???
Lucci's words left Hela and Loki utterly stunned! The same look of shock and confusion appeared on both their faces. What... What did that mean?
Seeing their expressions, Lucci spoke slowly, "It's simple. Father is ill and needs a long recovery. I'm not interested in the tedious affairs of the Nine Realms. And you both want to be King of the Gods..."
The corners of Lucci's mouth turned up meaningfully.
"So, I'll temporarily hand over the affairs of the Nine Realms to you two. How about that?"
!!!
Shock! Unparalleled shock!
At this moment, Hela and Loki even doubted if there was something wrong with their ears! Did he just say... he wanted to hand the Nine Realms to us?
Is this for real, or is it a mistake?!
Loki's heart pounded! He stared at Lucci, his eyes filled with disbelief and intense longing. This... This was a dream! A golden pie falling from the sky!
Hela's breathing quickened. Even her frozen heart thudded at this sudden surprise. She was still wary, but Lucci's bait was truly... enticing!
"You... are you serious?" Loki's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
Lucci nodded calmly, "No jokes."
With Lucci's confirmation, Hela and Loki unconsciously glanced at each other!
In that instant, their eyes clashed fiercely, almost sparking in midair! Each saw in the other's eyes the same thing—unrestrained ambition, the desire to win, and... ultimate wariness and hostility toward the other!
Loki still feared Hela's terrifying power, but ambition instantly overcame fear at the thought of ruling the Nine Realms! He straightened and met Hela's gaze without flinching.
Hela snorted with icy disdain, then turned to Lucci and cut to the point, "But there's only one throne. Who do you plan to entrust with it?"
Loki also withdrew his gaze, staring at Lucci, awaiting his judgment.
Looking at the bickering siblings, Lucci's smile became unreadable. "Here's how it'll be. From today, the two of you will jointly handle the affairs of the Nine Realms. Hela, you're responsible for all military, security, and external defense matters. Loki, you handle all internal administrative affairs, people's welfare, diplomacy, and trade."
"All decisions must be mutually reviewed and signed by both of you before coming to me. And most importantly..." Lucci's tone turned cold, "No fighting. You're only authorized to recruit and propose policies. All final decisions rest with me."
"How's that?"
As soon as he finished, Hela and Loki both frowned! No fighting? They had to check and restrict each other, and only had recruitment authority? Didn't that just make them glorified secretaries? The real power still rested with Lucci!
Seeing their obvious dissatisfaction, Lucci smiled indifferently, "That's right. After all... I want to see if you're truly worthy of this position."
This sentence pierced their pride like a sharp sword. They understood—this was a test! A test to prove who was more qualified than the other.
Hesitation lasted less than a second. Their massive ambition and pride overwhelmed every other concern!
"Fine! I accept!" Hela was first to nod, her eyes burning with fierce determination. She wanted to prove herself as Asgard's only true heir!
Loki's head bobbed like garlic. "No problem! Brother, I absolutely agree!"
Seeing their awkward faces, Lucci nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Let's start from here." With that, he ignored them and strode toward the palace, leaving Hela and Loki behind, ready for a head-on contest.
…
Returning to his private chambers, Lucci was greeted by several fairy-like maids, who bowed respectfully. After receiving their gentle service, he entered a grand moonstone-carved bath. The warm water, drawn from the depths beneath the World Tree, was rich with pure life energy.
Closing his eyes and leaning on the edge, Lucci began to reflect on his journey to Earth. Not to mention the several Infinity Stones and a Mother Box in his possession! The "Soul-Refining Technique of Seven Emotions and Six Desires" from Hulk alone had been immensely rewarding! This method not only strengthened his body, but used the seven emotions and six desires as fuel, his will as the furnace, tempering his soul and achieving a high unity of body and spirit. Anger, joy, sorrow, fear... all emotions became nourishment for his power!
Thanks to this, Lucci's current physique and strength had reached the limit! That's why he could blast Hela away in a single strike!
At this moment, he truly felt his body like a cosmic singularity—calm on the outside, but containing enough power to create worlds and shatter stars.
He even had a strong premonition—he was on the verge of comprehending the ultimate law of power!
"Thanos..." Lucci softly uttered the name. "So you got the Power Stone..."
A fighting intent curled at his lips. "Good... When the time comes, I'll see for myself—if your Power Stone is truly stronger than my Law of Power!"
After his bath, Lucci donned a loose white robe and dismissed all the maids. He went to the root of the World Tree and sat cross-legged. The energy here was so abundant it seemed to materialize, gently enveloping him.
Lucci closed his eyes and sank his consciousness deep. Yet as he fully exerted himself to break through to the Law of Power, he felt Path Flame Sword stir and received a message.
Through the "MagicNet" he'd spread across Earth, he sensed two malicious energy fluctuations rapidly entering the atmosphere! The killing intent and destruction in their auras were clear, but in Lucci's perception, they seemed... not worth noticing. Far weaker than even General Corvus who had died to his laser eyes in Nidavellir.
"Coming for me again?" Lucci raised an eyebrow. He could sense their target was precisely Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. The goal was obvious.
