"Thank you, Karl."
Odin spoke slowly after sensing the divine power circulating within his body.
"You were kind enough to expend your power on this crippled body of mine."
Although Karl had offered help voluntarily, Odin still felt the need to express his gratitude.
After all, Karl had now reached the level of a Single-Universe powerhouse.
It was only proper that Odin treat him with even greater respect.
"It's nothing."
Karl shook his head.
"It only required a small amount of energy."
"But at most, I can only delay the loss of your divine power."
Karl paused for a moment before sighing quietly.
"Who would have imagined…"
"That Odin, who once ruled the Nine Realms, would eventually reach the point where he must rely on someone else just to extend his life?"
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere in the palace.
After Frigga carried Hela back to her chambers, the girl soon woke up.
The moment she saw Frigga standing before her, a flash of hatred appeared in her eyes.
Frigga noticed it immediately.
She could not help but feel bitter.
To be looked at that way by her own daughter was painful.
But when she thought about the truth—
That Hela had been sealed in a dark, isolated prison for thousands of years—
And that she herself had been unable to visit her even once—
Frigga understood.
Hela's hatred was completely justified.
"Why haven't I changed back yet?!"
Hela suddenly shouted.
Her eyes burned with anger.
"Get away from me!"
"I hate you!"
"I will destroy everything here!"
When Hela realized that her body was still that of a child, she completely lost control.
She slapped Frigga's hand away.
"You carry heavy traces of temporal distortion," Frigga said softly.
"Your personal timeline must have been reversed."
"Only the Time Stone, or a powerful being capable of manipulating time itself, could restore you."
Frigga slowly approached her daughter again.
She even tried to hug her.
But Hela immediately dodged.
"Where is the Time Stone?"
Little Hela grabbed Frigga by the collar and lifted her slightly.
"Tell me!"
"Or I'll kill you!"
Despite being held by the throat, Frigga showed no sign of distress.
Hela wasn't using any real strength.
She only wanted to recover her true power as quickly as possible.
"The Time Stone is in the possession of the man who rescued you."
Frigga answered calmly.
"His name is Karl."
"He is a Midgardian."
"A close friend of your brother Thor."
"And a distinguished guest of Asgard."
Frigga continued speaking gently.
"He once saved my life."
"And his strength…"
"At the very least, he has already reached the Single-Universe Level."
Frigga deliberately avoided mentioning something important.
She did not tell Hela that Karl's companions were currently touring Asgard.
She knew her daughter too well.
If Hela learned that information, she would almost certainly attempt to kidnap Karl's companions in order to force a trade for the Time Stone.
But Frigga also knew Karl's character.
His companions were his absolute bottom line.
If Hela crossed that line, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Karl might easily rescue them.
But afterward, he would investigate how Hela learned that information.
If he discovered that Frigga had revealed it—
The relationship between Asgard and Karl could collapse completely.
Karl's anger would not be something Asgard could afford.
"A Single-Universe Level being…"
Little Hela muttered.
She seemed slightly surprised.
"So he actually obtained that thing…"
After thousands of years of imprisonment, she had still been struck by temporal reversal.
Even she had not expected such an outcome.
"He should still be discussing matters with your father," Frigga said softly.
"It should be finished soon."
Frigga looked at her daughter with sorrow.
She could not help reaching out to touch Hela's cheek.
But Hela immediately slapped her hand away.
"I'm leaving."
Hela glared at her.
"And you'd better not follow me."
"Or I'll kill you."
With those words, Little Hela stormed out of the palace.
She walked toward the Great Hall, muttering angrily the entire way about how nothing had changed.
At the same time—
Karl had just finished his conversation with Odin.
He was about to leave the hall to find Black Phoenix and the others.
Suddenly—
He noticed a small figure in a black leather jacket approaching in the distance.
Karl blinked.
Little Hela?
What was she doing here?
"Hey, Karl!"
Hela placed her hands on her hips.
Her posture looked like a tiny adult trying to appear intimidating.
"Let's make a deal."
"If you restore me to my original form, I'll give you all the treasures in Asgard's treasury."
"Odin has been collecting them for thousands of years."
She spoke confidently.
Her expression clearly said:
You're definitely making a profit with this deal.
However, her eyes kept drifting toward the six Infinity Stones embedded in Karl's armor.
Karl crouched down in front of her.
Then—
He pinched her cheeks with both hands.
"Why would I make that trade?"
Karl smiled slightly.
"Odin's treasury means nothing to me."
"And if I restore you to your original form…"
"You'll immediately attack me."
Karl chuckled.
"Do I look stupid enough to create trouble for myself?"
In truth, Karl understood Hela's intentions perfectly.
She wanted to regain her power.
Then either destroy Asgard or rule it.
If she returned to full strength, her power would once again become directly linked to Asgard itself.
At that point, fighting Hela would be equivalent to fighting the entire realm of Asgard.
Unless Asgard itself was destroyed—
Or she was shrunk again.
Karl had no interest in dealing with that kind of trouble.
Besides—
Little Hela was surprisingly adorable.
"Don't pinch my face!!"
Hela slapped his hands away.
"You name the price!"
"Just restore me!"
She clenched her teeth while suppressing her murderous rage.
But she knew she had to endure it.
She had not regained her strength yet.
And even if she did—
She still might not be able to defeat Karl.
After all—
Karl was already a Single-Universe Level existence.
"Who told you to have such a cute face?"
Karl laughed.
"I couldn't resist."
He reached out again—
And pinched her cheeks one more time.
"Alright."
"But don't even think about it."
"I'm not helping you return to your original form."
Karl stood up.
"I still have things to do."
"I'm leaving."
Then, under Hela's murderous glare—
Karl pinched her face one last time.
And walked away with a laugh.
...
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