimate annihilation dream.

Upon his arrival, the scene mirrored the end of Avengers III.

Confronted by his invincible power, all opposition was effortlessly cast aside.

Hela, Thor, Loki, Hulk, Punisher, Black Widow—even Steve Rogers, capable of standing up to nearly anyone, barely landed a single blow.

A mage unable to act merely maintained a feeble spell, nervously observing Thanos' approach.

"It's over, Mage." Thanos approached Doctor Strange, seizing his throat.

Doctor Strange glanced at the scene within the Time Barrier, offering no resistance as Thanos crushed his vertebrae as easily as a chicken's.

Thanos spared his life; otherwise, the frail human mage might have crumbled to dust under his grip.

With Doctor Strange dead, the time barrier vanished, and Thanos took hold of the suspended Time Gem.

Turning to Forseti, he intoned coldly, "You've forged your holy sword in time; I sense its exceptional power. But what difference can it make?"

Leaning on the Ashbringer, radiant light and flames burst from its blade in all directions, the Eternal Radiant Crystal suspended within radiating warm energy.

"For everything!" Forseti declared firmly, raising the Ashbringer, its fiery edge aimed directly at Thanos!

Thanos began to retort.

Forseti's holy light burst forth from his runes—Divine Shield.

This wasn't just spell fragments; when Forseti wielded the Ashbringer, Divine Shield imprinted in his mind like instinct.

"You recognize this spell, Divine Shield," Forseti paused, echoing Captain America, "But now, what I wish to say is, I can do this all day!"

Thanos scowled.

He didn't intend to duel Forseti all day, but he had already accepted the Soul Gem's terms. To gain complete control over the Soul Gem's infinite power and fulfill his ultimate desire, he needed to slay Forseti.

"Fine, let's see which prevails: Holy Light or infinite power," Thanos challenged.

With that, he brought the Time Gem closer to his glove, a flash of green light uniting the six Infinity Gems on the Infinity Gauntlet, causing the entire universe to quake, echoing throughout time and space!

However, in this moment, Thanos' pupils constricted, fear etched on his face: "This is..."

The six Infinity Stones emitted a terrifying light, enveloping him layer by layer, reshaping him into a new form:

a goddess.

With purple skin akin to Thanos', she wore a white robe and golden crown.

The six Infinity Stones adorned the crown, now mere decoration as the vast power of infinity belonged to this reborn goddess.

Nemesis.

Forseti found himself stunned by the transformation.

The Nemesis goddess spoke first, her voice identical to the Soul Gem's voice in Forseti's memory, but imbued with greater bitterness: "In this fragmented time and space, destiny nearly failed. You are the cause, Forseti!"

"You will pay, and the universe shall crumble to atomic dust!"

Facing an even more fearsome Nemesis, all Forseti could do was brace himself and declare, "Light above..."

He roared, transforming into the ancient king's guardian under the Holy Shield, Ashbringer swinging straight at Nemesis!

To his astonishment, activating Divine Shield in this form revealed a variant resembling Fording's display during his challenge.

Perhaps this was the true Divine Shield?

Against Nemesis, it seemed insignificant.

"Incredible!" Nemesis raised her hand, transcendent power beyond the universe's laws rushing towards Forseti, the terrifying destruction swiftly engulfing the Holy Shield.

Forseti struggled to comprehend this sensation. Fundamental laws of time and space no longer held, events occurring beyond ordinary comprehension of logic and cause and effect.

Yet under Nemesis' incredible onslaught, Divine Shield... shattered.

Forseti couldn't believe it, but reality stood—his impregnable Holy Shield vanished!

He chuckled bitterly.

The disparity proved insurmountable; if Holy Shield could fail so easily...

...perhaps it should be destroyed.

Forseti believed his end was near, yet a sudden recollection stirred within.

Holy Shield wasn't the pinnacle of Holy Light's power; the true zenith was Reckoning.

With hesitation, he opened the Eyes of Reckoning, shocked to find the countless Reckoning Runes surrounding Nemesis, pervading the entire universe!

These runes, fragments of Holy Shield, enshrouded Nemesis and filled the cosmos with their murderous intent!

Despite her vast power, the so-called omniscient Nemesis seemed oblivious to these lethal Reckoning symbols!

Forseti now grasped the full expanse of Holy Light's power like never before.

Summoning his resolve, he confronted Nemesis, "Reckoning isn't over; now Holy Light shall exact its vengeance!"

"Light is extinguished," Nemesis retorted.

"Reckoning!" Forseti extended his hand, Reckoning Seal blazing brightly.

Reckoning Runes permeating the universe surged, targeting Nemesis, who stood momentarily as the focal point of these runes.

Not human, Nemesis possessed profound understanding; soon she comprehended the immense power of infinite Reckoning, quietly fading from the universe...

Forseti gazed emptily into the void, Nemesis—intent on reducing the universe to atomic dust—vanished as if she had never existed.

He wondered if his life in Asgard had been a fleeting dream.

Hela's embrace reminded him it was real; all was genuine, encompassing both love and destruction.

"You saved everyone," Hela embraced her husband tightly.

"In truth... I only wished to save you." Forseti returned her embrace.

He couldn't help but laugh; ultimately, he wasn't a superhero...

...

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