Odin's Choice

Denial, a completely subconscious denial.

After saying that, Hela herself was a little confused. Why did she deny it?

Is there something shameful about it?

Hela followed closely behind her father Odin toward the Bifrost Hela, pondering to herself, but couldn't come up with a solution for a long time.

It felt like I was secretly doing something bad.

"What's wrong, Hela?"

Frigga, who had been waiting on the Bifrost for a long time, saw her daughter looking lost in thought and couldn't help but ask.

As a good mother, she was happy to listen to her daughter's troubles.

In fact, that's what she has always done, which is why she and Hela still have a good mother-daughter relationship even though she is not Hela's biological mother.

"Nothing, I just thought of some rather strange things."

Hela, regaining her senses, shook her head and leaped onto her warhorse after Odin.

This will be their mode of transport to Vormir before they set off.

First, they use the Bifrost to teleport out of the Nine Realms, and then ride horses across the universe. This has always been Asgard's way of traveling.

"Alright, if you need someone to talk to, I'm always waiting for you in Asgard."

Under Frigga's gentle gaze, Odin and Hela vanished instantly into the Bifrost's dazzling light.

Three days later, somewhere in the universe.

"Father, in fact, I think we in Asgard should also start developing spaceships."

Hela, who was resting on an uninhabited planet, took out hay from the Asgard ranch from her satchel and piled it in front of her warhorse. After a while, she suddenly looked up at her father in front of her and made a suggestion.

Having grown accustomed to the comfort of the spaceship, traveling by horseback, a seemingly primitive mode of transportation, was quite irritating to her.

In particular, we have to stop to feed the horses; nothing else matters.

"Oh?"

"I remember you used to love riding horses." Odin chuckled as he reminisced about the past, when young Hela was a frequent visitor to the Asgard ranches.

"But we have no reason to reject more advanced technology, do we, Father?"

"Of course, then, I'll leave this matter to you, Hela?"

"Leave it to me?" Hela frowned upon hearing this.

"Yes, it's up to you. Don't let me down, Hela." Odin smiled, reaching out to stroke the Flying Divine Horse was happily eating, his deep, star-like eyes gazing into the mysterious depths of the universe.

There, in that distant, unknown land, lies Odin's next challenge.

Those supreme beings are also why Odin went to Vormir to retrieve the Soul Stone.

With the Soul Stone, the Space Stone, and the Destroyer Armor, he has a chance to survive in the event of a possible defeat.

As Odin's power grew, the mere Nine Realms could no longer satisfy his appetite.

Not long ago, after leading the Asgard army to conquer Vanaheim, Jotunheim was the only one in the Nine Realms still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Although he lost the Frost Giant's most precious treasure, the Casket of Ancient Winters, Frost Giant King Laufey of the Frost Giants seems to have gained some of the power of Ymir, the ancestor of the giants, and thus developed a method of borrowing the power of the World Tree to resist the invasion of Asgard.

Unless Odin is willing to destroy the World Tree, the foundation of all Nine Realms, in one fell swoop, conquering Jotunheim will only be a matter of time and patience.

It is precisely for this reason that Odin, who has basically completed the initial conquest, turned his attention to the supreme beings beyond the Nine Realms.

He wanted to take on the challenge, he wanted to conquer.

He wants to become the number one person in this universe, step by step!

Odin, whose ambition had grown unprecedentedly along with his power, thought this way.

Either don't do it at all, or do it right the first time.

Once he defeats those supreme beings, the entire universe will be his, and no one will be able to stop him, including Thanos.

Odin knew that his decision was very risky, but he couldn't help it; he simply couldn't suppress his restless heart.

Therefore, he made two preparations.

Under Hela's leadership, Asgard technology has made great strides, which will be one of the best boosts for her ascension to the throne.

Even if he doesn't return, the Asgard royal family won't be without a successor, Hela will still be able to inherit his mantle and complete his unfinished work.

Should I take responsibility?

How are spaceships developed?

Hela, who had only ever ridden in the finished product, fell into deep thought on her way to Vormir on horseback.

After assuming this new identity and role, Hela was shocked to discover that she knew nothing about the construction of various types of warships and spaceships.

[Should we look for Beckett after we get back?]

Subconsciously, Hela recalled the several times she had met Beckett, and the fact that he always traveled on a different warship.

Besides Beckett, it seems there's no one else who could help her.

Hela couldn't find anyone with mature warship manufacturing technology in his list of acquaintances.

The long journey passed by as Odin dreamed and Hela pondered.

Thirteen days later, the two finally arrived at their destination, Vormir, a desolate planet that appeared to be uninhabited by any life forms.

"According to the map, the Soul Stone is right there." Ignoring the frost and snow that suddenly fell from the sky above Vormir after the two arrived, Hela opened her eyes, waking up from her memories of the map, and took the lead, walking ahead of Odin to guide the way.

"Welcome to Vormir, son of Odin and Son of Bor."

"Welcome to Vormir, Hela, daughter of Odin."

As they ascended from the plains to the mountainside, a voice suddenly rang out in Odin and Hela's ears.

"You know us?"

The wary Odin reached out and Hela behind him, staring intently at the figure that appeared on the hillside ahead.

Even a tattered Cloak couldn't hide his handsome face.

"To know who has come here is a curse upon me."

"Where is the Soul Stone?" Odin asked, squinting.

"Odin, you should understand that you must pay a considerable price to obtain the Soul Stone."

"I'm ready."

Odin, shielding Hela behind him, looked solemn; he had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

"Everyone who met me before you said that, but in the end, they all found themselves to be very wrong."

"Don't compare me to those people."

"Those people said the same thing, but in the end, without exception, they all backed down at the last step."

What is the price to pay for obtaining the gem?

Unable to stand men's pretentious manner, Hela went straight to the point.

"Sacrifice the soul of the one you love."

"What?"

"Soul for soul, isn't that fair?"

The man smiled, and his body, which had been floating in mid-air, slowly landed.

"Moreover, it must be someone you personally love."

"Don't think about taking shortcuts. The Soul Stone, in a sense, is the embodiment of the wisdom of this universe. It can discern whether a person is sincere and whether they have truly paid the price."

"All those who attempt to deceive it end up paying a heavy price, and you are no exception."

"Then tell me, Odin, what is your choice?"

The man in the Cloak smiled broadly, but the look in his eyes as he gazed at Hela sent a chill down her spine.

Hela turned her head and looked at her father beside her, only to meet Odin's gaze.

"Father, Father..."

As frost and snow fell, a deathly silence descended upon the mountainside.

"It's time to go home, Hela."

After a long silence, Odin, his voice hoarse, finally spoke.

"Go home, go back to Asgard."