Darkseid and Thanos's First Meeting

"So, is there anything you want to tell me?"

On the vast, icy land, Hela pointed at Mera, who stood motionless in place, and asked kindly.

"How did you end up here?" Beckett asked rhetorically, seemingly unrelated to the question.

Hela should be in Asgard, not on Earth where Loki is.

The Other, upon disembarking from the spaceship, sensed an odd air pressure and suppressed the urge to shout with celebration. He then used his flamethrower to unseal the Pietro siblings and the traitor Gamora, who were frozen in the ruins of the New York Sanctum.

He saw the three people who had become ice sculptures, and also saw Strange, Banner, and Pepper Potts, who were also frozen in ice.

The Other knew his place well; it was best not to get involved in Beckett's family affairs.

The best approach is to honestly find a way to boost Beckett's reputation.

"My dear brother destroyed the magical hub of this city. There's something strange going on in Asgard. I've come to check it out."

"Then, I met this Mera."

"And you?"

"Shouldn't you be in the Dark Order?"

With a hint of doubt and danger in her slightly narrowed eyes, Hela recounted everything that had happened to her and then asked a question in return.

"Are you going to the Dark Order?" Beckett invited Hela.

"What?" Instead of a reasonable explanation, Hela was given an invitation to go to the Dark Order, which caught her off guard.

Logically speaking, shouldn't Beckett be racking his brains trying to figure out how to explain this woman named Mera to her?

How come Beckett looks like nothing happened and it's like nothing's wrong?

"Mera, and Clark before her, are not from this universe."

"I know, Loki told you before you came, including about her." Hela stopped pretending and laid her cards on the table, telling Beckett directly that she knew everything and just wanted a reason.

"If you understand, then come with me."

Beckett hoisted the motionless Mera onto his shoulder and boarded the slowly descending spaceship, which was being piloted by Woz, with a cold expression.

He had a very bad feeling.

That's terrible.

The sudden appearance of Loki, Clark, Mera, and others inexplicably stirred a sense of unease in Beckett's heart.

He couldn't pinpoint the source of this unease, but instinctively, he wanted Hela to go to the Dark Order with him.

"It's very dangerous outside right now."

It was a reason that sounded like it was meant to fool a child, but with Beckett's stern face, it was all the more convincing.

At least, Hela believed it.

Because Beckett rarely showed this expression on his face.

Beckett had never said such caring things to her before.

"I need to know the truth about you and her."

Hela, noticing Beckett's current state of confusion, did not press him for answers.

The issue of cosmic invasion was clearly a higher priority than her relationship with Beckett.

In particular, judging from what Loki said earlier, it seems that the other party's ultimate goal was Beckett.

DC Universe, Apokolips.

Darkseid, the Lord of Apokolips, sat enthroned on his throne.

At the bottom of the steps, Loki, who had just stepped out of the teleportation array, bowed respectfully. "Your Excellency Darkseid, I have kept Mera, the Queen of the Sea, by Beckett's side as you instructed."

After completing his mission, Loki straightened his back a bit more after bowing.

They have the confidence.

"What about Beckett's combat stats?"

Darkseid opened his eyes on the throne, and his sharp gaze instantly made Loki, who had just felt a little smug, cower like an old dog.

"As per your instructions, I previously installed an energy analyzer underground in downtown New York City."

"Mera's ice barrier has blocked the Artificial Intelligence scanning around Beckett, so the data should be being analyzed right now."

The honest and unassuming second prince of Asgard is truly unworthy of the title of "evil god".

Darkseid, having already lost once with his clones, takes this invasion extremely seriously.

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle.

Only by determining Beckett's current power ceiling can Darkseid decide on the next steps.

Destroying the magic hubs on Earth causes disruption to the Earth's energy field;

Summon Hela to defeat her in order to lure Beckett out so that he can collect his data.

All of this was arranged by Darkseid based on the information Loki provided.

As for keeping Mera by Beckett's side, it was because Darkseid wanted to meet Thanos, the one Loki spoke of, through her, thus nurturing Beckett into a powerful ruler.

"Connect the database. I need to know Beckett's current strength level as soon as possible."

Darkseid waved, signaling that Loki could leave.

"Yes."

Loki, who dared not make any small move in front of Darkseid, bowed and stepped back.

He didn't even dare to have any other thoughts, for fear that someone might read them out.

After Loki left, Darkseid soon saw the detailed analysis results from the energy analyzer displayed in front of him.

Beckett's, Hela's, and even Wanda, Pietro, Strange's...

All the figures who fought in New York City were presented to Darkseid an orderly manner by the instruments that Loki had placed underground.

"Has it already grown to this level?" Darkseid stared at the data on the panel, lost in thought.

"Yes, Father."

"What a pity." Thanos walked down the steps with his hands behind his back.

Since that White-haired Thor has grown to such a level of strength, it's understandable that Beckett didn't bring him back.

But...

Thanos looked at the cabbage standing behind his son. "Bring her to see me, and leave Hela in your side hall?"

Are they really not afraid that Hela might misunderstand?

"Father, Woz's analysis shows that there is a very strange energy in her body that he cannot analyze." Since Woz couldn't do it, Beckett could only turn to Thanos.

The one cursed by knowledge.

This was a tragedy that Thanos once mentioned to Beckett, a tragedy that belonged to him.

"I understand. You can go back now. I'll handle her matter personally." Thanos smiled slightly and waved for Beckett to go back and calm Hela.

"Yes, Father."

Beckett bowed and turned to leave.

"Energy from another universe?"

"Um?"

After Beckett left, Thanos, who had been studying Mera for a while, noticed something was amiss.

Mera, who had been motionless as if she had lost all signs of life, suddenly looked up, and the gloomy look in her eyes vanished!

A massive virtual image slowly coalesced behind Mera.

Darkseid?

"Thanos?"

Two mysterious and unpredictable figures, separated by two universes, gaze at each other.

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Finally finished! (smug hands on hips. jpg)