I'll Give You One Chance to Rephrase That

"What did you say?"

The Frost Giant clad in snow-white armor raised an eyebrow in extreme surprise. His finger rested on the trigger, and under his control, the black muzzle moved a little closer.

Since becoming the vault guard, he had never encountered an intruder as arrogant as the man before him in all his hundred years.

"Do you know what you're doing right now?" Phoenix Conan looked at Beckett with mocking amusement in his eyes and pulled the trigger.

A brat who did not know his place was not worth wasting words on. This was the vault of Laufey—the greatest king in Frost Giant history. Beckett's attitude made Phoenix feel that he was slighting him, slighting Laufey, and slighting the entire Frost Giant race.

Bang!

The gun chamber exploded!

Under Phoenix's horrified gaze, a beam of light suddenly gathered at the tip of Beckett's index finger, which had been pressed against the muzzle.

The light was blinding. By the time he came back to his senses, piercing pain had instantly swept through every nerve in his body.

"Urgh..."

Looking down in disbelief, Phoenix discovered a fist-sized hole in his chest. That wound had taken away his once-long life.

The enormous azure body slowly collapsed before Beckett, finally freeing The Other.

"Deal with him."

"Yes, His Highness Beckett." The Other picked up the Azure Scepter that had fallen to the ground and respectfully watched Beckett step into the chaotic vault once more.

"His Highness Beckett, based on Woz's matching comparison, the Casket of Ancient Winters is not here." The robotic cat formed from the silver wristband continuously scanned the vault, which Hela's body had smashed into a complete mess, and reached a conclusion Beckett did not want to hear.

"Cough, cough... This is not Laufey's real treasure vault. That bastard has been using a fake vault to lure in all sorts of interstellar thieves for a long time." Hela forcibly swallowed the blood rising in her throat and struggled to stand from the rubble, several streaks of red now staining her pale cheeks.

"Smart. As expected of the daughter of Odin. Unfortunately, you realized it too late."

A majestic, booming voice suddenly echoed overhead. As Laufey's words fell, the area that should have been the vault began to tremble. Then, supported by several ice pillars, it rapidly rose into the air.

Rumble!!!

Shattered stones fell alongside the ice crystals unique to the Jotunheim Royal Court. Changes in terrain were often accompanied by deafening roars.

After a few breaths, the disturbance ceased.

Before Beckett stood a brand-new great hall, a new group of enemies, and a man seated upon the throne—Laufey.

"Son of Thanos, I believe I warned you. For your father's sake, I can let bygones be bygones for what you did before. But it seems you have betrayed my goodwill."

His right index finger lightly tapped the armrest of his throne as Laufey looked down upon Beckett and Hela.

"However, since you brought Hela Odinsdottir to me, I can give you another chance. Leave Jotunheim. Now."

Laufey gave Beckett another chance to leave. He had no choice. Thanos was not someone he could afford to provoke right now.

Although he commanded a massive army, merely confronting Asgard had already left Laufey struggling. That was only possible because allies from the Nine Realms were helping share the burden. If he recklessly provoked Thanos of the Centaurus Galaxy at a time like this, he would soon be leading the Frost Giant warriors to the underworld to meet their past emperors.

"You're afraid."

Contrary to Laufey's expectations, Beckett did not leave gratefully. Instead, he walked toward the king on the throne, one step at a time.

"What?"

"You're afraid of my father. Afraid that he'll join forces with Asgard. That's why you've repeatedly given me chances to leave Jotunheim."

Beckett's calm words, wrapped in the bitter wind and frost, became arrows that pierced straight into Laufey's heart.

"I never thought you'd have a day when you'd bow your head, Laufey." Hela shook the rubble from her body and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her gaze toward Laufey filled with ridicule.

Asgard and Jotunheim were already enemies in war. As Odin's daughter, Hela naturally had no reason to show the Frost Giant king much respect.

"Do not test my limits, Son of Thanos."

He paid no attention to Hela's mockery. In his eyes, she was already a lamb awaiting slaughter.

"The Casket of Ancient Winters." Beckett stopped when he was only one step away from Laufey.

"What?"

"I said, I want the Casket of Ancient Winters in your possession." Having finally encountered an item recorded in Ebony Maw's files, Beckett naturally had no intention of letting it slip away.

Laufey remained silent.

As his guards glared furiously at Beckett, Laufey rose from his throne. He believed that if he had not ordered them not to act rashly beforehand, Beckett would already have been torn to pieces by the enraged bird-like guards.

"Do you know, Son of Thanos? I am king. The strongest king in the history of the Frost Giants—no, the giant race of Jotunheim."

"So I'll give you one final chance to rephrase that." Looking down at Beckett, Laufey found the crimson tail behind him especially glaring.

"Give me the Casket of Ancient Winters."

Boom!!!!

The enraged king suddenly threw a lethal punch at the ant that dared challenge his authority again and again.

Yet he never expected that the creature he considered an ant would dare meet his fist head-on!

His retreating body carved two trails across the snowstorm-swept ground. With his knees slightly bent and his right hand braced against the ground, Beckett's lips curved into a wild, unrestrained grin. Then he shot forward!

Every cell in his body trembled with excitement. Every punch Beckett threw, every movement he made, left behind the sound of air tearing before Laufey.

Invisible shockwaves whipped up the freezing wind and frost. The power steadily rising within Beckett gradually solidified through his battle with Laufey. Beckett vented his emotions to his heart's content, but Laufey's expression grew increasingly grim.

He genuinely felt humiliated. This little brat was actually using him as a punching bag for practice?

Fearing Thanos did not mean he lacked the means to oppose Thanos. He had held off Odin for so long—what difference would one more Thanos make?

Besides, Thanos was not without enemies. There were plenty in the universe who could not stand his actions.