The loose black Battle Suit shredded into strips and fell to the ground. Before Hela's astonished eyes, Beckett, standing beneath the phantom full moon, rapidly swelled in size. Within only a few breaths, a gigantic ape covered in dark brown fur had replaced Beckett on the grounds of the Jotunheim Royal Court, throwing back its head in a long howl!
"How... is this possible..."
Having witnessed Beckett's transformation firsthand, Hela lowered the shield before her. Looking at Laufey, who seemed like a dwarf before the giant ape, her face was filled with disbelief.
"Son of Titan, is this... the power of the Titans?"
Thinking of Beckett's identity as the Son of Thanos, Hela immediately thought of the long-extinct Eternals. Legend had it that every Titan of old had possessed dragon-like might, but even among Titans, had there ever been one this enormous?
How tall was Thanos again?
Having never seen a Titan in person, Hela could only compare and speculate based on the records she had read in Odin's library, trying to determine what state Beckett was currently in.
"The power of the Titans?" Like Hela, Laufey immediately connected Beckett's transformation with his identity as the Son of Titan. Having never seen a Titan throughout his long life, Laufey tightened his grip on his giant axe.
"Titan? No, this is the power of a Saiyan." Having completed his transformation, Beckett looked down at the blue insect by his feet, grinned, and stomped down.
Beckett, who believed himself to be the last Saiyan, never forgot where he came from. Thanos had raised him and given him an environment in which to survive and grow. Because of Thanos, this universe had effectively become his second home, but that did not mean Beckett would abandon his Saiyan identity. Avenging his mother had become an obsession carved into his bones, and his Saiyan heritage was the source of his innate pride.
"Saiyan?"
Still wondering what sort of race Saiyans were, Laufey sensed the danger. Confidently crossing both arms above his head, he braced himself against Beckett's attack!
Bang!
In a clash of pure physical strength, Beckett, in his giant ape form, stomped the confident Laufey straight into the frost-covered earth!
"Pathetic." Beckett's strength had increased dramatically in giant ape form. In terms of raw physical power, he completely overwhelmed Laufey, leaving Hela dumbfounded.
Having freed himself from the ground, Laufey looked at the giant ape, who had already turned his back and was preparing to leave. Fury surged in his heart. The cape custom-made for him by the Wind Giants detached from his body at his command, transforming into a red cord that swiftly wrapped around Beckett's thick arms.
"I am the king of Jotunheim!"
Leaping into the air, Laufey's giant axe, infused with the power of mountains, burst with dazzling light as it cleaved straight toward Beckett's massive head!
Roar!!!
Beckett roared as his bound arms continued to struggle, but Laufey's attack was already right before him. A heavy mountain phantom flickered behind Laufey as he held the giant axe.
"Die—what?!" Laufey, finally prepared to go all out, stared in shock at the giant ape's gaping bloody maw. An incomparably dense energy blast was rapidly forming within it!
Roar!!!!!
With an earth-shattering roar, a silver-white energy beam poured from Beckett's open mouth!
Boom!!!!!
The heavy mountain phantom was effortlessly pierced through. Even the giant axe that the Mountain Giants claimed could rival Mjolnir turned directly into dust, completely vanishing into Jotunheim's bitter wind and frost.
"So what if you're a king? I've killed more than one!" Killing intent blazed in Beckett's crimson eyes. After breaking free of his restraints, he tore the red cape in his hands to pieces. His enormous body left one mark after another across the frost-covered ground. His thick arms seized Laufey's body as though grabbing a fly, then smashed him viciously into the ground!
Laufey felt as if his chest had collided with a hard asteroid. The searing pain he had previously experienced only at Odin's hands instantly swept through nerves long numbed by the bitter cold.
"You so-called king are nothing worth mentioning." Beckett did not spare the fallen Laufey. He grabbed his ankle with one hand. The mighty chief of the Frost Giants and king of Jotunheim's giant race was repeatedly swung and smashed against the ground in Beckett's hand like a ruined rag doll.
His powerful body smashed the ground, sending ice fragments flying everywhere. Hela, watching from nearby, was completely stunned.
Was that man, utterly unable to fight back, truly the Laufey who had always contended against her father Odin?
Could he be a fake Laufey?
If this was real, didn't that mean Beckett already possessed strength enough to contend with her father Odin?
Hela's expression was complicated.
After swinging him back and forth more than a dozen times, Beckett grew tired of playing and released Laufey. Grabbing his ankle, he tossed him directly to the feet of the watching Hela. White frost and snow covered Laufey's face, as though concealing the miserable state of this once-proud king.
"Celebrate!"
"The great Titan, Son of Thanos, the honored His Highness Beckett, has defeated the king of the Frost Giants upon the land of Jotunheim!"
"From this day forth, Jotunheim shall officially become one of His Highness Beckett's subordinate territories!"
The Other, holding the Azure Scepter, emerged from the collapsed palace ruins. Before he could even brush the debris from his body, he dropped to one knee in Beckett's direction and loudly sang his praises.
"Honestly, here he goes again." Aboard the warship, Woz stood on tiptoe to shut down the artificial full moon machine. Hearing The Other's extravagantly fawning congratulations, he helplessly shook his head.
"You never showed up to help when His Highness Beckett was fighting, but once it's over, you're quicker than anyone to celebrate." Muttering to himself, Woz retracted his long mechanical arms into his pockets and pushed the machine back on his short little legs.
"..." Hela lowered her head and stared at Laufey, whose face could not be seen beneath the snow at her feet. With a flick of her right hand, Mjolnir returned to her grasp.
"Ij Koru, Isaks Namonak..."
As Mjolnir began to shine, a hoarse voice rang out over the Jotunheim Royal Court. Each word of the ancient incantation carried an indescribable resonance. Its rising and falling cadence made The Other, who had been celebrating step by step, feel an inexplicable pressure.
Rumble!!!!
Lightning flashed and thunder roared across the dim sky.
Wild winds howled, and mountains and rivers bellowed!
The majestic heavenly might unleashed by this ancient chant throughout the world of Jotunheim bent The Other's freshly straightened back.
This feeling...?
Beckett, who had just reverted from his giant ape form to his normal Saiyan form, furrowed his brow tightly. His gaze remained fixed on Laufey, whose face could not be seen at Hela's feet.
That softly chanted incantation had exactly the same voice as Laufey.
"Laufey, you have truly grown more pathetic with age. To face two children, you actually need to use the forbidden art of your Frost Giant race."
A vigorous voice resounded across the dark heavens. A bloodstained spear streaked down like lightning, piercing through everything that could stand in its way before plunging straight into the ground beside Hela.
"Father." Hela turned in delighted surprise, looking at the imposing figure standing above the heavens.
I only realized today that the contract had arrived, so I updated the signing status. Thanks to zmy Our Love and Light Song Walking Through Snow for the rewards~
I only noticed after posting it—why did the review hold it up again???
Are they refusing to let me post it or what...
No matter how I look at it, I can't see anything prohibited...
Before you continue