Chapter 166: Showdown
The palace of Asgard is unlike any other place. To ensure its safety, Odin had a multitude of spatial barrier magic circles constructed, which prevented any form of spatial movement within the temple.
In Asgard's palace, only one person could activate spatial teleportation with the defense mode engaged—the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One. Thor, despite his considerable abilities, was not capable of such magic.
Now, it seemed as though their efforts were in vain, with Thor's portal remaining closed.
Fortunately, Thor possessed a flight ability similar to that of Captain Marvel.
The roaring chaos also alerted Odin, who was far off. An ominous premonition gripped him, prompting him to quicken his pace. However, a relentless wave of dark elves continued to surge forward, causing delays.
Odin was deeply anxious. Throughout his life, he had calculated many things—people, enemies, allies, and even his own daughter. If it weren't for the fleeting nature of mortal life, he would have been suspicious of the heir who displayed such sharpness.
But he had never imagined putting Frigga in danger.
Inside the bedroom, Malekith, transformed into a cursed warrior, laughed maniacally as he grabbed the queen with a claw.
Frigga raised her sword to block, but Malekith twisted her with his claw and struck her heavily on the chest. She vomited blood and was thrown backward. Malekith advanced, seized her by the neck, and lifted her up. "Tell me, where is the aether?"
"You'll never get it!" Frigga glared defiantly.
"You won't be seeing it again!" Malekith raised his dagger threateningly. "I'm eager to see Odin's reaction when he finds your corpse!"
"If you kill her, you'll never get the ether!"
A sudden voice interrupted Malekith's threats. Jane Foster appeared at the door, holding a vial of potion.
Having just retrieved the ether, Jane looked exhausted and weak.
"Give me the ether! I'll let her go," Malekith demanded, pinching Frigga's neck to silence her, while pressing the dagger against her chest.
Jane focused intently on him, then suddenly flicked her wrist, tossing the ether out of the door. As Malekith turned to follow the ether, Mjölnir flew from Jane's hand, striking him and causing him to stagger.
Malekith stretched out his hand, dark red energy wrapping around the ether, pulling it back to him.
"Stay back!" An intensely concentrated lightning bolt struck Malekith's face, causing his cheeks to burst open.
Had Malekith not been enhanced, this blow might have been fatal. Yet, despite being a cursed warrior, he merely staggered.
"I admit I underestimated you, woman!" Malekith growled.
He had noticed Jane Foster's divine power but had assumed she was merely another pampered second-generation deity due to her youth. After all, he had observed that Asgard's overall strength had diminished compared to the past.
Being so thoroughly outmatched by her only fueled his anger.
"Foolish woman, I..."
With a sharp "clang," Mjölnir flew in from behind, striking him hard on the back of the head before returning to Jane's hand. Caught off guard, Malekith was momentarily disoriented.
A brilliant thunderbolt enveloped Jane, encasing her in protective black battle armor.
Frigga, clutching her chest, looked at the formidable Jane with admiration, muttering, "Thor, you truly have good taste."
She then shouted, "Go, you're no match for him!"
Jane ignored the warning, unwilling to leave Frigga behind. Spinning quickly, Mjölnir flew out, striking Malekith with a powerful blow.
"Bang—" Jane was thrown backward, crashing into a pillar.
Protected by the power of thunder, Jane was unharmed but her expression grew serious. The monster before her was far more powerful than she had anticipated.
Her strength was comparable to Thor's at the same point in history, adequate for dealing with ordinary cursed warriors. However, against Malekith's super-enhanced form, she found herself outmatched.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
The cursed warrior, now covered in dark power, dragged a stone pillar across the room.
The pillar crashed down heavily. Jane swiftly rolled to avoid it and, seizing the moment, struck Malekith on the chin with Mjölnir before retreating to avoid his counterattack.
While his strength and endurance had vastly increased as a Cursed Warrior, Malekith's agility had significantly decreased. His movements were slower and more cumbersome, leaving him vulnerable.
Jane Foster continued the fight...
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