A relentless swarm of insects crashed against Asgard's golden protective shield, causing the entire city to tremble. At this rate, they wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.
The thickly armored insects rampaged through the skies, while the Kree warships' cannon fire inflicted only superficial burns on their carapaces. The more powerful weapons required charging time—time they simply didn't have.
If struck by the insects, the Kree ships would burst into flames and plummet from the sky.
Will watched the dire situation unfold, heart pounding, but utterly powerless to intervene.
"Damnable insects!" A cold voice echoed from the massive crater below, followed by jagged black spikes shooting into the sky, glinting with dark energy.
Both Kree ships and the swarm alike were struck down in the indiscriminate assault, bodies raining from the sky.
Heimdall had anticipated this. Hela would never fall so easily—not while she was still young. Unlike the aging Odin, her strength was at its peak.
Hela emerged from the pit, battered and disheveled, her once-composed demeanor replaced by barely concealed fury. Her armor was riddled with gashes.
"What is that creature... so powerful?" For once, Hela refrained from charging headlong into battle. Weaving through the insects, she flew toward their leader—killing it might be their only hope.
Yet Annihilus, the Brood King, made no move to stop her approach. He sat atop a grotesque armored beetle, exuding an aura of unshakable confidence.
"I am Annihilus, the Brood King. Foolish creature, have you come to submit to me? Your timing is fortunate... I was considering taking on new servants."
It was the first time he had communicated with this world's inhabitants. More servants might not be such a bad idea.
Hela froze at the sudden voice in her mind—then her eyes narrowed in fury. Never had she bowed to anyone. Odin had once sought to imprison her for eternity, fearing the wars she would ignite. Even when the Valkyrie legions marched against her, she had fought without yielding—erasing Asgard's finest warriors from existence.
Close proximity might offer her the only chance at victory. Before Annihilus finished speaking, Hela's sword, Necrosword, grew to immense size and stabbed directly at him.
Clang! The blade was halted by a crimson energy shield emitted from the beetle beneath Annihilus. The barrier shattered seconds later, the creature vomiting green ichor as it collapsed.
But the delay was enough.
"You are tired of living!" Annihilus's rare good mood evaporated. Gripping the Cosmic Control Rod, he caught Necrosword's edge in one hand. The artifact's power had bolstered his body, leaving the legendary blade's bite as little more than a pinprick.
Unaided, Annihilus would have been physically weaker than Hela—but with the Cosmic Control Rod, they were evenly matched.
For several minutes, they struggled, until Hela finally wrenched her weapon free. To her surprise, the swarm remained at bay, parting to leave the two of them alone in a wide circle.
She understood the message. Annihilus sought a duel. Though she scoffed, inwardly she welcomed the reprieve—if the swarm attacked, even she would be overwhelmed.
Below, Asgard's defenses began to crumble. The shield gave out under the insects' relentless assault, explosions lighting the city as the towers housing its generators were reduced to rubble.
Frigga, tending to the wounded, rose sharply to her feet. "The shield is down! We must evacuate the civilians—immediately!"
A few Kree ships broke from the battle, weaving through the swarm toward the city. These were Heimdall and Loki's flagship and its escorts.
Heimdall, grimly surveying the chaos, realized the bitter truth: even if Hela triumphed, Asgard would fall. He directed Will to prepare the ships to ferry the civilians away.
Will, guiding the transports, struggled to keep the fragile convoy intact as swarming insects picked off escort ships one by one.
The Kree commander, Mai Will, clenched his fists. The insects were too numerous, too powerful. They had never encountered such creatures before. His only hope was that the Asgardians might help them survive—at least long enough to report back to the Supreme Intelligence.
Loki disembarked, his expression dark. "Mother... are we truly abandoning Asgard? Those cursed Kree brought this scourge upon us."
Frigga remained composed. "Ragnarok cannot be avoided. The Kree's arrival may yet prove a blessing in disguise. Without these insects, we would be facing Hela's wrath instead."
As the last ship ascended, Will asked, "Where are we going now?"
Heimdall's gaze hardened. "Earth."
They had agreed beforehand—if Asgard fell, they would seek refuge on Earth. The Nine Realms were bound together. If the swarm destroyed Asgard, Midgard would be next. But Earth had grown stronger in recent years. There were powerful defenders there.
"Where are you looking?" Hela's blade flashed, severing one of Annihilus's arms.
The Brood King's agonized snarl echoed across the battlefield—but within moments, a new limb sprouted in its place.
"I cannot allow my prey to escape."
At last, the swarm broke its passive stance, surging forward in a tide of chittering death. Even with her formidable power, Hela began to falter under their onslaught.
The altered Ragnarok was upon them.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON