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[Frog] Chapter 220: Hela's Temper, Nick Fury is Dead
🕑 Added 2024-12-20 18:48:46 +0000 UTCSanctum Sanctorum
Standing before an ancient wooden table, the Ancient One looked at Hela with astonishment. "You want me to help you find the Emperor?"
"That's correct."
"I'm very interested in him," Hela said. "If possible, I want him to join my divine kingdom and become my general."
"To lead my army in conquering the Nine Realms."
Her eyes burned with unbridled battle spirit.
In the past, Hela had almost single-handedly overrun the entire Frost Giant clan. But it was precisely because of her overwhelming power that Odin grew deeply wary of her.
The Ancient One looked at the "madwoman" before her, smiled faintly, and asked, "Setting aside whether I have the ability to help you find the Emperor—if I did, what reason would I have to help you?"
"Earth is also part of Nine Realms," she continued, her meaning clear. Was Hela planning to invade Earth in the future as well?
If so, not only would the Ancient One have no reason to help her, but she might resolve the issue here and now—or send the not-yet-fully-restored Hela back to Asgard.
"Haha!"
Hela laughed heartily at the Ancient One's attitude. "Interesting. You’re the most intriguing Sorcerer Supreme I’ve ever met."
"To negotiate terms with the Goddess of Death—you’re the first."
Stretching lazily, Hela reclined on the Ancient One’s couch. "How about this: you help me, and in the future, Earth will be my ally."
"Consider it a personal favor I owe you."
Hearing this, the Ancient One’s hands paused mid-motion.
She hadn’t expected the Emperor to have such charm that even the proud Goddess of Death was willing to pay such a price for him.
A favor from Hela...
The Ancient One found that appealing.
Lately, she had sensed an overwhelming crisis looming over Earth, one that made even her feel a tinge of unease. It carried the potential to destroy the world entirely.
After pretending to deliberate for a moment, the Ancient One finally said, "Alright, I’ll accept your request."
"However, let me make it clear—I can’t guarantee I’ll find the Emperor."
"But...you’ll still need to honor those terms."
Hela frowned slightly. "The ancient magic you Sorcerer Supremes wield surpasses even the archives of Asgard."
"Is there anyone you can’t find?"
The Ancient One smiled wryly and sipped her tea. "If it were anyone else, I could guarantee it."
"But the Emperor...I truly cannot."
"Why not?"
Hela pressed on.
The reason she had sought out the Ancient One was her confidence in the Sorcerer Supreme's ability to locate the Emperor.
Now, the Ancient One claimed she might not be able to do it.
Having been sealed away for so long, trapped in Hel with nothing but endless flames for company, Hela's temper was far from forgiving.
Boom!
Hela stood abruptly, releasing a formidable black aura that surged through the room, toppling everything around her.
Glass objects shattered outright under the oppressive energy.
Only the Ancient One’s chair and the cup of tea in her hand remained untouched.
If an antique enthusiast were present, they’d likely collapse in despair, for every item in the Ancient One’s room was centuries old.
"Sorcerer Supreme, my powers may not be fully restored," Hela said coldly, "but I am not someone to be trifled with."
The Ancient One shook her head and continued calmly, "I believe you witnessed the Emperor's battle with Odin, didn’t you?"
"Of course. That was shortly after I was unsealed. I followed Odin’s aura to the scene."
"Then tell me—could you discern the source of the Emperor’s power?"
Hela’s eyes narrowed.
She had indeed noticed something peculiar about it.
The Emperor's power gave her an indescribable feeling, so elusive that even tracking it was impossible. Otherwise, with Hela’s strength, she wouldn’t have needed to seek the Ancient One’s help to locate the Emperor.
Ancient One continued, “The Emperor’s power is not only immense but also extraordinarily mysterious. It’s a force neither you nor I have ever encountered before. That’s why I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to find him for you.”
Hela finally withdrew her overwhelming aura and asked condescendingly, “How confident are you?”
“Thirty percent,” the Ancient One replied. “Even if I can’t locate the Emperor, I can find another way for you to approach him.”
“Fine. Start searching,” Hela ordered directly, wasting no time.
Ancient One could tell that this goddess was impatient. If not for her weakened state, Ancient One suspected Hela might already be hovering over New York, calling out the Emperor—or perhaps storming Asgard to present Odin or Loki’s severed head as a gift to him.
Ancient One shook her head at the thought. When the Goddess of Death goes mad, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do.
She glanced around at the chaos Hela had caused in the Sanctum Sanctorum. In centuries, this place had never been so disheveled. Sighing, Ancient One clasped her hands in front of her and formed a spell. The bronze, eye-shaped pendant on her chest began to glow as if awakening.
Gentle green light emanated from it, flowing across the room. Everything Hela had destroyed reverted to its original state, as though time itself had turned back.
Seeing this display, Hela’s gaze fixed on the pendant. “So this is the Eye of Agamotto, the artifact guarded by the Sorcerer Supreme?”
“Or should I call it the Time Stone?”
The Time Stone, one of the Infinity Stones, possessed the ability to control time—whether rewinding it, creating time loops, or even traveling across eras.
Ancient One smiled faintly. “Call it whatever you like. It’s just a tool for magic.”
“But…”
“With three Infinity Stones already appearing on Earth, do you still think this planet is safe?”
Ignoring Hela’s question, Ancient One said, “Let’s go. I’ll help you search for the Emperor.”
Hela shrugged and followed behind the Ancient One, stepping into a portal of golden sparks.
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Medical Bay
In the medical room, Captain America, Black Widow, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner stood anxiously behind the glass, watching Nick Fury lie on a hospital bed undergoing emergency treatment.
Fury’s body was riddled with injuries, barely a single unharmed spot remaining. Doctors worked tirelessly, using a defibrillator to try to revive him.
Tony turned to Maria Hill. “What the hell happened?”
“Tony, I don’t know,” Hill replied. “When I got the call, he was already in trouble. By the time I arrived, he was unconscious in a pile of garbage. I rushed him back here immediately.”
“Damn it!” Tony cursed, realizing it must have been the work of a traitor. He hadn’t expected the enemy to target Nick Fury so quickly.
Steve Rogers stared at Fury on the hospital bed. Though he’d often disagreed with Fury’s methods, in many ways, the man had been his first friend in this era. His emotions were conflicted, to say the least.
Noticing Tony’s reaction, Steve’s instincts told him there was more to this situation, but he knew now wasn’t the time to press for answers.
Beep… Beep… Beeeeeep…
The sound of the heart monitor turned into a continuous tone.
The doctor emerged from the room, shaking his head at Steve. “I’m sorry. We did everything we could, but his injuries were too severe. The director…is dead.”
—(To be continued)—
