Chapter 129: The Missing Protagonist Appears

The atmosphere turned tense in an instant.

Thor and Loki shifted into their Asgardian attire, while Quill and his team grew vigilant. Regardless of the circumstances, they were Thor’s allies and naturally chose to stand by his side.

Compared to Thor, currently Asgard’s greatest warrior, Hela’s power level was on a vastly different scale. As Odin’s eldest daughter, she had not only inherited his immense strength but, due to the unique circumstances of her birth, she also drew power from Asgard itself. As long as Asgard existed, her power would continue to grow, eternally and boundlessly, potentially becoming infinite as time passed. So long as the will of Asgard endured, she would remain an invincible force, destined to become the realm's ultimate enforcer.

The joy of her release was soured by the presence of these foolish-looking individuals. Yet, this was her moment of greatest triumph; she could see the sky, which meant the seal had been shattered. The broken seal also meant that the old man who had used his own body as a vessel to imprison her—Odin—was finally dead. From this day forward, nothing would stop her from ascending to the pinnacle of power; Hela was about to be crowned queen.

"Yes, I am Hela, the first in line for the Asgardian throne."

Hela did not lash out immediately. Instead, she stood with one hand on her hip, gesturing politely as she introduced herself to Loki, Thor, and the quintet led by Quill.

"Pardon me, I didn't quite catch that. Could you say it again?"

Loki glanced at Thor, and Thor looked back, seemingly confirming the information. After a moment, they both turned their eyes back to Hela.

"I said, I am the first in line for the Asgardian throne."

Hela scanned the outfits worn by Thor and Loki. "So, it seems you two are also from Asgard?"

"I am Thor, God of Thunder, son of Odin, and the rightful heir to the throne of Asgard!" Gripping his hammer, Thor felt his confidence surge as he declared this, his presence bold and unyielding.

"You don't look like Odin at all." Hela studied Thor, then shook her head and looked at Loki. "And you?"

"I am Loki, son of Odin." Loki offered a polite smile, two small daggers appearing in his hands.

"You, however, look quite like Odin. The fellow next to you looks nothing like his child."

"Oh, I like your assessment," Loki remarked, unexpectedly pleased. Finally, someone acknowledged that he was superior to Thor.

Thor curled his lip at Loki. "He’s adopted."

"That is truly surprising," Hela feigned astonishment. She then turned her gaze toward the gawking quintet, pointed at herself, and addressed the group. "Kneel."

"What did you say?"

It wasn't just Thor and Loki; Quill's team felt as though they hadn't heard her correctly.

"I said kneel! Kneel before Hela, the new Queen of Asgard!"

"Oh, I’m not a fan of bossy women. Gamora, are you going to be that bossy?" Quill asked a suicidal question, successfully earning a collective eye-roll from everyone present.

"I think the matter of titles is open for negotiation," Loki said. Faced with such an assertive Hela, he instinctively felt his side should back down; the seven of them didn't seem capable of winning this fight.

"Oh, even if you aren't Odin's biological son, I must say, your way of handling things is very much like his," Hela remarked to Loki. "But you must still kneel." She looked at the group again, her expression one of arrogant command.

"The only King of Asgard is Odin! There is no one named Hela!" Unable to contain himself, Thor let out a crackle of electricity and hurled his hammer with all his might at Hela's face, the weapon whistling through the air at high speed.

What followed left everyone wide-eyed. Loki, who knew the true power of that hammer, and Quill’s team were left in utter disbelief. The scenario they expected—Thor’s hammer sending Hela flying—never happened. The weapon, which only the God of Thunder could wield, was caught in mid-air by Hela with a single hand.

"This... is impossible." Thor blurted out in shock.

"My dear, you have no idea what is about to happen."

Hela squeezed the Mjolnir tightly, wisps of electricity flickering across her palm. "This hammer is a trinket of Odin's; I have no interest in it whatsoever!"

After she spoke, the hammer—the pride of the God of Thunder—cracked under the pressure of her grip. It shattered, causing a shockwave of lightning and air to burst outward in all directions.

"What did I just see?" Rocket asked Quill.

"She crushed Thor's hammer with one hand," Quill replied instinctively. Thor had bragged about the power of his hammer more times than he could count, yet it had been obliterated with such ease.

Loki and Thor were both filled with confusion. Thor, in particular, knew the true power of his weapon better than anyone, and he couldn't grasp the level of power this newfound sister possessed. Loki, however, was preoccupied with a different thought: he was already looking for an exit strategy. After all, this sister was a ruthless force capable of crushing Mjolnir with one hand; she might prove even more violent than Thor. No one understood "strategic retreat" better than Loki.

He looked at Hela and started, "I think there may be some misunderstanding between us—"

But his words were cut short by a voice.

"Excellent, truly excellent. Worthy of the Queen of Asgard."

Lord Rolld emerged from the curtain of the obelisk, accompanied by Sindragosa, Kel'Thuzad, and the others. Behind him appeared Vikan, Grommash, Ragnaros, a new avatar of Zazala, and a vast legion of elite Scourge soldiers.

"Oh, Quill, this new group looks even cooler," Rocket said, once again playing the cynic. "And I have a feeling they don't come in peace. We might be surrounded."

Rolld, clad in armor, leaned on the hilt of Frostmourne and stared at Hela. Sindragosa stood beside him with her arms crossed, while Kel'Thuzad offered a silent, mocking grin. Under the gloomy sky, dense rows of cold, blue lights flickered into existence.

"It seems my welcome ceremony is quite elaborate." Though Rolld's voice was not loud, everyone present heard him clearly.

Hela looked at Rolld, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Indeed. You seem to have anticipated my return?"

Rolld looked at her and remarked, "The passing of Odin fills me with great sorrow. The Nine Realms have lost a kind old man, but they have also welcomed a ruler with far greater ambition. A cause for celebration, truly."