Near the Moon, space rippled violently. Moments later, over a dozen ships of varying sizes and shapes burst out of a wormhole.
Star-Lord's ship, the Dawn—a Swift-type vessel—followed the others into the solar system, closing in on Earth. Through the viewport, Quill greedily drank in the sight of the beautiful blue planet. Even though humanity had smogged it up and left it shrouded in gloom, to Quill it was still the most beautiful planet in the universe.
At the same time, the voice of the mission's temporary captain crackled over Quill's comms.
"Peter Quill, you jackass, why did we jump in outside the planet's atmosphere? If we don't blend in directly, the Asgardian Watcher could spot us!"
The accusation echoed through Quill's cockpit. He just smirked, utterly unbothered.
"Asgard's in the middle of a war. You think their Watcher has time to notice a measly thirteen little ships like ours? Split up, take a look at how the war's progressing, and then let's all get rich, boys!"
With that, Quill activated the spectral array, cloaking his ship. He peeled away from the group and made straight for Earth.
Meanwhile, the squad's temporary public channel erupted in a chorus of wild excitement.
"By the Eternal, I see the battlefield! Chitauri ships and bio-matter everywhere!"
"Damn right—even wreckage from their destroyers! This stuff's worth way more than the landing craft!"
"I'm salvaging first! Hell, Cap, throw me an extra two thousand, and I'll log the big debris for you on the side, make it easier when you send in more haulers!"
"I want three thousand. I've got Nova Corps–grade search and recovery gear on board!"
"While you assholes are yapping, I already found a broken spearhead. Runes like these are clearly Aesir work—haha, a Berserker Spear! Worth at least eight hundred!"
"Screw that, I'm coming!"
The ships scattered, moving with spectral cloaks engaged. They crept carefully along the Chitauri invasion route toward Earth, picking through countless pieces of wreckage for anything of value.
Of course, none of them had any idea…
…that at this very moment, elsewhere.
On Asgard, Hela—who had been idly nudging Zhuo Geng's shin with the toe of her boot—suddenly heard Heimdall's voice.
"General Hela, a small group of space pirates has appeared near Midgard."
"Oh?!"
Hela's eyes lit up with excitement. She swept her arm through the air and roared.
"All newly nominated Berserker Legion candidates, front and center!"
Shing!
Over two thousand warriors stepped out from the ranks of Asgard's army!
Hela eyed these soldiers—ordinary troops, yet worthy of lifting a Berserker Spear—and her face split in a bloodthirsty grin.
"The Chitauri have just been slaughtered by our hands, and yet, even now, pirates dare cross the line and strut about on Asgardian territory!"
As she spoke, she slashed her right hand downward. Brand-new Berserker Spears, forged in a frantic rush by Asgard's runesmiths over the past ten-odd days, flew into the warriors' waiting hands.
"All of you possess strength far beyond those of your rank and generation. But whether you are truly worthy to inherit the insignia and glory of the Berserker Legion will be decided upon the battlefield! Take up the spears at your sides! Feel the power of rage—master it, control it, make it serve you! Heimdall, give me the coordinates of those space pirates! The new Berserker Legion of Asgard shall be unsheathed!!!"
Hela bellowed with fervor. But her words made Heimdall, standing beside the Bifrost, suck in a cold breath and freeze.
A moment later, Heimdall quietly explained.
"General, the enemy force consists of only thirteen ships. Their living crew numbers no more than seventy. You're bringing a force of two thousand…?"
The moment Heimdall's puzzled voice reached her ears, Hela's entire demeanor deflated. She pursed her lips in a sulk.
"Why didn't you say so sooner?! Why didn't you say so?! Just a couple of puny targets, and you get my blood boiling like that! If you trouble me with such petty matters again, don't blame me if I report you to the Allfather for dereliction of duty, Heimdall!"
With that, Hela cast a frustrated look over the eager Berserker candidates. The warriors were nearly trembling with impatience, ready to seize their Berserker Spears.
It was all because Heimdall couldn't just spit it out clearly—and because she'd gotten a little too carried away herself. Ugh…
But as she sighed, Heimdall quietly added.
"General, the reason I brought a matter as small as thirteen pirate vessels to your attention is that among those pirates is someone who puts me in an awkward position. One of Ego the Celestial's children is currently mixed in with that lot!"
"Hah. Ego has never sired a single son who's made a name for himself. All his children are useless trash!"
Looking at her soldiers' expectant faces, Hela exhaled.
"Heimdall, the Bifrost still hasn't been restored anyway. Take Loki with you and go meet this so-called Son of the Celestial. I don't feel comfortable letting him go alone. These warriors' blood is burning—it would be wrong to send men ready to embrace glory against a few dozen pirates and a no-name Celestial's son! I'll take them to Jotunheim instead. Beating up some Frost Giants is never a bad idea. That's settled!"
"Er… so I'm to handle it personally? Very well, my Legion of Einherjar requires no supervision anyway. Then… I shall go find Loki!"
"Good!"
Hela nodded, dismissing the conversation with Heimdall from her mind.
She turned to the warriors before her and thrust her right hand high into the air.
"I've just reconsidered. We are warriors of glory—pirates are unworthy to be our opponents. Therefore, your first battle as Berserkers shall be against Asgard's ancient, eternal foe: the Frost Giants! Reach out your hands and grasp the new spears forged just for you!"
"Yes!!!" Two thousand soldiers reached out as one, seizing the spears engraved with countless berserker runes.
In mere moments, every single warrior's eyes flared red!
Still, they were Asgardians through and through; their control over rage was remarkably effective. Even trembling with uncontainable excitement, even with their jaws clenched so tight they creaked—at the very least, none of them started beating the hell out of their comrades.
Hela seized the moment and raised her hand. Over the past ten-odd days, she had already learned the operation of the Bifrost from Frigga.
Rainbow light enveloped the warriors, whisking them away from Asgard in an instant.
Moments later, Jotunheim. The warriors landed upon an endless frozen continent.
As she felt the far thinner frost aura of Jotunheim, Hela's brow creased in mild surprise.
"Jotunheim feels like it's been purged. Why can't I sense the Frost Giant King's presence?!"
Hearing her question, one of the warriors still clear-headed enough to answer spoke up.
"Laufey fell to Prince Loki's scheming!"
"Ha. I never imagined Loki was capable of pulling off something that big. I can only say—well done indeed! Since the Frost Giant King is already dead, what are we waiting for? All of you—chase your glory!!!"
At Hela's command, the two thousand newly minted Berserker rookies unleashed their utterly frenzied first time upon the thoroughly bewildered Frost Giants.
Countless Frost Giants died with their aggrieved eyes wide open.
As for Hela…
She didn't find the Frost Giants aggrieved in the slightest. Those accursed giants had invaded Asgard proper more than once! Just like those devilish little islanders from Midgard and their savage invasions in ages past. If you dare set foot on Asgardian soil as an invader, then don't blame me for holding that hatred against your entire race and all your descendants!
As the wails of countless Frost Giants echoed around her, Hela's face was painted in shades of blood.
Let this be a lesson to you all: the pain of tomorrow is born from the sins of yesterday. Do not say you were not forewarned.
…
Meanwhile, Heimdall picked up his blade, Bultsteel, and headed straight for Loki.
At that moment, Loki was hanging around Asgard's theater, writing and rehearsing new plays for the actors.
The titles of those plays?
Loki Brought the True Sun to Asgard!
Asgard's Radiance Today Is Born of Yesterday's Shadows!
And…
A Few Matters of Thor the Thunder God's Love Life.
By the time Heimdall arrived, Loki was personally playing his brother Thor. There, in front of the actress cast as Jane Foster, he was wearing an utterly dog-like, simpering grin.
Watching Loki's performance, Heimdall had to fight desperately to hold in his laughter.
As someone who had seen Thor in that exact state around Jane Foster with his own two eyes, Heimdall had to admit:
Loki nailed the part.
In the theater, the temporary audience—actors who hadn't been cast in the new productions—were howling with laughter at the ridiculous sight of "Thor" as played by Loki.
Heimdall gave a couple of claps and called out softly.
"Loki!"
At his voice, Loki—right in the middle of cradling the leading lady's foot and giggling like a fool—instantly straightened his expression. He casually tossed the glistening foot aside, then beckoned, drawing water from the air to wash his hands clean.
In the next breath, the armor identical to Thor's shimmered and shifted, reverting to his own flowing robes.
"Tsk, tsk. Heimdall himself has come looking for me. Don't tell me even you, all-seeing as you are, enjoy the sight of Thor acting like a simp, haha."
After cracking the joke, Loki made his way over to Heimdall and asked seriously.
"What's happened, Heimdall, for you to come in person?"
"A handful of space pirates have entered Midgard's gravitational sphere. General Hela has ordered you and me to handle it."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is a surprise. Now even a general can give us orders. But fine, I'll listen. I just have one question."
Loki's expression soured slightly. He continued.
"Why not let the army deal with it themselves? Is there really a need for us to step in?"
He punctuated the words with a sly clap of his hands and a mocking smile.
"Could it be that our newly appointed General Hela has so little faith in Asgard's military?"
"No, Loki. It was my suggestion."
Heimdall picked up the thread and gently explained.
"I brought such a trivial matter to General Hela's attention specifically because there is a very particular person among that small band of pirates. Thirty-four years ago, a manifestation of Ego the Celestial spent two years cavorting on Midgard. I witnessed him leave his offspring there, and I also memorized that child's essence. That very same child is now hiding among those pirates."
At this, Heimdall placed a hand on Loki's shoulder.
"When it involves a Celestial, I cannot afford to be careless. Having a chief deity like General Hela, or you or me, handle it is, at the very least, a show of respect for a Son of a Celestial."
"Ha! Something this huge, and you're sure just the two of us are enough to deal with it? The son of a damn Celestial?!"
No matter how anyone else might react, when the name "Celestial" was invoked, Loki was definitely the type to suddenly find his sense of self-preservation.
But hearing this, Heimdall's expression turned unexpectedly awkward.
He hesitated for a moment, then rolled his eyes and said.
"Rest assured, Loki. This Son of the Celestial who has wandered into the Nine Realms… he's… well, he's quite unique. And not in any way worth fearing. Trust me."
/-\
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