After sleeping for three straight days in Asgard, Kagura finally felt like herself again.
While using the Heartless Blade didn't drain her core energy or consume any QP, much like using the Infinity Stones, it took a heavy toll on her body and spirit—placing the burden squarely on her soul.
To put it simply:
Using it too much just makes you really tired. That's all.
So, after enjoying a grand victory banquet that Thor had personally prepared for her—and effortlessly out-eating a bunch of overconfident Asgardian warriors—Kagura led her fleet and began her journey back to Earth.
"Burrrrp~"
Lounging lazily in the captain's seat on the bridge of the Hyperion, Kagura let out a small burp.
Asgardian food was… rather "primitive," to say the least.
It was mostly endless platters of roasted meat, bread, fruits, and oceans of beer.
Not exactly gourmet variety, but as an occasional change of pace, it was surprisingly satisfying.
"Captain, hyperspace engine activation confirmed.
Coordinates for the solar system locked in.
Throne of Kings and Moonlit Throne are both prepped and standing by. The fleet is ready for departure."
"Mm. Then let's not waste any time—let's go home!"
"Command received. Warp engines, engage!"
'BOOM!'
With a flash of brilliant light, the three Earth-built deep-space warships vanished like phantoms from Asgard's skies.
"Man… I can't help but think Kagura's ships are just ridiculously cool,"
Thor muttered to himself as he stood on the palace balcony, watching the fleet disappear into the stars.
"Maybe it's time Asgard started building its own interstellar fleet too…"
He reached into his robes and pulled out a design blueprint—one of Kagura's parting gifts. It was a conceptual diagram titled Spear of Aton.
"Hmm… yeah, that really does look amazing…"
———————————————————————
Earth – The Aegean Sea
A massive starship darkened the sky as it descended slowly.
The Hyperion had returned safely, following its reentry sequence and landing precisely at Rhodes Island Base in the Aegean Sea.
Upon entering Earth's orbit, Kagura had reorganized the fleet's deployment.
All human crew members had been transferred onto the flagship Hyperion, accompanying her through Earth's atmosphere to return safely to the surface.
The second and third ships, the Throne of Kings and the Moonlit Throne, remained in geosynchronous orbit, acting as permanent spaceports and orbital defense platforms.
These two vessels were the first cornerstones of Kagura's newly proposed Earth-Moon Defense Network, and would later serve as orbital anchor points for the construction of a space elevator.
Human civilization could not afford to stagnate.
The sea of stars was the inevitable direction of its future journey.
Thus, only the Hyperion, the flagship, descended and landed.
It was a core part of the Rhodes Island industrial infrastructure—meant to return home after every mission.
After all, onboard the Hyperion were both the quantum supercomputer VEDA and the entire Rhodes Island Industrial Headquarters.
There was no way Kagura was going to let something that important just float around in outer space forever!
———————————————————————
Rhodes Island Base – Kagura's Room
"Welcome back, Maste—"
Cortana's cheerful greeting was cut short as Kagura charged into her room like a bullet.
"UWAAAH!!! I'M FINALLY HOME!!! BED!! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!!"
'THUMP!'
The silver-haired girl launched herself through the air and landed with a perfect dive into her soft, plush bed.
"It's been too long! Waaay too long! Fluffy bed, I love youuuu!!"
Roll roll roll…
She rolled back and forth, completely blissed out.
"Master…" Cortana looked on, equal parts amused and exasperated as Kagura rolled into a little ball on the bed.
"Are you… alright?"
"Oh! Cortana!"
Only then did Kagura come back to her senses.
She lay sprawled out like a starfish, completely unguarded, stretching comfortably. Then she turned her head toward her elegant maid.
"It's been so long, Cortana! Ahhh, it feels so good to be home!"
As she spoke, she hugged her soft comforter tight, cheeks glowing with delight as she rubbed her face into it like a happy cat.
"Yup, Earth really is where I feel safest. This is the best life ever!"
"Welcome home, Master."
Cortana smiled gently at the sight of Kagura's pure, innocent joy.
"I'm truly glad… that you came back safe."
And with that, Kagura's grand interstellar adventure had finally reached its temporary conclusion.
Asgard was not destroyed.
Thor now ruled peacefully and proudly as the King of the Gods.
With the Infinity Stones no longer stored in Asgard acting as a magnet for calamity—and with the Goddess of Death, Hela, now guarding the realm—Thanos had no reason to waste his time invading. It wasn't worth the effort or the risk.
Which meant... Loki survived.
And so, the fate of the Asgardian gods had been truly, unmistakably changed by Kagura.
Of course, for Earth, one final obstacle remained on the path toward the future Kagura hoped to build.
A final trial for humanity—one that no civilization in the universe could ever truly escape.
A challenge known only by one name:
Thanos.
[Side Mission: Defeat Hela and Reclaim Asgard – COMPLETE]
[Reward: 20 QP]
[Current QP Total: 20]
———————————————————————
Deep Space – Unknown Sector
A massive warship loomed in the cold, starless void.
This was Sanctuary II, Thanos' personal battleship.
'BOOM!'
With a flash of light, a ring-shaped scout vessel dropped out of hyperspace and slowly glided into the docking bay of the mothership.
It carried a crucial update—new intelligence about the Infinity Stones.
Through a long corridor of dark steel and shadow, the doors at the end slowly creaked open.
Beyond them lay a vast, empty, circular chamber—pitch black, cold, and silent.
No decorations.
No banners.
Only a single, solitary throne standing at its center.
A symbol of the one who sat upon it.
A titan whose convictions had made him utterly and completely alone.
"Corvus Glaive,"
A deep voice echoed through the chamber as the throne rotated slowly.
A massive alien figure clad in golden armor, his skin a grim shade of purple, spoke in a low, commanding tone.
"I trust you've brought me good news."
"Conquering one civilization after another is starting to wear thin. My grand plan… must proceed faster."
"Yes, my lord. Supreme and all-powerful Thanos!"
General Corvus Glaive dropped to one knee, arms stretched out in devout reverence.
"The intel I bring is accurate and confirmed. The remaining five Infinity Stones… are all on Earth."
"All of them… in the hands of that feeble human race."
"Oh?"
Thanos raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued.
"Now that is interesting. The humans of Earth have gathered five of the stones?"
"Without a doubt, my lord."
Corvus continued.
"It seems you're not the only one in the universe with an interest in the Infinity Stones."
"Of course I'm not the only one," Thanos replied, cracking his knuckles with a sinister smile.
"There are always fools—greedy fools, arrogant fools, ambitious fools—everywhere."
"But only I… only I bear the destiny of uniting them all."
The Power Stone, embedded in the Infinity Gauntlet, pulsed with a violet glow—emitting a power that eclipsed the stars themselves.
"Come, my children. To Earth."
"Let us fulfill… what destiny demands of me."