The Royal Asgardian

Chapter 98

KA-BOOM! Exploding through the roof of the palace is Surtur!

This is a different Surtur than the one that captured Thor. He is slowly but steadily growing in size, and he carries with him a massive flaming sword, which grows as well.

Surtur's arrival literally shakes the bedrock of Asgard, dislodging some of the foundation on the bridge and around the palace.

Hela's eyes go wide. She wasn't expecting this.
"No...NO!" She screams.

The Ark continues its ascent, now high up above the city.

Hela's attention is on Surtur as the palace collapses around him.

I look to Val and we nod. I grab the sword with both my arms biting down as blood pools out my arm.

We both Mustering up all our remaining strength, and drive our swords through Hela's chest, effectively pinning her to the bridge.

Refocused on Us, Hela goes to deliver a death blow to Val when Thor bolts forward! He pulls Val from Hela's clutches. And I move back and put up a wall as Thor turns and fires lighting into the Dragonfang, which dislodges the section of the bridge that Hela is pinned to.

The ground beneath Hela breaks free and she goes falling down into the expanding fissure in Asgard's bedrock.

I let my wall down and sit on the floor. Badly injured, we all look up to see Surtur increasing in size, now towering over the palace.

Surtur yells "Tremble before me Asgard, for I am your reckoning!" He swings his sword, destroying an entire city block.

I look up "The people are safe. That's all that matters."

Thor looks at the city an intense stare feeling his eyes. "We're  fulfilling the prophecy."

Val chuckles a little "I hate this prophecy."

"So do I, but we have no choice." Thor looks at the city.

In the background, Hulk hops up onto the bridge. Looks around, zeroing in on Surtur.

"Surtur destroys Asgard, he destroys Hela so that our people can live." I reassure Thor.

Hulk charges behind us, still unseen by Thor and Val. I turn because the vibration.

Thor starts off "We need to let him finish.." then he finally sees Hulk. "No!"

Hulks leaps up and lands onto Surturs face and begins pounding the fire giant with furious punches!

"Hulk no! Stop it you moron!!"-Thor

It's not doing much damage, but the shock of it plus Hulk's impact makes Surtur take a destructive step back.

Hulk is trying to rip out one of Surtur's horns when Surtur reaches up and grabs him with a giant fiery hand.

Surtur hurls Hulk away from him. Sends him crashing down.

Hulk stumbles to his feet, dazed and smoking. After gathering his bearings, Hulk gets really angry and heads back towards Surtur for round two, but Thor yells at him "Hulk, just for once in your life, don't smash!"

Hulk argues back like a child "But...big Monster."

Val yells "Hulk! Let's go." I create my wings.

Hulk stops. Looking between Surtur and Thor & Val. This is a real Sophie's Choice for Hulk. On the one hand, he really wants to kill that thing. On the other hand...Friends.

Hulk picks up Thor and Valkyrie. He then squats down, and leaps with all his might.

I fly beside them.

Were heading right at the Ark as it reaches the lower orbit of Asgard.

Hulk lands gently, as though he were stepping out of bed. He casually drops Thor and Val, both exhausted. And I fly in tumbling at a rough landing.

Surtur has grown to extinction level scale.  Slashing away at the landscape below, when suddenly a massive Black spike explodes from the water and slams into Surturs chest. 

From beneath the water, Hela explodes out, riding a huge spiked manifestation of her powers. She's going for Surtur. Attacking with all her might.

Surtur winds up, holding his sword above his head. "I am Asgard's doom!!!"

True to his word, Surtur fulfills his destiny and
Drives his sword through Hela And into the heart of Asgard.

Everyone watches as Surtur drives his sword.

Korg the Rock gladiator speaks through the silence of the ship "The damage is not too bad. As long as the foundations are strong, we can rebuild this place. It will become a haven for all people and aliens of the universe..."

When the fiery sword touches the crystalline base of Asgard there is a violent detonation of energy. A cataclysmic earthquake rumbles out and The entire realm is split in two.

In an instant, Asgard is gone.

Korg continues "Nope, those foundations are gone. Sorry."

Thor looks at the emptiness "What have I done?"

Heimdall joins him. "You  saved us from extinction. Asgard is not a place, it's a people."

The Ark cruises among the chaos that once was Asgard. And everyone is taking in what has happened.

Thor and I go into the room to gather how we'll go forward.

I use the water to heal my wounds.

Thor looks at his reflection in a mirror. His wounds are bandaged, including his now missing eye. His armor is clean. Thor takes a beat, as though trying to get used to the sight
of the man looking back at him.

"It suits you."

Thor and I quickly turn our heads. 

Loki standing by the door. A smile on his face.

"Perhaps you're not so bad after all, brother." Thor crosses his arms.

"Maybe not." Loki shrugs.

"Thank you, Loki." Thor picks up a soap dish.
"And if you were here, I might even give you a hug."

"No-no-no-no-no" I say as fast as I can knowing Loki is here but Thor throws the dish at Loki. I stand up and Loki catches it.

"Do we have to hug now?" Loki asks.

We all smile.