Marvel: AS A PRINCE IN ASGARD

The Mark VII pivoted swiftly, Iron Man's repulsors glowing as he locked onto Ragna like a predator sizing up its prey.

Phil Coulson, despite his deep respect for Ragna , didn't hesitate. His fingers tensed on the trigger of his Destroyer Gun, a weapon reverse-engineered from the wreckage of the Destroyer Armor that once guarded Odin's Vault.

Simultaneously, the Helicarrier's most severe alert blared through its corridors. Red lights pulsed violently as the AI-driven defense systems activated their countermeasures.

Despite his reverence for Ragna , Coulson had spent over a decade under Nick Fury's command. Their bond wasn't just professional—it was forged through years of war, espionage, and surviving world-ending threats.

Dr. Bruce Banner, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), and Captain America (Steve Rogers) stormed into the room alongside dozens of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, weapons drawn.

"Phil, what the hell is going on?" Natasha demanded, eyes scanning the tense stand-off.

Coulson's hand trembled as he pointed at the pile of ashes on the ground. His voice barely held steady.

"Director Fury… was killed by him."

Instantly, every firearm in the room was trained on Ragna . Black Widow's Widow's Bite gauntlets crackled with electricity. Captain America tightened his grip on his shield, forged from Vibranium and Adamantium, his stance ready for battle.

Dr. Banner took an involuntary step forward—then stopped.

The Hulk inside him rumbled, unsettled. Even Hulk didn't want to fight Ragna .

"Why hesitate?" Ragna asked with a smirk, utterly unbothered by the hostile standoff.

The unspoken truth lingered in the air. Even among Earth's Mightiest Heroes, no one dared to make the first move.

Maybe it was because they were aboard the Helicarrier, thousands of feet above the ocean.

Or maybe… it was fear.

Because deep down, they knew.

If they attacked, they would die.

"Why?" Tony Stark demanded, his helmet retracting as he stared at Ragna , pale but defiant.

"I told you." Ragna 's gaze swept across the room, his voice calm yet absolute. "Nick Fury deceived God. Is that not reason enough?"

Silence.

Ragna exhaled, almost disappointed.

"Well, it's clear none of you are true believers."

Then he turned toward Stark, his tone shifting.

"Tony, I've always been fond of you. You're intelligent, so I'll offer you something rare—an answer. Do you want it?"

"Definitely." Tony didn't hesitate.

Because no matter what, he needed to understand.

This was the modern world—where gods no longer sat on golden thrones, demanding worship. A deity that burned men to ash over an insult had no place here.

Unless…

Unless Ragna was willing to erase all who opposed him.

And Stark had to know.

"Very well." Ragna nodded. "But after I answer you, I expect an answer from you in return."

He turned to the others.

"Nick Fury," Ragna said, "was guilty of crimes against the Earth. Against humanity itself."

"Impossible!"

"Do you take us for fools?!" Captain America snarled, his stance shifting as his grip tightened on his shield.

Ragna glanced at the others, smirking.

"Because he lied to me. He angered me. And when I am angry, I decide whether I cleanse the Earth in fire or flood."

Ragna 's golden eyes gleamed as he added,

"So tell me—did Nick Fury commit a crime against humanity… or against me?"

Another suffocating silence.

Even Captain America didn't speak this time.

He was fearless, but not reckless. He knew Ragna wasn't bluffing.

Then, suddenly, Ragna chuckled.

"Relax, mortals. I was only making a point."

The weapons in everyone's hands suddenly glowed red-hot, forcing them to drop them.

Guns clattered onto the floor.

Ragna leaned back, exuding amusement.

"Phil Coulson," he said, "do you remember the Skrulls?"

The room tensed.

Tony's mind raced. Nick Fury's death… Skrulls… how were they connected?

The Skrulls, a race of shapeshifting aliens, had infiltrated Earth before. Fury had even worked with them.

Could it be possible that S.H.I.E.L.D. had been compromised?

Tony lowered his repulsors and deactivated his Mark VII, staring directly at Ragna .

"I want to know everything," he said firmly. "About Fury. About the Skrulls."

Phil Coulson hesitated. He waved off the lower-ranked agents, his face conflicted.

He knew Fury had worked with the Skrulls.

But he didn't know how deep that connection went.

Nick Fury had never intended to betray Earth.

Yet…

Some of his choices may have placed it in danger.

Most of all, he deceived a god.

Ragna wasn't pleased.

"Well," Ragna sighed, "seems like our dear Agent Coulson doesn't know much either."

He casually pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Fine. I'll explain—"

But before he could continue—

ALARM! ALARM! ALARM!

The sirens shrieked again.

This time, it wasn't Coulson's doing.

The Helicarrier's defense system had detected incoming nuclear warheads.

The Skrulls Had Made Their Move.

Nuclear warheads streaked across the sky, aimed directly at the Helicarrier.

Panic spread like wildfire.

S.H.I.E.L.D. agents rushed to their stations. Black Widow barked orders. Captain America braced himself.

Even with all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s firepower, intercepting multiple nuclear missiles mid-air was a suicidal endeavor.

And the aftermath?

Electromagnetic pulses would fry the Helicarrier's systems, sending them plummeting thousands of feet.

The entire Eastern Seaboard would be devastated.

The Skrulls had been controlling S.H.I.E.L.D. from the shadows for years.

Now, in one desperate move, they were erasing the evidence.

They had done this before—infiltrating HYDRA, manipulating Earth's superpowers into war.

This wasn't just sabotage.

This was genocide.

Somewhere deep within the Skrull High Command, a leader whispered:

"The rise of the Skrull Empire begins today."

But Tony Stark and Bruce Banner weren't panicked.

Because they both knew one thing.

Ragna wouldn't allow a nuclear detonation on Earth.

Not now.

Not ever.

Because Earth, for better or worse, belonged to him.

Ragna exhaled.

Tony caught the briefest flicker of annoyance in his golden eyes.

Then, with a snap of his fingers—

The warheads vanished.

A soft blue light flickered in the sky, consuming them as if they had never existed.

Every agent froze.

Even Tony felt his throat go dry.

Ragna smirked.

"Pathetic," he muttered.

His gaze turned distant, looking beyond them all.

He wasn't just thinking about the Skrulls.

He was thinking about whoever was helping them.

Because someone had been feeding them power.

And Ragna intended to find out who.

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