"Crack! Crack!"
The massive arcane crystal emitted sharp fracturing sounds. The elves and Vanir gods within the tower were stricken with horror—at this rate, the shield wouldn't hold for much longer.
"The crystal is about to shatter!" A surge of even greater magical power infused the crystal—this was the strength of the Elven King. Though already on the brink of exhaustion, he gritted his teeth and persisted.
At that moment, a blinding white beam pierced through the sky, cutting through the swarm like a blade through paper. Anything in its path—whether insect or elf—was instantly obliterated, leaving not even dust behind.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing Garus draw his weapon, the others instinctively raised theirs in caution. The presence of an Infinity Stone embedded in Frostmourne emanated a power so immense that even the Elven King and Njord turned their attention toward him.
"Danger!" There was no time to explain. Garus took two swift strides to the wall, carving out an opening with a precise slash.
The Space Stone erupted with a vortex of swirling darkness, expanding outward like an abyss.
The white beam effortlessly penetrated the failing shield, hurtling toward the tower—only to be completely devoured by the black hole Garus had summoned.
The Space Stone countered the matter-disintegrating abilities of the Cosmic Control Rod. Against this power, the Infinity Stone held the advantage.
Only now did the others realize Garus' intent—the enemy had identified and targeted one of their most crucial structures.
"It seems their leader has recovered," Njord muttered grimly. "If he can wield his weapon again, we are in grave danger. Human, you wield the power of an Infinity Stone. Only you can stand against him."
The existence of Infinity Stones in the Nine Realms was no secret. In the past, even Malekith had wreaked havoc across the realms with nothing but the Aether. He had nearly succeeded in plunging the world into eternal darkness.
Garus sheathed his sword but remained vigilant. "I can try. But after this, I want to see Yggdrasil."
The World Tree was vast, connecting the Nine Realms. However, it existed in another dimension—one beyond ordinary perception. How had the insects found it?
Garus had long been curious about this ancient entity that had birthed the Nine Realms. Perhaps it held secrets yet undiscovered.
"Deal!" The Elven King agreed without hesitation. At this point, mere access to the World Tree was a trivial price. If the tower fell, their last line of defense would crumble, and Yggdrasil itself would inevitably be devoured. Sacred lands no longer mattered—survival did.
"Quick! Stabilize the shield!"
Everyone channeled their magic into the barrier. The gaping hole, once torn open, slowly began to mend. But even in those few moments, countless insects had already swarmed inside.
"Garus, I'm heading to deal with the swarm!"
The horde rampaged through the city, leaving devastation in its wake. With a nod of acknowledgment, Thor surged skyward, lightning crackling around him as he charged toward the densest clusters of enemies.
"We will dispatch our finest warriors to hold back as many as we can. You must find their leader."
"No need. I'll handle this alone," Garus replied, scanning the exhausted warriors around him. "You don't have any 'elite forces' left. You're all barely standing."
Originally, he had considered organizing an evacuation. But after learning of Yggdrasil's significance, he abandoned the idea.
"I'm going now."
"He reminds me of Hela…" The Elven King watched Garus disappear into the distance before turning to Frigga. "Frigga, does Odin not have even the slightest suspicion of him? The deathly aura he carries unsettles me, especially in the hands of someone wielding such a powerful artifact."
Frigga's expression darkened at the mention of her husband. Pain flashed across her face, but she quickly composed herself. "Power itself is neither good nor evil. He has ambition, yes, but not the kind Hela had—the desire to rule others. Odin saw light in him."
She had never doubted Odin's judgment. It was the same reason why he had sealed Hela away—he had known there was no persuading his daughter.
Due to the previous attack, Garus had already pinpointed the general location of his enemy.
The moment he left the shield's protection, the insects reacted. Their red, gleaming eyes burned with frenzy as they surged toward him, a living tide of death.
Their wings droned with an unbearable, maddening noise—enough to drive a lesser being insane.
The Power Stone in Garus' grasp pulsed with violet energy. A massive, ethereal hand materialized, sweeping through the swarm like a divine force. Any creature caught in its grasp was instantly pulverized into dust, their remains swirling in the air like storm-wracked clouds.
In an instant, he had carved a clearing in the sky. Without giving the swarm a chance to recover, he shot forward at full speed.
After flying several kilometers, Garus finally laid eyes on his true target—Annihilus.
Surrounded by his insectoid minions, the Brood King loomed in the center of the horde. His chitinous emerald form gleamed under the eerie glow of his weapon—the Cosmic Control Rod—embedded in his chest.
Garus had long known of this weapon. He had once extracted the soul and memories of a Brood general, learning of its existence. The rod wielded infinite power, yet its creators' descendants had long lost the knowledge to replicate it.
Annihilus turned toward Garus, chittering in a series of alien syllables. Fortunately, Garus understood the language of the Brood.
"Whose end this is remains to be seen, Annihilus."
The Brood King's eyes glinted with surprise. Not only could this intruder understand him, but he even knew his name. Annihilus let out a twisted, clicking laugh, halting his minions from attacking.
"Fascinating. You are stronger than most of the vermin I've crushed. The weapon you wield interests me. Surrender it, and I will let you live."
Garus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Not happening. Though I must say, I'm rather interested in that Cosmic Control Rod of yours."
Annihilus' amused chittering stopped abruptly. A low, menacing growl rumbled from within his armored thorax.
The Control Rod embedded in his chest flared, bathing the battlefield in blinding white light.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON