Chapter 236 237: Sudden Situation

Gilgamesh and Thor were still trading blows; their fists collided repeatedly, the sound becoming increasingly dense and loud.

They had already fought for hundreds of rounds, yet neither had fallen.

Loki used illusions to create over a dozen clones.

Tina slashed one after another, but they were endless.

She finally grew exhausted, kneeling on one knee, supporting her body with her sword as she panted heavily.

Makkari stood in the distance, her arms burned and her clothes torn in several places.

Her speed held no advantage against Hela, and she dared not attack recklessly again.

On the battlefield, all nine individuals were injured or exhausted to varying degrees.

Yet Mavuika and his three companions remained standing there.

The hem of Mavuika's clothes fluttered in the wind, and his golden-red hair shimmered with a faint luster under the moonlight.

Ikaris dove from the sky, his fists clenched with the strongest Cosmic Energy, smashing toward Hela.

Hela raised her hand, and a black sword emerged from the void to meet his fists.

As fist and sword collided, the black sword shattered, leaving several gashes on Ikaris's knuckles.

He did not retreat, continuing his downward charge.

Hela also surged upward, and the two collided in the air once more.

This time, there was no testing, no holding back.

Hela's Death Energy and Ikaris's Cosmic Energy clashed, the two forces devouring and canceling each other out.

Hela's power was slightly superior, but Ikaris's will was equally tenacious; his fists hammered against Hela again and again, refusing to cease.

Hela was forced back a few steps by his brute force, her brows furrowing slightly.

She no longer retreated, taking one of Ikaris's punches head-on, while her other hand condensed a massive black sword and slashed toward Ikaris's shoulder.

Ikaris dodged sideways, the black sword grazing his shoulder and leaving a deep gash on his battle suit.

Ikaris felt a stinging pain in his shoulder.

He glanced down and saw a small wound on the skin exposed beneath the tear, blood seeping out.

Mavuika walked to the center of the battlefield, looking at the nine Eternals.

"Have you fought enough?" His voice was not loud, yet everyone heard it.

No one spoke.

Mavuika continued, "I did not kill Ajak. I did not come here to kill you; I came to tell you the truth."

He looked at Ikaris.

"You have been trying to stop me from revealing the truth all along. Why?"

Ikaris looked at him but did not answer.

Sersi stepped out from the crowd, standing between Mavuika and Ikaris.

"Ikaris, I want to hear what she has to say."

Ikaris remained silent.

Mavuika took a deep breath, preparing to speak.

Just then, an unusual vibration emanated from within him—not a heartbeat, not a breath, but a more fundamental fluctuation connected to his soul: Thousand Blazing Suns was resonating.

Mavuika's expression shifted slightly.

Thousand Blazing Suns was a weapon forged from uru metal and rainbow stones; only the energy from the Bifrost Bridge would actively trigger such resonance.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the sword.

He heard a voice—faint, hurried, and filled with irrepressible fear.

It was the voice of Dwarf King Eitri.

The voice stopped halfway, like a string stretched to its limit that had suddenly snapped.

Mavuika opened his eyes.

His gaze had changed; it was no longer gentle or patient, but sharp, like the light of a sword blade.

Hela noticed the change in him.

"What is it?"

Mavuika looked at her, his voice low.

"Something has happened in the Dwarven Kingdom. Eitri sent me a distress signal, and I must go check on it."

Hela's brows furrowed.

"Now?"

Mavuika glanced at the Eternals on the battlefield.

"I'll leave this to you. Can you handle it?"

Hela's lips curled slightly.

"Heh, what do you think?"

Mavuika said nothing more, raising his hand as golden-red flames condensed in his palm.

Thousand Blazing Suns emerged from the void, its blade flowing with flame-like patterns, and the Eternal Flame crystal at the hilt emitting a blinding red light.

Mavuika gripped the hilt, channeling the flames into the blade.

The light of the Bifrost Bridge descended from the sky like a river of seven colors, enveloping him.

"I will be back soon," he said.

Before the words had even faded, he transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky and disappearing into the radiance of the Bifrost Bridge.

On the battlefield, all nine Eternals were stunned.

Kingo was the first to react: "She left?"

Makkari dropped down from the treetops and stood beside Sersi: "She really left."

Druig's voice was low: "Where did she go?"

No one could answer.

But Ikaris saw an opportunity.

His eyes lit up with golden light once again—not from Cosmic Energy, but from the battle intent that had been suppressed and was now reignited.

"She is gone," he said.

"Now, it is time for us to strike back."

He condensed Cosmic Energy once more, preparing to charge at Hela.

Sersi raised her hand, stopping him.

"Ikaris, that's enough."

Ikaris looked at her.

"Sersi, you—"

"I know what you want to say," Sersi interrupted him.

"You want to say this is a good opportunity, but look clearly—they had four people; one left, but there are still three. That Hela, you didn't gain any advantage against her at all. That Thor and Loki are not easy to deal with either. Do you think we can definitely win?"

Ikaris was silent.

Sersi turned to look at the other Eternals, but no one spoke.

Sersi said, "Leave."

Ikaris looked at her.

"Sersi—"

"Leave!" Sersi's voice carried a hint of a roar for the first time.

"Ajak is dead, and I don't want to see anyone else die! We cannot beat them right now; let's retreat first and plan for the long term!"

Ikaris looked into her eyes for a long time.

There was no fear in those eyes, no retreat, only something he hadn't seen in a long time—resolve.

He unclenched his fists.

The Eternals began to retreat.

Kingo supported Druig, Makkari escorted Sprite, Gilgamesh carried Phastos on his back, and Tina walked at the rear, watching Hela and her two companions vigilantly.

Hela watched them retreat, her lips curling slightly.

"You want to leave?"

She lunged forward in a stride.

Black-green Death Energy condensed into a dozen black swords around her, their tips pointing toward the Eternals.

Her speed was astonishing, like a bolt of black lightning, spanning dozens of meters in an instant.

"I never said you could leave."

Hela's voice carried a hint of mockery.

Ikaris turned to block her.

His Cosmic Energy condensed into a shield, taking the brunt of Hela's first wave of black swords.

The shield vibrated violently and cracked, but it did not shatter.

Kingo turned and fired energy blasts from his palms—not to attack Hela, but to block her path.

The energy blasts exploded before her, forming a golden barrier.

Hela frowned and slashed through the barrier with her black sword, but it delayed her for two seconds.

Makkari and Sprite had already reached the edge of the forest.