Chapter 57: Hey…Sister

I didn't kneel for Thanos, so who do you think you are?

Already simmering with frustration, Thor barked into the dark space, "Get lost! Kneel, my ass—!"

The space fell silent.

Thor suddenly realized where the voice had come from and looked in its direction. His eyes widened.

Standing there with an icy expression was none other than Hela.

"Oh… Sister! You could've given me a heads-up," Thor stammered.

It was indeed Hela who had spoken just now—

Hela gave a cold smile. "If I hadn't seen you drifting around in that broken dimensional rift, I wouldn't have bothered fishing you out."

She took a step forward, her voice dripping with authority. "Now… kneel before your queen!"

Family or not, kneeling was out of the question. Thor knew that once he got down on his knees, it'd be hard to stand up straight again.

"Sister, come on now," he replied, spreading his hands in a placating gesture. "Asgard's a society of equals now; that sort of thing's outdated…"

Hela sneered, recognizing his evasiveness. Thor might appear straightforward, but he was even trickier than their father Odin, subtly steering the conversation whenever he pleased. She almost admired his potential as a ruler. But that didn't mean he'd escape her wrath.

With a flick of her wrist, Hela conjured a sleek, black sword in her hand.

In Asgard, "disciplining" younger siblings was a time-honored tradition. And if words wouldn't work, well… a little physical reminder never hurt. Besides, Hela wasn't one for holding back.

She let her long hair fall back, black spikes emerging from her collar, as the menacing aura of death radiated around her.

Thor's shoulders slumped. So it's going to be a fight, then. Just great. Dealing with Hela was no small task—especially when she was in one of her battle-ready moods.

The only problem? He wasn't sure he could beat her.

The battle didn't last long before Thor began to feel the strain. In physical skills alone, he could keep up, but her strength, magic, speed, and defenses all outmatched his. She wasn't even giving it her all, and he was already struggling.

Meanwhile, Hela's eyes gleamed with excitement, becoming more aggressive with each exchange.

Just as Thor was scrambling for a way to turn the tide, a golden ring of light appeared between them. The Ancient One stepped through, her expression calm as she wielded an energy whip, sending it sailing towards Hela.

Hela's expression shifted from amusement to concentration. She countered by sending out a series of black swords, slicing the energy whip mid-air.

Undeterred, the Ancient One conjured a transparent, crystalline barrier that rushed toward Hela. Before she could react, Hela found herself locked in and immobilized.

Thor stared in awe. Ancient One, you're amazing! Here I am, barely holding my own, and she managed to trap Hela with just a few moves!

Hela, rarely fazed, looked uncharacteristically unsettled. The Ancient One radiated a pressure she hadn't felt since Odin at his peak.

"Who are you?" Hela demanded, her voice colder than ever.

The Ancient One didn't answer. "The royal family matters of Asgard are none of my concern," she said evenly. "But this one," she glanced at Thor, "is here because of my oversight. I can't simply turn a blind eye."

With that, she stepped back through the portal. The restraints binding Hela vanished, and she released a tense breath.

Thor hurried over to Hela, whispering, "Like Odin—she is a real powerhouses in the Nine Realms right now. Midgard only remains part of the Nine Realms in name because she allows it."

He gave Hela a final glance, then followed the Ancient One through the portal.

Hela watched the portal shrink with an uncertain expression. For a moment, she was tempted to charge after them. But she stopped herself, knowing Odin would likely intervene immediately—and the formidable sorceress might be waiting for her.

No need to rush, she thought. Odin's time is almost up… just a few more years.

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