After agreeing on a "battle plan," the Guardians of the Galaxy split into two groups.
Peter Quill, Drax, and Mantis flew the Milano to Earth, while Rocket and Groot piloted another spare ship toward Asgard.
Meanwhile, Thor and the others, who were organizing the evacuation of Asgardian civilians, also discovered something unusual.
"Instantly fatal strikes, precisely hitting vital points. The wounds were made by an extremely sharp weapon." Fandral studied the wounds on several Asgardian corpses with a grim expression. "An assassin—and a professional one."
"Are you sure it wasn't Hela's Death Legion?" Banner asked skeptically.
"Absolutely not." Fandral spoke with certainty. "The armor worn by Hela's Death Legion and the weapons they use are identical to those of Asgardian soldiers.
But I can say with full responsibility that the weapons which killed them were definitely not made in Asgard.
And... those skeletal soldiers fight far too brutally. There's no way they could end a battle this cleanly."
"So a rat snuck into Asgard?" Wanda rubbed her brow worriedly. "Why now?"
"Not a rat—a venomous snake." Valkyrie said, "This isn't some thief, wanderer, or stowaway. It's a professional assassin.
What would an assassin come to Asgard for? It can't be sightseeing, can it?
And even if it were, isn't this timing a little too sensitive?"
"Odin is dead, and Hela has taken the throne, but Hela's rule is far more brutal than Odin's.
Asgard is now fraught with danger. Once Hela discovers you, no matter who you are, there is only one path: death."
"This assassin has a special objective," Thor said gravely. "But we don't know what it is. As for why he chose to act now..."
"This unusual period is more conducive to accomplishing his objective," Loki said. "That is the most reasonable explanation."
"We have to find