The clash between Hela and Odin was monumental, the sound of the Blade of the Night Sky colliding with Gungnir echoing throughout Asgard.
In the heart of Asgard, Hela's assault was relentless, each move targeting Odin's vital points. Odin stood firm, Gungnir in hand, deflecting the Night Sky Blade's strikes, which embedded in Asgard's walls, his gaze growing ever colder.
Seeing her ranged attacks falter, Hela gripped the Night Sky Blade and charged Odin for close combat.
The sharp clash of artifacts reverberated through the Asgard Hall. Within the protective barrier, Frigga watched with worry, torn between her husband and daughter.
Frigga knew Hela couldn't defeat Odin, but she feared what Odin might do afterward.
The artifact collisions were ceaseless, with firelight flashing between Hela and Odin. The Asgard Hall's floor and ceiling began to crack under the battle's strain.
The ancient hall couldn't withstand the force of Odin and Hela's confrontation.
Realizing the hall's impending collapse, Odin no longer held back. Gungnir swung in a powerful arc, striking Hela's chest heavily. She was sent hurtling out of the hall at supersonic speed, landing in the distant square.
Odin followed, landing before Hela.
"Impossible! I've surpassed you!" Hela protested, unable to accept her defeat. Odin had bested her effortlessly, and she hadn't even seen his final move.
In every aspect—divine power, speed, strength—she was outmatched by Odin.
Blood trickled from Hela's mouth; Odin's blow was hard, even for a goddess. Breathing was a struggle.
Yet Hela refused to concede. The Night Sky Blades converged, forming massive swords that descended from above, targeting Odin.
Odin stood unmoved, lifting Gungnir to effortlessly counter Hela's full-strength assault.
Hela's eyes were dull, her strongest attack easily thwarted by Odin.
For the first time, the God King's might was displayed before his beloved daughter. Ironically, his opponent was his daughter, leaving Odin with mixed emotions.
"Oh, the problem child took quite a beating," Della quipped, appearing at the square's edge, observing Hela's disheveled state with a hint of mischievous amusement.
Though he knew Hela stood no chance against Odin, he hadn't expected her to be defeated so swiftly and utterly, left grievously injured with no chance to retaliate.
"Are you here to mock my failure, you b*****d?" Hela spat, incensed by Della's laughter. She had always looked down on her brother.
As Asgard's eldest son, he never participated in its wars, preferring to seclude himself in his palace, painting. To Hela, such behavior was akin to wastefulness.
Now, exposed before the brother she despised, Hela's pride was wounded, a deeper cut than Odin's defeat.
"Are you here to plead for Hela?" Odin asked coldly, ignoring Della's taunts toward Hela.
"Why would I plead for such a troublesome child? But, don't you bear a significant responsibility for her state, father? And killing her would only sadden mother," Della replied nonchalantly.
In Della's view, Hela's condition was partly Odin's doing. He suspected Odin didn't wish to execute Hela and offered him a way to save face. Today's events had already cast a significant shadow over Asgard.
Della was indifferent to Hela's fate, as she posed no threat to him. But he didn't want to see Frigga, his mother in this life, saddened.
Frigga had shown Della immense care, and in all of Asgard, only she mattered to him. Not even Odin could claim that bond.
Odin's gaze softened at Della's words. Frigga was his weakness, someone he valued deeply, unlike his eldest son and second daughter.
"I don't need your pity!" Hela struggled to rise. Odin's blow was severe, leaving her weakened. The last great effort with the Night Sky Blade had drained her stamina, leaving her barely able to stand.
"Stubborn to the end," Della thought, keeping his focus on Odin.
"Hela! You lost! As a challenger, you will face your rightful punishment!" Odin declared, though his tone was softer. He acknowledged his role in Hela's downfall.
But with no way to separate Hela from Asgard, he chose exile and sealing.
"Go to Helheim and reflect!" Odin commanded, summoning Bifrost to envelop Hela.
"No!" Hela knew what Helheim meant. She tried to resist, but injured and exhausted, she was transported to Helheim by Odin's Bifrost.
In Helheim, Odin erected a seal. As long as he lived, Hela would remain confined unless he chose otherwise.
After Hela's banishment to Helheim, her army was placed under a sleeping spell by Odin, stored deep within Asgard in eternal slumber.
"This is likely the best outcome," Della sighed in relief.
Arriving quickly after the battle, he found Odin, unscathed, had swiftly subdued Hela. The outcome was better than expected, honoring Frigga's care.
Now, with Asgard's recent upheavals settled, Della felt a sense of peace. It was the most relaxed he'd felt in his thousand-year journey in Asgard.