The colossal warship loomed over Asgard skies, its jagged silhouette radiating an ominous presence. Swarming around it, countless smaller fighter ships blotted out the heavens, descending like a storm of death.
This was an unprecedented invasion.
For centuries, Asgard had ruled the Nine Realms with absolute authority, unmatched, unchallenged. Every potential threat had been crushed before it could rise.
Yet now, in a single night, their might was being tested—by a force thought long extinct.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sky ignited as the Dark Elves unleashed their full arsenal.
Brilliant streaks of crimson and violet energy surged downward, hammering the golden city with devastating force. Explosions erupted across Asgard, swallowing entire buildings in fire and smoke.
Screams of panic echoed through the streets. Warriors scrambled to organize a defense, but the sudden assault left them disoriented.
Even as calls for Odin and Thor rang out, hope was slipping away.
A crowd of Asgardian civilians looked on in horror, scrambling to evade the bombardment from the attacking ships. They rushed toward an open space and cried out in anguish toward the palace.
Of course, Asgardians were a warrior race by nature. Most of them understood that it wasn't the palace failure but rather the enemy cunning strategy that had caught Asgard completely off guard.
Once they regained their senses, many mounted their steeds and sped toward the palace, determined to join the battle.
Meanwhile—
Thor reacted instantly. Wielding Mjolnir, he became a streak of blinding lightning and charged into the midst of the enemy fleet.
Boom!
Under the watchful eyes of all, dark clouds churned in the sky, and an endless barrage of thunderbolts crackled like fish swimming through the storm.
As Thor swung his hammer, the lightning transformed into explosive energy projectiles, striking out in all directions and instantly taking down several enemy warships.
"God of Thunder!"
"Long live Thor!"
The civilians taking refuge below cheered in exhilaration.
"Hmph!"
Inside the massive warship, the Dark Elf leader, Malekith, scoffed coldly. He issued a command, directing all the warships under his control to focus their attacks on Thor.
At the same time, he ordered the artillery to shift their aim—toward the Asgardian palace.
The palace was the very heart of Asgard power, a symbol of reverence and worship for its people.
For thousands of years, their kings had ruled from the palace, passing down their legacy through generations.
If the palace could be destroyed, and if Thor—the next king—could be slain, it would shatter part of the Asgardians faith.
And if, in the process, Odin himself could be killed, then Asgard entire belief system would crumble.
At that point, Asgard would have no will left to resist the Dark Elves and would surrender without a fight.
Boom!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Blazing energy blasts rained down on the lone, outnumbered Thor in midair, while even more surged toward the palace.
The sight sent shockwaves of fear through the hearts of countless Asgardians.
"Despicable outsiders!"
"Damn them!"
The Asgardians quickly realized the enemy intent. Their expressions had never been more anxious as they stared at the unfolding scene in the sky, fists clenched, silently praying for both the palace and Thor.
Yet, among them were elder Asgardians who remained steadfast in their faith.
These warriors had once fought alongside Odin when he conquered the Nine Realms, establishing Asgard absolute dominion. Though old and their grip on their weapons unsteady, they still vividly remembered Odin in his prime.
To them, even in old age, Odin remained Asgard strongest warrior.
BOOM!
A torrential downpour of energy blasts rained down like a meteor shower, engulfing the entire Asgardian palace in a suffocating barrage.
The sheer force of the assault sent shockwaves rippling through the land, distorting space and air itself. The people within the palace turned pale, convinced that their deaths were imminent.
Among them was Jane Foster, oblivious to her role in setting these events in motion.
Her frail body trembled uncontrollably as she stared at the countless energy projectiles filling her entire field of vision. At that moment, she suddenly thought of the man standing beside her—Superman.
Earth strongest hero.
The one who had single-handedly thwarted the Skrulls conspiracy.
Instinctively, she turned toward him, only to find that he remained unfazed, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Just then, Superman shifted his gaze toward Odin.
"Your Majesty, the enemy has come knocking at your door. As the very faith of the Asgardian people… aren't you going to do something?"
Odin exhaled, his eyes flickering with an ancient fire.
"You're right."
Odin cast a deep glance at Superman before suddenly sweeping his hand through the air.
Boom!
The sky and earth trembled as the winds shifted.
An unprecedented surge of divine power erupted from the very core of Asgard, spreading across the land like an unstoppable tide.
As this immense force surged forth, every Asgardian felt their spirits lifted.
They heard Odin silent call.
A group of aged warriors, their faces etched with time, their bodies hunched from years of battle, straightened their backs with all their strength. Facing the palace, tears streamed down their weathered faces.
They could feel Odin resolve.
This was Asgard strongest warrior.
Even in old age—
His power remained beyond reach.
Boom!
In an instant, just as the overwhelming barrage of energy blasts was about to engulf the palace and reduce it to ruins, a golden barrier suddenly rose around the entire structure.
It was Odin divine shield, forged from his own godly power.
"The shield… it expanded to cover the entire palace…"
Superman—Anton—felt a surge of shock. Comparing Odin divine power to that of Wonder Woman, he couldn't help but be deeply astonished.
This level of godly energy had long surpassed Wonder Woman abilities—this was nothing short of a miracle.
However, as Anton turned to closely observe Odin—the man who had just performed such an extraordinary feat—he quickly noticed something amiss.
Odin appeared composed on the surface, but his life force was undeniably waning at an alarming rate.
In other words, the price Odin paid to shield the palace and all those within… was a sacrifice of what little remained of his own lifespan.
And at that moment, Anton understood everything.
Odin was old.
Had this been the Odin of his youth, a miracle like this would have merely left him weak for a few days.
But thousands of years had passed—Odin had long since left his prime behind.
Though he could still summon the strength of his peak, centuries of accumulated hidden wounds, injuries that had never truly healed, now demanded a far greater price for him to wield such miraculous power.
That price was his remaining lifespan.
"I don't have much time left..."
Raising his hand, Odin released an unceasing flow of divine energy. The golden barrier surrounding the palace held firm, defying the relentless bombardment from the enemy warships.
Boom!
Boom!
Amid the deafening explosions, Odin calm voice reached Anton and Jane Foster ears.
"Perhaps soon… I'll start losing my mind to old age."
He suddenly chuckled.
Anton expression shifted slightly. His brows furrowed as he looked at Odin, a thought flickering in his mind.
"As the King of Asgard, I must do something for my people."
Odin turned his head, locking eyes with Superman.
"Maybe this time… I can change Asgard fate. Who knows?"
"Don't you think so, Superman?"
The words fell.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The barrage of artillery continued to rain down, hammering against Odin godly shield.
Yet Anton remained silent.
Odin, as if he had never spoken those words, gazed beyond the palace at the battlefield. He watched the warships circling in the skies. He watched his son—Thor—fighting with all his might against the Dark Elves.
A satisfied smile touched his lips.
"I'm proud of him."
"No matter what happens, I've always believed… he will become a greater king than I ever was."
"..."
Anton still didn't respond.
Beside him, Jane Foster began to sense that these two men were speaking in riddles.
Now that the situation was temporarily stable, she let out a small breath of relief and curiously watched the exchange between them.
"We're leaving."
Superman voice suddenly cut through the silence, snapping Jane out of her thoughts.
She blinked in confusion.
Leaving?
Where to?
Before she could react, she saw Superman hand reaching toward her. In the next instant, she found herself lifted effortlessly into his arms—in a princess carry.
The brilliant astrophysicist face flushed instantly.
Caught between shyness and curiosity, she couldn't help but wonder—
Where was he taking her?
"Your Majesty," Anton voice rang out across the palace balcony, "I know you understand everything that happening. Whether I'm here or not, Asgard was bound to face this calamity—but this time, consider it my debt to you."
"Leave the rest to me."
As he finished speaking, Anton tightened his hold on Jane and soared out of the palace, beyond the protective reach of Odin divine shield.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The moment they left the barrier, an overwhelming barrage of energy blasts, as if anticipating their escape, swarmed toward them from every direction.
"Danger!!"
Jane Foster face turned pale as she saw the incoming barrage. Instinctively, she cried out and squeezed her eyes shut.
Boom!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The next moment, an earth-shaking explosion erupted, followed by a fierce gust of wind cutting across her face like razor-sharp blades, making her skin sting.
Yet—she was unharmed. Not a single hair on her head was out of place.
Of course, the roaring wind still howled in her ears.
But she quickly realized—it wasn't from the explosion. It was because Superman was carrying her away from the battlefield.
A wave of relief washed over her. Carefully, she cracked her eyes open—
Only to discover a horrifying truth.
Leaving the battlefield? My ass!
Superman had flown her straight into the heart of the war zone.
Warships zipped through the air at breathtaking speeds, darting around them like a chaotic swarm.
All around, energy cannons locked onto them, their glowing barrels brimming with deadly light, like the eyes of monstrous predators ready to strike.
"This—this—this—Superman, what are you doing?!"
Jane panicked voice rose into a desperate scream, her mind unable to comprehend the insanity of his actions.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"I'm in my twenties! I don't wanna die yet!"
Her words tumbled out in sheer terror.
"Naturally, to help you."
Superman remained calm, unfazed by her hysteria.
He gazed down at the woman in his arms, his tone steady despite her frantic protests.
And while Jane entire body was trembling, unwilling to move a muscle, he simply smiled.
On the other side of the battlefield—
Thor, the God of Thunder, caught sight of Superman and Jane Foster leaving the palace and diving straight into the heart of the battle. His expression instantly turned to one of utter disbelief.
He couldn't comprehend—why would they do this?
If Superman had gone alone to face the enemy, that would've made sense.
But bringing Jane Foster along?
What kind of twisted logic was that? Did Superman have a personal vendetta against her?
And it wasn't just Thor—
Down below, the Asgardians also noticed the unfamiliar figure clad in a skintight suit, soaring straight into the chaos with a woman in his arms.
For a moment, the entire battlefield seemed collectively baffled.
They exchanged confused glances, their expressions filled with doubt and disbelief.
Why would anyone, at such a perilous moment, take a completely defenseless woman right into the most concentrated area of enemy fire?
Were they… planning a lovers suicide mission?
A bone-chilling gust swept across the battlefield.
Superman exhaled, and with that single breath, an overwhelming, icy storm burst forth—
Whoosh!
The frigid air surged like a hurricane, spreading in all directions. A thick, white frost blossomed in midair, swallowing everything in its path.
The approaching warships, which had been swarming like a relentless storm, suddenly found themselves trapped in Superman freezing blast.
Crackle—Creak—Snap!
One by one, the enemy vessels were encased in solid ice, their metallic exteriors turning brittle and frozen. The engines sputtered, the circuits shorted, and the ships, robbed of mobility, began to plummet from the sky like falling meteors.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As they hit the ground, the frozen ships shattered upon impact, their wreckage scattering like glass breaking into a thousand shards.
Down below, the Asgardians—who had been holding their breath—watched in awe, their eyes widening with disbelief.
In mere moments, this unknown warrior had wiped out an entire fleet with just his breath.
Even Thor, who had been fighting fiercely against the enemy, briefly faltered, gripping Mjolnir tighter as he took in the astonishing sight.
Meanwhile, in Superman arms, Jane Foster, who had tightly shut her eyes in fear, finally dared to peek.
And what she saw made her jaw drop.
"…What?" she muttered, her mind struggling to process the sheer absurdity of what had just happened.
They weren't dead.
In fact, the battlefield around them had completely changed.
She turned her head slightly, staring up at Superman, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and incredulity.
"W-Who even are you?" she whispered.
And the numerous warships charging toward Superman were instantly frozen by the hurricane formed from this icy breath, losing all mobility before crashing down with a deafening roar.
Super Breath!
It could freeze opponents, generate hurricanes, alter the weather, and even extinguish stars.
Although putting out a star might sound like an exaggeration, the scene unfolding against the Dark Elves fleet showcased the full extent of Super Breath power.