Ten Minutes Ago
"Neena, can I hold you?" Venom squatted among the children, looking at her with eager anticipation.
"Sure, Auntie Venom." Neena responded obediently.
Surrounded by a group of kids, Venom looked completely satisfied, her face beaming with happiness.
Xiaoyu rubbed her cheeks, which had turned red from all the affectionate rubbing.
"Damian, is it the same at home?"
"More or less, but Mom prefers to stick close to my godfather," Damian replied without even looking up from his handheld gaming console.
"Xiaoyu, you don't like it? I think it feels nice, even though it tickles a bit," Penny said with a smile.
"It's not that I don't like it. I'm just not used to it."
Xiaoyu came from an Eastern family. No matter how much one liked children, they wouldn't express it so passionately.
Lying on the bed, a little girl furrowed her brows upon hearing the noisy chatter around her. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the blinding sunlight streaming through the window.
For a moment, she was confused. She sat up, walked to the window, and closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the sun on her skin.
"Damian, is she going to turn into an idiot?"
Xiaoyu widened her eyes in curiosity and concern.
"Why isn't she putting on clothes first?"
Penny covered her face in embarrassment, peeking through her fingers.
"..."
Damian's heart tightened as he gazed at the girl's silhouette. He could feel the presence of darkness.
That kind of aura shouldn't exist in a child.
Still, there was no need to worry—his mother was here, and his godfather was just downstairs.
Hearing the whispers behind her, the little girl turned around and spoke.
"So, it was you who brought me here."
"We saved you."
Damian glanced at Venom, who was still lost in her blissful moment of rubbing against the kids. Since she was occupied, he decided to answer.
"Saved? Ridiculous!"
The girl raised her chin arrogantly.
"I am the Goddess of Death, Hela. How could I ever need the help of Midgardians? However, I do need a palace. You shall become my servants.
When I ascend to Asgard in the future, I may grant you eternal life."
Hela's expression was full of pride, and her tone was utterly condescending.
Venom had already examined Hela's body. Her cells contained immense power, but they were in a dormant state—likely due to Odin's seal.
She had managed to escape, but her body had shrunk. The seal must have come along with her.
Until Odin died or the seal was lifted, her combat strength was probably only on par with Captain America.
Considering her thousands of years of battle experience, she might still be a little stronger.
Looking at Hela's haughty stance, Venom couldn't help but find it amusing.
She was so tiny yet carried herself as if she were invincible.
"Wow! This is the first time I've met someone cooler than Damian! Goddess of Death, Hela—just the name sounds so cool! I want a title too. I'll be… the Queen of Darkness, Xiaoyu!"
Xiaoyu announced excitedly.
"Xiaoyu, I want to be the Queen of the Desert, Penny!"
Penny thought of her father's incredible ability to control sand and wondered if she would inherit that power when she grew up. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Having finally escaped Venom's affectionate grasp, Neena, with her messy hair, excitedly joined in.
"Then I'll be the Queen of Beasts, Neena!"
Damian, however, remained vigilant, carefully observing Hela's increasingly dark expression.
"You dare mock a god? I sentence you to death!"
Hela waved her hand in fury.
Silence.
Nothing happened.
"My divine power?"
Hela's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her hand.
Only then did she finally realize her situation—her body had shrunk, and her powers were sealed.
"Damn you, Odin! You refuse to let me go, even now? One day, I'll cut off your head!"
Hela roared with resentment and hatred toward the sky outside the window.
"Odin? Isn't that the Norse god from my bedtime stories?"
"In the myths, Hela is described as really ugly."
"But this Hela is quite beautiful."
Hela's outburst didn't scare the children at all. Their innocent, childlike voices softened the atmosphere.
When you are weak, even your anger seems adorable.
"Enough! Even without my divine power, I am not someone you can insult!"
Hela lunged at the kids near the bed.
"Ahhh! The Goddess of Death is going to kill us!"
"Auntie Venom, save us!"
"Wait for me!"
Terrified, the kids bolted behind Venom, who was watching the scene unfold.
Only Damian remained. He wanted to test himself.
As Hela charged, Damian subtly sidestepped and aimed for her heart. No, too risky. The liver, then—he threw a punch.
Hela smirked, effortlessly dodging his strike before countering with a swift hand chop toward his neck.
Fast!
Damian instinctively leaned back to avoid it but lost balance. He kicked out in response.
Hela blocked with her arm.
Damian flipped backward and landed gracefully.
"Come on, little one. Again."
Hela beckoned him with a taunting expression.
"Hmph!"
Damian gritted his teeth and charged again.
Their movements blurred as they exchanged blows. Damian knew he couldn't afford to hold back—he used every lethal technique he had learned.
"That's right! When you strike, aim to kill. Your enemy won't show you mercy."
Hela deflected his attacks effortlessly, barely even shifting her stance.
Even without divine power, her thousands of years of combat experience and Asgardian physiology put her far beyond Damian's reach.
The children peeked out from behind Venom.
"Damian is amazing!" Xiaoyu's eyes gleamed with admiration.
"But I think he's losing," Neena noted as she watched Hela switch to fighting with just one hand.
"Auntie Venom, should we stop them?"
Penny tugged on Venom's sleeve, her face full of worry.
"No need. Damian, you got this!"
Venom clenched her fists and cheered loudly.
Damian's face was drenched in sweat.
The sensation of having all his moves read was unbearable.
"Stop, little one. Your body is too weak."
Hela frowned as Damian's attacks began to slow.
"..."
Damian didn't respond. He gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
"Such a stubborn child."
The moment Hela finished speaking, Damian's vision blurred.
In an instant, he was airborne.
Smack!
Lying on the ground, Damian gasped for air, his chest heaving.
Seeing their friend lose, Xiaoyu rushed forward without hesitation.
Neena and Penny followed suit.
"Damian lost! You're not allowed to hit him anymore!"
Xiaoyu spread her arms wide, standing protectively in front of Damian.
Neena and Penny joined her, forming a small barrier.
Only then did Hela realize—she had just fought a child.
Back in Asgard, this would be no different from bullying a newborn baby.
A trace of embarrassment and regret flashed across her face.
It must be Odin's damn seal messing with her mind!
Quote:"Strength alone does not command respect—it is how you wield it that defines you."
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