Chapter Seventy-Four: The End of Battle

Arthur pushed off the ground with force, his body shooting toward the Dark Elf King Malekith. Malekith saw only a flash of golden light as Arthur appeared before him; he felt a sharp pain in his chest, then the world spun wildly. Malekith was sent flying by Arthur’s punch, crashing into the golden wall of the bedchamber, shattering it with cracks.

Malekith still had his uses; Arthur could not kill him yet. He stowed away the Trident of the Sea God and closed in, engaging Malekith in hand-to-hand combat. Malekith drew two daggers and lunged at Arthur, but Arthur ignored the blades, hammering his fist into Malekith’s ribs.

The daggers scraped harmlessly across Arthur’s golden armor, leaving only faint marks, while Malekith was pummeled relentlessly, unable to fight back. At that moment, a massive stone hurtled toward Arthur from behind. Arthur turned, smashing it to pieces with a single punch—it was the arrival of the Cursed Warrior Algrim.

The towering Cursed Warrior strode toward Arthur, who abandoned Malekith to confront this new foe. Arthur threw a punch at the Cursed Warrior’s face, but it was blocked by his right hand; the left hand swung back with a heavy blow aimed at Arthur's head. Arthur raised his left arm to deflect the attack, but the force left his arm numb—he hadn’t expected the Cursed Warrior to possess such strength.

Arthur unleashed a flurry of punches, and the two grappled fiercely. The Cursed Warrior’s thick skin and flesh rendered Arthur’s attacks largely ineffective, while Arthur’s armor was so formidable that the Cursed Warrior could not harm him either.

It was as though two juggernauts were locked in a brutal contest. Meanwhile, Malekith, lurking nearby, attempted to stab Arthur from behind with his dagger, only to be struck in the face by a sudden bolt of lightning.

Thor had arrived. The Thunder God hurled his hammer at Malekith, sending him flying. The Cursed Warrior, seeing his king thrown through the air, leapt up and caught Malekith. He then carried Malekith and jumped from the balcony. Arthur tried to intercept them but was a step too late; below the balcony, a knife-shaped Dark Elf ship awaited to whisk them away.

The ship swiftly carried the two toward the massive battleship hovering in the sky. Arthur chased after them, golden energy blasting from his trident toward the vessel, but the knife-shaped ship evaded the attack.

Once the ship fused with the battleship, the latter instantly activated its cloaking mode, engines roaring as it vanished at incredible speed. Arthur could only watch it disappear, shaking his head in regret—he had nearly captured Malekith.

Thor held Jane tightly, and Queen Frigga, unlike in the original story, had survived the attack. When Odin arrived to find Frigga unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Arthur flew back and, seeing Odin, said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty! Malekith escaped.”

Odin waved his hand and replied, “You did well. Thank you for protecting the Queen. Asgard will not forget your kindness.”

“There’s no need, Your Majesty. It was my duty,” Arthur answered humbly, already satisfied with the armor forged by the Destroyer.

Odin instructed Thor to continue pacifying the rebellion and end the war swiftly. Thor accepted the command and left with the guards.

Under Thor’s leadership in the search, every remaining Dark Elf was slain, and Asgard successfully repelled the invasion. Yet the Asgardian soldiers had suffered heavy casualties, though Arthur’s proposal for new energy weapons had played a crucial role in the battle.

…

Night in Asgard was breathtaking, the stars brilliant overhead. In the vast plaza, King Odin and all the people of Asgard gathered to hold a funeral for their fallen comrades. Over five hundred soldiers’ bodies were placed upon small boats, floating across the water’s surface.

More than five hundred Asgardian soldiers stood in formation, bows in hand, arrows tipped with flame raised toward the sky, the strings drawn taut.

“Release!” commanded a squad leader.

Over five hundred flaming arrows flew toward the boats drifting on the lake, each striking the prow with uncanny precision.

Instantly, all five hundred boats ignited, drifting in neat lines along the current. All across the city, the people of Asgard released their handmade round lanterns into the sky.

Countless white lanterns ascended, resembling a sky full of stars, enchanting in their beauty.

As the burning boats reached the edge of the water, where the waterfall began, King Odin raised his scepter and struck the ground.

A resonant metallic sound echoed in every ear. The boats did not fall into the starry river below the waterfall; instead, they transformed midair into white points of light, rising toward the stars above, merging into the night sky…

All the people of Asgard prayed for them, sending their blessings.

…

Within the core control room of the palace’s energy shield, Fandral reported to Odin, “We still cannot restore the palace’s barrier. Our cannons cannot detect them, Your Majesty—we have completely lost our defensive capabilities!”

At that moment, Thor entered and asked Odin, “Did you imprison her?”

“Everyone, leave,” Odin dismissed the others, keeping only Thor by his side.

“I don’t wish to argue. The Aether is in our hands; Malekith will come to us,” said Odin.

“Yes, but the battle to come will destroy Asgard,” Thor replied.

“You overestimate these monsters,” Odin said calmly.

“No, I simply value the lives of our people. I will take Jane to the Dark World and lure the enemy away from Asgard! When Malekith extracts the Aether from Jane, it will be exposed and vulnerable. I will destroy them all then!” Thor declared with confidence.

“You are taking a risk! If you fail, the Aether falls into enemy hands. Then all Nine Realms will be consumed by darkness!” Odin shouted.

“If we sit and do nothing, it will be even more dangerous! Their fleet hovers above us right now—we can’t find them at all!” Thor retorted.

“When Malekith arrives, his Dark Elves will fall before the guns of tens of thousands of Asgardian soldiers!” Odin insisted.

“And how many will die for that?” Thor countered.

“No matter the sacrifice!” Odin thundered.

“We will fight, and keep fighting, until the last Asgardian remains! We will fight until Asgardian blood runs dry!” Odin declared with righteous conviction.

“Then what difference is there between you and Malekith?” Thor asked.

“Hah! The difference is that I will win!” Odin sneered and turned away, unwilling to debate further.

Thor watched his father’s retreating figure, deeply disappointed; the old king was no longer the wise and omnipotent ruler willing to do anything for his people.

No, Thor resolved—he would take the initiative and destroy the Dark Elves once and for all in the shadowy world of Svartalfheim. His gaze grew ever more resolute.

…