The Kree were a civilization possessing exceptional scientific prowess and technological ingenuity, with their homeworld, Hala, located in a distant star system far from Centauri.
Their history stretched back eons. Even during Titan's golden age, the Kree had already existed. However, in those times, they were weak—so insignificant in the vast universe that they weren't even qualified to be cannon fodder.
Everything changed for the Kree when they became the target of a colonial invasion.
At the time, the Skrulls had already established their empire and, with their advanced technology, began a relentless expansion across the stars. The planet where the Kree resided became just another conquest—enslaved and subjected to experiments by the Skrulls.
Faced with the threat of extinction, the Kree chose survival at any cost. They slaughtered another species that shared their planet—one chosen by the Skrulls as test subjects. Through this brutal act, they seized access to Skrull technology.
Determined and unrelenting, the Kree used the stolen scientific knowledge to advance their own civilization, initiating a long and arduous process of self-improvement and genetic modification.
It was a difficult path, but in the end, the Kree prevailed.
Their greatest breakthrough came when they created an artificial intelligence deity to guide their people—the Supreme Intelligence.
It was this so-called divine AI, revered as the pinnacle of Kree advancement, that sounded the clarion call for retribution against the Skrulls. In an astonishingly short period, the Kree evolved from a backwater species into a formidable technological power. Under the Supreme Intelligence's guidance, they launched an era of aggressive expansion. Thus, the mighty Kree Empire was born.
From that point forward, the universe bore witness to an unending war of blood and fire, solidifying the Kree Empire's fearsome reputation.
What was once a weak and overlooked race transformed into a dominant force in the cosmos, an achievement hailed as nothing short of a miracle in the annals of galactic civilization.
Lothar knew all of this.
Everything about the Kree—their history, their rise, their relentless ambition—was information he had gleaned from Ebony Maw's database and gathered through whispers in the field during his missions.
One thing was certain: the Kree were anything but benevolent.
And this time, Lothar's objective was the Kree Empire. More specifically, a particular individual within it—one who had unlocked the secret to creating an advanced energy weapon of unparalleled power.
"His name is Astra."
Back in the Black Quadrant, seated upon his throne, Thanos waved a massive hand. A holographic image materialized before Lothar, revealing a middle-aged man with deep blue skin.
He was rugged—carrying a massive shoulder-mounted cannon, an unkempt beard framing his face, and two intersecting scars running across his bald head. At a glance, he looked more like a ruthless space pirate than a scientist.
"This man has perfected an energy conversion formula," Thanos stated. "Experimental results show that it can increase the power of existing energy weapons a hundredfold."
"A hundredfold?"
Lothar's expression flickered with intrigue. This wasn't just an ordinary upgrade—it was an astronomical leap in firepower. No wonder his adoptive father was interested.
"Exactly. That's why I want you to bring him to me."
Thanos rose from his throne, extending his right hand into the void. One by one, holographic planets appeared in Lothar's vision.
"This is Kree Empire territory. Right now, Astra is here."
Thanos' finger landed on a prominent world—Torfa—a bustling, resource-rich planet.
"A warzone?" Lothar noted the red indicators surrounding Torfa.
"The battlefield's outskirts," Thanos corrected, zooming in on the planet's projection.
Torfa occupied a precarious position. It was caught in the crossfire of an ongoing interstellar war between the Skrull Empire and the Kree Empire—a war that had raged for years with no end in sight.
As one of the Kree's leading wartime scientists, Astra had remained on Torfa, working tirelessly with his team to refine and test new weapons for the front lines. His breakthrough—the formula capable of amplifying energy weapons a hundredfold—was conceived under these relentless wartime conditions.
"The Kree Empire is fully aware of Astra's importance. They are currently devising a way to extract him safely back to their homeworld, Hala."
"Your task," Thanos declared, his gaze locking onto Lothar's, "is to retrieve him before that happens."
With a dismissive wave, the planetary projection vanished. Thanos placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder.
"I trust no one more than you to accomplish this."
Lothar said nothing. He merely studied Astra's holographic image before nodding resolutely.
...
"Welcome back, Prince Lothar."
"Gaitz, compile all available data on the Kree and Skrull Empires from Ebony Maw's database. Transmit it to Woz on the battleship."
Having bid farewell to Thanos, Lothar returned to his palace. Among all of Thanos' adopted children, he was the only one given the privilege of a personal domain within the Black Quadrant.
"Understood, Your Highness."
A robotic feline—Gaitz—paused in place, its eyes flickering as it interfaced with Ebony Maw's database. Within seconds, it transmitted the requested information to its identical counterpart aboard Lothar's warship, Woz.
"Your Highness, what would you like for dinner?" Gaitz asked once the transfer was complete, its artificial eyes regaining a lively glow.
"Whatever you see fit," Lothar replied absently, making his way toward another section of the palace.
Within this chamber lay the most potent nutrient rejuvenation pod—a facility he had submerged himself in countless times over the years.
As he stripped off his battle suit, something small tumbled to the ground with a faint clink. Lothar glanced down, recognizing it instantly—the miniature tracking device Hela had once "returned" to him.
Hela Odinsdottir, huh?
"I will defeat you the next time we meet."
Her words echoed in his ears. Lothar scoffed, about to crush the now-useless tracker when—
A subtle force emanated from the device, resisting his grip.
Though weak, it was undeniable.
"Do you enjoy parading around naked? I'll admit, your physique is impressive, but proper etiquette tells me this isn't exactly good manners."
A figure materialized within the light radiating from the tracker—a woman with flowing obsidian hair, scanning his palace with a critical eye.
"Hela Odinsdottir."
Lothar narrowed his eyes, his expression dark and foreboding.
"Ah, the wonders of sorcery. Not that someone as magically inept as you would understand."
Hela spread her hands nonchalantly, tilting her head.
"Alright, I'll get to the point. Three months from now, on Planet G30 in the Milky Way, I'll be waiting. As a representative of Asgard—"
"Childish."
Lothar's icy response cut her off mid-sentence.
"Excuse me?" Hela arched an eyebrow. "Did you just call me childish?"
Freshly rejuvenated from her return to Asgard—her hair sleek, her garments restored—Hela found herself utterly irked by the stark-naked Lothar before her.
She had issued an official challenge in the name of Asgardian royalty, for Odin's sake!
After replenishing her divine power upon her return, she had calculated the perfect timeframe for their rematch—three months. A declaration to prove to her father that she was every bit Lothar's equal.
"I—"
"You will never defeat me."
Lothar crushed the enchanted tracker in his hand without hesitation.
Hela's image flickered and vanished.
Sorcery?
Nothing more than an annoyance that could be solved with a single punch.
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