"Thanos's subordinates... Want to tie me up with such crude tactics?" Lucci quickly deduced their intent and couldn't help but feel amused. It seemed his suppression of Hela had indeed drawn Thanos's attention.
But the enemy continued to underestimate Earth's current defenses. Did they really think these two, weaker than General Corvus, could cause havoc at Xavier's?
Truly... don't know if they're alive or dead.
Lucci didn't even bother to go himself. In a thought, his invisible psychic power spanned the stars, instantly connecting with Professor Charles on Earth.
[Charles.]
…
Earth, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Principal's Office
Charles, who was working on school documents, suddenly stopped his pen. Looking up with deep respect, he answered inwardly.
[Prince Lucci.]
His voice resonated on the soul level.
[Two little bugs have entered the atmosphere.]
[Their target is the school. Their malice is clear—they intend to take mutants hostage.]
[They're not strong. You handle it.]
Hearing this, Charles's eyes sharpened. He immediately appeared in the underground chamber and, through a Gaia terminal, connected to the global network. In an instant, he locked onto the two energy sources approaching the school at high speed.
[Target positions and routes locked. Rest assured, Prince Lucci—Eric, Jean, and I will handle this.]
[Excellent. I leave it to you.]
With that, Lucci withdrew his attention. He cleared his mind and focused all his will on breaking through to the Law of Power! Meanwhile, the "Soul-Refining Technique of Seven Emotions and Six Desires" operated on its own. He could feel himself reaching an invisible bottleneck at the very limit of strength.
The deepest mysteries of power—its core essence—began to flicker and gather in his mind...
…
At the same time, on a desolate stretch of Earth—
BOOM! BOOM!
Two figures crashed to the ground like spears of judgment from the sky! Dust and debris filled the air. As the dust settled, two figures radiating evil energy emerged.
One was tall and burly, like a moving mountain of black iron, wielding a massive meteor hammer and covered in gray-black skin, bursting with strength. This was Black Dwarf, one of the Four Black Order Generals.
Beside him stood a tall woman in tight black armor, holding a blue-glowing trident. Her long indigo hair fluttered in the wind, her cold face twisted with bitter hatred and bloodthirsty excitement. This was Proxima Midnight—wife of the fallen Corvus Glaive, famed for her speed and marksmanship.
"Is this the place?" Black Dwarf growled, looking around with contempt for this backward planet.
Proxima Midnight raised her wrist to check the data map Supergiant had sent. Identifying the direction, she pointed her spear northeast.
"Yes. According to the intel, about three kilometers past that mountain is the so-called Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. That's Lucci's most important Earth base!"
At the mention of Lucci's name, Proxima Midnight's teeth clenched and monstrous hatred blazed in her eyes. Corvus Glaive... did you see? I'm here to avenge you! Today, I'll make Lucci taste the pain of losing his loved ones, just like I did!
She was already imagining the carnage to come—first, kill a few students as appetizers for her vengeance. Or perhaps the teachers? Maybe... pile up all their heads!
Ahahaha... haha!
Thinking of the Asgardian prince and the tragic deaths of friends and family, Proxima Midnight's pain and anger transformed into a sinister joy from the depths of her soul.
"Let's go!" she shouted, unable to contain her killing intent. Her whole body turned into a black streamer, shooting toward Xavier's School.
Black Dwarf followed right behind.
…
Across the lawn at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Two beautiful figures were engaged in what looked like a fierce, yet controlled, "competition."
"Jane! Too slow!" Jean floated in mid-air, her red hair fluttering. She teased Jane, extending a slender, jade finger and pointing ahead.
Buzz—
Invisible but powerful telekinesis instantly condensed into a pink shockwave, surging toward Jane!
"Hmph!" Jane snorted, her eyes burning with unyielding spirit. The "Cosmic Sword" in her hand transformed into a massive energy shield, standing before her.
Boom!
The telekinetic shockwave crashed into the shield, sending ripples of energy through the air! Jean felt a huge force and was pushed more than three meters back, her feet digging deep grooves in the ground.
"Jane, you're getting stronger..." Jean quipped, raising an eyebrow.
Jane knew Jean was deliberately holding back. If Jean really went all out, she could easily defeat Hela in seconds, let alone break through an energy shield or even a planet!
"Again!" Jane shouted, undeterred.
Just as they were about to continue, a familiar voice called from not far away.
"Jean, Jane."
The two turned to see Professor Charles approaching in his floating wheelchair, Magneto trailing behind.
"Professor?" Jean called out. "What's up?"
This time, Charles's usually gentle face was unusually solemn. "Prince Lucci just sent word from Asgard. Enemies have invaded Earth. Their target is clear—our school."
The relaxed expressions on Jean and Jane's faces vanished in an instant!
"Where are they?"
"I've locked their positions," Charles said. "Two people—their strength is unknown, but their malice is unmistakable. They'll arrive in less than three minutes."
"Jean, prepare for battle."
Jean's eyes burned, not with fear or anxiety, but with fierce excitement!
"Enemies? Perfect!"