Hela's gaze met that of the approaching woman. She felt an immense pressure, as though lightning were churning all around her, leaving her unable to breathe.
Thunder rumbled in her ears. For a moment, she actually felt trapped in a situation she could not escape.
Since when did Asgard have someone like this?
Hela pondered to herself.
"This is an old grudge between me, Asgard, and Odin. I advise you to stay out of it."
Hela's gaze swept over the woman, Lin Ze, and the others before finally settling on Thor, who was being helped to his feet.
"Odin's death is near. Asgard needs an heir, a leader who can restore its glory."
"And I, Hela, am first in line. Compared to this pathetic brother of mine, I am far more qualified to rule Asgard."
"You cannot stop me," Hela declared arrogantly.
At Hela's words, not a ripple stirred in the woman's purple eyes. She did not even blink.
"I remember a fine saying from Liyue: those who follow different paths cannot work together. Then let us fight."
Before those words had finished ringing in Hela's ears, her pupils constricted. The figure before her abruptly vanished from sight, leaving only a lingering streak of lightning in the air.
As danger closed in, Hela's sixth sense kicked into action, bringing an intense surge of instinct and vigilance. In that instant, time seemed to slow, every second stretching out. The powerful premonition coursed through her body like an electric current.
Her heart raced, her blood boiled.
Every minute change in her body was amplified, every sense sharpened.
Thunder, wind, people's breathing.
And...
The faint crack of a sharp weapon tearing through space.
"Too slow!"
Brilliant lightning obscured Hela's vision. Every sound around her vanished, replaced by the shrill whistle of something cutting