Chapter 128: The Dark Tide Before the Battle
Ragna sat on the Golden Throne, his expression unreadable as he listened to Hexi's report. Without a word, he had come to Asgard, bringing with him the Twilight Sword and Stormbreaker, both forged by the Dwarves of Nidavellir.
Without hesitation, he handed the Twilight Sword to Hela first.
As Hela grasped the sword of Hel, an overwhelming surge of necrotic energy erupted from her form. Her eyes closed briefly, absorbing the blade's power. The moment they reopened, a terrifying black-green aura spread like a suffocating storm.
The entire realm of Asgard trembled.
With the Twilight Sword in her grasp, Hela's strength surged toward the threshold of an Omega-level deity, rivaling even Odin's peak power. She swung the sword lightly, a smirk forming on her lips as she turned to Ragna .
"A fine weapon."
She exhaled slowly, suppressing the growing hunger for destruction within her.
"Is it time?"
Ragna nodded.
"Tomorrow marks the final battle."
Hela's eyes flickered with dark amusement.
"Good. Then Asgard's forgotten glory shall once again shake the Nine Realms."
The two had already discussed the battle plan, ensuring that Asgard would not be left unprepared.
Hela's gaze fell upon the Stormbreaker still in Ragna 's hand, its Asgardian enchantments crackling with Odinforce residue.
"So this is Stormbreaker?" she asked with a wry smile.
Ragna nodded.
"It will amplify Thor's strength beyond what Mjolnir ever could. With it, he could rival Beta Ray Bill or even approach Odin's prime."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed Stormbreaker toward Hela.
She caught it effortlessly, feeling the storm-forged power coursing through the Uru-metal.
"A weapon wasted on that fool."
Her voice was cold, sharp.
"Thor's obsession with peace is a weakness I cannot stand."
Ragna shook his head.
"Thor was never meant to be part of the final battle. Throwing him into the fray now would only be a liability."
His eyes gleamed with calculation.
"Let him remain in Asgard as its guardian. With the strength he's about to gain, he'll serve better ensuring stability in the aftermath."
Hela gave a slow nod.
"Then we agree. Asgard's rebirth will be bathed in war."
She glanced toward the vast city below.
"The Army of the Fallen will not fail us."
After discussing the finer points of their strategy, Ragna vanished in a flash of golden energy, returning to Angel Star. There, he gathered the upper echelons of his forces.
Inside the Sacred Palace, the Three Angel Kings stood at attention, flanked by their lieutenants.
Beside Ragna , Valkyrie Valina and Skye, both significantly strengthened by the power Ragna had bestowed upon them, stood ready. The Black Bolt energy within Skye had fully awakened, making her a true successor to the Silent King himself.
Ragna 's gaze shifted toward the five Angels wielding the Infinity Stones, each exuding an aura near the fourth-tier peak. The others, despite lacking the stones, still held formidable mid-tier celestial power.
After a moment's thought, he dismissed the idea of assigning an Angel to continue monitoring Ego the Living Planet.
"Hexi."
Ragna 's voice was calm but commanding.
"I'm leaving Ego in your hands. Your Reality Stone can neutralize his 'Light of Creation.'"
He paused.
"We need Ego to start his assimilation process—but not to let it succeed."
His eyes darkened.
"If all life-bearing worlds become mere extensions of Ego, it will be a disaster beyond imagination."
Hexi kneeled, her expression solemn.
"Understood. The cosmos is your domain, my Lord, and Ego shall face judgment."
With Ego's containment settled, the next phase of battle strategy unfolded.
"Keisha, Yan, Lianbing, Qiangwei."
Ragna 's gaze swept across the four commanding Angels.
"Lead the entire Angelic Legion and the Sentinel Fleet. Strike directly at the Shi'ar Empire's homeworld."
The Shi'ar Imperial Guard, their elite forces, and even the Phoenix Corps could present unexpected challenges. But that was precisely why the assault needed overwhelming force.
Keisha and Lianbing dropped to one knee in acknowledgment.
"It will be done."
Ragna turned to Valina and Skye.
"You will lead the Iron Legion, the God-given Warriors, and the full fleet of the Sacred Palace through the Bifrost."
His voice was firm, his orders absolute.
"Target the industrial worlds of the three major empires. If you can seize them, do so. If not—"
His gaze sharpened.
"Reduce them to ashes."
There was no room for hesitation.
Valina clenched her fist.
"I understand. This is the ultimate war of civilizations. Mercy is meaningless."
Skye nodded solemnly.
They both knew that when it came to Ragna 's ambitions, failure was not an option.
A moment of silence passed before Valina spoke again.
"And what of the Kree homeworld and Sovereign's capital?"
The Kree's vast war machine and the Sovereign's artificially engineered soldiers were formidable. If left unchecked, their counterattacks would cripple the offensive.
Ragna 's golden eyes burned.
"The Kree homeworld is mine."
His voice was a promise of destruction.
"No matter what secret weapons they have hidden, I will crush them."
His lips curled into a cold smirk.
"As for the Sovereign… those self-important fools will learn what a truly superior race looks like."
Hela's forces would burn their golden empire to the ground.
Valina hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously:
"But… shouldn't we leave some forces to defend Angel Star?"
After all, throwing everything into the assault meant leaving their own base vulnerable.
Ragna dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand.
"Angel Star is meaningless."
His voice carried the weight of certainty.
"After this battle, we can create ten—no, twenty new homeworlds. What matters is the people."
He smirked.
"Tony Stark and the scientists? I've already sent them on 'vacation' to Asgard. Let our enemies come. They will find nothing but an empty world."
His golden energy flared slightly.
"As for the Reincarnation Pool? No force in the universe can destroy it."
Ragna had foreseen all possibilities.
The great empires would undoubtedly send hidden forces to strike at Angel Star in retaliation. But it didn't matter. A planet was just a symbol.
Technology, knowledge, and power—these were the true weapons of conquest.
Destroying a civilization's homeworld meant little if its secrets were taken instead.
This was a lesson Ragna intended to teach the entire cosmos.
As the Holy Palace buzzed with activity, war machines activating and fleets mobilizing, the galaxy itself seemed to hold its breath.
On this day, the universe trembled in anticipation.
A storm was coming.
And at its center—was Ragna .
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