The alien vessel hovered over the Azeroth Tech Tower, its imposing form casting a long shadow over the rooftop. Kingpin, flanked by several of his men, stood vigilant, their eyes locked onto the newcomers with hostility.
Every time these extraterrestrials appeared, trouble inevitably followed. If they showed the slightest sign of aggression, he had already decided—he would strike first.
As three figures descended from the ship, Kingpin immediately recognized one of them—Loki. The last time he had shown up, he had unleashed the Chitauri army upon Earth, bringing untold devastation. That was not something easily forgotten.
"Halt." Kingpin drew his runed blade, pointing it directly at Loki. "Last I recall, Asgard had imprisoned you. Why are you here now?"
Frigga stepped forward. "I am Frigga, mother of Thor. I need to speak with Garus about a matter of great urgency."
She knew Thor had built good relations with the people here, so she introduced herself as his mother, hoping to ease the tension.
Kingpin, however, remained skeptical. Until Garus arrived, he wasn't lowering his guard. More stone gargoyles took flight from the building's perimeter, perching menacingly around them, their glowing eyes locked on the visitors.
The sound of measured footsteps echoed across the rooftop. Garus approached alone.
"Frigga? What brings you here?" He was surprised. As far as he remembered, the Queen of Asgard never left her palace, not even after Odin's passing. Her presence here was highly unusual.
Frigga glanced at the surrounding crowd. Garus understood.
"Return to your duties," he ordered.
Once Kingpin and his men withdrew, Garus led the three visitors into a conference room.
"You may speak freely now."
"Asgard has been destroyed."
Garus blinked in disbelief. "What? That's impossible. It hasn't been that long… Thor is still on Earth. Asgard was the source of Hela's power. Even if she had slain every Asgardian, it shouldn't have been destroyed."
"It was a swarm of strange creatures," Frigga explained. "Countless in number, they consume everything in sight—even entire planets."
She gestured toward one of her companions. "This is Mai Will, commander of the Kree fleet."
Garus turned his attention to the stranger. "You don't look Kree."
Unlike most Kree, who had distinct blue skin, Mai Will's complexion was much lighter. Initially, Garus had mistaken him for one of Frigga's guards. However, his attire suggested otherwise.
"I belong to the lighter-skinned Kree," Mai Will clarified while scrutinizing Garus. He had heard the many legends surrounding this man—the one who had slain Ronan the Accuser and repelled Thanos' forces.
Garus' eyes narrowed. "The Kree and I have a long-standing enmity. Ronan once attacked Earth, and now you bring us more trouble."
"No, no, no…" Mai Will inwardly cursed Ronan for tarnishing the Kree's reputation. "Ronan never followed the Supreme Intelligence's commands. He acted independently, causing trouble for all of us."
Ever since Ronan had taken control of the Accusers, he had waged his own personal wars, ignoring orders from the Supreme Intelligence entirely.
When news broke that Ronan had been slain, not all Kree mourned him. Many secretly rejoiced. Though his death had cost them a formidable warrior, it had also rid them of a dangerous liability.
"You mentioned a swarm?" Garus asked, his mind racing.
He had yet to see them firsthand, but if they were anything like the creatures he had encountered in Andromeda, then he had a good idea of what they were dealing with.
Frigga had said Asgard had been consumed by these creatures. Even without Odin, the Vanir gods were still formidable, not to mention Hela. The Brood he had fought in Andromeda shouldn't have had the strength to accomplish this.
"Yes, a terrifying swarm," Frigga confirmed. "They can traverse the void of space, their bodies built for interstellar travel. They move like locusts." She shuddered. "Asgard is not far from here. It is only a matter of time before they discover Earth. I came to warn you to prepare. Their leader calls himself Annihilus, the Brood King. These creatures are not mindless—they are highly intelligent."
When their fleet had fled Asgard, a voice had invaded their minds, promising that no matter where they ran, death would find them.
The name sparked a memory in Garus' mind. He had encountered it before—when he had aided the Skrull Queen in Andromeda. The Brood had spoken of Annihilus, a being of immense power who ruled their world.
So, they had finally found their way to this universe.
"What about Hela?" Garus asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.
"How do you know about Hela?" Loki interjected, his tone sharp with surprise. Even he had only recently learned of her existence. The fact that a mortal from Earth knew was unsettling. He smirked. "Perhaps she has already been devoured."
Loki harbored no love for the usurper who had sought to seize Asgard's throne. Her demise, as far as he was concerned, was a fitting end. The only downside was that Asgard itself had perished along with her.
If even Hela had been powerless against them, then these creatures were indeed formidable.
"These insects are too strong," Mai Will interjected. "I believe the best course of action is to evacuate immediately."
Earth's technology was primitive compared to many galactic civilizations. Even with its handful of enhanced individuals, Mai Will was skeptical that they could overcome this threat. He had no idea where Frigga's confidence stemmed from.
"Evacuate?" Garus scoffed. "There are over six billion people on this planet. That's not an option. Besides, I have far too many assets here to simply abandon."
As powerful as Asgard had been, Earth had far more champions. The numbers alone made a difference.
"The Brood King wields a powerful weapon," Mai Will warned. "None who have faced it have survived."
A weapon? Interesting.
Garus leaned back, considering his options. "I've encountered these creatures before and wiped them out. If Annihilus has some superweapon, I'm willing to bet I have something to counter it."
Fleeing was not an option. If they wanted a fight, they would get one.
"That said," he continued, "I refuse to let Earth become the battleground. Where is the portal that connects Earth and Asgard?"
"Between Mars and Earth…"
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON