[Starting as a Class 5 Mutant] Chapter 356/357 (Patreon)

Under the scorching blaze of the Eternal Flame, the crown and skull of Surtur quickly began to regenerate into a full head.

As the Eternal Flame intensified, its fiery glow burned ever brighter.

By the time Odin arrived, it was already too late to stop what had been set in motion.

"Odin, you can't prevent this from happening!" Hela taunted, her voice dripping with disdain as she faced the All-Father clad in golden armor and wielding the golden Gungnir, the Eternal Spear.

With Odin's grim expression as a backdrop, the Fire Giant Surtur's body rapidly regenerated, growing larger with each passing moment.

Boom!
The roof of the vault was shattered as Surtur's colossal form erupted, destroying the entire treasure vault in the process.

Aside from unique artifacts like the Casket of Ancient Winters, most of the treasures were obliterated in an instant.

The massive shockwave flung both Hela and Odin backward.

A raging inferno engulfed Asgard's central palace, the fire roaring high into the sky.

"I told you, I am the destroyer, the annihilator of Asgard!" Surtur roared, his deep voice echoing across the realm. "No one can stop me—not even you, Odin!"

"Tremble before me, Odin, and before the destruction of Asgard!"

Surtur, towering like a mountain, his form composed of blazing flames and molten rock, began his rampage.

Wielding the Twilight Sword, he slashed through the surroundings, reducing building after building to rubble.

Witnessing the horrifying scene, the people of Asgard—those whom Earthlings regarded as gods—were overcome with terror.

Many recognized the fiery giant instantly.

"It's the Fire Giant Surtur!"

"Wasn't he defeated by King Odin?"

"This is bad…"

As the Twilight Sword cleaved through the skies, even the clouds parted, and Asgard was consumed by a sea of flames.

Despair and fear spread among the citizens as they watched.

Even Hela, observing from a safe distance, was filled with awe.

Surtur was truly terrifying—she couldn't even imagine how Odin had once defeated him.

No wonder Surtur declared himself the destroyer and annihilator of Asgard. He truly possessed the power to back those claims!

"Old man, can you stop the destruction of Asgard?" Hela smirked, glancing at Odin holding the Eternal Spear, his face a mask of grim determination.

Once, Odin had defeated Surtur, but could the weakened All-Father do so again? Even if he could, it would likely leave him mortally wounded, and Surtur might share the same fate.

For Hela, this was an opportunity.

If both combatants were left severely weakened, she was confident she could suppress them.

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Odin raised the Eternal Spear.

A powerful golden beam shot forth, piercing through Surtur's chest and leaving a massive hole.

Though the wound quickly healed under the power of the Eternal Flame, Surtur was enraged, momentarily halting his assault on Asgard.

"ODIN!"

His attention shifted entirely to the All-Father as he brought down the Twilight Sword in a blazing arc.

The flaming sword roared through the air.

Odin stood firm, raising Gungnir.

Infused with Odin's immense power, the spear unleashed unparalleled might.

Boom!
A golden beam clashed against the descending Twilight Sword, halting its trajectory.

For a moment, the two combatants were locked in a stalemate—Surtur with the Twilight Sword, Odin with the Eternal Spear.

From a distance, Hela watched with a mixture of shock and unease.

She could hardly believe that the weakened Odin could still stand toe-to-toe with Surtur.

If Gungnir's devastating attacks were directed at her, she might not even have a chance to regenerate!

She realized now that Odin hadn't used his full strength against her when she first arrived in Asgard. The thought soured her expression.

While Odin and Surtur continued their fierce battle, Asgard's citizens, who had been despairing, suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.

Even Queen Frigga allowed herself a moment of relief.

But it wasn't long before worry set in again.

As the battle raged on, both Odin and Surtur sustained injuries, but neither seemed significantly harmed. The fight appeared evenly matched.

However, some began to notice something troubling—Odin's breathing had grown labored, his movements less steady.

As if to confirm their fears, Surtur laughed triumphantly, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Odin, your strength has waned so much? You're dying, aren't you?"

"You are no match for me now!"

"Everything will burn, everything will perish!"

"I am immortal, born to destroy Asgard! You cannot kill me, Odin!"

"Accept your fate—and the fate of Asgard's destruction! No one can stop me, for I am invincible!"

Surtur's booming laughter echoed across Asgard.

From a distance, Odin's expression darkened.

In a way, Surtur was right. As long as the Fire Giant lived, Asgard's destruction was inevitable.

Even Odin couldn't destroy Surtur's crown and skull.

As long as they remained intact, Surtur would never truly die—not even the Eternal Flame's absence could change that.

Ragnarok was unavoidable. If not today, it would happen another day.

But given the current situation, Odin knew there wouldn't be another day.

As he fought, Odin used his magic to contact Frigga.

"Leave Asgard. Take the people and go!"

Hearing Odin's frail, aged voice, Frigga's face was filled with sorrow as she understood what was to come.

