Marvel: AS A PRINCE IN ASGARD

Loki watched as Ragna appeared before him. The moment he opened his mouth to question why the Angel Legion had attacked his Chitauri forces—why Ragna had first opened the space portal only to turn against him—Ragna silenced him with a single look.

Loki rolled his eyes and obediently shut his mouth.

"Is he really your brother?" Tony Stark asked, clearly skeptical.

The two looked nothing alike.

Ragna nodded casually, while Nick Fury narrowed his eyes, remaining silent as he studied the so-called "new Lord."

Black Widow, however, couldn't suppress her fury. "He killed Hawkeye. Hundreds of innocent people died because of him. He deserves to be judged!"

"Oh, but we're cousins." Ragna tilted his head, glancing at the blood-streaked, dust-covered Black Widow. His tone was soft, yet laced with amusement.

"But do you think I'm asking you for permission?"

"Loki was right—you're not qualified to judge a god."

"I knew it, my dear brother! This was just a small family conflict!" Loki immediately smiled, his confidence returning as he looked toward Ragna for validation.

"Family conflict?" Stark's voice was hoarse, his fists clenched. "Can a so-called 'family conflict' justify the deaths of innocent people? What do you think of humanity?"

"In the past, when gods were angry, they sent floods to cleanse entire civilizations," Ragna replied smoothly. "Now, when gods clash, mortals perish—but in the end, it leads to greater things. So… where's the problem?"

His piercing gaze swept over the group, and a crushing pressure filled the air.

Even speaking became difficult.

Ragna's eyes landed on Stark, then on Nick Fury.

"These casualties are nothing compared to the number of lives lost to your weapons, Stark," he continued. "And the Hulk? The number of people he's accidentally killed is greater than half of today's death toll. What do you think of humanity?"

Nick Fury remained still, but Ragna could see the hidden players lurking in the shadows behind him—the unseen hands manipulating events.

Before anyone could argue, Ragna unleashed his will upon them.

A suffocating force pressed down, forcing everyone except the Hulk to their knees. Even the Hulk, upon meeting Ragna's golden, burning gaze, reverted to Banner in an instant.

Ragna stepped forward, lifted Loki by the collar, and vanished.

This wasn't a request.

This was the decree of a god.

He dropped Loki in a desolate wasteland, instructing him to stay put before leaving again.

Now, the stage was set.

It was time for Aitri and the others to understand—without power, without protection, they were nothing.

Dwarves? They were nothing.

Three Angel Legions stood assembled, Valina at their forefront.

Ragna casually handed the Scepter of Mind to Holy Keisha, allowing her power to grow even further. Then, with a flick of the Space Stone, he tore open a dimensional rift—

And arrived at Nidavellir.

Bringing with him the gift he had long prepared.

Would he take Thanos today?

That remained to be seen.

Nidavellir

The Dwarf King Eitri stood before the Star Forge, hammering down molten Uru.

The Infinity Gauntlet was almost complete.

He had tried to stall for time, but when Thanos executed a dwarf before his eyes, Eitri had no choice but to continue forging.

With each strike, his resentment toward Asgard deepened.

They had sworn to protect Nidavellir—yet when the dwarves needed them most, Odin had abandoned them.

The dying embers of the Star Core roared back to life, igniting beams of white-hot energy through the Forge Rings.

"These materials… Ragna's, weren't they?" Eitri muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "I hope that bastard doesn't make me compensate him for this."

But his heart clenched.

Hadn't Ragna promised to protect Nidavellir in times of crisis?

As if answering his thoughts—

A shimmering blue portal burst open.

Ragna stepped through, flanked by legions of Angels.

On the opposite side, Thanos stood with his Black Order—Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Cull Obsidian—backed by Chitauri warriors and the monstrous Vanguard.

Tensions crackled in the air.

"Long time no see, Thanos," Ragna greeted with a smile, extending his right hand. "So… have you reconsidered? Join me, and together we can truly bring balance to this universe."

Thanos' pupils constricted.

The blue portal. The unmistakable spatial signature.

And most damning of all—the Scepter of Mind.

Instantly, he understood.

"Have you seen it?" Thanos asked, voice low. "The future?"

Ragna didn't answer. His hand remained outstretched.

Thanos exhaled sharply.

"Did I succeed?"

"No."

Ragna withdrew his hand, his voice calm.

"But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Thanos sighed, weary but resolute.

"The universe needs balance," he muttered. "Even I am not exempt."

Thanos had only ever embraced two possibilities: succeed—or perish.

Ebony Maw knelt first, followed by the Black Order. Behind them, the Dark Quadrant's warriors lowered their heads in reverence.

Their faith in Thanos was absolute.

Above them, the Sanctuary II's main cannon powered up, aiming for Ragna's Angels.

The Vanguard and Chitauri warriors, devoid of thought, roared into battle.

Without hesitation, Thanos charged, wielding his double-edged sword.

The Black Order surged forward, encircling the Angel Legion.

Eitri watched in horror.

As the universe's strongest armies clashed, the dwarves quietly retreated, gripping their weapons tightly.

Every dwarf was precious—and Eitri would not risk losing another.

He met Ragna's gaze.

The Dwarf King offered an awkward smile before subtly ushering his people further back.

Ragna allowed it.

If their roles were reversed, he too would have acted more obviously.

The dwarves still had value.

They would forge the weapon he needed.

And so—

The Greatest Battle in the Universe began.

Though the Angel Legion outmatched their foes in power, the Dark Quadrant's warriors were hardened by centuries of war. Their numbers far exceeded the Angels.

Casualties would be high.

But that was why Ragna had prepared his gift.

The moment he stepped onto Nidavellir, the Star Core—which had once dimmed—began to hum.

The rotation of the dying star quickened.

The hum grew into a roar.

A deep, cosmic vibration echoed across the battlefield.

Ragna's secret weapon—

A thousand suns, compressed into the heart of the forge.

For one strike.

For this moment.

For Thanos.

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