While in Another universe Astrid brings peace to Berk albeit forcefully, in the Marvel Universe Ragnar couldn't help but scoff, his eyes rolling at the messages flooding his chat group.
"You're more of a smuggler than me!" Ragnar muttered under his breath, a playful but exasperated smile tugging at his lips.
He knew Luna, with her uncanny affinity to connect with animals, would draw creatures to her wherever she went. she was practically the number one magical animal smuggler of her universe.
Ragnar shook his head, deciding not to engage in the playful debate. He had bigger things to worry about, like, well, inviting more mythical creatures into his suitcase. Kidnapping? No, no, no, it was more like...persuasive recruitment.
When Ragnar opened the suitcase, he was about to climb out.
"So, what mythical creatures are you interested in putting inside your suitcase next?" a female voice suddenly asked.
"Shishi," Ragnar replied automatically blurting out his inner thoughts. He had been considering using Regulus to lure the Shishi into the suitcase. But then eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. There was no one supposed to be waiting for him.
Ragnar slowly looked up, his smile wide and innocent, as if nothing was amiss. "I didn't know you were here, Jiayi."
Ragnar shot a pointed glare at Regulus, who stood beside him, his tail swishing back and forth, clearly amused by the situation.
"Your friend let me wait for you to get out," Jiayi said, her gaze lingering on Regulus, who sauntered over to Ragnar, his teeth gently nipping at the back of his clothes.
With a powerful surge, Regulus yanked Ragnar from the suitcase, shoving him to the ground. Then, with a swift, almost graceful movement, he climbed into the suitcase himself, the lid automatically snapping closed locking by itself.
Jiayi's eyes narrowed, a hint of intrigue in their depths. 'This Lion might be stronger than I thought,' she mused, realizing that even with the backing of the Great Protector, Regulus didn't seem overly impressed with her authority.
Ragnar coughed, pushing himself off the ground. He flashed a charming smile at Jiayi, as if nothing had happened. "What can I do for you?"
'Well, he still needs to be tested,' Jiayi mused, looking at him up and down, she paused, her gaze lingering on Ragnar's face.
"Walk with me." Jiayi began to walk slowly, allowing Ragnar to catch up. she knew this was the right time to figure him out for a bit since he was alone.
Ragnar then picked up the suitcase on the ground walking to Jiayi's side, a mix of shame and guilt coloring his expression. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed about being caught red-handed.
Jiayi remained silent, leading him towards the edge of the lake. "If you want the Shishi to follow it will be harder than the Qilin. Even your lion might not be able to help." Jiayi said as she gazed at the calm, reflective surface of the water.
Jiayi wasn't bothered by the Qilin joining Ragnar's collection. They didn't own the creatures, after all. It was the Qilin who had chosen to follow Ragnar, not the other way around.
"Of course, if you want to force them..." Jiayi trailed off, her words laced with a hint of temptation, showing no expression.
"Why would I force them to leave their home," Ragnar said righteously, his expression serious, as if he hadn't even thought about doing it a minute ago.
"What do you think about Ta Lo? Is it what you're expecting?" Jiayi just nodded, she asked, changing the subject, her steps carrying her along the edge of the lake.
Ragnar looked at Jiayi's back thoughtfully, before casting a discerning glance around the breathtaking landscape. He sighed, a mix of relief and curiosity washing over him.
"It's beautiful," Ragnar said as he looked at them with wonder, "More beautiful than I thought it would be." He gazed at the diverse mythical creatures, the towering trees, the shimmering waters.
Ta Lo was bigger, showing different varieties of trees, creatures, and environments. It was too different from Shang-Chi, making the dimension even more extraordinary.
"Beautiful enough to make you stay?" Jiayi asked, her curiosity growing. She continued to lead him towards a secluded spot.
"Why do you want me to stay?" Ragnar questioned, a frown creasing his brow. He stopped walking, turning to face Jiayi, waiting for an answer. "Is it because I'm the same species as the Great Protector?"
"Isn't that reason enough?" Jiayi asked, her eyebrows raised in question. She turned around, her gaze fixed on Ragnar. "Your potential, it's the strongest I have ever seen."
"Potential?" Ragnar chuckled, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He remembered using that very word to entice Ororo. 'To think it's now being used on me,' he thought, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"You know your potential, don't you?" Jiayi asked, she studied Ragnar with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"You've been practicing martial arts, trying to tap into that power." She clearly remembered his movements in the fight, from his stance, the subtle way he carried himself, a testament to his training.
'Different from K'un-Lun or Kamar-Taj,' Jiayi thought, comparing his technique to the martial arts she had seen, 'Even different from the Hand.' There was a unique quality to his movements making it look like it wasn't for fighting but for something else.
"It's nothing," Ragnar said, shaking his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. He remembered his struggle to land a single hit on Jiayi, despite his training under Huo Yuhao.
"It's not nothing," Jiayi countered gently. "You just haven't used it properly yet." She had observed his fighting style, his hesitancy, his lack of experience.
"You haven't truly fought a real opponent," Jiayi said, a challenge shimmering in her eyes.
"You've held back. So how about you try it now?" Jiayi clasped her hands behind her back, her stance relaxed but her gaze unwavering. She was waiting, ready to see him unleash his true potential.
Jiayi wanted to assess his martial arts, to understand the depth of his skills and powers but more importantly, she wanted to test his character.
A fight could reveal a person's true nature, their resilience, their adaptability.
"Now? Like here?" Ragnar asked, his eyes widening slightly as he gestured towards their surroundings. He saw Jiayi nod with no expression.
"Me, fighting you?" Ragnar pointed at himself, then at Jiayi, his brows furrowed. "No thanks."
Ragnar fully accepted he was shameless but he wasn't a masochist.
"Have you ever truly fought someone with all your strength, without holding back?" Jiayi asked with a steady gaze. "I'm offering you a chance. You probably want to know how strong you truly are, don't you?"
Ragnar studied Jiayi, his eyes narrowed, a flicker of hesitation in their depths. He knew it was important to understand his limits, to test his abilities. He needed to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The identification system had provided him with numerical measurements of his strength, but that meant nothing in a real fight if he couldn't use his power effectively.
"And you're sure I'm not going to get kicked out after this?" Ragnar asked, a playful glint in his eyes. He peeled off his shirt, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.
"No," Jiayi said, turning to face the center of the lake. "After all, she also wants to see what you've got." She knew the Great Protector was watching over them.
"Before we start," Ragnar said, with his nervousness in his voice, he asked tentatively, "You're not planning to beat me up because of the Qilin, are you?"
Jiayi just smiled, knowing glint in her eyes. She took a fighting stance, her posture a graceful blend of Tai Chi and Baguazhang as her eyes locked on Ragnar.
"Then I won't hold back," Ragnar said, a chuckle escaping his lips and began to walk towards Jiayi, while his pace accelerated, golden scales shimmered across his skin.
Jiayi took a step back, with fluid movements fluid and precise timing. She easily dodged Ragnar's claw, her hand catching his arm, spinning him around before letting go.
Ragnar stumbled, disrupting his momentum. 'Strength won't be enough,' he thought steadying himself. With this in mind he used one of the techniques he had learned from Huo Yuhao.
'Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!' Ragnar shouted in his mind like an anime character, he didn't dare shout in public it was too embarrassing. His movements turned into a blur as he rushed towards Jiayi, creating afterimages as he dash.
"Fast, but not fast enough," Jiayi mused, her expression calm, with her gaze unwavering. She used the wind to enhance her speed, a powerful gust propelling her body, allowing her to keep pace with Ragnar and easily dodge his attacks.
Ragnar frowned, his brow furrowed in frustration. 'Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon!' He opened his palm, channeling his spirit power through his hand making Jiayi's arm flew towards him, uncontrolled, giving him a chance to grip her arm.
Jiayi's brow furrowed because when Ragnar used his Spirit Power on his hand it shined gold making her think about a special warrior in K'un-Lun, 'Iron Fist?' she thought to herself before focusing on the fight. She moved closer, her eyes gleaming with a sudden glint of strategy.
Jiayi knew she couldn't dodge his attack this time. So this time she would strike first. With a powerful burst mixture of chi and wind, she clenched her fist and slammed it into Ragnar's chest.
Ragnar didn't even have time to smirk when he catches her arm when the impact sent a shockwave through his body, knocking him off balance.
Jiayi followed it up with a powerful kick to his stomach, sending him sprawling backwards.
"Are you sure you're not a mutant?" Ragnar gasped, coughing, as he clutched his chest. His scales protected him from injury, but he could feel the force of her punch deep inside, like it was meant to damage his internal organs.
Jiayi smiled, a serious glint in her eyes. She spun, her movements a blur, controlling the wind with ease, a powerful gust swirling around her.
"When I said all your strength, I meant everything," Jiayi said, her voice laced with a challenge. She punched towards Ragnar's direction, sending the wind towards him.
Ragnar rolled on the ground, his claws scraping against the earth. He raised his head, his eyes turning into brilliant gold, his golden scales spread across his skins destroying his pants as he turned into a full dragon.
"RAAAWWRR!" Ragnar roared, a fiery blast erupting from his mouth, aiming at Jiayi.
Jiayi, her arms outstretched, pushed down her palm controlling air, making a powerful gust propelling her upwards, allowing her to dodge the fiery blast.
Ragnar, unsurprised by the results, flapped his wings, lifting himself higher into the air. He wanted to use his advantage, to attack from above.
Unlike Jiayi, who could only glide for a moment thanks to the Great Protector's blessing, Ragnar could soar for extended periods of time if he chose too.
He raised his head, gathering a massive blast of dragon fire, his eyes fixed on Jiayi, who landed on the ground.
Ragnar opened his jaws, a fierce roar escaping his throat. The fire, a blazing inferno, shot towards Jiayi, filling the sky with a searing orange glow.
Ragnar unleashed a furious roar, a torrent of fire erupting from his maw and engulfing the sky in a searing orange blaze.
The inferno aimed at Jiayi, who, having landed, was already sprinting towards the lake. With a graceful step, she touched the water's surface and walked upon it.
Waving a hand, she spun, manipulating the water to coalesce around her, forming a protective sphere.
Ragnar's fire scorched the water, creating a swirling mist. He paused, peering through the steam, searching for any sign of Jiayi.
"If that's everything you've got, that will be very disappointing," Jiayi's voice echoed from within the mist.
The mist began to dissipate, revealing Jiayi, standing tall with calm expression.
Ragnar was surprised. He roared, spreading his arms, his claws extended, a golden glow emanating from his body using his psionic energy, like tiny, pulsating golden spheres appeared surrounding him.
But deep inside his mind he was already wondering what kind of name he would give on whatever attack he was planning on doing.
From a distance, Elliot exclaimed, "What in the world?" The golden dragon, gathering energy, dominating the sky.
Sicilia frowned, as did the others who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the roar.
Ororo stared, awestruck, witnessing Ragnar's true form for the first time.
The residents of Ta Lo, gathered around the lake, were buzzing with excitement, their eyes fixed on the golden dragon.
The Elders, their faces a mix of surprise and understanding, exchanged glances. Finally, they understood why the Great Protector and Jiayi were so insistent on keeping Ragnar in Ta Lo.
Ragnar, surrounded by a crackling aura of golden energy, raised his claws, his right claw lowered in a swift, powerful gesture.
The energy crackled around him as Ragnar hurled half of the psionic spheres towards Jiayi. The air shimmered as the ground trembled, a wave of power crashing towards her.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The water exploded, sending plumes of spray skyward. Jiayi, her movements fluid and graceful, dodged the spheres, her hands moving with precision controlling the water striking the spheres, causing them to explode.
Ragnar, seeing her struggle, raised his left claw, hurling the remaining spheres. He was confident. This time, he would hit her.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
But as the spheres exploded, Ragnar's eyes widened in disbelief. Jiayi remained in the center of the lake, unharmed with a calm expression.
"It ends now," Jiayi declared, her eyes blazing with golden light as she spun.
Unseen, the Great Protector's eyes glowed from the depths of the lake, sharing her powering.
As Jiayi finished her rotation, the water surrounding her transformed, swirling and coalescing into something that looked like the Great Protector forming a colossal water dragon.
With a powerful punch, she launched the water dragon at Ragnar. He opened his mouth, ready to counter with fire, but before the flames could erupt, the water dragon exploded, a torrent of water cascading around him.
"You like to focus on the big things," Jiayi said, her voice soft but firm, her palm outstretched, "When small things can become a big problem as well." controlling the scattered water. With a wave, she enveloped Ragnar, the water tightening around him as she pressed her hand down.
Ragnar's eyes widened as the water drags him down making him fall into the lake the impact choked him with water, he already wanted to surrender but she didn't have him a chance.
Jiayi manipulated the water in the lake encasing Ragnar's body in a swirling vortex, dragging him down into the depths of the lake.
Ragnar knew he had lost, but the intensity of the water pressure, the chilling sensation of the cold, deep waters, was not something he had anticipated again.
But before Ragnar could start swimming into the surface a familiar sensation washed over him making him stop.
The water, instead of crushing him, began to gently lift him. A familiar energy connected into his mind calming his racing heart.
'You still have much to learn, child,' the Great Protector's voice echoed in his mind, a rumbling sound that seemed to resonate through his very soul. 'But I know your heart does not remain here.'
Ragnar, his gaze fixed on the depths of the lake, saw it again.
The Great Protector, its eyes shimmering with golden light, stared at him from the depths.
A powerful gust of wind erupted around Ragnar, encasing him in a swirling sphere of energy. He was lifted, a gentle force guiding him back to the surface of the lake.
'Rest for now and come back.' the Great Protector's voice, now soft and comforting, whispered into his thoughts. 'Before you leave, I shall teach you what our species can really do.'
Ragnar broke the surface of the lake, spitting out water with a cough. His gaze drifted upwards, towards the endless expanse of sky. He knew they were right.
Ta Lo was a place he could learn, a place that will help him to grow. But not now. His heart was already set on his next goal.
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