Many of Asgard's citizens, too, began to grasp the gravity of the situation. Their faces were heavy with grief.

They deeply respected Odin and didn't want their great king to sacrifice himself for them, for Asgard.

"Old man, it seems you truly are dying," Hela murmured, her expression complex, tinged with worry.

She was no longer certain she could handle Surtur if Odin fell.

Watching the Fire Giant's devastating power, her earlier confidence wavered.

Such terrifying might—who but Odin could withstand it?

While Hela wrestled with her doubts and Asgard's people grieved, Frigga steeled herself to prepare the ships for evacuation.

In the distance, the blazing fire caught the attention of Thor and his companions.

With a flash of blue light from the Space Stone, the trio appeared near the battlefield.

Their sudden arrival startled Frigga, Hela, and the citizens alike.

"Is that Prince Thor?"

"And who is that woman with him?"

"And the one in white—is that…?"

(End of Chapter)

The people of Asgard were perplexed by the white-clad Syd standing alongside Thor. Most of them had no idea who he was. However, his presence next to Prince Thor suggested he was no ordinary figure.

While the general populace remained in the dark, figures like the Warriors Three, Heimdall, and Queen Frigga immediately recognized him.

Not just them—Ebony Maw, observing the battle through Hela's communicator, also identified the newcomer. His expression shifted to one of shock as he murmured, "The White Knight? How is he here?"

Hela, catching Ebony Maw's reaction, raised an eyebrow. "The White Knight?" she echoed, recalling Thor's earlier mention of this title during their pursuit in Midgard.

Back then, Thor had referred to this so-called White Knight as his brother. The revelation had surprised Hela, who wondered when Odin had gained another child to complicate matters.

She had simply added him to her list of targets to eliminate, considering him insignificant compared to her.

Glancing briefly at the white-clad figure beside Thor, Hela dismissed him with a scoff. No matter how powerful this "White Knight" might be, she was confident she could crush him as easily as she had Thor and Loki. To her, he was just another minor obstacle.

Seeing Thor, Valkyrie, and Syd approaching, Hela sneered, "Your arrival is meaningless. Three weaklings won't even make a dent in Surtur's power. Odin is doomed, and I suggest you don't waste your lives trying to save him. Swear allegiance to me, and I might consider sparing you."

Thor glared at her angrily but turned his focus to Odin, battling fiercely against Surtur, his eyes filled with worry.

Nearby, some Asgardian citizens overheard Hela's words and began urging Thor to retreat.

"Prince Thor, we must leave now!"

"Asgard's destruction is imminent. King Odin can only hold Surtur off for so long. If even the king can't defeat him, you shouldn't throw your life away. We must escape while we still can!"

"Yes, Your Highness, if we delay any longer, it might be too late!"

The people, desperate to save their prince, pleaded earnestly.

Thor, frustrated, waved them off. "Enough! I understand what you're saying."

"But do you know who this is?" he said, gesturing toward Syd. "This is my brother, the God of Light!"

His declaration left the citizens stunned.

"When did King Odin have another son?"

"The God of Light?"

As their gazes shifted to Syd, confusion and disbelief clouded their expressions.

Even with Thor's words, the people's doubts lingered. Could this unknown God of Light truly change the tide of battle?

The sight of Surtur in the distance—a towering inferno of destruction—left most feeling hopeless. How could anyone, even Thor's supposed brother, face such overwhelming power?

Thor noticed their skepticism and frowned. "You underestimate him. My brother's power is beyond your imagination. Even Surtur may not be his equal!"

The crowd's disbelief only deepened.

"How can you say that, Prince Thor? Not even King Odin can defeat Surtur, and you expect us to believe your brother can?"

"Please, Your Highness, this is no time for jokes. We must flee!"

One by one, citizens moved to pull Thor away, hoping to drag him to safety.

Meanwhile, Hela, having overheard the exchange, burst into laughter.

"My dear brother," she mocked, "you must truly be desperate to spout such nonsense."

"You don't know the meaning of power," she added with a cold smile, pointing toward the battlefield.

Boom! Boom!
Surtur swung the Twilight Sword, effortlessly destroying an entire mountain.

The ground quaked, and flames roared into the sky, leaving everyone in awe and fear.

"Do you see that? That is true power!" Hela exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with disdain as she turned her gaze to Syd.

Her expression betrayed her utter lack of regard for him, a sentiment shared by many Asgardians present.

Just as these doubts and taunts filled the air, Surtur himself, locked in combat with Odin, noticed the newcomers.

He immediately recognized Thor.

"Odin's son…"

A sinister grin spread across Surtur's fiery face.

Blocking one of Odin's strikes, Surtur suddenly shifted his focus. With terrifying speed, he redirected the Twilight Sword toward Thor, Syd, and Valkyrie.

"Die! None shall stand in my way!"

The fiery blade tore through the air, accompanied by a raging inferno and howling winds.

Even before it reached them, the sheer power of the attack made Thor's body tremble with dread.

It felt as if the next moment would bring their inevitable end.

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]